*What Jessie looks like counting the short gown. Just take out the necklace* >>picture to right

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“I’m just messing with you,” she smirked and spun on her heel.  “I’ll take you to Romane.” 

Wanting to throw a shoe at her while somewhat...relieved?...I trailed behind her tiny frame.  When I past the children however, they all stopped what they were doing and smiled, some waving their miniature hands. 

I waved back, my cheeks continuing to hurt.  “Things have been weird since you got here,” the nurse explained.  She opened the door and we trailed down a long hallway painted in white.  The tiles clicked as she huddled on, my longer legs surprisingly having trouble catching up. 

I spoke in a distant tone, curious with my surroundings.  “Have they?”  Eagle members silently treaded past, their body shapes and faces different from one another.  Others were tall, some had stumpy legs.  Small chests, big chests, medium chests.  Feet ranging to ten different sizes.  Tomato noses to crooked, to pointy, to flat.  I haven’t seen such a variety since China. 

Variety in China?  I could make such a racist comment here, Jessie...

Immediately, I clouded the strange voice with this discovery. 

Snipers base was full of models, strikingly tall, broad shoulders, sharp cheekbones and bottle shaped figurines.  And here, dressed in white.  There, dressed in black.  After being in Snipers for so long, this felt foreign like those fabrics after my release. 

“...a few children stop and wave at the departing nurses but never once did all of them stop.  The nurses and I warned them not to go near you but a couple kissed your forehead or hands before scurrying into bed.”  Befuddled, she wrinkled her button nose and tossed a hand over her shoulder.  “Either way, they really like you.” 

I directed my attention to realize we halted in front of a metal door.  “They’re all quite lovely,” I said, recalling the pale bald beauty. 

She sighed and her pink lips curled up.  “They are.”  She twisted the knob.  “Our leader really is a good man.  The things he does...”  Pain struck her face.  “I don’t know what the children would do without him.” 

I hardly noticed her leaving me once I stepped in, the scenery catching my breath.  Huge, white puffy clouds floated by.  I quickly rushed up to the large windows and pressed my hands against the glass.  The sky never looked so blue.  Clouds bounced off the windows, the transportation I was in moving steady. 

“And you thought that tiny skyscraper was my base.” 

Twisting around, my gaze arrested on Romane who stood at the front, hands in pockets, wearing a contagious grin. 

“I’m guessing you couldn’t touch the stars from there?” I said, moving towards him. 

“Staring up at the sky wasn’t enough,” he said. 

“So you needed to actually be in the sky?” I joked. 

He swept his hand across the room.  “It’s one step closer to the stars.”

Producing my own smile, I stopped a step lower than him, awed by the scenery.  “This is Eagle Eye’s base, huh?  In the skies.  Oh how you humour me.” 

He walked towards a glass case, talking as he drew me in.  “Yeah, and the entire aircraft is shaped as an Eagle too.  We even have Obama’s face right on the top.” 

I was surprised when I laughed, unaware this man was capable of doing that.  “Are you serious?” 

“No,” he snorted, that smile growing right back.  He ran his hand along the glass case.  “This is what it looks like.” 

I lowered, trying to comprehend how I was supposed to see this magical ‘thing’.  “There’s nothing there,” I reported, frowning at the box. 

His eyes shined in delight.  “I know.  That’s what we look like now.  This aircraft has the ability of camouflage in the skies.  But without the camouflage, we look like this.”  He moved his hand over and out appeared a 3D model of an aircraft.  It was identical to the paper planes the children were playing with.  He pointed to the front.  “And we’re right here.” 

Fascinated, I peered closer and noticed there was a large platform to go outside further from where we were.  “Can we be there?” I asked. 

He hesitated and then shrugged.  “Why not,” he grinned and we exited through glass doors.  Fresh air immediately slapped my cheeks, renewing my lungs and sending tingles down my spine.  This air was nothing compared to Hong Kong or Snipers base.  It was new.  It was clean.

It was pure. 

We strode to the centre of the platform and I nearly lost myself.  I didn’t think anything was this remarkable.  The clouds seemed soft as cotton candy, and I had the urge to hug them.  Caramel beams shot behind a certain cloud, it growing brighter as we reached it.  My hair danced behind my shoulders, the gown flapping with grace.  I closed my eyes and took another swig of air. 

With all the nauseating lies, morbid killing, hot betrayal, mental breakdowns, I would never have guessed I’d have a chance to breathe.  Especially next to Romane.  The man who was supposed to be the Devil.

“You still haven’t said it.”

