Locked In

Date Unknown Time Unknown         Shoving, pulling, yelling. Every sense is overwhelmed. Everything seems to go so fast, I hardly process what’s being shoved into my hands. A map. Tears wet my face, but they aren’t mine. Quiet sniffles reach my ears. Arms wrap around my body--a final goodbye from my parents.         Feet pound as they race through grass, leaving the ground shortly as they jump over a short, wooden fence. Muffled gunshots and screaming echo behind.          I jolt awake, breathing heavily. My chest rises and falls rapidly. My eyes dart around, trying to come back to my senses. The soft cushions of the couch below me bring me back to reality. I relax, realizing it was a dream. I decide to walk around and try to clear my mind.          I enter a narrow hallway, observing the dark pictures on the walls. It’s hard to make out who is in them with the dim light. The hall leads to what looks like the master bedroom. I blink, my eyes starting to adjust to the dark, and I notice a figure on the king-sized bed. I cautiously step closer, soon recognizing it to be Bennett, fast asleep.          Light snores come from the sleeping boy and I smile gently. Finding a blanket at the foot of the bed, I gently drape it over him. I push some hair out of his face, being careful not to wake my friend. I exit the room and continue down the hall. I make my way up a flight of stairs, eventually coming across Scarlett sitting inside another bedroom. She's looking out a bay window, clutching a book close to her chest.         “Are you okay?” I ask quietly, trying not to startle her.          My attempts are futile though, as the girl jumps and turns to me. Shadows dance across her face from the moonlight.          “Yeah.” Scarlett clears her throat, setting down the book. “I’m just on lookout.”         "How long have you been up?”         She sighs. "I honestly don’t remember."         "Why don't you go to bed and I take over?" I sit on the sill next to her.          Scarlett shakes her head and looks out the window again. "I can't go to sleep," she whispers, her quiet words nearly going unheard.         "Why not?"         Scarlett continues to stare out the window, leaving my question unanswered. She brings the book to her chest again.         "Whose book is that?" I point to the leather-bound book.         "It's his songbook," Scarlett says softly, tears glistening in her eyes.         "Bennett's?"         "No." Scarlett pauses. "Ryker's."         My eyes go widen. I was too exhausted earlier to realize, but I remember now. This is Ryker's room. This is his bed, his books, his posters. . .his house. I take a deep breath.          "Hey, don't look so upset." I lay a hand on her shoulder. "We'll find Ryker."         Scarlett clutches the book tighter to her chest, staying silent.         I raise my brow. I can’t help but feel like she knows something I don't. I shake it off, nonetheless. "Let me take over. You need some sleep."         "I told you, I can't sleep." Scarlett presses her palm against her head. "Every time I close my eyes, I see Ry--I see all those innocent kids being gunned down, right in front of my eyes. I see myself killing that guard."         "That was self-defense. That's not your fault."         "Maybe not, but I still have this guilt." Scarlett swallows hard. "I never thought anything like this would happen."         I nod in agreement. "I don't think anyone did, except for the government and the President." Light begins to envelop the room as the sun starts to rise.          Scarlett stands, brushing off her clothes--ones I realize she must have changed. "We'll have to move when it gets dark again,” she says. “When the sun sets again, we'll find somewhere else to hide."         I nod my head in acknowledgment. "Should I wake up Bennett?"         "No, I can wake him. Just stay up here, draw the curtains, and keep a lookout for any guards. If you see any at all, we’ll move down to the basement." And with that, Scarlett leaves the room, but not before she sets the book down on the messy desk.         I stand up from my seat and close the curtains as instructed. I peek through the crack, only seeing other houses, empty streets, tall buildings, and the sun bringing light to the city.          A scream comes from downstairs. I bolt down the stairs and into the master bedroom to see Bennett on top of Scarlett, pressing a knife to her throat.         "Bennett!" I exclaim. "Stop!"           I grab him by his shoulders and use all my strength to pull him off of Scarlett. A small whimper of fear comes from the girl. I notice a small trail of red slipping down her throat.          "Shit!" Bennett blinks rapidly, dropping the knife. "Scarlett, I'm so sorry! I don't know what came over me."         Scarlett doesn't say anything. She just sits up, feeling at the small cut on her neck. As if in a daze, she examines the blood on her fingertips.         "Oh, no, I cut you--" Bennett takes a step towards Scarlett, who backs away, raising her left hand out to keep him back. Bennett’s lip quivers slightly.  "Scarlett, it was an accident."         "I know," she says softly. "I know you wouldn’t hurt me on purpose."         "What the hell happened?" I demand.         Scarlett suppresses a sigh. "G.I. Joe here apparently was sleeping with a knife under his pillow. I guess I scared him when I tried to wake him. Next thing I know, I have a blade to my throat."         "Scarlett, I'm so sorry," Bennett apologizes, guilt obvious in his eyes.         "I know you are." She feels at her neck again. "I'm gonna go clean this up. Just," Scarlett takes a deep breath, "you two stay away from the windows and out of sight." She walks into the attached bathroom, shutting the door behind her.         Bennett rakes his hands through his hair. "I can’t believe I hurt Scarlett. Why did I decide to sleep with a knife under my pillow?" He starts to breathe heavily, starting to hyperventilate. I bite my lip, trying to think of something to calm him.         "Protection. You did it for protection from what's going on right now," I shudder. "There are guards looking for us, and we have to do whatever it takes to survive."         Bennett nods, but I can tell he still feels awful for hurting Scarlett.         "You didn't do it on purpose," I add softly. I lightly place my hand on his shoulder, then walk out of the bedroom. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Bennett waiting outside the bathroom. I shake my head with a soft smile. No matter how many times he denies it, Bennett Hall is in love with Scarlett Anderson.