Note: Edited by Zia Westerman 4/4/2017

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Chapter 10: Meaning of trust

Planet: Earth

Location: Camp Jameson

Lucy and James took me to a large cage inside of a black building made from thin metal. James opened the cage door as Lucy pushed me in, but not before attaching my cuffs to a long chain that was connected to the concrete floor.

James watched Lucy exit the cage then locked the door. "Do you think she really is a spy?" he asked her, although it sounded more like he was asking himself.

"I don't know, but Ver seems to think so," she answered then glanced at me. "He knew too much about her for her to be just a prisoner of the ROGS. We shouldn't take any chances."

"You were once with them, we trusted you." When James spoke his voice was a whisper, but I could still hear every word he said. "You even betrayed us and—"

Lucy spun on her heels to face him. "I thought we agreed to never talk about that! We had an agreement, James!"

"She saved my life." Oh, so he does remember. "Twice, Lucy."

"Yeah? Well, how many times have I saved your poor excuse of a butt? More than her! Besides, if I hadn't arrived when I did, you would be dead," she spat, eyeing him. "She was going to pull that trigger, you know."

James brings a hand to his nose and pinches the middle. "Yeah, yeah, I know."

The few lights that were hanging from the roof began to flicker which caught James and Lucy's attention.

"Great, don't tell me the main generator is almost out of power." Lucy sighed heavily as the lights went out for a brief second then turned back on. "I thought Mick fixed it? Didn't he install the extra solar panels?"

"He did." James nodded, his eyes shifted from the lights to me. "Lucy, go find out what's wrong, we can't afford to lose power."

"Tell me something I don't know," she scoffed but excuses herself, leaving me with James.

He muttered something under his breath which I could not hear then turned to me. "Jewels, I'm going to get someone to stay here with y—"

"That generator you spoke of, it works off power, correct?" Maybe I could gain their trust by helping them with the power issue.

"Yeah, why?" he asked taking a step forward so he was next to the bars, which made up the cage.

I allowed my power to surge through my hand causing the veins to glow then held it outwards for James to see. "I hold energy within me, I can use it to put power back into the—"

"Why would I trust you?" His brows were raised and his lips were pulled in a straight line.

"I saved your life, did I not?"

My question caused James to release a sigh and then he nods, so I said, "Then you can trust me."

"It's not that simple, Jewels, with everything Ver said we can't just allow you to walk freely, I mean there could be—"

"I could have let that Borum strike when you did not see it, but I saved you. I could have abandoned you when the Borum's had us cornered, but I put my life on the line and protected you. Then when the river took you, I brought your spirit back. I did all this, yet, you still do not trust me?" I now stood right in front of him, the bars separating us. "Tell me James, if I were truly a spy, why have I not killed you?" I asked, gripping the metal bars with the hand that glowed. Instantly after touching it the metal began to melt and the entire cage turned to nothing.

James jumped back. "Let me guess, you're going to kill me? Again?"

I shake my head, allowing the energy within me to relax and then looked at him. "No." I take a step forward, he does not move until the lights flicker again. "I can help," I told him.

His gaze turned to the flickering lights then back at me, he opens his mouth to speak but I cut him off and said, "But you do not trust me." I lift my hands up which were still in the cuffs but they were no longer connected to the chain. "I can help you," I repeated.

"Can I really trust you?"

"Yes," I answered honestly.

James placed a hand in his jacket pocket causing me to step backwards, he noticed and said, "Relax, I'm just getting the keys." He removes his hand and held up a set of keys. "Come here."

I do as he requested and approached him. Once I stood in front of him, James unlocked the cuffs which fall to the floor. "Thank you."

"Don't make me regret this," he said frowning, then takes my wrist in his hands. "I'll take you to the generator, you better be able to fix it."

"I am sure I can."

"Being sure isn't good enough because a lot of people depend on our power. The lookout towers, outposts, kitchen, people's huts, but mostly the infirmary." Using his other hand that was not holding my wrist, he opens the shed door and pulls me out with him.

We were both met by Jeremy, who did not look happy. "James? Mind telling me why she's not in the holding chamber? And why the cuffs are off?" He pointed to my wrists.

James rolled his eyes and pushes me behind him. "Because I had a change of heart."

"Oh? Let me guess, you're falling for her," Jeremy said harshly while looking at me. "You need to seriously stop thinking with the head between your legs and think with the one on your shoulders, now take her back in there."

"You can't order me Jeremy, I'm just as much in charge of this camp as you are," James fired back. I noticed his hold shifted from my wrist to my hand. "And I believe she's not a spy."

"Lucy tells me you were so sure of it. What made you change your mind?"

"Did Lucy also tell you that Jewels saved my life?" James narrowed his eyes at Jeremy, whose face held surprise. "No? Thought not, typical of Lucy to keep out the important parts."

"Okay, okay, fine, but why is she not at least in cuffs?"

"Because I can fix the generator." My statement caused Jeremy to chuckle but he soon stops when he noticed James and I remain serious. "Okay? How?" He folded his arms across his chest.

After James told him to follow us, he lead me to a large building located near the middle of the camp. Guards stood outside and opened the two doors for us.

Once inside, the humming of a machine entered my ears. We walked down a hall then into a room through folding doors where the humming noise grew louder. In the middle of the room was a black and red machine, it was square with several cables connected through it.

Mick appeared from behind it. "Oh, good you're both here—" he briefly pauses, "Hey, Jewels."

"What's going on with it?" James asked, finally letting go of my hand.

"It's outta juice, mate." This time it was Brett who replied from behind us. He walked around us and over to Mick. "The solar panels aren't keeping the charge."

"Damn it, looks like we need to do a raid on the city," Mick muttered, displeased. He rolled his shirts sleeves up and walked over to Jeremy. "We gotta raid the city for supplies."

"I know, but so soon? I thought you said the generator had enough petrol to last?" Jeremy questioned, and Brett shook his head. "What?"

"We thought it did, but Tom is using so much power for his medical stuff." Mick leaned on the wall behind him. "But he needs it, so we can't cut back on that."

"Then you suggest we raid?"

Both Mick and Brett nodded at Jeremy, who then asked, "Okay, how soon?"

"Like asap." They both said in sync.

"You're kidding, right? Ver was just here and you expect us to lead a raid?" This time it was James who spoke, his voice filled with authority. "Jeremy and I both can't leave the camp."

"I agree, with none of us here it leaves the camp wide open for the Borum's, ROGS, Wasties or any of the other neighbouring camps." While they were all bickering I took this opportunity to approach the generator.

Closing my eyes I shut out their voices and concentrated on this dying machine. I could feel the energy pulsing through my body, burning me, wanting to be released. I reached both of my hands out that were now glowing and placed them on the generator.

The second my flesh comes in contact with the heated metal surface I almost cry out from the pain. I hold my hands firmly in place and channelled my power through my hands and into the machine.

I could feel my power being drained quickly, too much of it. My body began to weaken; my legs trembled and my vision was failing. I managed to channel all the power I could and forced it into the generator. I noticed a light which once flashed red has now turned green.

I heard someone yell my name but then everything was gone, there was only the darkness.