Petals on The Moon || Reyna Ramirez-Arellano x Fem!OC

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SUKI

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Reyna and I were forced out of the legion by guards with pointy sticks and angry faces, which made me think of The Maze Runner. Only we didn't have an incurable disease. We were just falsely accused of being liars.

We didn't go very far. We exited through the Caldecott Tunnel and hiked through the woods. But we didn't bother using the money we were given to buy plane tickets "back home" or food or anything. We found a craggy rock, sat on it with a shared bag of chips and jug of water, and bundled up in our winter coats.

"This was a fail," said Reyna. I was glad they let us shower before we left. Her hair was still slightly damp, and for once, she didn't braid it. She had it pulled back, but a few pieces were messily scattered around her face. I hid my own hair behind a thick grey beanie. I don't know why, but cold ears make me feel terrible. "I guess it's good we prepared for this."

"We're good planners," I said. "At least Jason and Sebastian aren't in too much trouble." I pursed my lips and looked at her. "You didn't have to take the fall, though."

"It didn't change much of the outcome."

"But you still did it."

"Of course," said Reyna. I waited. "You've been kicked around since you got there. It's only fair."

I felt like I was losing my sense of fairness and justice. "I guess so. Thank you."

"You're welcome." She popped some Cheetohs in her mouth. "What time is it?"

I looked at the watch Lisa had given me. "Half past seven." I covered my watch back up. "We've been here for twenty-seven minutes."

She sighed. There was Cheetoh dust on her lips. "Long night."

Long night, indeed. We slept intermittently. Reyna woke up from a nightmare while I was trying not to panic over a big bug I saw. I woke up because something in the woods sounded like a big animal. We shivered and huddled together for warmth. Naturally, this was the one night in California that actually got cold.

But then, around midnight, Reyna woke up very suddenly. She was completely tucked into her coat and her pants, so she resembled a lump of coal.

"Hi, Reyna," I said to her. "Chilly?"

She stared at me. "You really don't remember living in England?"

"Like I said, bits and pieces," I told her, which was the truth. "I've read about it before because I never understood why I don't remember, but it can be a trauma block..." I frowned. "Why did you ask that as soon as waking up?"

"I had a dream about you," she said. "When you lived in England."

"What dream?" I asked curiously.

She pursed her lips. "I don't know if I should tell you."

I frowned. "Please? I want to remember. I wish I had been journaling at that age so I could remember."