Missing Streams

A Quick Drive - 4

As James and Simon caught up to me, I took a moment to study the area we found ourselves in. Simply the idea of a correctional facility made me expect it to be in some downtrodden area, with the beauty of a burnt forest to tie up the atmosphere. Instead, there was a gentle breeze coming from across a large field. Tall grass continued until it was broken by trees, which were just like the ones that surrounded us; consisting mostly of spruce and pine trees. Were those the same thing? I didn't think they were. I looked up at the clear blue sky as I heard the shrill cry of an insect echo across the runway. I tried to think of what would make that noise when James was trying to get my attention.

"Hey, I think we're headed there." He pointed behind me, and I turned to see a broken down school bus. Well, it obviously wasn't completely broken down; it was still producing an ungodly amount of fumes that told me it was running. It had been painted black, but that had chipped away in some spots, rusting in others. The tires were beat up and it was missing a side mirror, but if it worked I guessed it worked. Before I could worrying about riding in that rust bucket, the doors opened and someone stepped out.

Heavy boots kicked up dust as a tall woman walked towards us, a smirk covering her face. Her blonde hair was cut into a buzz cut, making me immediately grab at my own hair in some attempt to save it. I looked closer and saw she had a nose piercing; a small stud on the left side of her nose. I thought of my nose ring on the opposite side, and wondered if they had ever given any sort of dress code. Before I could think too much, the woman started talking.

"Finally! They told me I was getting a girl on my squadron, and I was worried you weren't showing up!" Her voice boomed with authority, but also a natural confidence. She wore black cargo pants and a black windbreaker, making me wonder if this temperature was considered cold where we were. The location of the facility was never told to us, and while our parents knew they weren't allowed to tell us if they wanted to. I had long since gotten over the fear that came with that knowledge, but it still sent a shiver up my spine as I stood in the middle of god knows where.

"Come on then, get on the bus." The woman's voice interrupted my thoughts as she pointed behind her at the school bus, "Your bags are already in there. Go sit with your stuff and get comfy. I'm Pharlain, by the way, but I don't give a rat's ass whether or not you remember that."

Pharlain got back on the bus as quickly as she left it, and I couldn't think of anything to do but follow her. My only other options were to run off into the woods or sit on the runway like a kid having a temper tantrum. I briefly entertained the thought of hijacking the plane, but I had no idea how to fly one. I finally picked up my feet, moving to get on the bus.

***

Pulling my backpack even tighter over my shoulders, I watched the school bus drive down the street. I was happy it picked me up at a determined corner so nobody knew which house I lived in. Even without my old clothes and dirty backpack, the neighborhood I was in was enough to tell everyone what my life was like. I erased that thought from my mind, determined to be happy for my first day of school.

The bus pulled up and stopped, the door opening by itself as if by magic. The bus driver was a nice looking lady, who looked sad as she looked at me. I practically jumped up the stairs, but she was still looking at me oddly.

"Your mommy was supposed to be waiting with you. Where is she?"

I swallowed hard, suddenly embarrassed. I searched for an answer, unable to think of anything as her screaming voice echoed through my skull. Feeling the pressure of dozens of eyes on me, I managed to mumble that she was sick.

***

We apparently had predetermined spots, as my duffle bag was near the front while James' and Simon's things were closer to the back. I quickly sat down, ignoring the nausea that threatened to make me vomit. James threw me a grin as he passed by, Simon smiling slightly as he nodded in my direction. I figured I couldn't have gotten those two off my tail if I had wanted to, and figured there was no point in scaring them off. Pharlain didn't offer us any information before she started driving, so I decided to get information from other people talking if I could.

But as the bus kicked into gear, throwing dust behind us as it drove, nobody spoke a word. I raised my head to make sure everyone was still there, which they were. In a bus full of teenage boys, one teenage girl and a woman, not a person dare speak. I wondered how long they had been here, but it seemed like a bad time to ask.

And so we sat there, twiddling our thumbs and staring out the window as we awaited our destination. My mind was weighted down with questions, but I decided to ignore them and take a moment to relax.

***

After blanking out for some fifteen minutes, I tuned in to see a building in the distance. It was big and grey, but I couldn't make out any other features. I stared at it as we drove, the windowpane cool on my forehead as I leaned against it. Once closer, I could make out a barbed wire fence and tall grass confined within it. With the sheer amount of trees surrounding the fence, I could tell they had cut out this part of the forest just for that building.

Approaching the lot, it was eerily empty despite the nice weather. I chuckled at the fact that it reminded me of home, losing myself in my thoughts.

***

"What's wrong, Scar?" Sam asked, pushing me slightly with her shoulder, "You look sad. Like, sad about reality instead of something like losing against the Elite Four. Talk to me."

I let out a deep sigh, looking at the ground below us, "My parents have done something pretty major. I didn't do anything to set them off, but I guess it's just everything that set them off."

When I remained silent, Sam urged further. She tried to get me to look at her, but I couldn't meet her eyes as she spoke, "What did they do?"

I forced my eyes shut and she put her hand on mine, letting me see her scars when I looked at her again. She waited for me to speak, and I knew she wouldn't move until I did, "My parents are sending me to some bootcamp, saying I need to stop with the drugs and whatever."

"Are you gonna go?"

"Yeah, I have to. They said if I don't, they'll report me for possession of pot and file a missing person report. And before you ask, no we're not skipping town and running away. I'm not putting you guys through that. Okay?"

Sam nodded, eyes closed, "Okay."

We sat together there in silence for a moment, atop an old brick wall that threatened to crumble beneath our weight. I wanted to say something, but nothing felt right. So I didn't talk as both of us waited for the other to say something, when Sam wrapped her fingers within mine.

"If you're going away we might as well have some fun before you go. What's the use of going to bootcamp if you haven't broken enough laws to deserve it?"

I laughed, looking up at Sam, "Let's go break into that construction site."

"I never thought you'd ask."

***

As the building drew closer, I could make out more details. It looked like it was three stories tall, but I could only guess from the windows. I couldn't tell how far back the building reached, but I imagined it was fairly big. There was a second, much shorter building just outside the fence, which I guessed must have been a garage considering the large doors. I couldn't see anywhere they might keep the school bus, and wondered if they even needed more than one. Probably not.

The yard was poorly kept, with tall grass and various weeds growing anywhere that wasn't asphalt or concrete. Various trees scattered the area, but none were anywhere near near the fence. We drove up to a large gate that someone had to come out of a small shed looking building to open. I couldn't imagine very many people came through that gate most days, and wondered if that job was boring.

It was nice to think about something as simple as a boring job when I'd be here for the next year.