I nodded then he said 'my father said to me before he died-' 'I was talking- well more like crying about how unfair it was that he was dying.' he said his voice cracking. 'I-I'm sorry Leo'
'It's just Life'
'but it's not-' I stopped myself right then Jules walked in and handed us each a strange flask. it wasn't even a flask. It was about as tall as a paying card. 'what's this?' I asked 'it doesn't have a name quite yet' Jules replied 'it has healing properties, drink it'
we each drank ours and immediately I felt my bones and cuts mending and I got a surge of strength. I reached for a knife, used it to get my casts off, and stood up straighter than ever. It tasted like brownies my mom used to make. Just thinking about my old life almost made my eyes tear up. Enough it's not a good time for self-pity, I thought. 'It's your turn to guard the gate' Jules said. I nodded and ran out after Frank and Leo stood. At the Gates, everything was pretty boring. Until six or seven packages appeared. 'GUYS!' I shouted. a couple of minutes later everyone gathered. when frank got there he went through the pile and handed us each a package. each box had a name on it Leo got his first then Sarah then Jules Then Jason then Emma then Frank then me. My hands were shaking when I finally got handed mine. I opened it and inside was a picture of me my mom and my dad four standing in a desert at sunset grinning as if we all just shared a joke. I was missing one of my front teeth pointing to the area where it used to be. the photo was framed in a white wooden frame. the next thing I pulled out was a letter. I excitedly opened it and started to read. 'Dear Nico, I only get to write to you every couple of weeks, and I've been worried sick about you. of course I was going to tell you, but I was going to wait until morning.' that was the last thing I read before crumpling the letter up and putting it back in the box. 'she knew! she knew that I was going to end up down here! and she didn't tell me about it!' I ran to the barracks and collapsed on my bunk crying softly. I hugged my pillow and cried myself to sleep. when I fell asleep I had a vision. someone that looked strikingly like my best friend Kane. 'It wasn't your mom's fault. they told her she wouldn't be taken for another week. they didn't tell her that the thinning was happening this soon' 'The thinning?' I asked 'long story, there's not enough time. The rebellion is coming to get you out. you'll be out soon.' he said 'but what about my friends?' I said 'we probably won't be able to get all of you.' 'but-' I said but I was abruptly cut off when the dream dissolved in a cloud of yellow dust.