Chapter 6

A Chapter by Lorena Rose

The first morning after we got to the bunker started off badly. Cass twisted his ankle trying to fix the window shutters so the girl trainee was fixing him up in the next room. I was left with Darren in charge of me and he kept looking at me to the point where it was annoying. “What is your problem?” I finally asked putting down my glass of water, “Have I offended you in some new way?”

“You know most military girls dress in a more sophisticated manner,” he informed me.

“I am dressed fine,” I looked down at the comfortable jeans and a warm knit blue sweater I was wearing, “It's cold outside and I hate dresses.”

“You look good in them,” he crossed his arms.

“Regardless, I will not be wearing another one for a very long time,” I leaned back against the wall, “You know there are three other girls in this bunker, I beg of you leave me alone.”

“So you can talk to your ghost friends,” he remarked and I looked up surprised, “I know you are in recovery.”

“Recovery,” I snorted, “Who told you that?”

“Your brother and Officer Warner,” he told me, “I like a challenge and convincing you to join the land of living would be an honour.”

“Is this how you hope to get promoted?” I asked.

“You're born military, Garnet and you cannot deny that fact,” he sat down on one of the stools, “For whatever reason, you think that these ghosts are real, but you must want to make your brother proud.”

“So the only way to do that is to get better, join military school and take those little red pills,” I thought about it, “I like having emotions actually, so no thank you.”

“You would be breaking your family's tradition,” he said calmly, “You're stubborn, but I think you want to follow tradition you just don't know how.”

“You are so wise,” I rolled my eyes.

“I would be willing to teach you a few moves and help you overcome this for a price,” he offered.

“A price,” I gave him a look, “What could you possibly want from a freak?”

“Like I said you are a challenge and a very good looking girl, I want what any man would want from you,” he explained, “I want you to my girl, I'll behave for the first few dates until you're back to yourself then we can progress to a new stage.”

“So basically you want sex,” I finished for him, “I am not a project, you don't know me, Price I might never get back to 'myself'.”

“I am willing to bet you will,” he smirked, “You might not get a lot of offers, Garnet I mean other than your brother, how many men do you have in your life? You could use some male attention.” I already have a guy in my life, I thought then looked at my phone. The storm was blocking my signal so I hadn't been able to talk to Seth since last night.

“So you're asking me out because you feel sorry for me,” I guessed.

“Garnet, I had a sister who could see through walls and she fought that nature,” he said seriously, “Nora is now in school and on the fast track to attending a military institute.”

“So the pills didn't affect you at all,” I questioned.

“No, I got lucky,” he remarked, “So where were you last night?”

“I was hanging out in the park on the swings,” I answered.

“By yourself,” he raised an eyebrow.

“As always,” I nodded, “I needed some fresh air then it started snowing so I headed home.”

“Makes sense,” he said accepting the answer automatically, “I talked to your brother we will go on our first date next Monday.”

“You and my brother made this decision, why even bother asking me?” I got up to my feet.

“I just thought you should know,” he got up as well and came over to me, “It might be good for you.”

“Yes, I am sure,” I answered then he stepped forward. I stepped back until I hit the wall. “Back off,” I warned him.

“Don't boss me around,” he leaned down and pressed his lips against mine. He was a surprisingly good kisser, but I forced my lips to stay still as stone. I could not give him what he wanted and he needed to know that. “Come on, Garnet,” he moved his lips down my jawline and started down my neck.

“Stop,” I pushed him, but he was solid muscle. He kissed the base of my neck and I tried to hold back a moan.

“You're still a girl,” he kissed me on the lips again.

“I said knock it off,” I pushed him away this time I was successful, “I am not going on a date next week.”

“Yes, you are, Maya,” Cass walked back in, “I already said it was okay and you need to get some life experience.”

“I have life experience,” I argued.

“What kind of life experience do you get in your room and at the testing centre?” Cass reminded me.

“I do more than those two things, I also...” I almost told him about the meeting downstairs and my new friends. I couldn't tell him about Seth or the others though.

“You need to see that a military career is your future and it's a safe and reliable way of life,” Cass said, “Price here could help you out and I think you deserve a relationship, sis.”

“You're selling me,” I accused him.

“You are not being sold,” Darren chuckled, “You ought to be more cheerful.”

