Blue Flame

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

After Anja and I had unpacked our things, I went in search of my friends. Anja stayed in the cabin to talk to her various girlfriends that are far more similar to her than I.

Skipping out of the girl’s quarters, I headed around the back of the weights building, that’s right – BUILDING.

I snuck in the back door of the boy’s third fraim quarters. Jumping behind a bed, I heard the familiar drag of a boot, and a firm step, making an uneven rhythm. Knowing better than to mess with this particular one, I squashed myself underneath the bed, to discover that the underside of the mattress was not as clean as I’d like to have thought. Waiting until the uneven step was out of my range of hearing, I shuffled out from under the bed as quickly as my shuffling muscles could carry me. Breathing in a deep breath, I slowly stood and stalked over to the empty area in the middle of the massive room, there were less beds in here, but more space.

Stepping with perfect accuracy, I pressed the correct panels on the floor, and suddenly dropped through, seeing the insides of the floor, the pale chalk was only about an ich thick, with clear glass that could bend and flex around energy seemed smooth and perfectly formed to fit my body falling through it. I hit the ground, almost twisting my ankle, and stood awkwardly, feeling the effects of ground shock. A thunderous applause erupted around me, looking up, I noticed all my old friends, and a few new faces here and there. I laughed and bowed, before running and jumping into the arms of one six-foot four’, cocky package of pure muscle and charm. He laughed and slung me over his shoulder as if I weighed no more than a bundle of wires.

“Lawrence! Put me down you oaf!” Setting me down with a deep chuckle, he smiled a 100 watt smile and repeated the same line we had repeated every year for the past three years.

“I think you mean handsome oaf there doll.” He winked and a chorus of “Woah!”s rippled and laughter came directly over. The ritual hadn’t changed. I smiled at all my old-time friends, blowing kisses at the cheeky ones, and ignoring others who shall not be named at present. I turned back to Lawrence:

“You should just see what Tamar has planned for you boys this fraim.” I smirked, all the oldies and goodies’ face’s paled at the mention of my notorious other half, Lawrence just smiled wider.

“Aahh, I see the infamous pair are back in business of making everyone else’s lives miserable.” Some smirked at his return. I slowly circled around Lawrence and the three hipatchees: Nathaniel, Jacob and Talon. All the others formed a group with a perfect circle in the middle around the four and I. I side stepped and slid my dagger out from my boot.

“Well look who finally found the armoury. After all this time. It took you long enough, Mariska, we were wondering if you were going to finish graduation still fighting with your fists.”

A loud giggle echoed around the sanctuary. Putting the present verbal sparring on hold, I tore the group in two with one step, seeking the voice I knew only too well.

“Asher, I know you’re there. You’re the only one with enough dignity to giggle without worrying about damaging your ego.” I smiled, looking through all the bodies, recognising some, some I avoided subtly.

“Looking for me are you? Well it’s nice to know you missed me.” A hand landed on my shoulder, I turned instantly, everyone knew better than to touch me, only the sacred few could lay a finger on me with that finger being bitten or ripped off, and not always by me.

Turning I smiled as Asher’s infamous smirk lit up his whole face. I winked at him and landed a hard right hook on his jaw.

He didn’t move an inch.

I smiled as he grimaced slightly, rubbing his jaw.

“You’ve gotten stronger, Ris.” I beamed, his praise was greatly to be appreciated. Before we could continue our conversation, a loud cough broke me out of my reverie. I turned back to Lawrence and his clones.

“Sorry boys, but it will have to wait.” I winked at the four, and Asher grabbed my waist, jumped and hoisted me over the bar onto the rail. I scrambled up onto the catwalk above our sanctuary. Not my most graceful move.

“I really missed you Ris.” He said as if he wasn’t dangling twenty feet above the ground by one hand. I gave a small smile, seeing the sincerity in his eyes. Tears welled up behind my eyes, and I blinked them back. I grabbed Asher’s arm and wrapped my hand around his forearm, feeling the strong pulse that never missed a beat. I let go and looked back into his eyes and plastered on a smile that didn’t reach my eyes.

“I missed you too Ash.” Letting go of the railing, I turned and attempted to appear confident as I walked along the catwalk back to the door that only opened from the inside.

I heard the soft drop as Asher landed back on the red, fine dirt floor, and sighed, slamming the door loudly and lifted my head.

“Mariska is back, baby!” I yelled, hearing it echo throughout the whole orb, bouncing off the sphere imprisonment that trapped me here until the end of this fraim.

“Yeah, honey we know. Now let a girl de-activate in peace would ya?” I heard Anja shouting from across the orb in the Girl’s quarters.

I smiled and shook my head. Like she’d ever actually do it.

A/N: I know it's short, but bare with me, I introduced some new characters to you!! Pics >>>>>