Left Alone

Open Eyes, Open Mind

Chapter Seventeen

"What do you guys do down here, anyway?" I asked. Jesse gave me a crooked grin that was was damn near infectious.

"We have a bit of work that we do to make living underground more comfortable," he told me. "Mostly, though, we are outside keeping watch out for drifters. Too many people would give their left arm for our hiding spot. We have to guard it carefully."

"How often does it happen?" I wanted to know. I wondered if Jesse would allow some help. I wanted to make it up to him for saving my life. I was more than ready to get my hands dirty in some real work. I frowned as I thought about my reasoning. It wasn't just because of Jesse. I hadn't seen Kane at all and I was starting to worry about him. I'd hoped we could have a chance to talk, but for that to happen, he would need to show his ass up and look me in the face. Hue told me that he had been upset when he found out about me. I just hoped it didn't jeopardize our friendship.

"Strangers come by every day," Jesse answered, snapping me out of my depressing thoughts. "It's how we all stay so well fed." I winced, but only slightly. I was slowly starting to get used to the idea of being open about my dieting habits and to be completely honest, it felt good to tell someone. Still, it didn't escape Jesse's notice. He stopped me by touching my arm and spinning me around to face him. The look I saw on his face surprised me because it was soft and inviting. "Hey. You don't have to feel disgusted with yourself anymore. You are not evil. You're just different. And luckily, you are surrounded by people just like you. We will talk about our condition openly. You're going to have to be okay with that."

I nodded. "It's just a little weird, you know?" I confided. Jesse seemed to understand, but I felt like I should continue. For some reason, I felt like I could tell him anything and he would get it. I was comfortable with him, and I barely knew him. "I've never admitted to it my whole life. It's been my biggest secret. And now it's just out there, in the open. It's going to take some getting used to."

"I understand, believe me." Jesse sighed and I could feel the weight of the past pressing down on his shoulders. Then he shook his head and smiled at me again. "Let's just try to keep an open mind, shall we?" I agreed.

We worked for the rest of the day. I mostly tried to find my way around in the labyrinth, which wasn't easy. Then, I had to start all over when Sal decided he wanted to create a shortcut from his room to the kitchen. The digging had been exhausting, but Jesse and Hue never let me get low. If I felt a twinge of hunger, I was sent out on guard duty. In the week that I stayed with them, I felt like I was building a life for myself, something that both surprised me and pleased me. As someone who spent her life running and hiding, it felt so good to relax and call a place home. The company was good and I felt myself getting comfortable with the group. They were my own people, and I knew I could trust them. Trust was something that never came easily and sometimes I wondered if I was doing the right thing by staying here, but then I couldn't bring myself to leave. I liked it here. More than that, though, Kane still hadn't showed up. I couldn't leave without him. I understood if he didn't want to travel with me anymore now that he knew the truth, but I had to wait and make sure. I cared about him and wanted to make sure he was safe before taking off on my own to find my brother. I thought about Star every night and hoped that he was okay. I knew that I had to get to him fast, but I could only guess which institution they took him to. It was going to take some work, but hopefully, I would get my brother back soon. I just wanted Kane to be with me when I found him.

"Sky!" Angel entered my room and felt around for my hand. I smiled. I had become so attached to the little girl. She reminded me of Star when he was that age.

Now that he was growing up, he didn't need me anymore. Angel, though, would always need someone. As despicable as it sounds, I was glad that it was me she wanted right now. I gave her my hand and she smiled a smile that melted my frozen heart. "Guess what?"

"What is it, honey?" I asked her, loving her sweet voice. She gripped my hand tighter and swung it back and forth, excited. I laughed at her childlike antics. That is, until her words hit me.

"Kane is back! Kane is back!"

I froze. Just then, a dark figure clouded my doorway. Kane stared at me with guarded eyes. It was a look I'd never expected to see directed towards me. I swallowed my anxiety and stared back at him with a blank expression. I wouldn't make the first move. He wanted to come back, then he had to lay his cards on the table before I decided what I was going to do. He cleared his throat.

"Hey, Sky," he said, his voice deeper than I've ever heard it. His piercing gaze was still aimed at me and I fought the urge to squirm. I don't have anything left to hide. "We need to talk."

Jesse's words rang in my head. Keep an open mind. Despite how I was feeling at the moment, I decided to take his advice. I nodded at Kane.

"Lead the way."