“you're early again sweetheart, I got bacon sandwiches, your favorite. When you are ready, come down and we can talk about your schedule and some other things that need to be discussed." She turns on my light leaving the room. She had a slight wave in her voice as if she had been crying moments before she came into the room. It was strange but I decided to let it be for now. Pushing the thought to the side, Rolling out my bed too close to my door. walking to the other side of my room opening my closet to find out what I want to wear on the first day of school. After what felt like five minutes I finally picked out my outfit, I wore light blue ripped jeans with a snow white crop top that I got from Burlington. Checking myself out in the mirror, satisfied with my looks I started out of my room and down the hallway breathing in I could smell bacon,I rushed down the stairs taking a piece with a graceful smile. 

“always my favorite thanks, mom!” 

 Grabbing my jacket and backpack, My mom stops me putting her hand onto my shoulder supportively, Noticing her hesitation I make eye contact looking into her eyes. I Notice she looks as if she was crying for a while she takes my hand, I can feel my heart start to beat faster in a worry panic.

"Alexia I just wanted to tell you I Love you and I have this necklace and ring that I Wanted to give you this is passed down from generation to generation and now it's your turn, this necklace and ring will help you during your toughest times keep it with you, never take these things off you hear?" 

I Didn't know what to say so I Just nodded, opening my hand she slid the ring on my ring finger and asked me to turn around putting the necklace on she gave me a squeeze of comfort. There is something she isn't telling me but I Don't want to be late so I Leave it at that.  "thank you mom I Will never take these off" 

her whole mood changed into happiness. It glowed radiating like the sun on a nice warm spring day. I nod walking out the door to the bus stop, I Look at the ring. Finally, it was a bird, a phynix to be exact, a blood red diamond phoenix. It felt heavy on my skin but it was so beautiful I Couldn't take my eyes off of it. Finally, after a while of walking and not paying attention to the road, I noticed my best friend waving at her. She ran towards me with Damon by her side. She had a large smile on her face. 

I smile.  “Hey, Skye! And Damon!'' 

 “Hey, girl wassup?''  Skye smiled at me glancing over at Damon. He looked uncomfortable so I Gave him a "hey wassup" nod and he smiled looking away. Damon isn't a bad person. Things between us have gotten weird. I've known him since 1st grade. He asked me out last year but I Told him no because I've always thought of him as a cousin. I just dont think he understands that yet. Skye breaks my train of thought. 

“Hey Alexia, how have you been?” 

I smiled, focusing my attention on Skye instead of my thoughts about Damon.

 "I've been alright thanks for asking"  

Skye makes a pouting face as I say  "Well...back to school again, ugh, I’m not ready for the drama" giggling as we hug each other. Skye is a bright, happy person. She always sticks up for her friends. I've known her my entire life. 

 “Me neither sis I wanted summer to last longer but hey we have about two more years!” she jumped up like she was getting something she always wanted. Damon was just quietly standing there until the bus came. The bus came at exactly 6:30 and we got on sitting in the same seat we have always sat in for the last few years the bus was large and the inside was palin with numbers on the wall for what seats are which I was looking out the window watching the nature go fast by my eyes with all the colors mixing together. The sky was a beautiful Blue, orange, yellow and pink and I could see the sun start to show from behind the hills. Later after getting off the bus I Wasn't paying attention to where I was walking and bumped into someone. Looking up he was a tall maybe 6,7 blond-haired boy with pretty gray eyes. Oh my gosh he was gorgeous. getting lost in his beautiful frame, I get back to reality by the sound of his voice.

"Ahem miss?"

I Felt my face turn red. “haha sorry I um…" I pause for a second then answer. "The first day jitters again.” I Gave out the ugliest laugh in the history of laughs. I Thought he would look at me disgusted but instead he chuckled and smiled looking down at me. 

“It's ok, beautiful…” 

I Looked at Skye, gave her the "I Hate you" look and she punched my shoulder playfully. He was the most popular boy in school which I Couldn't blame him for, he is also on the basketball team which doesn't make it better. I Thought to myself, how could someone this handsome be living on earth, it's just not natural. 

he bends down to my level. “Well for starters, I’m Col,” 

I Looked at him, astonished, “well I’m Alexia,” I hoped to dear god that my voice didn't crack.  

He holds his hand out for me to shake it. “Well it was nice meeting you, shall we head to class?”

I Didn't answer. I was still struck that this gentleman decided to ask me to go to class, especially since he was the most popular boy in the entire school and his girlfriend Britney was the prettiest and most popular girl in the entire school as well. 

Skye smiled,“Yes, she would love to walk to class with you!” she winked, walking the other way. Oh, I Hated her so much right now. Damon looked at me with a sad but distant look on his face. As he walked off the bus walking into the school, I felt bad but I can't control the feelings he has for me.I Gave him a hopeful look. I Felt bad that he was walking alone on the first day of school. I Wanted to walk with him but I Didn't want to ruin this chance with the handsome boy named Cole. I mumble.  "Why in the world did she leave me alone?"  

He looked at me confused. I Looked at the ground playing with my shirt. Iglanced from the corner of my eyes and noticed him looking concerned. 

He asks me “Hey, are you ok Alexia?” 

I Looked up a little and he was in front of me now. “What? oh...uhm yeah just thinking.”  

he put his hand on my shoulder, “what are you thinking about?,” 

We stopped walking then and there. I Felt nervous. Iliterally just met this guy and he is already concerned with my well-being? and  i've seen him in the halls and he has never once given me a look of notice so why does he notice me now? I Was totally at a loss. I Look into his eyes thinking about my answer. Obviously I Wasn't going to tell him how I Feel about this whole conversation so Imade a small lie. 

"I'm just thinking about how this year is going to go and Iwas thinking about the necklace my mom gave me today." We started to walk again. He studies my necklace closely. Ihonestly felt uncomfortable but I Didn't dare show it.

"this is a very nice necklace,  diamonds on it look real from my eyes, anyways it's beautiful just like you"  what felt like forever in a minute we got into the hallway, the hallway was very large with tall lockers on each side full of kids trying to find their classes. I Noticed a bunch of cheerleaders glaring at me. 

