It's not forgetting that heals. It's remembering- Amy Greene, Bloodroot
CHAPTER #3
Spring time came to Mount Horizon, slowly melting away the past. Once the fog lifted, the sunlight made people smile just a little bit more. Everyone was excited today, because the Cliff Hangers were taking on the Ridge Runners in a football game. The counsellors for each group were the coaches for their teams, so it was Peter against Roger. On Peter's team David was the quarter back and Scott the main receiver. Michael was the quarter back from the Ridge Runners. Auggie had become friends with him after they had settled their differences in the lake, but today they were opponents. The main receiver for them was Kyla, who was an all around good athlete. Winners of the game got to choose what was for dinner and be served by the loosing team.
David grinned, "I'm going to enjoy tackling that."
"You're a tool," Shelby said.
"Okay huddle up Cliff Hangers," Peter called to his team. They discussed the first play.
A coin toss determined which side had the ball first. Sophie was one of the referees and blew the whistle to start the game. The Ridge Runners kicked the ball and instead of Scott catching it, Chris did. She ran towards the sidelines, so she wouldn't get tackled. Sophie blew the whistle. The on lookers cheered. They got a touch down, when David connected with Scott on the next play. Everyone had to admit, that Scott definitely excelled in football.
David saw his opportunity to get his revenge on Chris. He grinned, knowing how to play chess, gave him the ability to plot a few steps ahead. He'd have to wait until they got the ball back, for his plan to work. Someone on the Ridge Runners team fumbled the ball, which was recovered by Auggie. This is what David had been waiting for. He put his plan into action. He pretended he was protecting Chris, who had the ball, but he let Michael take him and Chris down to the ground. David was on top of Chris, he had her pinned to the ground.
He took his time getting up and as he did, David said to Chris, "never mess with me Spaz. And don't you forget it."
His weight on top of her, being immobilized by it, compounded with those last words, sent her into a state of shock. She just lay there, eyes open, unmoving. She wasn't lying on the ground, but in a car on a seat, in the past.
When she didn't move, Sophie ran over. "Are you hurt Chris?" When she got no response, she called, "Peter!"
They picked her up and took her to the nurses station. Sophie and the nurse went over her, checking for broken bones. They didn't understand why Chris wasn't responding, since she had no physical injuries. Peter realized then what must be happening. Picking Chris up, he carried her to the dorm, laying her on the bed. Then he sat down in a chair and waited for her to come back to the present. He talked to her, encouraging her to respond. Outside the game continued and he could hear someone congratulate Juliette for catching the football. That made Peter smile, until he looked back at Chris.
Eventually she could hear him, Chris sat up and looked right at him. "Sorry. I'm fine, I just...." She didn't finish the sentence.
"What happened Chris? Where did you go in your mind?" Peter probed.
"No where."
"Come on, we both know you weren't lying on that field, you were remembering some other place and some other time. Talk to me Chris, give me a chance to help you."
Chris shook her head, "no. You don't understand, I can't talk about it."
"Why, what are you so scared of? You're strong, you proved that facing your fear of having people behind you and of heights," Peter reminded her.
