back at base things were pretty chaotic, Frank and Leo in the infirmary that we apparently have. while Sarah and Jason guarded the gate leaving me outside while Emma and Jules were running through grabbing random stuff to bring to the infirmary. I sat down on a piece of concrete that must have fallen from the stony walls. thinking about the battle. Frank had to kill his own brother. who knows what everyone else faced? I kept thinking of Gracies' face. I wonder how long she was down here. I've only been here a couple of days but it seemed like forever. I almost forgot what the sun looked like. "I wonder what my mom is doing. Is she freaking out or is she glad that I'm gone? was it like a burden off her shoulders? is she happy now? or my father, I wonder if he regrets treating me how he did. or maybe he wishes he treated me worse. maybe they think I ran away" I thought aloud. "Maybe-" I stopped myself I don't have time for self-pity I thought. when we get out of here go ahead, but not until then. I stared at the concrete roof wondering how long it would take to break a hole open. just then I noticed a small hole, a couple of inches wide. I grinned and started stacking things up to the hole. I got it up to the twenty-foot ceiling but then all of the concrete came tumbling down taking me with it then I blacked out, the last thing I remembered was screaming. I woke up in a cot in the infirmary next to Frank and Leo. I looked around and saw my left leg and right arm in casts. I sat up wincing and looked around. "so close.." I muttered "how long was I out?" "not too long," Leo said. "a couple of days" I looked shocked "how many is a little!?" "five or six," Leo said. "five" frank confirmed I tried to stand up just to fall down again. as I lay down Overwhelmed started playing in my head. I thought of my mother and how she used to comfort me when I was little and I started to cry quietly. "mom..." I whimpered "s-shes better off without me..." I cradled my broken arm while thinking of the surface. "It's been so long.." I said "yeah" Leo replied "I've been down here almost five years. fell in when I was about seven" "I fell in when I was seven as well, I'm 19 now. that means it's been about 12 years... I was one of the first people sent here, Father lost a bet, so he had to send his two oldest sons.." "I-I'm sorry, both of you.." I said, "If you don't mind me asking, Leo why did you get sent down here?" Leo flinched "I went to a bar, and bet myself I was trying to get some cash for my mother, she was working two jobs right after my dad's death, I also lost the bet. but they were kind enough to give me half of what I would've won and see my mother one last time, I gave her the money then told her what happened. the next morning I was here covered in cuts and broses." his dark brown eyes appeared sad but he wouldn't show it. "I'm so sorry Leo-" "It wasn't a fair game" Leo insisted, "they said because I'm black they can cheat." "that sounds horrible Leo." I said "It's just Life, there's nothing I can do now." "but It's not fair" I insisted "fairness doesn't mean everyone gets the same, it means everyone gets what they need." Leo
replied "and sometimes to get what you need you gotta do it yourself"