“Don’t take what he said to the heart,” a voice said below me. Sitting up from the tree branch I was lying at, I saw Zoi below me. He continued to speak with a pained smile. “He was in pain. He barely knew what he was saying,”811Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3g2f2j79L
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I nodded at him, “I know. But it’s hard to forget about it when his questions were the exact same ones I have been asking myself.” 811Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8BZjz1vvY
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Zoi nodded in understanding. Then he sat on the ground, leaning on the tree trunk as he looked up in the sky. He looked so serene that I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. Then, suddenly, he met my eyes and I felt my heart stopped. So much agony were reflecting in his eyes that I found myself unable to breathe as he looked at me. Then, he gave me a smile that somehow told me how much he wanted to die.

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“We can’t be gods,” he said in a voice so low that I had to concentrate just to hear him. “There will always be a time where we have to make choices. Sadly, we cannot pick all of them. But, truthfully? It was inevitable. We, normal or not, are limited whether we liked it or not. We may be able to break the rules set by humans’ but- we will never be able to break free from the wills of the gods.”

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I didn’t answer. 

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I didn’t had too.

Weeks have passed since that eventful day with Griffin. We had set up a wooden cross with his brothers’ name on each of it and created a small resting place for them. Rose and Lily had grown forget-me-nots around it. Since we would never acquire the bodies, we had to settle on the cross. We all gathered around it as Griffin said his final goodbye and offered our prayers.

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Griffin had apologized for breaking down on me. I had also apologized for not being able to save his brothers but he waved that apology out of me. He said that it was their fault that they got caught so that I shouldn’t feel sorry. 

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When Griffin said that, I felt like a weight has been lifted off my shoulder. Sure, the memory is forever craved in my mind but I would not blame myself every time I remember it. 

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The two had quickly fell into routine. With Griffin’s telekinesis, heavy lifting were no longer a problem. We asked how they were captured, since Griffin alone would be able to help them escape. We found out that Reins were peaceful creatures at heart.

They have refused to use their powers to hurt anyone even though they were being tortured. Much like the rest of us a year ago when the soldiers tried to kill us. None of us had used our powers. Except for me. And Steven. But he only did it with my continuous pleading and command.

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That was the reason why the Reins would surely lose the war. We would run instead of using our powers. But, that would change sooner or later. Because anyone trapped would surely do and use anything at his disposal to escape. 

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Sooner or later, Reins would learn to fight.

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“Natasha,” a voice whispered urgently. 

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My brows furrowed as I tried to concentrate but I didn’t sat up from the tree branch I was lying at. I could hear the fallen leaves ruffled at every steps they made. I could easily distinguish two pairs of feet moving about below me. 

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“Natasha,” the voice called again. More urgent this time.

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I tried my very best to stay still. I didn’t want to eavesdrop but they were the one who came to my tree. Technically it wasn’t my fault, was it? I could hear them moving below me. I realized that the voice I heard was James’. What were they doing?

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“Stop this, James!” Tash angrily whispered. “I can’t believe your saying that after all that has happened around here!”

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“Can’t we be happy just because we’re in the middle of a war? I mean- we don’t know when we’ll die.”

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“We won’t die!” Tash interrupted. “Katra and the rest of you makes sure all of us are safe!”

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“I know that! But our time is limited, Natasha. Whether we like it or not. Why not make the best of it?”

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The two of them turned quiet but I could feel them moving. I carefully looked down, as to not alert them of my presence. Tash was leaning on my tree trunk and James had his hands on her waist. Their forehead pressed together and their lips met one another.

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Damn!

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Things got serious real fast. Awkwardly, I looked up at the sky and let the two finished whatever they were doing. I just hoped that they won’t do more. 

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“I love you, Natasha. Ever since I have laid my eyes on you.” James whispered huskily.

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“I love you too, James.”

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After what seemed like forever, I heard the two lovebirds walked away. When I was sure that they were really gone, I relaxed my stiff figured and jumped down from the tree. The branch shook as I did, making a few leaves fall.

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I dusted myself and walked out of the woods towards our camp. Annie and Carlos greeted me as I emerged. They both gave me a rose each. I smiled and thank them. After it, they ran towards the pond to play once more. 

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I couldn’t stop my heart from swelling with joy as I looked around the camp. I was so glad that I made the right choice a year ago. I made the choice of taking them with me when I escaped. It was a decision I would never regret. 

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“Katra!” Rose called from the little farm. “Look! We grew strawberries despite the heat!”

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I jogged towards her and knelt down on the ground and picked one strawberry and ate it. It was perfect. So sweet like it took a long time and care to grow it. I stood up and smiled at Rose and congratulated them on growing another fruit. 

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“When’s the last time you two had a whole day of rest?” I asked the sisters.

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“It’s nothing. We like working on this farm!” Rose answered enthusiastically.

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“We’ve been dreaming of using our abilities and we can here. We won’t stop!” Lily added.

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“I don’t want you to overwork yourself.” 

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“We won’t!” The two answered together.

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I laughed at them as they went about their way picking the new fruit they’ve grown. I excused myself and walked out of little farm. I saw the triplets racing towards the woods and Natasha was waving at James. I smiled at her. It was the first time since the war started that I saw Natasha so carefree looking. And I loved this side of her.

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“Katra!” Griffin’s voice called me and I turned around and saw him jogging towards me. I raised a brow in question. “The Dr. asked me to call for you.”

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I nodded and thank him before I made my way towards the clinic. I knocked three times on the door before I entered. I saw Carly on the table writing something. So, I cleared my throat and she turned to me with a smile. 

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“Katra, sit down.” She gestured to the chair in front of me. “This will be quick.” Then, she picked a syringe up.

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“My monthly dose of vitamins?” I asked and she nodded. “Uh, time flies. Seemed like only yesterday when I got mine.”

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Carly laughed at me. I knew that a month have already passed but I just hated medicines since from the start. Though, I knew this one was safe since Carly created it herself. She would inject us all each month to avoid getting sick.  That’s the reason why none of us ended using the clinic. Except for some few scraps and wounds from the manual labor.

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As soon as she was done, she cleaned the part where she injected me. I stood up and thanked her before I left the clinic. Coleen waved at me from the main cabin’s porch where she and Natasha was talking. I smiled at them and started to walked towards them. On my way, I saw Zoi helping Drew with something by the men’s cabin. 

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Then, I met his eyes and they were so full of life, leaving no evidence of the shadow I’ve saw weeks ago. He never left my eyes as I crossed the camp. And when he gave me his warm smile, I felt my heart stopped. 

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​This man really makes me wonder about him.