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I watched as she walked into the forest, following behind Nukka closely.
However the moment she had disappeared from my line of sight, my body collapsed onto the ground.
I let out a shaky breath of air I had been holding.
Why? Why was she hiding such an important thing?
My eyes wandered to the space around me. The three of them slept peacefully despite the conflict I was feeling.
She must have a reason right? She couldn't be-
I felt a knot tighten in my throat.
There was no way. What am I going to tell my uncle?
My eyes landed on my pinkie.
What am I going to do?
"Parker!" Vans called from behind me, causing me to turn. "Are you alright?"
"Y- yeah... I think?"
He glanced at me up and down as the others attended to the knocked out individuals. "You look fine, just a little shaken. Where's Snow?"
"There was something in the forest and she went to check it out."
He nodded. "I'll go check on her. Stay there."
I watched as he walked away in the direction I gave him.
"Woah Parker, I'm impressed. How'd you manage to fight them without burning any of them?" Kiean, an old friend of my uncle, asked me while looking at the strangers.
My hands clenched.
How useless am I? How could I have forgotten to use my element? I practiced every week for this moment and yet I was useless. If I had used my power Snow wouldn't have had to used hers.
I wouldn't be this troubled if I had.
"I didn't fight them." I muttered.
"Sorry?"
"Snow fought them. I- I couldn't do anything."
It was silent for a few moments before Kiean placed a hand on my shoulder. "This world is a very tough and difficult one. That girl's had the misfortune of dealing with it early, but without a doubt she was once like you. You'll get used to it over time, trust me."
I finally understood what Sani's words meant. The day we fought, we managed to get closer and she expressed to me how sheltered and protected we were. I didn't understand her at first, but now I did.
The people who live up here, live through constant hell. A place where trusting strangers could mean death. A place where even a little doubt and hesitation could get you killed.
We were children living in a fairytale.
"Sir we've tied them up."
"Is everything good here?" Vans appeared with a small dirty kid in his hands, Snow behind him. Her eyes peered into mine dangerously and my blood went cold.
My eyes quickly averted hers.
"Can you stand?" Kiean asked me and I nodded in response. He stretched out his hand, "Good because I wasn't going to carry you."
A weak laugh escaped my lips as I pulled myself up.
"Let's get going." Vans said decisively.
It took us a while to haul them downstairs, but once it was finished they were immediately sent to the infirmary. Snow and I on the other hand had to meet with the group leaders to explain what happened.
We walked alongside Vans towards the restricted section in silence. I could feel Snow constantly give me glances but I couldn't look at her.
We entered the meeting room, everyone was already gathered.
My uncle was the first to stand.
He rushed towards me and grabbed my face. His rough fingers touched every corner of my face as he searched for injuries. He let out a relieved sigh. "Thank God you're alright." He glanced over at Snow, who was expressionless as always. "You too Snow, I'm glad you didn't get injured."
"Move!" Grandma Claire pushed him aside to examine her. She peered at her carefully, grabbing her face gently. Grandma Claire hugged her gently, Snow froze on contact. "Thank God you're alright."
Even though Snow tried hard to not express anything, I could tell from the crinkle of her eyebrows that she was a bit uncomfortable.
"Grandma, I want a hug too." I mumbled, stretching my arms wide.
Grandma Claire let out a soft smile and hugged me. "You poor babe."
When she finally let go, Louis pointed at the two chairs in front of their desks. He glanced at Snow from under his eyelashes secretly.
The only person who was absent at the meeting was Simmons, who was tending to the child. It seems that any later and that kid would've died.
"What happened?" My uncle asked, also taking a seat.
Snow glanced at me, her eyes unwavering and quietly threatening.
I- right now can't say anything.
"We were patrolling with Danny when they appeared. Snow had sensed them but we didn't have time to react, they already had their guns out." I started to explain. "They ordered us to give them our backpack. Danny, in attempt to contact Vans was shot and fainted. Snow took care of the rest from there. We distracted them and attempted to defend ourselves but I couldn't think straight. I- I ended up being a burden instead."
