You make me feel special

Chapter 3

Today was a day off as some might say. We get to do whatever we want. Walk around the prison. Go outside of the prison. Jason had told me to be ready before lunch time. I knew he was going to take me somewhere. Whether for protection or just to hang out together. We haven't seen each other that much lately. He's been busy. He didn't tell me much about it. So that left unanswered questions. But I was okay with it. Aiden and I have unintentionally made a habit of sleeping in my room. Together. But I'd prefer it than getting nightmares. And I think deep down he does too. Every meal we have all together or breakfast and dinner is spent with the guards and soldiers table combined. It's the new normal. People still haven't got used to it, but we have. The soldiers are interesting people. The stories they tell. This is all new to them, so they ask questions, and we answer. Exchange stories. But I refuse to tell mine. They ask. I don't answer. They don't need to know. Aiden never questions it. Tells them to leave me alone. They don't question him, but the guards do. They question his motive. The guards are protective of me. Especially Nick. He knows some of my nightmares. He was there. Aiden doesn't tell stories to anyone except me. Even though they are brief. I still learn more about him. I tell him some of mine but not the deep dark stuff. Maybe another day. He's told me about his life outside. The freedom. I've told him about my life inside, and the occasional life outside. I've lived both inside and outside. Punished for actions that weren't mine. I had told Aiden and Nick before that I was going with Jason to lunch outside. They didn't say much but I knew they were both worried about me. We spent the whole time together before I had to go. There was one now there is two. But rarely three. I wished and hoped that the four of us could all be around together. They were my group. My clique some people might say.

"Are you ready Nova?" Jason asked walking towards me.

"Yep, but you still haven't told me where we are going." I say.

"It's a surprise." Jason said.

"You know I don't like surprises." I answer.

"I know. I know." Jason says.

He leads me out of the prison doors, but we still had the fence. To keep them out. They started showing up every day. The fear filling the air from where we used to smell the roses and the cleanness. But now all I smell is fear. They've invaded our space. They had theirs. But now they are in ours. Protesting in our area. I just wished they'd leave us alone. They had no right being in the front of the only building where we were safe. Safe from them. They saw us exit the building and starting shouting and crowding the way out.

"KILL THEM ALL"

"BURN THEM"

"THEY DON'T DESERVE TO LIVE WITH US"

"THEY DON'T BELONG HERE"

Those were the words they'll shout every time. They clearly don't know how to change it up. We have every right like they do. I'd had enough. I was so sick and tired of being treated like this. We were both humans. Both people. Why must one die because they aren't the same as them. Why must one die at all. It didn't make sense.

"We are here because of you. You are the problem. Not us. You don't hear us saying to kill you, to burn you, that you don't belong here, that you don't deserve to live among us. Yet you come here drenched with fear. Ruining the only place, we are safe without you. You are a disgrace to humankind." I say annoyed.

I shouldn't speak out against them. You can't win. They stared at me mouths opened slightly. None of us have ever stood up against them. In order, to be a leader for change we need to speak out. Turn them down and away. We might live in a prison but it's a sanction from people like them. None of them moved. None of them spoke. Frozen in time. The police officers showed up pushing them out of the way. Arresting those who tried to attack us as we walked through the fence. All it takes is for one voice to stand up to burn those loose threads avoiding change. To create a momentum for something better. A man ran up to us knife in hand. Running straight towards me. I looked at him. He was afraid. I was not. I grabbed the knife when he went to push it into my chest. Snapping it out of his grip. Anger was trying to take control of me. I knew in that moment I was about to lose control. I took a deep breath and held onto the little control I had. I had the knife. So, what was I going to do with it. I shoved it back into him and flung his body as far away from me as I could. Not only protecting myself from losing control but protecting him as well.