Morph

Chapter Four Skyler Good-bye

I stepped out of the bathroom. My hair looked bad when it was flat and wet. I took a hairbrush a brushed it out as it dried into my natural curly hair. It was getting a little long for comfort. It curled when it got long. It was barely brushing the tops of my ears.

I stepped into my room there on the bed was my backpack. I had filled it with the only clothes I had. I held my birthday present in my hands. I looked at it then put it in my backpack if I was given this I was going to read it, no matter what. I looked at my room. It was small and simple but it was mine. I felt a surge of sadness and I got a feeling that it would be a long time before I saw it again. I shook the feeling off and stepped into the hall and closed my door behind me.

I turned to see my sister Mandy standing there with tears in her eyes.

"You don't have to go! They can have someone else do it! Please Sky!" Mandy sobbed as she wrapped me in a hug. I hugged her back I fought back tears.

I spoke softly, "If there is a chance to get these people and our family more food and a better life, then I will try."

She sniffled, then gave me another hug, "please don't go," she said again.

I patted her on the shoulder and gave her the most reassuring smile I could give. I walked down the hall as Mandy followed me. My father was at the door.

"Son." My father said, "Don't trust the Queen. Try to win you have the upper hand! No one can kill a lion with bare hands. Please be careful."

My father gave me a warm embrace.

"You don't have to go, there is still time to say no to the Queen." He added as I stepped away from the hug.

"Dad...err Father, Mandy. I'm doing this for you and everyone else. Mia was right. We have to fight, and this is how I am going to." I looked at them while I spoke. A spark of fire and hope lit up in their eyes. I smiled dryly as I opened the front door and stepped out into the clear cool air. "Good-bye" I called out to my father and sister as I walked down the street.

"Skyler! Wait!" I turned to see Tanner running up the street after me. He slowed as he approached.

"What is it?" I asked.

"I just wanted to say good luck and good-bye." He replied panting.

"Thanks Tanner." I smiled. Then I saw Mia running up the street too.

"Skyler!" She called out.

"Hey, Mia I have to go the Queen will get mad."

"Yeah, Yeah. But before you go I wanted to give you this." She said as she pulled out of her pocket a little note with my favorite poem written on it.

"Here I wanted to give it to you for luck." She smiled as she tossed it at me.

It wasn't much, just a simple note, but it meant a lot.

"Thanks Mia." I said putting the note in my pocket. I gave them a smile then I looked down the street to see a group of guards coming our way.

"I really have to go but thank you. Both of you." I replied in disappointment as I turned and sprinted down the street.

The Queen smiled as I approached the lineup of trucks and jeeps.

"I want you to ride with Bridget. Because I will be riding in my own car that has bullet proof glass." The Queen gestured towards a jeep that had Bridget sitting in the back seat while two of the drone guards where in the front seats.

"Okay" I replied weakly.

I hopped in the jeep. Bridget just eyed me like she didn't know what to think of me. I didn't know what to say.

"Don't worry, Cage. The Queen will take good care of you...for now." Bridget said as she turned towards the window.

The car started with a vroom. It made me jump. I had seen these cars before but had never ride in one. Bridget let out a quiet giggle. I blushed. I turned to look out the window at the place I had always grown up with. The final good–bye to my past.

The guards said nothing as we traveled. Bridget occasionally glanced over at me as if she wondered if I was real or not. Finally, I couldn't bare the silence any longer.

"Who is it?" I blurted out. Bridget turned to meet my eyes with confusion.

"Who's who?" Bridget said not taking her cool eyes of mine. I then realized that one of her irises was a little darker than the other.

"The person I will be...fighting I guess..." I replied not breaking her stare. I was like an endless game of not blinking. We sat there for a long time looking at each other.

Finally, she responded "The name of the person you will be fighting is: Flare. That is how she is known to me." Bridget kept looking at me.

"Cool." I could barely make out. Bridget nodded. I had so many questions ready to be dropped at any moment.

I was about to speak, but then Bridget smiled. And it was a really pretty smile. Her teeth were straight yet they weren't perfect. The top of her jaw didn't match her bottom jaw.

"I know this is new for you, but you got to act like you own the place got it? Not over confident, but just enough confidence to intimidate the other warrior." She said as she pushed my shoulders back "Shoulders back it shows purpose."

I just nodded "Cool." I said again.

Am I an idiot? A girl is sitting right next to me! And I might be riding to my death the very least I could do was say something more than 'cool'. I'm so stupid. She probably thinks I'm mental or something! I have to say something smooth, to get the conversation rolling again.

"Nice weather huh?" I said.

Yep, I am mental and stupid. Bridget looked up at the sky then turned to me "Yeah I guess so. At the City it's always sunny. We hardly ever get rain. I love rain, it makes me feel better and fresh." She said as her gaze turned back to the window. I looked up then took in a deep breath.

"It's going to rain again." I said instinctively.

"Yeah, I know." Bridget replied, "I mean... I can tell... because it's cloudy..." She said flustered. All I could do was nod like an idiot.

I heard a faint growl. "Did you hear that?" I say leaning forward.

"Hear what?" Bridget asked as she looked around.

"A growl..." I replied softly, "I think I can see something moving." I looked out the window. The rain had begun to fall. I looked as far as my eyes could. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. "Are we outside of the boundaries?" I asked turning to Bridget.

"Yeah" She replied, "We past the boundaries 30 minutes ago." She replied eyeing me. I looked at Bridget. So, no one could be out there. It was against the law. I looked out the window again I saw two golden eyes staring back at me from a distance. I froze. Then there was a loud crash.