I Turned towards Col and whispered, “Why are they glaring at me?” 

he looked at them then at me.  “Well they might just be jealous of your looks”

Why is he treating me like this? I've seen him since freshman year and now I'm a junior  and now he sees and notices me...this crap doesn't make any sense. Deep down  I Feel like this is sketchy but my heart is saying that he actually cares about me. The girl probably didn't like it because I'm hanging out with Col. I tried to stay in the shadows but now he's pulling me out of it. This feeling is so uncomfortable. I Noticed Skye from far away walking with a boy named Matthew. I Thought to myself again why in the hell would she leave me with a boy I Just met, what if he kidnaps me after school or decides that he will take advantage of me, but then again I Didn't really just meet him, i've known him for awhile just never hung out with him because of the brat named Britney. We stopped at his locker. I Stood there looking awkward, and finally he asked me. while he was leaning on his locker. 

 “Well, Alexa, did you want me to walk you to class?” 

I Looked at him and smiled, “I Mean I Don't really want you to be wasting your time I Could walk myself it's no problem” he closed his locker and walked next to me with a smile.

"No Iinsist Alexia you shouldn't have to walk all by yourself since your friends left you astray" 

I Looked at him in surprise. How could he say that about my friends? I Mean he was true but damn, Ijust agreed with a slight nod, Ihonestly didn't want to be rude to him in any way. walking up the stairs Isee Damon gives me a once over and keeps walking. We got to my first period,walking in. I Waved to another one of my good friends walking towards her. Icould see a large grin on her freckled covered face. Isat down next to her. She does an exaggerated sigh putting her hand on my knee. I Look at her with a god help me look cause Ialready knew what she was about to say. 

“So I Heard from Skye that you have a new boyfriend?” 

Irolled my eyes while looking at her, “Well no Idont...he is just a nice guy ok I’m not going to get into a relationship with him, duh, girl I’m not that stupid!” I Slapped her Arm with a laugh. Lilly is an amazing person and she loves to joke around with everyone. I Met her in middle school at the football game where she used to be a cheerleader. She smiled, slapping my shoulder 

“I Know you're lying, you like him a little bit! He is the most popular boy in the school and he is hanging out with a hidden girl like you, that is a large change. You should be happy and get some of that he even is showing that he wants to hang out with you!! Isn't that amazing?!” she started laughing. She really thought this crap was funny. I wonder how much the school already knows about this. 

I Pushed her out of her chair. “No hon, I’m not about to date the most popular boy Imean though he is kinda cute though”  

She smiled, “ See girl I Told you, he likes you,” She pointed to the door, looking up at where she was pointing I Noticed he was standing at the doorway smiling at me with his damn pretty gray eyes, those beautiful eyes always make me fall. I Got up from my chair and walked over to him, 

“So what are you doing here?” 

Unexpectedly he grabbed my hand and kissed it, every girl sighed, right then and there I Kind of knew something was up but I Couldn't help but blush 

He smiles  “ Well, I Wanted to ask you if you want to walk with me, Imean we still have time until class…” he let out an awkward laugh. It was cute but still awkward. I Questioned myself, Why would he want me to walk with him out of every girl in this school but he picks me? Maybe someone paid him to be my friend and asked him to be this way towards me. Then I Thought to myself to take those thoughts away. I'm going way ahead of myself, I cannot make assumptions about him without evidence.  

“Um...sure Col I'll walk with you,” I Turned around to look at Lily and she smiled, waving at me. She let off that vibe of “get him girl!” which um I Don't like him like that Ijust want to be friends. How could my life change so...fast with one bump? I'm now walking with the most popular boy in the school and I’m not ever seen by most girls or even boys which I’m not saying Iwant to be the center of attention but I Have to get used to this it's never been like this my entire life, I've always been to myself and well my friends. Leaving the classroom there was no talking between me and him which made it even more awkward. I Decided to break the silence.  

 “So um...why do you want to be my friend I Don't even get seen and then today I Happen to be walking with the most popular boy in the damn school, is this a prank...like someone paid you or is this even a dream, I’m dreaming huh?” he gave out a laugh, “You’re silly it's none of those, I Just happen to bump into a pretty girl and I Wanted to know more about her...I Wanted to be able to tell her everything, you seem like the type that would actually listen” 

I Looked at the floor smiling, "Ok so what if I Was ugly? would you still be walking with me right  now?" 

He pauses for a moment then he coughs clearing his throat. "uhm I Would still come up to you and talk to you, your personality is just perfect, but hey you're not ugly now right?"

I Turn my head quick fast, looking into his eyes I scoff "Im ugly you're just being nice to me or whatever horrible plans you have"  

He looked offended. "You think I Have horrible plans?"

I Wanted to say no, but I Couldn't get my voice to say it so I Stood quietly. We walked in silence for a while. The bell rang, I jumped at the loud ringing of it then I panicked. We forgot all about the first period! 

I yelled “Oh my gosh! We freaking skipped the first period”  

His whole face lit up again  “Well, um, I'll walk you to the second period?”  

I Nodded no give any voice emotion because Ifelt bad for what I Said to him, I mumble 

"It's upstairs though." 

I Felt his feelings. He seemed upset that I Would assume him, that's the thing I'm scared of the unknown is I'm scared to like someone because I don't know what their intentions towards me are and I don't know what they have or if they are faking being nice to me. I've always had that problem since Iwas young, I Was always overly careful with everything  

“That's no problem,” he said as his negative feelings fell away.  

As we walked upstairs this girl glared at me or towards me. 

looking back at Col “Um what was that about?” 

he looked at the girl walking past. “Well that is my ex-girlfriend Britney, she can be a pain when it comes to other girls talking to me" he paused for a second before finishing 

"But you do need to worry about it, ok?”

I Said nervously “Yea um I’ll try not to worry,” I knew who she was but now she is going to really be a problem since Iam now walking with her ex-boyfriend.  

he smiled, we kept walking, we finally got to my room we slowed to a stop and stood there he turned towards me, curiosity on his face. 

