Page 63 of Uprising

“We?” I repeat as if the word makes no sense to me.

“I’m helping him. Helping Roman.”

I scoff. This is a joke. No way would Ty help Roman. He hates him. He hates all the Montagues. He always has. And more so since Roman killed Tybalt. He’s never forgiven Roman for murdering the brother that he looked up to like an idol.

“I am Rose. Do you think I’m happy to just sit here and watch all of this? Do you think I’m as fucked up as Darius is, as your father is?”

I don’t reply. But I can see he can tell what I want to say. That I did think that. That I believed that.

“I’m helping Roman.” He states.

“How?” I want facts, I want substance. Not just words.

My pain is turning to anger again. If Roman is alive, then why the hell has he left us here all these months? Why hasn’t he reached out? Why am I only hearing this now? I can feel myself shaking and it’s hard to tell if it’s from anger or pain.

“I’m passing information. I’m his spy.”

I scan his face trying to see the lie in those words.

“We’re going to show the entire city what Darius is.” He continues. “We’re going to dismantle his entire power structure and then we’ll cut off his head.”

“Why can’t you do that after?” I snap. “Why can’t you get rid of Darius first and then…”

“Because Roman tried that already. That’s what he was doing last time and look how that turned out.”

I look away. My body trembling to the point that it’s uncontrollable. I don’t know what to think. I don’t know how to process any of this right now.

“Trust me Rose, trust Roman, trust what we’re doing.”

“I want to help.” I say.

He shakes his head. “No, it’s too dangerous.”

“Seriously?” I reply. “You think I just want to stay here, waiting, enduring everything Darius does to me?”

He shuts his eyes. “No.” He says again.

“I can help. I have to help, I have to do something or I really will go mad. Besides, I know things you don’t. Darius tells me things.”

“What?”

I grit my teeth. Admitting this is shameful but I’ve been shamed so much it doesn’t matter now. None of it does. “He taunts me with things he’s doing, uses them as proof that I can’t beat him.”

His eyes flash bloody murder. “Alright.” He says. “Tell me what you know, but Roman can decide what to use of the information you give.”

I nod, my stomach fluttering like he’s actually giving me something.

And then we hear it, someone approaching. Ty loosens his arms, clearly trying to let me go, but I grab him back.

“Wait.” I say. “If you want to help, truly help, then get me something, anything that will mean I can’t get pregnant.”

“What?”

“You heard. Darius is fixated on it. I need to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

He physically shudders as if what I’m asking is repulsive and maybe in a way it is. Maybe it’s shameful to speak it but I won’t let him trap me, I won’t let myself become more connected to Darius than I already am.

“Okay.” He says.