Broken

Chapter Forty-Six: Katrina

Word count: 1523

THUD!

    A bug flew into my open mouth.

My eyes snapped open as I wheezed out the small creature.

Is this what death feels like?

Jordan jerked away at the sound of my discomfort. He groaned. "Where are we?"

"I don't know. Hopefully somewhere safe." Tall stalks of chocolate bars rose above my head. Leafy greens swung back and forth to the symphony of birds. Shy hints of blue poked from underneath them. Stray curls of thick, dark brown jabbed into my peripheral vision. I rolled off the ground onto all fours. My joints cracked and popped and made me more nimble. Jordan's silhouette was already scouting out the area. There wasn't much to see other than woodland. The trickle of a river far away was quiet. I felt my face and my fingers still came back red. My legs cramped and my back was on fire. Heat radiated over my bare shoulders. I was still wearing the same bloody romper I made from scratch.

Jordan was still in his party clothes, a polka dot shirt and shorts. He was also covered in blood, my blood. A brilliant smile came across his face. "We did it. We can go home! You're safe!"

He got up, excited like a kid. "We did it! We did it!" He picked up a branch and swung. It hit a tree and snapped in half. A pile of leaves was flung into the air along with his giddy laughter. "We can go home! I missed California so much. I want my money!" He looked over at me. "Come on! We know where the campsite. We can grab some clothes and head back." He grabbed my arm and pulled. I didn't budge.

"Katrina? Hello?" He tugged again. I stayed put. "What...what's wrong?" His face deflated like a balloon at a fencer's birthday party.

"I'm not going anywhere. Not with you." I said. I let go of him and got up by myself. My stomach folded in on itself and clenched. "Aah..." I held onto a nearby branch.

"Katrina you're not well. You have to come--"

"I said no!" I yelled. "Every day of my life has been for you! I taught you how to read, I went to your football games. I joined the fucking cheerleading team for you! I moved next door to you as soon as there was an opening. And then we changed the entire course of history because of you! Then God gave me a big slap in the face as said 'you'll never get away from this guy, try again'. We live together and work together. When people think of me, they think you and I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!"

The earth shook. Jordan hesitantly opened his mouth.

"Shut up!" I snapped. "I'm sick and tired of you Jordan. This is the first time I can do something for myself. It's always been 'Jordan this, Jordan that'. 'Aren't you proud of Jordan?' 'Look at Jordan. He's going to be a star.'"

"Katrina that's not true."

"Yes, it..." I caved into my chest. A piercing stab cut a hole in my stomach. "Ah!"

"Katrina we need to get you home."

"To be your puppet?"

"To be my wife."

    "Real romantic proposal, Romeo. But I already said no." I spat.

"Katrina!" He begged. He bent down on his knees and sunk into the leave. All of his insecurities were out in the open. The great wall he always took pride in building was slowly deteriorating. "I love you. I love you, I love you, I love you. I've loved ever since we were kids. We've gone over this! You're the woman that I want."

"I know." I glanced at a berry bush. They were bright red and juicy. They might've been poisonous, I wouldn't know I wasn't a scout, but I wanted them so badly. I hadn't had anything other than soup and gumbo for weeks. It was like turning down a buffet; you can't do it and if you can, you're not human. "I know you probably believe that, too. It's a bunch of bull to me now, Jordan."