 "Well it was nice walking with you, and missing class haha” I smiled walking into my class I looked back and saw him smiling “Well, Alexa liked it too, cya later cutie,”

  This time I blushed and smiled walking to my desk, 

Lily smiled “So~, Girl you skipped the first period, what were you guys up to gimme the deets? '' she let out a large laugh that filled the classroom. I Slapped her in the arm, “Nothing happened we just lost track of time I Didn't even hear the bell ring for class it was weird,” 

she pushed me, “Girl you know damn right that you heard the bell you just wanted to spend more time with him, be honest girl I'm your BFF!”

I Chuckled a little, “Well um I Really didn’t hear the bell it was like it didn’t even ring at all,” Skye can sometimes be a little annoying but in a good way she makes me laugh, but she never believes what I say which I Can't even understand it's like she knows my feelings but hey what do I Know?. 

She sat on my desk. “Well guess who is coming in right now, it's the bitch Britney,” Britney walks into the classroom with a glare on her face. 

“What are you looking at? Because I Know you are not looking at me, you bitch, ugh,” I Can't stand Britney she has always been 'top' on the food chain, taking advantage of everyone she can get her dirty fingers on. That's exactly why I Despise her guts.

she looked away and sat behind me, “So nerd what were you doing with my man this morning huh?”

Turning my head to look at her. With hate flaring inside my eyes I snap back. “Well first off i'm not a nerd, I'm just smart, second I was just walking with him if you have a  problem then go to him because I Don't want to deal with your crappy attitude because I Don't like the drama so you can shut up before I Smack the hell out of you. And hon he ain't your boyfriend last time I Checked and your not his pretty little princess get back to reality darling” 

The classroom looks at the argument with giggles and whispers.

She rolled her eyes getting up from her chair walking to the back of the room where the cool kids usually sat. All her friends laughed at her. I can hear the whispers from here. Someone said "I Can't believe she just gassed you like that!" another said "Damn girl what are you going to do to her back? You can't just walk away like that!"

 I Can't really stand people like her. They got on my nerves.  Ignoring the rest of the comments, I Got my notebook out waiting for the teacher to begin class. Opened it to the last page and started drawing like I usually do when I Get bored. I put my head on the table and put my book on my lap. I Look up and see Col standing in front of my desk. 

“Hey you dropped your paper to your classes,” he smiled with his bright gray eyes, so gorgeous. 

“Oh um thank you Probably would have gotten lost,”Ismiled, taking the paper from him “Thanks again, you should get to class before you are late and get in trouble,” he nodded, walking out of the room, 

Britney looked at me with a glare then looked at the teacher. Nothing really happened after that. Finally After school, I walked outside with Lily and Skye talking about what happened when I was walking with Col. They literally were going all girly over it, they're just lucky I didn't go off on them about their boy problems. We got on the bus on the way home. I was listening to all the gossip about me and Col. I got annoyed a little but I wasn't going to let anything affect my day. Looking out the window I noticed the storm cloud started to roll in. The last time I've seen the rain was when I was in the 2nd grade when my brother was missing. He was the one out of the 30 people that were missing.  It was staring, don't get me wrong, the police only found one missing person the rest were unaccounted for and announced as a closed file case. I see Lilly looking at me from the corner of my eye. 

Lily looked at me worried “Um Alexa, remember the last time when there was a storm 30 people went missing?” 

Inodded and the sky let out an awkward laugh “Well I wonder who will go missing this time…” 

Shushed her, "You shouldn't be messing around like that people actually have went missing"

she looks at me with a serious look on her face "ok, sorry I forgot about your brother…"

Skye is a really understanding person that loves to joke around but when she knows something is serious she will take it seriously no doubt about that. 

The bus stopped at my house and I waved while the bus drove away. Walking into my house locking the door, mom was not home. I decided to take one of my mom's energy drinks. Opening it I also grabbed my favorite chips, barbeque. Walking up to my room kicking my door I Found my comforting bed calling my name, plopping down on my bed getting out my phone I saw a notification of a friend request from Col pressing accept then started listening to music. Drifting off into a sleep.

“Hey you’re awake” I Smiled. 

 “Where are we?” As he put his hand on his side he had blood on his hand. It was Col. He looked down, surprised and confused all at once.  

“I'm not sure, I Woke up here too, are you ok?” I put my hand out to help him the best I could. His hands were warm. I loved the feeling of them in my hands. I didn't want to let them go. We helped gazes for a while until I jumped hearing somebody coughing. We both look over at the person coughing. We limp over to the boy with caution. He was coughing in his sleep. I started to panic.

“Wake up!” I Shook my hardest, His coughing stopped. He opened his hazel brown eyes, startled, the boy jumped up with a sharp rock in his hand “stay away!” he backed up a little more moving to the rock behind him

"Who are you guys? Where am I?" He held the rock out towards us. 

I Didn't know how to exactly answer his question but I didn't know where we were either so I put my hand out letting him know that we weren't going to hurt him

"I'm sorry...but I don't know where we are either I woke up here just like you did"

Col smiled trying to ease the tension between everything that was happening. 

"I'm pretty sure there is a good reason for this"

I look at him in the eyes as if he were stupid "why in the hell would there be a good reason for? Did somebody kidnap us? I was asleep in my room and woke up here, care to explain how that is possible." I Turned away from him in frustration, I shouldn't have been so rude but I couldn't help it. I was in my room last and that's where I want to be at the moment and not stranded in the middle of nowhere!. Col looks at me with surprise and admiration for my actions with a smile as he sits back down into the dry sand, how could he be accepting of my outbreak? Pushing that into the back of my mind for now I walked up to the boy slowly with my hand out to say 

“We are not going to hurt you, I'm not sure how any of us gotten here but I sure as hell want to find out, may you please put the rock down and we can have a civilized conversations with no weapons involved?'' He hesitated for a moment then he lowered his weapon slowly dropping it into the sand. He had some tears coming out from his eyes. I could tell he was scared and didn't know what to do at this moment. Nobody does. I wasn't going to hug him so I just stood there looking into the distance and noticed from afar a girl with a bow in her hand aming it towards us. 

