Into the Flames

Chapter 5

 Jenna sat on the floor as she tied her dirty converse, getting ready to leave. As she stood up, she glanced at herself in the mirror. Her slouched posture was so different compared to Gianna’s. She straightened her back out and tried smiling at herself, trying to act like Gianna. She immediately stopped after realizing how ridiculous she looked.

            “Going so soon?” asked Dylan. Jenna jumped; how long was he standing there?

            “What do you mean soon?” she asked, trying to sound casual. “I should have left two hours ago.”

            “I really don’t think you should leave,” said Dylan slowly. “It’s dangerous out there.”

            “I really don’t care about your opinion,” said Jenna.

             He cleared his throat, clearly taken aback by her response. “At least take this,” he said, holding something out to her.

            She looked at it with a raised eyebrow. “And this is?”

            “It’s a dagger,” he said, unsheathing it. It was gold, with rubies embedded in the hilt. “For safety precautions.”

            “I don’t want it,” said Jenna, hand now on the doorknob.

            “You’re going to get killed,” he said, frustration building. “You at least need something to fight it with.”

            “I prefer using my hands,” said Jenna. She opened the door. “Goodbye.”

            She stepped out into the cold morning air, the frost nipping her nose.

            “You spent one night in a warm bed, and you’re already beginning to feel the cold again?” asked Jenna to herself. As she walked down the street, she quickly began to realize that she had absolutely zero idea of where she was going. She cursed herself; why couldn’t she get directions before leaving? Too proud to go back and ask, she wandered through the neighborhood, looking for cars that were leaving. Perhaps she could follow them and find the main street. An hour later, she finally reached the main street and found a subway. Not a lot of people were in the station; they were all at work, or at school. She jumped over the turnstile, not having enough money to pay for a ticket. After getting off at the familiar stop, she quickly went up the stairs, squinting her eyes against the blinding sunlight. Everyone quickly walked past her, looking down at his or her cellphones or shoes. No one noticed her. After walking a couple blocks, she quickly walked down an alley, walking past the dirty trash bins. The brick walls were stained with graffiti, with debris littered on the ground. Jenna comfortably walked down the alleyway, avoiding empty crates and boxes. No one else stayed in this alleyway, ever since her and everyone else came. She reached the broken window, with the boarded up door next to it.

            “I’m home,” said Jenna, taking care to not cut herself on the window. Three boys looked up from what they were doing. Two of them sat at the table, light coming down from a dirty light.

            “Aren’t you supposed to be in school?” asked the smallest one, Chris. His fingers never stood still; they were always doing something, whether it was running through his messy hair or putting something together as he pulled out various objects from the pockets of his oversized coat.

            She shrugged, dropping her back and joining them at the table, kicking her feet up on the table. “It wouldn’t be the first day I skipped.”