The Fire Inside

7. The Voice

"What do you mean we're not going back to the hideout?!" Julien fumed.

Heiwa sighed, "We need to go towards the market. Somehow we got halfway so might as well go the rest of the way."

"We're exhausted!"

"You're exhausted! The rest of us are fine."

Julien looked at the group. Heiwa was right. Even Jimin was facing towards the way they were about to go. How was she not tired while he was? He shook his head and stomped forward.

"You could've pretended to be tired..." he mumbled so that only Jimin could hear him.

Jimin looked at Julien in shock. Was he angry at her? She hadn't said anything because whether she liked it or not, the voice was gonna keep pissing her off and giving her migraines. She started getting used to the pain. She followed Varun and Maria who were arguing over who should keep watch next time they stop. When Heiwa finally got them to stop, Maria slowed down and came in step with Jimin.

"Hey. Can we talk?" Maria asked.

"Yeah. You don't need to ask," Jimin said shrugging lightly.

"Just wanted to ask you something about the headaches. They're headaches right?"

"Y-Yeah. I mean, I don't really know what's up with it either," Jimin looked forward at Julien, Varun, and Heiwa.

"Ok, so here's the thing. I'm Greek. I think I've told you, right?"

"I don't remember, sorry."

"Well now you know. I'm a descendant if Hestia. She's the goddess of the hearth. So I actually like fire and heat."

"Is that why you're always so hot-tempered?"

"Are you picking a fight?"

"No! I actually was asking."

"Ok then, yeah. Sort of. I just keep getting this feeling from you. You're different and after the weird teleportation thing I'm almost certain that you're special."

"Julien's also said that I was special, but teleportation?"

"Yeah, you pointed, walked and suddenly we were just there."

Jimin thought for a moment and realized she was right.

"I-I haven't told anyone, but I have this voice in my head..."

"Why would you say that! I told you not to tell anyone!" The voice yelled loud enough to make Jimin's head hurt again.

"Shut up!" Jimin screamed.

"Voice?" Maria asked.

Jimin flinched, but nodded soon after, "It's mad."

"It? So they haven't said anything? No name? Gender? Maybe where they're from?"

"No."

"So you seriously haven't told anyone?"

Jimin laughed nervously, "Yeah, I haven't. Can we stop talking about this? I just would rather talk to everyone as a group when I'm ready."

"Got it. On a separate note, what's up with you and Julien?"

Jimin's heart skipped a beat.

"N-Nothing! What would there be?"

"He seems to be real close to you."

"He said it's because I remind him of his sister."

Maria raised and eyebrow at how naive Jimin was.

"Ever heard of a love life?"

"Yes! I mean no! I mean I DON'T KNOW!"

Maria threw here head back and let out a hearty laugh. Julien and Varun turned back and forced Heiwa to stop as well.

"What's so funny?" Varun asked Maria.

"You guys are gay and it's hilarious!" She said.

Julien turned red and looked away while Varun stomped up to Maria.

"What the hell you saying! Gadidha!"

"Wow! You don't know what to say so you break out into your Indian language!"

"Oh so now you're gonna attack my ethnicity?"

"Like you didn't just insult me!"

Julien was still red as the two bickered. He stole glances at Jimin as she tried not to laugh at Varun and Maria. She noticed his gaze and locked eyes with him before turning away. Julien did the same.

Why is it so awkward all of a sudden? Jimin thought.

I hate Maria so much right now. Julien fumed.

They walked till the sun dipped beyond the horizon and the trees threw shadows across the forest floor. Under Heiwa's orders, Varun and Maria began grabbing unexpected blankets out of the knapsacks they had. Varun climbed a small tree and sat on a branch while leaning against the trunk. The second he was up, he closed his eyes. Maria on the other hand, took her blanket to Heiwa and made a place to sleep as comfy as possible. They gave Jimin and Julien the other blanket to which they stared at awkwardly. After debating silently, they leaned against the same tree Varun was sleeping on and curled up next to each other. Before sleeping, Jimin decided to tell all of them.

"Guys? You awake?"

The all mumbled responses, but were clearly awake enough to comprehend what she was about to say.

"I just wanted to get this off my chest. I told Maria and half the truth to Julien, but I wanted all of you to know."

Heiwa got up before kindly replying, "That's fine. Please do tell us. We can help you out. We don't exactly have places to be on a daily basis."

Jimin nodded before continuing," You guys know my head hurts right? Well, it always seems to hurt whenever the voice is trying to tell me something or warn me of something. And yeah, I lied when I said I was probably hallucinating. I actually have a voice in my head that refuses to get out. They won't even tell me who they are."

Jimin anticipated the voice, but when she didn't hear anything, she believed they were asleep. She looked next to her and saw Julien looking back completely shocked.

"Man, I thought you told me everything!"

"Sorry. Anyway, my home was destroyed the same way Julien's was. And well, I didn't know what to do so I ran. Luckily I found all of you so I feel safer. Oh! And before I forget, I think I can teleport!"

Varun almost fell out of the tree, "Wait WHAT!"

"All my idea!" Maria stated.

"Yeah. Maria told me. I think Jimin has some powers, although I don't understand it..." Heiwa tried to make connections, but failed.

Jimin felt useless. It was her life and she had no idea what was going on in her own body. She leaned against Julien before asking.

"How did you guys meet?"

"That's a pretty weird story. It's your typical poor and helpless people banding together in order to survive. We just ended up making the best out of it," Varun said.

Jimin could hear the pride in his voice and silently laughed at that.