X-periment 5

The City of Ruins

        I’d never walked out around at night. Even when  I was back at the capitol, I was sent straight to my suite after the mission. But traveling through the darkness with the stars staring down at us was a surreal experience. Not in a good or bad way, it was just very different. The way of instead of traveling together in a group as we had before, everyone was either on their own or paired in a small group. Instead of the rambunctious noises all the men here made, it was eerily quiet. The moonlight was the only thing that helped me see their movements and cause me to change my pace and direction numerous times. Yet as I staggered at times, they moved with a natural grace that I myself had to be trained in order to master. Not a rustle nor whisper could be heard from them. While everyone moved ahead of me, they weaved through the darkness taking their own route. Their own way to a place they called home. I prefered to walk in a straight line until something got in my path. Jerry was not to far from my right and Xander, who knows where he went. After I took my pills I distanced myself away from everyone, I didn’t need anyone else to notice how dangerous and out of control I could become. I hadn’t realized everyone had stopped walking until Jerry grabbed my arm and pulled me back.

    “I know this is new for you, but you should be able to see the open cliff you were about to fall in.” she sighed as I took a second glance. 2 feet ahead of us lay a large opening . A massive one in fact, that in the darkness made the other side barely visible. I would’ve thought it was crater from a result of an aerial bombing during the war that was never filled, but instead it was an endless hole in between us and the other side, that lead to possibly nowhere.

    “Hopefully you balance is good eh. Don’t want to be bringing the Con a dead one. We’re going to have to cross it over that log over there.” a random person told me from behind. I shrugged it off, but my insides were screaming.

    “You’ll be fine. Believe it or not Nev is more of a jerk than Xander.” Jerry shrugged as she took the first step on the log. It hadn’t moved, which allowed me to let out the air I was keeping in. At least I know it was sturdy enough. One by one each of them crossed the log with ease. Next it was my turn. I hadn’t noticed that one figure also remained.

    “Well, aren’t you going to go?” Xander said lying against a tree. In the moonlight, it was hard to tell but it seemed as though he was just running.

    “Um, yes...I am.” I say taking my first step. The log didn’t move but my legs were slightly shaking. While the others had ran across without trying to balance, I wasn’t going to take any chances. One step, Two step I told myself. I felt immature for doing this but I really couldn’t stop myself. I looked straight down, focusing on my boots and trying to avert my eyes from the rocky abyss below me.

    I hear Jerry shouting from the other side, something along the line of telling me to hurry up, I wasn’t sure at all. But she hadn’t told me that at all, in fact she was telling me that Xander had gotten impatient and was running across the log, straight towards me with full force. Not questioning his balance for a second. I was carefully and slowly walking making progress across the log, one minute, and the next I was lifted up from my feet from and being carried from my waist at a full speed. there was pressure applied on my bandaged wound and this made me hiss at the sharp pain. I was off of the log in less than 30 seconds or so. Never again, I thought as Jerry rushed over to me eyes filled with bewilderment.

“I seriously thought you would at least push him off. “ Jerry observes as I walk quickly away from the spot where Xander dropped me.

        “Whatever. We should continue.” I tell her with the hopes of ending our conversation. Yes, I’m surprised for finally allowing myself to realize that I was no longer going to be at the Institute. That I was nearly fully willing to continue on with them without hesitation. They have given me no reason (so far) to think otherwise, unlike some individuals…