Trials

Chapter 10- Jay

          Mya lay groaning and twitching on the soft grass. Jay and the others had left her there with the request of water, but Jay ignored her stupid request to leave and spent a few days watching over her, even bringing the foul jaguar cub to her side. She was unconscious, never waking once, and she had a blistering fever, so Jay mostly spent her time without thought, soaking some moss down into puddles and bringing it back to run the fresh water on her forehead. Eventually Jay found it as a sort of comfort. To calm herself, to distract her from the fact that her best friend was dead or being tortured alive(she hoped dead over t*****e) sometimes she'd tell Mya stories her mother had told her. Or her fake one anyways, if Noah was right. In the past two days Jay had kept quiet. Not just because of the cams, but because no one would believe her. She'd mentioned the memorial a couple of times, but no one seemed to remember. And as for the note- The note! Jay took the ragged note out of her pocket and studies it, just as she had been when she wasn't taking care of Mya. She unfurled the crumpled, ragged edges. Doing her best, she peeled off some mud on the torn edge and read aloud the messy handwriting.

         "Far south from the Himalayas sanctuary. The siblings will be extracted to there. Contact Mack Houston will be waiting with them and a jet on the date printed. Deliver these instructions to second contact, Jordan Fellerman on the date printed at the bottom, when the jet will be awaiting your return. If no one returns, or the you return without Mack and the siblings, I will assume it was a failure and the plane will leave at dawn. But we have assessed your first mission as an easier one. I'm afraid I cannot come with you for my wife is with child and Daniel would never let me come. I'm counting on you- Your dearest distant cousin, Juno" 

         There was a smeared part after you. Jay guessed it was... a name? Whether it was smeared by accident or on purpose she wasn't sure though. She could barely make out a comma after the smeared part maybe even an A in the word, but the whole note itself was badly damaged, torn, and smeared horribly. Even the date at the bottom was horribly disfigured. It wasn't actually a real date because it was all in letters. Maybe it said noon or maybe next Tuesday, but it was impossible to be sure. In fact, when she thought she made a letter out, it lined up with the others as gibberish.

        Jay let out a noise of exasperation somewhere between a wheeze and a sigh. She set the note down and lay down beside Mya. Small droplets of rain start to sprinkle her face and Jay pulls in a branch to shelter the two. Mya finally stopped twitching, so Jay settles a bit.

          "What are we going to do?" Jay whispers to the unconscious girl. "We're stuck. We can't... we won't ever be free." The words from the memorial shook in her mouth. 

          "Well you surely won't, moping around like that."

         Jay snaps her head up in surprise when she hears a burst of laughter behind her. Jay flings her head around in anger, expecting to see Liam, Ari, maybe even Josh, spying. But instead, she sees a brown haired girl and an older boy with pale skin and curly black hair snorting with laughter.

                 Jay stands up and ducks in front of Mya defensively.

                "Who the hell are you!" She snaps.

                 The girl stops laughing and slaps the boy on the shoulder. "I told you! I told you she wouldn't know!"

                Then Jay comes to a slow realization.

                 "Oh! You were the people who were talking with Noah! At the memorial! Courtney... and... Cris?"

               Courtney smiles. "So you do remember, good! Well... mostly! This is Jordan. Cris is just as clueless as the rest. I guess we're the last three then. That... remember the memorial..."

             Jay's thoughts were elsewhere. Jordan. Jordan Fellerman. In the note. Was it the same? Wait... who was he again? Jordan Marsh she thought Noah had said. And... Courtney Solar. Maybe she'd ask Jordan if he knew what the note meant later.

              "But you both... you both... I saw you both lying on the floor there."

             They both tensed up.

             "Jordan," Courtney whispers after a long pause. "Say something."

            Jordan gave her a look. "I wasn't dumb enough to be the last one standing when everyone had gone down. I grabbed Courtney and played dead. I hate punch anyways." He says, glaring at Jay.

            "Courtney was the only one you saved?" Jay questions.