“I decide how I feel, not you,” I felt my temper rise.

“Follow the laws of women,” the old woman appeared beside me, “You are not any different, take the boy.”

“I don't want to,” I muttered. This wasn't what I wanted, but then again I was not sure I really needed to do with my love life.

“Maya, focus,” Cass said then I saw people frozen solid under layers and ice. I heard people's screams and I fell back onto the floor. “May,” Cass knelt down in front of me.

“It’s just going to get colder, it's going to freeze and cover,” I muttered.

“What is she rambling about?” Darren remained unmoved.

“Nothing,” I got up again.

“You have to stop seeing these ghosts, May,” Cass said quietly.

“Nothing I do is ever going to be good enough for you,” I went into the next room where the soldier girl was fixing her makeup.

“Cass Garnet, have you come back for more?” she turned around and saw me, “Oh, ghost girl.”

“Yeah, me,” I crossed my arms, “You probably kissed my brother and now you want more.”

“I'll get more, I know he likes me,” she tried to fix her hair.

“Just don't let yourself get hurt by him, he's my brother and I love him, but he is obsessed with his career right now,” I told her, “I think you should go after someone you can rely on.”

“You just don't want to share your brother, you act innocent, but you're a very selfish girl,” she walked past me.

“You know I think you'd understand the situation better without those red pills,” I caught her arm, “They aren't the miracle medicine everyone says they are.”

“You should watch what you say,” she pulled her arm free, “I have influence with your brother and your boyfriend so I could make life very difficult for you.”

“You don't know my life, I dare you to try,” I closed the door behind her then went into the bathroom and let out a little frustration by screaming.

“Maya,” Cass came running in, “What is wrong?”

“All of you are wrong, your lover, Price and you cannot tell me who I am,” I shouted at him.

“May, calm down, what has you so upset?” he questioned.

“This whole situation is so messed up,” I leaned against the wall, “I want to determine my own life, Cass.”

“You are military, May what is so complicated?” he sighed.

“You just don't get it,” I said, “And I can't force you to understand.”

“May, you're acting crazy I thought this Darren boy would make you happy,” he complained, “You keep saying you want more freedom.”

“Cass,” I said then just walked out.

“What is wrong, Maya?” he demanded.

“I just have a lot to think about, I need some space,” I headed into the storage room.

“Being alone won't help the situation,” he argued.

“I know how this affliction works, Cass I will try to contain it for you, so I don't embarrass you,” I assured him, “This is going to be a very long week.”

“Well everything will be better after Friday,” he promised.

“I know,” I replied.

“Do you?” he challenged.

“Yes, I am certain that I will be better off,” insisted, “Don't worry about my decision, Cass I'll make the right one.”

“I know you will,” he hugged me, “Everything I do is to make you stronger, sis you know that right.”

“Of course,” I whispered then he headed for the door.

“I'll see you later,” he waved.

“Cass,” I called after him and he turned around, “Go easy on that girl.”

“Marian understands what I am offering,” he assured me then left.

“Don't be so sure,” I sat down. The next four days were torturous, Darren kept trying to kiss me again, but I was so focused on finding a signal that he did not get much attention. I needed to talk to Seth, I felt like I was losing my mind. Eva and Kiara were good friends too, but Seth made me laugh like no one else. When I finally got back into the house, it was Wednesday and that night I was attacked. It didn't seem that way at first though.

“Maya,” the faded looking man from before said, “Follow your instincts, don't let them defeat you so easily.”

“I won't,” I looked at him then I felt something go through me and I saw my brother hitting Seth, “No, please don't.”

“Garnet, you know you belong to the blade,” the lost boy that I'd been seeing for years appeared at my side, “I am trapped in this, Maya save me.”

“I can't,” I said then a flash of an asylum came to me.

“You belong,” the young girl from the first day I met Seth pulled on my arm.

“No,” I snapped getting to my feet.

“My grandson needs you, girl don't let him go,” the old woman touched my face and I saw Cass collapse in blood.

“Stop, stop it,” I covered my ears.

“You have to change...everything,” the short woman that was on my side said and I saw our flag fall.

“I can't do this,” I tried to open my window.

“Maya, you could destroy everything, the real storm is coming and you'll let them suffer,” they all shouted at me.

“No,” I pushed myself out the window and rolled off the roof into the snow.