• • •
I sat alone on the bench in Millie's backyard, the green, almost dead vines draped over the crisp wooden edges.
Red roses planted in symmetrical lines graced the edges of the pebbled pathway. It was only the morning after the incident but the memory felt like time was still stopped.
I didn't want to believe that the only reason she kissed me was to distract the police and make sure we didn't get caught, or worse. But that was the reason she kissed me, and I can't do anything to change that, and I can't do anything to change the way she made me feel.
Small vibrations beamed up by arm follows my a warm yellow glow from my wristband, we need to leave for school soon. I gripped the edge of the bench, standing up I could hear the subtle creaks of the wood returning to place.
For a split second everything felt calm, I didn't have any worries or problems, everything was ok. I sighed lightly as the golden beams emerging from the sun warmed my face.
Three smaller but quicker vibrations beamed up my arms followed by a blue eerie light, that was the colour Millie set for herself, I guess it was time to leave.
Gravel and pebbles crunched under the weight of my feet, approaching the glass door brought back memories of my first time being in her backyard, it felt so long ago since I escaped but I'm reality it had only been two days.
"Just like yesterday ok? Sadie and I will be waiting by the front door."
Millie weakly smiled patting my shoulder as we separated from each other into the lines. That familiar feeling of uncertainty washed over me, stepping into the line felt as if I was stepping into a trap, one false move and I was done for.
People ahead of me moved through the line swiftly and elegantly, I trembled with each step just hoping the wristband would work like it did yesterday.
"Hand please", the man dressed in all black ordered. An overwhelming feeling of fear stunned my body, I tried to wave my arm over the scanner but froze even more with each attempt.
Growing impatient the man sighed rolling his eyes as he reached down harshly moving my wrist over the scanner, a light green flashed signalling I could move on.
I let out a shaky breath, tucking my face I quickly shuffled between people making my way to the front, sadie and Millie already in my eyesight.
"Someone's in a hurry, let me guess, meeting with your girlfriend?"
I smacked against Caleb's chest, a harsh pain ringing in my shoulder.
"Like you have one", I scoffed rubbing my shoulder, "not that it's any of your business but I'm not dating anyone."
"Oh really", Caleb laughed, "didn't seem like that when you locked lips with Millie?"
"Y-you saw that?", I stuttered.
"Of course we did, it was Noah's idea to stay behind and watch to see why the police were there", Caleb smirked, leaning back to pat Noah's shoulder.
"Think whatever you want, but we're not dating", I scoffed making eye contact with them, "now I'd like to go some place else where I'm not surrounded by idiots."
Placing my hands on both Caleb's and Noah's shoulders, I pushed them out of the way making myself a path to the front of the school.
"What did they say?", Millie asked as I approached her.
"Nothing, just asking about yesterday", I replied looking back over my shoulder.
"What happened yesterday?", Sadie hesitated, rocking back and forth on the heels of her feet.
"It's nothing sadie", Millie brushed the question off, obviously not wanting to explain to sadie why she kissed me, "we just saw them across the field near my house, by the river."
Sadie nodded, "that reminds me, did you see the news? Someone from the other side escaped!"
"W-what? Did they say who?", my heartbeat lurched into my throat, anxiety overcoming me.
"No they don't know who escaped", she shook her head, "all the news told us was to be cautious about people we don't recognize, but I think they're setting a curfew in place."
"Oh that's good I guess", I looked to Millie, her face was almost white.
"Yeah-", Millie smiled, "hopefully they catch the person."
"They better", sadie laughed clutching her books, "I don't wanna be living in the same city as one of them."
"Me neither", I nervously chuckled, trying to cover the immense amount of anxiety that was probably written across my forehead.
"As you all have most likely heard by now, someone from sector 0 escaped."
Frightened gasps filled the empty silence of the small room, yet the teacher continued to talk as she paced back and forth.
"We've taught you all how dangerous these things can be, they are not to be trusted under and circumstances. Even if you think you see this perpetrator or you're not sure, call the police. We all want the same thing here, for this scum to be caught and brought back to where they belong."
Instead of frightened gasps, dispersed cheers and clapping filled the room, somehow this speech inspired them?
I slowly turned to Millie, she looked frightened just by the look in her eyes.
What if she turns me in? Because she's afraid of me.
• • •
I'm going to try to speed things up more since it's been 15 chapters and only two days have passed.
