Chapter 3-Ashes of Silence

gud book, verrryyy guuud booook

I was floating in darkness�"peacefully drifting without fear of death or the weight of leading people. The dark endless void was strangely comforting, it was quiet�"quiet in a way the world never was.

No voices. No expectations. No pain. Just the soft hum of nothingness, wrapping around me like a blanket woven from silence. For the first time in days, I wasn’t hungry. I wasn’t tired. I simply�"was.

But gradually the darkness started to fade, my last shred of peace, leaving with it. I slowly regain consciousness. The sunlight poured in through the open window, Window . . . I thought, There are no windows at camp . . . Where am I? I looked around at my surroundings, and found that I was in a deserted classroom.

I tried to push myself up, but a sharp pain shot through my abdomen. I groaned in pain, and reluctantly stayed lying down. The minutes felt like hours. I felt useless�"weak, even�"stuck here, like a fawn waiting for its mother to return. 

Every breath was excruciating, I cried out in pain. “She’s awake,” I heard a girl say. I used all my remaining strength to loll my head to the right. 

She looked about my age, leaning against the doorframe beside me, her ginger-brown hair twisted into a messy bun that had clearly lost the battle with gravity. Freckles dusted her cheeks, and her worn white shirt was streaked with splashes of color�"blue, yellow, green�"and one ominous smear of crimson that I hoped was just paint. Her sea-greenish-gray eyes met mine, calm and calculating.

“Sage you’re alright, calm down.”  I again tried to sit up, but failed miserably, this resulted in another jolt of pain. 

“Where�"am�"I,” I gritted through clenched teeth. She shuffled toward me, and I noticed a small�"almost unnoticeable�"limp. “L�"Limp�"how?” I asked, using broken English.

She hesitated, eyes flicking down to her leg, then back to me. “Skateboard accident,” she said�"too quickly, like she’d rehearsed it. I squinted my eyes, wanting to know more about this strange girl. 

“Idiota,” she said suddenly, her voice low but sharp. “You ask questions like you know me.” She extended her hand, fingers stained with paint, “I’m River Cassie Revera Chambers. But you can call me Cass.”

“I’m Sage Lyric Evens,” I introduced, shakily putting my hand out, “but you can call me Sage,”

She nodded once, like she’d filed me away. Then turned, already halfway gone.

She then returned with Aries, Juno, and 3 officers. Then it all came back to me, Officer Phillips, the teacher, the gun shot. But the worst part was, the officers looked broken. Their eyes were hollow, and they looked like they aged 10 years from when I last saw them. 

“Hey Smokey,” Aries greeted, he gestured to the officers, “This is Ms. Castillo�"” He nodded toward the petite woman on his left, her posture was confident and brave, but it didn’t match her eyes. “Then there is Mr. Sinclaire�"” The tall young man, brown hair and empty blue eyes. “And lastly there is Ms.Taiyne.” He pointed to the young woman�"she was at least 24�" next to Mr. Sinclair. She was tall, with misty green-gray eyes, with a short black  bob haircut and a red streak.

“Help�"s-sit�"up,” I ordered, my voice rough and hoarse. Aries complied, and through a painful process helped me sit up against a desk leg. “D-deserted�"cl-a*s�"why?” I rasped, my throat rubbed raw from talking. 

“The injured,” Aries replied, his eyes dim and his expression drooping. “And . . .the dead” 

I immediately forgot about my pain, all I cared about was who died trying to save us, and the ones who died trying to save them. 

“How many?” I asked, my jaw clenched, “How. Many.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Aries said, “What matters is�"” 

“What matters is how many people died trying to follow orders I commanded!” My anger was rising quickly, and my patience was fading. “So tell me,” I said in a sickly sweet voice, “How many people died? That is an order.”

“4 officers,” Juno blurted, “3 from squad three and 1 from squad two.” 

Aries glanced toward the door, voice low. “We fought our way back. Just us. The students. Everyone who could still move helped carry the injured.”

