Dark Stars, Light Stars

Chapter 16 - Shake, Bend and Break

    You make my heart shake, bend and break. – Troye Sivan, WILD 

Justice

When I was younger, I went to the park with some friends from school to hang out and forget about what was happening around me. We decided that it would be a fun idea to see who could climb the highest in the tallest tree in the park. I climbed at least 5 metres before I lost my footing and fell to the ground, hitting each and every branch on the left side of the tree. Once I hit the ground, I was rushed to hospital after my friends called my dad and the ambulance. I broke my arm in two places, sprained my ankle and was covered in nasty bruises for weeks. I was in so much pain, and I didn't think that I would ever feel that pain again. Well I was wrong. Knowing that Riley is gone is so much worse.

My ears ring from the sounds of the explosion. I'm screaming, I realise, my hands over my ears. Alistair is trying to help me up, trying to talk to me, but I just ignore him and let out my pain. If you're wondering, it's a bit like the scene in Catching Fire when Katniss is trying to block out the sound of the Mockingjays. But that was just if you were wondering.

I eventually stopped screaming. I was struggling to stand, but Alistair was there to help me. I was grateful, but already grieving. I was empty. I couldn't cry. I couldn't talk. I couldn't explain the feeling. I was empty.

But I was also a fighter. And I knew that I could get through it.

I brush Alistair off and look back at the rubble of the sports centre. Completely demolished. Nothing was left, no walls, no roof. It was quite heartbreaking to know that Riley had been dragged there. He had been left there on purpose.

My Father emerges from behind the rubble, a gun in hand, dressed as I saw him before. Despite the past events, he kept a straight face and walked right up to Alistair and I. He looked at me as he walked past and through the gun at me. I caught it swiftly in one hand and stared down at it.

What. The. Hell.

'Justice, get the boy and follow me. Keep the gun loaded.'

I knew that he meant Alistair and not Riley, but an awful thought came to my mind and I had no choice to push it aside.

'I am not going to follow you.' I tell my father through gritted teeth as I drop the gun onto the ground. What if he had been the one to drag Riley there? What if it was him that planted the bomb? 'I am not going to help you destroy my school.'

I try to walk towards him, but Alistair pushed me back from my father.

'Justice, it wasn't him.' He hisses, 'He didn't do it.'

'Alistair is right,' my father says, 'It wasn't, it was the enemy. And if you want to find out who did it, then pick up the damn gun and follow me.'

He turns on his heels and sets of for the school gates. Alistair gives me a look and squeezes my hand. I rip my hand from his grasp and pick up the gun, following after my father. If he didn't kill Riley, then he has to prove himself.

'Justice!' Alistair called. He followed after me and tried to pry the gun from my hands. I turn around and slam my fist into his nose. He doesn't react to the pain, just stumbles back and stares at me. I don't know what came over me, but I know that I am not going to put up with his bullshit much longer.

'Don't even talk to me.' I warn him as I walk off after my father, who is currently waiting for me at the gates. As I approach, he turns left out of the school and sprints down the footpath. I follow and Alistair soon catches up, despite what I had just done. I was angry, I am angry. I'm different.