The Elements Trilogy: The Primaries

Chapter 35: Steel

"Jamie," I tapped Jamie on the shoulder, and he tore his gaze away from Skylar long enough to look at me.

"What?"

"Wanna go check out the rest of the boat?"

He looked at me with a strange face. "Uh, yeah, I guess?" He got up with me, and we headed below deck. As soon as we were out of earshot I started talking.

"Look, Jamie, I know we don't necessarily get along-"

Jamie barked out a laugh, and gestured to his stab wound which was all stitched up and bandaged.

"Jamie, it looks awfully healed up...how long were you looking for us? How long were we held captive in that warehouse?"

Jamie looked at me with sad eyes, but he didn't answer. He turned away, and I grabbed his shoulder. "Jamie, please."

He sighed, and looked at the ground. "One week."

I took a step backwards. "A week? Unconscious? How is that even possible?"

Jamie sat down. "I don't know much about the gene enhancement and splicing, but I did learn this one thing from my friend in that wing. When in serious, mortal danger and already unconscious, your body will go into a sleep mode, and wait until you're out of danger to wake up."

"But why did I wake up? Why did the girls wake up? We were still in danger."

Jamie looked up at me. "You guys woke when I snuck into the warehouse."

"What? But, that's, that's ridiculous!" I stammered. "Why would I wake up when you come? What would make me think I was out of danger with you around?" I sneered.

Jamie shrugged. "Maybe, deep down..." He looked me up and down. "Very, very, deep down, you trust me."

I scoffed. "Yeah, okay."

"What else would it be, Iron Man?"

I turned around and slammed Jamie up against a wall. "Do NOT call me that!" I spat out through clenched teeth.

Jamie didn't react, so I set him down.

"Look, can we just pretend to get along for Skylar's sake?" I asked.

He nodded slowly. "Yeah, I thought that was why you had brought me down here."

"Why else would I have brought you down here, Shay?"

He shrugged. "To kill me. But yes. We can pretend to get along. For Skylar's sake."

"Thank you." I started back up the stairs, and he grabbed my foot.

"Just one more thing...no more stabbing me?"

I chuckled. "Yeah, I think I can manage that."

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

It was 6:38 p.m. by the time we made it across the Mississippi. Diamond vomited over the side of the boat a few times, and she tore off the boat and onto dry land the moment she had the chance.

Jamie had pocketed the credit card, and slid the wallet back in the guys pocket as he walked by again.

A fierce wind blew, and I shivered. It was getting pretty cold out, and Skylar still had my leather jacket from when her shirt tore at the warehouse. Everyone else was also in shorts and t-shirts seeing as our clothes were stolen.

"Welcome to Illinois, everyone." I announced.

"Okay, so Jamie, Evie and myself can go buy tents, sleeping bags, boots and coats with the credit card, and Troy, Evalynn, and Diamond, you guys can go buy food with the rest of the cash." Skylar held out the money to me, and we headed our separate ways.

At the Weis store, we stocked up on water, more oatmeal, pop-tarts, bars of soap, granola bars, cereal, chips, tasty cakes and afterwards we stopped at McDonalds to get six Big Macs with the rest of the money.

Was I a hardcore, battle mode trained guy who could manipulate steel, and had accepted the fate of my death in two months? You betcha. Did I whimper with pathetic delight when I sank my teeth into a big, juicy hamburger? You betcha.

We decided to walk until dark, and we set up camp, this time in one huge tent instead of three small ones. Jamie and I tried our best to get along in front of Skylar, but as soon as she turned her back, we would shoot each other dirty looks.

We were all sitting around the campfire, when suddenly, Jamie stood up. "I have to go back into town."

"What? Why?" Skylar sounded concerned.

"Yes, Jamie. Whatever for?" I said in a bored tone, poking a stick into the dirt.

"Just...for a walk."

"Oh..do you want some company?" Skylar stood up, a smile on her face.

"No!" Jamie said quickly. "No, I just want some alone time."

Skylar sat back down, hurt written all over her face. Jamie knelt down and kissed her cheek. "I'll be right back, sweetie." He promised.

He disappeared into the dark, and I immediately went over to check for the credit card. It wasn't there. "It's gone. He's taken it." I announced.

"Do you think he'll come back?" Evalynn asked.

"Of course he will!" Skylar snapped.

"I don't know." I said bitterly. "Maybe The Forces bribed him. Maybe he just got sick of hanging around in the woods. Maybe he-"

"I think it's time we all went to bed." Skylar said hotly.

I sighed, knowing arguing was useless and everyone except Skylar headed for the tent. "You coming?" I asked her.

"No. No, I'm going to wait up for Jamie," she said, not looking at me.

"Sky, if he's not back by midnight, you should just go to sleep."

"He'll be back! Maybe you want to leave everyone behind and go if you had the guts, but Jamie wouldn't leave me. Not like this. Not ever." Her words were full of venom, and her eyes were like ice.

I sighed. "All right, fine. Whatever. Just be careful." I crawled into the tent, and curled up next to Evalynn. James Shay better be back by the time I woke up tomorrow morning. Or I was gonna kill him.