Flames surrounded me. And the smoke-it filled my eyes, my nose, my mouth, my lungs. I could barely make out Dad's face as he knelt in front of me, securing the heavy parachute on my shoulders. I didn't want to leave him. Or Mom. I couldn't do it. But then Dad gripped my shoulders hard and said, "You gotta look after him now, Scott. He needs you."
That was the only thing he could have said to convince me to listen to him. As soon as Alex's parachute was on, I grabbed his hand to get ready to jump. But then he looked back, and I couldn't stop myself from doing it, too. I tried not to cry as our parents enveloped us in one last crushing hug before Dad pushed us back toward the open door of the plane. This time I didn't give Alex a chance to look back again. I just stepped off the edge, taking him with me.
I bolted upright, knocking my copy of Julius Caesar to the floor. I hadn't had that dream in a couple of months, not since before coming to the Institute. Adjusting my glasses, I berated myself for falling asleep in the den where anyone could have seen-
She was standing in the doorway.
I ran a hand through my hair. "Jean, I, uh, didn't-didn't see you there."
"Scott." She stepped in the room and I realized she was shaking. "Scott, are you okay?"
"Yeah," I assured her, trying to sound casual. "Why would-" Suddenly it hit me, why she was there, why she seemed so upset, why she seemed so worried about me. "You saw?"
She nodded her head, looking scared. My jaw tightened, and before I could say anything I'd regret, I stood up and brushed past her out of the room.