UNSEEN BETRAYAL

Finn's POV All of it was about to collapse. Every stride we took, every action we believed we could control—it was sliding through our hands. I knew Beckett had been one step ahead of us the whole time the instant he emerged from the shadows sporting that arrogant smile. I had written him off as small. Each of us had. "Nice try, " Beckett said, his voice tinged with contempt. But you didn't believe it would be that simple, did you? Every beat in my chest served as a reminder of how far off everything had gone. I turned to check Lena, her wide eyes blazing with terror. Mara froze. She had seemed so assured just minutes earlier. Her arrogance, like armor, vanished, leaving just terror behind. Not meant to happen was this. We still have a chance, I said, hardly loud enough for Lena to hear. Though I wasn't sure whether I agreed, I had to keep my cool. For her too. For every one of us. She nodded, but from her eyes I could sense skepticism. It was the same uncertainty that had been invading my ideas from our departure from the safe place. I , however, let it overwhelm me. Not at the moment. Beckett moved forward, his soldiers fanning out behind him thereby blocking any possibility of escape. "Did you truly believe you could beat me?" His voice resembled nearly playful cat behavior toward its prey. "I have watched you. Every single motion. His manner of saying it made me shudder. He had been inside our brains, foretelling every choice we would make before we realized what we were about to do. He had not just been following us. And we were surrounded now, without escape. "I'll give you credit," Beckett said, his eyes never leaving us as he walked slowly. "You almost made this fascinating." Not exactly. I closed my hands into fists at my sides and gritted my teeth. I was not letting him win in any sense at all. Not without effort. "What are you hoping for Beckett?" My voice came out harder than I meant, I asked. Stopped in his tracks, he gave the matter some thought momentarily. "What would I like?" He laughed quietly. That's straightforward, Finn. I want what I have always wanted. Authority. Authority. And you have been standing in my way far too long. "This then is all about control?" Lena raised her voice, consistent in spite of the anxiety I knew she was experiencing. "You have wrecked all this, harmed all these people, just for control?" The smile of Beckett got bigger. "Everything revolves around control. Of all the people, you should realize that. Lena stepped forward, teeth set in opposition. You are erroneous. Control is not the only thing important. People are like this. I watched the flutter of something—annoyance—cross Beckett's face, but it vanished as fast as it had shown. He shook his back. "It's useless. You already lost. Not to worry, though; I will make sure your sacrifice counts. His gaze stayed fixed on mine. "Finn, you have always been the one I kept eye on. The chief. The protector. Every protection, meanwhile, has a breaking point. Then you don't know me as well as you believe, I remarked, stepping toward him with a chilly voice. Not breaking is what I say. Beckett amusedly leaned his head back. "We will see." Every second in the apparently endless stalemate seemed to be agonizingly slow. Every escape path was barred and Beckett's soldiers outnumbered us. As he had intended, we were caught. Still, a route out had to exist. There has always been. I looked about the room looking for anything we might utilize, any chance to turn things around. Looking across the room, my eyes locked with Jacob's and saw the same desperation in his eyes. But there was another, too, something that didn't fit. And suddenly it came to me. Jacob showed no panic. He did not fear. He was quiet. Too serene. As the bits began to fit, a shudder ran down my spine. Beckett's constant seeming one-step ahead and the manner he had understood our every action had not simply been chance or ability. One person had been providing him with material. someone near to us. And I understood at the same time. "Jacob... " I said softly, the knowledge weighing down my chest. He remained silent. He was not obliged of course. The expression in his eyes was sufficient to answer. As I stepped toward him, my blood raced cold and rage shot through me. You are working with him, you... At last Jacob looked back at me; his face was insensible. Finn, it's not what you think. "Not what I thought?" My voice emerged from inside me, incredulity and rage battling. "You haven't been selling us all this entire time? "I had no choice," Jacob continued, his voice low and nearly pleading. Beckett brought my family with him. He was going to—" "I don't care!" I cut him off, the seething wrath over. You misled us. You let us walk into this! Jacob stammered, but he did not dispute it. He was unable to. Lena moved forward with pale complexion. "Jacob, how would you?" He looked at her, his expression agonized. "I had no desire for this. I never wanted to damage any one of you. But Beckett—he handed me no options. "There is always a choice," Lena murmured gently, her voice shaking. You decided to turn on us. Jacob's face collapsed, and for a few seconds he seemed as though he could break. Beckett's voice, then, sliced through the suspense like a scalpel. Enough of this, he murmured, sounding bored. "Jacob did what he had to do. It is now time for the rest of you to embrace the unavoidable. I found it impossible to turn my eyes away from Jacob. From the soldier I had fought beside to the buddy I had trusted, he had been a traitor all through. Every choice I had made and every risk I had taken—I had been handing Beckett exactly what she wanted. "Finn," Jacob replied, his voice soft and nearly broken. "I regret it." "Don't," I said, hands shaking with the intensity of my wrath. "Don't you dare admit your mistakes? There was nothing to say left. Men of Beckett moved in then, coldly efficient around us. We had time but not choices. Still, I was not finished fighting. Not quite yet. I looked at Lena, and we both knew exactly what had to be done without saying. This did not end. Not remotely likely. I sprang forward as Beckett's men advanced, catching one off-target and dragging him back. Chaos broke out, and for a little, fleeting time we were in charge. Then Beckett moved forward, his hand lifted, and everything halted. My chest hurt like hell, and I gasped, staggered back. My eyesight fogged, and for a time I breathed. Though it sounded far away, Lena's cry rang in my ears. Though my body wouldn't move, I tried to reach for her. Then everything blackened. The planet looked different when I woke up. Dimer. softer. My head was hammering, my chest hurting as I laid on the chilly ground. I tried to sit up, but I groaned as a sudden agony raced across my side. Finn here. Lena spoke softly, her voice tinged with both terror and relief. Blinking against the strong light, I opened my eyes. She was kneeling next to me, her face pallid and anxious. She said, "You're okay," her hand lightly resting on my arm. " You're good." Though I wasn't sure if I trusted her, for now it made little difference. I still lived. somehow. But Beckett had vanished. And Jacob was just the same. "We'll find them," Lena replied softly, her voice full with will. We'll call them off. Collectively. I nodded, even though every motion shot a new wave of agony across me. This was not ending. Not right yet.