Trapped

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

           I was still staring out the window when Sam called down to the people waiting at the bottom of the pyramid for someone to bring up something to break the window with, then he turned back to the window to continue staring out at the broken world with me.

         We could see miles and miles of the city outside the window. But it wasn’t the city I remembered. In the city I remembered the buildings were huge and whole and glistened in the sun, not the small, broken, barely there structures that looked like the ground down teeth of a great beast. And in the city I remembered there were cars constantly driving up and down the long expanses of road that led into, throughout, and around the city but all there was now was a long deserted highway full of holes as large as a truck, with grass and weeds growing out from between the long jagged cracks that spider webbed all throughout the black asphalt.

        What happened to the world? Why didn’t we remember this broken city? Why were we locked in the only building that was whole and still standing? All these questions raced through my head at a million miles a minute. I was getting a migraine. I groaned and let my head fall into my hands. It was all too much.

         I felt a warm hand on my back and I tensed “Are you ok?” Sam asked me his voice full of concern.

         “Yeah” I said while racking my hands through my hair and shaking Sam’s hand off at the same time, “I’m fine”

          “Are you sure?” he asked still not convinced, “You look like you’re going to puke.”

          “Yes, I’m fine. I just want to get down from here.” I said while rolling my eyes at his concern even though I did feel a little queasy.

          “Ok. I’ll go down first then you come down after me. Ok?” he said.

           I nodded.

           He started to climb down and I watched his muscles bulge and stretch as he went. When he was far enough down I started down after him. Sam made it to the bottom first and when I was about six feet from the ground Sam held his arms out, motioned for me to jump and he would catch me. I was already out of breath and the room was spinning a little bit, so I didn’t argue and jumped. Of course he caught me but he held me in his arms a little longer than necessary before sliding me down his body and to the floor.

         I looked into his eyes and the forest hidden there was on fire. I never noticed the streaks of green and blue in his irises. My cheeks warmed as the blood pooled there but I didn’t look or move away and neither did he. I don’t know how long we stood like that , I think we could’ve stayed like that forever, but eventually a commotion near the base of the pyramid broke out, we both turned to look and the spell was broken.

          There was a little pushing and shoving coming from the group of people standing around the base of the threatening structure. Sam looked down at me and I pleaded with my eyes for him to take care of it. He sighed and nodded so I smiled gratefully up at him and we went opposite ways, Sam heading toward the commotion and me heading away from it.

           I went to the opposite side of the room where there was no one around to disturb me; I slid down to the floor and rested my head against the wall. I wanted nothing more than to curl up into a ball. I knew I couldn’t do that. I felt that if I kept thinking about all my unanswered questions my head would explode and they would have to hose me, and my questions, off the walls. But even with that image fresh in my mind I couldn’t make it rest.

           I groaned and decided to lie down on the cold tile. The cold felt good against my throbbing head. But my peace didn’t last long.

          “Hey Tessa.” I recognized Ari’s voice, “Are you okay?”

          I cracked one eye open and asked, “Why do people keep asking me that?”  

          “Well it can’t be because you’re curled in a ball on the ground.” She said sarcastically.  

           “Ugh.” I groaned. I could feel tears pricking behind my eyes. All of this was so overwhelming. Ari sat down Indian style on the ground next to me. I sat up so I wouldn’t look so weak, looked over at her and asked, “Did you see what was out the window?”

            She shook her head no but didn’t actually say anything so we just sat there in a comfortable silence, until I heard footsteps coming our way and I didn’t even bother opening my eyes because I already knew it was Sam. Even before he sat down next to me and brushed his hand against mine so that the electricity warmed my skin. It felt like sparks were skipping across my hand but when I looked down nothing was there and I sighed.

           “Are you ok?” Sam asked me concern evident on his face and in his voice.

           “Haven’t you already asked me that?” I asked quizzically.

           “Yes I have.” He said but after a pause he asked again, “but, are you?” 

            I continued to tap dance around the question by asking, “So what’s the plan?”

            He heaved an exasperated sigh his shoulders slumping in defeat and said, “I have absolutely no idea.”

           I stared at him a moment after his confession then sighed. “Ok, we’ll figure it out tomorrow. I’m going to sleep.” And with that I lie down on the hard tile, let my eyes slide closed and I drifted into a peaceful oblivion.