Polar Opposites

Matty

I'm trying so hard to concentrate on my book. It's a thriller - classic case of hero fights monster, but there are so many twists it's hard to predict what will happen. But I can't stop thinking about the girl. Ugh, it's incessant. I never think about a prisoner as much as this. I wish we had killed her when she first turned up at our door.

I remember back to the first time I had ever killed anyone. I was 14, and my dad had sent me out on a training exercise. Me and the other boys came across an investigator in the woods. He had started to pick up his radio to alert the station. I threw my knife directly into his chest.

I'll never know whether he was going to arrest us or not. All I felt was intense fear, and my reflexes took over. When I got back to the house, father came to see me in my room. I was distraught with guilt. He looked me in the eyes, and told me that I'd done the right thing. That all of the 'outside people' were dangerous and wouldn't stop to reason. That I should never let my emotions get the best of me. I nodded, and a steel shield had encircled my heart. Who is this girl to break into it?

Frustrated, I slam the book onto the bed and creep downstairs to see my father. He isn't in his study so I open the front door and step outside. The forest around me bristles in the wind, the trees whispering to each other as they blow from side to side. I can hear a jackdaw screeching in the distance. Its call sounds almost like laughter, as if it's mocking me for my weakness.

I take the path to mine and Robin's favourite spot, hoping for a chance to catch up to him. To my luck, he's stood in the clearing, chalking up a target on the large tree in front of me. He turns around as he hears my footsteps, agile and sly like a fox. It's strange, you wouldn't think him to be subtle, what with his large demeanour; triceps that could crush skulls, and thick, strong thighs which could hold up a building, but he moves delicately, barely touching the ground, as quiet as a mouse.

He smiles at me and beckons me over.

'Fancy a go?' he says, motioning to his box of axes, 'First to five gets your room.'

'You wish,' I scorn, 'We all know you'll do that in 10 seconds, and there's no way I'm handing over my room that easily.'

We smile at each other and turn to sit on the log behind us.

'So I take by your face you've met Lana' he says.

'Lana?'

'The chief's daughter. She gets under your skin right? She seems so innocent, but don't fall for it. She gave me this last night.'

He pulls down his sleeve to reveal a long, deep, wound, a long black scab already forming a ridge across it. It's curved, in the distinctive shape of a knife, like she dragged it across his skin. I stand up as I feel the rage bubbling up inside me, my ears turning bright red in anger.

' She could have killed you!' I spluttered, 'She almost nicked an artery, the little bitch!'

Robin seems amused by my outburst.

'We would do the same to her,' he chuckles, 'Maybe I've just found someone as bloodthirsty as you, huh?'

It's true, but it annoys me. How she made me think she wasn't a threat. How she tried to get me to feel sympathy for her. I wouldn't feel sympathy for her kind in a million years.

I sit back down on the log and turn back to Robin.

'I guess you're right,' I admit, 'Although let's be honest at least we would have done the job right!'

We talk for a while longer, till the sun starts to set, and then I return to my room. As I ascend the stairs, my father calls for me to come into his study. Reluctantly I go back down the stairs.

He smiles as I enter the room, teeth yellow with stress and decay.

'How has your day been?' he enquires? 'Have you done everything you need to?'

I nod and he relaxes and leans back in his chair.

'Good, good. I know you feel strongly about things but we must approach this... delicately.'

I grunt in agreement, and return to my room. It's cold so I light a fire, stirring up the old charred embers. As the warmth floods back into my body I lie down on my bed. It's early, not yet 9:00, but my body and mind aches for sleep. Quickly, I get changed and place my shoes under the bed. I pull back my duvet and slip under the covers. In less than two minutes, my mind is empty and I slip off out of consciousness.

Peace at last.