It seemed like yesterday I was riding the train home from the orphanage. Then they attacked our village, chased us, fought us, and they’re still out there. As long as they’re after us, we will never really be safe.
I sit on a bed with sheets that I suppose were once a flawless white, but were now had stains splotched on them. We were brought to an infirmary when we got here; a massive, gray concrete building which was surrounded by rows of farmland, grassy fields, a forest, and if you went far enough, a twenty-five foot fence. But I still had no idea where we really were.
The nurses had tended to all of us. They put stitches in the wound in my wrist and the cut on my back. We were instructed to stay in our tiny rooms and rest, but I wanted to find Skye. I ignored the ache that shot through my back as I stood up and wandered through the halls. From one open door, I saw a sweep of long golden hair rest on the pillow. It had to be her. I slip in the room and click the door shut. As I walk to her bedside, I see she’s still asleep. I slide my hand into hers and run my fingers through her hair.
After a few minutes, her eyelids flutter open.
“Dillon,” she says groggily, still under the effects of the anesthesia. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to see you,” I say simply. But after the words leave my mouth, I realize that there’s another reason. She tries not to wince as she eases herself up and props herself against the wall. Seeing in Skye in pain almost hurts me more. She moves to the far end of the bed and motions for me to sit next to her instead of kneeling on the cold floor. I see her try to hide a grimace as I press my shoulder against the stitched up wound on hers.
For moments, I just gaze into the distant look of her blue eyes. I wonder what she was thinking about. Probably about how stupid I acted. Then I break the silence.
“Explain to me,” I whisper as I cup her cheek in my hand. First she blinks as if my voice broke a spell that was cast on her. Then she turns away from me and looks out the window at the night sky rolling in. I take her cheek again, facing her toward me. “I’m listening. I promise.” A tear wells up in her eye, but she swipes it away before I can.
“It’s not that I don’t like you, because I do,” she starts. “You have no idea how much you and Olivia and Marcus and…” she trails off and I know exactly who she’s thinking about. I tip her chin up.
“It’s not your fault,” I remind her. She shakes her head and then continues.
“You have no idea how much you guys mean to me. It’s not that I like Marcus more than you. But it’s like the situation we’re in. It was just forced upon us. We weren’t ready at all. I’m not ready to love someone. Not now. Ever since Rose died, I’ve been drowning in fear. Fear that will continue to drown me until I know they’re gone. Until I know we’re safe.” I realized how afraid she really was. And how rash I was for getting mad at Marcus.
I pull her in my arms, forgetting about any pain she might be in.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper in her ear again, meaning it more now that I knew the truth. I feel her bury her face in my shoulder which I take as her forgiveness. The door slides open, sending a beam of light from the hallway into the dim room. Skye recoils, though it’s only Olivia who steps in. Her long auburn hair is in knots.
“Hey Skye. Hey Dillon,” she says, not really surprised I was there. I climb off the bed.
“Where’s Marcus?” Skye asks.
“In our room,” Olivia replies. “He’s still a bit hazy and can’t walk well. He wanted to see you guys.” Skye threw off the sheets and stood up. She was a little unsteady on her feet, so I put my hands on her shoulders. We walk silently through the hall, the tile floor cold on our bare feet.
We go into the room Olivia leads us to. It is identical to mine and Skye’s, but has two beds crammed in the small space. Marcus lies sleeping when we approach. Olivia leans over him and touches his cheek with her lips.
“Marcus,” she says in a low voice. He stirs, and then looks over at Skye’s swaying figure. Then at me supporting her. His lips form her name, but I don’t hear him speak. She gingerly breaks my grip and walks over to his side. I saw the pain in her eyes as they found the thick bandage wrapped around Marcus’s ankle. She strokes his cheek with the back of her hand, but nothing more. Tears well up in her eyes and she’s soon crying. Marcus leans on his elbow and lightly touches her arm. I move to her side, maybe with a little too much urgency, and put my arm around her.
“Skye,” Olivia says, coming up to her other side. “What’s wrong?”
“What are we going to do?” she says between sobs. “They’re still out there, after us.” I wish they were gone for good. So we wouldn’t have to worry. So maybe she could love me.
“Where are we anyway?” Olivia asks minutes later. Marcus shakes his head.
“Hopefully someplace where they can’t find us.” I hoped that was true.
Olivia, Skye and I are sitting on Olivia’s bed when the door opens.
“Oh, you’re all here,” a girl with loose red curls says. “The headmistress told me to tell you that she wants you guys in her office tomorrow morning at ten.
“Okay,” I reply. “Thanks uh…”
“Scarlet,” she finishes for me. “And you are?”
“Dillon,” I answer.
“I’m Olivia,” Olivia says. “And that’s my older brother, Marcus.” He gives a faint nod. “And that’s Skye.”
“Hi,” Skye says, wiping the tracks her tears left behind away.
“Nice to meet all of you,” Scarlet says. “I better go. See you guys tomorrow.” She slips out the door into the hall
“She seems nice,” Olivia comments. We nod.
I hoped she was as nice as she seemed. I’m tired of being around enemies.
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