I whisper “Guys we need to go now!”

Col looks at me. I Could tell he was about to make a smart comment. "Why is that sweetie?" 

I was caught off guard by the sweetie part but that doesn't matter right now  because there is a girl with a damn bow aiming it at us. Finally I noticed the colors on her outfit. She had blue lines instead of red. I Wasn't entirely sure what that meant but it probably didn't mean anything good cause she looks as if she wants to shoot at us. I Tapped on Col’s shoulder and he looked at me and I pointed over to the girl that kinda looked like Britney from our school from afar but I can’t be certain. Grabbing Col's hand and the boy and we ran for cover. Obviously, we didn’t know where we were going at the moment we just ran and hid behind a fallen tree. We crouched low hoping she couldn't see us. I Held onto Col putting my head to his chest. He held me now, I shiver. I Heard his heart beating fast as well as his warm breath on my neck and smiled looking over the fall tree. I saw the girl holding the bow beside her. A spear appears near me. I decided if I should grab it or not, making up my mind, I grabbed it feeling the smoothness and the weight of it. Lifting my head away from Col's chest, I lifted it slighting above the trunk so I could see her. She was standing about 30 paces away looking around the forest when she turned, giving me a good shot at her arm. I threw it and it hit her in the arm. She yelped and then looked straight at me but it seemed she hadn't seen me cause she kept walking when I looked down and the spear was back into my hand. The boy broke the silence when she was gone. “Woah, that's wicked cool.” The little boy beamed. He seemed to mellow out during these moments. We haven't introduced ourselves to him yet but he seems like he was beginning to trust, which was a good thing. He seems like a funny kid but I don’t remember  seeing him from our school though, so he must have been a few grades younger. Me answering back “yes indeed it is”. I smiled and someone touched my hair. Looking at him I remember how close I was to Col's body, I blushed a bit embarrassed because I honestly didn't know him for that long in person. I always saw him from a distance. He smiled looking into my hazel brown eyes, he chuckled. We got off of the ground and I could still feel where Col's hand once was. The boy noticed my blushing. He smiled as he was walking down the pathway full of large trees and bushes, I could feel the wind in my hair. 

I yelled to him  “Wait, kid, what is your name?” he turned back with a smile still on his face.  “Well Miss, I’m Dylan'' 

Smiling I Put my hand out for him to shake "Well my name is Alexia"

Accepting my shake, we both smiled happily. I stood back right next to Col, I grabbed his hand and he looked down with a smile, “cute” he whispered. 

“We should go find shelter somewhere before it gets dark" 

Dylan grabs my hand. I Was shocked by this but his hand felt warm. I looked at his hand then into his eyes. It gave me a smile inside, his hands were nothing like Col's, they were more rough and worn out but still soft, it showed that he had a rough past. Col was not here at the moment, it was just me and Dylan here which made this moment even more precious. I still didn't trust Col. Yeah he is a good person but I think he is suspicious especially because he started coming after me, when he had not noticed me beforehand so what makes him want my attention now?. Col went to check out our area to find shelter and the forest to make sure things were alright and that the girl wasn't around the premises spying on us. I guide Dylan along the narrow pathway of trees and bushes. As we walked along the quiet forest path, I Thought about how Dylan was a mystery to me, one I want to figure out while I'm here. His eyes seem so deep in thought Istare  mesmerized in them, their such a beautiful shade of blue, it reminds me of the ocean and how the ocean is such a mystery that nobody will figure out just like this boy standing beside of me, His midnight black hair brings the color out of his eyes and makes them shine more like the sun glaring into the ocean.    

 We gaze into each other's eyes for what feels like forever. I Feel like I've met him somewhere but I'm not sure where but this feeling is overwhelming me. I Don't even know who he is and I'm already falling. Maybe it's the mystery in his eyes and expressions that make me want to know. I Can't express my feelings right now. With his hand in mine walking down a pretty forest path may be on our way to death? This moment is so beautiful but so wrong at the same time. I Break the silence. 

"So uhm what was your-" 

As I was speaking in mid sentence we heard yelling from afar. I Look at him in panic wondering who it could have been. We ran towards the yelling. By the time we got there, A boy was laying in the grass. I was hoping it wasn't Col. He was laying in the sand with blood all over him, he wasn’t moving. I Stood in fear, was he dead? Me and Dylan leaned down beside the body checking his pulse. I Answered my question. 

"He has a pulse, help me get him up" 

My heart was beating fast and my senses were on guard. Picking him up we take him into the cover of our hideout Col run towards us worried. 

"I Heard yelling and I Thought it was you two. Are you both alright? Who is that?" he gestures a hand towards the person in Dylans arms. 

"We heard a scream and we ran towards it. He was lying on the ground and he had a pulse so we grabbed him and looked like he had the same color as us!"

Col looks at the boy for a long moment, probably consteplanting what we should do. 

He finally answers the direction we need to go to keep us all safe while helping the boy out as well 

"Ok I might know how we could help him. I Found a place far from here but I think we can make it with no harm done to any of us. We need to help him now"  

We walked at a fast pace  down the path following Col to wherever he wanted us to go. I Followed him through the path of trees, we found a place to settle down in a tree, as we climbed a branch broke sending me falling, Dylan grabbed my hand with his open hand while still holding the boy, he pulled me up to the large branch high above the ground, it was dark now and we settled in on the branch I could hear the soft breathing of the boy he seemed stable but he was on the edge I Could tell. 

"I hope he will be alright" 

Dylan looks at me with a smile "He seems stable so we just need to find that place Col was talking about. I Just hope we can get there in time." 

I Smiled understanding him, it was quiet for a while before I spoke again. I Honestly wanted to know his story. "So what was your life like before all of this?" I Repeated my question from earlier when it got interrupted by the painful screams. 

I watch as he puts his hand in his hair as if he was hesitant to speak. 

