Ella

The sun burns my skin the longer I stay out here, but I'm not ready to go inside. It's so nice to breathe in air that doesn't smell like a hospital, or chemicals, or death. It just smell like air, and I think it may be one of my favorite smells.

The guns are now smoking, the fire dying out, leaving a black spot in the sand from where the metal and plastic melted. The little mound of sand not far from the smoldering remains of the guns, reminds me of what happened, of why I'm out here. Hunter had his problems and his sins like the rest of us, but he didn't deserve this. He tried to make his wrongs right, and this is what happened.

I look up at the sky, the sun leaving behind a hill, as the darkness tries to come out. "Hey," I begin, my throat scratchy, my voice deep and husky. "You weren't supposed to leave me. It wasn't your time. You were seventeen, you had so much--so much to live for." I wipe my eyes, trying to remind him one last time of how I felt, even though he knows. "You were a ball of sunshine, you always--always brought me happiness. I was--scared, however, when--when we arrived here. I heard about you killing the radicals, and it scared me to think--to think you changed." My chest feels so heavy with this burden, and I take a few moments to catch my breath. "You we're different, Hunter, there was something different about you, but you were always the same. You were still that person inside, the one I fell in love with, the one that was my brother. And I'm sorry," I cry, my voice loud and drained. "I did this to you, and I'm so sorry. If I had listened to Dean, you would still be here. You would be sitting next to me right now, trying to make me feel better. I threw your--life away. I'm sorry." I want to say more, I want to tell him a past memory of ours that we made together, but I can't find it in me to say anything else. My body is so tired and my voice is so raspy from crying, leaving me with no more words.

The sunset is a red-ish pink, dipping over the horizon and leaving only a small bit of light, telling me how long I've been sitting out here alone. The air begins to chill down, and I feel even more comfortable out here from the scorching sun no longer beating on my skin.

Being out here for so long, in the desert, trying to make it here was a task. We hardly had any food, any water, we were burnt to a crisp, but we made it. So many people died, but my team made it. We were strong enough to survive, despite my doubts in the beginning. I'm so proud of us, and I have to continue to tell myself this as I try to keep my tears back. I have to force my mind to think about anything else, because that's the only way I'm going to be able to move on.

I look out across the desert, it seeming like nothing is around but sandy hills stretching out for miles upon miles. That was our home for so long, and now I wonder what we're going to do about homes. Where are we going to go? This question has been bothering me for so long, and it makes me wonder if we're going to stick together, or if we're going to part ways. I don't want to part with them, no matter how much they may anger me at times.

The sky begins to darken, letting the stars peak out, and I hold my body closer to me as the temperature becomes cold. I'm still not ready to go inside, not yet. Being out here I can think of other things, besides the sadness from losing a special person.

The silhouette of two people walking towards me, makes my stomach turn. I don't want company. Not now, not when I'm such a mess. I'm not crying anymore, but I'm sure they'll notice the tears staining my cheeks, the hoarse tone in my voice from sobbing. It doesn't take a genius to notice a person breaking in front of you.

When they get closer, I notice it's Mark and Carol. Mark sits on the right side of me, and Carol sits on the right side of him. I take a deep breath before looking over at the two, them knowing exactly how I'm feeling right now, for we've all lost so much.

Mark's small fingers lace with mine, before he gives me a sad smile. "I'm sorry, Ella, I really am." This little twelve year old Norovian, has woven his way inside of my heart, and I find a little brother in him. Human and alien, friends can be made among anyone.

I just squeeze his hand, my throat tightening, making it unable to reply.

"Ella?" Carol speaks up, before peaking around Mark. "I'm sorry, too. I'm sorry for so many things. For being a pain, for all the arguments. I'm sorry for being so ignorant to you and saying all those things that I shouldn't have," she mutters, before standing up and walking around Mark.

She sits down on her knees next to me, before giving me a hug. I'm never going to be Carol's best friend and she's never going to be mine, but at least we're trying to get over the rift between us. I'll give her a chance, everyone deserves another chance.

As Carol pulls away, Mark leans in to hug me too. "I really look up to you, Ella," he tells me as he holds me tight. "You're a great human, and you'd make a great leader. I'd follow you." He pulls away, and squeezes my hand once again.

"Thank you," I tell them, my voice small and croaky as I try to show them I appreciate what they're trying to do.

"We're going to go get our supper," Carol tells me as she looks behind me. "We'll see you in soon?"

"Yeah," I speak up. "I'll be in to eat soon." I don't know if I'm going to go in there and eat, for how could I possibly eat after all of this? And how could I eat in the same room where all the Guards were killed and Hunter was shot? No matter if they cleaned up the bodies, it still doesn't make it easier. I wish they were just going to have supper brought to our rooms like usual, I don't know why they want to change it and have it in the cafeteria. But I want to show them I'll try. I'll try and make an effort and not pull myself into the shadows, no matter how hard it may be. We've all lost someone, and that means we all should be there for one another.

"Good," she smiles, before she and Mark walk down the hill towards the base. I can tell I'm not alone though, and turning my head, I see Dean standing there. I don't remember him coming out, but then again I haven't been paying much attention to anything.

He sits down next to me, and I inwardly hope he doesn't want to chat. I don't mind talking to him, but I don't want to right now, I just want to sit here with a few more moments of silence.

Maybe Dean knows me more then I thought, for he doesn't say a word, just laces his fingers with mine, as we look out across the desert, the silence being comfortable.