Spending my time in detention was not fun. Then again, today is been a rough day. Bringing my attention to the faceless women sitting across from me, reading a book in her desk. “It cold in here” I pointed out.

“Well you probably should of tho-“ she pause to blow air out of her nostril along with waving a hand in front of her. I’m not surprise, we been in here for an hour and a half with the smell accumulating in a small room. What smell? The sewage water that landed on my leg. Try as I may, the stench never quite left me. After been accompany by the bad smell I was starting to get used to it, but it must really suck for her.

“What’s wrong” putting a mischievous smile. She looks miserable just sitting in the same room as me. I can’t help it but find a bit humor.

“Quinn how about you go home early today, I think we both were punish enough”

“I don’t know, I’m beginning to like it here”

“Be that as it may I will spare myself and go. Have a good day Quinn” she started packing her material.

“Whatever” Leaving the room and exiting the school with no sun in sight watching the cloudy day consume the city. So much for going home early, I really don’t want another fight with Sarielle. The street is mostly empty today. It’s probably because is been persistently raining after I made it to school. Checking to see I haven’t left my flawless phone behind, I decided to go directly home before I bring any unnecessary attention. What a day, it was more tiresome than usual. Thanks to my smelly perfume I been avoiding folks like the plague. Including Dina, I think she know I when out of my way to avoid her. She going to be piss with me. I could deal with most people knowing I smell like this but not her.

“Hey!” a feminine voice shout from the distance “Quinn!” I was stun when I hear the familiar voice. I should of know that she would wait up for me, but it slips my mind. When she was a couple step away from me, she told me to look at her. My first though was to run away. “Quinn, look at me” she repeated but I keep my back turn. “Quinn you know I hate it, when you ignore me” I turn around to see my pudgy friend. I know myself well enough to know that If I get in a fight with Dina, I’m going to say something I’ll regret.

“D, I’m not in the mood”

“Excuse me! That’s my line”

“I don’t have time for your childish act” Doing my best to rush off.

“No you don’t” she firmly grabs me by my sleeve.

“Let go you idiot!” trying to escape from her grasp.

“Not until you-“ Dina pause and took a whiff. “Man, something really reeks” my check turns pink from the embarrassment comment and I felt my bitterness crack. Don’t let this turn into a fight Quinn, I just need to come down.

____________________

“I told you to leave me alone, why are you so adamant in ruining my life!”

“That not true! Not when all I try to do is be there for you”

“I’m not you, I don’t need constant validation”

“Ooh sorry, I forgot you’re a badass loner” she sarcastically said. I don’t have a single clue of how I got to this point, but my temper got the best of me. “You’re so tough that you haven’t pierces your ears because your scare of needles”

‘Swoosh’ Letting the passing cars fill the silent.

This is what people do, this is all they ever do. This is why you never trust people. All they ever do is lie and bring up the past to hurt you.

“What happened Quinn, where did that big girl attitude go”

“I don’t know about the attitude but I know where the big girl is”. No matter how angry I was, the instantaneous regret hit me like a truck. I knew she always struggle with her weight so using that insecurity to get back at her felt black-hearted.

“what?” Dina crossing her arm, glaring my way while I simple had I dismissive attitude “You know what’s your problem is. That massive ego of your, believing your alone when you’re not, you just push everyone away. But one day when you’re in need of a friend, you’ll find that you really will be by yourself”

“wow, look how smart you are” clapping for dramatic effect.

“Whatever, you want to be alone. Congrats, you win” walking away with her head held low. Steeping on a small puddle as she crosses the road.

“Like a care” Walking through a couple blocks to my house. She talks like she knows anything about me but guess what, she doesn’t. “I don’t have an ego. She just wrong, like always” passing by the street where the sewer water splashes me this morning, there a lot more now than before but I keep a couple feet away. Even with my serious expression I crack a smile. I have to admit that even if I wasn’t happy with the incident, it was still funny.

‘Swoosh’ a car race down over the sewer making a big splash. Time slowdown has the brow color water slowly approaching my face.

____________________

I found myself back on the bridge before going home. Gray sky with the cool smooth breeze. I was soak with cold water from head to toad. My wet cloth would stick to my skin and I would feel the water drops from my hair falling. Checking the phone again, noticing the new crack on it.

‘Sigh’

I lost my temper after the incident and in a feat of fury, I threw the only thing I had in my hands which was my cellphone. Not even a year old and now is on the decline. At least it works and I turning it on to make sure is still functioning. Putting my cell away checking my surrounding on the two-way bridge. Only seen two young folks on there early twenty passing by with link arm. We exchange greeting, as they go on their merry way.

“Man something stinks” one of them said but not away from prying ear.

“Tell me about it” I sarcastically respond to no one. Maybe I should seal my mouth up. No, it not my fault life sucks so much. Why I’m I always getting the short end of the stick. Letting my shoulder relax while I let the cold wind play with my wet short hair.