I blinked, trying to process. “Then why… why did they stop?”

She hesitated. “You passed out. We couldn’t move you and fight at the same time. So we stayed. We held the room.”

I stared at them, stunned. “So y-you stayed. Because of me.”

“No,” he said firmly. “We stayed because you’re the reason we’re still alive.”

I felt like stone, and I felt like I was carrying the sky. My throat felt like fire, but I had one more question. “S-spear where�"is�"it?” 

His eyes brightened slightly. He walked to the opposite side of the class, and walked back with my bloodied spear. I held out my hand�"like a child with candy in front of them. As he handed it to me, I felt whole, like someone meeting their other half. Energy surged through my veins, and I had the urge to stand. 

So I used my spear to force myself up, leaning all my weight upon it. This caused pain to shoot through my body. But I didn’t care, I just didn’t want to be helpless anymore. I wobbled slightly.

“Sage” Ms.Castillo said. It was the first time any of them spoke. Her voice was hoarse, and scratchy. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you, you need to rest.”

Anger flared through me, I glared at her. “I am Sage Lyric Evens,” I said eerily calm, “Lord of the SouthWing and will continue protecting my Wing. Don’t tell me what I can or can’t do.”

I hobbled toward Aries, “We are leaving by nightfall,” I ordered, “Use one of their phones to call someone to bring food.” 

I went for the exit, but I turned back. “Cass,” I said, “Would you like to join me?” 

I turned without an answer, but soon heard footsteps follow. Soon the green-gray eyed girl was next to me. “What really happened?” I asked, looking at her.

She frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Your leg.” I answered.

She started to tap against her thigh, “Skateboard accident.”

I stopped walking and looked at her�"I mean really look at her.

“Tell me the truth,” I pressed, “You can trust me.”

“My step-mother,” She finally said, “A Cinderella sob story, I know.” 

“When did it start?” I asked, my throat finally getting used to me talking.

“3 years ago,” She said, fidgeting with her hands.

“Dad?” I questioned, looking at her eyes, they’d seen so much pain.

“Dead,” she answered, “and 2 half sisters, 7 and 9.”

“I want to show you something.” I said after a moment of utter silence. I hobbled through empty halls, over dead people and students. The sound of the blood sticking to my shoes as I walked, brought bile to my throat.

Slowly, I was able to walk without all my weight on the spear. Soon we reached the destination, the library. It was practically endless, it was its own building, large shelves took up most of the space. The lights were dim, and the floor was cushioned with carpets. 

The paint on the walls was slightly cracked, and I rubbed my hands together to warm up. My breath was visible in the cold air, but the part that wasn’t right, was the smell of the place, the smell was metallic. Blood.

I froze. “What’s wrong?” Cass asked

“Blood.” I answered, I held my spear up, not needing it to support me anymore. I slowly moved to where the smell was stronger. And there she was�"Ms. Rosealind�" a nice old woman, who would write little notes in the books for people to find or suggest books people might like.

I slowly lowered the spear as I looked at her. There was a knife lodged in the right side of her throat. The crimson pool surrounding her, had a slight layer of skin on it. A crash of books was heard beside me, and I saw fear in Cass’s eyes.  I raised my spear again.

I slowly stalked toward where the sound was heard, all I saw was the pile of the remains of books. Pages were ripped out, and there were black dots scattered across them. Most likely from the black tears that streamed down their face.

“Sage,” a voice said sweetly. I froze�" How did they know it was me?  "You always hid in the stories here," The voice drawled, "But now look�"you're living in your favorite. Horror"

“This isn’t a story. It’s real. And I’m not some character you get to play with.” I snapped, looking in the shadows, but no one was there. The voice was all around. “I am in control.” I said, but my voice wavered.

“Surviving?” the voice sneered, almost amused. “Is that what you call running, hiding?”

