YOU THINK YOU ESCAPED, BUT YOU DIDN'T!
After a devastating experience in Capricorn Academy, Jess tries to heal his wounds. Both physical and emotional. No matter where he goes, his nightmares still follow him.
In the midst of growing up, he wonders...
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The four of us shared the one room in order to keep an eye on each other. Together is such an invulnerable word, it's so strong it glued us into a true group, like we're inside our very own forcefield barrier. No one slept on the bed because all of us insisted that three people would sleep on the floor, and one of us would have to sleep on the bed. Guess all of us were trying too hard to be selfless. The best feeling ever. It felt like feather. So light and free. Free?not quite. Us four slept at the very corner of the frigid stonehouse cabin, wrapped up in a cocoon blanket. It was weirdly relaxing. I rested my head on Patrick's knee. Eiffel lied against the wall, next to me. I spread my legs, reaching for my backpack for my insulin syringe, careful of not waking her. The small thin tube rolled out, I grabbed it before it went farther. I slowly lift up my shirt, pinch my waist and stick the needle in. My layers of skin felt sore, but it felt good also. "Why didn't you just get an insulin pump? It would've been easier." I turn--Eiffel's awake. "Oh, um...I didn't know you were awake--Uh, and I choose to keep the syringes. I just don't feel comfortable with it." "Why not?" "Because I'm afraid of...needles," I finally said. "I am afraid of that needle--no matter how small it is--getting inside. I'd totally freak if I just..." "Yeah, I get it. I have the same thing with heights and the water." "You're afraid of the water?" "Yeah. I just never had the nerve to tell you. I didn't want you to think I'm vulnerable enough to be destroyed. Didn't want you to get worried enough think I'm your only priority." "You're strong and invulnerable--you are a fighter. And I am proud." I said. "No matter what's wrong with us, nothing can ever mess us up. You're my little soldier." "And you're my little fighter." I moved closer to Eiffel, trapping her and keeping her warm and safe. "Is that warm enough?" I asked with a shivering voice. "Yeah, thanks." Her breath was visible with cool smoke. More frosty air entered the room. "It's...so cold..." She could barely open her eyes. Frostbite had sealed her lips. They were chapped and were similar to a corpse's. She struggled breathing properly. I could feel her jagged heartbeats thump against my folded arms. "I can't sleep," I said. "So can...I," she said. I clench my hands against her. I blow some hot air onto them. She stopped shivering for a second. "There," I said. "all better?" "That's good--thanks." I spent twenty minutes blowing hot air onto her hands until she drifted off to sleep. "Goodnight, Fighter."
I hear the speakers outside go off. The four of us wake up, startled. "Attention, criminals," That's Hunter's dad,"testing begins at 10:45, so pick your butts up and get movin'. Report to the site, you've got ten minutes to get yourselves ready. Remember, this is the only time you kids can prove yourselves to us." Okay then, I guess we have to start pretending today. Eiffel checked her phone which was only on thirty-five percent--we overslept because of the cold environment. We only have less than ten minutes left. "Guys, we gotta move. We have...six minutes left before test starts!" Eiffel shouted in a hurry. I put on my pixelated camouflage long-sleeved shirt and topped my head with a black beanie. I also wore black khakis under. "Here, put this on. I bought you that with the money you gave me that one day." Eiffel tossed me a pair of army pants. She turned and I quickly dressed. Jason and Patrick dressed up next door. I couldn't see why all the guys stay in one room and the only lady next door, but it turns out that one person looks out for the other. We dash out of the stonehouses, looking like young soldiers-in-training, which we kind of are. Patrick wore all black--black boots, a thin black shirt with ripped sleeves, and wore the same pants as I did--except, of course, it's black. Jason simply wore a gray hoodie and a maroon shirt under with ordinary camping shorts with multiple pockets. "Man, we look like real good guys with these clothes on," Patrick said proudly. "What happened to us?--It's like from roadkill to splendid, as if we bathed in a tub-full of a million bucks." "Race?" Jason insisted. "No powers, I promise." "I accept that risk!" I yelled from the other side. I see vines and long ivy dangling from the trees above. I grappled onto a vine and swung myself forward. It tossed me over ravine that used to be a small stream. The three others jumped off, and I got the lead. Patrick ran like a sly fox. He's the second, then Eiffel, and Jason. The light from the exit of the forest glimmers infront of us. Almost there. I see Hunter's dad standing at the center of the site, clutching an ar-15 on his left hand. As I got closer and closer, my heart pounded. I was four trees away from reaching the site, but I tripped and fell on a rubble or a cinder block. I was thrown off at least eight feet. Was the impact really that hard? Eight feet? Well my toes hurt pretty bad, so it's a yes. "Not bad, kid." He said proudly. "You're pretty fast for scrawny kid." "Not much body mass, sir." I stood up limping. "Afternoon, sir." Jason greeted. Patrick and Eiffel came last, pushing each other out of the way for fun. "You guys are three minutes late--but I'll let it slide...this time only." "We're sorry, sir." Eiffel said. "Well the important thing is, all of you four are here--So let's begin, shall we?" "Alright," I said. "This'll be fun." He starts walking in the opposite direction, then stopped all of a sudden. "And also, the answer is no." He unrelatedly said. "No? What's that mean?" I asked. "No, because conquering your greatest fears doesn't sound as much fun as you think." "Water..." Eiffel whispered. I grabbed her forearm. "It's okay," I said. "as long as he doesn't make us jump into the ocean." "Okay...I just have to...calm down...yeah?" Eiffel's whole arm was shaking in fear. "Or I can help you." I voluntarily said. "Let's not talk about it right now." "As you wish." "So, kids--how about another round of running?" He said. "I'm down," Patrick said again. "Okay--In three...two...one!" I let go of Eiffel's arm and bolted forward, towards the maze of trees. Beyond there, that's how we'll start something...different.
