I Pledge My Love (Revising)

Connections

"Hey Lukkas." I closed the door behind me. I had been coming twice a day to see him. We would sit for hours, even if he was unresponsive.

He looked up at me, silent. Even though he still could only say a few words that varied outside of 'I pledge loyalty to the community', it was easier to communicate.

He still flinched when I sat with him, but at least he's getting used to it.

He smiled at me, pulling my arm next to his to look at the names again. I watched sadly as he traced the letters with his finger.

He was always in the same spot and hardly ate. His feet were flat on the floor with his back parallel to the wall.

I put my arm around him, feeling his muscles tense and relax. His breathing was shaky and I could see the cuts on his face turning to scars. His bruised face was colored again and someone had wiped away the blood. If there were doezens of faded red lines crossing his face, it would have been back to normal.

He was still tracing letter when I saw the raw skin on his inner left arm.

"What's this Lukkas?" I asked, twisting his arm a little so he could see.

"B- B..." He was trying to form a word, but got frustrated. He picked up his left arm and held it in front of him like he was holding a staff. With his right arm he pretended to draw a string away from it.

"Bow?" I asked. "You want to try shooting a bow?" I was surprised.

He nodded with a small amount happiness on his face. Who was I to deny him?

I stood, pulling him up with me. Lukkas stumbled at first, legs tired an unaccustomed to movement. He grabbed my arm for control. The second he did, fearful eyes looked up at me.

"I pledge loyalty to the community." He stuttered.

I didn't reply. There was no point. It was almost like they taught him if anyone ever convinced him he didn't need to say it he still had to.

"Hey guys what are you looking for?" Corwin sais, coming down the hall.

"Archery range?" I asked, helping Lukkas walk.

"Down there on the left. Its outside that door. Mind if I watch?" He asked.

"If course not." I muttered, starting in the direction. Combat boots bouncing off the ground, we yanked open the door, revealing the world outside.

The ground was a musky red, unlike the soft grass in the community. The air was thick with dust and the Sun beat down on us. I almost felt hot, which was different from the cold community temperatures.

I shielded my eyes from the sun. I spotted a cloth target around fifty feet away.

"Where do you keep bows?" I asked.

Corwin nodded to a bin similar to the one in the cafeteria.

I helped Lukkas find a bow his size and put on his arm guard. I pulled out my own to see Lukkas staring at his bow.

"Like this." I instructed, lining my arrow up.

His hands easily did the same in a surprisingly controlled motion.

I pulled taunt, making sure Lukkas did the same to my right. At first he struggled with the pull but eventually settled comfortably. He held his breath, eyes peering at the target like it were in the depths of his memory.

I turned my gaze back to my own target, releaing. The string snapped forwards, thrusting the arrow in the target, hitting slightly off mark.

I turned to watch Lukkas. When he released, the bow stepped against his arm, letting the arrow drop to his feet.

"I pledge loyalty. I pledge loyalty to the community." He said, dropping the bow and covering his face.

"Its okay. Do you want to stay alone and practice?" I asked, letting my hands in surrender.

He nodded, eye back in the bow.

I headed back inside, Corwin pulled me aside. "Are you sure about this?" He whispered.

"I trust him." I muttered.

"Even like this? Even when he's insane?"

"There isn't anything Lukkas will ever do to lose my trust." I said confidently, turning back to the building.
.                                 .                                .
I woke in the middle of the night, panting from a nightalmare. The same one I'd been having for ages now: Seeing Lukkas die. I couldn't make it stop, even though I knew we would grow old together.

I noticed Lila's bed was empty next to me. The sheets were made. On top was a tiny steel band, her wedding ring.

Curious, I got out of bed and silently changed in the dark, pulling on one of the tee shirts I had received earlier. I slipped out the door and headed down the hallway.

I tip-toed down the hallway, sitting down to slid into the Drop. I fell awkwardly, getting a glance from a few people milling about. After realizing Lila wasn't there, I pulled out my Anti's.

Corwin had gotten me a pair earlier so I could stop asking strangers to help me up.

I clambered up the wall with an extreme feeling of being maladroit, but continued climbing.

I tucked my Anti gloves away and stuck down the hallway. I reached the door to outside, thinking I'd stop for a quick breath of fresh air.

I pushed the door open and froze. Lila was sitting outside against the wall building, hand intertwined with Corwin's.

"Oh. Uh... I was getting air..." I stumbled over my words, trying to look anywhere but Lila's eyes.

Corwin laughed. "I know this might be a shock to you..." He started.

"There's no suck thing as soul mates." Lila said with a straight face.

"What about the Dream? What about the Match?" I stuttered, not wanting to believe.

"It's all made up. You're just matched by the Senator. I'm sorry Rain." Lila said, relizing why I was upset.

Corwin was looking down and fidling with a small object in his hand. I turned and pulled the door open, running inside quickly, not caring that my shoulder banged painfully against the door.

I sprinted down the hallway, shoes squeaking. I tripped, landing in a sobbing heap in the floor.

I faintly heard a door swing shut and footsteps approach.

"It-It's okay." Hands pulled me up and positioned me against the glass wall. 
I didn't know what was going on But I didn't care either.

"It'll be okay." I heard the voice steady. "I promised." I stopped crying.

I looked up, seeing Lukkas' face smiling down at me. His eyes were calm and alert.

"I promised you Rain." He repeated.

"You did." I smiled weakly, feeling sick.

He put an arm around me and turned just enough to kiss my forehead.

"I missed you." He murmered.

It didn't matter though. Soul mates weren't real. Lukkas and I weren't made for each other.

Lukkas wasn't my perfect half.

Slightly dramatic, I know, I know. But I have to go eat now so I'm leaving you here hating me. Have fun with that. Yes.