Till I Collapse | Vera

chasing shadows

She still hadn’t had a chance to get to the metal shop like she had wanted after classes. Her aunt had wanted to talk and check in with her, and then Alex had surprised her by showing up randomly one day… She was happy, don’t get her wrong, but she was building up too much pressure. Something had to let go or else history would repeat itself and Vera would be having a long disciplinary meeting with the school’s headmaster and she’d really rather avoid such a thing here at Beauregard.

So, long before the sun came up, Vera rose herself from her bed and snuck quietly out of her room. At least with Alex’s surprise, she had her running clothes back.

The early morning was quite crisp, though Switzerland had nothing on Massachusetts in September. Still, Vera dressed in a pair of long, thick running leggings, her usual black racerback tank top with her New Balance jacket over top. Once she was out of the Corvus commons, she slipped on her sneakers and then jogged quietly through the castle as her warm up. Making her way down through the courtyard to the forest trails. Malachai had mentioned other students running here, but Vera hadn’t made much of an effort to meet any of those other students once class had begun.

Vera hoped being out here while the sky was just starting to lighten would give her some privacy. It was too dark for sunglasses and she didn’t like running with hats, Still, she had measures handy just in case… her wand and pepper spray did plenty of damage when needed.

As the trees started to blur by her, Vera’s vision narrowing into tunnel-like focus, she started to feel the weight slough off her shoulders. And she ran. She ran like something was chasing her; pushing her body to the physical limits. Her pulse pounded in her own ears, matching the tempo of her feet pounding against the semi-frozen earth beneath her shoes.

She ran along the trails that kept her along the edge of the forest; knowing well enough that she hadn’t become familiar enough with her new surroundings to venture deep into the woods alone just yet. And, considering it was still dark, she’d much rather have only a few bushes to jump over or break through to get to the open than having to face someone or something alone because she was pinned in by the foliage. Vera took risks sometimes, but she wasn’t reckless.

After what felt like an hour at the least, but was probably closer to half, Vera slowed to a jog and then, as the sky was turning orange and pink through the trees from the sunrise, a walk. Her hands hooked on her hips and her shoulders back to keep her chest lifted, Vera forced herself to take long, deep breaths in through her nose and out of her mouth as she cooled down; a thin sheen of sweat making the outside air feel much cooler than it actually was now that she wasn’t moving so much.

chasing shadows

She nearly jumped right out of her skin.

Flinching and turning her head toward the source of the sudden shout, With relief, she realized it was a girl walking toward her. She recognized her, but couldn’t put a name to the face. One of the older students - an eighth year she was sure since she wasn’t in any of Vera’s classes. She blinked at her and turned to face the girl as she came closer; coming to a stop as she raised her arms up and over her head. The better to let her lungs hang in her chest; relieving some of the burn as she sucked in deep, slow lungfuls.

Thesis work, yes! Definitely one of the eighth years.

Unable to resist reciprocating the girl’s bright smile, Vera lowered one of her hands down and took hers in it. It was then that the name clicked. A knowing look passed over Vera’s face and she grinned in the way a sister with sudden power over her brother would grin. So this was the girl Alex had met…

”Vera, but you already knew that,” She started; that knowing-grin still rampant across her lips. Once their handshake dropped, Vera danced her eyes over Jazzy. She had kind eyes, a wicked smile and a body to drool over. She could see why Alex was so smitten, though he’d never admit it outloud. That whole playboy thing… Vera could tell, though. This girl had made an impression.

”You must be the girl who showed Alex around the other day.”

Her arms crossed over her chest and tucked her hands away under her arms where they’d stay warm in the cool weather. Her cheeks and nose were red with the cold air and exertion from her running, giving her a youthful look beyond her short sixteen years.

”Jazzy, right?”