My anger flared�"fire was burning furiously under my skin. "I call it survival because I'm still here." I spat. "You�"of all people�"don't get to define what it means.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw movement. I turned, my hair whipped across my face, catching on the damp air like a warning. It was Ms. Wexler, her hair was slicked back in a tight bun. Her face was tight, and had slight wrinkles at the corner of her mouth. Not from the kind and gentle smiles�"no, it was forced. Because on the inside, she was an old hag that cared for no one other than herself.

 Her pristine plaid blazer had been wrinkled, and her matching skirt had dried blood sprinkled across it. Her white blouse was now a mix of black tears and blood�"the inkyness and the blood creating a mess of color you would never see upon the normal Ms. Wexler.

The smell hit me next�"metallic, bitter, and wrong. Ms. Wexler didn’t flinch. She stood there like the blood belonged to her. “You sound just like your mother did�"the night she left.”

I flinched�"not from fear. But from pure rage, of built up anger of all the misery and pain she brought to me and my family. “You know what,” I started, “I’m done with stuck up jerks who think they can boss people around. Curse you. You want control? You’ll have to rip it from my cold dead hands�"and I won't break easily.”

Her face wavered, “Why you,” she started, but it wasn’t the abnormal gravely voice. It was hers. I took a step back, but she stepped forward. That little piece of Ms. Wexler was gone, again it was replaced by it. 

“Sage,” Cass stared, fear shone in her eyes. She was practically shaking now, my anger faded. 

“It's okay,” I cooed, not wanting to frighten her. Realizing I sounded like I was trying to coax a kitten to come to me.  I turned back to the teacher. “Grab the knife from the librarian. Self defense.”

“Self defense,” she repeated, savoring the words like they were sweet. “That’s cute. I could kill both of you in seconds. But you…” Her eyes flicked to me. “You’re too important to Patient 3706.”

My blood turned to ice.

“Who is that?” I asked, voice low. Confusion laced into my voice. My grip tightening on my wooden spear, the intricate designs pressing into my skin. The pain grounded me to this earth.

She smiled�"but it wasn’t hers. It was its.

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

I was done�"my anger bottled up for far too long. I charged, spear raised above my head, but I didn’t hesitate. I lunged, aiming for her heart�"but she dodged. I turned to face her, my heart thumping against my ribs. She looked unfazed, as if she didn’t just dodge a lethal blow.

I saw a red blur behind her, and noticed River slowly inching toward Ms. Wexler�"knife raised. “Child,” The teacher said, sounding bored. “Learn to be silent. I was hoping this would be fun�"but no, I was terribly wrong.”

The teacher stayed in place�"frozen�"waiting for us to make the first move. I went against my better judgement and ran at her again. Instead of dodging, this time�"she caught it. I looked up in shock, her blood dripping on to the tip of the spear. I hadn’t been expecting her to catch it. She hadn’t even winced in pain. Expect the unexpected, you idiot. 

She shoved the butt of the spear into my stomach, I gasped in pain and fell to the ground. The teacher walked up slowly, tossing the spear to the side. I started to scoot back, but I slipped on a ripped page from a book. I stared at the emotionless face of the teacher, thinking this would be the end.

But she faltered, her smile faded, and the black emotionless eyes stopped leaking. The look of horror on her face when she saw the destroyed library was incredible, it showed who was really in control. Ms. Wexler. She cared about the library more than me�"she didn’t even check if I was okay.

Rage surged through me. I rose slowly, scanning for Cass, but she was gone.

The spear lay abandoned, blood dripping from its tip into the carpet. I grabbed it, shook off the scarlet spray, and charged before the teacher could shift again.

The blade pierced her abdomen�"deep, brutal. She screamed as I pulled it free, her voice echoing off the walls. She turned, dazed. I didn’t hesitate. My fist met her face with a crack that brought me intense joy.

She fell to the floor with a soft thud, the carpet turned brown as the blood seeped into it.

“I don’t care about keeping you alive anymore,” the voice rasped. It was back. But I didn’t care.

