Labelled by Blood

      The ground reminded me this wasn't a dream. My body became dried concrete and the Collector stayed down.       I see. This is all the data I needed. Its horrible voice wormed in my brain.       I managed to take a few more steps forward and then it hovered into a standing position. The oily blood ran down its chest but it didn't look like it actually mattered to it. A single arm raised and the two bullet holes squelched shut with the sound of wet meat being sewn. Jesse had remained laying on the floor, his chest rising and falling. Parker's breathing was almost nonexistent.       I have no intention of killing you. If you had broken, then I suppose it wouldn't have been helped. But I intend on not leaving you in these states.       Huh? It was holding back? And it killed us, then just "oh well?" My blood boiled and I growled, unearthing a new strength I didn't know existed.       "So, what? You did this just to play with us? Because you were bored?"       Believe what you need to. I will leave you with a gift. You will not see me again. The Collector raised both arms, now, and the warm light from earlier now enveloped all three of us. My aches, bruises, and burn all gradually vanished.       "What did you want from us?" I asked. I wanted to shoot it dead. Actually kill it. But I was out of strim. I had nothing.       The Collector never answered. Instead, its ugly mannequin-esque face craned to look at Parker and Jesse. Both boys were still motionless. It looked at me and waved. Then it glitched and was gone. I dropped to my knees. Even though all my wounds were magically healed, I was exhausted, mentally overwhelmed, and just done with all of this. But I needed to make sure we were absolutely safe. I got up and dragged my feet to my backpack. I withdrew the mahogany box and plopped my stapler in there.       You did good. I just wished I did better. But at least Jesse and Parker should be okay.       I went up to them and examined their bodies. Neither of them looked hurt anymore, but if I was exhausted, I couldn't imagine what they felt like. I sat down between them and shut my eyes. I sobbed. Hard. Ugly. We did it. Kind of. The Collector said we wouldn't see it again, but it still felt like we were being watched.       Time passed and the sun had set. The moon was bright and clear. No clouds tonight. Jesse woke up, first. He was groggy but alive. I jumped on him and hugged and kissed him deep. He was confused, but happy as all can be to see me.       "Wait," he started.       I shushed him. "No. Let's talk tomorrow. Right now we need to get Parker up and go home. All of us."       He looked me in the eyes and he looked scared but trusting. I smiled, new tears finding their way loose. Parker woke up a few minutes later. Same story, just no kissing. And with Jesse. We helped him up and we started the trek home. On the way, I mentioned what Ms. Rohd had told me earlier. But, besides that, we didn't talk about what happened. It was better that way.       We got Parker home first and then I walked Jesse home. He told me to wait there and ran inside. I yawned. Then I heard a commotion. Parents freaking, Jesse exclaiming. Then it calmed down and he ran back outside with a faltering smile.       "I told them," he said.       "Told them what?" I asked.       "About us."       The world grew a little brighter. Like I got new glasses that let me see more. I threw myself at him with another hug. He kissed me on my forehead.       "And they were okay with it?"       "Hardly. But I don't see anyone else I could love more than you."       I pulled away, crying again. This time it was from an overflowing heart. I thanked him over and over again. Some might've called Jesse's confirmation "social suicide." He called it "true love." I liked that. A lot. I didn't want him to go back inside, but it was a Wednesday night. School tomorrow. Life moved on.       I walked away more than a spring in my step. The world really did seem clearer. The walk home was fast, and most people had already started heading home themselves. I passed by the gym and it hit me how weak I had been. The Collector showed me that I needed more than some defensive moves for melee combat       When I made it to my door, I took a deep breath in. I wasn't coming in any later than usual, but it felt like I was out all night and Mom and Dad would question me. I reached for the doorknob, but the door swung open. Mom and Dad stood there and immediately pulled me into a hug.       "Alex," Mom cried, "where were you?"       I was confused. "What do you mean?"       "Were you in the forest?" Dad asked.       I nodded, my neck forced into an awkward angle from how tight they were squeezing me.       "We got a call from your teacher," Dad continued. "Ms. Rohd?"       My breath hitched.       "She mentioned something dangerous was lurking in the woods," Mom cried some more. "We were worried you got hurt."       I shook my head. I didn't know where this was all coming from, but I didn't feel like I should share much with them. "No. Uh, I was out with Jesse and Parker."       They bought that and told me to be careful going forward. They then told me dinner was made and that they had an early shift tomorrow so they were headed to bed. I made my way to the kitchen and saw homemade burgers and fries with buttered rolls and corn on the cob. I broke down. For the third time that day. I ate slowly, savoring every bite. It was peppery, salty, tangy. Perfection.       I cleaned up the table and set the dishwasher. Then I headed to the living room. I needed some time to finally sit and think about things. As I sat down on the sofa, I noticed one of my parents left out the book they'd been reading this whole week.       "How to: Accept Them"       I was stunned. I caressed the cardstock cover that felt almost plastic-y.       They were really trying. Not just being random. I sat in the living room for a while. It was dark, and everything was silent. It was peaceful, but left me to my thoughts. The fight against the Collector replayed. We weren't perfect, but we got through it. My plan worked. I made the right call. My team did it. My heart sped up, and I felt like throwing up again. Something just didn't feel right. That thing survived in the end, but it said we were in the clear from it.       I took another bit to myself. Then I headed to my room. The night sky was vast and endless. Something tugged at my heart and made me smile. The moon was checking in on me and I was sure I was okay. I sat at my desk. My phone buzzed. It was Parker in a group chat, asking if we were safe and home. Jesse and I responded instantly to let each other know that, yeah, we were all home. Then I pulled out my stapler and set it on my desk. The blue was gorgeous. The gunmetal striking. I don't know why I ever doubted it.       I showered and changed into something more athletic and form fitting. I laid in bed, wondering what tomorrow held for me. I popped in some earbuds. Turned on some lo-fi. And went to sleep.