"Well Alexia it's kind of complicated, I grew up mostly... alone. I Had a rough time until I was taken in by some lovely people. I went to the same school as you guys but I was never noticed by you, how come people sink somebody so low to the point I felt I was really dead and dreaming it terrified me Alexia, more than you know" 

He looks lost, but I understand it. I can feel his pain even though he has had worse done to him. I put my hand onto his face "Oh Dylan...im so sorry" 

He turned his face away wiping his tears onto his arm then he smiled at me. 

"Alexia I really wanted to know you so bad I didn't want you to be alone in that horrible school, they are like wild animals preying on the innocent and I've seen the way people have looked at you they look at you like you are not worth anything. Everyday I wanted to come up to you but I felt you didn't want to be around anyone except the ones that you have know since birth" his voice cracks as he goes on 

I start to tear up. I Turned away from his deep blue eyes hoping he would stop but also I wanted him to keep going.

"I know you probably don't trust me right now but I have something to say about Col" 

I pay attention to him now from hearing the words Col. What did he want to tell me? Is it what i've always known about him or something more horrible than my thoughts. I Wanted to close my ears to may not hear this thing he wanted to say but instead I Say 

"What did you want to say about him" 

Col interrupts us "Yeah, what did you want to say about me, Dylan?" 

He puts his hand onto my shoulder. I flinched without meaning to but it happened and I regretted it as soon as it happened. 

Dylan glares at him then gets up pushing him past  "Nothing" jumping off of the large flat branch. 

Col looks at me "I Don't trust him…" then jumps to the next branch. I'm here with the boy alone now. I Look at him with despair and hope I Start to sing softly to him while taping up his wounds with leaves with whatever I could use as first aid. I hear a soft moan of pain escape from his lips, I whisper softly. 

"It's alright, I'm here, you are not ever going to get hurt again. I promise…" I hoped I could keep this wish because I don't even know this boy and this is the only hopeless thing I could help. It's like I can feel his pain emotionally and physically too. I Fall asleep singing to the boy. My dream was horrible 

I look out the window to see people running terrified while men in white suits are everywhere snatching up people during the storm. I can hear people searching my house. I decided to hide under the bed. I whimpered in fear. I can hear people saying "all clear" with a door slamming behind them. Suddenly I hear them in my room. They look under the bed and they see me scooting the farthest I could but it wasn't far enough. The man snaches me by my hair, grabbed me from under my bed and lifted me off my feet. I Couldn't make out his face. It was blurry, he let go and I fell to the ground moaning in pain. One of the men picks me up while grabbing my arms, I kick and scream but nothing comes out. I feel hopeless- 

My dream ending by shaking and someone calling me from the distance Slowly wake up from my nightmare 

"Alexia wake up" 

I can hear the panic in Dylan's voice. I flutter my eyes open, finally aware of my surroundings. 

"What's wrong?" Is It up with the boy still in my lap. It was early morning and I could see the sun coming off of the water.

"You were having a bad dream I wanted to make sure  you were alright"

I nodded while looking down at the sleeping boy in my lap. I started stroking his curly black hair while started humming.  

Dylan sits down next to me. "May I ask you something?" 

I look from the boy to him with a smile "Sure." 

He coughs. I Can tell he was hesitant. "Have you ever really loved someone, and I

am not meaning love as family im meaning more than that"

Did he really just ask me that question? I was shocked for a minute but then I answered his question honestly. "No I haven't actually fallen in love with someone, well not entirely anyways…" 

He looks at me for a while then turns away. "I'm sorry I shouldn't have asked…" 

I put my hand on his shoulder. I've only known him for a few months on this island but I feel as if I'm already getting attached to his personality even though he hadn't shared much with me. But I feel like I should curb his sadness and despair and help make something new of his broken heart and soul.    

"No no it's alright I don't mind at all, but I wanted to know what you were going to say earlier." 

He shakes his head clearly not wanting to say anything. I Don't blame him. Col can be scary sometimes well no, actually, he is scary all the time and he is sneaky. I Don't know how to trust him, but I do like him. Looking up I can see Col is asleep. Slowly standing up not trying to wake the sleeping boy in my arms. Grabbing Dylan's hand in the process. 

His face looks shocked then it's replaced by curiosity. 

"Let's go, we can speak about it down here." 

We walked the trail under the starry night sky. 

I smiled at him letting go of his hand "What were you going to say to me earlier?" 

"Well I have suspicion that Col might be spying on you. He might be a spy for the other colors or for that girl. I've noticed that when he is gone he never runs into any danger when I know that there are a lot of people wanting to kill us... " 

I look at him surprised for a moment until I look at how he does and I understand completely. 

"D you think I am wrong?" 

I look at him honestly. I can see the sadness in his eyes and how he needs me to understand what he is saying. I think about what to say before I speak.  

"Yes I understand Dylan, but how can we protect each other when he is always around?"

He consteplates my question for a while then he answers "Well we just need to see what he does, act like we never knew about anything he is doing, Alright?" 

I answer "Alright sounds good to me" 

the silence was filling in my heartbeats, I decided to break the silence. 

"So I can't go back to sleep. what shall we do until daylight comes?"

He smiles and pulls me along the forest path. We stop at a tree, looking up. I notice all the fruits hanging there waiting to be eaten and I'll gladly be the one to satisfy that. I climb the tree immediately, faster than I should. I can see Dylan smile while he was under me making his way up as well. He yells from below me.  

"Damn girl your fast how the hell did-"

I hear a gunshot from 300 feet away. 

I accidently let go of the tree falling at least 3 stories high. 

Pain I feel pain…

I remember falling…

What's going on with me? 

Why can't I see anything?.

Where is everyone....

All of a sudden I can't breathe. I feel as if I'm in a cage full of water.

Drowning hopelessly...my lungs fill with water I try to gasp for air but it doesn't help…

I can feel my lungs giving away to the water filling my lungs-

I can't hold on any longer. 

I black out out from loss of oxygen. 

    I breathe in hard; filling my lungs with air, I try to sit up to get a look at my surroundings. My head felt heavy like a rock. I was in a small hut made of logs and brush, there was a table with two cups on it and a stove and fridge?... Who is this? I take note of my clothes, they were bloody for some reason. Then it hit me, I remember climbing the tree with Dylan and I was up three stories high. I remember him saying "Damn girl your fast how the hell did-" then he stopped cause I heard a gunshot then everything went blank after that. at least I think so.