Years of bottled up fury poured out of me. I lunged again, driving the spear into her over and over, the blood splattering across me. Unlike when Ms. Wexler was in control, it didn’t scream in pain. They just watched, that smile watching as I drove the spear through her. 

Slowly, the cruel, emotionless gleam faded from her eyes, and she went still. Triumph coursed through my veins. I had finally done what I’d dreamed of since the day I met her�"watched her die a brutal, unforgiving death.

As the adrenaline drained from my body, exhaustion crashed over me like a wave. I dropped to my knees�"breathing heavily, heart pounding. I felt it �" the crack. Small, but deep. Like something had reached inside and tapped the part of me I swore I’d never let anyone touch. The part that could enjoy this.

I was shaking now�"part awe, part horror. My breath came in jagged bursts, like my lungs couldn’t decide whether to scream or laugh. Blood clung to my hands, sticky and warm, painting my skin in guilt. My body curled in on itself, instinctive, protective�"useless. I rocked back and forth, slow at first, then faster. Like motion could erase the memory. Like movement could drown the echo.

“You’re a monster.”

Those words rang in my skull, echoing like a bell struck too hard. Over and over. Louder each time. Not whispered. Not shouted. Just�"true.

I curled into myself, knees to chest, rocking on the cold tile. My fingers smeared red across my jeans. I didn’t wipe it off. I didn’t deserve to.

“You’re a monster.”

The voice wasn’t mine. Not really. But it lived inside me now. Crawling through my thoughts like the infection through their veins.

I wanted to cry. I wanted to scream. I wanted to do it again.

“Sage?” Cass’s voice brought me back, I looked up, her eyes full of concern. I wiped my eyes, realizing tears were streaming down my face. She walked toward me, her arms reaching forward in a I won’t hurt you type of way. She slowly helped me up, her knife grasped in her other hand. 

My spear felt weightless in my arm, my thoughts drowning me in the fear of what I had become. “Are you okay?” She asked, I laughed hysterically, my mind on the brink of insanity. As we walked, my mind flashed images of him, bleeding out as I stood above him, smiling. Bloodied knife in my hand, and my mother’s horrified cries behind me.

 I hadn’t been charged with murder �" it was ruled self-defense. But the guilt still gnawed at me, slow and relentless.

“Smoky,” a voice called. My mind snapped back into focus just as Aries reached for my spear.

I saw red.

“Take it,” I snarled, “and you’ll find out what happened to the one whose blood is already on me.”

I felt Cass go rigid beside me, Aries’s hand was frozen, mid-reach for my spear. My  burst of anger faded. “I’m so sorry,” I apologized. My head was throbbing, and my ribs ached. 

“It’s fine,” Aries said after a moment of silence. He slowly retracted his hand, and I swear I saw a small twitch of fear. My heart melted; he feared me�"and part of me liked it. 

“Anyways,” Cass started, “Where are the officers and Juno?”

I looked around, and sure enough, they were gone. “They’re gonna get themselves killed,” I hissed, walking away from the two. It was around sunhigh, meaning the whole library fiasco only took probably 2 hours. “Where are they?” I asked, keeping my eyes toward the window. The sky was unpleasantly bright blue, as if it was a normal summer day without the weight of people dying.

Crap. Is this really what your life has come to? A voice called in the back of my mind. This is fun; when can we kill again. Another one said, though that one was small, in a buried part at the back of my mind that I tried to not acknowledge. We’re all gonna diiiieee, A third sang.

“They went to go collect food,” Aries said, the irritation unmistakable in his tone. “I would’ve gone with them, but nooo �" ‘Wait for Sage,’ they said. ‘Stay here,’ they said.” I turned, and grinned at him, knowing how insane I probably looked.

“Is little sun pouting,” I laughed. His face turned bright red at the sound of his old nickname. 

