Author's Note: How many of you are fans of Japanese singer Ayumi Hamasaki? If not, you're missin' out! I just got a hold of a leaked copy of her latest single to be released next month called "talkin' 2 myself", and it's really good! It's one of her darker rock songs, very dramatic and epic. I wrote this chapter while listening to it, so if you'd like the link to DL this song, write me a message or leave the request in a review. I hiiighly recommend it... just like I highly recommend reading this story? LOL, this one goes back in forth with Hitomi's past and what's going on in the present. Hope it's not confusing. Enjoy!

VII.

Wait For Me

We had gotten to the island and completed our first assignment by late afternoon. On our way back, I couldn't stop checking my watch. One minute passed. Then another. The more time went by, the darker the sky became. And soon, I was certain that we would not be able to escape the storm. The driver of the boat became increasingly panicked, and Dryden was having a hard time ignoring my words. I would've smirked at him with an I-told-you-so attitude if I wasn't concerned with the storm as well.

My classmates weren't stupid and knew that this much was so. They all began to cling to each other and moved closer to the middle of the boat, some sitting down on the deck's floor, and some scurrying to the chest full of life jackets to put one on. Soon, I was surrounded by a bright reddish, orange hue. The only people that didn't have one on were Dryden, because he was too busy harassing the boat's driver to go faster, and Allen, because he was... well... Allen.

Truth be told, I didn't need one either, but that was a fact. I'd been trained for moments such as these. But I wore one as to not create suspicion. I cringed when I remembered how Dornkirk dumped us into the ocean on a regular basis.

One stormy morning, before dawn had risen, Dornkirk's soldiers invaded our quarters and dragged us out from our bunk beds while we were still asleep. They stuffed us in a truck and took us to a harbor where Dornkirk was waiting on a boat. I remember staring out the window from below deck and watching any sign of land disappear in the distance. We all sat there, cold from the lack of clothing, groggy from the short, interrupted sleep, and hungry from being left unfed.

Where was he taking us? We all wondered.

The boat finally stopped in the middle of nowhere when the soldiers came to fetch us. Dornkirk just stood there, calm as ever, and looked at each one of us in the eye. He had said, "Swim to the boat. We leave at in an hour. With or without you." And then, he had his soldiers throw us over the edge, one-by-one, into the water.

He then told the driver to park a hundred meters away. A hundred meters in a pool was nothing to us. But a hundred meters in a stormy ocean was different. Doing so in an hour was different. Being left to die was different.

The last time I was given that task had become my last, for when I escaped, it was days after she died.

"All right everyone," Dryden's voice crackled through the salt eaten speakers. "It looks like a storm's coming..." His voice seemed to drift off and for a moment, his eyes landed on me. "So I'll need you all to head down below deck. This is not Titanic, you're not gonna die, so stay calm and take your time. If you don't know how to use your life jackets, ask your partner. And if they don't know, ask someone else's partner. I'll be with the driver for the time being."

I sighed. He was being irresponsible again. But then, my memory flashed back to last night with Van. He had told me he thought Dryden wasn't being irresponsible, but rather, he was trying to instill a strong character and values into us in a rather unorthodox way. I was still convinced that he was just trying to make his job easier in a selfish way, but the more I looked at him, the more I could see the concern he held in his eyes for each and every one of us.

I looked away. I was used to someone having great expectations for me, but I wasn't used to them showing concern as well. If I were to die, it would be because I wasn't enough to live. That was our disadvantage, we were replaceable. That was, everyone but Folken. He was, compared to the rest of the children, irreplaceable.

Folken was the best of us. The smartest, strongest, fastest. He could learn anything he was taught within minutes and could complete any assignment given to him with a speed and efficiency that was beyond our capabilities. Dornkirk's alterations and training worked with complete success with Folken, and I always admired him for being so adept, but then I loathed his giftedness because it was because of that that Dornkirk chose him to be by his side. It was because of that gift that Folken changed into someone I didn't know anymore. It was because of that gift that I never tried to find my greatest potential. No matter what they did to alter us or to train us, I knew that I must always hold back.

I always thought I was average among the children, but after witnessing what had happened to Folken, it was my wish not to become Dornkirk's right hand, for I'd rather die a thousand deaths than serve that man for the rest of my life. I didn't want to do more than what was necessary, and that kept me hidden in the youthful crowd. But the truth was, I wanted to know what I'd become. How strong was I really? If I had to, could I face Folken now, the way I was at that moment? Would I lose?

My thoughts were shaken when the choppy ocean water sent the boat into a wave of see-saw motions. Dryden was already inside the glass room with the driver while everyone scurried their way down the stairs below deck. I waited to make sure everyone got down ok. Someone had to.

The deck was beginning to clear within the chaotic madness, but from behind me, a voice asked, "Aren't you going down?"

I turned around. The wind blew his thick hair wildly. His eyes squinted through the raindrops that flowed down his face like tears. And though the weather was becoming worst, there was a sense of serenity in his voice. Was this why I hated him? It was like he didn't know how to react to anything.