            "I didn't have time to grab anyone else! They would've saw me! I got to Courtney right before they came to haul everyone back to their own Trial! So don't go accusing me!" He growls.

          "Then how did you get into the Rainforest Trial? Why are you here? How?" Jay asks.

         Jordan's glare hides any source of emotion. "We needed a place to hide. They were taking Courtney, probably to take away memories like all the rest of the kids. She knew where Cris's Trial was so she ran the second she awoke too early and when the Silent took her past the Trial doors she caught them by surprise and ran ahead to find me. We didn't know where to turn. Then I remembered the kids who stood in the middle of the chaos. You were here. So we fled."

            "And I wanted to see Noah again." She grins.

          Jay and Jordan both exchange a look. He must've known what happened and hadn't filled in Courtney on that little detail. Somehow he knew that he wasn't going to be here. And Courtney didn't. But still, why Courtney? He hadn't gone after Courtney to save her from the Silent dragging her away, but he'd followed her here anyway? It didn't make sense.  

          "He isn't here." Jay confesses coolly, reflecting Jordan's emotionlessness with a blank stare. "I don't know where he is, but he's not here."

        Jordan's brow scrunches even further and Courtney let out a disappointed sigh.

        Jay changes the subject. "You're welcome to stay here though. My friend Mya here, she... had a reaction I think to the punch. I... do have a question for Jordan though.

         Jordan ignores her. "Oh I'm sure your friend is fine, " He says with a glancee to Mya. You're the one moping around from depression and boredom."

          Jay rolls her eyes. "I just don't know what to do. But I may have a start."

          Jay takes the note out of her pocket and holds it in front of them. She points to the name in the middle of the clump of words. Jordan Fellerman.

          "Is that you?"

        Jordan freezes, his glare unflinching, not betraying any answer. "Where did you get this?"

       "Mya found it. I think."

        He takes the note, reading it swiftly several times through.

         "Do you know any of the smudged parts?" Jay asks. "Or what any of it means? Or why you seem to know what it is?"

          He nods, barely acknowledging any of her questions.

         "The date at the bottom is an old number to letter code, then an anagram. Each letter symbolizes a sequence of numbers. Switch it all up and reorganize it and the date is..." His breath catches in alarm. "Two years ago- No..."

          "And the name? Wait... Jordan are you saying you do know what it means?" Courtney says.

         Jordan's lip quivers. "Yes. This note was intended for someone. Directions. But it never got through. That means we're stuck. I'm stuck. In this rotten scheme called the Trials!" Any smoothness left his face and hardened into terrible hate. "They left us! How dare they! And he.."

        Jordan breaks onto the ground with an angry cry.

        Courtney shakes her head, disbelieving. "What are you talking about?"

       Jordan glares at her. "It's none of your business you ignorant moron! A need-to-know basis. Classified. Secret." He hisses.

       Courtney opens her mouth, menacing anger gurgling out.

       Jay looks up in surprise. So he did know what it was. But Jordan didn't seem like the kind of person who would share that information with them. Perhaps he was under oath or something. No, Jordan would never tell them. Unless...well unless he didn't have a choice. Unless he spilled his secrets and he didn't even realize it...

         "It doesn't matter now," Jay says. "You both will be found missing and if you're caught you'll be in as much trouble as Noah. You can stay here. There's not much cams around camp and none in our huts, so you'll be safe."

         Jordan's eyes seemed to pierce into the depths of her mind. It was like he knew...

         "I don't want to go to your camp. Courtney can, but I won't. I'll find a tall tree away from cams and I'll stay there." He says slowly.

         They both gave a worrisome look, but Courtney nods and turns away.

         "Let's go, Jay," She says as she runs forward, out of sight.

        "Wrong way!" Jay calls after her, but Courtney is already running off.

        Jay sighs and gets up to go after her, but Jordan stops her.

         "I don't know your deal, but I'm not telling you anything." He sneers.

         "I was-" Jay starts.

        "Stop!" He yells. "You don't understand! I need Courtney! I came and found her! We're not on the run! I came for No-"

         Jordan jumps back, suddenly realizing his mistake. He took off running into the jungle.