 "Yes I know you might be confused right now but don't worry, love…"

I turned towards the man who was maybe 20 years older than me. Around my mom's age,  I started to panic "Who the hell are you?" I tried to stand but ended up falling to the ground. The man came to my side and helped me stand up. 

"I wouldn't try to go so fast doll your still recovering that was quite a shot and a fall you tooken"

I turn towards him with concern and fear in my eyes. We lock eyes and his eyes are just like mine, a beautiful brown and green. I never knew someone could have the same eyes as I do. It's like I'm looking into a mirror, I turn away "where am I? and where are my friends!?" 

He sits me on the bed and I push him away from me. He stumbled away from me completely shocked, but he didn't have anger in his eyes, just worry. He grabs the wooden chair from the table and sits across from me. 

"Look I know you may not trust me but...I just wanted to say that you friends are fine in the area downstairs and are also recovering. I wanted you to be comfortable when I found all of you guys beaten up and bloody, I honestly didn't know what to do…"

I calm myself a little before speaking. "W-what happened to me?"

His face darkened  but I could see the sorrow in his eyes. 

"Well doll, you were shot and had broken ribs and fell out of a tree. I wasn't sure if you were going to make it or not, so i brought you here”

I look at him dumbly thinking how he found me and who the hell he was. 

"Wait, I almost died?" 

He smiled brightly “Yes, but I brought you back. You were just hanging from a thread barely holding on to life, Alexia Woods, I helped because of a promise i made to someone if it were not promised I probably wouldn't have known it was you and left you for dead but things happened and we are here now- I never wanted you to be here I traded myself for you to never be here but yet you here now, shit"

Now honestly I'm confused. What was he talking about when he traded himself and the promise he made? Was I really falling off the edge now? or maybe this might be a dream- Pinching myself I know it was not a dream. Looking up at him startled. I ask the one question that has been bothering me since I got here. 

"Uh Sir who even are you? And who the hell did you make a promise to about me? Why did you trade yourself for me?"

I started to become frantic, he sighs grading my hands rubbing his thumb on my palm. "I'm guessing your mom hasn't told me about you yet hasn't she?"

My eyes widened with surprise.  "What does my Mom have to do with this?"

He looks hurt but understands "Oh love Please believe me but I'm your father...You're wearing my ring I gave to your mom. It was passed down from my family." 

My mouth gaped open wide, this is unbelievable how in the hell is this happening? Completely lost, I decided to ask one more question. "Ok, this may seem strange but how are you even still here after so many years? My Mom has never spoken a word about it even when I have asked like a million times she would shut me out with tears running down her face- how can i believe you?" 

He stands up walking  a makeshift dresser walking back towards me. He hands me a photo of my mother with a belly and him smiling next to her, his eyes a bright green and brown just like mine. Looking at it my heart breaks. Why am I having these feelings? I never even knew my father so why care now? My emotions are all confused but I look just like him. It felt like a feeling of longing. Like I need him to be stable I grab his hand pulling him into a hug I started to tear up, wiping the tears away. he hugs me whispering "Oh honey you look so beautiful, so grown and mature Alexia I gave you that name…" he strokes my hair slowly I hear the hurt in his voice. 

"Dad, is it really you?" my voice cracks giving away my sadness. 

Someone busts threw the door angered but panicked he grabs my Father by the shirt pulling him off of me it was Col just before he punched my father. I scream  

"No Col! don't that is my dad!! please don't hurt him" 

Jumping out of my bed; I fell to the floor hitting my head on the ground. I wince in pain as Col looks at me putting his hand down letting my father go. He rushed towards me grabbing my arm in the process.  "Oh good god Alexia I thought something happened to you!"

Glaring at him I start to panic "Get you hands off me"

his eyes widen but his grip tightens around my arm "what-"

interrupting him I snapped again "I said get your hands off me right now Col."

My father interferes "You heard the girl get you hands off her" 

Col snaps at him My father hits the table passing out "Who the hell are you old man dont touch Alexia or I will hurt you"

I started to get angered because he hasn't listened to a word I've said. I slap him with my free hand across his face leaving a mark on his cheek 

His eyes look at me intensely like he wants to kill me right then and there, instead he pushes me; hitting my head onto the bed frame I see Dylan with a gun to Cols head "Who the hell do you think you are. Grabbing a girl like that and hitting her father, you asshole! If you touch her again I will kill you enjoyably”

Col spits at him, getting up in his face the gun is pointed to his heart. "yeah I bet you would, you don't even care about her, and quite frankly I would love to see you choke and die cause I hate you little brother you were not supposed to be adopted but no mother had too much of a heart and that is why she died I blame you!! you parasite"

I wish I could help; I start to panic. They are fighting over me. This is all because of me; tears start coming out of my eyes and I can't stop them. My father passed out and Im helpless in this moment, looking around the room for anything that could help me with this situation I see a makeshift spear; grabbing it I stab it into Cols back he cries out in pain falling forward Dylan moves out of the way letting him fall onto the floor Col Crawls toward me anger flaring into his eyes 

"I'll kill you!" 

Grabbing my leg I try kicking him off of me screeching

"Let me go! Col please let me go-" 

Dylan is trying to help my unconscious fathers bleeding head. I keep kicking, panic fills me completely. Col smiles feeling good about himself. "I thought you were very pretty Alexia but now I know... I love you even more, cupcake you're so strong I didn't think you could do it- but here I am on the ground bleeding with a spear in my shoulder. so strong so so strong"

My eyes widening to his words, horrified. I finally kicked him off crawling as fast as I could away from him huddled in a corner; Putting my hands in my knees I heard him say. "When I get better I promise I will find you- Alexia and I will make you choose me."

Shook to my bones I curl up on the floor; whispering "Screw you Col, go to hell"

Then passing out in someone's arms as they grab me. 

