A Second Chance At Life

Whose Fault Will It Be?

Ella drove for what seemed like an hour before I fell asleep, but before I dozed off completely, I caught her sneaking glances at me. I found it odd, but wrote it off as her being confused about why I wasn't so excited.

I woke to the sound of gunshots. Or, at least, what sounded like gunshots. I sat up in the seat to realize Ella wasn't in the truck, and panicked. Was that the gunshot? Is Ella alright? I thought frantically, pawing at the door handle, and climbing out of the truck.

"Ella?" I whimpered, not seeing anything in the dark. Suddenly, I felt a hand around my arm. I nearly screamed, but a second hand clamped around my mouth.
"Shhh," someone whispered, and the hands moved me away from the truck, into the darkness. The outline of trees began to come into view as my eyes adjusted. "There's a huge step in front of you."

I nearly tripped over what felt like a log fence. Did Ella get lost out here? Who is this person? I thought to myself, fearful.

We walked until the balls of my feet hurt. Clearly, flats are not a good decision for walking shoes.

Whoever had a hold of my arms jerked to a stop, and let go of me. I fell on my knees, expecting the worst. Mom told me if I went to strange places with people I don't know well bad things happen. Stupid. Stupid, stupid.

"Why are you on the ground? We just got here," the voice whined, and my head wrenched upwards. Ella.

"WHY WOULD YOU SCARE ME LIKE THAT?" I shouted, starting to my feet and brushing the dirt off my knees.

"Like what?" Ella said from the dark, sounding confused. "Look, I just wanted to get us past the security without you and your mouth getting us caught."

"Security?" I shook my head, eyes wide. "Do you have any sense of danger? I thought I was going to get chopped up into itty bitty pieces and scattered across the Smokeys!"

"I just wanted to surprise you," she said, sounding like a kicked puppy. "I thought you would love this."

"Love what?" I said carefully, stretching my hand out towards her voice as my eyes began adjusting.

Ella caught my hand and held it. I could feel how tenderly she did so, as though my hand were an injured bird.

"Somewhere fun, but dangerous. And beautiful, but terrifying," she said, pulling me towards her and spinning me around. "You know, like those books you have your nose in for hours."

When I turned away from her voice, I heard it.