River POV
"River," mother hisses at me, my eyes flutter open. "You have to go," she pulls me up by my arm, pulling it painfully. I sit up in the grass looking around wildly. Nothing looks familiar. Wait, there, in the distance I can see the school. I start for the school, but mother grabs me, spinning me around. "Are you crazy?" She slaps me across the face.
"Mother?" It didn't really hurt but I feel shocked, she never hit me. Then it dawns on me that this must be a dream.
"You have to leave. Simons waiting."
"Simon?" I ask, rethinking my dream theory.
"This way, come," mother turns and I hurry after her. We run out of any area of the school I recognize, till nothing but trees are flying past. I slide to a stop at the edge of a cliff, nothing but water crashing below.
"Where's Simon?" I ask out of breath.
"Down there," mother points to the water below and I lean over, she gives me a hard shove and I am freefalling, arms spinning wildly.
"Why?" I scream, it's taking forever to land.
"You're sick, this is the only way to be free," mothers still watching me from the cliff but she sounds like she's right next to be.
I wake up just as I hear the waves crashing. Nevva stares down at me, sitting up I realize I am back in the dorm, on my own bed. I feel the edges and note this mattress is average size.
"I have no recollection," I sputter, looking around.
"They brought you back around lights out," Nevva, sits on the edge of my bed, unconsciously I scoot away from her. "Are you okay?" She reaches for me, but I flinch back.
"No touching."
"What?" Nevva looks hurt.
"She understands, she doesn't comprehend. The ships." I look up at her.
"What?" She asks again, looking only confused.
"I know how to escape."
"River," she takes my hand, and I let her, though it feels like a million spiders are crawling through me. "Are you sure?" I nod.
"We have to go now." I stand from the bed, going silently to Lee's bed. I feel Nevva following. Lee starts and sits up when I tap her shoulder.
"Nevva, what's going on?" She asks, doesn't ask me, I'm clearly insane.
"Time to go," I turn, leaving the room. I hear whispers behind me, but they mean nothing, the other two will follow. Before I reach the stairs they are behind me. I lead them quickly though the dark hallways and turning gardens until I am outside the boy's wing of the dorm.
"River, they'll find us in there," Nevva tugs my arm. I pull away and motion for them to stay still. Slipping in the door I focus on Gunner and Tarrin, I move motionlessly through the dorm, disturbing no one until I stand by their beds. Both are wide eyed to see me there, but follow me out.
"That the hell is going on?" Gunner hisses at Lee.
"She says she knows a way out of this place," Lee shrugged. "We haven't made any progress."
"She's nuts," Tarrin whispered, "totally off it."
"She knows things," Nevva jumps to my defense. "Let's go."
They follow behind me as I lead them through the forest in my dream last night. We all stop at the cliff, staring down into the ocean that none of us realized was there. I looked off to the right, seeing what I noticed during my fall.
"What are we gonna jump?" Tarrin asked with a smirk.
"Great plan, mouse," Lee looked disgusted.
"There," I pointed.
"Nee ta ma duh tyen-shia suo-uo duh gai si," Tarrin breathed. We all turned to him.
"Sorry," he blushed. I lead them toward the ship.
"It's the one they brought us here on," Nevva smiled. "River," she squeezed my arm happily, I smiled slightly.
"Gunner, can you fly this?" Lee asked.
"Of course," she scoffed. "I can fly anything they want me to." I gave him a real smile then, and opened the door to the ship. As soon as I did I knew there was trouble, this was wrong. Dr. Mathias stepped from the ship, a wide grin on his face.
"Well done, River."
"No, no," I muttered, stepping back. He spoke into a radio.
"First mission, complete."
"No, there was no mission, I am not for you to direct," I cried.
"The subconscious is an easy tool." He smirked.
"River!" Nevva shouted. I turned to see them each held by a guard. But no guards I had seen before. These guards wore nice suits, and blue gloves.
"Das Fallen schneller abwärts," Lee screams, and nothing happens, Dr. Mathias shakes his head.
"You think we didn't realize you had found the triggers? Ever trigger has been changed. Guards, take them."
"No," I started to run for the guards, but Dr. Mathias grabbed me. I twisted and kicked, slamming back my head into his jaw. He cried out and let me go. I spun and kicked him in the stomach. A pair of blue hands grabbed me from behind, I threw up an elbow catching the guy in the throat, but he didn't let go. I slammed my head back, but received only a headache, his vice grip never lessened. Finally I sagged in his arms, not able to find the killer inside me without their damn trigger.
"Take her to solitary," Dr. Mathias spat blood, he grabbed my chin. "You are nothing but a weapon, don't forget that." I glared at him.
"You sin runs dark with the blood on your hands," I spat at him.
"Your friends blood is on your hands," he smiles, I feel myself pale. "Take her away." I begin to struggle again, being irritating if nothing else. Finally a blue hand clamps over my face, a wet cloth pressed against my mouth and nose. I try to hold my breath but finally have to breathe in deeply, and for the second time that day, my world fades away.