“Well done alexia you’re doing well” he came in with his hand behind his back with an amazing posture. He grins, "She will be our pet." I Looked at him in confusion.he didn't open his mouth but yet I heard him say something, maybe i'm going insane or crazy freaked out of the whole situation about the fire and the weird voice I heard; Standing up I glare at him with hatred, he kidnapped me and get me here to probably be a lab rat I want having this walking up towards him, I get into his face I snap "who the hell are you and why am I here against my will?  You better have a good explanation Sir"

He smiles at the way I spoke, disgusted as I was, I spit at his shoe to prove my point how angry I am. "Well-Well Alexia you're feisty but I didn't kidnap you it was your choice to come with us whether or not you know it yet or maybe they already told you, I'm not sure yet."

I'm finally tripping over the edge of sanity, I'm actually going crazy, I can feel the darkness taking over. "You are a liar!!" Blasting a hot fire ball an inch from his face, he flinches stunned at my outburst. He coughs "You will be coming with me dear, I promise nobody will hurt you"      

I'm shocked at what came out of my hands but It wasn’t human-like but it felt so real. "I will not be coming with you, I rather die, you horrible person"

Anger shows in his eyes as his temper risens, he pushes me into the wall. “You will do as I say or I'll kill the people you love, oh, and don’t think I don't know who they are young lady”

 He let out a weird smile that gave me chills down my spine. “Well test me!” I thought to myself. Why did I Say that??!! I Was so confused. 

He smiles with pleasure “Ok, i'll test you” he glared and stabbed me in the leg sending me to fall to the floor in pain. 

“Ugh, ill kill you!!” I Stood up, pain shooting through all of my nerves. I feel as if I'm going to drop at this moment but I need to get myself together. I'm not going to give into his demands. We stood there staring at each other for a long moment before I interrupted the patient with a smart remark "You know I could just tear you apart."

he chuckles at my comment like it meant nothing to him. “Hm honey I Think I'm more powerful than you would ever be '' he slammed me against the wall with no hands, It was like he was using some type of power but what? I was more confused than I had ever been before. I was shocked, standing there staring at him in disbelief "how-how...did you do that? it's it's not possible" 

he ignored my comment  “Like I said, you will come with me whether you like it or not but if you don’t, I will hurt you, I am not afraid." he pointed his finger at my face. "I'm the headmaster and don’t you forget, I want you to obey my orders or I’ll harm everyone you love” he glared with his one eye, the other eye looked all black with no sign of life to it. I Fell to the floor holding my neck for air. He smiles, getting on his knees satisfied.

 “So who wants to test who now?” 

I Looked at him with anger. Coughing, spitting blood on his angered face. He screams at me. "You will pay for that little rat, I'll kill you.!!"

I smile at him, still shocked at my own abilities to read minds and use fire but I will use that to my advantage.  “Did you know I could read your mind? I Won't go down without a fight professor” I smiled satisfied at my own words towards this doctor. Getting back on my only good leg. I Slammed my body into him with all my might, sending him falling. I put my knees into his boney chest. 

“Im weak in power but good with speed and attack” I glared into his lifeless eyes. I smiled a sinister smile directed at only him. But inside I'm scared as hell, when I close my eyes I feel everything starting to fade away. I don't smell alcohol or chemicals. Instead I smelled the rain and flowers, I'm utterly confused. When I opened my eyes I was in a beautiful forest with the birds chirping and animals running. As I looked forward I saw a road that looked damp and wet. “I wonder where this leads to.” I Walked down the unknown road, I was my house finally I am home I thought, as I ran inside my house I saw blood everywhere. Has he gotten to them already? I shouldn’t have been so stupid… I Cried at the sight of my lifeless mom’s body laying on the kitchen floor. “Mama no...I'm sorry I Didn't say goodbye! I'm sorry I never said I loved you!!” 

I was in a complete breakdown. I felt as if my heart had been ripped out of my chest, hoping everything wasn't real. Hearing footsteps behind me I turned around startled to see who it was and BAM...all I saw was darkness. I felt a pain in my head like I was hit from the front that it went to nothing. Fluttering my eyes open I take in my surroundings the clouds were a beautiful white with pink mixed into it I can feel myself swaying and the faint song of birds in the distance grasping my situation I speak

My voice is raspy.  “Huh? W-where am I…” I Coughed. “Ow my leg, please put me down!!” I Kicked the person. He stopped walking and put me, 

The boy sighs in frustration “Are you happy now?” He looked annoyed. 

“Yes this is better” I limped down wherever we were going….

I scream "Help Somebody Help me!!" I tugged at the rope around my ankle. It gets tighter and tighter as I pull. All of a sudden I feel someone grabbing my arms. I elbow them in the nose, They cry out in pain. 

"What the hell Alexia? Damn that hurt!" 

I Noticed it was Dylan, I instantly stopped panicking. "I am so sorry!!"

He is holding his nose. I can see blood beginning to drip onto the sand next to me. Ignoring his nosebleed, not regretting that I've hit him in the nose, I snap at him "Why in the hell am I in ropes?" 

His eyes widen, I'm still confused of how I got here and the scary but weird dream I had while I was out or possibly dead cause that dream fell terribly real. At least it was a dream, I want to ask Dylan but I need to get out of this situation first. "Can you untie me or are we just going to be stuck here like this for a while?"

He hurries by my ankles ignoring the blood gushing out of his nose, I almost feel sorry for him but yet I was terrified so I technically had my reason; untying the rope from around and rubbing them to make sure there are no marks left behind from it, he sits beside me from where I was laying. 

I wrap my hands around myself. I felt awkward and vulnerable. I may know him but I don't like the way it's quiet and how I was tied up, ignoring that for now I looked into his eyes "Would you care to explain why I was in ropes?" 

He laughs "It's not what you think…it was because you were moving like crazy in your sleep. I dont know what kind of dream you had but damn it was like you were going to murder a person right on the spot, your actually crazy"

I glared at him with one eyebrow up, So I was dreaming- But the dream had felt so real. Like I was in that time, How I was feeling the pain that was caused when thrown. How is that possible? Dylan He snaps his fingers like I was dead. "Life to Alexia, are you there?" 