“Dad…”. At the moment I felt a warm touch in one of my pockets and I look at my jean to see a bright light, wondering what it could be. I took the item out to see the non-color gem, is not much but there is a dim light and within my grasp It feel hot. I forgot to give this to Dina. “Well to bad for her, is mine now” laying back on the wooden bench, looking up to the sky feeling the cold contact with the rail. Birds just gliding in place away from everything. Must be nice to feel free like that. Getting a bright idea all the sudden. I climb the metal railing and fix my balance. I look down to see the dangerous height between me and the wave in the bottom of the platform. Slowly I stood up straight and let the wind crash with my body has I extend my arms to each side, closing my eye. I knew I wasn’t, but it was fun imagining that I was free like the animals in the sky.

With my mood being lifted I felt the heat of the gem in my hand increased and the light getting bigger. I pay no mind to my surroundings furthermore I just focused on me flying off, far away. Squeezing the gem tightly in my hand for the comedic effect of the gem popping out of my grasp. In a split second of panic, I struggle to grab the crystal, when I caught it with one hand it would slip to the other. Finally capturing the item but failing to notice my body leaning to the other side. Getting a clear view of the colorless water.

“AHH!” Free falling to the bottom of the bridge was not my ideal way of flying but by the time I realize I was falling I already made it to the bottom. The impact of the crash felt like I hit concrete rather than liquid. Landing on the left side of my body left me daze. All the air escapes my lung and my vision was hard to fix it. No matter how many times I would blink underwater my view was blurry and I couldn’t see my surrounding, it was too dark. Turning my head up to see the light getting further away.

My body hurts but my left arm was killing me. The current was strong, and I felt Dina jewels slipping from my grip, I Couldn’t close my left hand and the jewel was taken away. For a split second I believe I saw a flash of light, but it was too quick, and I question if what I saw was real.

My only form of light quickly sink to the bottom of the river, but I shouldn’t feel too bad, it seen my body was determined to follow it. I cough and watch the bubble of air float up. My body felt heavy to move and the pressure build up in my head. Letting the current take me as it pleased. I just close my eyes for what felt like minutes as my though lingering on all my past screw up. Hurting Dina, Failing Sarielle, disappointing mom and breaking my promise to Abi. The feeling of pressure intensify and my mind was going to sleep.

“Pleas..” I hear a plead. “Ge..” it would fade in and out and could never finish what it was being said. “WAKE UP!” until a scream jolts my body awake and I realize I was deep drowning. I don’t know if it was my stubbornness or self-perseverance, but I madly kick and swing. Holding my breath for so long that made my lungs burn. My erratic action made me cough but seen the yellow light approaching on the surface gave me the small energy I need it. Crossing my head through the water and taking big gulp of air along with unrestrained cough.

“Abi!” I scream after every breath. “Abi where are you!” I know I hear my sister just now but deep inside I also know that it was probably in my head. Throwing glances around was making me befuddle. There big fluffy tree, clear water with small critter around me but no buildings. I swim with one arm to the shore and crawl through the dirt until I was out of the water. Giving a second glance, clearly there was no bridge in sight and I was in the middle of the forest. “Abi, can you hear me!” I yell again but there was no respond only the sound of animals with the flow of the lake. “Please” I murmur.

Laying on my back. Hastily took my phone out but the item was leaking water and It won’t turn on, dammit. Checking for any injury I saw my left hand was inflated so I pull the sleeve down and observe the different shade of red and purple. I was trying not to panic from almost drowning and watching my arm recreate a rainbow was not helping. Deciding to hide my damage hand under my sleeve and saying to myself that is a problem for another time. My mind would only tell me to go sleep but I force myself to stand anyways. From across the bushes there was something moving. I keep watch of the wary of the unknown “Who there!?”

From the grass a hairy man came out without a shirt. He looks like he was starving but that was not my concern. “Who are you?” the man just stays silent looking around and then back at me. I follow his glances but there nothing but birds chirping. “Dude I need medical attention, to you have a phone?” the strange man just moves his head left and right. Like is was trying to figure me out.

“What your problem, I nee-“ I was hit with a blank wall when he step out of the grass and I saw his nakedness. “Wow!” Covering my view “Dude I’m a girl, put some cloth on” but I fail to notice the spear he carries with him. He walks closer to where I am, but he didn’t look angry and he wasn’t looking at me but through me, so I step out of his way. In the shore of the river he took a stand, spear above his head staying stationary while his back was turn. I was puzzled by the random action, but I took this moment to catch my breath. Within the couple minute of insignificance, I scan my surrounding trying to make sense of anything. Although I’m ashamed to admit It, I fix my stared to his hairy bottom but quickly look elsewhere. “gross” I said under my breath.

The person grunted and lunch the spear and pull the weapon back to reveal a fish stuck by the pointy end. Showing me his price, not the one below his waist making me uncomfortable but the animal still moving.

