The Academy: Ashland

Share and Care Storytime

            We went to bed late that night, because despite Taven's protests, Jack insisted we watch a whole season of Mythbusters. When everyone went to their rooms, Jack and Seth stayed behind and I leaned against the doorway waiting for them.

            “You need sleep,” Jack said.

            “I can't,” Seth said. “I've been getting them again. Whenever I close my eyes I see her dying.”

            “She wouldn't have wanted you torturing yourself like that,” Jack said.

            I walked over to the couch and leaned over the back (In case you missed, being subtle is not my thing and I'm good at eavsdropping), “Nightmares?” I asked.

            Seth looked at me in shock and slowly nodded.

            I thought for a moment before gabbing Seth's arm and pulling him to his feet, “Let's go,” I said.

            “Where are we going?” Seth asked as Jack waved to us.

            “When I was ten my friends and I were hanging out at the park,” I said. “We were walking home and I was talking to Luke when Evan realized he left his hoodie at the park. I ran back to the park to get it for him when these guys came out of nowhere and grabbed me. I didn’t… I didn’t want to shoot them, but I didn’t really have a choice.”

            We got in the elevator and I pushed the button for the training room as I continued, “It was the first time I shot someone. I was eleven years old. I killed them, all four of them. Then I ran away. I was so scared I ran right to Samuel, crying, and I didn’t talk for three months.”

            I leaned against the wall of the elevator and ran a hand over my face, “Whenever I closed my eyes, I saw their faces as I pulled out the gun and shot them. I saw their faces and I remembered their screams. I remembered their screams and... and I couldn't handle it.”

            The elevator doors opened and I looked over at Seth, “You were just a kid. I don't think anyone could handle it,” he said as we walked out of the elevator.

            “Samuel was the one who taught me how to shoot that same gun the week before. He told me a little girl living all on her own with a few little boys needed to know how to protect herself,” I said. “And he was right.”

            “Damn,” Seth breathed.

            I nodded, “After a while, Samuel had an idea and I started wearing myself out, thinking if my brain was too exausted to give me dreams, or nightmares, they would eventually stop. Sam was right and it worked,” I said. “Now, I’ve gotten better with the whole sleeping thing, but I still have a problem every now and then.” I paused for a moment, “I still can't handle it... I really can't. Your turn.”

            Seth looked at me for a moment before sighing, “My mom died when I was eleven. She was killed by my uncle and her brother, James Portwood.,” he said. “It's my fault and I could have saved her. Potwood stabbed my mom four times. I could have saved her. I should have. I couldn't control my powers and I was just a kid, but I probably could have saved her. My mom used her powers to make a shield between Portwood and I,” Seth's shoulders began to shake and he slid to the floor. “She died because she was protecting me. I could have saved her. I should have,” he whispered.

            I slid down to the floor next to Seth and put my arm around him, “After I killed them, Samuel told me he was proud of me. I killed someone, did something I knew was bad, and he was proud of me. I really wanted to kick his butt,” Seth and I both laughed. “I told him I felt guilty for taking people’s lives away because they probably had families that were mourning. I told him I wasn’t sad that I killed four bad men. Then, Samuel said that that was good. He told me I should never cry for people who are dead. He said that when you're alive you feel the sadness and the pain. The living feel the loss and, in the end, they're the ones who are left behind.”

            “Samuel was smart, wasn't he?” Seth asked.

            I nodded, “He was, but he was modest. He would say that next to me he felt like the stupidest person in the world.”

            Seth smiled, “I've known you for a few days and you make me feel like that.”

            I laughed, “It feels like I've been here for more than a few days,” I said. “I've never talked to anyone I've just met like that. I feel like here there are people I can trust and it's so obvious that I can trust them, but there are a few people here that I obviously can't trust too.”

            “Am I one of the people you can trust?” Seth asked.

            I laughed, “No. I just told you all of that because I can't trust you,” I said sarcastically. “Let's go.”