Crossed Worlds

Chapter 30: Break Them Down

  At first, nothing really happened. The gang all just stared at each other, feeling the mild itch at where the chips sat under their skin.

Then, Jade felt like she had forgotten to breathe somehow – it was as if she was drowning even though not a drop of water was in sight – and she fell to the ground with a thud. It reminded her of her nightmares, and she tried to scream despite having almost no air in her lungs, so it came out as a hoarse croak.

"Jade!" James fell to his knees beside her and cradled her into his lap. "What's wrong?"

She desperately wanted to tell him but the words were trapped at the back of her throat. All she could do was choke and gasp.

"She can't breathe!" Anna yelled, and it was strange to hear her soft voice sound strangulated in panic. "Someone help! Stop the test!"

Everyone's heads came into Jade's vision, hovering above her and looking petrified. They all started to blur, and she could only mildly hear Hunter kicking at the door and cursing at the leaders.

Lily gently pulled her from James's lap and lay her flat on the cold floor. She started performing CPR, whilst Hunter – now joined by the rest of the boys – kept on kicking and punching at the doors and walls.

She felt Anna's light touch on her hair, gently stroking it, and she focused on how that soothed her, as every sound and sensation became distant.

Then, suddenly, she could breathe again.

She rolled onto her front and wretched at the floor, catching her breath at last, and wiped away tears that were forming at her cheeks.

"First test: complete. We will give Jade time to recover before we continue," the robotic voice announced from the ceiling.

"We aren't continuing," James said sternly at the ceiling. "Let us out of here right now. You could have killed her!"

"We would not have let it get that far. Please trust that you are safe here."

They all helped Jade to her feet and patted her back whilst she got her last few coughs out. After a few deep breaths, she had calmed down a little bit, and was finally able to speak.

"That was horrible," she shivered. "Thank you all for trying to help me."

They all nodded, saying of course they were going to do anything they could to help her, and as they all surrounded and embraced her, she noticed someone was missing.

"Anna?" Jade stepped back from the group and saw her best friend hugging her knees to her chest in the corner and crying.

Hunter, with his brotherly instincts, ran to her in a blur, and sat by her on the floor.

"Are you okay, sis?" He asked gently.

She looked up at him with glossy, bewildered eyes, and then back to the floor again.

"Where am I?" She asked.

The gang all just stared back at her in silence. They shared looks with one another, unsure of what to say.

"What do you mean, Anna?" Jade asked, taking a few timid steps towards where she sat in the corner of the room.

"I...I don't know where I am. Where am I?" Anna repeated.

Her kind, sweet face looking so afraid and distraught made everyone feel sick to their stomach.

"You're at the Mixed School, in a weird test room with all of us, remember?" Zoe asked.