Book 1: When Death Comes Near (#Wattys2015)

Safe Haven

        I woke up not knowing where I was.  The last thing I remember was Jasper breaking into the room and Jay just knocking everyone out, except him.  I had no clue where he was, where anyone was.  I was lying on a cold cement ground and it was really dark.  From previous experiences, aka just an hour ago, to stay calm.  I tried to block out the dizziness in my head so I could try to think straight.  I sat up.  The room I was in looked like an old jail cell.  In one corner there was a cot with an old pillow and on one wall there was a tiny window with iron bars.  One the opposite side of room was open, no door, instead huge rod iron bars that were slightlly rusted and a complex lock I don't think even the greatest theif could pick open.  I sniffed the air.  It smelled fishy, no like literal fish.  I smelled sea water.  My guess is that I was on a ship. 

        I stood up.  I was filthy.  My denim jacket that only went down halfway was smudged with dirt here and there.  My yellow and white tank top was ripped on one side.  My hair probably looked like a rat's nest so I took a hair tie from my wrist and ran my hand through my hair and made a side braid. 

        I don't know what came over me but I found this confidence and determination that I never had ever felt before.  I had to get out of here, find May and Kate, then find the real Jasper.  Then I had an idea, what if I practiced the power I had in here.  No.  I didn't know howand I didn't want to hurt myself.  I didn't want to think of what happened a few hours ago.  The mistakes are what make you human, I kept thinking, thing is, I wasn't human anymare.  Honestly I don't what I am anymore.  I guess the scarring experiences bring out the determination and confidence in you.  I don't know.  Then I heard footsteps.

        I ran over to the bars and clung to them.  I started shaking them, seeing if they rusted enough to come off.  "Hold your horses," Jay said as he appeared.  He smirked. 

"What do you want with me?" I asked angrily.  I felt like my blood carried anger that was surging through me. 

"Just lead me to the stone and we'll be done here," he said.

"No we won't, last time I checked you will have to kill me to get the stone in your possecion.  Plus I don't even have any clue where the stone even is," I said defensively. 

"Too bad, come on, if you don't help me, well, let's just say I have your friends," Jay threatened.

"Prove it, let me see them," I said.  I had an idea.  Jay grinned and unlocked the door.  He took a rope and he was going to tie my hands, but I already anticipated his move.  I rushed him and pushed him down and ran to the right.  I had no clue where I was going.  Then I heard this high pitch whistle that probably made my ears bleed. 

        I dropped to my knees.  The hallway was dark and was getting darker.  I was blacking out again.  No.  I wasn't going to black out again.  I tried to stand up.  My legs felt like jello and I was shaking badly.  The sound stopped and I heard footsteps running at me.  I was trapped.  Then I saw a door, and steps leading up.  I ran up the steps and pushed through the door.  A rush of fresh air filled my nose.  It smelled like sea water.  We were definelty on a ship and there was the bow just a few meters ahead.  "Get her!" I heard from behind me.  Without thinking first, a ran to the bow of the ship and got up on the tip of it.  I stopped.  I was afraid of deep water, badly.  I looked down than looked behind me, contemplating which was worse.  Jay stopped about two yards away and so did the guards. 

        "That water is freezing Jaclyn, you'll freeze to death," Jay said as I looked around.  It looked and felt like Alaska.  It was at least 30 degrees or below.  But there were ice mountains and everything was covered with white snow. 

"I rather die in the water than have you kill me," I said as I turned around and jumped. 

"No!" Jay screamed.  I saw him run over to the edge and look over.  Why didn't he jump.  I was freezing cold.  I started swimming as fast as my numb body could.  I couldn't feel my fingers anymore.  The ship was already far away from me, almost out of sight.  I swam for about another five minutes. 

        Then I saw something, an opening between two ice mountains.  I swam faster, thinking warm thoughts.  It was a village!  I swam as fast as I could and in about another ten minutes, I was on the ice of the village.  I was tired and I wanted to go to sleep.

        I started to close my eyes when I saw a face that looked familiar.  I didn't see who it was, my eyesight was all bleary.  It was a boy and after a minute I recognized him.  It was Jasper, the real Jasper.  I think I smiled.  He picked me up and set me on my feet.

"It's okay, let's bring you somewhere warm," he said slowly.  I nodded in agreement. 

"How you doing?" he asked.

"Well, I'm cold, hungry, upset, and tramatized.  Is there therapy here?" I said not knowing what I was saying.

"Okay, it's okay.  I'm so sorry that I ddidn't reach you in time," Jasper kept talking.

"It's okay.  I wanna go to sleep," I said.

"No you can't.  You'll die.  Your tempature is way below normal," he said picking me up and running and yelling for help like a madman.

"Well, what do you except?  I jumped into ice cold water," I stammered after a minute.  I didn't know where we were and my vision was still blurry.  I knew however that I was safe. So as random people threw blankets at me, I decided I was just going to go to sleep, for now.  I felt warmer anyways.  I decided I was going to figure out what to do tomorrow, especially now that Jasper was back.