Redemption

Chapter 10

I wake to the sound of violent whispers. It's cold in the house. I shiver as I reach for the moth eaten blanket, and I wrap it around me.

A glare catches my eye. In the corner of the room, there is a full sized body mirror. I stand and walk over to it.

My reflection is cracked. The mirror's edges are chipped and there is a long thin crack straight across the mirror. It is like a life line.

I do not look like myself. My clothes are singed and ripped, my hair is singed as well. The face that used to belong to me, is now haunted by another. My eyes show dark circles, my face is covered in dirt and ash, and blisters trace my forhead like the constellations that the dreaded sky hides.

I look like a living corpse. I close my eyes and brush my hair out of them. My eyes are probably the only characteristic that still belongs to me.

The whispers continue. I walk silently down the corridor. As I get closer to the source, I recognize the voices. Mac and Adalene are sitting in a small room. I cannot tell what they're arguing about. Their voices are hushed and sharp.

I stand in the doorway. Mac and Adalene are too busy arguing to notice me. I strain my ears.

"We don't have time to stop in Sector B." Adalene whispers.

I frown, suddenly I feel like barging in and demanding to join the conversation.

"What do you mean?" Mac replies.

"I mean we need to get to Alaska as quick as possible. We don't have time to stop, we need to get to the hangar and fly the heck out of here." she adds.

"We can lose a day and a half." Mac declares. "That is final."

Adalene scowls, "Whatever Mac, what if it's a waste? What if her family is gone?"

I know that it is a possibility, but I can't contain my emotions. I thrust through the doorway.

Adalene and Mac are astonished. "How long have you been standing there?" Mac asks.

"Long enough. You two are the ones wasting valuable time," I say. "Let's get to Sector B as fast as we can."

With that, I feel surged with adrenaline. I can handle this. I have the strength and the courage. I turn and walk straight through the door without another word.

I walk to Claire and Meghan's quarters. I stroke their forheads, brushing their hair out of their faces. Meghan wakes first. She sits up, and shakes Claire awake. Claire sits up as well.

"Let's go." I say. We walk throught the broken shards and reunite with Adalene and Mac. Darius is no where in sight.

"Where is Darius?" I ask Mac.

"He went ahead to scout." he replies.

I nod. I lead the way throught the "doorway".

Everyone is outside now. It is chilly, but not freezing. The sun still shines through the cursed sky. If the world is wasted here, does this mean the world is wasted too? I shiver. How did the society get into power? What happened to the world? Why are we still here?

Questions race through my head. The anxiety takes over and I want to scream. I remind myself that I am strong. I want to believe that we can fix the world's mistakes, but the doubt is overwhelming. I don't even know what I have got myself into. I am clueless.

I whip around. "Mac, can we run?"

I can't remember the last time I ran, other than running away to the termination site. That was running away. This time, we will be running towards the danger. For some reason, I believe that that is running. Running to discover something about yourself, your limits, to push things to the land of forgotten. Running towards the unknown is exhilarating and challenging. Running away is weak and shows defeat. I want to actually run. To feel free like I had only once felt. Only this time, I wouldn't be scolded.

I used to play, when I was young. I would lay on the little patch of lawn that the society provided us and pretend to talk to invisible people. I remember playing games with them and my mother watching from the window. She wasn't permitted to let me outside, but she did so anyway. She wanted me to have a childhood that wouldn't scar me from the inside. I remember a particular evening when my mother briefly left the window. I tossed the "ball" to one of my "friends" and I pretended the ball rolled into the broken street. I remember glancing at the window, seeing that she wasn't there and rushing into the street. I grabbed the "ball" and ran. I raced around the street screaming at the top of my lungs and enjoying the feeling of freedom. I remember neighbors of the sector peeking through their curtains. I remember my mother rushing out and yanking me by the arm towards the house. I remember her stern looks and her scolds. I remember feeling freedom for the first time.

I am determined to feel it again.

The only thing blocking my path is fear, and I can push through it, and I will.

"I swear Mac, if you don't let me run you better watch your back." I say with all of the force I have.

He just smiles his unforgettable smile.

"I wouldn't have it any better way." he replies. "Everyone good with that?"

My sisters are the first to nod. They aren't as determined as me, but they are ready.

Adalene smiles, "We have to be careful, but we will get there a lot faster. I will have to bet that the run is about eleven miles. We might even catch Darius."

"Wonderful!" I exclaim. I turn to make and silently thank him. He winks.

I start first, Mac follows along with the rest of the pack.

My chains break off, and I run. But, it doesn't feel like running. I feel like I'm flying. I imagine myself as a bird. They're long gone now, but I still adore them. I race against myself. I race against my mind. I race against fear.