I forbid my eyes to open, soaking in the sunlight.  “Said what?”

“Thank you.”

My eyes flew open.  Cue the dream to be shattered.  “I don’t need to say any kind of ‘thank you.’” 

Before the anger started to bubble, he spoke absently, “But you considered it.” 

“I have not.”

Now that we were close, I realized his hair wasn’t fully blond.  Streaks of dirty, bleach and other varieties of blond patterned his hair.  “Your ability to lie is pathetic.  I know you’ve considered my supposed ‘theories’.”  He faced me, blue eyes hardening with such intensity.  My toes curled and I wanted to take a step back yet I remained planted.  Darkness covered the earlier warmth in my heart, leaving my body cold and rigid.

“I admit you won’t be doing some thanking or trusting soon—but you will, wildcat.  I understand you can’t currently trust anyone and you don’t know what to believe and that you’re absolutely confused as hell.  You want to tear your heart apart but you secretly want someone to mend it back together.  You wish you could have the normal life because all this is so overwhelming and you don’t think you can take it anymore.  It’s driving you insane.  You’ve gone mad.  You’re lost in this madness.  You’re so lost, you have lost yourself.  And you don’t even know who you are.  What you are.” 

I didn’t even catch myself taking a step back.  Goosebumps rose up my arm, fear tingling my scalp.  He advanced a step, closing the distance as fast as I made it.    

“That’s the consequence of being raised as a domestic animal.  The outside world becomes too much and you forget how to survive.”

“Stop...stop,” I whisper. How he knew everything made me want to vomit and embrace him and...and... 

I gave up on rewinding my steps and just dropped my head into my hands, wishfully thinking he’d disappear.  “Wild animals like you and I need to stick to together.  That’s how you survive out here.  You can’t trust family—there is only ever one to trust.”

Whimpers slipped through my fingers.  “I hate trust...I hate trust...” 

My head throbbed, his words hammering my mind.  Trying to get in.  Trying to break into me. 

“Wildcat.”

But he already has.

His chest caught my first tear and I slumped against him.  The tears rolled slowly, and I released the shaking nerves that had grown erotically.  The bitter sweetness gave off a distasting relaxation that I tolerated, burying the fact I was pouring onto the villain. 

No one understood me.  Throughout all the people I met, not one single soul understood the madness I was beneath. 

Except Romane. 

We stayed like that till the sunset.  I didn’t know why I didn’t break away, maybe because I was scared to face the world and would rather bury myself away. 

What I learned throughout this ride was that eventually you’d have to confront reality.  And how you’re better off diving in than letting yourself sink. 

I removed my forehead and suddenly yearned for the warmth but restrained myself from looking like an idiot.  I wished he didn’t question what that was all about as I glanced into the orange clouds.  He didn’t.

At the corner of my eyes I saw a smile toying on those pink lips; that impassive face switching identities.  How could someone be two people?  But judging by my experience, all humans were two people.  I’d lost count how many times I thought an individual was something they were not. 

This topic turning into a dark road, I quickly swerved my mind to a different region.  “Who are those children?” I asked him.  I studied his expression twist from oblivion to realization then to bittersweet sadness. 

“I’m surprised the nurses didn’t explain.”

He did not look surprised. 

“Are you dodging the question?”

“No.  I just”—he stared off into the honey coloured sky, pausing—“It’s a fragile matter.  If I didn’t save them, they’d be dead.  What they do to those children...if you could only see what they do to them...”  His silence dragged on and I wondered what he meant.  I surveyed his expression now and saw a mix of emotions drawn; it was a whole lot of negatives.  Forms of grief and disgusted looks fixed his face into absolute heartbreak.  “The world is full of demons, wildcat.  Sometimes you realize there’s enough to prove Earth is a living hell.” 

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If I could name chapters, this one would be called Bittersweet Madness. 

What did you think of the beginning? Gotta love that nurse...

Thoughts on the contradictions between Snipers and Eagles? Notice any other similarities or differences that Jessie hasn’t?

Do you BELIEVE Romane? Who is he saving those children from? Is he really saving them?  ARE YOU QUESTIONING YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW?! :O

Can I just say I love the last line of this chapter? *pats self on shoulder*

So yeah. :) Happy commenting! Maybe some of you might actually know the answer ;) Try your luck!

GOAL ϯ 200K reads as a whole book?  250 votes this chapter? Comment madnesssssss

Go Brazil, Germany and Argentina (b/c Messi is the GOD) ((And yes it’s legal to root for 3 teams)!!

Xoxo

j_street

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