Yeeva
I try not to deviously smirk as I leave, I can't help it, once my back is to her, I grin.
"Bye!" I wave, not turning around.
She yells a farewell after me.
I push open the backdoor to the hospital, breathing in the fresh air.
***
Usually, I'd go home, read or something. Except today, I go exploring.
The forest is behind my small house, I wasn't planning on staying in Willowdale long, just until one of the commanders from the military could come pick me up.
I had been talking to a few executives there, giving every bit of information I can get my hands on, which isn't even that much because neither Estelle or Leeciy trust me.
The forest is like a weird home. If I sit against a tree and close my eyes, I can feel Michoon next to me, talking nonsense, and braiding my hair.
It's the only way I can even feel him anymore, since Estelle killed him.
I ball my hands into fists at the thought, turning to a tree and punching it.
I walk to my favorite tree, the dead sycamore, beside the sycamore is a brook, which I've never dared crossing.
I remind myself that when I step over it, looking for an adventure.
The forest thickens, and soon I can't even see four feet ahead of me.
I keep my eyes trained on the forest floor. A mockingbird sings ahead of me, a lovely familiar tune.
I look up to find it, but then I fall into a cave.
***
I fall into a dank cave, the smell of mildew and wet rock.
There's a girl on the floor, classic Pangaean clothes, purple blood on her hands from some puncture wound on her hands.
She was awake so I nudge her with my foot.
The girl sits up, the surprise appearance of sharp blue eyes shocking me. "Wune?" 'Father?'
"An, comse Neeva." 'No, I'm Neeva."
She tries to stand, wincing when her hands touch the ground, dirt finding its way into the open wounds.
I put my hand on her shoulder forcing her back down. "Rei ern une?" 'What's your name?'
"Gabrie." She flicks the pale blond strands of hair out of her face.
"Qun dem tou." I say, putting on a coaxing attitude. 'I'll help you.'
Her face lights up, her eyes widening. "Wul?" 'Really?'
"Sen dem mu abo." I nod,. 'You'll help me too."
She nods. "Reys?" 'Friends?'
I nod my head, signalling for her to follow me.
The cave was really short, so I just jump and push myself out, trying not to slip on the soggy moss outside of the cave.
She follows suit, obviously the brawn in her twin set.
'Michoon was the brawn.' I push the thought away.
We walk silently through the woods until we emerge
"Gume?" She asks. 'Home?'
I nod, walking through the creaky door and into my living room.
Her attention goes to the hole in the wall.
I toss her a gun that was in the medicine cabinet when I moved in.
"Re?" She asks. 'What?'
"Wo tey mench." 'I will explain."
She grins and nods.
***
Estelle
I walk back home, tightening my ponytail.
The house was empty, everyone was probably eating dinner. Squirrel stew, I'm guessing.
I'm not hungry, I'm more anxious, a knot of nerves set in my guts.
Closing my eyes, I slump down against the wall, thinking of what happened this week.
"Bombing, video, tactics, hunting, boxing." I say, repeating it over and over again.
I make these lists when I'm anxious, It calms me.
I repeat the words over and over until they don't make sense anymore, noises just coming from my mouth. Even then I still repeat them, just waiting for the heavy feeling in my gut to unravel.
It doesn't. I just keep repeating now-nonsensical words hoping the feeling will leave. I probably look crazy.
Suddenly, I just stop, lay on the floor and look at my hands.
Across the left one is a scar, made from the significant amount of times I've cut myself to show I'm special. My nails are nothing special, bitten to nubs, yes, but not special. My knuckles have a few scabs from sparing with whoever.
Then, I count down from one thousand by sevens.
The feeling in my stomach doesn't cease to gnaw at me.
"Estelle?" The front door opens and Luca walks in. "Everyone at supper was looking for you."
I just look over at him.
"Why are you on the floor?" He asks, standing next to me.
I just bite my lip.
He lays next to me, folding his hand over his stomach. "Are you okay?"
I nod. "Can you just talk?"
"Well, yeah." He says, smiling. "Oh, now? Yeah I'll just blab I guess. Anyway, kinda disappointed in you for not coming on squirrel soup night. I really wanted you to taste it. It was different since it was with wild onions instead of garden onions, but whatever." He pauses. "You guys have that cool type of ceiling with textured dots that are like stars, did you know that the big dipper is a constellation, I didn't, I really don't know a lot about the outside world, like scientifically. I'm also really pale, I guess thirteen years indoors does that to you. Oh, and you're hyperventilating."
Tears roll down my face, my throat aches from the sob that lodged itself and was now being ambushed by frantic breathing, my hands shake with nerves.
"Hey, deep breaths. Follow my breathing." He says, moving his hands with his breathing.
Then he breathes slow and and carefully, rubbing my arm. He does this until I catch my breath, smiling when.
"I'm sorry." I say, wiping the tears from my cheeks.
"Don't apologize. Not your fault." He says, sitting up.
I sit up as well, straightening my green shirt.
Leeciy and August run in the house, dragging September and Cirus behind them.
Leeciy's eyes were wide, obviously scared. "They're coming!"