The Symbol

Chapter 4- Capture the Flag

Lily's POV

I had been in and out of Zero's room for three days, and now he was out and about. He still walked carefully, and grabbed things in the same way, but Astrid had cleared him from bedroom prison. That's what he called it. "HEY!"

Queenie was running towards me. "You're on my team for capture the flag."

"What?"

"The Walkers are playing capture the flag later. And you're on my team."

"Ok?"

"We're team red, got it?"

"Got it."

Should I have stayed in my room? Yes.

Did Queenie let me stay in my room? No. Neither did Astrid. Now I had a red band tied around my arm, and a mask on. It was one of Astrid's. Thank goodness not Queenie's. I did not want to have a sparkly mask. I look across the field to the Blue Team. Zero raises an eyebrow at me from the other team. Crap. This was going to be fun.

So close... I could see the blue team's flag, but I was looking around for enemy players. Sneaking from tree to tree, getting closer and closer...

"No sign of the red team." Oh crap. Zero. I hold my breath and keep perfectly still.

"Nothing on the west side either." Someone I didn't know.

"Ok, take the south side. I'll get north."

"Got it."

I hear footsteps walking away. I wait for about thirty seconds, then move. "Where do you think you're going?" A hand grabs my wrist, and pulls me close. Zero spins me around and pins me to a tree. "I think it's obvious what I was trying to do."

"Yes. But now you're my prisoner."

"Uh-huh. I know." He doesn't move. In fact, he pulls one hand away and hooks a finger around the strap of my mask. He pulls it off and brushes a strand of hair out of my face. "Beautiful..." he mumbles to himself. I flush pink. "Why did you put a mask on?"

"So I could blend in."

"Your eyes give you away."

"Do they?"

"Yes. They seem to glow when the light hits them just right." I blush and look away. He takes my chin between his thumb and finger and pulls me back to look at him. I reach up to his mask, wrapping a hand around the band of it. He flinches, but doesn't stop me. I pull it off. His lips are slightly parted, and it looks like he needs a shave. I memorize every part of his face, so I could save it in my memory forever. That's when I notice that I'm still pinned to a tree, and the hand that had removed my mask now rested on the base of my neck. Then I notice how close he is. "Zero..." I'm interrupted by the touch of his lips against mine. Oh. My. GOD. Thoughts seem to pass quicker than the speed of light. Then he kisses me again. Thought stops, and I just let myself feel. The hand on my neck slips into my hair, pulling me closer, his lips becoming more heated and needy. I'm pretty sure if he couldn't hear my heart before, the entire forest could now. Zero nibbles at my lip, requesting entrance. "ZERO!!!! WHERE ARE YOU?" Immediately he jerks away and pulls his mask on. "Act like I just caught you." He murmurs into my ear. I nod, still stunned from his kiss. "Over here! I caught this one right about to grab the flag."

"Well caught or not we won."

"Aw man, I wanted to bring her to jail."

"Well, sorry." Game over I guess.