HOUSE OF TUNNELS

Chapter 21

In Annika and Danya's room, Sibuna has a meeting.
Danya sits in her wheelchair.
Elayna takes care of baby Tyler.
Annika sits on her bed, not knowing what's happening.
And Jamal clears his throat,"Okay, so.. We have a task.. I don't remember what it was.. What is it again?"
"You're dumb." Danya rolls her eyes. "We have to play a specific tune on the trophies."
"How did you figure that out?" Jamal asks.
"I've told you many times, I'm smart." Danya says. "Get on my level."
"Okay, so what tune do we play?" Jamal asks.
"I'm not THAT smart.."
Elayna shrugs.
Annika daydreams.
"This is a disaster.." Danya groans.
~
At school the next day, Hunter stops at his locker.
"Did you miss me?" A voice says from behind.
He turns to see Savanna.
"Savanna! You're back!"
They hug each other.
"The therapy was supposed to take a month.." Hunter says.
"Um, missing a month of school would make me even MORE traumatized!" Savanna says.
"Well, you seem like you got better.."
"No one ever gets better.. They just eventually bury the truth." Savanna says.
"I know." Hunter says.
"How would you know?"
"I know what you went through. You don't know this and I don't want to talk about it, but last year.. I killed somebody. It was a heroic act and an act of self-defense, but.. I couldn't get over the blood on my hands. Last summer, I couldn't sleep because I would have night terrors of the person I killed, I dreamt that he was still alive.. Wanting revenge. I had to get therapy and it took me a long time to recover. It's impossible how quick you recovered."
"I didn't recover." Savanna states. "I'm just trying to not think about what happened. All I want is to get back to normal, and I'm not going to let what happened stop that."
"You're right. I'll walk you to your next class."