"I will," I answered. "I'm just waiting for it to clear."

Van looked over at the stairs. "Don't wait any longer; it's too dangerous to stay up here."

"What about you?" the question just slipped off my tongue without my consent, really.

"I'm looking for Allen," Van said.

I turned and looked around the deck. It was hard to see with all the rain and the rest of my classmates running about. But I spotted the long locks of golden hair through the slight fog and pointed at him. "There!"

Van whipped his body around and called out, "Allen!"

Just as his voice left his body, the boat was suddenly hit with a big, strong wave, tipping it to an awkward slant. The impact sent Allen's body right over the boat's rail, and before I could hear him splash into the water, Van went ballistic.

"Allen!" he screamed as he ran across the deck and dived right over the edge and into the churning ocean water. I stood there, completely dumbfounded at the reaction I just saw. Did Van really live his emotions just now? It was the first time since I'd met him that he showed so much passion for anything he set out to do. But then again, his brother's life was in danger after all. If it were me that fell in the water, he might not have even cared.

I shook my head. This was not a time to think. This was definitely a time to act. I followed Van's footsteps, but stopped at the rail. Looking over into the water, I spotted Van looking around from the surface. Even with my eyes, I couldn't see past a certain depth for ocean water. All I could see were some rocky terrain that stuck up far from the ocean floor. Then, I spotted that golden hair.

"Van!" I screamed, hoping he could hear me. And he did, for he looked up at me, anticipating my words. "Over there!" I pointed where I could still spot a bit of Allen's hair, but he was sinking quick, and the idiot didn't have a life jacket on.

I watched as Van dove under water in a desperate search for his brother. Dryden had come out from the driver's room and stood behind me in great shock. "Did someone fall over?!"

"Allen did," I replied. "Van's trying to save him."

"What?!" Dryden exclaimed. "This isn't a time to play hero! The water's too out of control... they won't make it!"

"I know," I whispered.

A mad gust of wind blew, and the water's current suddenly changed. I watched as Van went tumbling through the water and hit his head on one of the rocky surfaces.

"Van!" Dryden called out his name. It was no use, Van wouldn't hear anyone, not this time.

"Wait for me."

"What?" Dryden asked. As he said that, I climbed over the rail and dove into the cold water. As I went flying from the boat's deck, I could hear my professor calling out my name. The despair in his voice tugged at my heart. When did I last hear someone say my name so desperately? Was it when my parents were about to die?

The rush of cold water quickly wrapped every curve of me. It was freezing, but I was used to such temperature. The current was rougher than I thought, so I knew I needed to give it my all if I were to save Allen and Van. Taking a big gulp of air, I dove under and concentrated on my sight. It was hard to see through the moving current, but I still kept my focus.

Allen, I thought to myself. Where are you...

Then, I rushed back up to the surface and took another gulp of air. "Damn!" I spat. At the rate I was going, Allen would surely never recover. I needed to use that if I were to find him. I sighed. This was not a time to decide what was right or wrong. Someone needed me, and I must save them. I must.

Taking a deep breath, I dove under and positioned myself. Closing my eyes, I placed one palm over the other on top of my chest where the crystals were lodged deep in my heart. Focusing all of my energy, I tried to gather it towards my heart. Soon, I could feel the crystals glowing. They warmed up my body, and soon, I was ready.

My eyes shot open, and though I couldn't see them, I knew my eyes glowed a different color. I looked around, and almost instantly, I found Allen. Changing the flow of energy inside me, I spread it to my limbs and went flying through the water. When I reached him, I pulled off my life jacket and put it on him. Blowing it up, I followed him to the surface so that I may get some air. When I reached the surface, I noticed we had drifted by the boat where Dryden waited for signs of us.

"Hitomi!" Dryden yelled. "Is that Allen?"

"Yeah!" I yelled back. "Take care of him! I'm going back for Van!"

And before he could say anything, I dove back under and focused my energy to my core once more.

I began to feel a pain in my head. I had felt fine since that morning, but suddenly, the pain began to pulsate through my brain. Ignoring it, I focused on my energy, but then, my heart began to hurt. What... I thought, losing my concentration. My heart didn't use to hurt before, but maybe it was because I was using my crystals. When I escaped Zaibach, Dornkirk had only begun to teach us the basics of using our crystals. At that moment, a part of me regretted that I didn't stay longer to learn how to fully control whatever this power was. Was it power? Or just something lodged into my heart?

I violently brushed off my thoughts and tried my hardest to focus. Time was running out. Van had been under for about three minutes now. I needed to find him before...

Suddenly, my heart burned, but it didn't hurt. My crystal glowed bright, and I could feel a flame bursting from inside me into my limbs. The feeling that I experienced was inconceivable. I couldn't explain it, but somehow, I could sense everything around me, like I could feel them around me. I knew exactly where the boat was, where the nearest land was, even where every life in the marine was. As overwhelming as that feeling was, I was able to pick out Van's location and flew through the water quickly.

Hang on Van, I prayed. I'm coming.