Angel - (Michael Langdon X Reader)

"My name is Langdon, and I represent The Cooperative," the stranger says, his pale blue eyes scanning the room, going from person to person.

"I won't sugarcoat the situation. Humanity is on the brink of failure. My arrival here was crucial to the survival of civilized life on Earth. The three other compounds In Syracuse, New York, Beckley, West Virginia, and San Angelo, Texas have been overrun and destroyed. We've had no contact from the six international outposts, but we are assuming that they, too, have been eliminated." he states, his eyes eventually falling on me. My breath catches in my throat and a sensation of panic rushes over me.

"What happened to the people inside?" a voice laced with worry pipes up from behind me. Without skipping a beat, Langdon blankly states one simple word.

"Massacred." He pauses long enough to allow so much worry to fill the room I felt like I was going to drown in it. "The same fate that will befall almost all of you."

"Almost all?" my voice shakes. His eyes refocus on me. His icy stare causes me to shift in my seat, and I quickly look away from him.

He calmly delivers us his thoughts. "In the knowledge that this very moment might occur, we built a failsafe. The Sanctuary."

"The Sanctuary?" Coco inquires.

"The Sanctuary is unique. It has certain security measures that will prevent overrun" he speaks, an aura of calmness rolling off his tongue.

I clear my throat, once again receiving a look Langdon. "I'm sorry, but why didn't we get these security measures?" I receive a blank stare. "Si-sir?"

He nods, then answers, "That's classified. All that matters is that The Sanctuary will survive, so the people populating it will survive, so humanity will survive."

"Well," I ask another question, "who are the people populating it?"

Without thinking he says, "Also classified. However, I have been sent to determine if any of you are worthy and fit to join us." The people around me begin to talk amongst themselves nervously while I remain silent. Langdon looks me over once again before speaking. "The Cooperative has developed a particular and rigorous questioning technique we like to call "Cooperating" I will then use the information gained to determine if you belong.""What is this, The Hunger Games? This is bullshit," Coco spits. "I paid my way in here, and that is the only cooperating I plan on doing."

Langdon simply states she doesn't have to sit for questioning, and she can just stay here and waste away. I see Coco's eyes go wide and she quickly changes her mind.

"Now," begins Langdon, "I will start the interviewing process with..." his eyes fix on me, "You. Miss (Y/N)." He motions me to follow him with his finger and I quickly stand, racing to follow him. Afraid to say the wrong thing, I stay silent.

"You're not normally this quiet, why are you now?" he says with a knowing expression. I shoot him a puzzled look.

"I think I'm just afraid. Wait. How did yo- Nevermind." I cut myself off in fear, following him in silence. He sits down on the desk after having me take a seat across from him. I'll admit, something about him is intimidating, though I don't know what. I do know, though, that my heart is racing very fast. He sits up in a proper posture, and I do the same. He begins to speak.

"I'm not gonna tell you what criteria I'm using to grade you. Things you may feel are helpful may be hurtful. Things you may feel will compel rejection may be exactly what I'm looking for. If you hedge, I will know. If you lie, I will know. And if you try to trick me, I will know, and this interview will be over, and you will die here. Painfully. Are we clear?"

I nod my head. "Yes sir."

"Very good. First tell me about your relationships with the people here. Tell me about the ones you love... and the ones that make your blood boil" he says with a slight smirk, kicking his feet on top of his desk.

"Well firstly I would like to state that I don't hate anyone. Yes, some of them can be difficult at times, but these are the only people I have left" I sigh, letting the realization hit me with each word. Langdon looks over me, confused.

"Odd. You're not lying. I'm not sensing any form of hatred. I've... never seen anything like it" he stands from his chair, the smug expression wiped clean from his face. He begins to stride around me and I look down to the floor. The blond man takes a hand, dragging it up my arm and across my back as he makes his way in a complete circle, eventually lifting my chin and staring in my eyes.

"So... pure, so... kind," he looks taken aback. "I... I don't understand." He sits back down on his desk, pondering what happened. "This portion of the interview is over. If I need to ask anything farther, I will let you know."

I, in my confused and scared state, assume that this means death for me. If he had reacted in this manner, there is no way I would be accepted into The Sanctuary. Tears begin to spill from my eyes.

Langdon snaps out of his thoughts. "Why are you crying, Sweetheart?"

"I don't want to die."

Taking my hand and leading me to the door, he speaks, "Of course you don't, dear. What makes you think you will?"

"The interview is over. I think I failed." I manage between breaths. He shakes his head, chuckling slightly.

"No, Sweetheart. For you, the interview has just begun."