Book 3: Chapter 58: Lexy

Book 3: Chapter 58: Lexy
Lexy

I was trapped. A small room. No door. No window. Not even a vent. No chance of escape. How had I gotten there? Mydem flooded the air, but my own was useless. Locked away from me, completely inaccessible. Pain hit me like a truck, and I screamed. I hated how weak I was, how I gave them the satisfaction of my voice. I normally was better about keeping quiet, but this time was different. It was the worst pain I could remember, yet I was alone, and somehow that made it worse. 
A pair of small hands shook, and a loud scream was ringing through my ears. It took me a moment to realize I was the one screaming as my eyes opened to see Jamie standing over me, his hands on my shoulders. 
“Lexy, it’s okay.” He whispered. “You're safe.”   
I looked around the room taking note of where I was. It was always the first couple of nights in a new place that were the worst. As my eyes scanned the room in panic, I noticed that the spot next to me was empty. Seth was gone. 
“I’m sorry, Jamie, go back to sleep.”  I told the younger boy. 
“Are you okay?” He asked uncertainly.   
“Yea fine.” I answered, still fighting off the dream and the pain that was very real. “When did Seth leave?”   
Jamie shrugged as he stood in the doorway. 
“Sure you’re okay?” He mumbled sleepily. 
I nodded, and he headed back to his little room next door that he shared with Izzy, Lyssa, and now Calynn. 
I tried to just breathe for a couple minutes, hoping that the pain and the panic would settle, but it never did. I had been living with both for as long as I could remember, and I never could go back to sleep after. It was silly to think that it would be any different. 
different. 
When I mastered myself enough, I got dressed and grabbed all the papers I had been working on the night before. I was tired, but tired didn't get things done, so I slipped out of the tent as silently as I could and set up my little work area like I’d done for all those years I’d spent here.   
I just let the nightmares and pain slip away as I threw myself into my work. I had copies of the letters I was sending out for reference, and I needed more information of what Vivian was up to.   
“Nothing’s changed.” A voice came from behind me.   
I smiled.   
“Lydia, what are you doing up?”  I asked, looking at the girl who was about a year younger than me. 
“I’m on patrol tonight.” She answered easily.  
“Your dad finally gave in?” I smiled as she sat next to me.   
“More or less.” She answered. “Mom said he had to stop babying me and let me fight my own battles unless I ask for help.”   
“Seems fair,” I stated, turning back to my work. “You’ll be grateful for them though when something does go wrong. Even if they're crazy.” 
“Yeah, you're right,” Lydia said thoughtfully. “But you know, I wouldn’t be sad if the crazy was downplayed a little.” She said, standing up to her full height of just under 6 feet.  
“Fair enough,” I laughed. “Now go finish patrol before we all get killed.”   
She laughed now. “It’s almost dawn. They won’t try anything.”    
I looked to the east and saw that she was right. The sun was on the verge rising. The sky turning from black to blue.   
“Go.” I tried to sound light, but I really just wasn't in the mood to socialize, even with people I had known for years. “You don’t want to get in trouble.”   
“See, that’s where your wrong!” She called back as she walked away. “I was talking to the great Lexy Marks. No one would fault me.”   
I just smiled and shook my head. She was right. The people here knew me. But they didn’t know me. I had to be at my best.   
The sun was nearly fully risen by the time I was disturbed again. 
“Lexy,” It was Seth.  
“Hey,” I said a tad shortly. I was a little irritated that he left last night after telling me he was gonna stay. Actually, I was more than a little irritated. But that was probably because I was tired. At least that's what I kept telling myself. 
“Aiden came back.” He stated a little hesitant. “I had to go get him.”   
“Oh.” I felt angry at myself for being mad.   
“Yea. I’m sorry I left.” He was nervous. We had known each other for forever and he was nervous.   
I waved him off. “Is Aiden okay?" 
"Yes. We made sure he couldn't track us when we brought him here. He wasn't great, but he's fine." Seth admitted. 
Aiden was a part of our group, but he also was a spy for Vivian and as much as I cared for him, he was a danger to us all, and that scared me a little, especially after yesterday. 
“What are you working on?” He asked when I didn't say anything. 
“Today’s assignments. I need Annabeth and Alex to wake up though. I need them to approve everything before I can give anything out or even start my day.” I couldn’t keep my frustration out of my voice.   
“I can go wake them up,” Seth offered to try to help.   
“No no,” I said quickly. “Anna needs her rest. She’s in a new place, and she won’t have slept well. And who knows when Alex slept last. I’ve just been up awhile, and wanna get moving, but patience is a virtue.”   
"It looks like you've already started your day." 
"This is finishing yesterday." 
Seth gave me a weird look as he grabbed my hand.   
“Lex, you’re freezing.”  
I looked at him in surprise. I was in shorts and a t-shirt, but I hadn’t noticed the cool chill in the air. 
"I didn't notice." I answered honestly, brushing away his concern.  
And I was saved from what argument had been about ensue by Izzy and Jamie bounding toward us.