atomic number 77 [iris; day 1.5]

Pain shoots and radiates across my chest with every frightened, adrenaline filled breath I take. But through the black creeping at the edges of my vision, I can see my destination. White. Clean. Untouched and heavenly looking, I see nothing but a blank canvas in the distance. And that's where I'm going, where I'm running, where I'll get away and escape this whole thing. That's what we're all here for right? Me and Elvaina and Elettra? That's why we all volunteered? To escape?

It only makes sense that they'd choose to start over out there, right?

My vision blurs I stumble. My bones squeeze awkwardly against my lungs. I'm sure everyone still remaining hears me, so I bite into my tongue and keep my lips sealed, breathing shallowly through my nostrils. I'm almost to the edge when I trip over my over-sized jacket. But instead of my knee hitting solid ground and catching another bruise, I fall.

My tongue escapes the jail between my teeth so that I can scream, but there isn't enough time. The light disappears from my vision and I hit the ground before I even get the chance to blink.

I expect everything to hurt, but I don't feel a thing. Just like the day I fell from the third story balcony at home and broke my neck. I don't feel a thing. I lay alone and stare up at a ceiling, my fingers curling slowly at my sides. I let the tears roll down my cheeks, let the pink feathers of the scarf wrapped around my neck tickle my chin.

I think back to that day when I broke my neck. I blink; a butterfly dances through my vision. And because everything is similar to that day, I half expect to blink again and see my moms standing over me, to feel their hands pressed against my cheeks. I half expect to feel Jack's hand in mine. I blink with calculation, hold my eyes closed so that I can give them enough time to appear.

The pain returns so quickly that I pass out before I can open my eyes.