Ruin - By N.M. Martinez Page 0,35

starting to cry. Not like bawling or anything, but still enough to be uncomfortable. Wanna talk about it?"

Not really. Not too far away there is a forest and those hills we saw from the other side as we were walking in. Up close they look even larger and steeper than I had thought.

I take a deep breath intent on denying that I was going to cry. It's only been a week since that night, and I don't even think about it. I don't think about Mom's screams or the fact that she's trapped there with nothing Henri is able to do. I don't think about my future or her future.

Maria waits. I cross my arms and try not to think about Brandon and his little family or the way he cares for the girl, his daughter obviously. The way he held her and looked at her. He probably only sees her when he comes to the village.

"No. I really don't." The brim of my eyes fill, tears sitting heavily on them. I don't reach my hand up to wipe them. From Maria's spot on the ground, she wouldn't be able to see them unless I wiped at my eyes and brought attention to them.

She shrugs. "Okay. But if you want to talk, I'm all ears."

Maria toys with a blade of grass near her foot, wrapping the long blade around her finger, her eyes observing as it bends like a ribbon. I don't know what to say to her or if I should trust her and take her seriously. There isn't a lot of time, and I could use a friend other than Mitchell. But Maria isn't like him. Something about her is different.

We're alone together in this meadow with no sign of a protector for her or me. "Is it safe for us here?"

She glances up at me and smiles. "Yeah, why wouldn't it be?"

I don't know how much she knows about me or where I'm from. Maybe it's safe for her, but it's not always safe for me. So far, the only reason I haven't been attacked yet probably has more to do with Brandon than anything else. But now together, we're standing here exposed.

I sit down next to Maria. "I'm Neutral. They don't like Neutrals here, right?"

"No. We don't. But, I dunno, you seem all right to me."

My lip finds its way between my teeth and I give it a slight nibble as the realization slowly creeps up. "You're not a stray?"

Maria laughs at that. "Nah. You thought I was a stray?" Her disbelief sounds in my ear and I lean heavily on my one hand away from her. "Hm. I guess in a way. Mike found me. But I have powers, so he started training me." She turns her back towards me. Over the edge of her tank and between her shoulder blades there's the top of the skull with its eyes peeking out. There are no designs around the skull from what I can see.

I manage to keep quiet about it, but I see her grin as she turns back to me. A girl my age already a part of the tribe can't be a good sign.

"What's your power?"

"I told you earlier, stupid. I can see into the future. Only twenty or thirty seconds, but it's enough to help me when I'm fighting. It's rarely ever enough to change anything. This time was different though." Maria lifts her eyes to look up at me. "Normally I see things actually happening. Someone tripping or an opening when I'm fighting. But seeing you possibly start to cry had to be the lamest future I've ever seen."

I should be insulted, but she smiles, open and friendly, and I can't help smiling back, thankful that she saw this future and acted on it.

"Mike says it probably means something. Like we're meant to be good friends."

It's hard to believe, but somehow I can see it. "Who's Mike?"

"The tall dude with Brandon last night. The one who doesn't speak a lot. Don't let that fool you. When he has stuff to say he says it."

I remember him. I thought it was weird how quiet he was. He stayed near Brandon that night, and when Brandon went to talk to Jimmy, he was right by his side.

Maria and I sit quietly as a breeze blows over the two of us, shoving my hair over my shoulder and a few strands into my face. Far off, people bustle around the village. It's still not