Together

Chapter 3

Stars eyes fluttered open. Completely forgetting what had happened the day before, she got up and walked over to her balcony, gazing at the beautiful sunrise. She walked down stairs to enjoy her morning breakfast burritos. Marco was wrapping them as she sat down at the table. He set them on a plate in front of her, and sat down on the opposite side. 

"So Star, about last night..." A wave of memory washed over her as she jumped out of her seat. "We need to go save Janna! If she gets hurt I'll never forgive myself!" Marco saw the horror in Stars' eyes. He jumped up and pulled Star into a hug. Unable to resist, Star hugged back. The emotion washed over Marco once more, so he pulled away. "I saw Tom fall unconscious before I was sent back home." He said. "Janna probably ran away." Star nodded. "Yeah. You're right." 

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Janna was running out the door but stopped. She looked back at Tom. Janna scowled at herself, then she walked back toward him. She knelt down beside him and did a quick run through, steady pulse, no signs of outwards body damage, she figured, it was thorough exhaustion. She carried him back to his bed. She fixed the fire. It made Janna think about her past, a flashback washed over her in a wave of memories. 

[Flashback] She was home running about doing chores around the shack she called home. A miserable groan came from a bedroom. "I'll be right there Samuel." A mumble came from Samuel's bedroom. Janna walked into his bedroom with a plate of medicine. "Here you go Sam." He took the medicine and swallowed it in one. 

"Thanks Janna." He coughed horribly. "You're the best little sister ever." Janna smiled sadly. She didn't have the heart to tell him that was the last of the medicine, and that they couldn't afford more. "Get some rest, Sam." Janna said softly. "Okay-" he coughed roughly "-Janna." Sam leaned back and closed his eyes. Janna left the room quietly. She sighed as a tear rolled off her chin. [End of Flashback]

Just then, back in Toms' fortress, Tom woke up and saw Janna near the fire. As she turned around to see what caused the noise, Tom pretended to be asleep until she turned back toward the fire. Tom opened his eyes once more and smiled at the girl who hadn't run away from him like he was a monster, but stayed and cared for him like he was a normal...thing.

Janna thought once again about her past, but a little later. The day she left the town of Rinbreak. 

[Flashback] Samuel was worst than ever. She tried everything she could to make him better. Cleaned then washed away the chemical fumes, dusted then burned the duster but nothing she could do worked. The last day she watched Samuel in tears. 

"Janna." He said coughing hard and cold. "You must always stay who you are-" he coughed horribly for a moment before continuing. "-care for those who are hurt and never, ever let..." His breath shorted as misery and pain washed over him, his body shook violently and all Janna could do was watch as her brother cried in agony. "Never let what!" Janna cried out. But Samuel's eyes already glassed over. She cried out over the shack, the silence folding in on her as she bawled her eyes out. 

Suddenly rage formed inside her. "Never let people in." And Janna lived by that... for now. she furiously packed her bag. Using all her and Samuels' savings she rode a bus to as far as she could get. "Echo Creek." She said. "Here I come." [End of Flashback]

Janna listened carefully. She knew he was awake. She wasn't stupid. So she decided to play a little joke. "Well, I suppose now would be a good time as ever to kill Tom and get out of here." She said. 

"Wait What!" Tom sprang out of bed made a fireball ready to throw. "Ha ha!" Janna laughed. "I got you good, Redhorn! She exclaimed. Tom smiled, embarrassed. "Yeah, I guess you did." He admitted. Janna got up. "Well I best be going. You're up and in perfect heath, so if you would just point me to the exit..." 

"Wait! Tom said. Have you ever seen a bonefire?" He asked. "You mean bonfire?" Janna inquired. "I know what I said." Tom answered. "No I haven't, but it sounds cool." Janna admitted. Tom nodded. "Come with me, Janna. I'll show you around."