The Future: Specials

Chapter 17

Lena's POV

" That isn't how it's supposed to be. I'm supposed to save you. Not the other way around." I stood up quickly scaring Jock away.

" Kendal. Do you really think that matters to me?" I ask looking into his eyes. He had a since of longing. He wanted to matter, he wanted to be a hero. The truth is, he is my hero. He gave me hope in that stupid camp. He kept me alive. He kept me going when I needed it most.

" To be honest, yes." He answers shaking his head.

I looked away hurt. I wanted him to know how much he meant to me. I want him to understand.

" I wanna tell you something that nobody else knows. Not even Tonya or Tilar. Just you." I say pulling his arm for him to sit down again. He flips on the couch and pulls his hand away.

" When I was in that camp I was depressed. So depressed to where I couldn't feel the whips and gashes on my back. I was so numb. I saw a guy one day, in the Circle, he had been there a year before me. I saw them beat him. I saw them take the Cat Tail whip to his back so many times." My eyes felt heavy with tears as I wrung my hands nervously. " I wanted so desperately to save him from the cruelty that was being given to him." I closed my eyes and thought back to the very moment. " Two of those stupid guards held me back. They said that if I were to save him I got double what he did. I did it anyways."

His face sunk. " Lena, that was me."

I stared back at him shocked. " What?"

" Lena, I was the guy in the Circle they were beating. You saved me."

" But that can't be."

" You may not have recognized me then."

"Wow. Small world." I chuckled and looked down at my feet again. " When they threw us back into those cells thinking of you was what got me through. You may not realize it, but you are my hero. I used to think that it was some other guy that was my hero, but no it was you. I didn't want to live anymore. I always thought that if living meant being beat everyday, what's the point." I looked at him and smiled. " Then, one day I was in the Circle and, I really don't remember what happened, some guy saved me. It was you."

" So all this time you were thinking that some other guy was your hero, not knowing it was me?" He asks raising his eyebrows trying to hold back a laugh.

" Yeah. I guess I had some memory loss." I joked.

" You probably did."

" What do you mean?" I ask pulling my knees to my chest and allowing the dog to sit next to me.

" I mean, when you're beaten like that three times a day everyday, you go through memory loss. When you become so numb that you can't even feel pain anymore you tend to forget things."

" What about you?"

He looks at me and cocks his head. " What about me?"

" Have you forgotten things?" I crossed my legs and faced him.

" I don't remember my mother's name or if I have siblings,from the looks of pictures I would say I don't have any. I only remember bits and pieces of my life. I remember how I was treated at home." He pat his leg and Jock slowly and absent mindly followed his orders.

" Oh. I guess I remember everything. I don't feel a longing to know what life is like and I don't feel...empty."

" Then you do remember everything." He looks away and pretends to be interested in the wood work on the dresser in the living room.