Ch. 5

 

Ch. 5

Crawling out of my bed seemed like the proper phrase at the moment. As I grabbed whatever I could to get myself up and out of bed, my knees buckled weakly and I toppled over onto the floor. I knew that one of my “sessions” was about to begin, but as I dragged my sorry butt to the toilet, I just couldn’t even throw up. Being deprived of my session I quickly got ready, taking only two items to our midterms because a mere 2 items was all we were aloud to bring. As I wobbled weakly down the stairs, I refused to show anyone how horrible I truly feel inside so I put on my best game face. Finding out just where we were all supposed to meet was a piece of cake , because a large crowd was gathered near a large forest gate towards the end of the campus. As I approached Drake pulled me over.

“Good afternoon Abel, I just want to wish you the best of luck, and here’s your group number.”. he said with a warm smile, but as I looked up I could see he had already left and I now was stuck looking for my group. Well showed how much he worried about the new kid. As I read the small yellow piece of paper that he gave me and neatly printed on it was the number 13. As if irony couldn’t come and bite me in the butt enough already. It was clear that everyone was pretty much in their group already and when I finally found mine the only thing I could think was what the f**k? As if my luck couldn’t get better this morning I had been put into the group with a frowning Tanya, the bipolar hacker who I crashed into this morning, and Kaname just perfect. Trying not to be to noticed I quickly slipped next to bipolar boy. Soon Victoria had risen to a podium near one of the many entrances to the maze.

“Good evening everyone.”, she said with a warm smile that I wasn’t buying.” While I’m sure you found out the basics from your teachers there’s some things that I’d like to go over. This is in fact an over night exam that will last for approximately 2 weeks. Some food and supplies will be supplied for each group, but there is no doubt you will have to improvise therefore I hoped you choose your two objects very carefully. Another concern would be the daylight. While you all know you won’t burn.” she said with a chuckle that was soon followed by students and teachers alike.” the sun is something you want to avoid so we made sure to give each group cloaks and a small tent. Along with those items, some refuges may appear in the maze if luck is on your side. Besides that everything goes, including killing, but I suggest being careful in that aspect because many things don’t appear as they seem. With that said she got down and all of us went by our gate that was assigned for each individual teams. The object was simple from what the teachers briefly explained. We had to get through maze by the 2 week mark, and collect at least 1 crystal sphere that could be located in the maze. Simple enough, I guess. After around ten minutes of waiting together boy I guess finally realized I was there.

“Hey your that girl from yesterday!”, he exclaimed, he got up from a stone bench he was sitting on and went my way.” Really sorry about knocking you over, I was in quite a rush.” he said .

“It’s fine I wasn’t looking either. Plus you helped me out a lot by telling me just where my classrooms were so it’s fine.” I gave him a smile that was really hard to maintain because my stomach just felt very knotted up, and my knees seemed to be trying to give up on me. Not the best sign.

“I’m glad I could help then, oh my name’s Allen by the way.” he smiled as he extended his hand showing the start of what was no doubt a hunters tattoo on his arm. I weakly lifted my arm, and shook his hand.

“I’m Abel nice to meet you Allen.”, one thing was clear and that was that being sick sucked. We had no time for more because a bell rung indicated that we had to get ready to start. And with a gun fire shot in the distance 5 minutes afterwards everyone entered the maze.

The walls were made of mostly vines and stone, the paths of just plain dirt, and even though it was a full moon illuminating our way, the air felt stiff and heavy , and over all the sensation that we were trespassing and shouldn’t be here kept on running through my head. For most of the first day we just walked on and on, taking twists and turns and going deeper and deeper. That is until we entered a large clearing no doubt a swamp. I heard a yeah! ,come from Allen but Kaname soon killed it.

“Don’t be so happy yet, there’s no doubt that we are still in the maze and this is just one of the many obstacles we are going to face.“, yup he was a kill joy but at the moment I just couldn‘t agree more.

“ Yeah just like the rest of the maze it gives off the same vibe. The plants here are screaming, and suffering something is not right about this swamp.”, Tanya finally spoke. Even though what she said was a little strange, I could tell she was serious.

“So what should we do? We have 2 hours before the sun starts to rise.”, I asked. Everyone turned around to surprise like they forgot I was hear, everyone except Kaname. Of course it was the first time I spoke since we entered and I was always in the back so I guess it’s only natural they’d be surprised.