        Jay sighs once more and turns to follow the direction Courtney went. Then she feels her pocket. It was empty. The note wasn't there. She'd left it with Jordan! Who knew what he'd do with that information! Jay turns and groans. Courtney or Jordan? One could get caught but the other...the other could hurt Noah!

         Jay breaks into a sprint after Jordan.

         "Jordan!" She calls after him breathlessly. "Stop!"

        A dark shape turns around, his brown eyes glowing with flecks of amber. He flashes a hand out at Jay. A flow of energy like lightning zaps toward her. She dodges and stumbles, stunned. Jay scurries to her feet to be quicker than the next attack, but still shaking in surprise. She runs at Jordan full force, knocking him back. Jordan snaps back up and attacks her with rage-filled eyes and charging fists. This time, the electric current is even faster and catches Jay's ankle, sending a painful shock up her left leg. Jay grunts as she knows Jordan was approaching closer. She swings out her non-injured leg and trips him. He crawls to his knees and lashes out a stream of electricity. Jay pants as she kicks off her boot and throws it into the path of the current. Jordan lets out and aggravated huff as it blocks the bolt.

          Jay chuckles fearfully. "Can't get electricity through a rubber sole. Please, do you really not know anything from the texts!"

         Jordan sends another flash of amber electricity, this time flowing to the ground right into her path. Jay could do nothing to dodge it. The force zaps an overwhelming pain into her body that it spasms uncontrollably. Jay let out a screech of agony as the pain stabs her body everywhere. Darkness starts to spread at the edges of her vision.

           "Make it stop!" She whimpers.

          Jordan's look was a smug. Satisfied for what he had done. The damage he'd done. Jordan rolls his eyes and grabs her ankle roughly.

          The fire in her limbs begin to retreat to her ankle. It's only when the pain starts to become unbearable and Jay thought she might black out that Jordan pulls his hand away and stands up.

          Her body was numb and undoubtedly sore. Jordan gave her a moment to collect a bit of strength before he finally spoke.

          "Surely you heard what Noah said at the memorial, Jay." He says in a surprisingly calm voice. "The Trials kids need to be free. But, well, at least not until they've Transformed. With power you just saw, I could end your life right now."

           Jay gulps. "B-but you're in the Marsh Trial. Surely the Silent would've found out. Unless..."

         Jordan grins. "I'm a spy, Jay. And because I am likely to end your life soon because of the persona you just displayed, that you will get in my way, I will be merciful." He smiles brightly. "Ask me anything! I love to answer questions."

         Jay's eyes widen slightly. But what did she expect? He was likely to end her life no matter what. She didn't doubt that for a second. She should have given up. But... NO! Noah needed her. Mya needed her. She wasn't going to die. Not here. Not now. Not by him. It was time to play his game. She had to stall. It was the only way.

           "So, where is Noah?" She asks hesitantly.

          Jordan's expression changes to an unreadable one again.

         "Safe." He assures.

        "Safe where? Or do you just hate to admit that you don't know? I mean you came here looking for him."

         "I know where he is, but I'm not telling you..." He sneers back.

          "Again with the secrets! I thought you said you'd answer to anything!"

           "Or I could kill you now!" He snaps, hold out his hand threateningly.

           "NO! I mean umm... I have more intriguing questions that don't involve him..."

           He pauses in hesitation for a second, leaning his head in curiously. "Go on,"

          "So... umm... oh yes! Mya said something about Transformation... and you said "Transformed" a minute ago. So... what's that?"

          He nods. "I'm surprised she'd know, probably heard a Silent talking about it, but it's a time you fully develop your powers. It's hard, so it's better to be by loved ones when you're with it and you should always consult a specialist, not here at least. And let me tell you about mine, my brother was there and I-" He snaps his head up. "I know what you're doing! Squeezing information out of me! Well that's the end of the line, sweetheart!"

           "What! Of course not! Please don't kill me!" She pleads.

          "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't! I got the note! That's all I need!"

