Me

Chapter 5- Outside

Outside

Skylar unlatches the boards from the front door making dust fly everywhere. The door swings open and I bullet outside taking deep breathes filling my lungs with not the sweetest air but the cleanest air I will be able to find in miles. The cool air cause goosebumps to rise on my arms. The bright light of the sun demand my eyes to blink continuously until they adjust. The sun is shining but there's an over cast making the streets gloomy.

I loosen my grip on Skylar's hand slowly letting it go. At first, I stumble on my feet by I gather all the strength I have left. Glancing in all direction, the streets are hollow which brings a tear to my eye. I never thought the end would be this empty.

"It's not all bad" Skylar reassures me placing a hand on my shoulder. I fall backward while Sky embraces me into his arms. I weep. My face buried in his shirt. He grabs my chin in his palm bring my red, tear stained face to look into his tan one.

"It WILL be ok. Come on there's this place that's a real paradise." He wipes a tear away while tugging on my hands to follow. We walk two blocks until we come upon a strange clearing. Right in the middle of clearing is an at least a 30 foot inflatable. A flash of dread crosses my face seeing what was on it waiting. There was a tall man in torn clothes that had a brown color to them. He also had dirt smudges on his face making him appear homeless. There was also a odd looking girl around about 17. Her skin seem a smooth light blue, dyed, her hair done in neat orange dreadlocks lining her back, and a flared royal blue dress that contrasts perfect to her skin.

I race to catch up with Skylar who is already waiting in line.

"What are you doing?" I scan his face seeing a huge grin spread wide. He looked like a kid in a candy shop waiting patiently for his favorite treat.

"This will be fun. I'm a pro at this," he reassures me. He glances my way noticing my expression gave my sacredness away. His smile slowly melts from his face bring him back to the Skylar I know.

"It's just a game... to tell everyone we can still have a little fun even at the end of the world," placing a hand on my shoulder. Blood fills my mouth not knowing I had been biting my lower lip the whole time we've been here. I swallow hard which instantly makes a shudder go up my spin from the metallic taste.

My eyes flicker back to the "game" Skylar called it. There were knifes sticking out of the insides of the inflatable with three people strapped to the corners that have that look kinda like tazers. What kind of sick games like this sound like fun. A mental person might as well have made this "game" up.

Me and Sky are next and I see he has been chatting with the homeless man. I walk up next to Sky taking his hand in the process. He looks at me giving me a welcoming smile.

" This is Tripp which is short for Tristopher. He volunteers to help make sure there are no cheaters in the 'Death Trap'," he announces with a rewarding drum roll at the end. I give a soft giggle.

"There's always a place for you here Tripp, you know that?" Sky continues.

"Yea, I know," Tripp's eyes turn dark with sorrow.

"ARE YOU READY!!" she practically skips over here. "I'm Betty, the founder of the 'Death Trap','' Betty says sticking her hand out. I stand there stiff. She smiles big while rolling her eyes, showing how big they can really get. Betty leaps at me tossing her arms around me, squeezing. She squeezes tighter by the second releasing air from my body. She slowly releases me when she thinks I had enough. I huff in air until I can breath normal again. A smile gathers at my face. Maybe not so mental for the founder of this 'game'.

Betty grabs my hand and pulls me close while swiftly putting a grey belt around my waist.

"Push the button," she insists.

I look down at the roughly cut piece of leather. At the center of the buckle is a metal square engraved with two letters.

C.S. My initials. Charolett Steel. I lightly brush my pointer finger over it. A glow radiates from it. A soft red glow.

"Now watch the magic happen." Betty smirks. I glance at my right arm seeing it fade from flesh tone, to bleach white, to fiery red, the one you only see at sunsets.

"Wow," is all I can suppress.

"This protects you from those monsters, the crayos are the red which can kill and the blue are the gloths which can paralyze." my eyes widen from all this information coming at me so fast, but she doesn't stop there," This also enhances you abilities like jumping, speed, and even strength, which will allow you to survive this game and the rest of the world. And not to mention it works so much better than those micro-chips." she glances to my cut wrist then to Skylar.

"We just don't to rewire our whole DNA system, you make us lose our common sense." Skylar remarks.

"Yea, you wouldn't want to get as 'smart' as me," Betty retorts, rolling her eyes.

"Yea, we all know you are an evil genious," he laughs, lightening up the mood a little. Swaying both arms to the side gesturing towards the inflatable.

"Ladies first."