Survivors

Chapter 30: Jada

Chapter 30: Jada

          It’s me. I’m the breathing and bleeding head in Xain’s dream. It scares me so much that I almost fall from the tree.

          “Dreams are only imagination or desires of your heart during your sleep, Xain,” I say, trying to hide that I’m trembling, “they aren’t visions of the future.”

          “I know,” Xain says, “that’s why I’m not so worried about the dream as I am for you.”

          “Don’t worry about me,” I answer back, “I’ll be fine, if you worry too much, you’re likely to not solve anything.”

          “You’re right,” I hear Xain chuckle, “my worrying won’t keep any of us alive. Well, we should probably rest.”

          “Going somewhere specific?” I ask as I lay back on the tree.

          “I don’t know,” Xain says, “we just need to keep moving.”

          “Well then, good night, Xainian Alexander Austin,” I nearly giggle.

          “How’d you find that out?” Xain sounds surprised.

          “Pulled your file,” I chuckle softly.

          “Okay, Jadari Willow Anderson,” Xain yawns, “files ain’t hard to find.”

          Except the slight chuckle we both share, it’s pretty much silent. I still lie awake and look at the stars. They seem to shine more brightly outside of the encampment. I think of everyone else who didn’t make it out of the C-5 camp, more so about where they may be. I hope that it isn’t on Carnage Island, though I would rather them be alive and there than dead. I shut my eyes for a while, trying to relax and fall asleep, but I can’t sleep.

          “Hey, Izzy,” I say softly as I twirl the phoenix charm in my fingers, “I’m sorry you had to go and fight Vice for me, but I’m also thankful for it, because then I would have never met you, Abi, or even Xain. Where ever you are, I hope you’re safe and not hurt. I promise that I will be strong like the phoenix. And Xania, I know you’re probably one of the stars up above. I promise you I will watch over your cousin.”

          With that, the necklace begins to glow in the bright moonlight. It looks on fire. Wait, it is on fire! It’s burning bright orange and seems to catch my hand. It accidentally drop it in fear. It lands right next to Xain, but he doesn’t wake. The charm begins to dim, but is still shining ing the moonlight. I climb down the tree and untie myself as I drop silently to the ground.

          As I pick up the phoenix, I glance at Xain. He looks peaceful in his rest, though I swear his eyes are not all the way shut. The moonlight is shining directly on him, and I see that he’s curled up as if to shield off coldness. I climb back up the tree and grab my blanket and place it on top of him. He loosens up a little. I begin to feel the chill myself—not sure if it’s the night or if it’s seeing the phoenix catch fire—and climb in the blanket. There’s room for us both. It’s surprising that it’s thin, but give so much warmth. As soon as I’m under the blanket, I seem to fall asleep. I hope he doesn’t mind me being down from the tree, or sharing a blanket with me period.

          In the morning, I find out my answer when he wakes up. He was surprisingly calm when he awoke to find me in his arms.

          “Good morning,” he says as he rises slowly from the bedding of the ground and stretches, “I trust you slept well.”