(REWRITING) The Skylar Experiment : Coveting

Chapter Twenty-Eight - Time to Talk

EMMA

THE REST OF THE NIGHT in Oldbridge had been a blur. We carried Mary to a hospital to check why she was unable to feel her legs. Soon after, the doctor declared she was paralyzed from the waist down. No one really knew what to do to comfort her but she seemed to accept the news like she was already at peace with the perspective. Those were the risks that came with hunting, and she had been aware.

Her resilience amazed me. 

I'd asked Mr. Spencer about that shockwave following both of the Wanderers' deaths. He explained that all the energy accumulated in their body evacuated at once, letting out an incredible force strong enough to throw you off if you stood closely. 

When we left the hospital and got to the parking lot, Ian pulled out a couple of cans of beers and passed them on, sighing. Though this was in Mary's honor, I shook my head, gently pushing a can away when they offered me one.

"Yer our aim was remarkable, rookie. Ain't never seen anything like it."

It didn't feel right for me to drink when Mary wouldn't walk again. "Thanks but not tonight."

Miles brushed my arm. "You did great out there, Emma. It was impressive."

"Didn't think you had it in you," Malik added after chugging down his beer. "I can't imagine what you'll be like when you're done training."

I hadn't been sure if I would seriously train in the long run, but after this encounter, something clicked. I could do this despite what I'd seen. I could help prevent others from getting hurt. I'd never want anyone to go through the trauma of surviving a Wanderer's attack or dying from it, and this town has never been off the hook. People have suffered enough. 

Before we parted ways, some hunters patted me on the back. Then Mr. Spencer, Miles and I rode back to Oakwood where I was dropped at my house. I said goodnight to my parents curled up on the couch and went straight to my room.

It has been a few days since then and I have become more resolved with my trainings. I was improving a little on my timings and reps. Miles made it a crucial point to practice my aim after seeing me handle the carbine. I could finally try out the weapons. For now, it was the crossbow and the knives.

It all made me hungry, and I think I'd gained some weight back yet I felt lighter when I walked and quicker. I didn't feel like I was made of glass anymore and I didn't miss it.

And yet, I still had to go to school.

This morning, I gathered my courage and showed up in English, the period I missed the most on. Mr. Kennedy blinked twice when I entered, but no one looked more surprised than Riley.

Luc's stare followed me as I reclaimed my empty desk next to her. Yesterday, I'd seen Riley bolt down the hall and out the doors right after he left, and they disappeared from the landscape. I assumed the two had been gone the whole afternoon when I didn't spot them at their lockers at the end of the day. 

"Hey," Riley said, turning her head. "Long time no see."

"Yeah, hey." I tidied my textbooks in order and made them fit straight with the desk corner, placing my pencil case specifically in parallel. 

"So, what's up?" She attempted a smile and it was overdrawn. Since that man appeared on the field, she seemed to skirt around me. "How are you doing?"

I knew things were weird and tense between us. She strongly disagreed with me befriending Miles and still thought he was Lucifer in disguise. I wasn't blind.

"Good." Better, in fact. I felt like I was finally getting a grip. "You?"

She nodded, staring back at the board as the teacher wrote today's plan. The bell rang, and we couldn't speak to each other anymore. Not that we had anything extra to discuss with the rift growing between us. However, at lunchtime, Riley approached my locker, one hand holding her backpack strap, the other in her pocket.

"Listen... I really think we need to talk about stuff once and for all."

A pang of hurt shot through me at the realization that she was missing out on everything I was doing, and that the same probably applied on my part. I felt bad for straying away from my friends and doing this to them. I was the only one to blame, I knew. It was my decision. 

I wanted my friend back, but friends shouldn't give me ultimatums or judge my personal choices. Sure, Riley was concerned and she cared. So did I. But she needed to understand that Miles was not who she thought he was. 

"You're just going to repeat the same thing, Riles." I sighed, tired of this. "That's not going to magically change my mind."

Her eyes glimmered with worry. "Please don't do this. You haven't seen what people like him are capable of."

I closed my locker, grabbed my coat and headed for the doors, needing fresh air. She followed behind. "Believe me, I have, and they work very hard. You may not like it but I think that's admirable. They just want to keep people safe, is it that hard to understand?" 

My legs continued toward the parking lot idly. I simply wanted to walk while running my mouth. Riley matched my steps with ease and her hand shot out. She turned me around, confronting me to her outraged—borderline angered—expression. 

My arm immediately rotated in a way to break her grip. Her shock deepened as she let go, staring back at my glaring face. 

"How the hell can you say that if you've seen what they can do!?" she yelled and distanced herself. "They are horrible people and I can't believe you're actually picking their side! God, I thought this was just some phase and that you'd see eventually but I was wrong. I didn't want to shake you after what happened to you but this is going too damn far."

"Really? It pretty much seems to me like you're just believing everything Luc says without questioning it. You guys are basically as thick as thieves now, am I right? He's got a one-track mind and you're only making it worse. Trust me, I've known him longer than you have and I know what I'm talking about."

I was fuming. How dare she accuse me of not seeing clearly? I haven't seen an ounce of cruelty from Miles and I've been with them on an expedition already. Riley and Luc never even spoke to him or any of them. They had nothing to support this preposterous opinion. Luc has always hated strangers and outsiders. He did everything to keep them away from his family and had tried it on me until Lauren forbid him from doing it again. Sure, I was over it now but I didn't forget that.

Most of all, I did not forget what his kind was capable of. 

Of course he would throw around his beliefs in this situation. He felt threatened by the hunters. I never meant any harm for the mutants yet he hadn't hesitated to try and hurt me at first. So many tried. What were the chances that this was any different? 

Riley stepped back, shivering in the cold. She should just go back in the school and leave me alone. I didn't want to fight with her, but she gave me no choice if she decided to hammer me with this issue. 

"You can't possibly be okay with what the hunters are doing." Tears shone in her gaze as her voice lowered. "You're like a different person." 

"You should look at yourself before telling me that! Even Sam and Jen have noticed and I bet Adam's not too happy either!"

My tongue slipped on the words before I could stop them, but it was too late. She sucked in a breath like I'd smacked her with a spatula. For a second, I wanted to apologize for letting that out. Instead, I turned away from all this and trudged into the parking lot. 

I didn't see the blue minivan driving through until it honked at me. It swayed uncertainly, tires slipping across the ice and unable to brake. Like a slow bypasser, I froze as the bumper rolled toward me with flashing lights. My boots were rooted to the frosted asphalt. I caught a glimpse of the driver who struggled to reign his vehicle, a look of panic in his face. 

Riley screamed my name. 

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...Whoops my hands slipped on the keyboard so that happened 🙃