It feels good to just walk away from the trap. It feels as if a heavy weight has been lifted off my shoulders. There's a spring in my step as I leave the city behind. I catch the boy's eyes on me, and I grin. I actually grin in what seems like ages.
"Feels good doesn't it?" He asks. I nod as we crossover the train tracks. We get a ways done when we both hear sirens coming up near us. The boy quickly grabs my hand and pulls me into the woods. We run, dodging tree limbs and fallen trees. I turn my head and see the lights at the edge of the tree line.
"Oh no." I manage to say. The boy just yanks me harder after him and we run for a good while until the sirens completely stop. We reach a clearing in the woods, and the boy stops us. I fetch against a nearby tree and slide down it until I fall into the pine straw. I pull my knees to my chest and hug them. I look up and see the boy staring at me. Something flashes by his eyes that I can't explain what. A ripple in the blue water of his iris.
"That was a close one." He says through his rapid breaths. I nod, and bury my head against my legs. I feel him sit next to me and my curiosity gets the best of me.
"Please tell me your name." I say softly, staring at my thighs. When I don't get an answer, I look over and see him playing with a piece of pine straw. Up close, I can see a small scar on his neck. He's so perfect, like an angel. I fight the urge to run my hand through his gorgeous hair. He gives me a sideways glance and I feel the heat rise in my cheeks.
"Trey." He says finally.
"I'm serious." I say. He gives a low chuckle and I punch his arm playfully.
"Alright, alright. I'll tell you my name if you tell me yours. I only know you as the Snow Warner." He says.
"Clare Timorly." I exclaim. He looks at me then, his eyes sparkling. "You're turn." I say. He tears his gaze from mine and throws the straw aside.
"Zak." He says plainly.
"Well, Zak nice to meet you." I say, putting my hand out.
"Nice to meet you too, Clare." He says, wrapping his fine hand around my small one. There seems to be a spark of electricity between our hands. A slight moment where everything else fades away. The small space between us is closed up without either of us knowing. We lean together simultaneously, our breaths mixing. My heart thumps in my chest and my blood races through me. Our lips, so close to touching, part and tilt. Right before our lips become one, I draw away, turning my head and closing my mouth. He turns my head to look at him.
"I'm sorry." He whispers. I shake my head and stand up.
"We should get going." I say. Moonlight shines down on Zak, making every perfect angle of his face cast shadows. Why did I pull away before we kissed? Why do I have to be so stupid? Another reason I don't want to live. He nods and stands up next to me, disappointment flooding his expression.
We walk through the treacherous woods, night slowly dripping away, hour after hour. We reach the beginning of the Bata division. A large concrete wall that stretches for about twenty miles; stands tall in front of us. The morning sun peeks up above the horizon, leaving a pink, orange glow to hover over the top of the wall.
"Look, a hole." I say pointing to a natural hole in the wall.
"I know, I live here." Zak says. The Bata division is just people set aside from the city. I've never been here before and to be honest I'm nervous. The Electors told me to never visit here, that something bad will happen to me. Then again, why should I listen to them now? I walk over and squeeze through the opening, Zak following me. I stand up on the other side and wipe the dirt off my uniform. Zak does the same and gestures for me to follow him. The streets I pass are just dirt, not asphalt ones. Small, man- made houses line the streets in rows and there are some food stands and mercenaries on the side of the roads. I concentrate on keeping my line of sight on Zak's shoulder blades. We arrive at an abandoned building, further north of the main drag of this small town. One wall of the building is completely missing and glass scatters the floor. Support beams stick out of the ceiling and I gulp nervously.
"So, this won't collapse, right?" I ask. Zak turns to face me and gives me a small smile.
"No, it's completely safe." He says. I look around and see a stack of blankets next to a pile of burnt wood. I see a few dirty cups stacked on a fallen support beam. Do people really live in these conditions here? Something bumps in my chest and I feel sympathy for these people. "We can stay here, few soldiers walk around here." Zak says, laying out a blanket and patting it down. Just one blanket?
Hahaha I'm evil, I know. So, do you think Zak wants to do the dirty times? I don't know, maybe...
