Chapter II Act 1

"You need to be strong, Adie"

"I need you to be strong"

"Adie..."

"Adie!"

"Adie!!"

I open my eyes to a familiar sight - Vera in front of me, the blinding sun blocking out most of my vision. The feel is all to familiar as well; the back of my head leaning on a tree, a stinging pain on my left cheek, I'm sure Vera had to slap the life back into me yet again. Probably the fifth time this has happened.

It all seemed routine at this point but something was off. Those voices - the words I'd been hearing while I was sleeping, I could've sworn I heard them all somewhere before. For a while I wanted to hear more but of course, I realize, it was just Vera, it had to be her. It was just her yelling at me.

It was just her - of course it was just her.

"How long was I out?" I ask Vera

"A few minutes. We should go home"

"I'm not injured. I can still go. You still haven't tagged me"

"Are you daft? There's a swell on your forehead" Vera pauses, "and besides, I already tagged you when I-"

"When you slapped me"

"When I carried you, idiot" I could see her clenching her fist, she seems disappointed at what I had said. I was out of line, I guess.

Vera doesn't like me much, I could tell by how she looks at me; she plays with me a lot, but that's because she has no choice; the truth is she pities me - which is why she always gives me the lead whenever we play one of her games, but I digress. I check to feel the swell she was telling me about, I place my hand on my forehead and begin copping a feel, there doesn't seem to be- ah, wait, there it is. It's absolutely painful.

"Ah!"... "Gods" I murmured, writhing in pain. Vera notices.

"What kind of idiot would want to hurt himself like that?" She gives off a smirk. Her genuine concern would've been endearing if not for her blatant sarcasm. I swear this girl makes mixing both look so effortless.

"..Sorry" I reply, forcing a half-smile.

I try to check what happens if I move - see if any limbs are broken. My back hurts a tad, so do my legs, but I can manage

"Easy now" Vera tells me, I sense worry in her tone of voice - so now she wants to play nice.

She really does pity me, Vera. She tries to help me up, offering a hand but I turn her down as she reaches out.

"I can do it myself" I tell her, forcing my way back up

It felt a tad unpleasant at first but before I knew it, I was standing on my own feet again. I try moving my legs- they don't hurt as much, I can still go on. She seems to have no interest in continuing but I know exactly how to make her keep going.

"Thanks" I tell Vera, giving her a light pat on the head, little does she know..

She was surprised, as expected. What I did was out of the ordinary for us both.

With her still thrown off over what I did, I begin running as fast as I could

"What was that about?" She asks, confused, watching me run but paying no mind

I continue running, picking up my pace as I go- it doesn't hurt. It doesn't hurt at all.

"That was me tagging you" I yell so she could hear me

"I'm not going to give chase, idiot. We're done" she yells back. I take a pause.

"Do you really want to see her that bad?" I reply, tongue in my cheek, knowing that I'd provoke her. And I begin picking my pace back up.

I don't like losing. I'm aware that Vera always gives me the lead but I don't play with her because of that, I run forward in spite of it, I run so that the next time we play together, she won't have to give me the lead.

I want to outrun her, I may not do it now but I will eventually. I'm sick of being looked down on.

She starts giving chase, though this time she seems a bit more serious. I could see that her expression has changed. Seems like I pushed her just right.

And just like that, our game continues.