Snapping back into reality, I start bursting out laughing. This is actually crazy, insane, impossible! Slapping my hand on the ground ignoring the fact that my side is in terrible pain, Dylan's giving me a look as if I were crazy. "Alexia, are you good?" 

I kept on laughing. I don't know why I just kept laughing, uncontrollably. Tears started building up in my eyes then started to fall down my cheeks, I stopped laughing then started crying for no reason but so glad that my dream didn't become real. Dylan looks at me taking grasp of the situation he pulls me into his arms stroking my hair "What wrong, tell me please Alexia. I'm worried about you, please answer me."

Sniffling, looking up into his eyes, "I t-though my mom was d-dead…" Burrowing my head into his chest he sighs "hey- hey it is alright It was just a bad dream alright?" 

Wiping my eyes, nodding. He stands me up Wincing from the pain in my side. My legs wobble, he helps me walk out of the little leaf hut. getting my surroundings I notice we are out of my fathers hut so where are we? Dylan guides me along the path, he makes a weird bird call That I don't recognize. It might be a signal for our group I'm not totally sure but it sounded beautiful. All of a sudden My father comes down the path he stops and we lock eyes, he smiles walking towards me. "Sweet Heart you're alright!" 

We hugged for a while. I hear him sniffling but trying to hide it. "Father you know you don't have to hide your emotions, everyone cries"

He laughs stroking my hair softly. "I'm just glad you're alright, I'm not sure what your mother would do if she figured out that you were dead or badly injured."

I can hear someone coughing a few steps away from me, Lifting my head I see the boy, the blood that was on his is gone, now that its light and everything has calmed I could see his features. he had brown and gold curly hair, with the eyes of a crystal gray, he looked to be well built and strong, he has a very sharp jaw line If i were to rate him he would be a nine out of ten. This boy is the boy that I held the night before I was brutally shot in the chest almost falling to my death. Well I did fall, I just didn't die. 

"Are we done with the reunion? I'm pretty sure that if we stay here any longer we will all die and her mother will probably go to your grave and blow it up. I'm not sure we want that now, do we Mr. Woods?" He sounded sarcastic. I'm kind of liking his attitude. 

He chuckles. He lets me go, I've never seen my father until before I came here, but since meeting him I'm beginning to love who he is. But one thing has been bothering me since I've met him. Why can't he leave this place and what does it have to do with me? I want to ask the question but I'm too scared to do so. I'm not sure what he will tell me and if he will tell me the truth or not. For now I will keep it to myself until I am sure of what the hell is going on here. Suddenly ending my thoughts, everyone stares at me. I stand higher acting confident. They looked like they needed some answer from me so I was quick to come up with something. "First things first, boys, we have some problems"

The boy that made the sarcastic remark looking at me "What are the problems beautiful?"

I can see Dylan staring at him, I cough getting his attention again then I proceed. 

"Well one, did anyone handle Col?"

Everyone's eyes widened with their heads shaking slowly, which shows me that they didn't. “Boys are stupid”, I think. I shake my head at the thought that he wasn't handled. I know he will be coming for us. For me, soon, or possibly now so we need to get moving. I guess I will be handling all of the stuff that needs to be done, great. Do I really need to handle everything around here? 

I sigh "Ok so none of you guys can take charge. I’m going to create a list of things that need to be done and  I’m going to include reminders. I'll add to my list that Col is most likely alive and is probably looking for us at the moment since none of you took the chance and handled him. Our other problem is that there are other groups probably looking for us to take us out as well so we have to be aware of our surroundings carefully."

Looking at my father I notice the envy in his eyes sparkling. I could tell he was proud of my actions, my heart warms for him. I smile, putting my hand out "Hands in everyone. we are going to survive this"

We put our hands together letting them go and yell "Fighters Survivors!"

We all laugh at the chant. I've never felt closer to people than these people I've just let into my life. We may be able to make it out of this alive, just maybe and I'm a bit scared that we might die here. But I'm ready to fight for my life. I reserve my right to want to live and I will not let anyone take it away from me.  

The sun starts to set on the horizon making the clouds a pink, orange and red color and the water glitters. Sitting on a fallen tree sharpening my spear while humming the song my mother used to sing when she was cleaning or doing something productive. It makes me miss her but I can't fall over that now. I still need to be strong to survive this and to keep my family alive as well. Someone tapped on my shoulder looking over it was the beautiful boy with the funny attitude. 

"Yes?"

He sits beside me looking nervous as ever, it was like he had something to say but was scared to tell me. I smile comfortably. "What do you need? You don't have to be scared to talk to me, you know’’

He looks into his hands for a moment and coughs. "Look I don't know you and I'm not sure i can trust you with this but I've been having a problem…you see it was just the other night and I was walking the beach looking for things that could be useful and all of a sudden I started to float-"

Interrupting him in a mid sentence I shake my head in disbelief. "No, No no this isn't possible…you have-"

He stops me "See I knew you wouldn't understand, and neither would any of them!"

He stands up quickly putting his hands in the air. I stopped him pulling him back down with me. 

"No! I understand you fully…its cause I have the same, uhm, how do I say this…Issue just not the same magic or whatever its called"

He tilts his head slowly in disbelief. His face softens, he looks into my eyes, I can tell that he feels that someone finally understands him. I met his gaze. All of a sudden I hear "Wow she actually understands, plus she is so beautiful looking at me…I just want to kiss her-"

I look away standing up awkwardly. Could this be one of the abilities from my dreams? Or maybe I'm just imagining things. He grabs my hand standing up as well, he leans in kissing me on the cheek. "Thank you for understanding me and not totally going off on me…"

My eyes widen and I turn away facing the glistening waters. "u-uhm y-yeah no problem…"
I walk away from the moment excited but scared and understanding. I wasn't quite sure why I was excited about this, maybe it's because I just want someone to love me. Ok i'm desperate for someone to understand my opinions and the tragedies i've gone through, with that I sit in a tree looking up at the forest green leaves, wondering how my mom is doing and if she is even worried about me or knows that i'm gone, does she know what happened to me? Did she have a guess and that is why she gave me the necklace and ring? There are a lot of questions in my mind but I decided to fall asleep. I was exhausted