InsaneJournal

Call my name, and save me from the dark ... Save me from the nothing I've become.

Elle couldn't remember the last time she'd laughed this much. For some reason, Adam was being almost nice to her. She'd been coming down here daily, and each time she paid him a visit, she brought him a different treat. Come to think of it, that was probably why he seemed more tolerant of her presence than usual, but she didn't mind. As long as she was having fun, the other's intentions weren't that important. It wasn't that she wasn't curious. She did kinda want to know what he really thought of her or if he thought of her at all, but she never got around to asking, or maybe she preferred ignorant bliss. Why blow a good thing? Even though Adam still managed to find something to fuss about, there was a lot less name-calling.

She absentmindedly twirled her hair around her finger as her smile dipped down into a frown.

"You don't belong here." The Company had done plenty of things she disagreed with, but she stayed anyway. This was the only life she'd ever known. Sure, she'd thought about leaving, but what would she do? Where would she go? This sudden proclamation proved Adam's former claims of her not being able to think for herself untrue. There might've been a few wires crossed in that little brain of hers ( something she now knew was largely her father's doing ), but she could still form her own opinion. As she got older, she became more observant. Determined to prove herself once and for all, she'd done some digging and made several discoveries she wished she hadn't.

What she didn't understand was why she couldn't just ignore her conscience and go merrily about her day feeling as happy as she pretended to be. Everyone else working here had no problem ignoring that small voice inside of them that let them know that what they were doing was wrong. If she'd been trained for this her whole life, why did it bother her? Why was she so screwed up? Her dad had told her that this place was her future. So had Bennet. Adam had confirmed that they'd been using her for years. Of course at the time, she'd resented him for saying it. His observation had been followed by a not-so-subtle attempt to turn her against her father, probably so he could win her trust long enough to make a break for it.

... He'd gotten a good zapping after that. Thing is, he hadn't seemed all that bothered by it. He didn't take it back either, so he'd gotten a second shockwave before she'd stormed out of the room.

So where exactly along the line had they become buddies? ( ... If in fact that's what they were. )

It was complicated, but in a way, not so much. Elle had just gotten scolded by her father ( again ). After everything Adam had been filling her head with, she'd started searching for signs that he cared: that even though he was disappointed, it would pass. But even when he wasn't angry, there was nothing there. She'd come to the crushing realization that even though she was surrounded by people, she was all alone, because her dad's heart was empty and hollow. Therefore, she was too. Adam filled that void for her, even if he didn't mean to.

"Funny, isn't it? You broke all the rules, and you ended up locked in this building. I followed every one, and I wound up in the same place." Funny in a 'totally not laughing, because there was nothing humorous about it' sorta way. Neither of them were the lucky ones. Those people got away - far away from this life and all its baggage.

"I'm sorry for how we've treated you. I didn't think-" She stopped herself. What was she saying?

Elle hopped up off the bed as she forced a fake smile and tried to shrug it off with an evasive, "Whatever. I gotta go." Look at the time! Couldn't keep Daddy waiting. If she didn't show, he'd come to find her, and let's just say he wouldn't be too pleased to know that she was circling Adam Monroe.

She was completely prepared to march on out of there and forget all about this conversation, but her arm was grabbed when she started to prance by. It wasn't forceful or anything, just enough to get her to stop.

Helpless hues peered down at the one holding her captive, before she reluctantly sunk to her knees in front of Adam. She kept her head lowered as she started running her hands along his shoulders. They found their way around to his chest, fingers trailing in a trickling pattern first down, then back up, until she was back where she started. Physical contact was something else she lacked a lot of, so yeah, she was a little touchy feely. He should be used to it by now. Since he wasn't vocally objecting or moving to a different location in the room, she kept at it.

Eventually her hands found his; she interlocked their fingers together after she finished tracing random patterns into his palms.

Adam was patient. She had to give him that. He hadn't said a word this whole time. All he did was sit calmly, waiting for her to explain herself better. "If I helped you escape, you'd leave me." Duh. That was pretty much a given. What wasn't so obvious ( until now ) was that she'd be sad to see him go. Unless ... "Unless you take me with you." She finally looked up at him, locking her eyes with his as she silently pleaded with him to take her away. They could do it together. They could find a way to disappear. It would be hard, but not impossible. He knew how the world worked, and she ...

How could she be so stupid? He didn't even like her.

Elle appeared startled as she pulled away from him and abruptly stood, this time high-tailing it out the door instead of getting only halfway there.

That was a complete disaster.