World Of Silhouettes

Twenty

With Ben's help, we make it to the starting point. Nobody is there to greet us. 

"Guess we are the first people?" I ask. I wound up taking some of Ben's stuff and throwing them away, at the half point in our trip. He had stuff I know Katie would kill him for. Bugs to study, a jar of worms. He seriously was enjoying himself. Not like I was dying or anything. 

"It must be only around Eleven. People should start coming, we just have to wait. Lets sit down." Ben motions to a tree to sit under. I sit under an especially shady part, digging the dirt out of my fingernails. 

After about thirty minutes, I hear Abbey humming. She walks into the clearing, obviously shocked she wasn't the first one. 

"Guys!" She says. We run up and hug her, smiling the whole time. 

"I missed you!" I say. She laughs. 

"Happy Birthday, Scarlet! Your birthday was yesterday!" She says. I look at her, surprise on my face. 

"Um, thanks," I say. "I had forgotten. . ." 

"How do you forget your own Birthday?" She asks. "that must suck." 

"Not really," I say. "but thank you for remembering." 

"I actually have a gift for you," She says. "Knowledge told me your birthday was coming up." 

"Seriously?" We walk away from Ben, just for extra privacy. He reads a book that he must have packed. Typical Ben. oh well. 

"Yes, I cant wait to show you it." She says. "By the way," She gives me a mischievous grin. "I found out how old he is. Grey, I mean." 

"Oh, did you?" I try not to sound too interested. Fail. She laughs at my sudden interest. 

"Yup. He's nineteen years old. Thats what Knowledge said." 

"He used to be her student," I say. 

"I heard." Abbey smiles. "By the way, you look so much. . . healthier than you did before. What happened?" Abbey asks. 

"I was always healthy," I protest. 

"I mean less tired, which is really surprising, being that I barely got any sleep." 

"I don't really know, actually." I say. A half truth. "I got lots of sleep here, went to bed earlier. Stuff like that. . . it was kind of peaceful." 

"You know there are small healing spells you can use to give yourself, or someone else, more health or energy. You didn't do that?" 

"You know that I don't know magic, Abbey. No body else could do that, either." 

"Not even Grey?" She pokes me. 

"No!" I yell, my cheeks red like fire. She shrugs. Though the more I think about it, the more possible it does sound. But why would he do that for me? Would he do that? 

"How was it for you, Abbey? The five days, I mean." 

"What you would expect, I guess. It wasn't glorious, but I lived. Grey's visit was especially motivating. It reminded me that I only had two small days left.  How did you fare, Scarlet? How long did Grey see you for? Details, girl, I need details." 

"It was hard, at first. Like you said, when Grey came, it motivated me. I had only two days left and I wasn't going to roll over and die. I was motivated. I didn't see Grey for long. Just a minute, or so." 

"Did he say anything?" She asks. 

"Yes, he told me there was a copperhead snake behind me. That was mostly it."