Life As We Know It

Harold offers me a seat, but I stay unmoving with my gun trained right between her eyes. I knew this was too easy. I basically walked right in. Now I have a gun held to my head.

"I admire your willpower. Your bravery. It takes a lot for an 18 year old girl to go undercover, marry a man she wasn't matched to, and have a child. Not forgetting the fact that you are going to become the leader of the new nation." I roll my eyes at her a little. This sounds like a rehearsed spiel. She knew I was going to come. She might've even known when.

"I would say I admire you, but there is nothing to admire," I say. She laughs. It sounds very haunting.

"Here's something to admire. I was the 'anonymous' caller that got you in trouble."

So she was my stalker.

I never thought I would be able to figure who it was, but she just told me.

"Also, the chips in everyone's necks allows me to see their dreams." That is why I always felt watched by someone. "It was meant as a precaution in case there was any sign of rebellion. When you started to give me suspicions, I made sure to watch every single one of your dreams...and nightmares. How do you think I set up the path to my office to be nightmares you had? Too bad you hardly have any. It would've been fun to see you try getting here. "

I feel violated of my privacy. She has seen every dream I've ever had. I try not to show my emotion, but I can tell she sees me struggling.

"This just shows that The Association is corrupt," I say.

"That is why I want to have a little talk." My head begins to grasp possibilities of what she could possibly want of me. "I've been losing a lot of supporters. So many, that I knew this day was coming. The Association is dying, and the rebels are going to win. This is why I offer you an ultimatum."

I begin to feel nervous on what this could be. Then she comes out and says it.

"I want you to keep The Association alive." My heart skips a beat. She can't be serious. "We have a very strong foundation for a good government. We just need the followers. With you leading, you could implement whatever legislation you want. I believe you know what is good for this society and that you could be a fantastic leader. I know that you are going to be offered the rebel leadership, but this would basically be the same thing. Instead of getting rid of The Association, make it prosper."

I'm shocked by this. The whole plan was to get rid of The Association, not keep it alive. But after Harold spoke a little bit more, preserving what already stands doesn't sound too terrible.

All of the sudden, the gun behind my head goes down and I'm being pushed forward. I turn around to see Harding dead and see Jackson with his gun raised.

"I saw you were in a bit of a pickle," he says. He then points his gun in Harold's direction as the rest of our team comes in, all of them training their weapons at Gina Harold.

"Go on," says a voice. "Kill her." Even though she's offered me a deal, she still needs to die for the havoc she's brought on our nation. I can decide later what I want to do.

"Gina Harold, you are getting executed today for being unfair and inhumane to our nation's population. Do you have any last words?" I ask.

She smiles and says, "Choose wisely." I let the bullet fly and she slumps down in her chair with an oozing wound in her head.

* * *

After overrunning the rest of the government, we notified the citizens of The Association that there is going to be a new government. We thought there was going to be more of a riot, but people almost seemed relieved.

Later that night, Jackson and I got to go back to the rebel base in the East. We find a place to be alone and hold Harper together and just sat there in silence, being grateful that everything was over. After a while, Jackson breaks the silence.

"What did Harold mean when she told you to choose wisely?" I explain to him everything that happened, and what she did to convince me to be on her side. After hearing everything, he puts Harper in her crib and holds me.

He holds me for hours, probably thinking about what I should do. When he finally does talk, it isn't what I expected.

"Follow your heart," he says.

I do. Hopefully it is the right decision.