all over,” Ryker said with a smirk.
“Liar,” Tracker said.
“No, we just got back,” Taryn said playing along. “It was amazing.”
Tracker looked around horrified, scanning people’s expressions. She had just started to storm away when Halo came over.
“When are we leaving?” he asked.
“Ha! I knew it,” Tracker said. She turned to rejoin them.
“You could have played along,” Ryker said to Halo.
“Oh, you should have given me a signal.”
“Not funny,” Tracker said.
“I think everyone that’s coming is here,” Taryn said. “We can head out if you guys are ready.”
“Hey!” Ryker yelled and the crowd suddenly quieted. “We’re going now, so make sure you're dressed warm enough.”
Ryker, Taryn, and Tracker led the group out the doors. Halo dispersed back into the crowd, and they all filtered through the forest.
Once they were at the designated safe distance, Ryker and Taryn told the people to make a big circle with the school in the middle of the ring. Taryn and Ryker made their way back to Dr. Render.
“Ready?” the doctor asked.
“Whenever you are,” Taryn said.
“I’m not doing it,” Dr. Render said. “I just hooked everything up. This is your school, your decision, and your moment.”
“Taryn, you should do it,” Ryker said.
“We’ll do it together,” Taryn said. She took the remote from Dr. Render and locked hands with Ryker. Ryker took Tracker's hand on his other side. All around the school everyone grabbed hands, and Taryn took the hand of the kid next to her. Ryker and Taryn simultaneously raised their connected hands with the remote, and everyone else did the same.
“On three?” Taryn asked.
“1!” Ryker yelled.
“2!” Taryn yelled.
“3!” Taryn and Ryker yelled together.
They hit the button, and the school blew to pieces. Debris flew everywhere, but the ring of people was far enough back to miss most of it. In a matter of seconds the building was a pile of dust and rubble. Everyone let go of each other's hands and started clapping and laughing and crying. Ryker pulled Taryn into a hug. Tracker was running around the people giving random high-fives. Even with a broken arm, she wasn’t any less enthusiastic.
“Nice show,” Halo said as he and Devin came over.
“Thanks, choreographed it myself,” Ryker said, letting go of Taryn.
Ryker high-fived Halo and Devin, and they both gave Taryn a quick hug.
“Maybe next we can do our school,” Devin said.
“You okay?” Halo asked Taryn. She had tears on her cheeks.
“Yeah, I’m great,” Taryn answered wiping her face. “I’m so glad it’s over.”
“Woooooo!” Tracker screamed as she practically tackled Taryn in a one-arm hug.
“I won’t be able to work in that welding shop if you cripple me,” Taryn said with a laugh.
Everyone was smiling and laughing and just plain happy. No one had been happy in a long time. Taryn was glad to see these people getting closure. She was glad it was over and they could all move on.
“I’m starving,” Tracker said.
“We can go back to the safe house and have a celebration dinner,” Halo said. “Maybe we can find a radio and have a party.”
“Sounds like fun,” Devin said.
“Yeah, we can watch Ryker dance,” Halo said.
“Only if you want to go blind,” Taryn said, and they all laughed.
“Hey, I’m not that bad,” Ryker said.
Slowly everyone made their way back to the safe house. They had a huge dinner, then they moved the tables to the side. Devin and Dr. Render found an old radio in the armory and got it up and running. The night was filled with singing, awkward dancing, and a lot of laughing.
Jessica bends reality in her writing. She writes the characteristics that she wishes she had into her characters. She has had one short story published in an anthology through the Pickford Young Writers Workshop. She likes to write when she is not at school or keeping up with a fulltime job.
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