Page 227 of Fragments
It startled me, that first bigbang. But when I saw the colored embers scattering through the air, I finally got it.
Wide eyes, mouth open to gustoohandaah, I watched them light up the night, adrenaline melting into a hypnotized serenity. Some boomed, some fizzed, some sparkled, but they were allloud,crazy,andbeautiful. Chaotic bursts of prismatic fire I just couldn’t take my eyes off of.
That something sodangerouscould become so exuberant; chemical reactions to thrill and dazzle.
Ever since then, I’ve loved watching fireworks over the ocean. Putting all of my racing thoughts on hold for the colorful explosions in the sky.
I try to channel it, when I’m feeling overwhelmed. When the anxiety is piling up, and too much is happeningtoo fast… I close my eyes and imagine fireworks.
That’s what I’m doing right now, with Ren’s hand gripping mine, loud clomping footsteps coming from every direction as tense voices boom and metal doors slam. Leaning my body into his warmth, I let him guide my way while I focus on his energy.
My controlled chaos. My beautiful, scary flourish of flaming bright color.
“What the fuck is this?!”
I flinch at the roar of Velle’s voice.
There are strangerseverywhere. Filing through the halls between our row and the adjoining corridors. Big, dead-eyed dudes in uniform—theiruniforms, which are distinctly different from those of Velle and his men.
I’m sure it’s intentional.
“Yo, what the fuck is going on, man??” Peters huffs, rushing over with Jasper, their bugged eyes giving away extreme duress. “Where’d these pricks come from??”
Velle is death-glaring at the men storming his halls, but they’re not paying him a lick of attention, and I can feel the rage coming off him in waves. I think he’s seconds from Hulk-bursting out of his clothes.
“He didn’t say anything to you?” Jasper asks him quietly, still eyeing the dudes who are wordlessly scurrying about.
“Is that a real question?” Velle hums, swallowing visibly. His eyes shift to Rook. “Get them back to their cells.” Then he tells Joy, “Round up the team. We’ll meet at the spot in twenty.”
They both nod and everyone disperses. Joy, Peters, and Jasper go one way, Velle charges in another, and Rook stays with us, motioning for us to follow him to the row.
My pulse is pinging, my hand sweating where it’s being comfortably strangled by Ren’s fingers. I turn my head slightly, checking on Kang and his new bestie, Trevel, both of whom are watching the commotion with the same amount of perplexity as the rest of us. Kang’s eyes meet mine for only a second before darting away fast. And my stomach falls even deeper.
When we left the rec room, Felix and Dr. Love headed back toward the East.Honestly, they’re probably safer down there than up here…
Surrounded by whatever the hell this is.
“You,” Rook growls at Trevel as he pushes open the door. “Hands on that wall. You move, I shoot you. Got it?”
Trevel doesn’t respond. He just gives Kang a puzzled look while obeying Rook’s orders, wandering over to the wall by the door and placing his palms flat on it. Rook brings us through, but we barely make it a step.
Three big guys clomp into the row. One goes to Kang, cuffing him fast and shoving him toward his cell. Another one grabs me, and the last grabs Ren. And they physicallypullus apart.
“What the fuck?!” Rook barks.
“No, wait…” I gasp, clinging to Ren’s hand as tightly as possible.
“Get off me, you fuck!” Ren hisses, fighting against the hold of the large man.
Rook gets up in the face of the guy who’s practically dislocating my shoulder, hand falling to his Glock. “Let him go.”
“Stand down, Officer Samuels,” the guy rumbles.
Rook’s face shifts in confusion. “How the fuck do you know my name?”
The guy’s head simply cocks, a smug ghost of a smirk passing over his lips.
Everything is happening so fast, the sounds of inmates shouting from inside their cells ringing in my skull. Trevel is grabbed hard by the arms and shoved forcefully against the wall. A pained grunt flees his lips while he’s cuffed aggressively behind his back, then yanked out of the row.
