seeing blindly | ✔

Seeing Blindly: Who I Am

| chapter 32 |

Through the woods I have grown so fond of, Liam and the gang of runaways stumbled upon a road.

"Here we go!" Vida exclaims, running onto the paved highway.

The sun blinds me, which is unusual given I am the heat from the sun. The sun gives heat, heat is drawn from fire, and I am fire.

Clancy enters my mind once more. I'm surprised he hasn't had guards or PSFs come after me. Does he still not know or does he simply not care as much as I thought?

Ruby and Liam are staring at each other without context, leaving me alone with my thoughts. This is how it's going to be. He is always going to choose Ruby than me. Even when he has no memories, his heart and his mind will choose her.

I sigh deeply, shaking my head and moving forward.

"There's a gas station right up there. See it?" Chubs pointed out. I turned his direction and saw the abandoned gas station.

Still ignoring Ruby and Liam, I make way with Chubs, Vida, and Jude. The sun beating down on them with exhaust, but giving me the strength I need. The fire is burning through my veins and fueling me right.

I keep moving forward, not caring for what the world is giving around us. The journey to be here and breathe in different air has consequences. What kind of consequences, I am not sure of at the moment.

We make it to the gas station, huffing in and out deep breaths. Chubs takes a drink from his water bottle, sighing longingly. Nobody paid attention to what I was doing. It might have to be because I am Red, or because two of these kids know who I was before the fire at East River.

Chubs sits down next to me on the curb and sighs once more. "Hey Amara."

"Hi Chubs." I respond, my throat feeling dry.

He exhales sharply. "How-How you been? Haven't seen you since East River..." he pauses. "Thought you died."

I chuckle. "Nope. Not dead. Still alive." Sort of.

A loud crash came from inside the gas station, and when I looked around, everyone was outside. "What was that?" I ask.

"I don't know." Jude plainly stated.

The lights inside the station were off, and I didn't want to test the electricity. I snapped my fingers, igniting a small flame. I reached out to open the door, slowly walking inside.

"Amara, what the hell are you doing?" Ruby pulls me back.

I glare at her and I feel the Red color in my eyes burn into her face. "Let go."

"Amara-"

"I said, let go." I growl. "Now."

Ruby's expression tells me everything. It's not pride or anger... it's fear. Ruby is afraid of me.

Good. She better be.

I pull my arm away from her, walking inside. Nobody follows me. I creep in some more, moving slowly behind shelves in the aisle. This is a bit much, but my gut tells me there is someone I know well.

There is a light at the end of the hall and under the light is a face that has haunted me for years. A face so charming and yet, so dangerous. He has me wrapped around his finger so tightly and at his beck and call, but I am also independent from him.

"Clancy?"

| end of book 2 |