Flame ➸ John Murphy

34

After her long journey, Wests feet walked her up to Arkadia. Her body told her she was tired, but her brain told her she wasn't. Her eyes widened as she walked up to the door.

Guards hurried out and surrounded them. Seeing Jaha, they targeted their guns on West and Otan. West watched calmly as the guards attacked Otan and soon Otan was laying on the floor dying. She watched without a single flinch as the gun went off.

"Medic! We need a medic!" A guard called.

Jaha leaned over the boy as Abby ran out of the gates. Her eyes widened when she saw Jaha and West. Abby ran to Otan, pronouncing him dead.

"What are you doing here?" Abby asked as she looked between the two.

"We've come to help the people of Arkadia," Jaha smiled. "We have found the City of Light."

Abby lead them into Arkadia where people stared. West didn't notice their glares as she walked by. The doctors walked them into the Ark where she saw people standing around a table.

Turning around, the group saw West and gasped. Raven, Jasper and Monty stood around a table full or random technological pieces. They all stared at West as if they were staring at a ghost.

West imagined herself running towards them. Her arms wrapping them in a hug as she told them about her time away. All she wanted to do was cry in their arms, but she stood still.

"West, is that really you?" Jasper asked.

His eyes moved up and down the girl. Her hair had gotten longer and her skin paler. The monotonous look on her face made Jasper uneasy.

"Hi Jasper," West nodded to him.

The group stood in their places, still staring at her in wonder. Looking next to her friends, West saw Alie. After Alie nodded, West walked over to her friends.

As she stepped in front of them, they grabbed her in a hug. West slowly wrapped her arms around them. Pulling away, West stared at them with a small smile on her face.

"Where have you been?" Raven asked.

"That doesn't matter. What does is that I found The City of Light," West explained.

"You found it?" Jasper asked, his eyes lighting up.

West nodded as she reached into her pocket. Pulling out a pill, she showed it to the group. Raven picked it up as she examined it.

"What is it?" Monty asked.

"It's the key to The City if Light," West smirked. "A place with no pain. A happy place."

"Are you serious?" Jasper questioned.

"You can be happy. Not feel pain, fear or sadness ever again," West said.

"You're full of crap," Raven scoffed. "There's no way to eliminate pain."

West tried to speak, but couldn't. Looking over Ravens should, she saw Alie.

"She's full of pain," Alie said. "She's scared to have it taken away."

"Think on it Raven," West said, placing the pill in the girls hand. "I think you'll want it."

West then pulled two more pills from her pockets, placing them in Monty and Jaspers hands. Before they could question her more, she walked off.

West wanted to stay and talk, but instead her feet forced her to the room she used to stay in. Opening the door, she saw that it was the same. The few items that had been left behind were still exactly where they had been left. Even the way she had thrown off her blanket the night she left had remained the same.