Crimson

Chapter 11: The Flying Boy

Hannah's Perspective:

That night I barely slept. I tossed and turned, constantly feeling my anxiety slowly set my stomach on fire. I had to beat that jerk even if was the last thing I ever did. I'm just sick of people, the Lost Boys in particular, underestimating me. I was no different than them. If they saw how I was back home they'd be too afraid to stand within ten feet of me. Or at least, I wish that's how they'd view me. I always hated being treated as the weak link. I guess I just prefer having a hard exterior. The fewer people that know where I come from, the better. Being as I couldn't sleep I was up early. I had left my hut quietly as to not wake anyone else up. The fire in the camp was close to dying out as the remaining smoke dispersed in the morning air. It was early enough that I didn't see any other boys roaming the camp. It was just me. Or so I thought. As I strolled through the camp I heard the sound of logs being dropped on the ground near the fire. Looking over I discovered Pan as he threw a few longs into the pit, reviving the once warm fire. His eyes locked with me as I stood where I was. His brows furrowing I could tell from twenty feet away that he was glaring at me. Breaking eye contact he shook his head and went back to throwing logs into the fire. Guess he's not a morning person...Or any sort of person with a heart for that matter. He always seems to be pissed off about something. He was mysterious in ways I couldn't explain...

The morning passed quickly as I paced around the outskirts of the camp. I tried to sit down and relax but sitting only made me more anxious. One by one other boys would wake up and gather around the fire while they ate their breakfast. I, however, sat alone outside my hut eating a stash of apples I had taken out of the basket that was set out. By now I had made a pile of apple cores that had resulted from stress eating. For a slight moment, my mind felt at ease. Maybe Brett would lose to Trent and I wouldn't have to fight at all. Maybe this will all just blow over. The likelihood of it was unlikely, but you never know...As I sat beside my hut I was greeted by none other than Julian. At first, his eyes met mine, but it wasn't long before his eyes met the pile of apples.

"Um, should I even ask?" Julian questioned as he eyed me with a raised brow.

Shaking my head I scoffed;

"Stress eating..."

Julian's expression came across as perplexed, but he shrugged his shoulders and dismissed it.

"You ready?" He asked with a small grin.

I glared up at him and spoke hastily;

"No..." I rolled my eyes and sighed. "He's gonna chop my head off" I groaned.

I leaned the back of my head against the wall of the hut and rested my eyes.

"You'll be fine, Hannah" Julian assured me. His facial expression seemed sincere, but he wasn't the one that was gonna have to fight Brett.

Ugh...He wouldn't understand...He's never been a weak teenage girl before.

"Trust me. If you don't start believing in yourself then you'll never be able to beat him" he added.

I began to curse and mock him under my breath because I knew he was right. Opening my eyes my expression softened towards him.

"Alright, fine. I believe in myself" I said lazily.

Julian momentarily eyed me as he called my bluff. I predicted that if I didn't say what he wanted to hear he would proceed to make me sit through a long ass speech about confidence.

"Okay, fine!" I caved, closing my eyes and releasing a heavy sigh.

"I'll trust myself that I can do this" I finished as I reopened my eyes and Julian gloated in his victory.