The Miracle Place

2.

   JANE WOKE UP from another nightmare. Lucky for her, she wasn't screaming this time. Nothing good ever happened when she screamed. The cuffs on her hands were like iron fists, making it impossible to clutch the scratchy sheets to her chest as if it would help fight her demons. She was shaking and crying. Every shadow made her jump, even her own.

"Pssst." She nearly jumped out of bed when she saw a head poking through the wall. "It's alright, Flare. Just me." Though it was too dark to see, she knew it was Peter.

"What are you doing here?" she hissed. "You scared me."

Peter sat next to her, tucking himself under the blankets. He always did this. "Couldn't sleep. Neither could you, apparently."

Jane slid down onto her back, looking up at him through her wet lashes. "They'll kill you if they catch you," she whispered.

Peter just smirked smugly as always. "Then I won't get caught."

"How'd you get out?"

He rolled his eyes. "How do you think I got out?"

Ghost Boy is what they called Peter. It was a bit uncreative, but it went well with his ability to walk through walls and disappear on command. Jane called him Phantom, which was much cooler. In return, he called her Flare. He thought it was cute.

"Jane?" he whispered, poking her softly. She hummed tiredly. "Are you okay? Do you want to talk about it?"

She bit her lip as tears still poured freely. "Yes."

Peter slid down next to her. "Okay."

"But-"

He turned his head. "...But?"

She sighed. "I don't know if... I don't think I can right now."

"Okay." His chin dipped down at an uncomfortable angle. "You wear these all night?" he said, tapping the cuffs. "No wonder you can't sleep."

"They don't want me burning down the building."

Peter looked at her blankly. "You should," he said.

Jane pinched her brows together. "What?"

"Do it. Burn this place to the ground. They made you capable. Show them how all their hard work paid off," he scowled. "Maybe then, they'll learn their lesson."

Jane thought he looked deranged with the twisted gleam in his eyes. Peter had never sounded so violent and threatening, and Jane realized she'd been wrong about him. She thought Peter could never be intimidating. He'd always been so nice to the other kids, to her. His ghost-like abilities were hand selected for him. If he could create fire, he would gladly burn the place down. They knew that. They gave a soldier a bottle of bubbles as a weapon. Peter just hadn't figured out how to use it yet.

His eyes had softened, full of exhaustion. "Do you mind if I stay?"

"If you think you'll sleep better," said Jane.

Peter's sloppy half-smile dropped slightly. "Goodnight, Jane."

"Goodnight, Pete."

"Good morning, Sunshine!" Molly beamed at Jane as she walked in through the back door. Jane never told Molly where she slept. Not that she could. Because of that, she saw no point in making the woman feel guilty. "I'm gonna get you started on some breakfast, but I have something to ask you after. Hang on."