Four Hearts

Chapter 12

Zain

Today he made sure to be up early so he could run around the track before meeting Milena, Cedric, and Allegra for breakfast. The track was outside and was just a dirt path that had been made through the woods when the school was first built. The sun has just started to rise as Zain jogs along the path for his second of the three laps. He was already tiring, but Camnor just shouted at him to push through it when he finished his first lap. Camnor seems like a completely different person now. When we first met, he acted just like Uncle Alex. Now he tends to be meaner to me. He even said that he didn't like Uncle Alex. I wonder why? I'll have to ask him later.

By the time he finished his third lap, Zain was ready to collapse. His legs had lost all feeling. He was panting like a dog on a hot summer day. He and his clothes have been soaked in sweat. He was a mess, and Camnor was quick to call him out on it.

"What the hell? It wasn't that long of a run. In fact, you actually jogged the track," Camnor comments at the sight of his user. "See, this is what I was talking about. Your uncle didn't feed you enough or give you enough room to exercise and now look at you. You're treating three laps like a marathon."

Zain ignores Camnor's rant and grabs his notepad. He opens up the camera and lines himself up so he is in the middle of the track, a few feet away from the starting line. He snaps a picture of the track and admires the photo. The sun had risen higher in the sky, casting its morning glow onto the path. The leaves were as bright of a green as leaves that were freshly grown in spring. The paved dirt looked like it was leading you toward some secret mountaintop. It was his first picture of the day. Something that always brought him joy.

"Would you put that thing down for five minutes?" Camnor asks. "Everywhere you go you have to take a picture of something."

"I want to have them so I always remember what the world looks like," Zain explains. "I don't want to forget everything I've seen when I have to go back to my room."

"If you have to go back to your room. Why do you think you'll be stuck in there again?"

"You don't think I'll have to go back?"

"I don't know. You might have to for a little while but not for long. Once you graduate you'll be going off into the world. Your uncle won't be able to hold you anymore."

Zain looks down and sees the time on his notepad and proceeds to panic, "I'm going to be late to meet Milena and Cedric!"

"Calm down, you'll live," Camnor says, but Zain doesn't hear him over his own thoughts. He picks up Camnor and rushes inside to get changed. He skips showering despite Camnor's cries that he has to. He forgets about the numbness in his legs as he dashes down the halls. I have to get to the dining hall! I can't be late! In his panic dash down the halls, Zain sees a blur of color that he runs into.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't our little friend Mute," the boy he ran into says. It was one of Ryder's friends. The one who called himself a prince. Zain was extremely disappointed when Camnor told him that he wasn't actually a prince. He's a liar. He probably lied when he called me his friend too. The girl who hangs out with Ryder is also there. If Zain remembers correctly, Allegra said their names were Caelan and Aiza.

"Don't just sit there!" Camnor shouts. "Get out of here."

Zain quietly gets up from the floor with his things and begins to leave, but Aiza blocks his path.

"Where you goin'?" she says in a sickly-sweet voice. "We just wanted to chat."

"I have to go. I'm going to be late," Zain answers softly while he stares at the floor.