Rising From The Ashes

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

I can’t stay much longer. The baby is growing and it won’t be long before people begin to notice, if they aren’t suspicious already. I hate to leave it all behind, my family and friends and everything I’ve ever know, but if it means my baby might have a chance at life then what else can I do? If I stay then his or her death is definite, but if I leave then at least there is a chance at survival. That’s all I can ask for, but I certainly wish for more

                                                                               -The Diary of Lucinda Jane Waders

After filling Catherine in on all the disturbing details I knew regarding our society and the Officials, I knew I needed to stop back at Cameron’s to fill him in. He was still expecting me to come with my mother to meet him, but that plan was certainly flipped around. Also, there was someone else I wanted to visit on my way there.

 Sadie seemed pretty surprised when she found me standing on her doorstep a little while later. We hadn’t really talked all that much other then some casual conversation here and there since she decided to back out. Normally when I saw her I was filled with a wistfulness for our lost friendship, but today seeing her only irked me.

“Uh oh, what happened?” Sadie asked, noticing the annoyed look on my face.

“Can I come in?” I replied. I couldn’t exactly have this conversation out in the open where anybody walking by could hear. Being secretive was almost becoming second nature by this point.

“Sure.” Sadie moved out of the way and I followed her into the house. She led me into the living room and we both stood there awkwardly, neither of us saying anything. I had spent so much time here with Sadie and how uncomfortable I was there now was something I never imagined. I always thought things would be as simple as watching movies and eating popcorn on a worn out couch.

“You told Catherine,” I said finally. It was a simple fact not a question. I knew Catherine wouldn’t lie to me about something I could just as easily prove was false.

“What? I…no…well, I mean yes, but…,” she trailed off looking eerily like a deer caught in the headlights.

“How could you? Her of all people?” I demanded. It didn’t matter that things might actually be better with Catherine knowing. It was the simple fact that Sadie had broken my confidence in her. If she told Catherine, who else might she tell?

“I didn’t mean to! You know how she is, always twisting things around until you tell her exactly what she wants to know!” Sadie exclaimed defensively. “And I mean, is it really that bad that she knows? You’re sort of over your head, Kaydance. I knew there was nothing I could say to convince you to get yourself out now before it’s too late, but I hoped that maybe there was something she could.”

“Well, there wasn’t. Actually she joined the cause surprisingly enough,” I muttered and Sadie’s eye grew wide.

“What!? She is the last person I ever would’ve expected to be okay with something like that!” she replied.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought too. What if she had turned me in, Sadie? Or told my mom? Anyone that knows her would have known she would most likely do one of the two,” I replied somewhat bitterly. It’s almost like she wanted me to get caught.

“She would never have turned you in! Sure she acts like she doesn’t care about you, but she’s still your sister. She wouldn’t do that to you,” she said defensively and I sighed.

“I guess it doesn’t really matter now anyway. I just…well, I just thought you would have my back on this. Even though…,” I trailed off with a shrug. What I really meant was even though we aren’t really friends any more, but I didn’t want to say that.