Snow looked at me with confused eyes but I continued.
"I was held hostage and so was that man. But he managed to overpower Snow. However, over the past weeks we've been making a friend with a wolf in the woods. The wolf came to our aid and attacked the man. I tried to hold off the woman for as long as I could while Snow knocked him out. Then she took care of the woman."
Their expressions turned shocked when they heard about the wolf.
"W-wolf?" Louis asked his eyes wavering.
I nodded meekly. My uncle quietly grabbed his chin, a habit of his when he was in deep thought.
"How'd you find the kid?" The question was directed towards Snow by Vans.
"The wolf found the kid and led me there." She explained calmly.
Am I the only one with a pounding heart right now?
"How come I didn't see it?" Vans narrowed his eyes.
I spoke up again, "It flees the moment it senses anyone else other than Snow and I."
My uncle finally raised his head, looking at the both of us intently then back at the group. "Do any of you have anymore questions?"
Everyone glanced at each other, and shook their heads collectively.
"Then we'll wait until the others regain consciousness. If there is anything else to ask, I'll have the both of you return." My uncle said decisively. "Oh, and are you two planning on going to the dance tonight?"
"I pinky-promised." Snow said quietly.
I don't want to go.
My uncle didn't even wait for my response. "Good!" He looked at me, "Then I'll see you there!"
My stomach did a flip.
Honestly, today's ordeal left me a bit shaken. I wanted nothing more than go under my covers and think over things carefully. However, seeing that my Uncle was persistent on the dance, he wanted to talk to me there.
"I'll see you there." I smiled weakly.
Outside the restriction area, Arianna was already waiting for us impatiently.
"I told you to take care of her!" She scolded me, reaching for her face while inspecting her carefully. "There's a scratch on her face!"
"I'm okay, it doesn't hurt." Snow mumbled.
I looked at the top of Snow's head, "If anything, she can take care of herself."
"Yeah but I asked you-" Arianna paused when she saw my face. "Now you look like you've been dragged through hell and back."
"How is that possible?" Snow tilted her head.
Damn it. Why was she this cute?
I smiled weakly, resisting the urge to rub her head. "It's just an expression people use when they look horrible."
"And he looks way beyond horrible."
Snow glanced at me. "I guess he does."
Do I really look that bad? I cried internally.
"Are you still doing to the dance then?" Arianna asked, glancing slightly at Snow.
I nodded slowly.
Arianna looked at me closely before smiling. "Then you should go get some rest. I'll tell one of your roommates to wake you up."
I nodded again.
I trudged to my room, greeting others weakly along the way. When I arrived I didn't even bother greeting my friends and plopped onto my bed. My eyes fluttering as they closed.
I don't know... what to do...
-
I opened my eyes, feeling confused as I woke up not in my bed but outside. It was dark and I was surrounded by trees and whistled ominously in the wind.
I heard a small click.
My head spun up. In front of me stood Snow, her white hair waving along the wind. In her hand, something white glowed. I froze when I realized it was a gun made out of ice, and it was pointed straight at me.
"Snow." My voice came out slowly and shakily. "What's going on?"
Her eyes were hostile and ready to kill, it gave me chills just looking at them.
This has to be a dream. It has to be. That- that isn't Snow.
"Snow, I-"
The sound of the gun firing echoed through the forest.
-
A loud gasp escaped my mouth and my body lurched up.
I panted, holding a hand to my chest.
It was just a dream. Nothing more.
My fingers trembled as I pushed the sticky hair off my face.
"Parker!" Garrett stood at the door frame, peeking into our room. "The dance starts in ten, get up!"
I nodded, scrambling off the bed.
"A- Are you okay?" Garrett asked me hesitantly.
Heaving a sigh, I said, "Well I could be better."
He grabbed my shoulder. "You can just stay, I'm sure everyone will understand."
The look that my uncle sent me as Snow and I left the meeting room flashed into my mind. "I have to go."
"Is it because of that girl?"
