alive

seven

Ace

The next three days, we continued practicing with guns until we knew that they were at least a little comfortable with using them. Kai pretty much kept to herself over the those days, probably because Felix and Kate were too nervous to ask for help, as if Kai would flip out on them again if they said a word to her. 

After our daily run, we all grouped together around the dining table that was large enough to fit around 13 people. "Today we'll be showing you how to properly use a knife or anything similar, and also how to properly take care of a stab wound," I explain to the teenagers and they all nod. "This time we'll all work together, and we'll pair up," I continue, and once again, they nod. It freaked me out how they all nodded in sync, and I'm still getting used to being around so many people, that's what two years by yourself will do to you.

I grabbed the black handle to one of the knives and walked over to the large tree on the side of our cabin. "Okay," I glanced at the group behind me, and Kai who was sitting on the wooden table beside me, staring at the dagger she was spinning around while the tip of it was stabbed into the table. I knew she was zoned out, but she already knew all of this, so she didn't need to hear it. "With knives and things similar to them, you have to be as fast as possible, while still being aware of your surroundings," I say, looking back at them. I was thinking about how I would demonstrate on a tree, but I couldn't find a way. "Kai," I call my sister's name and she quickly looks at me. "Stand here," I order her, she gets up and walks over to me.

I grab a thick stick that was on the ground and replace it with my knife, since I was now practicing on a person, I had to be careful. I quickly grab my sisters wrist and flip it behind her back so that her back was now against my chest while I held her wrist against her shoulder blades, I was about to bring the stick to her waist, but she flipped around, a smile on her face as she kicked my stomach, ramming me into the tree. It knocked the wind out of me for a moment because of how hard my spine hit the tree. "Seriously, Malakai?" I shout at her with a glare, rubbing my aching stomach. "What?" she shrugs, "I'm showing them how to defend themselves if someone comes up to them with a knife," She says, amusement in her eyes. "Stop acting like a child, go sit back down. Arden, come over here," I say, Kai walks back to the table and continues spinning her dagger in circles. I let out an annoyed sigh as Arden walks up to me.

He was wearing a gray tank top and shorts. His outfit looked better suited for this than my outfit did, I was wearing jeans and a black t-shirt. I grab his wrist and do the same thing I did with Kai, pinning his left wrist against his shoulder blades, and I poke the dull stick into Arden's waist. I did it once again, but slower so they could see it better.

I showed them many other ways to stab someone before pairing everyone up. "Felix and Kate together, and Arden and Gus together, then we'll switch," I tell the group and throw them each some thick sticks. While they did that, I walked over to Kai and took a seat in front of her. "Okay, you have to tell me what's going on," I say, she looks up from her dagger and her eyes meet mine. "You've been acting seriously inappropriate, and quite frankly, immature. I am trying to teach them how to do something very important and you are not taking it seriously," I scold my younger sister and she sighs. I was relieved to hear, "You're right," from her mouth. She straightens her back and watches the group following my instructions. She let out another sigh, but it was more shaky and sets the dagger down on the table. "I don't know what's wrong with me," She says, her voice breaking as she drops her head into her hands.

"I screamed at the one person I never, ever, ever, wanted ever to scream at, and now she's scared to even look at me," She continues, her head still in her hands. She looks up and tears fill her beautiful light green eyes, the tears fall off her long eyelashes and roll down her cheeks. "I'm constantly showing her how much of a failure I am. I continue to disappoint her every single fucking day." I wasn't sure how to handle this, it's been so long since my sister broke down in front of me. "I'm terrified to lose her," she admits. I wasn't sure which of the girls she was talking about, but I walked to her side of the table and wrapped my arm around her, letting her tears fall onto my shoulder. I wanted to assure her that it would be okay, but I know it wouldn't help, plus, Kai and I are both pessimists, she wouldn't believe it. I just sit in silence and let her cry on my chest. I watched the group, thankfully, they were too focused to see Kai having her moment.