Unbreakable

Chapter Twenty - Four

I've been wandering for so long that I can barely even feel my feet anymore. My skin is dry and cracked from walking through the desert and my throat is so sore. I have no more strength. This was a dumb idea, maybe I should have stayed there. No, anything is better than that hell hole.

My knees buckle and I stumble a few steps, but regain my balance enough to stay on my feet. I lean over and place my hands on my thighs, trying to catch my breath. It's useless. It's all a hopeless, useless cause. I'm going to die out here in the middle of nowhere with nobody to care about me.

Suddenly, something catches my eye. I look up and see the sun reflect off of a building not just a few meters away. I try to take another step, but my body fails and I collapse onto the ground.

"Please. Someone help me," I barely manage to whisper. Then I lose consciousness and lose all sense of the worl

-~-

I can't breathe. Something is wrapped around my throat choking me. I scratch and claw at it, but it doesn't let go.

"Please! I can't breathe..."

"You're better off dead anyway," a deep voice in the dark says cruelly.

"No! I don't want to die!" I scream out as I hear footsteps walking away. "Please! I don't want to die!"

"Wake up! Wake up!"

I open my eyes and see a handsome face etched with concern looking down at me. His hands are on my shoulders and he seems out of breath. Where the hell am I?

"Please let go?" I ask timidly.

The mystery man immdiately releases me and retracts his hands as if in fear of me. That's strange, nobody is afraid of me. In fact, I'm the one that's afraid of everybody else. I watch as he runs a hand through his hair and sighs in relief. Then he glances over at me again and just stares.

"What?"

"N-nothing. I'm still just getting used to the fact that you're back."

"Back? Back where?"

"You don't recognize who I am, again?" he questions, emphasizing the again.

I rub my eyes with the back of my hand and blink a couple of times. When my sight comes back into focus I make out the features of a recognizable face.

"Oh! It's you!"

"The one and only," he replies with a wink. "We found you just outside of town. What were you doing there anyway?"

"I was running away. I thought that I would be accepted immediately when I went back, but I was so very wrong." I put my head in my hands and shake my head. "So. very. wrong."

He reaches out and places a hand on my shoulder, but I immediately shrug him away. He retracts his hand again as if I've burned him.

"Sorry. Reflex." Is all I manage to say.

He shakes his head and sighs. "No, it's alright. I keep forgetting that you're not the same anymore."

Suddenly, an alarm goes off and I scream, covering my ears with my hands. Then the door opens abruptly and another man rushes through it.

"Let's go, man!"

"Alright, I'll be there in a sec."

"It's the Brandy Brothers again, dude!"

"Oh, shit! Okay, okay." He turns to me. "I have to deal with this, but we can keep talking later when I get back?"

I've been stunned into silence, not knowing what to say and just nod in response. He nods back and swiftly gets up and exits the room. I'm left all alone in a strange, but yet familiar place.

I lay in the bed as long as I can before I start to become restless. After tossing and turning, failing at finding a comfortable position, I choose to get up and explore the building. The first step I take is weak and I tumble to the ground.

"Shit, shit, shit," I mumble to myself, regretting the stupid decision to try and walk around. Of course I'm not healthy enough for that yet. Duh.

Not having the will to even try to get up, I lay on the floor and stare at the ceiling for what feels like hours. Then the door opens and I hear somebody rushing to my side.

"June! What the hell were you thinking?"

"I-I wasn't.  I'm sorry."

"Shh...it's alright. Are you hurt?"

I shake my head as he places me on the bed and I try to cover the embarassment on my face with my hands.

"Hey..don't do that. Don't hide from me," he says as he uncovers my face and brushes a strand of hair away. Though foreign, the touch is comforting and reassuring.

"What's your name again?"

"Hawk. But my real name is Ash."

"And how many of you are there?"

He holds up 4 fingers. "Me, Falcon, Eagle and you."

"Me? I don't doubt that I know you people, but I don't think I would ever be a part of what you guys do."

"June, sweetie. You were our fearless leader. The most badass of us all!"

I shake my head. "No, no, no. I wouldn't even want to be that person. I just want to be safe and protected and...." I trail off not finishing my sentence. Not being able to admit my desires.

"And what, June?"

"Nothing. It's stupid."

"J - "

I put my hand up, effectively cutting him short. "I'm hungry, but obviously can't walk on my own. Could you carry me to the kitchen please?"

"I could just bring you food."

"I'm in desperate need of a change of scenery. You guys were gone for like forever. What the hell were you doing anyway?" I gasp and cover my mouth. I've haven't spoken so cruedly ever before and remember the awful punishments when I used to. "Sorry. Please don't punish me."

"Punish you?"

"Master would do awful things if I ever spoke out of turn like that. Actually all of them would, and - "

This time he puts his hand up and interrupts. "I don't need to hear the details just yet. Maybe later."

I nod once and that is the end of our conversation. He stands up and picks me up in his strong arms. I'm carried into the living area bridal style and set down on the couch right next to the kitchen.

"What would you like?"

"Anything."