The Universal

Chapter 15 - Something's up

Chapter 15 – Something’s up 

(Seth’s P.O.V)

Twigs snapped beneath my feet as I pushed and weaved my way through the crowd of people cheering and celebrating none of them noticing the rush I was in. I vaulted over a blackened and burnt log, and landed running.  My breath already coming in gasps from the battle. I’d stayed beside Cailyn, we’d skirted around the main fight, we knew where the flag was. We’d played this game at least 16 times. They put this game on twice a year. We’d spotted the flag in no time. The plan was for me to distract the guards while Cailyn grabbed the flag and they fell for it, just like they do every time. What I didn’t realise was that I’d lost Skylar.

Her eyes met mine; they were full of pain but the usual steely determination was still there, yet there was something missing, the everyday brightness, the regular laughter wasn’t there leaving her eyes dull and colourless. The colour had drained from her face leaving it grey and sick looking. It’s not right. Her eyes closed and it just made me run faster, but I seemed to be running in slow motion. I dropped to my knees beside her. Breathing hard, heart beating painfully, the adrenaline starting to disappear, I looked her up and down checking for injuries. She only had small cuts and grazes, well, except for the deep gash on her right shin. It was still leaking blood, the skin around it was ragged, clearly a sword cut. The skin around it burned red, it was just plain disgusting. I looked away from the horrible wound. I gently lifted her, bridal style, and started making my way towards the infirmary, past the slowly dispersing crowd. Some going to the infirmary to get patched up others just heading back to their cabins to get some well-earned rest.

I got a few curious stares but other than that I got to the infirmary unnoticed. I walked into the low, one-story building. It was a hive of activity, nearly all the beds were taken up. Some people got pretty bashed up in the game, a mixture of injuries caused by swords and stuff and some caused by the elements. I found an empty bed and put Sky on it. We were quickly pounced on by a nurse; she immediately started to work on Skylar’s injury. She cleaned it and put some sort of burn cream on to it, before vanishing to fetch something. She returned with a needle and a length of thread. I turned away and looked at Skylar, her hair was full of leaves and dirt was smeared on her face. I carefully started pulling the dead leaves from her blonde hair. I dropped the leaves onto the floor. I heard the nurse cough politely,

“I’ve bandaged her leg and it should have nearly healed in a week or two. She’ll need to come back in a couple of days so we can check it but apart from that she should be okay. Just tell her to take it easy, okay”

“Yeah thanks, I’ll tell her” I gave her a small smile and she walked away to attended to other injured teenagers. I pulled up one of the chairs and sat in it, I’ll wait for her to wake up.

I sat staring into nothing, my mind just blank. I had no idea how long I sat there like that, my mind just wasn’t there it somewhere else, going over memories good and bad. Like the day I met Cailyn and Luke………. Then a small voice floated into my head.

“Seth?”

I jumped; I twisted in my chair to face Sky.

“Hey, how you feeling?” I asked.

“Tired, sore apart from that I’m fine, where am I?”

“The infirmary, your leg got…” I trailed of as she made a face.

“Lyn-z. I freakin’ hate her” Sky grumbled.

I chuckled, everyone does.           

I lifted the glass of water off the bedside table, and handed it to her. She took it gratefully and gave me a small smile before taking a small sip. She finished the water in a couple of minutes. We just sat for a bit in silence; don’t say anything unless you have something meaningful to say. 

“Come on, let’s get back to your cabin, you think you can walk?” I ask.

“I dunno I’ll try not saying I’ll be successful” doubt in her voice. She slowly swings her legs over the edge of the bed, sitting on the edge she took a deep breath and slowly stood up. I saw her wobble a bit as she gets her balance. She started to walk, limping heavily. I quickly followed her; I walked beside her ready to catch her if she fell. 

Slowly and steadily we made our way back to Skylar’s cabin. Just as we were passing the volleyball pit, which is about halfway back to her cabin, we got ambushed by a very hyper Cailyn and Luke who had his usual poker face on. Honestly he almost never smiles. 

“You’re okay!?!” Cailyn squealed.

“Yeah I’m fine Kay, honest” Sky laughed. We’ve all taken to calling Cailyn, Kay instead of saying Cailyn all the time. I let them walk off, Kay will look after Sky, I mean they’re practically sisters. 

“How ‘bout you?”  I questioned

“Hmmm” was all I got back from the messy haired giant, that we call Luke.

“Hey, you can tell me anything, you know that right? I’m here for you; I mean…I’m going to shut up now I’m starting to sound like a teenage girl…….” I trailed off. I gave Luke a sideways glance, wait for it, yep there we go, the corners of his mouth twitched. 

“YOU SMILED!!” I shouted gaining a few stares. ”Don’t even try to deny it! You smiled!” Luke laughed at that, that’s him out of the mood he was in. I’ll ask him about it later. 

“Come on, let’s go assault that Ed Sheeran loving Cailyn with some real music” We walked after the two girls.

“When I was a young boy my father took me into the city to see a marching band, he said son when you grow up would you be the saviour of the broken, the beaten and the damned, he said will you defeat them the demons and all the non-believers, the plans that they have made, because one day I’ll leave you a phantom to lead you in the summer, to join the Black Parade.” Blasted from the speakers, as we all sang at the top of our lungs, to one of the best song ever! My Chemical Romance’s, Welcome to the Black Parade. Cailyn was passed out on the sofa after suffering hours of unrelenting Alternative/Rock music. Skylar was sitting with Cailyn’s head on her shoulder, casually filming us on a camcorder she found somewhere. Her little Nightjay sitting on the arm of the couch, refusing to sing along. 

“Guys?” Skylar shouted after the song.

“Yeah”

“Shut up, you can’t sing. Now, out and go to bed” she said as she chucked a pillow at us.

“Obliviously we’re not wanted here, Seth, Let’s go!” he said as he put his nose in the air and marched straight out of the cabin. I chuckled at him, he goes so crazy when he’s hyper.

“Night Sky” I said as I walked out.

“Night Seth” she said.