Steps

Proposition

I used the fact that he was unconscious to my advantage. I stripped him down to a pristine white tank top and a pair of light blue boxers, with his messy blonde hair flooding everywhere. I also hid all his weapons and secured a ray gun into my back pocket, just in case. I've never directly killed anything before, not even a little rodent for food. I never had the need and I never thought, before that time, I could bring myself too. Death always had scared me, it just didn't make sense. One day you are living, breathing, and walking around and then the next day you aren't. It was just a concept to big for my head to grasp.

I looked around and sighed, I was so glad that the man was unconscious, it was like a weight had been lifted off of my chest, but it's only a matter of time before the weight crashes back down. In the corner of my eye I saw a shiny silver sliver of material peeking out of the guard clothes. I sneaked over to the pile as quietly as I could and picked up the cool object. Trent 137 "A rich boy, huh?" I peeked over at Trent. Last names are based off of how rich you are, they change every decade and my family were always one of the last hundred to be assigned, well according to my mother. I walked over and rested my head on Carmella's soft back. "So what did you bring us today?" I reached over to the pile she had dropped. There were many plants and herbs. A couple were of actual value, some we could use to prevent infections and the others we could eat. What really caught my attention was the mirror. The intricate designs were so beautiful and I felt bad for whoever lost this precious item. There were wisps of blues and greens following the swirly border and the actual glass of the mirror was pure and clean. I thought about what a shame it was something so beautiful was going to get destroyed out here. My finger followed the swirls all around the border, the cool and smooth to the touch. When I got to the top, I finally looked at my reflection. I let a little gasp slip out of mouth. My face was so different, given I had gone through puberty but still. I had finally grown into my big grey eyes so I wasn't alien-like anymore. My face was even tanner than my arms, making the freckles that danced on my nose less prominent. My nose was slender with a slight sunburn peeling at the tip.the thing that scared me the most was my hair, my once chocolate brown hair was now muddy brown. It was sticking out at all sides with an uneven hair cut, long in the front and short in the back. Maybe that's why Xavier tried to talk to me, because I looked like a woman from the past civilization of Materialers. I took a bucket of wash water and used it to clean my hair, normally I save it for when I am extremely dirty, but I didn't want Trent to think I am uncivilized. I was eyeing him while brushing my soaking wet hair with my fingers hoping that I can persuade Trent to leave me alone.

Twenty minutes passed until Trent started to stir. I had managed to fill his wounds with this plant that gives off a healing oil. The humidity was just starting to get uncomfortable when he finally sat up. "Took you long enough," I commented with a slight sneer in my voice.

"What was that red goo?" He asked with slight fright. He looked as if he was sick of the thought of it.

"According to the Materialers' biology books, it's blood."

"Blood?"

"Yes it goes through your body and helps you live."

All the color in his face was lost, "I'm going to die!" He exclaimed.

"Shh, someone might hear you!" I quietly scolded. "Oh and no. You won't die, you only lost a little bit compared to me and I'm still here, aren't I?"

"Well what do you want from me?" He asked slyly, slowly wiggling his hands out of the handmade cuffs.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," I smiled, " I hid the blade for my hair in there. Move to much and it will go right through your skin."

His small white smile faded, "How are you so clever?"

"I observe." We sat there for a minute staring summing each other up. I decided I would win in a hands only fight between us. I guess he decided that too because he gave up on his attempt to get out.

He sighed, "When am I going to be free? Or are you going to kill me first?"

"Don't mock me," I told him. Trent was starting to get on my nerves, which was bad for him because I never learned how to control my anger. "And when I'm ready."

I walked back through the curved trees, with Trent staring at my back. I peered through the forest so I could peek at the trail. It looked unoccupied and I unclenched my jaw. I walked back, pulling my wet hair behind my ears. I continued with my nightly routine, the sun was setting and was behind on collecting because of the run in. I walked through the forest collecting berries and mushrooms that I had learned from experience was okay to eat. Letting my mind wander, I started thinking about the events of the day. Was Xavier already dead? Or does he have to live through the night thinking about the inevitable? And why did Trent not call for back up? Why did he go after me? Does he have to be so nosey? And why did Carmella have to be late? I started to blame her for today but it was my fault. If I had been patient and just waited for her we would be alone and safe, we would be unknown. My thought were desperately searching my brain to find a to make this work for us. I made an abrupt turn back to Trent and gave him an angry yet focused look. "Okay, listen," I instructed, "You are going to help me and if not, I will kill you." Trent only responded with a chuckle. "What? What's so funny?" I ordered

"Nothing, except you threatened to kill me even though you wouldn't be able to bring yourself to take my life," he said smugly.

I stuttered defensively, "Yes I-I could."

"Oh, yes of course," he gave me a playful smile, "that's why you only eat plants even though you have the resources and the wits to kill animals for food, right?"

I sighed in defeat, attempting to pull my hair out of my face, "You got me, I am a wimp."

"Now that's a lie. I think that makes you stronger. Self control is hard to develop."

"Flattery gets you no where. Now my proposition."