We're Broken People

Chapter Seven

Our footsteps echoed as we took each step, making me frightened by every movement. Xavier occasionally looked at me with a smile beaming from his face. Teeth perfectly straight, green eyes dancing. I began grinning more often.

"Almost there," he whispered, although it wasn't too quiet. We were in a hallway I had never been brought to. Above a doorway, black words glinted off the fluorescent lights.

"To The Stairwell".

Xavier must have seen my eagerness because his hand quickly grabbed my arm. "Not yet." He gestured near the corner of the wall where a slight movement caught my eye. A camera swiveled around, as if excited to find a victim. Xavier's breath stayed smooth and steady, but mine quickened and became uneven. The camera meant we were not alone, and we were never going to go unnoticed.

"Gwen," his grip on my arm loosening, "When I say go, you have to run as quick as you can to that door." My faint nod didn't seem to convince him. He sighed. "Do you want to go outside and feel free?"

I closed my eyes, letting my breath slow and pace itself. "I trust you."

Seconds passed by, these turned into minutes, and finally his voice whispered in my ear, "Run." My feet left the floor, and time seemed to move slowly. The camera glided away from us, our feet pounded on the tile, hearts beating faster and faster as we bolted to the door. I could feel my muscles releasing and pulling as my legs pumped. The door handle was cold, and with little difficulty, we pried it open.

A burst of cold air burned my face as I entered the stairwell. My breath caught and I half laughed, half choked out a sigh of relief. "I haven't had to run that fast since I was four." I looked over to Xavier, who stood leaning against the metal door, bent over and panting.

"Damn, you can run fast." His soft chuckle bounced off the walls. His glance went upwards to the stairs, and his lips turned down. "Are you ready for a little more exercise?" While I stood trying to catch my breath, Xavier began the trek up to the roof. I soon followed with regeneration to my steps.

The higher we went, the colder the air became. I was unaware of the date, but judging by the freezing weather, it had to be mid-December. My cotton long-sleeve did little to stop the cold from seaping into my bones. As I followed Xavier, my breath quickened, the feeling of the Shadows present in my mind, only his constant reassurance kept me going.

"Let's go". Xavier opened yet another door, now leading to the outside world.

I hesitated,"Won't there be cameras out here too? Can't they see us?"

"They don't expect anyone to get this far."

He stepped into the cold night.

My breath caught. The stars gleamed, burning through the dark sky. Clouds danced around in the sky, and the wind pushed them in a silent melody. The fence that surrounded the asylum was towering around the courtyard. However, I hardly noticed due to the stunning waltz in the air.

Xavier glanced over to me. "How long has it been since you were out here?"

My mind went blank. How long had it been since I'd seen the night sky? Felt the wind through my hair? I whisper,"Twelve years..."

Silence quickly follows, but we gazed up at the sky. I could feel his eyes on me, but I didn't dare look. His hand inched over to mine. I felt his fingers wrap around mine, and they pull me to my feet abruptly.

"What?" I giggle through shock.

"You said Marshall always calls you a caged bird. Well, let's escape!" Xavier pulled me over to the edge, having us both teetering on the brink of death. My breathing caught in my throat as I saw the sickening drop.

"Xavier," i stammered through closed teeth,"Lets go sit back down."

A frown appeared over his gorgeous features, making him look villainous. He pulled me back from the edge, staring numbly into my eyes.

"Because you didn't escape now, we must do it soon." He shuffled back to the door, awaiting my arrival. "A beautiful girl like you shouldn't be out in the cold anyway."

Of course, I blushed. It wasn't everyday I was called beautiful. "I can't be that pretty."

Xavier turned to me, shocked.

"How can you say you are not pretty when you are a cluster of stardust, a walking explosion of nebulas. There are constellations that knot your arteries together, you're beyond pretty, more like a spectacular sight for us all."

With a quick movement, he walked back inside. I followed, now with tears streaming down my face, happiness flooding though my veins. I glanced back once more at the sky, and then I disappeared back into my cell block.