https://rosemadi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2-14-2.mov “Um, Let me try,” Brandon said. He grabbed the flashlight and struck it; he cracked it even further within a few hits, even more so than Jioni did with her attempts—then he stopped—and appeared to think. He lowered his eyes and loosely gripped the flashlight. “Why’d you stop?” Jioni questioned. But as she got …
https://rosemadi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2-13.mov Jioni expected Brandon to promise, but he stayed silent. She hissed out a breath and continued looking through the different windows, now having a new reason for not wanting him there. She diverted the topic back to the task by grabbing both of their hands—Jioni found the entrance—she pulled out the flashlight and began …
https://rosemadi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2-12.mp4 They reached the back of the building, and Jioni looked for a cracked window. She scanned each one. One by one, they were all perfectly intact. While she looked, Brandon started to ramble and broke Jioni’s concentration. “I avoid Hippie Girl when I see her,” Brandon said. “Her face scares me—it triggers my flight …
https://rosemadi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2-11.mp4 “Yeah, about that, so Hippie Girl suggested that—” “Hippie Girl? Just stop—everyone, stop,” Kathy interrupted. She had two fingers on her forehead. “I need to hurry before it gets dark,” Jioni said. She continued to walk. “Hippie Girl’s advice is awful, and she’s trouble, ok. I bet she’s five more incidents away from being …
https://rosemadi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2-10.mov Stress panged through Jioni’s face, but she felt genuine happiness for Brandon. But a conflicted furrow brow came when she realized it wasn’t fair. Mac was right, the community lessons were less than perfect and both Jioni and Kathy were proof of it. Though the sentiment brought her down, there was no need to …
https://rosemadi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2-9.mp4 “It must be a jealousy thing. Oh, by the way, congrats on advancing,” Kathy said as she punched his arm. “Jioni and I bombed it, but I admit I wasn’t even trying.” Jioni paused. “If you weren’t trying…why was your score higher than mine?” Jioni asked. The feeling of incompetence coincided with her embarrassment. …
https://rosemadi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2-8.mp4 “I’m sorry, but why are you here?” Brandon whined. He walked the slowest and his eyes scanned around the area. Brandon swatted away flying insects as he dragged along. “Because, Junior Agent, I need to find something to give Geogen, and I have zero credits left,” Jioni replied. She climbed over branches and avoided …
https://rosemadi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2-7-1.mp4 Kathy shook her head with a smile, “This. This is why you can’t come here alone. You’re not aware of your surroundings.” “You shouldn’t be here,” Jioni said. “You shouldn’t either,” Kathy said back. She pushed Jioni slightly out of the way to see what she was looking at. Jioni wished she could have …
https://rosemadi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2-6-1.mov Jioni stopped jogging around the entrance and instead walked around to find a suitable opening. Vines covered each window, making it impossible to see inside. She focused on the window in front of her—Jioni peered through the plants. It was completely dark inside, minus one spot through the window. The light in the back …
https://rosemadi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2-5-1.mp4 Jioni never gave up energy and kept her attention forward toward the building. Her sight was wobbly and blurred the faster she ran. The closer she got, the taller and more imperfect the tower looked. Her friend’s footsteps never stopped, but in time the sound faded the further away she got. She sighed, feeling …
