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Hiro stood up as I entered the room.
"Where have you been? It's almost nine o'clock," he asked.
"Practicing," I murmured. My voice sounded hollow and a little hoarse. I sat on the edge of a bed, but quickly stood up again. I paced backed and forth for a moment, polishing Nyclix's metal attack ring on my shirt. Hiro stayed quiet. I wondered if he was waiting to see if I'd elaborate or if he had simply run out of things to say.
The Bladebreakers were dressed for bed and lounged on the beds and floor. Tyson made a few jokes and people laughed happily. I absent-mindedly tuned out the cheerful sounds and continued to pace, occasionally glancing at the clock. After a while, Hiro walked over to the group.
"It's time to get ready for bed. We're starting training early tomorrow. Everyone should get some sleep," he announced. Hiro shot a look in my direction and I knew he was talking to me. I was still completely dressed and hadn't even removed the ripcord from my belt.
I nodded my understanding and reluctantly brushed my teeth and slipped into my pajamas. I moved to pull off my gloves, but stopped half-way through the right one. Stark white bandages stood out against my pale skin.
My own voice pleaded in my head. "Wake up! There's a fire!" Other voices chimed in. "There's no way out." "It can't end like this." "Whatever happens, we stick together."
I stiffened and yanked my gloves back on. Fire surged in the back of my mind and my heart began pounding in my ears. I suddenly couldn't sit still. I paced the room, slowly walking faster and faster. Voices echoed in my thoughts, calling my name. Sandy. Terrified wails and cries entered the disarray.
All of a sudden, the doorknob was in my hand. Before I could yank it open, however, Hiro's arm blocked my path.
"It's late at night. Where are you going?"
"Let me go!" I exclaimed. My breathing was ragged and coming out in gasps. "I – I can't stay here."
"Sandy –"
"Please." The last word was almost sobbed and a tinge of desperation filled my voice. Hiro fell silent. My hand shook slightly on the door knob.
"Fine, but take someone with you." There was a moment of silence. I glanced over at the Bladebreakers, who were watching me with worried expressions.
"I'll go," Rei volunteered. I nodded and swiftly exited the room, Rei following behind. My steps quickened as crackling flames leapt behind me. I crashed through the hotel doors and started sprinting.
"Sandy, wait up!" Rei called, grabbing my arm. "What are you running from?"
"Just run," I hissed, pulling out of his grasp. I broke into a run, Rei doing his best to keep pace with me.
I pumped my legs as fast as my tired muscles would allow. After a few minutes, my hours spent challenging beybladers caught up to me and I was forced to slow. I panted, holding a stitch in my side. Rei walked quietly by me for a bit, but then he spoke up.
"Why were we running?" He asked. I could feel Rei watching me, but I didn't meet his gaze.
"Running keeps my mind off other things," I murmured. At the mention of 'other things' my pace, as well as my pulse, quickened slightly. Rei lengthened his stride to match mine.
"What other things?" A flash of images flooded my brain.
"Run," I said, adrenaline kicking me back into a jog. My legs and lungs burned, but the pain inside me burned more. Rei continued to keep up with me while waiting patiently for an answer. As we approached the park I had 'bladed at earlier, I realized he wasn't going to give in to my silence.
"It…doesn't matter," I said. "Don't worry about it." Rei's patience snapped.
"Stop saying that. If this didn't matter, we wouldn't be out here."
"I didn't ask you to come," I retorted. "You could have stayed back at that deathtrap you call a hotel." My own patience was wearing thin between fatigue and the knot of tension sitting in my stomach.
"And let you run yourself to exhaustion?" Rei asked. He stopped abruptly, forcing me to whip around to face him. Rei folded his arms and frowned at me, his bright amber eyes almost glowing in the darkness. My anger faded away and I shivered, suddenly cold.
"Yes," I said, unable to meet his gaze. "Just about anything sounds better than being in that hotel right now. You…you don't understand what it's like, Rei." I turned away and stared at the trees blowing the wind. The moon cast a silver light on the sidewalks and buildings.
"What what is like?" Rei's voice had softened and I crossed my arms defensively. He moved closer to me, watching my expression.
"Nothing," I whispered unconvincingly, my resolve faltering. The wall holding back my memories was starting to crack, but I was unwilling to face the tide.
"Sandy." A tear slipped down my cheek and I quickly turned away. Rei stepped next to my side and looked into my face. "What's wrong?"
Several more tears streamed down my face, glistening in the darkness. My hard expression shattered and I inhaled a shaky breath. After a few minutes, I glanced up and met Rei's amber eyes.
"It happened on a perfectly normal night," I whispered, my voice carrying only slightly past my lips. "Not entirely unlike this one, in fact." Slowly, I began to unfold my story and spoke of the night embedded on my mind like a photograph.
We walked in silence, Rei lingering a few steps behind me. I felt my fear growing the closer we got to the hotel, but I pushed on, trying to prove to myself that I could do it. When I reached the entrance to the hotel, however, my hand just hovered by the door.
"Are you going to be okay, Sandy?" Rei asked. I took in a long breath and exhaled slowly.
"I have to do this. We need to get back or Hiro will start to worry." I glanced at the pitch black sky and added, "If he isn't already worried."
Rei nodded and said, "Whenever you're ready." He gently pushed the door open and stood holding it. After a moment, I tentatively walked inside.
I flinched as voices ran through the hallways. Rei said nothing, but he nodded encouragingly. After what seemed like an eternity, we reached the white door marking our team's room.
I was surprised to find the Bladebreakers still wide awake. Several of my team mates looked up anxiously, relief flashing across their faces as we walked in. The smiles vanished quickly when they caught sight of my face.
"Have you been crying, Sandy?" Kenny asked. My cheeks flushed and I looked at the floor self-consciously, wishing my hair wasn't braided most of the time. It might have fallen forward and hidden my face from view.
"I'm fine –" I began, but stopped when Rei gave me a sharp look. I cringed at the cracked and rasping sound of my voice. I shook my head and crossed my arms firmly across me. Lifting my eyes off the carpet, I said quietly, "No. I'm not."
I regarded Rei out of the corner of my eye and he dipped his head slightly. I studied each face carefully, before continuing. "Bladebreakers, there's something I need to tell you about the fire."