I froze. Initially, the thought of seeing Snow in a dress excited me. To see her hair fixed up and see how she glowed in dim lights. Now, I didn't want to see her. The thought of seeing her filled me with dread.
How can I look at her, pretending to hold a promise?
But it had to be done. Therefore, my actions right now were giving me away and had to be changed.
I grinned at him, "How'd you know?"
He looked at me carefully before nodding. "Well I'll get going see you there."
"Bye!"
My grin fell when he left the room.
I got ready in silence and once I was done, made my way to the cafeteria.
As I grew nearer, the sound of old music was getting louder and louder. Soon laughter and chatter followed.
Upon entering the cafeteria I was greeted with crowds of people, friends hanging out, old couples swinging along the oldies and kids playing everywhere.
My eyes were drawn to a girl with white hair.
Snow stood there with a plain dark blue dress that reached her mid-calf. Her eyes crinkled as she found something Liz said amusing.
The image of her in my dreamed popped into my head forcing me to squeeze my eyes shut.
What am I doing? They're not the same.
"Parker." My uncle appeared holding two cups of water.
"Uncle."
He glanced at me while handing me a cup, "I'm sorry to drag you out here when you've gone through so much already. I'm sure today's ordeal has shaken you up."
"It's- It's fine."
"I figured it would be the safest place for your daily report."
My stomach flipped again. From the moment she arrived, I was assigned to keep an eye on Snow from the moment she had arrived and report back to my uncle. However, things changed when I first met Snow. Now, I felt nothing more than a traitor.
I let out a weak laugh, "Yeah, pretty safe surrounded by crowds and crowds of people."
"Right."
"There was something else out there, wasn't there?" He asked, giving me a look.
I scoffed gently. He was always able to tell, no matter what lie I would tell.
"So?"
My eyes unconsciously looked for Snow and stayed on her when I found her. She swung on the dance space with Arianna. A gentle look on her face, her eyes closed as she enjoyed the music. Arianna whispered something into her ear, causing Snow's lips to curl upward.
My eyes widened.
Despite the fact that I had discovered her secret, she remained calm.
She- she put her trust in me.
I looked at her small hand that was hooked around Arianna awkwardly. Then at my pinkie.
I- I need more time to tell if she's really someone dangerous. I'll tell him- just not now.
"She- was ready to kill." I hesitated, curling my hand. This wasn't what concerned me the most, but the dangerous look in her eyes wouldn't leave my mind. "When she held a gun against their heads, I really thought she was going to shoot. I- She felt like someone else."
"Ready to kill huh..."
My eyes looked over at him. Though her powers were more of a danger, I couldn't help but worry about what my uncle thought about what I had shared.
He heaved a sigh, "Well out there, it's pretty much normal to act in that manner. I mean, weren't the people trying to kill you? They even shot Danny."
"N- Normal?" My voice came out more surprised than it should've. "Wouldn't it be more normal to support each other?"
He laughed and sipped on his cup. "Not in this world kid. Out there, trusting in wrong people could get you or others killed. For example, who could guarantee that the three of you would live after they got what they wanted?"
"But- They had a kid!"
"Even more reason. Parker," his voice turned serious, "there is nothing more terrifying than someone who has someone precious to protect. They say the most scary people are those who have nothing left to lose but I think otherwise. Those who have something to protect will kill to no ends to protect them. Just like an animal."
I felt chills run throughout my body.
He glanced at me, "If you're having doubts just ask Vans. You know his story."
The subject of our conversation stood in the outskirts of the cafeteria, his eyes narrowed like always as he inspected the crowd.
When he was young, Vans was being trained as an assassin. His sister was being held captive, giving him no other option but to become a killer. My uncle managed to kidnap him under the strict supervision while using careful tactics.
After several rescue attempts, they came upon the fact that Vans' sister had been killed from the beginning. They would use old clips of her voice to convince Vans that she was alive.
"Snow chose a logical action upon the situation. There will also be a time when you'll have to make the same decision. Kill or not to kill."
My fists clenched. I don't ever want to make that choice.
As if reading my thoughts my uncle continued, "Whether you like it or not."