The Outsider (Original Version)

Chapter 29- One Hundred Percent

I feel slightly dizzy as Tucker and I build some extra weapons and such for the battle we are about to have.

He has the parts to build timed and contorled mines on his side of the table, while I make grenades.

"Petra, what is the plan?" He asks me, making me a little confused myself.

All I had thought about was killing that thing, where ever it is.

"I guess you and the others use the mines to hurt it as I distract it and beat the crap out of it." I state, clicking a few of the grenades onto my belt.

He sighs, putting the mines into his backpack.

Its silent for all of two seconds before he breaks the silence again.

"What if we can't win?" He asks, making me stop.

I'm not sure how to answer that, but I turn my head, making us only inches apart.

Something wants me to back away from the awkward situation, but I can't.

"I'll have to do whatever it takes to finish that thing off." I whisper, not knowing why this position makes me nervous.

He looks down at me, his brown eyes making me want to blush.

"I know you will. But why? I mean, you have lost so much, gone through more than anyone here knows, and a lot of things happened in just one week, yet you choose to do the brave thing and risk your life?" He asks, making me look down at my feet.

Being called brave seems wrong.

I'm not brave, I'm scared to death right now.

"I'm not brave Tucker. I'm simply doing the right thing. Anyone can do that." I state, not wanting to look him in the eye.

Suddenly his finger tips lift my face up to face his, both of us nervous at this point.

"I don't care what you call it. But doing the right things isn't always easy, and for some people it's impossible. So if you can have the simple act of doing the right thing, I think you're pretty amazing." He mutters, eyes filled with nervousness.

I'm shocked at what he just said to the point where I don't have words.

How do you say anything after that?

Our eyes lock again, staring deeply into each other's.

I can't help but feel my heart melt as we stare at each other.

"You know how amazing you are, right?" He asks in a whisper, leaning forward.

Every fiber of my being is screaming to lean forward, to kiss him at least once before this battle.

But one single thought holds me back.

What if he can't let you go?

I take a large step back, wanting to scream at myself.

"Tucker, I'm sorry. But I just can't do this." I mutter, trying not to look at him.

He looks slightly slightly like a kicked puppy.

"No, its okay. It was my fault." He mutters, his voice lined with the sadness of rejection.

He walks out of the lab, leaving me alone.

I feel like I need to hit something.

For once I wish I was just an outsider again.

If I was just a regular girl I wouldn't have to lead him on like this, and I wouldn't have to hurt anyone.

I sit on the ground, leaning on the table leg.

"Jen, I don't know if you're listening, and I don't really care, but please, can you tell me if there is any possible way to live?" I whisper, feeling tears well up in my eyes.

Nothing.

Silence is my answer, making me sob into my hands.

"Please mom. I need your help." I mutter, hiding my face.

"Only the pure of heart can change the prophecy of the Anointed One Petra. And I'm afraid that there is no one left that is pure enough to do so." Her voice echoes though my head.

I peek through my side bangs, feeling as if this couldn't get any worse.

The door slowly starts to close on its own, making me fumble.

I try to run to it yo stop it from closing, but as soon as I go to reach for it the door slams closed.

Crap.

Large gusts of wind flow from every direction, the smeel of death and decay coming with it.

I blows my hair wildly and the air fills my lungs, making it impossible to scream.

It chokes me as the wind seems to be compressing me like a trash compactor.

"What's happening!" I want to scream, but it comes out as a choked whisper.

The winds fill my ears to the point where I can't hear.

It presses against my body so I can't move.

Nothing.

I feel nothing.

Then the wind stops, and I feel myself shaking violently.

My breathing is in short gasps as I fall to the ground, trying to regain the air that was once good in my lungs.

A different beep sounds from my brace, making me lift my shaking arm up to my face.

What it says stops my heart.

Tantocus Reticus at 100%.

I cover my mouth with my hands, muffling the scream that comes from my mouth.

Part one of the prophecy is complete, now we just need the battle.

With my eyes filled with tears I struggle my way to my feet, using the table for balance.

Once I'm up I look at the mirror on the wall, seeing how different I've become.

I went from being a girl thinking she had nothing to lose, to a girl thinking she had a lot to lose, to a girl really having nothing to lose.

But in a way, it doesn't feel that way.

Because in all of those senarios there is one thing that I can still lose.

My life.