“No . . .” He protested, but his face remained flustered, and that 3rd grade goofy boy was back. My mind calmed when I thought about something other than what was happening right now. “ Buuutt, now we can go help.”

“You can, but Sage needs rest.” Cass stated. Aries and I both tried to object, but she shut us down. “No,” she said firmly, “She was injured, then decided to fight one of them. She. Needs. Rest.”

I groaned. 

I hadn’t realized how exhausted I was until Aries left, and the tension was lifted. I lay my head down on the cold tiles. The coolness was calming, and soon enough, I drifted into sleep.

I awoke on the porch of my house. The sky was bright, and the sun was directly above. I saw a slightly younger version of myself�"practically bouncing down the block. As she reached the door, she walked directly through me. I felt like mist, as if I was not where I was supposed to be�"an invader.

I followed her, watching something I had long suppressed: the moment she lost all hope that her mother cared for her. Her hands shook as she held a manila envelope.

“Mama,” she said breathlessly, her eyes bright and full of excitement. “I got their response. Let’s open it.”

“Sorry,” her mother said, eyes still glued to her sister’s homework. “But your sister has homework.”

“But y-you promised.” Her eyes dimmed, her hands dropped to her sides. The envelope slipped slightly from her grasp.

“I know,” her mother answered, not caring that her heart shattered at the words. “But your sister’s more important�"” her heart broke even more. “You listen and she doesn’t. It’s just a letter, and these are her grades. I know I promised, but you can take care of yourself at the moment. You understand, don’t you?”

“I understand,” she muttered. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes as she dropped the letter in the trash and walked to her room. When I got there, she was ripping page after page from her notebook full of notes on her novel.

Then she grabbed her computer, and I watched as she deleted the document of the novel she had wasted two years of her life on. Lastly, she grabbed a lighter from a drawer and burned the remains of the notebook.

She cried into her pillow that night, not eating dinner�"and certainly not reading that letter. That was when she decided: Don’t care about others. Put on a face, even when you are in pain. Never, under any circumstance, show what you’re feeling. Don’t let them get to you.

I then remembered her sister, her mess of unnaturally red hair and bright pink shirt. Where is she? What happened to her? I thought, but the last thought left chills. Was she… one of them? 

“You're never gonna see her again.” A voice sneered in my head, as the scene faded. I was enveloped in darkness, and unlike last time�"this was uncomfortable, angry, watchful. 

Then suddenly, I was sucked into a vast ocean, the cold dark waters dragging me into their depths. It was so sudden, I didn’t expect the cold dangerous waters to fill my lungs. I squeezed my eyes shut, and images flashed in my mind. 

All the times my mother put my sister first, her school conference over taking me to my friend’s funeral . Her getting into a fight over me completing my first draft of my novel. Minthe’s good grades over me completing my manuscript, and lastly, her homework over my letter from the publishers.

I gasped for air, more water filling my lungs, the cold air shocking me.

“Sage!” A voice screamed, and I was suddenly pulled to the surface. As soon as my head broke the surface, I greedily gulped in the air. I observed my surroundings, there was no form of land within a swimming distance, and gray clouds rolled overhead.

As soon as the voice left, I was pulled back under. I again gasped for air and screamed. Freezing water filled my lungs, and I kicked my legs trying to swim to the top. Black splotches filling my vision, I again shut my eyes, but once again was ambushed by a series of memories. 

Sitting alone at home, crying my eyes out staring at pictures of Natalie on the day of her funeral. Watching my mother arguing with my sister over a black eye while I held my computer hoping she’d realize I was there. Mother throwing a party for Minthe’s good grades and not for me completing my manuscript. And the letter.

I screamed, but only more water filled my lungs. I finally recognized where I was, the Ocean of Sorrows. I stopped resisting, and that was when the waters drifted me away. But I didn’t care anymore, I felt free. No purpose of leading ever again.

Death is the only escape in this hellish school that I now live in. But now I am free. I exhaled, and water left my lungs. No one knows where we go when we die, but I feel that it’s okay and it's wonderful.

