the game

school starts

KATIE

Darkness sinks around us. It's dawn. The first day of university. Amy looks at me from her bed. There's a darkness between us.
We have to see everyone again.
I think we've both been dreading this day for so many reasons. Rose Cummings told us that her last year at crystal high was last year so naturally we thought she would be at the ceremony but she wasn't. In fact she wasn't anywhere to be found. She disappeared the second the shuttle pulled away from school.
More than that, Ken, Kally and Kassie haven't talked to me at all. They knew I would be here. I understand why Kassie hasn't. She thinks my mom betrayed her mom, but I know that's not true. The last conversation my mom had before we left I found out she had no idea the war even started. If I could only talk to her I'm sure I could explain things. I'm sure she'll listen. She has to.
She can't throw away our friendship so easily. She can't.

The other two I'm not so sad about. I never expected Ken to be a good person in the end. But I thought we might have made progress towards being friends after I found out my powers help heal him. But the look in his eyes after the ceremony told me otherwise. I told him if he needs my help in the summer I could help but his eyes were cold. He smiled and told me he'll be fine for the summer but in the school year he'd be much obliged. But there's something wrong with it. There's something wrong with his face.
The ocean in his eyes is as dark as the sky before a storm. I can't help but shiver thinking about it. All the warmth his eyes collected over the school year is gone. I think it's like Kassie. I hope it's like Kassie. I hope I can explain him back to being friends. But I guess only time Will tell.

Kally is the most surprising. She shook my hand at the end of the ceremony and told me she'd see me around. She hasn't reached out but I never thought she would. I thought she'd be the first one to desert me when they found out who my mom is. But it's not that way. Of all the people I had thought would stay by my side she was never one of them that I expected.

TERRENCE

Just like last year, the station is packed. The first face I recognize is ima. More like she recognizes me.
"Hi Terrence," she starts.
I nod noncommitedly.
"I'm sorry they picked for you to go to Jaden. It'll be a shame killing such a pretty face," she sneers.
I nod again.
"Really? You have nothing to say back," she spits.
I look at her curiously.
"I thought you'd be overjoyed. You don't like me. I know you don't. So what's with your demeanor?"
"Stay safe ima. It's dangerous out there," I say softly and then step up to the ticket booth.
A short little man smiles at me.
"First day of university, you must be excited," he squeals. I frown.
I guess I should be. It's a new beginning, only I know my end. My goal is revenge for my father, and I don't care how far I have to go. The day they murdered him is the day I became a murderer.
The day of the ceremony rose cummings disappeared like my dad. I guess it just added to the tally. I don't think they kept her alive either. That's the worst part. Luke and I figured that the second we couldn't find them they were murdered. I just don't understand how though. Unless they took them to the other world to kill them they'd just regenerate here. There's no point in killing someone. But I know my dad. If he was alive I'd know by now. And he hasn't said anything.
I wait on the shuttle as Luke steps on board. It feels odd when he walks up to me and sits down. I'm going to Jaden too. Now there's no shame in us being friends. Kally steps into the shuttle after him but doesn't immediately sit down with us.
There's something off though. Where's Kassie?
Kally must have decided it's okay to sit with us because she finally sits down.
"Hi Kally," I nod at her. She rolls her eyes at me.
"We are allowed to be friends this year, you know?" I laugh. She glares at me.
"I don't dislike you because of what dorm you were in last year. I dislike you because of your personality," she starts.
"Oh well if that's it, there's no problem. I'm sure we'll be best friends in no time." I laugh. She goes to retort but just then there's a gasp. Eyes flick towards the doorway.
Kassie is standing there, blushing like a rose. I smile and wave. She smiles back and comes to sit down.
"Hi," she says quietly, picking the seat next to me instead of Kally.
I furrow my brows and look off towards Kally. She looks sad, but as if this wasn't a surprise at all.
What happened over the summer?