Chapter 11: Past

"She ran away. That's it."

Marque said trying to push the conversation away. It's probably for the best. For everyone else's safety too. Come to think of it, talking with Amari about these types of things felt...It felt uncomfortable at first but there's this one feeling of comfort way in the back. But.

I grew up being taught by the streets and by my life that no matter how comfortable I get, I shouldn't jump right in and get ahead of myself. I shouldn't trust someone so easily. I shouldn't trust. Not after what happened to me and my friends. My friends are the family I never had. Connected not by blood but by the bond we forged together. Funny...We would always practice jumping off of buildings and onto another. The one who served as our parent, Aalin, helped and made sure we weren't hurt even if the fall was high. Their caring voice and encouraging spirit helped Jules, Marque, and me to grow up the way we are now.

Well, besides the part that we both had a horrible past. They took us in. Aalin is non-binary so...It always fascinated me when they tell stories about people of color and LGBTQ people...I guess that fueled my interests in both males and females. They said that type of sexuality is called Bisexual. I remember the story she told us of two female authors who both had rough roads on their own and together as a couple but in the end, they grew beside each other and fell deeper in love. I can't help but remember our parent when these types of conversations roll in...Remembering the parent that raised me and then remembering the parents that broke me...Aalin always came first.

They held the hunters off while we ran with all the other kids they took care of. They promised they would find us again and take care of us but we never heard from them again...While the other kids got to have homes of their own, Marque, Jules, and I had to run away to places just to keep warm or keep ourselves safe, steal food or even not get any, and fight our way to survive. I miss parent's cooking.

'Did I stray off and space out again?' My inner voice asked my wandering brain. While the two were having a staring contest, I was out staring at the fire.

My eyes were never really damaged by being close to a screen or staring directly at a campfire. It's part of my powers. That doesn't mean it's far from danger or being harmed though. Staring at things can't harm my eyes but obviously being hit or something can. I trained myself to always keep my eyes safe and be fast enough to subdue my enemy before they could reach me. Powers. I've hated that word. Among all the other words, that's the one I wish that would just burn away with the wood in a campfire. Burn to cinders.

"Hello??? Earth to Sunae???" Marque called out and waved her hands in front of my eyes.

"Huh? What? Sorry...I spaced out for a sec." I replied.

"Yeah well, it seemed like you were half dead already. Are you okay? Did the conversation strike something?" With sharp eyes, Marque turned to Amari and stared her down after that sentence. Jee WHAT a protective bestie.

I scoffed and rolled my eyes, "We should get some rest. Don't push it you two. Also don't murder each other."

Ah yes. Time for bed. Amari and I share the tent for the night. I don't mind much. I like her company.

"Hey...Sorry about the whole past thing. I won't ask again if that's what you want." Amari said as she crawled into her spot next to me.

"Nah it's fine. It doesn't bother me as much as it does Marque. Besides...there's nothing too special about mine...It's just that...It's hard to return to those things so..." Thinking deeply, I replied.

The sound of the wind gushing over the tent covers was calming but my mind was deep somewhere else.

'Should I lie?' The question keeps coming back.

If I lie, it might bring her more danger but if I tell her the truth, it also might bring her danger. Why am I always like this? Why is it always like this??? This is stressing me out.

"Well...Whatever your past may be, I'm sure by how strong you are, they won't be able to bring you down...and...I'm always here if you need someone to talk to." Amari said tucking into the sleeping bag.

"Hm..." I hummed as a reply.

"Thank you." I followed.

That was nice...I haven't heard such soft words ever since I met Marque or Aalin sat beside me to comfort me from dark moments. It's very nice...

Lights out.

The sound of hover trucks driving by the freeway shook up the great silence that is sleeping. It's just as bad as my alarm clock back at home anyway. I sighed and sat up rubbing my eyes before getting slightly blinded by the rays of early sunlight peeking into the space of the tent zippers. It stung at first but it was nice knowing I woke up today. Suddenly,

"Get up. Project X." A horribly familiar voice said.

"What the hell?" I perked up and looked around.

Silence then sprung in the air before a loud spinning and strong gust of wind almost took the tent away. It was a helicopter.

"Amari?! Marque?!" I called out as I crawled out of the small tent keeping me sheltered from whatever was happening.

"They're right here." The voice said.

I turned to wherever the voice was coming from and saw a horrific sight. A shadowy figure holding both of them down as their limbs were chained and held together. A bunch of shadowy people stood behind the one holding my friends. Despite the light shining down from the helicopter. What's going on??? What is this???

"What are you doing?! LET THEM GO!" I roared out.

My eyes glowing and power surging through my veins. I could feel the anger fueling the disgusting secret I tried to hide all these years. I must keep it in! I MUST...but...I need to save them.

"That's right, X. Show me how good of a research product you are. There are more tests to complete right after you show what you can do." The shadowy person said.

Marque struggled but still held her head up as best she could so she could speak, "DON'T, SU!!! DON'T LISTEN!" She exclaimed before getting knocked out by the boot of this bastard. I know his voice, My bastard father. I have to save them. I have to save. My friends. Gritting my teeth, I got startled by the sight of everything melting in front of my eyes. The shadow people, the helicopter, the grass around us...my friends...

"NO! WHAT'S HAPPENING?!" I yelled out again.

Then, out of the ground below my feet, hands started to grip and pull my legs into the ground with them.

"IT'S YOUR FAULT!!!"

"YOUR FAULT!!!"

"YOUR."

"FAULT."

Multiple and distorted voices cried as I get pulled. I couldn't see what was pulling me. I could only see blood. Blood taking the forms of people dragging me to hell...

It was my fault...that day...