On Thin Ice

38.

Autumn Kingsley

"They're definitely trying to kill me."

"Can you blame them?" Atlas retorts back.

I scoff irritatedly as I stare straight ahead at the clusters of trees that were heavily engulfed in thick layers of snow. They were making us run an entire lap in the forest around the retreat centre — supposedly to warm us up.

And by us, I meant Atlas and I.

"It should only take you two about twenty minutes or so until you get back to us. Good luck!" One of the people in charge of the retreat informs us with exaggerated enthusiasm.

It was obviously to cover up the fact that he didn't want to be here.

At least we had something in common.

Pulling me away from my distractions, I take in sight of Atlas as he sets off ahead of me without warning; I follow after him, trying to regulate a similar pace as his.

"Jesus Miller slow down, this isn't a damn race."

"Mrs Sullivan never said anything about maintaining each other's pace Kingsley," he released a couple of heavy breaths as he spoke, but not the type where it sounded like he was struggling to breathe.

Watching as his lips form into an 'o' shape as he inhaled through his nose and exhaled through his mouth, I ask him another question.

"You run often?" I start up a conversation.

"Whenever I have time, yeah," my eyes were focused on the way his chest heaved up and down gently with each breath he took of the air surrounding us.

He was wearing a pair of jogging pants along with one of those compression long sleeves — the ones that had the fabric of the clothing tightly hugging around his entire torso, including his arms.

Cursing under my breath, I already start to feel my body becoming weak.

"This is so fucking stupid."

Atlas stifles a breathy laugh — showcasing his teeth, which was very rare especially around someone like me. "We've been running for five minutes Kingsley."

"Great fucking job, three hundred entire seconds isn't gonna do me any good Miller."

For the next five minutes or so, Atlas remains silent enabling him to listen to my annoyed complaints as I tried to keep up with him. "You're carrying me back if I pass the fuck out."

"So dramatic," he teases.

"Ever give yourself a break from complaining Kingsley? Or are you just never satisfied?" He questions nonchalantly, keeping his eyes to the front making sure he didn't cut himself off with the trees in our surroundings.

"People never seem to meet my standards. So to answer your question, no I don't and yes I never am satisfied," I answer breathlessly, "Jesus can we like, stop for a moment."

Running past me, he shouts back three simple words without looking back. "See you later!"

I exhale irritatedly as I looked around me.

Where the fuck am I?

- - -

"You weren't supposed to leave her," Lincoln's voice becomes more audible as I approach them.

"Well why didn't you volunteer to go jog with her instead?" Atlas replies with a tint of sarcasm and annoyance in his voice.

His eyes meet mine for a split second but he breaks contact acting as if a simple glance at me would be enough to set him on fire, before walking off towards his cabin — perhaps to change into some fresh clothes.