What are you doing?” I ask Sage as I time myself loading a gun again.

She laughs. “You’re getting better at that.” She stands up and stretches. “And the answer to your question is… I’m not telling you.”

I stop the timer on my cell phone and roll my eyes. “You’ve been really secretive lately.”

“If I told you it was for both of our benefits, would you let it go?”

I shrug and put my gun back in my boot. “Probably not.”

She looks lost in thought as she reads a text message then smiles at me as she slips it into her pocket. “Gotta go!”

“Of course you do.” I lean back into the softness of the couch. She hurries out the door. She’s been so weird lately.

I WAKE UP with a slight smile, but it quickly fades. I miss Sage so damn much. I sit up and run my hands over my sheets. The last thing I remember is almost killing Kyle. Now I’m in my bed, surrounded by white. But how did I get here? I wish I knew what time it was or had someone to talk to. I really wish I had Sage to talk to.

I roll over and hear something crinkle under my pillow. I slowly reach my hand under it and pull a piece of paper out. I unfold the small piece of paper and read:

 

NEVER pull a stunt like that again.

- P

 

I form the paper into a ball and throw it on the floor. I place my hands over my face and wish I could sleep away the rest of my existence.

I bet I could run away. I have lived the past four years running on Earth. Perfecting my ability to get away undetected. It’s what I’m good at. I stand to my feet, feeling empowered by my decision, and head for the door. I take a deep breath and turn the knob. I’m surprised when it’s unlocked. I peek my head out and don’t see anyone in the hall. This is my chance.

I tiptoe out and flatten my body against the wall. I look both ways, and after I convince myself that it’s safe, I run fast as hell down the hall. I turn my head to look over my shoulder and when I do, I run into someone causing us both to plummet to the ground.

“First you try to choke me, and now you are trying to knock the shit out of me. We are going to be great friends.” I roll off Kyle as he speaks and curse under my breath.

I quickly stand to my feet. “What are you doing out?” I ask breathlessly.

He cocks an eyebrow at me. “What are you doing out is the better question.”

I smile sweetly as I lie. “Sleepwalking. Oops.”

He laughs and quickly looks behind his shoulder. Looking back at me, he says, “Follow me.”

I step away from him and raise my eyebrows. “Why would I follow you anywhere? I don’t know you.”

His mouth forms into a hard line before responding, “Then don’t.” He turns and starts walking off.

I hesitate for a moment but convince myself to go with him. It’s better than sitting in my room. When I catch up to him, we run through a door that blends in with the white walls. We come to a set of stairs and run down them as quietly as we can. Once we reach the bottom of the stairs, he opens another door. We both run out, and I’m shocked when I smell home. I smell Dandux.

I want to run further, but I’m stopped by metal bars. I grasp the bars tightly and look down. We have to be at least twelve stories up. I look at Kyle. He has his eyes closed as he breathes in the fresh air.

“What are you thinking right this second?” He opens his eyes and looks down at me.

A tear I didn’t even know was forming falls from my eye and down my cheek. I quickly wipe it away. “I’m thinking it smells just like Dandux. I compare the smell to a wet rock.”

He starts laughing. “Well, this isn’t Dandux. It’s the city of Hender. The capital of our Sphere.”

I close my eyes and pretend like it is Dandux anyway. I pretend as if I am at The Quest with Sage. I can hear her laughing and bitching about everything. I smile inwardly at how simple things were before I screwed everything up.

I open my eyes before I lose it. “So, what is this place, and how did you find it?” I ask as I look at the small perimeter of concrete and metal bars.

“Just roaming around when I got bored one day.” He looks at me with a half-grin. “Don’t you have something to apologize for?”

I roll my eyes. “I don’t apologize for anything. So, no. But I would still like an explanation about what happened to my father. Did you have something to do with his death?”

He laughs then his expression goes grim. He shakes his head. “I can’t give you that kind of information. If they found out-” His voice trails off, and he looks away.

My hands begin to shake. “I don’t give a damn if they find out! I want to know!” I close my eyes and rest my forehead against the metal bars. I breathe slowly in and out to try to calm myself down.

“It was him or your brother Felix.”

My heart feels like it’s in my throat. I open my eyes and turn my head to look at him. “What? What do you mean?”

“That’s all I’m telling you, Orion. No more.”

“What kept them from killing my whole family? Please,” I beg. “I have to know more. I need closure.” That’s a lie. I need to know so I can kill the bastard who killed my father! I fight back tears and attempt to keep my anger at bay.

“I said no more!” He shouts.

I jump a little when he yells. “Fine.” I look down and imagine launching myself over the edge. Ending my life so I don’t have to live in this hell. I sigh heavily. “How were our doors unlocked?” I ask quietly.

“I can’t tell you that either.”

I glare at him. “Then what is the point of me standing out here with you?”

He glares back. “You tell me.”

I don’t answer him. Instead, I focus on the ground below us. I consider letting myself fall to the ground again. It would only hurt for a second, maybe less. Maybe not at all. I’ve never craved death like this. I’ve always ran from it. But now I want it. I want it more than anything.