Burned Out [Completed]

Jin Enters the Battle

A few minutes later, Martin and I walked into his house. It felt bizarre to be back here after everything that had just happened. The whole house had a fragile feel to it, like one touch could cause it to topple into Crazyland with me and Mart.

"You go and find some food," Martin suggested, gesturing down a hall on my left. "The kitchen is that way. I'll grab some money and clothes."

He vanished up a flight of stairs and I slipped down the hallway to the kitchen. The walls were lined with portraits of Martin's old, stern-faced African American family. Their eyes seemed to follow me, which was totally creepy.

How did Martin walk through here without feeling like he had somehow dishonored his ancestors?

Leaving the stuffy hallway behind, I entered a spacious kitchen. Everything about Martin's house was huge, but I guess that's what happens when both of your parents are doctors.

I rummaged through the extensive line of cabinets and came out with a pretty good haul: a box of graham crackers, half a family-sized bag of puffy cheetos, several granola bars, a couple water bottles, and two packages of pepperoni slices. Yeah, I could survive on that. Junk food is my specialty.

I went back into Mart's living room and waited for him to come back. He came down the stairs a minute later carrying his backpack. "I got sixty dollars from my dad's emergency stash and some of my mom's old clothes you might fit into. What did you get?"

I showed him my collection and he nodded with approval. "Somehow you managed to find the only unhealthy stuff in the whole house."

I smiled. Like I said, junk food is my specialty.

We started to head out the door when Martin paused. "Maybe I should leave a note," He said nervously, casting his eyes towards the hallway of disapproving elders.

"Martin, I know you're worried, but what if Nick comes here and asks your mom where you are? Do you really want to give her information that would put her in danger?"

He sighed. "You're right. This is going to kill her, but it's too risky."

We left Martin's house. The door swinging shut behind us sounded very final.

...

Martin rolled his bike out of the garage and we were on our way. I fished my phone from my pocket and flashed the screen on. 11:00.

And the day has just begun, I thought tiredly as we peddled along.

Martin and I didn't say much as we reached the edge of town, probably because there was enough going on with our own thoughts without entertaining each other's. I know that's how I felt, anyway. My thoughts raced around my head like dogs chasing cars.

I thought about how much had managed to change in two short days. I thought about what Nick could possibly want from me and my newfound power. I thought about my father and how wrong I had been about him my whole life.

I glanced at Martin riding next to me. His brain was probably in just as much turmoil as mine. He just left his entire life behind to dive headlong into a fight that wasn't his. Was being my friend really worth it?

I opened my mouth to ask him that very question when a got a strange queasy feeling pulling at the pit of my stomach. "Martin, we need to stop."

"Huh?" He turned to look at me and immediately slowed his bike down. I managed to clamber off of my bike and stumble to the side of the road before I lost my breakfast.