One Last Broken Piece
I sigh as I climb free from the hummer when we reach the edge of the border of the United. A car is waiting for me to claim, and I walk over to it while keeping my eyes away from the commander of the United burning through me with his betraying eyes.
I was successful in discreetly replacing my contacts when I was able to hold back my tears for long enough, so I toss my sunglasses back into my bag, watching them land beside my phones. I don’t even bother turning my phone on. I don't feel like talking to anyone right now.
The guards rush down to greet the man who has announced his true identity, excitement budding in their hasty pace.
I wish I could use my gift on him right now. If I wouldn’t be thrown in solitude for the next four centuries, I’d do it - if my damn gift even fucking worked that is.
I glance back to see the burden, the dread, and the misery staining those deceitful eyes I once thought to be so genuine and incredible. Now they’re just an endless pit of mockery for my complete naivety.
I crank up my new vehicle, and then I see Jase being handed a phone. He looks away from me, and then his eyes grow wide. I’m sure it’s something gory, and right now, I don’t feel like going on a new tracking mission for him. I hate the fucking United right now.
I slam the car into first gear, speeding away and shifting into the next few gears with violent jerks. I glance up to see there are quickly approaching headlights in my rearview mirror.
I know it’s him. I can see his car driving like hell to catch up with me. I don’t feel like hearing what he has to say. I don’t feel like looking into his damn traitorous eyes.
My secret phone buzzes again, but I continue to ignore it while shifting into a higher gear, my superior driving skills showing themselves as I dust the man behind me. His headlights slowly become a distant memory to my rearview.
It’ll only take two hours to get home from here. I should have just stayed grounded. But then the captain I saved, along with the other prisoners of war, wouldn’t have had their freedom back. That’s the only good to come from this.
The distant humming of Jase’s engine almost fades completely. At this speed, I’ll reach Seminole in less than an hour instead. That’s fine too. I need a shower to wash away my painful heartbreak.
I had forgotten how badly this hurts. It's so much worse than the last time because I actually loved Jase, but I can't lose it like I did back then. I promised everyone I wouldn't. I'm stronger now. It's excruciating to the point I can't breathe, and I'm thankful air is only a comfort instead of a necessity. I can take it though. I have to.
Something draws my attention from my painful thoughts, making me more focused on the road ahead instead of the man I left behind. It’s smoke.
I don’t see fire, or even embers from a fire, so it’s distant. It’s at least an hour old, considering how stale it is, but where is it coming from? The only thing even around here is the Catagar, Jameson City, and… oh no… Seminole.
“No. No.”
I step on the gas all the harder as I press the button concealed under my steering wheel to catapult my car forward with hellacious speed. My stomach is pulsing with my tattered heart’s beat. My fingers are drawing up from the overpowering adrenaline burning through my veins.
Then I see it. There’s nothing but a dust cloud in the distance where I should be seeing the towers of Seminole. All that stands there now is a thick cloud of smoke which is billowing from the rubble that is barely viewable from this distance.
My car surges forward so fast the distance lessens in a blur. As I draw even closer, I see all the unfathomable destruction unfolding in front of my eyes.
There are still small bits of the once gallant compound falling from the crumbled perches. Death radiates through the air as men uselessly shower the flames with water. So many cars are lining the facility. So many people are here to clean up the mess, but no one stopped it. It's too late.
I skid the car to a halt, and my legs carry me with my ungodly speed as I dart toward the ashes of my home.
“Rex!” I scream. “Simone!”
This was a gifted. I can still smell a strong essence lacing the air that is filled with smoke. They came. They came for me, and they killed everyone here. This is my fault.
“Rex!” I scream again, my tears burning through my newest contacts as I charge into the debris.
I hear the roaring of engines skirting to an exhausted stop, and the scurrying of men following me into the pile of rubble.
“Simone!” I scream louder in panic.
The monstrous compound has been obliterated. The miles and miles of guarded homes, schools, offices… everything… it’s all gone.
The water showers down on me as they continue dousing the sizzling fires that are casting light on the devastation. I drop to my knees when I see the place my apartment once stood.
“Rex,” I sob out through a pained whisper, and my tears fall all the harder to bubble up on the dry, scorched ground.
“Aria!” a voice screams, but I know who it is, and I can’t answer him back.
