31 Day Writing Challenge #2: Day 3 - 'Tick Tock Tick.'

Tick. Tock. Tick.

Tick. Tock. Tick.

Tick. Tock. Tick.

The constant heartbeat of the antique grandfather clock echoed through the house. Each beat a twist in Lauren's gut.

Tick. Tock. Tick.

Amid the beating of the clock, Lauren could hear footsteps climbing the stairs and the other end of the hall. She knew who it was and what was about to happen.

When Aiden entered the room, she didn't turn to greet him, she just steadfastly faced the grandfather clock.

"What are you doing? It's time to go. Grab your bug-out and...wait...why are those weapons not packed? We have to go. Now. You know that. It's your plan. What the fuck are you playing at?"

Lauren steeled herself and squared her shoulders.

"I'm not going." She forced herself to remain strong and standing tall. "Aid, you have eight minutes. Go. Get everyone out of here. Now, Aiden."

"What the hell do you mean, not going? You really think that I'd...we'd leave you behind?"  Confusion came out as annoyance.

"You have to or you'll die." Lauren's voice, still aimed at the clock, remained expressionless and flat as it had for the entire exchange. Matter-of-factly, she continued, "We both know how stubborn I am and that, therefore, it will take more than seven minutes for you to change my mind. You will miss the window of escape; everyone we have fought to protect will die and you and I, we will be tortured. So you will leave without me, because, you and I both know that you will not sacrifice multiple lives to save one. No matter who the one is. Seven minutes, Aiden, go." Lauren sensed Aiden beginning to approach her slowly. "Aiden. Don't. Just go." Aiden stopped.

"Lauren...please. Come with me. Why wont you just come with us?" Aiden pleaded.

"To do what we swore we'd do: protect the group at any cost. We've lost so many already. Ava's pregnant now, that's a new generation to defend. There is more at risk so the price is higher too." Lauren's shoulders slumped ever so slightly in defeat. "It's me they want, Aiden. I can hold them off a little, give you a bigger window. Once they have me, it's unlikely they will stop hunting you, but they might back of a little, enough for you all to get away. That maybe, that extra chance for everyone's survival is worth what I'm going to do." Emotion had crept into Lauren's voice. She paused and regained her composure. "It's worth my life."

"They wont just kill you, Lauren, they'll...they'll..." Aiden faultered.

"They wont get the chance." That's when Aiden saw them. The bright, yellow pills.

"That's why you wouldn't let me tell you which safe house or what route. You knew what you were going to do. If you don't know where we are, you cant tell them. You knew all along."

"We both knew it would come to this, Aiden. You know it's what needs to happen. I have to stay behind."

"Lauren...I..."

"Dont. Aiden, please, I know but please don't say it. Please, Aiden, just go." Lauren fought back tears, still not turning to face the man she loved.

"Goodbye, Lauren."


Moments later, Lauren was left alone in the abandoned house,

Tick. Tock. Tick.