The Bloodpool

Chapter 1

          I run through pitch black darkness, my muscles screaming for relief. Blindly, I feel hands tearing at my arms like claws. Amber, the wind seems to whisper, Amber come with us. An ear piercing shriek splits the air and I bolt upright in my bed. Brooke, who sleeps in a bed beside me, jumps up and looks around the room frantically. "You can't sleep either?" I ask rubbing my forehead. "Obviously not if I'm awake genius," Brooke teases and gets up. "Where are you going?" I ask. "Just going for a walk," she replies and I decide to stay here.

           I lay back down, breathing calmly and trying to fall back asleep. I have no such luck and dawn comes in an instant.  Kiko moans and rolls over in her bed. "Get up Kiko!" I yell. "I don't wanna get up!" She screams at me when I try to pull her out of bed. She thrashes around, clawing at the air. "Get your lazy butt outta bed," I demand grabbing her other hand. She gives up and her back hits the carpeted floor with a loud thud.

          "You suck," Kiko whines and stands gets up. "I told you to get up," I shrug and walk off to get dressed. I put on a pair of black sweatpants and a red sweatshirt. I put my hair up in a bun and brush my teeth in the bathroom. Kiko walks in sluggishly and lazily brushes her teeth. I push her slightly and she grunts. I smile at her and walk out. I run down the stairs and grab my bag. Pearl walks in the door as I'm putting on a pair of torn up sneakers.

          "Where's Brooke?" She asks me, standing in the doorway. "This morning she said she went for a walk," I say and lace up my shoes. She blocks my path as I'm about to leave. "Did she tell you where she went?" Pearl asks. "No!" I say getting impatient. Kiko walks down and smirks when she sees us yelling at each other. "I was just asking, you don't need to get so worked up about it!" Pearl shouts. "I'm getting worked up? That's hilarious," I laugh.

          "You guys are really starting to act like sister now," Kiko chuckles. "Shut up Kiko!" Pearl and I snap in unison. "Just get out of my way," I order and push by her. She shakes her head and closes the door behind me. As a sixteen year old I'm gladly still considered a kid in the world. People driving cars down the road to their jobs, working tirelessly, and I still have a year to wait. I knock on Josh's door and Drake answers like every Tuesday morning. "Josh your girlfriend's here," he yells down the hall.

           "It's a real shame you dating him," Drake smiles. "Because if he wasn't I'd date you myself." I ignore is stupid comment and wait for Josh on their porch. "Hey Amber," Josh pants as he walks outside with me. "What were you doing in there?" I ask seeing how tired he is. "Matthew wouldn't shut up when his brother knocked over one of his "expensive picture frames,' and Drake and I had to stop them from killing each other," Josh laughs. "Sound like you had a pleasant morning," I joke elbowing him playfully. "What about you?" He asks.

          "Pearl got worked up about nothing and started yelling at me," I say. "It probably was your fault anyway," Josh teases. "Shut up. Pearl was just being stupid because I didn't now exactly where Brooke went this morning," I explain. "Oh, I saw Brooke just a few minutes ago. She was walking into the...um..." I laugh as Josh struggles to remember where she'd gone. "The Art place!" Josh yells at last. "Thanks and it's called the Art Museum," I correct.

          "Same thing!" Josh whines folding his arms. "It's obviously not Josh," I tease. "Don't judge me Amber," he says trying to act mad at me. He looks at me and finally breaks into a smile. He walks me to where the Departments were. Patrick renamed it Burgundy Court and now children who haven't found their parents yet stay there. They smile and greet us as we walk into the newly made neighborhood. "Josh is back!" One cries out and a swarm of small boys stampedes at him.

          I laugh as the children pull him to the ground. "Hey Amber," a small boy named Keith greets me. "Hey Keith," I say ruffling his black hair. He smiles and returns to attacking Josh. A trio of small girls comes to me and begs me to play with them. "Please! It's so boring here and almost all of the other children are boys," the biggest girl, Olivia, complains. "Maybe tomorrow guys, but Josh and I need to get to the Spring," I promise. Emily hugs my legs and Alexis jumps onto my back.

          Her small arms wrap around my neck and I can barely breathe. Olivia stands in front of me whimpering softly. "Sorry guys, but this isn't going to get me to stay," I say and pull Alexis' hands from around my neck. She laughs as I swing her to the ground. I pry Emily from my leg and force the boys to get off of Josh. His hair is messed up and he's lying on the ground. I help him up and we walk into the woods together. "Those kids are strong," Josh mutters rubbing the back of his neck with one hand.

          "No, you're just weak," I joke. "You try getting thirty children off you at once," Josh says defensively. "Gosh, you can't take a joke can you?" I mumble. We trample into the clearing and find Brooke sitting at the waters edge. "Remember when you took me here two years ago, Amber?" Brooke asks her glassy eyes searching the water. "I could see things in it, but now I can't," she looks down at the water once more, frustration in her gaze. 

          "I know, but what are we going to do about it? If it doesn't effect us than I could care less," I say to her looking into the water myself now. "You're right, it's just why all of the sudden?" Brooke asks curiously. I shrug and sit down next to her. "Weather changes maybe, or it could be natural changes," I suggest. She says nothing more, but I can tell she craves for answers. "Well now that we've got that settled, might I ask what you're doing here?" Josh asks. "I just wanted to go somewhere no one else, but my friends, know about so no one can find me," Brook answers. 

          "Josh can you leave for a second?" I ask. He's about to complain, but I shake my head and he backs away. "Amber I'm fine," Brooke says before I even have the chance to ask her what's wrong. "You're obviously not fine if you want to sneak away into the wood where no one can find you," I say crossing my arms. "I thought this would help me get over some stuff and when I need it most it magically doesn't work," Brooke spits, looking into the maroon water as though it had betrayed her.

          "Brooke, don't be stupid. Plus is wasn't working last year either so it didn't just stop when you needed it," I add. "Oh, and Pearl is looking for you so you might wanna go before she blows a fuse," I finish and Brooke leaves the pond. Josh walks back slowly moments later. "What did you guys talk about?" Josh asks as soon as he sits down. "If I wanted you to know I wouldn't have asked to to leave," I snap. "You're so secretive nowadays, what changed?" Josh asks, his voice full of melancholy. I decide to give him the most honest answer I possibly can.

         "Everything," I respond. "Nothing is the same and it will never be the same." Josh kisses me to stop me from saying anything else. "You're right," he says. "Everything's different and it's better this way. If thing hadn't changed I'd still be in the Outlands, President Caesar would still reign over Taramara, and we wouldn't have had the hope and courage to stand up to President Caesar in the first place," Josh says. "But if things didn't change Wendy would still be alive along with Bree and I could have lived a much simpler life," I add thinking of how my fake mother had killed Wendy and my parents just to get my trust in her hands and to steal their identities. 

          "Now we have each other and nothing will ever change that," Josh declares. I want to believe the words, but I can't. The best I can do for now is hope that he's right and go about my life. "Bye," I say and get up to go back to my house. Everything's fine and I intend to keep it that way.