The darkness faded, and a bright comforting light replaced it. I’m free.

. . .

River waited at the door, hoping Aries and the others would return soon. From her spot, she watched Sage�"her chest barely rising, her face half-hidden beneath strands of brownish-black hair. Sage looked at peace, so different from when she was awake.

Suddenly, Sage began gasping for air. “Sage!” River screamed, running toward her. Sage’s eyes shot open, but they were distant. She continued gasping, and River tried to soothe her. The moment Sage heard River’s voice again, she calmed down. River’s heart slowed, and for a moment she thought everything was fine�"until Sage started gasping again, and this time she screamed.

Her brown eyes were full of fear and pain. She continued screaming and gasping until her body relaxed and she exhaled. Then she didn’t breathe. River waited for at least thirty seconds. Nothing.

Fear rose in River’s chest. What am I  supposed to do? she thought. 

CPR�"it takes five minutes for the brain to shut down the entire body, a voice answered inside her head.

River froze, too afraid to do anything. One… two… three. You have three seconds, now act. She moved automatically and started the compressions. Thirty compressions… two breaths… thirty compressions�"

“Cass!” someone screamed. She turned and saw Aries and the others holding bags of groceries. Aries ran toward her and Sage. “What happened?”

River started the compressions again before answering. “I was watching the door. Sage was peacefully sleeping,” she said. “Then she started gasping for air. The moment she heard a voice she calmed, but when I stopped… she started gasping again.”

Two breaths, and then thirty more compressions. “Move, child,” Ms. Castillo rasped as she took over the compressions.

“Maybe…” Ms. Taiyne began, reaching for her taser, but Mr. Sinclaire stopped her.

“No, Rookie,” he said, shaking his head. “That’ll just make things worse.”

A small, weak sputter�"like a gasp of air�"came from Sage. Her chest shakily rose and fell. Her eyes fluttered open, a mix of confusion and fear shining in them. River let out a sigh of relief. She’s okay, River thought. She’s alive.

. . .

Peace. That was the only way to describe the place I landed after the Ocean of Sorrows. It was quiet, warm, and still. But the pain of being ripped from that peace was unbearable. It felt like being stabbed again and again, while my skin peeled away and fire licked at my bones. The comfort I had there wasn’t just gone�"it was torn from me, leaving nothing but raw nerves and confusion.

The heat that once felt safe now scorched. My mouth was open, but no scream came. Blinding light surrounded me, and my chest tightened with pain. My limbs were heavy, and I felt dizzy. My head spun, and my throat was dry. I opened my eyes to see a woman with creased brows and graying hair. My throat burned, and this was the second time I blacked out.

“What’s wrong?” I rasped, my voice sounding older than fifteen. But it wasn’t just my voice. I felt different. My mind was clearer. Sharper. Colder. I didn’t feel like myself. I didn’t feel like a kid anymore. Something had changed, and I didn’t know if it was temporary or permanent.

No one moved. No one spoke. They just stared.

“Tell me what’s wrong. Now!” I barked. I sat up, no pain this time. I grabbed my spear and held it up. I wasn’t afraid to kill anyone who got in my way. Not anymore. Aries’ hands shook. River was frozen. The others didn’t react, but I could tell they noticed something was off.

“You died,” Ms. Taiyne said. Everyone looked at her, but no one stopped her.

“Thank you,” I said. “See, now that wasn’t so hard. Was it?” They shook their heads. Silent.

I lowered my spear and looked out the window. The sun was lowering. Shouldn’t you be freaking out? a part of me asked. Why should I be? another part answered. I’m here. I’m not still dead.

“We head back now,” I ordered. “Bring only what you can carry.” No one argued. No one questioned me.

We walked in silence. Only the sound of our footsteps echoed off the walls. The school was breaking already, the metal was rusting and the walls were either smeared with blood or the paint on them was chipping. 

Click. Click. Click. 

