Aira

Back in the dome. Back in the cage.

I see Paytah sitting at a table outside, his eyes fixed to the ground. Even though he's staring at the ground, he knows I'm right next to him, wanting to sit down.

"Hey." I say.

"Hey." He says back, his voice monotone. I know he doesn't want to talk to me right now, especially when we were arguing earlier.

I sit by him anyway, and he scoots over so we aren't touching. I sigh, irritated but also filled with sorrow. I did something to him, and right now I find it hard for him to forgive me.

"Sorry." I say straight up, mostly because it's all I can say. He knows what I'm talking about.

"It's okay." He says, and I clench my jaw. I wish he could tell me more. I can't read him, and I know this two second conversation didn't solve it.

"Listen, when you were taken away, I-"

I cover my face, trying to cover up the upcoming sob. I can't. I can't explain how much I missed him, how confident I was when I thought he was dead. He should've died, I think everyone knows that. Seeing him alive, his skinny body covered in bruises and scars and blood, it changed me. It changed everything. Hatred is a scary thing. His own mother did that to him, and I can't imagine what it feels like to have gone through that.

"I knew you would come for me."

I look up, the sob making its way out of my mouth, but Paytah doesn't care, and neither do I. I'm shocked by his words.

"I said not to, but I knew you wouldn't listen. Lana said you were so determined." I see Paytah's eyes water, and I can't help what he's thinking right now. This probably brings back so many memories. I want to ask. I want to ask what they did to him, but there's no way he would share.

"If you ever want to share-"

"I don't want to."

"Why?" I ask, and he's probably startled by my words. He clenches his jaw, his eyes fixed far ahead of him.

"Even if I did. Even if I shared every second of what happened-what difference would it make?"

Now that startles me. I look up at him, and we make eye contact. He sighs.

"I know you want to know, I do. If I told you what happened, what would you do? Say I'm sorry, then move on? There's no point. I'm trying to forget. I'm trying my hardest to forget but everything keeps triggering me back."

"Letting it out might help."

Paytah almost smiles. "You got me," he says, and I stare at him in confusion. "You knew, you know. I don't want help, I don't want people to see that I can't do things on my own. And to tell you what happened to me? That's weak, all I felt then was weakness, and you knew I didn't want to tell you because of that."

I don't know what to say. Watching the boy that could survive anything break down in front of me, it makes me feel hopeless. But he's smiling, and that's what confuses me.

I feel a hand on my shoulder, and look up and see Hanson look down on us.

"Paytah, you need to come with me now. Aira, I will come back for you." He says.

I watch as Paytah stands up, and he waits for Hanson to lead the way. But he quick looks at me.

"You found it." Is all he says, but as he walks away with Hanson outside the dome, being surrounded by cameras and yelling people, I know what he means.

I found his weakness. And I'm sure not many people have found that before.

***

"You think you can do it?" Hanson asks me. I look up at him, along with the other large crew here. Men and women all holding what looks like a leaf blower in their hands.

"Yeah. It's a part of me, I can do it." I say, almost annoyed. Hanson gestures me, and I walk ahead of them, facing the city filled with garbage and ashes. I raise my hands, and the wastes blows so easily it awes the crowd. I guide it over to the large garbage truck, getting most of the pile in. I turn back around, eyeing all the people who are in awe.

"That would have at least taken us an hour." A man says, and all the other works nod. I look at Hanson, who is smiling like a proud parent. He's happy, and I should be too, because this will make us elements look good. People will need us so we can help the world. Another reason not to have us executed.

"If we brought five or six more here this town will be cleaned in an hour tops." Hanson says, and it makes me feel sick. Were being treated like slaves, it seems. The way he called us elements as numbers, not people, makes me mad.

"They can get the world cleaned up in a week tops." A woman says, smiling.

Hanson guides me back to the vehicle that brought me here, about ten minutes from the dome. Hanson came separate, but take a seat in the vehicle. I look out the window, not wanting to look at him at all.

"You trust me, right?"

I turn around, startled by his words. "What?"

"Aira, you've always trusted me since you realized I was fighting for you and your friends. So, be honest. Do you still trust me? Do you still believe I am still fighting for your lives?"

I bite my lip, because it's hard to answer. It seemed like he wanted us dead, but I then thought he was the only one who could stand up for us in this real world.

Hanson sighs at me not answering. "If only you had to choose. If you weren't pressured by anyone else, like Paytah for example."

"I mean-yes, I guess so." I say.

Hanson smiles. "You are the smartest of the bunch."

"I don't blame Paytah though." I say, making sure Hanson knows that I'm not totally on his side.

He nods, though. "I know he doesn't like me at all, and I understand why. But later he will realize I was your only hope. A lot of people don't want to waste time and effort on you guys. I do. I did this experiment for a reason. And if he doesn't realize that, well-hell will break loose."

"Why are you telling me this?" I ask.

Hanson's nose twitches. He looks at me seriously.

"Aira, I want you on my side. I want people to know that you are on my side. I want you to not follow anyone else's thoughts, like Paytah's. I want you to convince him to join me. I can't do this without everyone's help, and he's one of the very very few who refuse to help. I need everyone."

"So what do you want me to do?"

Hanson smiles. "Use your magic, like you've always have. Convince him; make him, make him want to follow you."

••••••

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