He threw me the fish and I try but fail to grip the animal with one hand and it end it up smacking me in my chest. Making a little bloody spot on my long sleeve shirt. “Mother-“ wiping the stain with little success. “Why did you do that for?” turning my attention to the man a broadly leaving.

“Wait, I need help, you idiot” he simply ignores me as he made his own way thought the forest. I skeptical follow suit but keep my distant. Should I follow this weirdo, he might turn Chainsaw Massacre on me. Yeah maybe I watch too much television but the girls on those horror show never come out ok. We reach a group of folks, all with a single unique feature.

There all unmistakable naked. “What the…” there three dudes and two girls. All of them seem to be doing their own thing but my gaze felt on one young looking girl who was short and had long brown hair. It’s kind of remind me of…

I shook my head hope to forget the impure though making it way to my imagination. They all have scratches in their body with a little burn mark that I can’t see the details from this distance. Only like two or three have missing limp, from finger, ear or hands. Poor baster, I don’t want to end up like those poor soul. They all have earpiece that look like a small piece of paper with random Acronyms. They were too far for me to read it.

But why are they here?

Are there like exhibitionist or some weird cult group I stumble upon. The current must have been stronger that I thought to take me all the way to the forest. There all in an open field next to a mountain with a hole shape like a cave next to them. I could go over there and ask for a phone, but I can visually see they don’t have anything with them and I’m not joining them. “I’m perfectly happy with my v-card”

Hiding behind a tree not too far from the exhibitionist. I sit and just thought of my situation. When someone is lost you stay put and wait, eventually someone will look for you. “Moment like this, I wish I made more friends than enemy”. Wind kick in combine with my wet clothes that stick to my skin made my teeth chatter.

“Well I got two choose, and I’m not taking my cloth off so I’ll make a fire” Taking deep breath I manage to stand “Ok, I can do this”. Picking up every dry wood I see and setting it up close to where I was sitting. “I mean really, how difficult could it be”

____________________

“Ah! This is so stupid!” I stump and broke one of the sticks. “It looks so simple on the movies so why can’t I do it”. the night is here, and the temperature keeps dropping. I pep my head out from the bushes to spy on the group. They disappeared inside the cave and only two guys outside wrestling each other.

“Ok…” getting back to business with only the moon as a source of light. I can see a black spot where the stick where doing it effect. I look up to the dark sky and reminisce on a warm home. “Quinn, there looking for you” I reminded myself “You just gotta wait”. My memory keeps showing me that innocent smile of my sister. “Don’t worry Abi, I’m ok”

With just a little motivation I was pump and ready to try again. With undetermined passion I grab the dry woods and did a weird movement with my good hand and bad arm. I keep doing the repeated move to the lasting effect of smoke, the wood seen to be warming up. Never let my excitement get the in the way of accidentally stopping but then, it finally happened. I created a new source of light.

“Fire” I said in a hush tone. I cover the minuscule blaze and carefully blow on it. Promising myself that if my only chance of not sleep with the cold weather goes off, I will smash my skull with this block of wood. That moment I sense the heat glow illuminating my surrounding I yell with excitement. “Fire! Fire! Fiiiree!” I got on my feet and started to dance. I probably look ridicules doing it, but I didn’t care at this point.

Seen the fire grow just like my excitement I grab the torch by the end and ran to the two guys outside. “Guys, guys, I got fire!” both of then took guard against me. “What wrong, I got fire for everyone” One tall guy grunted and flee to the darkness of the cave. The other started growling my way. He wasn’t very tall, the same height as me but it didn’t deter my fear. “Hey what’s your problem, stop being freaky”

With extended arms to his side he walks cautiously my way, scaring me. “Dude you better not touch me” not backing down, he just keeps closing the distant. “I’m going to hurt you if you don’t stop” facing the reality of my rash decision. I took a couple swing with the fire but when I saw his eyes, I knew that whatever he wanted was not good. My hand started to tremble “Back away, please!” I plead but when reasoning fail, I did the deed.

When he was close enough, I extended my right arm and stick the fire in his face. What came next shook me. I didn’t see when it happened, I close my eye but when I saw the person screaming and kicking on the floor. I was horrified of what I did. No matter what people think of me I would never want to hurt other, I hated the mere thought of it, it only prove I’m no different from anyone.

The man with a hand on his face got up and ran to the deep of the cave. “Yeah!” putting on a brave face “You better not mess with me again, buster”. My hand was still a bit shaky and I don’t think it was the cold weather. freak out with the experience I want it to speed up the process and go home. If you want to be found, you simply need to get someone attention.

With that in mind. I pick up all the wood I collected earlier and put it in the center of the open space. Gathering rocks and forming a circle around the wood. Collecting the burning torch, I threw it with the rest of the pile. Slowly seen the fire grow while the black smoke spreading into the dark sky being illuminated by the moon. I sit and watch the fire, finally relieving me from the chilly night “Now we wait”

Author's Note

(Updated)