Into the Flames

Chapter 17

Gianna watched Jenna go up the stairs, not moving and just watching her until she was completely gone from her sight. Quickly, she began to follow, only to be stopped by Bo.

            “Where are you going?” she asked, following Gianna.

            She paused, biting her lip. She grabbed Bo’s wrist and started running up the stairs. “Come with me. We have to hurry though, she probably already left.”

            Gianna rushed into her room, quickly changing out of her skirt and blouse into clothes she set aside earlier. “Dylan wanted me to go look for Jenna,” she said as she watched Bo rummage through Gianna’s closet, looking for clothes. “He’s worried she’ll get hurt if she goes out by herself.”

            “Why?” asked Bo, now changing clothes. “Thank God we’re the same size.”

            “I don’t know. But I promised him that I would, so I guess I’m going.”

            “We are going,” said Bo, now grabbing some shruiken. “Why don’t we just go with her?”

            Gianna smiled, grabbing her boomerangs that were concealed behind her vanity. “I think Dylan wants her to have some alone time with her old friends; at least, as alone as she can get.”

            She pulled her window open, climbing down. Bo quickly followed. “Do you know where she went?”

            “Yeah, I’m pretty sure,” Gianna said. A cold wind blew past the two girls as they walked down the steps into the Guardian subway.

            “I hate the cold,” muttered Bo, crossing her arms.

             “Jenna doesn’t mind it; it’s as if she can’t feel it or something.”

            “What is up with her? She seems a bit –”

            “Strange?”

            “Different.”

            “She’s had a hard life. She went to a boarding school because that’s what her dad asked her alcoholic aunt and uncle to do before he left her with them. She was basically living in the streets, living with a group of friends she made when she began to venture the streets. I’m assuming she went to her house, if you want to call it that. It’s an abandoned building; the door’s been boarded up so you have to climb in through a broken window. There’s no ventilation system, so it’s like a fridge. Falkner said she has a really high pain tolerance; I guess she got so used to pain and coldness when she lived in the streets,” said Gianna as they both sat in the subway.

            Bo gave a low whistle. “My life’s like a cake walk compared to hers.”

            “Same,” said Gianna. Bo’s parents were divorced; the Council didn’t allow her mother to marry a Gens, so her father lived in Gangnam, a district in Seoul, a couple of bus stops away from the Society. To Gianna’s knowledge, they were still relatively close. Ashamed by her lack of pure Guardian heritage, Bo covered it up with expensive designer clothes and lavish spending of money. “Still, it’s her life that led her to be the person she is today.”

            The subway slowed to a stop. Gianna and Bo got off, blending in with the busy crowds in the station. Gianna quickly looked around, hoping to catch a glimpse of Jenna; she was disappointed.

            “Follow me,” said Gianna, walking as fast as her short legs would let her. Her footsteps were silent; after years of practice, she was able to walk silently over any surface. Bo followed her as quietly as she can, but her steps caused soft thuds. They reached the broken window, where voices were heard. They climbed the fire escape above it, so no one could find her unless they looked completely up. Their dark clothes helped them blend in with the dark shadows. A few minutes later, Jenna came out of the window, followed by four boys. She could see Chris, fingers fiddling with something as usual. Luke and Jack both followed, holding a conversation too faint for Gianna to hear. Duke followed at the end. Gianna slightly inhaled; he looked so different than the last time she saw him. Last time, he looked like he came back from the dead; Gianna could have counted his ribs through his shirt, his eyes were sunken in, with huge bags under them. Now, he looked healthy; he gained weight and muscle, with a healthy glow to his face. Jenna and he stood out among the other boys; they both gained weight and began to look nourished and healthy. As soon as they were out of the alley, Gianna and Bo climbed down onto the ground, quickly following them to not lose them. Gianna could see them all walking together; Jenna stood straight, proud and tall. She gained confidence being around her friends.