The Reduction

CHAPTER TWENTY

James

"What the fuck are you doing?" James whisper-shouted at Zara who was sitting in the middle of the yard in the back of the motel. James had gotten up in the middle of the night to pee and realized that Zara wasn't in her bed. After a quick search, he found her outside. 'What kind of weird shit did I get myself into?' James thought as he stared at Zara with furrowed brows. She quickly got up and started walking towards him with a huge smile beaming on her face.

"I just healed a sick wolf and it was definitely a message from the universe or something," she said excitedly as she climbed back up onto the porch, "I really don't know what happened for sure because it was too fast, but, I went out here to smoke and then a hurt wolf came to me like it knew I could help it! So, I basically did my, well, 'thing', and it just ran back into the woods." Zara exclaimed passionately to him as she gathered her pack of cigarettes and James' lighter.

"You did what? Smoking? A wolf? Healed it? Wait, is that lighter mine? Did you go through my shit?" James blabbed as Zara made her way back into the motel room. As he followed her in, she held the door open for him with her fist.

"I might've gone through your pack. But it was just for the lighter. Sorry about that." She said as she flicked the switch on the wall blasting the room with piercing light. As James' eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness, he stopped to take the whole thing in.

"So first you go through my shit, then you sneak out in the middle of the night to smoke? Which doesn't make any sense if you were supposed to be sleeping in the first place. Then you make up a story about healing a magical wolf? Huh, maybe you are losing it!" James scoffed as he started to question Zara's sanity.

She stopped in her tracks instantly and turned around to face James. Getting defensive, she replied sharply, "Are you saying I'm lying?" James' eyes widened as her gray eyes stared into his soul. Quickly breaking eye contact by looking down, he responded,

"Well... You have been grieving over the death of a lot of people and there's still the Danker situation. So, it could be possible that you're maybe not as sure-" Zara stepped forward cutting James off.

"How could you accuse me of lying about something so random?" Her eyes cut through James' entire being as he took a step back.

"Hey, I'm just saying that maybe your brain is making up scenarios to calm down your depressive episodes."

"Who the fuck do you think you are? My therapist? Because last time I checked, you weren't. How dare you question MY sanity! I mean, YOU'RE the one I should be questioning. Like, who stays with the people who kidnapped them? Next time you want to diagnose somebody, look at yourself. A lonely nobody who decided to stay at a sketchy motel with a stranger who threatened their life. Doesn't sound sane to me!" Zara snapped as she turned back around towards her bed.

'Yeah that does sound weird when she puts it like that' James thought to himself. "No, I'm not your therapist. But it doesn't take one to see that you are struggling Zara," she stopped walking, still not facing him. "I understand how you feel and I emphasize with it. That's why I stayed. To take care of someone who needs-"

Zara whipped around and grabbed the hem of his collar rapidly. Staring him down with cold eyes, Zara exhaled a shaky breath.

"I'M NOT BROKEN, AARON!" Zara shouted in his face.

Time stopped. James froze in confusion. Zara's face dropped as she realized what she had said. After a few seconds, she regained herself and spoke calmer but still forcefully.

"I don't need to be fixed. I don't need anyone to take of me. I suggest that you stop if you know what's good for you." Zara shoved his chest when she let go of him and turned back around. James understood her pain. She had lost everyone and everything. She blamed herself for destruction. She was broken. And so was James. He knew it was his duty to keep her from suffering as he did.

Before he knew what he was doing he gently grabbed her wrist as she tried to walk away. She stopped and turned her head to look over her shoulder. She had a tear streak down her face and she squeezed her eyes shut to release more. At a loss of words, James let go of her wrist and watched her slowly get into bed. James decided that it wasn't worth making it worse, so he turned off the light and went to bed as well.

They both lay in silence trying to sleep as hard as they could. Occasional sniffs could be heard from Zara's side of the room but they were drowned out by James' thoughts.

'Why did I stay? It's not my responsibility to fix or protect her. Deep down I understand that it's safer here than anywhere in the city. I'm wanted by the authorities and my father. Maybe it was selfish to stay. Maybe I'm just making it worse for her. Who am I to question her? I barely know her! I can't believe I made her upset. What's wrong with me. I've never been concerned about anyone before. Maybe it's because I see a part of my past self in her.' Jame squeezed his eyes shut to force himself to sleep. After many painful minutes of continued silence, a small whisper could be heard from Zara's side of the room.

"I'm sorry."