Fracted (Book #2)

Chapter 18: Splitsies

It didn't even matter if Eiffel was outside, she was listening and she didn't even need to try. I did have a point, Jackson is being too anxious. What did Eiffel ever do to him? To us? She's innocent, I thought.
"Have fun getting killed out there," Jackson said before heading out the door, "Remember, Jess, this isn't one of the things I need to help you with. This is all yours."
"Jackson, I'm--"
And he was gone. I am practically scared of him. I am having second thoughts on how I wanted him to be my brother. Brother, I thought. I never thought of it approximately like that. So I guess I used to want him as a brother. All seemed to crumble down.
"Wow," Sarra said, "Just wow."
"Yeah." Ace said.
"I swear, Jess," said Robert, "Me and Ace didn't say a word. Jackson just wanted some fresh air. He told us he's heard of a terrible news about us, Innates outside when he bought food."
"He's heard of it too." I softly said.
"Huh? What news?" Alice said.
"The news," I said louder, "I heard it too. They think we're--"
"Hold on a sec," Robert held his index finger above my lip, almost touching my nose. "Why did you wait to tell us?"
"It's bad trust me." I said.
"Like how bad?" Zach asked with a serious tone.
"Like swallowing a big pill that does nothing. So yeah, it's real bad."
"What did they say?" Sarra asked this time.
"They said about being 'failures in mutation'. That we're the number one enemy."
Alice gasped in horror and stood up.
"Those--"
"Alice sit down!" Zach commanded.
She sits on her legs and sighed
"It gets worse--" I was about to tell them about Mr. André, but the Zip walked in in a hurry.
"What happened... to Jackson? He seemed... mad." she asked, sounding like she ran two miles within a minute.
"What makes you say that?" Ace asked her.
"Because he pushed me. Hard."
"That--" I stood up this time. But Robert yanked me down before I could finish my sentence.
"He was mumbling about the news and you being stubborn." Eiffel said.
"Oh great. Now he's turned into my mom." I threw my hands around in fury.
"Speaking of, where is she? I thought she was with you guys." Zach said.
"Eh, she's just outside." I did not care. I didn't even pay attention to what I just said.
Eiffel sat down next to me, too close to make matters worse. I shifted closer to Robert. I kind of regret what I just did. I want to hold her hand, but I want to treat her like pathogens. I want to stay away from her as soon as possible, not unless we find a solution quick.
"What's our plan? To distinguish Jackson's fury? And finish our old teacher? I'd love a good idea." Zach said.
Eiffel mysteriously raised her hand for suggestions.
"Eiffel?" Robert asked. "Why?"
"I just have an idea. Can you please be patient with me at least this once?"
"Sure." Sarra said in a welcoming tone.
"Okay..."
Her voice trembled, so I gathered all of the mercy I have left inside me and leaned closer to her. I listened closely.
"I think Jess and Jackson should ignore each other for a while. Just a few weeks before we solve this problem."
"Okay," Robert said proudly. "I go with Jess's lucky charm here."
"Me too." Ace said.
"What the heck," Sarra said, "I'll agree with Eiffel."
"So we're all on the same page?" Alice said.
"I guess so," Zach said. "But I have something to add to her idea."
"Tell us." Ace said.
"Three people per person." he said.
I raised an eyebrow at his statement. But I guess I knew what he meant.
"I'm going with Jess," Robert said, "And Ace too."
"Boy, you read my mind." Ace leaned back and chuckled.
"Alright then. Alice, Zach, and I are going with Jackson for the remainder of the whole trip." Sarra said.
"Which is how long?" I asked.
"Good question." said Ace.
"We don't know, obviously. So someone has to ask Jackson," Alice said. "I've never felt this before but, I'm been afraid of Jackson these past few days."
"Same." We said.
"He's changed," Robert said. "Like he's a different person now."
I sighed in disappointment, thinking about my brother-friend. Oh, Wiseman-Jackson, what happened to you? My heart goes out to you, my friend. We'll get through this together
Don't you worry, child, he once said to me.

For Zach's first night with us, we let him sleep in the boy's room. No one knew where Jackson slept, I guess where Zach and Alice were supposed to sleep in the first place.
I could barely sleep. I kept on turning, topsy-turvy. Ace punched my shoulder, close to my chest, out of annoyance. I told him to sleep, but yelled at me for some reason, that I was moving too much for an ADHD kid. I pet his head until he fell asleep.
I looked at the clock facing both our beds, eleven-forty-seven. I rubbed my eyes which felt irritating everytime I blink. I stare at the dark walls for another ten minutes. Five minutes more and it's midnight. No sleep is like growing an Insomnia flower inside your brain with no nourishment.
I saw Zach get up from his bed, groaning in pain and holding on to his right thigh. He rolled up his pants and checked. There was blood. Dried blood stuck to his large, crusty scar. That's gross, I thought. Something must've happened to him on the way here. Looks sharp and painful, like when three of my ribs got shattered at school.
"Zach," I whispered, "You alright? Somethin' wrong?"
He quickly rolled his pants down to his ankles in panic. He looked at me in anxiety. Then he ran straight to the bathroom limping. Like he has a pebble stuck under his sock.
I realized that waiting for him to get out was the worst idea ever. I closed my eyes tightly until I felt my temples burn. I open my eyes again, but this time I did not move. I stare at the ceiling for the rest of the night. I never heard Zach exit the bathroom, so everything was quiet.
Buzzing and tingling grew on the tips of my fingers like ants creeping inside my skin. Then it stopped for a while. I felt myself sleeping but my eyes were open. My vision was blackened with emptiness. Is this what peace actually feels like? I question myself. Nothing? I don't want peace, I want... I want actions.
I want life.