          "No! I mean... if you kill me you won't know- you won't know the information Mya told me before she- before she went into Transformation."

           Jordan turns up in surprise and glances at Mya, still laying silently on the ground. "She's in Transformation? Mya?"

             Jay nods.

             Jordan sighs and curses under his breath. "Can you stand?"

            Jay wobbles shakily to her feet. It was then she noticed that one of her legs was full of purple and black dark streaks.

            "It'll wear off," Jordan says. "Eventually. Now take me to her side and maybe- just maybe you can live."

             By the tone in his voice Jay knew that he was still likely to kill her.

            Jay wobbles and limps to the hill as the rains start to pick up again. She stares behind her to see Jordan powering through the heavy sheet of blinding rain.

           Jordan grunts when Jay gives him a look of pity for the rain stinging his eyes. "I have been in the Marsh trial! I can handle a bit of torrential rain!"

            Jays eyes flick back in front of her to where the hill lay, a few meters ahead, as well as Mya. Jay looks up and Mya is curled up, dry, under the large branch Jay had dragged over earlier. That felt so long ago. Jay drops to the ground at the bottom at the hill.

           Jordan goes ahead of her and turns around.

            "Aren't you coming?" He says.

           "I'm staying here in case you try to run with her,"

          "It's your leg isn't it?"

         "No! Yes..." She growls.

         He puts an arm around her and Jay flicked in surprise.

        "I'm not going to kill you. I need you. And I... I'm tired of killing. I'm not the bad guy here."

         Together they limp back up the hill, Jordan pausing a few times to let her rest.

         Mya lay on her side, twitching a bit, but okay. Jordan slowly walks up to her and bends down to stare at her.

        "Don't-" Jay warns.

        Jordan sniffs angrily. "I'm not going to hurt her,"

          Jay flinches a bit of when Jordan reaches down to touch her forehead and Jordan gives a small huff of amusement.

       "So you've left her with water? Good. She'll be up in a few days I presume, possibly a week. Of course there's no medicine here to help her with the pain in her recovery though. And if the Silent come... they will take her." He explains.

         An image suddenly flew into her head. it was Noah! Noah was sitting and talking with an older boy with dark skin.

        "The Transformation usually takes a few days, sometimes a week or two." The boy grins. Jay stares at Noah's face. It felt good to see him. Clean face, unhurt, and smiling. Jay felt longing tug at her heart. She couldn't help loving him. But... would he feel the same way? Would they both even come out alive? Somehow, it was the darkest answers that wouldn't get out of her head.

        "I know?" Jay pants when the vision subsides. "I knew that."

         Jordan turns around. "Is this some kind of game to you. I don't like tricks, Jay."

         "But-but I saw... I saw Noah. He was talking to this guy, and they said that it took that long..." Jay says.

         "You... what? Are you sure?" Jordan asks.

          Jay nods. "What's the problem?"

         Jordan put a hand to his face in anger. "Sh... no no no."

         "What?"

        Jordan sighs. "That's the first sign of Transformation. Visions. Past, present, or future. But that means I'll have two Transforming kids on my hands. Lucky you though, part of my oath was that I wasn't aloud to harm a kid about to go into Transformation or in one. And that you can't neglect them if they're in danger!" He snarls. "Stupid oath."

          Jay gasps. "I-I don't even- how- why? Err... how long do I have?"

         "Few days I'd guess," He chuckles.

         "How do you know?" Jays asks. "I mean my vision-"

        "Forget your stupid vision. The only reason I care is that that information could come useful to where he is. But how would I know? I think- because- oh yeah... I've actually Transformed." He snaps in annoyance.

         Jay flinches back under the branch only to be met with a flurry of raindrops.

       "Y-you have?" She stammers.

      He chuckles. "Are you really that dumb? Don't you listen to anything?"

      When Jay's face doesn't flinch from the same clueless expression, he sighs.

       "I'm a spy Jay." He repeats. "For a group working against the Silent. Now come. That note has changed everything. We have work to do and I have so many things to tell you before you go into Transformation. I'd say... a week at most."