Runner: Part 2

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He emerged from the pit of darkness revealing the tell-tale signs that it was him. The same urge that I felt in the Head's office to talk to him is making its way back. But I can't. My breathing is quickening and I put my hand to my chest in attempt to slow it down. He takes a step forward and immediately I jump back. Unless my senses are fooling me, I think I heard him laugh. All of a sudden I become defensive and get into a position that they taught us in training before. And with that, he mockingly puts his hands up in surrender and takes a step back.

"You look like a Runner," he casually says.

This, of course, surprises me. I know I should respond, but my voice refuses to come out. He just talked to me! When was the last time I heard a male's voice addressing me? Only the Head has done that... The Head! I was supposed to be getting cleaning supplies. The boy notices how tense I am and before he can say another word I turn away, and run.

I'm running down the hallway. I can't look back to see if he is following, although I don't hear the resounding echoing of his footsteps coming after me. I'm not sure where I'm going, but I have to keep on pushing. My heart is banging against my chest, and beads of sweat are forming on my head. My body is numb, but somehow I keep moving. It is not adrenaline pushing me forward, nor is it the pleasure I feel when the rush of wind passes me, but it is fear that keeps my arms pumping and legs moving. I shouldn't have been with that boy, I should have left when I saw him. What if Captain finds out? The hallway feels like it's becoming narrower and the light at the end of it seems to fade. I can feel my legs failing on me, I know I can't stop but my body disagrees. One minute I'm running, the next my knees hit the ground and I slump down, hitting my head hard against the ground. My vision is going black and the faraway sound of the sirens are fading and there is nothing I can do about it.

My head hurts and my pulse has slowed. I blink again to figure out where I am, but the brightness of the room is blinding and brings on a series of headaches. I let out a moan and shut my eyes. The last thing I remember was running. Running from what? The boy, that's why I was running! My heart is beating faster and my hands become sweaty. Somewhere near me I hear a series of beeps and I look over to see medical equipment. I sit up, trying to ignore the pulsating pain in my head, and look around. I realize that I am in one of the building's hospital rooms. As soon as my eyes adjust to the bright artificial light and white room decor, a nurse hurries in. She quickly looks at the mechanism that was beeping and glances at me. In disbelief, she looks back at me dazed, then returns to her natural expression.

"Oh, I didn't think that you'd be awake yet, honey, one of the recruits over on the boy's side brought you here," she said, "luckily the hospital is right between the boys' and girls' section."

I opened my mouth to ask who but all I managed to muster was a moan.

"Don't worry about that, I'll get you something for that headache, you had a mild concussion and hit your head pretty hard," she said, "just lay back down in the bed."

She went to the side of the room opening several cupboards and drawers before finally finding a small container that seemed to have pills in them. She simply popped the lid off and handed one to me.

"All you have to do is swallow," she said.

Well, no, Ms. Obvious! I scrutinized the pink pill she dropped in my palm and swallowed it. Once she saw that I had done that, she placed a plastic cup of water on the table next to me and left. I watched the door shut with the slightest bang wondering how I hadn't noticed that the boy was following me. The pill was quickly taking effect and I was slowly nodding off to sleep.

I groggily wake up in a dim room, laying in a bed. I looked around at my surroundings and realized that I was in my bunk. I took a quick look at the timer that read 00:05:28. Well today I would have time to take a shower, because I really think I need one. I'm trying my best to get down from my bunk, and managed to do that today without waking anyone up. I enter the shower and turn it on. I brace myself just on time as the ice cold drops of water hit my body like pin pricks. I manage to ignore how cold it is and my thoughts drift off to what happened yesterday. I don't know why, but I have a feeling that yesterday was not the last time that I am going to see that boy. I wonder if Captain knows what happened yesterday; that I hit my head and was sent to the building's hospital. I'm going to try to steer clear of her today. I get out of the shower and dry myself with an old towel. I quickly get dressed in my Runner uniform and get out of the bathroom on time for the pledge.

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