Vortex

  Blood stain the table.

  Zett’s hand still clenched, red slippin’ through his fingers, his face lit up like he just seen somethin’ real. Revilsa too.

  And me?

  I ain’t move. Hands curled up on my knees, heart beatin’ loud in my ears like it’s tryna fight its way out. Everyone just whisperin’, gasps poppin’ off like sparks in the silence.

  Klev mutter somethin’ under his breath, all disgust. Cherry grabs another cloth and makes Zett clench it, frantic now, her anger frayin’ into fear.

  They ain’t wrong.

  This reckless. This stupid.

  And yet—

  I get it.

  I look at ‘em, blood soakin’ into the wood, and I see it. A promise. A decration.

  They kids.

  But they dreaming.

  I can’t just sit here.

  I made my own promise too.

  I swore I was gon’ be a hero. I swore I was gon’ be like him.

  My body move before my mind catch up. I stand, reach for the knife.

  Cherry’s breath hitch.

  "Vortex?"

  Her voice repced by somethin’ fragile, somethin’ pleadin’. She grabs my arm rough, but I barely feel it.

  "Don't do this."

  I don’t answer. Ain’t no words for it.

  ‘Cause this ain’t just for them. This ain’t desperation. This ain’t about nobody seein’ me.

  This ‘bout me.

  I yank my arm free.

  The bde feel heavier than it should—ain’t just metal and edge. It’s the weight of every promise I made, every dream I swore to chase. It’s Alzumo watchin’, waitin’.

  I press it to my palm.

  Sharp breath. Slow cut.

  Pain fre up, but I don’t flinch. I let it burn. Let it live. The blood rolls off my dark skin, slow, drippin’ like ink on a contract. Ain’t just blood—this a seal, something that makes it real.

  "I’m gonna be a hero.”

  The words come steady. Ain’t no doubt in ‘em. But no one move.

  “A goddamn hero! You hear that!?”

  They all flinch. Good, that's what I wanted.

  Then softer, just for me—

  "Just like Alzumo."

  I close my fist, the blood juicin’ out.

  That felt good.

  Then—

  A gasp.

  Ain’t from Cherry. Ain’t from Klev. Ain’t from Zett or Revilsa.

  I turn.

  At the doorway, wide-eyed and lookin’ shook, stand Revilsa’s mama.

  Nobody move. Nobody breathe.

  Then the silence snap.

  "What—what is going on here?!" she shrieks, lungin’ forward, snatchin’ Revilsa’s wrist, yankin’ her up so fast the chair go crashin’ to the floor. "What is this?! What did they do to you?!"

  Revilsa don’t fight. She just stare, dazed, the moment she carved up ripped right outta her hands.

  "Come now!" her mama say, voice breakin’. "We’re leaving!"

  Her daddy steps up, palms raised. "Cudette, calm down—"

  "Calm down?!" she snaps. "Look at her!"

  She clutches Revilsa’s arm tight, knuckles pale, showin’ him the scar. She drag her away.

  Revilsa don’t look back.

  Her daddy hesitates. Then curses low under his breath and follows. The door sm behind ‘em, the echo carvin’ into the quiet they left behind.

  Not what I expected, but they ain't the point.

  Then—

  A sound.

  Choked.

  I whip ‘round just in time to see Grandma Rose staggerin’.

  Cherry moves quick, catchin’ her ‘fore she colpse. "Hey—hey, I got you." Her voice soft, but tight. "Are you okay?"

  Grandma Rose don’t answer. Her eyes wide, old and weary, locked on the table. The blood. The knife.

  Us.

  Cherry swallows hard, her grip firm on the old woman.

  The others just stare. No words to say.

  And for the first time, I wonder—

  Not if this the right thing.

  Not if I regret it.

  But if this oath, this mark carved into my skin—

  Is the start of somethin’ I can’t never take back.