“we should probably , keep on going for an hour and then see where that takes us.” ,Allen suggested. I didn’t like the suggestion that much and I peered over to Tanya who I could tell didn’t either but in the end we did just that. Think we were all about to strangle Allen when an hour of walking led us absolutely no where but being lost. Somehow we managed to go into circles. So in defeat we all went to different corners in our camp to work on something. I decided to look for fire wood, when I found Tanya collapsed on the floor panting and gasping for air. I tossed my wood aside and ran to her. When I sat next to her in the mushy dirt I could see that she was crying.

“Are you ok?”, I asked concern rising. I reached my hand towards her , but she slapped it away.

“The plants,” she managed to choke out.” Why is some one hurting them so much.” she cried out. Now I was worried.

“Hey Tanya, what’s wrong come on get a hold of yourself!”, but she wouldn’t listen so I did the only thing I could think of. Ignoring her trying to slap my hands away, I managed to but then them on the sides of her face and with some concentration on her part, I managed to make her think of tings that made her happy. In the process I even received some images of her hugging a tree , swinging from vines, and crying next to a dead rose bush. After taking a deep breathe like I instructed her to do under my “hypnotism” she was calm and I removed my hands from her face. She looked at me in surprise, a couple of tears still remained on her face and she swiped them away. ”I’m hoping your better?”

”What did you do she stuttered out.”

“Only if you answer why you said before that the plants were screaming and suffering, and why your were in so much pain before because I feel like the too are linked.” I said straight out catching her off guard. She looked at me angrily.

“Why would I tell you that.” I smiled at her.

“I could say the same to you.” , while she still looked angry I could tell she was thinking it over.

“Fine what I said before is true in the part of the maze we were in all the plants were screaming in pain, just like in this area. I know this because somehow I can here the thoughts and feelings of plants. Whatever they feel I feel whether it be pain or happiness. Though no one knows about this except you so if you tell.”

“I wont because that isn’t something for me to tell. So that’s why you were in so much pain a moment ago.”

“Yeah, that’s what the plants are feeling jut a whole lot worse. I think that there’s some one here with us Abel.” I was surprised since it was the first time she used my name.” some one that is making the plants suffer and I don’t like it. Now are you going to tell me how you made me so calm when I was flipping

out.?” she asked. I knew she’d catch on to any lie I threw her way, but somehow I felt she could be trusted.

“ Like you I have a psychic connection except it’s with people. I can read vibes from them, and I can help transmit my thoughts and feelings too which helped me coax good memories out of you.”, I could tell she bought it, I didn’t lie, but I just couldn’t get myself to tell the whole truth which really devastated me inside. There was only one person that I told the truth to and that was Reina, but even she didn’t know absolutely everything.

We both then trudged back to camp in silence, and as we went our separate ways Tanya turned towards me and whispered

“Thanks Abel.”, I smiled as she turned and left. Leaving me to tend to the fire.

I quickly put it out, and like everyone else I headed to he tent that we all had to share. It was cramped considering we had 2 guys over 6 feet plus Tanya who was 5’9 but somehow we managed to fit. Claiming that she didn’t want to get raped I ended up between her and Kaname which wasn’t exactly the most comfortable spot. Going into a mummy pose and making sure I didn’t move an inch, wasn’t exactly comfortable, but I didn’t want to bother anyone, yet somehow I managed to drift into one of the first dreamless slumbers that I’ve had in the past 2 years.

Interesting was about the only word I could use without cursing to explain how I woke up. I have a unusual habit you see to grab whatever is near me and in may cases I woke up hugging Reina, and while I’m fine with Reina I’m definitely not fine with finding out that Kaname had been my next victim.while realizing just who’s arm had unconsciously pulled me close, and I had snuggled closer to we both woke up in a shock that made us push away from each other and sit upright abruptly. The silence was awkward until, and I knew that my face was burning bright red with embarrassment. While the minutes that went by felt like painfully long hours , a noise outside our tent managed to break it. We both instantly got up, and went outside. Luckily it was a cloudy day, so even though the sun was still up it didn’t bother us.

“It seems a storm’s coming .”, I said lamely he just nodded.

“You go around the right and I’ll scout the left.” like always he spent no time using more words then needed to get his thoughts across, and while I was still sleepy, his cold razor like voice made me get to my senses quick. I had found absolutely nothing around the perimeter of our camp, and when Kaname came over he bared the same results. I could tell he was annoyed as he ran one pale hand through his silvery blond hair. Of course I spoke too soon because soon after we heard what sounded like a branch cracking, and while we both ran after the sound ( smart aren’t we?) we found absolutely nothing. Heading back to the camp we were greeted by Tanya and Allen who had already picked everything up. After getting ready we once again set off to make our way through the never ending swamp. And while we came up with nothing in our search I couldn’t help but feel that we were infact being watched as if we were being the hunted prey, and that left me feeling really cautious.