#maryim

Addy unlocked the door to Oscar’s-and Rhyder’s, she guessed-house. She had a key of course. She pushed the door open and was immediately welcomed by the Lil’ Bit. He nuzzled up against her hands and laughed, leaning down giving him a good rub. “Sorry bud, I don’t have any goodies,” she apologized, rubbing his ears. “Where’s Oz, huh?” she asked, “He missed our lunch date,”

Addy stood and walked through the living room, patting Baz on the head in greeting as she passed. She frowned. Oscar wasn’t in the living room, nor was he in the kitchen. It was usually one of the two, unless he was…

“Oh gods,” she mumbled, trudging up the stairs. Her suspicions were confirmed when she heard the low base of the song coming from Oscar’s room.

Addy pushed door the open to the dark room and leaned on the door frame.

“She break up with you, huh?” she asked, crossing her arms.

A moan was all she got in response. Addy rolled her eyes and pushed off the door, heading over to sit on the edge of the bed. She saw this coming. Rhyder saw this coming. The dogs saw it coming. And yet, she placed her hand on his leg.

“There, there, bud,” she consoled. “She didn’t deserve you,”

“I’ll never love again,” Oscar moaned into his pillow as he readjusted.

“Sure you will, buddy,” Addy assured. She then perked up, “Do you want to do something fun?” she asked. If Oscar were a dog, his ears would’ve perked up. “Do you want to go to that crappy Mexican place and eat a plate full of nachos. I’m buying,” There was a pause,

“Can we get a strawberry marg?”

“Of course,”

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 Roxanne McLaughlin did not get jealous. Why would she? She had everything she needed, and could get anything she wanted. She was on track to place in State in Fencing, she was on track to be valedictorian, and she had colleges and universities practically begging for her admission. She had no need to even entertain the idea of jealousy.

So why did she get a pit of envy in her stomach when someone else was taking Elliot’s attention?

She watched the interaction across the room as lecture had ended, and the class had free time to do work. Elliot was leaning so casually on the back of her chair, and she chatted so easily with their classmates next to her. Elliot must’ve said something funny, because the other two chuckled.

Roxie put her pen to paper as she scratched a mistake maybe harder than necessary. The pit in her stomach widened slightly. Why did she feel like this? She didn’t really care about anyone else’s attention?

She did, but not in a way that really mattered to her. So why was Elliot so different?

“Hey Elliot?” She found herself asking, leaning on her hand and looking at the shorter blonde.

Elliot glanced over and smiled widely. She had a cute smattering of freckles gathered around her nose, and they crinkled when she smiled.

“Hey Rox, what’s up?” “Oh,” Roxie blinked, she didn’t anticipate this. The hesitation was too small for anyone to notice though, only to her.  She smiled. “Do you want to come over after school?” Elliot smiled wider, if it were possible. “Sure,” she agreed.

“Great,” Roxie said, nodding to herself.

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They had just made camp after leaving Pendrell’s home. The rest were sleeping. Maryim wasn’t. Though not for lack of trying, however. She looked up at the canopy from her bedroll and sighed deeply before wincing. Her bandages had been changed, but it was still rough going. The stars peaked through the dark tree leaves, and Maryim sighed again.

She had died.

She had left this realm.

She saw a god. She saw the missing god.

The one that she and her group of friends were now tasked with finding.

What had they gotten themselves into? Physically, Maryim was healing. Spiritually…she wasn’t so sure. Her body was here, and so was her mind. But she felt…hollow, in a way. Like something had been taken from her. She just felt colder. Not physically, but it was something she couldn’t place, and it worried her.

Things seemed to be getting more dangerous for their motely crew, and Maryim wasn’t sure how to protect them. That, and Civilization has seemed to have abandoned her. Anytime she reached out, all there was static. She had mistepped with Her, but Maryim had sincerely apologized. Surely Her other followers and faulted in some way. Why was She ignoring Maryim?

She groaned and gingerly turned to her side, playing with a blade of grass. And they had to go to the Capitol to investigate this Red Salt. Whatever it was. Maryim had a sinking suspicion that its grasp went much deeper than they thought. That, and that it was going to be tougher to defeat. And what did it have to do with the plain of red crystals in that plain? Were they connected? How did they connect? Oh! Let’s not forget that she had to eventually face her mother and try to explain ---

Stop. She told herself, squeezing her eyes shut. You’re just tired. And in pain. And your neck is cold. Go to bed.

Maryim groaned once more and buried her head into her headrest.