The Bryne Runaways (Updated)

Chapter 26

Friday. The grand games. The beginning.

The camp has been awfully quiet lately. It's been going on like that all morning long. No one had to attend their stations due to the big day today. Luckily for me I stayed in the entire morning. I skipped breakfast and Uncle Ben stayed with me all morning long. I kinda didn't want Uncle Ben to be in the games like me because there's some really big guys in there who are attending and things feel different. I get scared often but I knew Uncle Ben can handle himself because he's highly trained. But still he's my uncle, he's all I have.

I sit on the couch reading an old comic as Uncle Ben gets a bit of more training for the game. I've been acting so sad and moody lately that I have led the others to the game and I'm here not able to play any games. It made me angry inside but depressed on the outside. I stare down at the coffee table as my mind drifts onto everything I've been told I was. Weak. Frail. A kid. I'm no such thing I'm better than all these things. I can handle myself if I have to and I know I'm able to prove myself. I know I get scared but it happens, it's okay to be afraid.

There's a knock on the door and I snap out of my thoughts. I drop the comic on the table and go to the door. I open the entrance door and a brown lonely box sits still on the ground and it reads in red marker Ben Bryne. I pick up the box and carry the heavy object inside and Uncle Ben takes it from my hands once it comes to his view. I look at Uncle Ben and he's sweaty.

"Who's it from?" He asks and begins to open the box.

"Uh.. I don't know the box was just put out there" I say and he takes the lid off the box revealing his brand new armor just made for the infected game. It looked amazingly awesome that it made me completely jealous. Under it all lies a note and I pick it up reading it out loud.

Bryne
We all believe in you. Take us to victory again.
-Dom

"Who's Dom?" I ask Uncle Ben feeling completely mad and selfish but I chose to keep it in. I'll be looking very bad if I show.

"The leader of our station" He says and I hand him the note and he takes it. I go back to my seat and continue rereading my stupid comic book kids like me do. I feel a pair of eyes and I know he caught the tension. He walks over and sits next to me on the couch.

"I'm sorry I know you're upset because you can't play. I just can't live with myself knowing you might be out there hurt. You are my nephew and I love you with what all I can and you know how valuable you are to me but you don't know how really valuable you are. You just don't know much yet" He says and what I do know is he's just trying to make me feel better. It's enough.

"Look at me" Uncle Ben and I do what he asks bringing down my comic looking into those colored eyes of his full of some type of emotion I can't read.

"Just trust me on this one"

It is dinner and the sun is coming down, bringing up the dark night. Which means our tradition will begin in no time and where we shall let the feast commence. I sit next to Uncle Ben where the cafeteria has served the entire camp a special meal due to today where it leads to this big toast afterwards.

I stuff my face with thick mashed potatoes and moist gravy because that's all I choose to eat. I wasn't in the mood for anything else just this. I look around and see everyone having a good time. They all share laughs and questionable conversations. It's funny how things are at the moment, but in an hour they will be going against each other's throats. I'm so bored that I took out my medallions, admiring the leftovers of what I have left from my family than Uncle Ben. I kiss them and hold them to my heart.

Oh please dear medallions help me.

I couldn't bare this anxious feeling deep in me, I grow red from my cheeks at the thought of our tradition, my palms are warm and my stomach feels empty but a raging poking inside that isn't so pleasant. Time is clocking down to our commencement and finally it strikes the last two hours until then.

The messenger arrives looking elegant but looks bias and he stands behind the podium, it's time for the toast. "Ladies and Gentlemen, The head of the camp. Sir Andrew Gordon" They bring up Gordon who is dressed up elegant and formal for the special occasion not smiling just giving a plain serious face. The cafeteria applauses for his appearance but I simply don't do it, he doesn't deserve my applause.

"Campers. Welcome to the grand game" The campers cheers for this monster. "The games this time has been dedicated not only to the fallen campers but to a very special camper out here. This one's for you" The eyes of the head of the camp go directly towards me.

He raises his glass into the air not spilling a drop of his liquor. "To the special ones" And the entire cafeteria explodes by repeating after him shooting their mighty cups in the air. The special ones. It lingers in my head then our chant goes signaling the end of our feast. It is time. I look at Gordon who sips his liquor and my ears take it all in. Just let it all go Norman.

We rise, to shine

We ignite, to unite

We fight, to survive

We cry, to deny

We die, to be alive