the seam( open)

Amber Phoenix

Everything feels ridiculously tense right now. And this makes my mind begin to go in circles like a Ferris wheel, although not enough to get me dizzy. But right now I cannot think extensively as usual, and this feels odd because I am always able to conjure up ideas and opinions. The only thing that my mind can register right now is that there are spies outside, Aris is crying, Tristy is thinking of an idea to get us all out of here, and Tom is pointing a gun in a general direction while helping Aris up to help her get out of the room. Wait, they are leaving?

I’ve been so focused on trying to figure out what is going on that I do not notice that Tristy, Aris, and Tom are already leaving through a narrow hallway leading to who knows where, perhaps to a safe place. In that case I have to leave before I get left behind and those spies barge through the door to take me hostage, and either make me an avox or kill me.

I then frown at the situation and take one last look at the door concealing me from the spies outside. A door that is the only thing that protects me from making those spies succeed in their mission. And thankfully by the time they figure a way to get inside the place, I will be gone from here.

My feet soon begin to drag me towards the extensive and narrow hallway. And as I keep moving forward with an increasing speed, I see no one around. They are probably far from me and somewhere safe by now. I’ll probably have to keep on going directly through this path and hope that it isn’t like those tunnel system the peacekeepers use to move through the district without anyone knowing about them. But what if this hallway is like that? Then I’ll get lost.

The idea of this happening makes me shiver and widen my eyes. I can’t get lost right now. What if those spies manage to get inside the place and find out about the hallway, and I’m still here trying to figure out a way to get to where the others are and suddenly get spotted by them? No, I can’t let that happen. I won’t give them the satisfaction to trap me and take me as a hostage.

I then start to run faster, as much as my legs can handle which isn’t much since I’m not a good runner. Maybe the fastest I’ve been able to make the mile is probably in seven minutes. And by the looks of this hallway, I’m going to have a lot to run and go around here carefully because this hallway is narrow and dark which is a problem for me because I’m claustrophobic. Although, I can say that this is a far by greater reason to try and get out of here as soon as possible before I sit down and silently scream from the horror of being in a closed place.

My eyes then stare at the long hallway which makes me frown and stop to jump a bit and prepare myself for some more running. I don’t know why I jump all the time to run long distances but maybe it’s because I’m usually restless, and seriously, I love jumping.

As soon as I decide to stop jumping in one place, I take a last look behind me and take a long deep breath. This is it, come on Amber. You have to run fast now before the spies get through the door. I think to myself as encouragement. I then resume running, but this time my speed is even faster than before. This is good, maybe I’ll be able to catch up to Tom, Aris, and Tristy.

And soon after traveling what seems like a long distance, I see the end of the hallway. That is when I sigh in relief, thinking that luckily this wasn’t another one of those tunnels like the peacekeepers use all the time. If that would have been the case I would have gotten lost and I’ve be running amok around the whole place. And this makes me crinkle my nose just out of the thought of it.

My speed then decreases slowly until I come to a complete stop. I am finally at the end of the hallway and quickly try to open the door, but it won’t open. This will require force. I think annoyed while pushing the door with all of my strength. And finally after a minute of struggle, I manage to open it only to be bathed in a burst of wind. I must be at the roof. How strange.

When I cross the door, I look about with insecurity as I think that I’ve maybe gotten lost and the others must be somewhere else. But my eyes suddenly get determination and gaze attentively at the roof to see that it is secure, and when they do, I begin to walk somewhat casually but with much stealth. That is when I notice everyone. My face then gets a hint of relief and happiness as I come to realize that: A) I’m not lost. B). that everyone is safe. And C) that no one else but us four are here.

I then sit down to rest up a bit, but quickly stand up to meet the others. And by the look of their faces I can see that by the commotion of what happened earlier, they haven’t noticed that I was missing. That’s good.

My legs then drag me to the side of the roof and notice that the spies are still looking around for us with dogs and even flashlights in plain daylight. But at least no one has thought of looking for us up here.

And I shouldn’t have mentioned that.

All of the sudden one of the spies stops looking through the bushes with his flashlight and casually looks up. He then gazes down and quickly stares up again. I think he has noticed me. That’s not good at all.

Without knowing if the spy has run to tell the others, I go towards Tristy, Aris, and Tom to tell them that a spy has noticed that we are up here. “The spies spotted us and are coming up here.” I say with a hurried voice while pointing downwards.

And just as I say that, some spies begin to come up to the roof by hovercraft.