I can feel my mouth stretch into a smile but I don’t care. Hidden amongst the warehouses and what looks like worker’s cottages is a brightly coloured oasis. It’s a burst of life in an otherwise dead and colourless area.
I slide off the fence and there’s an awkward moment where I land and try to run at the same time. Sergio just laughs as he lands lightly and doesn’t stumble. Scrambling to my feet I head over to the metal and rubber structure that has managed to capture the entirety of my attention. There is a gaudy slide a few feet away but it’s not as fun, neither is the roundabout with its flaking paint.
The swings aren’t in much better condition. Paint flakes off the metal tube and the rubber seats look like something has taken a bite out of it, but I don’t care.
The chains bite into my hands as I start swinging. I can’t remember the last time I was on a swing, if I was ever on one. The movement of pushing off the tarmac and swinging is familiar so I decide I must have been on one once.
“How high can you go?” I ask Sergio who has taken up the swing next to me.
“Pretty high,” he grins and swings harder, he’s practically already at a forty-five degree angle.
“Show off,” I mutter under my breath.
He doesn’t say anything but his face wrinkles up slightly. My own mouth tilts up into a little half smile. He calls me princess to annoy me, now I have something to call him.
He turns his head to face me and there’s a glint of something in his eyes. The look is competition and as I start to roll my eyes the muscles in Sergio’s arm bunch up. The sleeves of his coat have fallen back as swung higher and higher.
“How high can you go?” he challenges with a sly grin.
“Not that high,” I mutter and push harder to try to match him.
I surprise myself when the top of my boot levels with the bottom of his seat. Leaning right back to try and go higher, I feel the wind in my hair. I’m not worried that it’s on show, nobody’s around to see the blonde reacting to the setting sun.
For the first time I see Sergio smile. Not a grin or one of the smirks that go with my annoying nickname, but a real smile that crinkles up his amazing eyes. His laugh is infectious and soon enough I’m joining in.
The happy sound of our laughter is cut short as a gunshot echoes around. The bullet clinks against the swing’s chains, upsetting Sergio’s rhythm and sending him tumbling to the tarmac below.
I jump off my seat and crouch next to Sergio, forgetting that the swing … swings. It completes its backward motion and starts the forward motion. Unfortunately, I’m currently in the way and the rubber seat cracks me in the back of the head.
“Ow!” I yelp and my hand rubs the small spot.
Sergio reaches up and pulls me down as another bullet whistles over us. Very narrowly missing me. I pale and crouch down more, trying to pull my hood back up. I wobble around and come face to face with the tarmac.
The sound of footsteps at the other end of the playground has me lifting my head. From this distance all I can tell is that the figure is male; tall like Sergio but bulkier.
Sergio grunts beside me and struggles to sit up. Adjusting my position so I’m kneeling rather than wobbling around uncertainly, I guide Sergio so he’s sitting up. He seems unhurt, just a little winded, but I don’t want to take any chances.
The figure comes closer. His features are like Sergio’s; the same shaped eyes and same jaw. The stranger’s eyes, though, aren’t the same colour and hold none of the warmth or concern that I see in Sergio’s. The stranger’s nose is crooked, like it has been broken in the past.
YOU ARE READING
Project: Hero
Teen Fiction"You might be a killer, but I don't think you're a monster." The government has taken over the nation in a totalitarian state. But there are a select few who stand in its way. And that is those with the moon Tattoos. Each possesses a strange power a...
