Hollow Veins

Chapter Thirty Two; In His Past

Jaden sat in an old house, pistol by his side, computer in his lap. He messed around on it for a while. Nothing new going on. The usual, Stay Hidden, Stay Safe, message on every headline. Sighing he closed it. There was barely a scrap of information now a day. He should probably find someplace else to stay the night. Jaden wasn't quite sure of it's secureness. The setting sun cast a warm glow through the cracks of the boarded windows. It slowly dimmed. Darker and darker. Jaden shook his head, he needed to focus. He stood and reached for his bag. A creak ran through the house. Jaden froze, heart pounding. More creaks, footsteps. Jaden lifted his gun and crept into the kitchen, where shuffling sounded. A figure crouched, rifling through cabinets. He just needed to- the guy whirled around. To Jaden's dismay he held a shot gun. The guy's words were quick and strong, "Drop it." Jaden gritted his teeth and mentally cursed himself. He dropped his gun. The guy stepped a little closer, peering at Jaden, "Your just... a kid..." Jaden narrowed his eyes, unable to answer. The guy looked curiosly at him, "What's your name?" Jaden pointed at his mouth then shook his head. "You... can't talk," The kid was clearly upset over that fact. Jaden was confused by this behavior. After all the guy was pointing a gun at him yet he was sad for him. "You know sign language?" Jaden was bewildered. This guy hadn't laughed at him for his disability, felt sorry for him, and was trying to communicate with him? Jaden signed, "What are you doing?" The guy nodded, "So you do know it." Jaden blinked, "I don't know what your problem is-" He lowered his gun, "I'm not trying to hurt you." Jaden stared in complete confusion. "I'm Jasper." Jaden slowly signed, "Jaden... why do you care?" Jasper shrugged and repeated, "You're just a kid." He crouched and grabbed a backpack on the ground. He removed a bottle of water and tossed it to Jaden. Jaden looked at him in suspicion, "Why?" Jasper smiled, "I have an offer to make you..."

Jaden stumbled through the trees. His side hurt less than usual. The green light cast through the trees was a little eerie. Ari walked next to him, looking a little out of it. "Gonna throw medicine at me?" He joked. She barely looked at him. He snapped his fingers. Ari glanced over, "What?" Jaden shrugged, "I asked if you were going to throw medicine at me." She rolled her eyes, "Already gave you some this morning." "It... was a joke." Ari kept walking forward. Jaden looked at her, "Forget how to talk?" She pierced him with a look, "You're teasing me about not talking?" They walked in silence for a minute, then Ari said with a hint of guilt in her voice, "Sorry." Jaden signed, "I guess I asked for it. Guess what I meant was, are you ok?" "That means, are you ok?" "Hey, you aren't gonna catch me being sappy much." "Not what I would call sappy, Jaden." He tilted his head, "Are you avoiding my question?" Ari shrugged, "I'm fine, just tired. How's your side?" "Still hurts a lot but less than before, and I can walk a lot more than before." Ari nodded and stared forward, lost in thought. Jasper called up to them that it was time for a break.

A few hours after sunset, they made camp. Prince chattered on and on until Aaron suggested duck tape. Prince smirked, "It's nice to be appreciated." Jaden signed to Ren, "Should we tell him?" She whispered back, "I don't know, he might die of shock." Prince grinned, "You all are so jealous." Ren squinted, "Yeah, no." Jasper smirked, "Oh no, guys the delusion is going to his head. There's no going back." Ari raised her eyebrows, "What do you mean 'back'? I swear his first words were me." Prince laughed, "I didn't even know you then." Ari smacked him upside the head, "You know what I meant." He hid behind Jasper, "What are you talking about?" Ari glared at him. "...Ok for the record it would be moi," Prince added. Ari folded her arms, "Someone hit him." Jasper raised his eyebrows at Prince. Prince backed up, almost tripped over a log and raised his hands. Ari looked around, "I would pay someone to hit him." Prince blinked skeptically, "With what?" Ari thought for second, "I wouldn't hit them." Jasper shrugged at Prince, "I don't know dude, that's a pretty good offer." Prince narrowed his eyes, "I swear if you-" Ari threw a stick at him. "How many times are you gonna throw things at me?" Aaron spoke, "Probably as much as it takes to shut you up. Again, have we considered duck tape?" Ari looked around at them, "Or a bullet." "Woah, woah, woah," Jasper laughed. "Hey, wait I didn't agree to this," Prince said. Aaron smirked, "You did when you were born." Ari said, "Do we need to play the quiet game?" They all looked at her. Jasper smirked, "First one to talk gets slapped." They all sat still except Ari who picked up a package of dried beef, ready to hit whoever talked. Alice pinched Jasper, who was sitting next to her. Jasper jumped, "Ow!" Ari flung the package. Whack! The others laughed. Jasper rolled his eyes at Alice, "Cheater." Alice grinned, "Hey, we didn't make any rules." Jasper shrugged, "Guess that's fair." Ari laughed, "Honestly guys, we can't shut up for five minutes." Aaron held up a roll of duck tape and raised his eyebrows. Prince backed away from him, "Oh, don't you dare." Aaron shrugged and put away, "Hey, remember the creek? I very much dare." "Someone stop him." "Hey, I put it away." Then Aaron whispered to Alice, "For now."

Alice volunteered for the first watch. She sat up, near Aaron, waiting for the others to fall asleep. She wanted to talk with him, to see if they were on the same track. The leaf canopy spread far and wide, with an occasional glimmer peeking through it. Alice watched as the others, one by one began drift off. Jasper seemed the most restless. He tossed and muttered, until finally he calmed and seemed to be fully asleep. Finally, after an hour or two, they were the only ones awake. Alice scootched closer to Aaron, "Hey, what's up?" Aaron glanced at her, then the others. He swallowed then spoke, "It's weird. They don't seem like the type of people to do that kinda thing but... it seems pretty black against them." She nodded. Jasper and Prince, probably some of the nicest people she'd ever met. And yet... "I know. It took me so long to accept the fact that Jasper... left. It's... strange." He sighed, "We just need to keep it in mind what they might be up to." "Might. There could be a chance-" Aaron interrupted her, "Ok but even if they aren't planning that, Jasper, at least, is hiding something." "Yeah he... he is." Aaron rolled over, "Just remember that."

Alice stretched. She was getting pretty tired. Maybe she should- Jasper sat up, gasping. He locked eyes with Alice and his eyes filled with panic. He scrambled backwards. She quickly moved over towards him, "Jasper, it was just a dream. It's ok." His fearful, puzzled expression calmed. He rubbed his face, then blinked. He fell back and moaned a little, "It's... it's just you. Thought... you were... nevermind." He breathed in slowly. "Are you ok?" She asked, rather sheepishly. Jasper nodded, "Fine, just... not fun." He pushed himself up again and looked around, his lips moving as his eyes rested on each person, counting them. "Everyone's alright," Alice said, putting a hand on his shoulder. He nodded, his eyes fixing on hers, "You're fine?" She nodded. "It's ok," She said again. Jasper nodded again, slowly. He continued studying her, "Seemed... real. Too real." Jasper glanced at her hand and gently brushed it off, "You don't have to-" He didn't finish that sentence but instead started a new one, "I'm really alright." Alice looked him. Jasper closed his eyes and exhaled, "You need to sleep, I'll watch." She looked at him, feeling a little concerned, "You sure?" He nodded, "Don't think I can fall asleep again, anytime soon. Might as well be useful." She nodded went back to her own spot. Frustration at not understanding his motives filled her.