A Beautiful Reflection From Firework Eyes

Never Make It In Our Vicious Little World

So, I just finished writing this book *insert confetti* yay! This is probably the most productive I've ever been (I can't believe I finished it in three weeks omg that's a new record for me)

After I finish uploading it, I'll be editing this and stuff. Hopefully, book 2 won't take too long to write! 

Thank you so much for reading/commenting/voting and everything! It means so much to me.

---

Surprisingly, the hallways are empty as Kellin follows me, keeping close enough behind, but staying far enough away. We slip past the empty rooms and up the stairwell. Our footsteps echo as we sprint down the hallway, skidding to a stop at Jack and Alex's room, out of breath. I rap on the door three times softly, my heart pounding in my chest. I'm confident the guards have heard us—they're probably just around the corner. Kellin watches me, but he doesn't try to comfort me like he usually would.

"C'mon," I mutter, glancing around anxiously. If we get caught and Kellin gets hurt—I don't know what I would do. I'm desperate and I know that this is stupid, but it's my fault Jack got caught. I should have been more careful.

A part of me knows I'm being unreasonable. He came to warn me about the microphones in my room. There was no way I could have predicted that. I tried to take the fall for it, but Officer Radke was intent on punishing Jack for it. I wonder what's the story there—Jack did say they were half-brothers. I know that I wouldn't stand having my brother trapped here, let alone injuring him. So there's probably a story behind that. But I don't want to force Jack into telling me—something hurtful probably happened, something he does not want to talk about and I'll respect that. There's a lot I don't want to talk about—a lot that I still haven't told Kellin, not like he would care now that he hates me.

But still, a part of me wonders if it really was my fault. The microphones were only installed after Kellin and I were caught. If I hadn't tried to get close to him—no that wouldn't have worked either. It was only after they hurt me that he could use his powers. I'm caught in an endless standstill, wondering whether or not I should take the blame for something I had no control in.

I breathe out a sigh of relief as Alex unlatches the door, his face pale as he pulls us in. "Thank you," he blurts out.

"Where is he?" I ask instead of greeting him. The adrenaline and worry pulsing through my veins are getting to me. I'm shaking like a leaf caught in the wind.

Alex leads us over to the bed where Jack is lying. I flick a flame into life on my fingertips, gasping in surprise as I see the state that Jack is in.

His skin is marred with bruises and cuts, slashed across his face and arms. But the worst of it is a long gash that runs from his shoulder, down across his chest, ending just below his ribcage. It looks painfully deep, dark blood bubbling up around the sides. I wince as Jack gives another shuddering breath, but he doesn't open his eyes.

"I tried," Alex says, wringing his hands. Blood-soaked gauze and bandages lie across the bed. I can see the blood crusted under Alex's fingernails as he wrings his hands together.

"It's going to be okay," I tell Alex as Kellin approaches Jack, examining his wounds. "Kellin, can you—"

He just nods, not looking back at me. Alex sends me a questioning glance but I shake my head. I don't want to talk about it, not now at least.

Kellin closes his eyes, resting his hands on Jack's chest, carefully avoiding the gash. Alex and I stand there, watching as the cuts and bruises and Jack's face and arms slowly fade, the skin healing over. The gash shrinks, slowly closing as Jack lets out a soft sigh. It's a strange sight to watch—the purple and black fading away into his skin. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding as Kellin finally opens his eyes. I catch sight of a small smile on his face before he collapses.

I move forward, catching Kellin as he sinks to the floor. His head lolls against my shoulder as I maneuver him to the ground, so he's resting in my lap. I press my fingers to the inside of his wrist, feeling a faint, but thankfully steady heartbeat. He's unconscious now—healing Jack must have taken too much out of him. I wince, knowing he wouldn't want me to touch him. But what else do I do?

Alex sits on the edge of Jack's bed, doing the same. "He's gonna be okay," I tell Alex. "Just let him sleep. He'll be fine in the morning."

Kellin's surprisingly light as I lift him into my arms, bridal style. He doesn't stir, his head resting against my shoulder, his breath warm against my neck.

"I can help carry him," Alex offers.

"It's fine," I say. "Can you just open the doors?"

Alex nods as I carry Kellin into the dimly lit hallway. "Thank you," he whispers as he shuts the door.

My footsteps echo through the hall as I carry Kellin. He stirs slightly, shifting in my arms, but he doesn't wake. I tense as a guard comes around the corner, squinting into the glare of the flashlight. I expect to hear the guard shout, but there's nothing, and the beam of the flashlight is lowered.

"What happened?" Relief fills me as I hear Matty's voice. "Oh my god." He jogs over toward me.

"Just help me get to our room," I say.

Somehow we manage to get to our room without seeing any other guards. I hear the click as Matty pulls back the lock, opening the door to our faintly lit room.

"Do you need anything?" Matty asks as I lower Kellin onto the bed as gently as I can.

I shake my head. "You've done enough," I say. "You should go before they realize you're gone."

He nods. "I'll make sure no one else saw. Delete the microphone and camera footage, ya know."

"Thank you," I call after him as the door shuts. Just before it does, I swear I see a black-haired guard standing in the hallway, the silver pin glowing on his lapel, but it locks before I'm certain.