The Remedy Files: Illusion Read Free Page B

done many times before?
    A bright light to my left distracts me. For the very first time, I notice a body of water that the sun is shining down on, almost blinding me by the reflection of the crashing blue waves. It looks like an ocean- an infinite escape route from here so they can never find me again. The waves could carry me anywhere. I don’t care as long as it’s far from here.
    I glance one more time at the tree and the man’s arm that’s still protruding from it.  I don’t know if I can climb anymore, but I sure can swim. I make an abrupt decision to detour to the left.
    The ocean is beautiful with crystal clear blue water. It is peaceful and inviting me to come swim. I am running as fast as I can move my fatiguing legs. But the machine’s warning sound is getting so much louder. My ears begin to pop from the vibrations. 
    I make the mistake of looking behind me again and that’s when I see it. The cold, callous, shiny steel frame that stretches out for miles behind it; a large circular pipe on the top with the steam rising out; and the plowed, broken down trees from the forest decorating the horizon behind it to add emphasis to its power. They found me.
    The quaking ground is much too powerful now. My running has been broken into slow shaky steps in my final attempt to get to the ocean, my last move of desperation to save my own life. I think the man from the tree is yelling my name but I don’t know him. I can’t trust him. All I can feel is the heat of the machine as it moves in… closer… and closer with the terrorizing squeals now making my mind feel as though it’s going to explode. I muster all my energy for one final move as I leap over the cliff with faith that the ocean will catch me. I stretch out my body and float in the air, the sun basking on my face as I fall and hope that I will still end up alive when I land.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 
     
     
    CHAPTER 3
     
    I open my eyes to the sun cascading down on me. Groaning, I cover them with my hands and roll over to my side. It’s so bright. But most importantly, I’m not drowning. This time I made it to the tree and saw that there’s an ocean. I’m getting faster. But what if I were to choose the tree? It just seems too risky. I don’t know who that man is and I’m not sure I want to find out.
    Rubbing my eyes to get them to open again, I find myself staring at a pair of worn brown leather shoes, slightly ripped on the sides, the white short laces completely undone. Gavin. I quickly sit up.
    Gavin is looking down at me, the sun’s rays making his blue eyes twinkle, with a sheepish grin slowly stretching across on his face. “Well, hello there.  Did I just catch an act punishable by law?” 
    Rolling my eyes at him, I stand up, and stretch my arms high above me as I yawn. I can’t believe I fell asleep. Brushing the leaves off my dark blue cargo pants, I say, “I just keep making you proud, huh?” Gavin loves it when I get so comfortable with the outside that I break my own community’s laws in such a subconsciously liberating way. Of course even being out here outside of Impetus walls was making one of the biggest offenses according to the community law books. In that light, everything else I do becomes somewhat inconsequential.
    Gavin laughs and picks a leaf out of my hair, letting it fall gently to the ground. “You’ve come a long way, Evie. I’ve taught you well.” He winks and zips up his gray hoodie, covering up his light blue t-shirt underneath so we could better blend in the forest. I love that blue shirt. It illuminates his eyes every time he wears it. “Let’s walk.”
    It is a surprisingly foggy day, with us passing through one wall after another of light mist that leaves tiny droplets in Gavin’s shaggy brown hair and closely shaven beard. The leaves are crunching loudly under our feet, causing a cluster of green and brown broken pieces to jut from the ground. Gavin is quietly humming