Fracted (Book #2)

Chapter 37: Blast From The Past

Hunter and his dad went ahead and I stayed behind with the three so we could get dressed. My clothes felt soggy and damp, especially my socks. The feeling of a snail slithering under my toes while walking was aggravating.
"Should we go back to the site?" Jason asked.
"What do you think, stupid?" Patrick said curtly. "We can't escape just like that."
"I didn't say anything about escaping. I'm just curious, I mean, what if we're familiar with whom they captured? Then that person would blow our cover."
"He's got a point," I said.
"Well we gotta go at some point," Eiffel said.
"I guess walking very slow would help," Jason suggested.
"Yeah, why not?" Patrick agrees.
I try to walk slowly without shaking in cold fear, but it felt impossible.

We arrived at the site thirty minutes later. Hunter's dad seemed angry that we took forever. I couldn't look directly at him.
"What took you guys so long?" He asked.
"We got...lost." I said looking down at the dead grass.
"You got what?--Look into my eyes when you talk to me, all right?"
"Yes," I slowly look up. "Sorry, sir."
"Don't call me sir. It's Benjamin. Y'all kids should call me that from now on."
"Yes, sir--I mean Benjamin." Patrick shook his head embarrassingly. Benjamin frowns.
"What's the rush anyway?" Jason said. "Like what Hunter said, they captured one."
"I wonder what an Innate looks like." I said, hinting nervousness on my fake smile.
"They look just like us. Ordinary people, extraordinary abilities." Benjamin said.
"How do you distinguish them from normal people?" Eiffel asked.
"They are supposed to be too intelligent for this generation. If you just see someone that's--exceptionallly--well-mannered, incredibly fast, their eye colors are much enhanced, and more importantly, they have this certain connection with each other that makes them trust one another in strange circumstances."
He's right. But Benjamin is too observant for those type of things. Too bright for a Zip. It can't be. He can't hunt his own kind. However, the same thing can be said for Mr. André.
"Where's the Innate? I wanna see it." I requested. I felt like I just disrespected our entire race. I so want to punch myself for saying that.
"I apologize for saying this but, she was pretty wild when we captured her so we threw her inside your cabin."
"I don't care," I said eagerly. "I wanna see."
"Hope you don't get attracted to her." Hunter joked.
"Shut it, goof-ball, I've got Eiffel here."
"Enough, kids. Let's go before someone loses a head." Benjamin grabbed two guns and two knives gave it to us four. "You kids might need it."
"Is she dangerous?" Jason asked, cocking the rifle. "You think we need this big gun for one Innate? I mean, there's thousands of men surrounding this island.
"It's better to be prepared. She could be able to force you kill yourself in just one look."
"I accept that risk." I drop my gun and walked ahead of them.
"Let's go, shall we?" I lead them to the cabin's direction.

I hear sounds of clattering objects inside the room the four of us share. I can't believe that's how loud things are inside the stonehouse. She screamed like there's no tomorrow. A huge wooden board barricaded the doorless entrance and so was the only window next to it.
"What power do you think she has?" Jason whispered in my ear.
"A Screecher, I guess? She screams like a tortured animal." I said to him.
"Who's dumb enough to go through the barricade?" Hunter looks at me.
I would've pointed my gun at him. Instead, I just smirked at the immature kid, then dropped to a serious glare. Benjamin did the same thing.
"Okay, kids, this might be one of the most dangerous things you'll overcome during training." He said.
Well to that, I say otherwise.
He starts to unscrew the bolts that attached the board to the entrance, until a huge silver blade came bursting out of the thick wood. Benjamin backs off, covering his nicked right ear with his hand. Blood drips from between his fingers.
"Dad, are you okay?" Hunter said, holding out his hand to his father.
"I'm fine," Benjamin said, pushing Hunter's hand away. I see Hunter's dismayed look.
"That little freak just stabbed you in the ear--you think you're fine?"
"Not now, Hunt."
"Fine. If that's what you want."
Benjamin starts to unscrew again, not minding the knife that was left sticking out of the board. As soon as he finished, he looks at us four.
"Here we go..."
There inside the dark and empty room, she sits at the corner, cowered in fear. Her head is pressed between her knees, covering her entire face.
"Hey, sweetie..." Benjamin greeted. "That's something you did there, honey."
"Don't call me honey!" She yelled. "Someday, I'll kill you myself." She sniffled.
"Ha-ha-ha...I doubt that very much," He said. "Would you mind showing your face to my little friends?"
"No!"
"Hunter," Benjamin whispered. "Step outside for a moment, please?"
"But, dad--"
"Don't make me say it. I don't want you to get hurt at any cost."
Hunter storms out furiously and slammed the board down outside.
"Okay, sweetie...Hunter's gone. You can show your face to us."
She looks up, and a huge gash appeared on her left cheek. It was the first and only thing I saw beneath the darkness.
"Oh my gosh," Eiffel gasped. "Who did that to her?"
"Hunter did what he had to do. So he slashed her with a dagger."
"That little monster." She said.
"Yeah, I know. He has...issues."
"We could all tell," I said.
Then I looked at the girl's face again, her whole head actually. She was blonde, her red cheeks were natural, and her eyes were similar to a viper's. The girl I shot. The girl who everyone felt bad for. The girl who was once my classmate. Clare. I do not wish for this to be true, that she recognized me. My biggest regret was that her first calming word could have been the cause of my death.
"Jess!" She shouted clearly. Her stare was strong enough to not be broken.