I froze, my ears straining. I turned, spear raised, the others followed suit. I moved slowly, carefully placing my footing. 

“It’s back,” Cass said, fear evident in her voice. I continued walking forward, there was rapid breathing at the left turn. I signalled for them to stay put. I dashed forward, grabbing the hiding person and pinning them to a wall.

“Who are you?” I growled. The kid seemed small, they had tan skin and curly brown hair. His mouth opened, but no words came out. “Speak! Who are you and why are you tailing us?”

“Sage” Cass hissed. I turned my attention toward her. “Put the kid down. You're scaring him.”

I turned back to the kid and sure enough, his eyes were full of fear. I gently released him, and immediately he tried to bolt. “Not so fast. ” I said, grabbing the collar of his shirt before he could get far enough.

 “Now please,” I said in the sweetest voice possible. “Why are you here?”

“Lord Rook asked me to find you,” He said, his voice shaking.

“Who?”  I asked.

“Z-Zayden,” He answered. 

“He’s still alive,” I asked, a hint of humour in my voice. But it faded quickly. “How did he know I was still alive?” 

The kid was still shaking. Maaaaybee, we could kill him. A small part of my brain said. What! Why, that's illegal. Another responded.

I blinked, trying to silence the voices in my head. Not now. Not when he was still useful.

“Relax,” I said. “I’m not going to hurt you. Unless you lie to me.”

His breath hitched. “I�"I’m not lying.”

“Good.” I smiled, but it didn’t reach my eyes. “Now tell me exactly what Zayden said. Word for word.”

He hesitated. That was mistake number one.

“He wants to talk,” He answered. I waited for more information.

“Aaaaannd . . .” I dragged the word, hoping he’d take the hint.

“He said… he said you’d understand,” the kid stammered. “That you’d know what to do.”

I tilted my head. “Did he now?”

The voices in my head perked up again. He’s manipulating you. Or testing you. Or maybe he’s already dead and this kid’s lying.

I leaned in closer, just enough for him to flinch. “Tell me something, little messenger. Did Zayden look normal when he sent you?”

The kid’s eyes darted to the floor. “He… he had blood on his hands.”

“Whose blood?” I asked.

He was fidgeting with his hands now.“I�"I don’t know.”

Mistake number two.

“I will give you one more chance,” I said, “And if you tell the truth . . .  you don’t die.”

“Please no, ” He begged. “I promise I’m not lying, he wants to talk. Nothing more, I swear.”

Tears were streaming down his face now. He was on his hands and knees now. “Please don’t kill me.” 

I stared down at him, pathetic, weak. I crouched down onto the floor next to him. “I have died and come back,” I whispered, his eyes widened. My spear balanced in my hand, the tip angled at his chest. “Death is better than being here. Trust me, I’m doing you a favor.”

I watched as realization hit his eyes. I pushed the spear forward, and a small gasp escaped his lips before the light faded from his eyes. I removed the spear and got up, the others stared at me. “What?” I asked, rising. “Is something wrong?”

“Y-You just killed him,” Cass stated, her hands shaking like Aries.

“So?” I said, not seeing how what I did was apparently wrong. “Let's go. I’ll fetch someone to go bury him later. We need to get back to camp. ”

I continued walking, but no one followed. “What’s wrong?” I asked.

“You killed him,” Aries muttered, his voice an octave higher than usual. I turned toward them.

“I killed him, biiigg deal,” I said, my temper rising slightly. “You act like he was some sort of an important person. Let's go . . . now.”

They just stood there, communicating with their eyes, but after a few minutes they followed. As we continued walking to the Theatre Wing, the sun was right about to dip below the horizon. The sunlight filtered through the windows that weren’t smashed. Three, that's the exact amount of people you killed in a day.

You're a monster, the voice echoed in my head.

I’m powerful,  I responded. And absolutely nothing will ever hurt me or my friends ever again.

Author's Note

don't mind the grammar and tell me if it good.