The Last Few Embers

Chapter Four

The meeting is boring and I feel trapped.

Aunt Gala is in front of everyone, she's introduced herself, and is now giving us a long, drawn out story of how the program first formed.

Arnim yawns quietly beside me in a way that reminds me of a cat.

Helena, on my right, is rubbing her head with the back of her fist.

Like a cat.

I look on stage and no longer see Gala, but instead a black and white cat.

Everyone has disappeared, and in their place are hundreds of cats.

------------------------------------------

"Eldrid?"

I return from my insane mind and look at the blond guy beside me.

"Did you hear her?"

I shake my head no.

"She said; take out the papers from under our seats, and write our names and our weaknesses."

I love his accent.

I reach under my chair and find the paper and pen.

"Another thing, people. " Aunt Gala adds. "Don't reveal your papers to anyone else."

I write down my name; Eldrid Williams.

My weaknesses; water, lack of air, and dweebs.

I know I'm being immature, but they are all true.

Satisfied with my paper, I fold it up.

"When you leave, please put your paper in the designated box." Gala's voice sounds through the speakers.

Arnim and I slip the papers into the box and walk down to the main room to have lunch.

As we walk by Tom, Jorge, and a guy I don't recognize they all do the Hitler salute and laugh.

Arnim punches Tom, and receives the same back.

Arnim starts yelling in German and I grab his shoulders.

His nose is bleeding heavily and Tom just rubs his jaw and laughs.

A small crowd has formed around us and I help Arnim up.

"Let's go." I whisper.

"Nein!" He tries to shove me off of him, but I grasp him tighter.

"Yeah, let your girlfriend save you, Adolf." The guy that I don't recognize says.

"Aw, Carl, that's nasty." Jorge says. "They're cousins."

"Not by blood." Carl, apparently, replies.

I push Arnim to move and we walk back down the way we came.

"Arnim!" I say as he walks faster.

I run forward and catch his wrist.

He whips around. "Was? Was willst du?"

"Listen to me." I take his face in my hands. "Don't pay attention to them. They're dicks. And-"

Arnim pulls away from me. "That's not what's wrong, Eldrid! You have to stop hanging around me, or else they'll bully you too. It's just me they want to bug, but if you're with me they'll do it to you too."

I wipe the blood from under his nose and smile.

"No." I say calmly. "I'm sticking around, whether you like it or not."