Dusk

Chapter 20

The light of the ship is fading and the sound of the wind is deafening. I press the button for my helmet so I can breath and I look one last time at the ship and I see something moving by it. I can't tell what it is. It's getting closer though. It's Jacob! The ship starts to turn and head for me as well. He's almost close enough for me to grab his hand. Inches away. I'm scared to see how much time I have left before I hit the ground. Finally I grab his hand and he starts pulling me with him. I see the ship getting closer. He flys towards her and the doors open. We get closer and finally we fly into the ship. The doors start closing. I turn the helmet off and my breathing is heavy. As is Jacobs. I see Neon laying on the ground. Blood on his lip from where I hit him. "I don't think he's in a dream state. He knew what he was doing. Something is wrong though. His eyes had a little red in them." "Let's see how far away we are."

We head up to the cockpit and I see the doors opening as we start descending to the ground. "Fly right into there." She doesn't say a word. I go to the bathroom to clean my hands of the blood. I look in the mirror and I see a cut on my forehead I didn't notice before. I get a rag and wipe the blood away. The taste of my blood is in my mouth because of my cut lip. I look in the mirror again. It's funny how a reflections can change...

"Parker! Let's go." I hear Jacob say. I come out of the bathroom and I feel us land. The doors start to open and guards rush in grabbing my friends. They take them away and I see my mother. I walk over to her and she sees the cut on my head. "Are you ok?" She looks at me with her caring eyes. I missed them. It's been so many years though. I'm not sure what to feel. "I'm fine. We need to interrogate them. They all wanted to kill me. I need to find out why." I say in a firm voice. I can tell she wasn't expecting me to say that so sternly. I walk away without her reply. Jacob joins me. "Hey what's wrong?" "Why does it matter to you?" I snap back. He gets in front of me and puts his hand on my shoulder, stopping me. "Because I'm your brother. Like it or not I'm here. Now what's wrong?" I don't look up right away. When I do I don't say anything. My feelings won't turn into words. All I can say is "Brea..." I whisper it. "What happened?" "I don't know. Somethings not right though.. NOTHINGS RIGHT!" I finally yell. He remains silent. "Come on. Let me show you your room."

We walk down hallways. My head down. Emotions building up inside me. All I want to do is scream. Run. Die.

We get to a hallway with doors all down it. Numbers on each one. "This one's yours, number 9578. Here's the key." He hands me a clear card with the numbers 9578 on it. There's a communicator on the side of your bed. If you need anything, call me first. Got it?" "Why you?" "Just trust me." I look up at him and I say "ok."

I insert the card and the door unlocks. I go in and the door closes behind me. This place is alot different from Carters. The walls are metal. Almost looks like a jail cell. The bed is inside the wall. Everything is a dark grey. I pick up the communicator. It's a flat piece of glass with a button on the side. I press it and it has a phone and a map on it. I click the map and it shows me the whole base. I see a point that says "Training room." I put the communicator back down and I look at the card sitting on the bed. It reads "There are clothes in the dresser." I sit it back down and walk over to the dresser. I press a button and it slides out. There's a bunch of black clothes in it. I pull out a tank top and shorts. I take the suit off and put these clothes on. As I am I see the scars on my back through the giant mirror on the wall. I'm not healing as fast anymore. Parts aren't at all. I put the shirt on and grab the communicator. I open the door and walk out, it slides shut right after. I head down the hallways. People stare as I past. I stare at the ground. Trying not to make eye contact with anyone. I hate the attention. It takes me a few minutes until I get there. I look up and I see the door. I open the door and there are people who look stronger than me. Bigger than me. They all stare at me as I make my way to the punching bags, but as I do, two men stop me and one puts his hand on my still hurt shoulder. "Don't touch me." I say stern. I look at him with a dirty look. He's taller and bigger than me. His hair is black, darker skin. "And who's gonna stop me?" I look at him with rage in my eyes. "You really want to make me mad?" "It's not like your gonna do anything about it now are you." He says as he leans a little bit closer to my ear. "Big mistake." I grab his shirt and sweep his legs and throw him over my shoulder. He slams onto the floor. The breath knocked out of him. The other guy puts his hand on my shoulder and I turn and slam my fist into his face. The impact almost hurts my hand. I push him to the ground. I look at everyone staring at me. I feel another hand on my shoulder, I turn and slam my fist into whoever's was there. After, I realized it's Jacob. "What the heck man!?" "I'm sorry! I didn't know it was you!" "Even if it wasn't, why would you?" "They asked for it." I look back at them, helping eachother up. "That doesn't mean you go and beat them!" I look back at him and say "Don't tell me what to do." In a very stern voice. "Don't do this Parker. You don't want to go against me." "And why not?" The crowd starts yelling. They want us to fight. I look over at the boxing arena. "Come on let's settle this." I start walk over to it. I get up there and look back at him. He stands there. He looks down for a second, debating on it, then looks back at me and starts walking. I hear him whisper "You asked for this." He gets up there and we get in separate corners. Everyone gathers around. "Ready?" He asks. I nod. He charges at me. I charge back. He screams and then slams into my chest. He sends me falling to the ground with him on top of me. He starts punching my face. With every blow I feel me getting stronger somehow. I start seeing a faded tint of red in my eyes. It pulses through me like fire. Burning me with power. I look at him and push my legs underneath him and throw him off of me. He goes sliding to the wall. I get up and start walking towards him. I almost don't feel in control. I get all the way to him and when he tries to get up. I slam my fist into his face. Blood splatters onto the floor from his mouth. I punch him over and over and over again! I can't stop myself! I hear someone yell. It's hard to make out what they said, finally I hear. "PARKER STOP!" I look over and it's my mother. The red in my eyes completely covers my vision. I stand up and start walking towards her. I pause. I look down. I fall to my knees and then I hear a incredibly loud ringing in my ear. And all at once. I'm out...