We walk into the growth of trees to find shelter in the warm summer night. As we walk deeper, it gets darker and the crickets and frogs get louder. And out of nowhere, a towering expanse of matter blocks out path.
"What is this?" I tug on Ash's arm.
"It looks like an old building. From before Monroe's reign. I think these are called bricks." He touches the red and brown patchy surface of the wall.
"Should we set up camp in here? I don't see any caves." I pull the door open cautiously.
"I'd say this is the best we've got. I don't think anyone would be here. After you." He leads us into the building and closed and locks the door behind us.
"Thank you, kind sir." I curtesy sarcastically.
He sticks his tongue out at me. "I was trying to be a gentleman."
"Trying being the key word." I giggle and he tickles my side.
As we register our setting, I realize that this place is an insane asylum. The place reeks of vomit and death. A crazy feeling of abandonment creeps into my heart and I feel sorry for those who were locked away here and, for some reason, I feel remorse for the abandoned hospital itself.
I skitter my hand across the walls, searching for what they used to call a "light switch." I finally find one and flip it up. Funny how electricity is still running out here. The lights flicker for a moment and then stay on, filling the room with light.
I look around at this poor structure. Plants are growing through the cracked concrete floor. The beds, lined in gossamer curtains of cobwebs. Yellowing bed clothes are tucked away and folded neatly in an open storage closet, so I walk to get enough of them for each of us.
We each check the bed clothes for bugs and snakes and use the clean ones. In this room, there are only two hospital beds in the room we're in, so Ash and I will have to share. I don't believe either of us is opposed to the idea.
I glance around the room. There are bars on the window. And eighteen huge locks on the only door. No one can get in, and no one has to stand guard tonight. We can all get some sleep and be on the top of our game tomorrow.
"Let's all turn in." Ash puts the bed clothes on our bed and slips his shirt off.
I slide out of my jeans and curl up beneath the blanket in just my tank top and panties. He climbs in next to me, his bare chest pressed to my barely clothed one. We lay there side-by-side, Ash and me. We don't speak for a while. We just stare at each other, eyes wide. Neither of us is a bit sleepy. The quietness begins to overwhelm me and I have to speak.
"How long have you liked me?" I prop myself up on one elbow.
"Since that day, at that time." His whisper carries throughout the whole room.
"Oh yeah! It was in that month of that year." I giggle and poke his stomach.
"Seriously. Think back to the first time I ever acknowledged you."
"The party?" Confusion hits me like a freight train.
"Before that. Think." His smile stretches from ear to ear.
"The day before the party?" Now I'm just guessing.
"Second grade. The day you moved here."
I think back to that day. Mrs. Ecruma paired us up for an art project. We had to capture our partners on paper. He would've had to draw all the wrinkles on Mrs. Ecruma's face if I hadn't walked through the door.
"Really? Since the day I drew a stick figure and said it was you?" I choke on my own saliva while trying not to laugh.
"Since the day I copied your features perfectly, then copied the copy. I refused to give up the original because it looked identical to the little girl in the purple and black dress with the charcoal pigtails." Tears mist in my eyes as he speaks.
His large, jewel-colored eyes stare into mine with love and intensity as my gray eyes peer into his with curiosity. His glittering orbs close and his face gets closer to mine, his lips taking possession of mine. Our lips move together in sync, his tongue intertwining with mine. Te sensation is overwhelming, but I pull away.
"What is it?" He caresses my cheek with his fingertips.
"Before we got here, to this hospital, there were more spies. This was when Keagan was shot." I grab his fingers to stop them from moving.
"Yeah. I know this. What about it?" He drops his hand to the small space of bed between us.
"Who shot him? Was it one of the androids, or you?" I stare into his eyes intensely.
"They were androids? I thought they just didn't like water." He laughs.
"This is serious, Ashland Redfield. Who shot him?" My voice is a growl.
"It wasn't an android. They had no weapons. We were the only ones shooting. They were like ninjas without the swords." He looks at me intensely.
"I only shot once and the bullet fell to the ground." I realize.
"I was shooting to get them off of him. I don't think any hit him, but I'm not sure." He looks at the pillow, guilt smudging his perfect features.
"Was it on purpose?" I make him look at me.
He stays quiet. Tears streak my face and I know that he meant to shoot him. I know it. He's jealous of him because he's been my best friend forever.
I stand up and walk across the room. He tries to follow, but one glare sends him back to the bed.
"I didn't." He plops onto the bed.
"Who did? Why did they? No one was shooting but you! My bullet landed on the asphalt!" My arms wave in the air dramatically.
"If I did, it was an accident. I didn't know it would hit him. I wanted to get those freaks off of him. I did it for you. If he had died, you would've shut everyone out. That includes me. I didn't want you to go so soon." Tears fall from his grassy eyes.
"I can't believe I got angry." My whisper carries across the ancient fortress.
"You scared me, Mercy. I don't ever want to lose you, love." His tears are overflowing freely.
"I'm sorry. I overreact. You should know that by now." I climb back into the bed and his arms go around me at an instant.
I feel something in his pocket pressing against my side. It pops and cracks like paper. I reach into his pocket and unfold the yellowing old paper.
"You kept this?" Tears fall down my face.
"Yes." He holds me closer.
I stare at the sketch of a black-haired, eight-year-old girl. I know he will always love me if he's kept this for eight years. I fold it back together and return it to his pocket.
"I can't believe you kept it." I smile from ear to ear.
"I'm gonna keep it forever." He kisses my lips.
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