Phantom Thunder

Chapter 32

I couldn't sleep that night. The sun had long since gone when we reached the wide open field that Claice had pointed out on the map. The sky was cloudy and dark, and our way was lit with flashlights. As soon as we had reached the field, people dropped their packs, pulled out their blankets and lay down in the grass. But I stayed awake, staring at the empty sky while listening to the sound of over three dozen teenagers' heavy breathing.

It was a cloudy night, so I couldn't see the stars in the black infinite darkness above me. But instead of feeling claustrophobic because of the clouds, I could imagine the darkness stretched out above me to the corners of the universe.

Spark lay to my left. His breathing was even. I'd been positive he was asleep until he started humming a tune. I immediately recognized it as 'counting stars.'

I looked over to see him also staring up at the sky. "Counting the stars as well?" I asked.

"Something about star gazing is calming."

"Even if there's no stars."

"Just because you can't see them doesn't mean they aren't there."

"Ooh nice quote," I remarked.

He hesitated. "Was that sarcastic?"

Honestly I didn't know how to answer that. I didn't even know how I felt anymore. I shrugged, but after a few moments of silence it occurred to me that he couldn't see me in the dark.

"I don't even know anymore," I sighed.

Something brushed up against my hand. My immediate response was to pull away and create a weapon before I realized that it was Spark's fingers. They slowly intertwined themselves around my own. This time, he didn't have to give me a relax speech.

Within a few minutes his breathing evened back out and I could feel his hand relax into my palm as he faded away into unconsciousness. As soon as sleep stole him away from me I felt strangely alone. Worry crept from the field back into my mind. The only thing that kept me anchored to reality was Spark's lifeless hand in mine. And eventually it was enough to lead me into the realm of restless dreams.

-

Sunlight danced across my eyelids, coaxing them open. It was dawn. Clouds still scattered across the sky, but between the gaps I could see the last of the fading stars. The morning rays of sunlight were filtered through the spaces between the clouds. Knives and Titan were awake, talking in hushed voices. Other than that, the field was still and quiet.

I shook Spark awake. He sat up so fast his head almost hit mine. "What is it?" He asked. He stumbled over his words as he spoke them. Maybe his brain was awake but his tongue was still sluggish.

"Umm nothing?" I said, unsure if that was the appropriate answer. I shook my head to clear the confusion. "It's dawn."

"Oh." He looked embarrassed. "Okay."

He ripped out a handful of grass, than reached over and dropped it all over Seth's face. Seth was awake in a moment. His thrashing was proceeded with a long string of cuss words which was enough to wake up at least half the sleeping silverbloods. There were a few muttered complaints, but they were hushed when people realize it was dawn and they were meant to get up anyways.

Spark looked over and winked, but despite acting relaxed he was biting his lip in nervous tension.

"This is it Commander."

I didn't know how I was supposed to feel about that. I let him help me to my feet. I opened my pack and pulled out the little gadget Claice has given to me. I zoomed out on the map so the focal point was on the centre of the screen, encompassing a ten kilometer radius. The little pulsing sphere that represented our current location was clinging to the edge of the screen like it didn't want to go any closer to the breaking point.