The Potentials

Autumn

Chapter 11

I wake up feeling very well rested. I slept till about mid-day by the looks of it. The sun is shinning through the vines hanging in the doorway of the cave. I go outside and I see Autumn waiting there for everyone to wake up.

"Hey Autumn. What's up?"

"Just thinking. About a lot of things. I'm a bit stressed out. Right now we are safe. They haven't found us. But I don't know what tomorrow will bring. Or even today! They could come and take us. And bring us to Soloman. And kill us or torture us. I mean, I have seen what they can do. I don't want to go through that!"

"What have you seen?" I am concerned. This could be bad. My eyebrows are furrowed together. We are sitting on a rock by the river. The river seems to be getting louder with my tension and fear. Like it is responding to my emotions. She is shaking. It is clearly visible.

"I. My friend. She, was taken by them. My best friend. They thought she was a potential. They thought... and they tortured her. And I followed them. They took her from her house, but I saw and was able to follow them. They went to this military base in the middle of the woods so that it was hidden. I hid, and watched, and waited. And when I could, I snuck into the base. It was a couple days after she was taken. I went to the security room and checked the cameras. Most of the guards were off interrogating more people and killing them, so not many were around. I saw a cell number and a name tag with her name on it. So I headed down the hall towards her cell. When I got there I felt accomplished and proud to have found her. I was happy. And then I saw her." She is about to cry. I can see it on her face. She is holding back. The tears start spilling onto her cheeks.

"She was bruised. Most of her body was covered with purple and brown bruises. Her disposition showed no signs of hope or happiness. Her leg was twisted the wrong way, and she could not fix it. She smelled of death and had blood dripping from her head. Her beautiful Carmel skin was tinted with gray. Her eye was so swollen she could not see, and her other eye. Well she didn't have her other eye. She couldn't see me. She only heard approaching foot steps. She screamed for mercy. Tears soaked her cheeks as she pulled her self as far from the door as she could. I told her it was me, Autumn. She got even more tense. She told me to leave, and forget her. Forget I had ever seen her that way at least. And to pretend that she never existed. To go back to normal without her. And..." She is crying really hard now.

"And I cried and she told me to stop crying and run back home. And told me I could not save her. Her name was Lily. I ran. I left her there to die. And I never saw her again." She is bawling. Her eyes are puffy and red. Her cheeks stained tears, and when they fall frown her face and hit the ground they sizzle.

"Autumn it's not your fault! You did what you could. They took her and they are responsible."

"I can't help but blame myself for not doing more. I hate them. I will kill Solomon and make him suffer the way he made Lily suffer. And he will die alone."

"Yes. Somolon has the right to die. He took my fried too. And killed her just because he THOUGHT she was a potential!!! Her name was Lola. She was kind and sweet and innocent. I was only 10 when she was taken. I understand your fears. Don't worry, we will make it. You can't worry about what hasn't happened."

"I just don't want to lose you or any of the guys." We are both crying now. The thought of losing Ben hurts so bad. Of never seeing him again. Or never getting to kiss him. Or hold him. Everything would be gone. Our love for each other. Our happiness. All of it. Me and Autumn hug eachother. Just then, Ben and Donavon come out of the cave. They see us in tears and they both come running to us.

"Corinthea, what's wrong?" Ben looks really concerned.

"We just had a talk. That's all." He pulls me to him. His arms envelope me in a hug. They push my lower back and upper back in efforts to be closer to me. We hold on, and all I can think is 'This could be our last hug. He could die tomorrow. I could die tomorrow.' So I live in the moment. I don't want to lose him. Ever. He is my other half, and without him I will never be complete.

Donavon hugs Autumn, then kisses her lightly on the lips. After a little while we break off. The moment is over, and I feel a bit better. Fear is still in me though. More so than ever before. Autumn is right to be worried. But for now, it's back to training. Autumn says in a loud tone of voice:

"Now show me what you got!!!"