Beyond the Border | ✔

46 | rule 146

My hair whipped in my face, blocking my line of sight. However, my blocked vision did not prevent me from reaching the town center; I could navigate the Borderlands blindfolded. I grew up walking through this forest, playing hide and seek beneath the shade of these trees. I knew it like the back of my hand.

However, the sight before me was not so familiar. I reached the town center to find Pa handcuffed to a wooden stall. The area was deserted, only Pa and one other person stood there.

It was Si.

"Si?" I cautiously called out.

Slowly, Si turned around, gun in his hand. I gasped when I saw the weapon shaking in his grip. I was not so strong as vomit erupted out, my body heaving. Pa's ear had been slashed, blood dripping down the side of his neck. His eyes were closed, and his body slumped into the stall he was chained to. His chest rose up and down – he was alive but for how long?

"Sage," Si smiled, his tongue running over his teeth. "Nice of you to join us."

"Si, what are you doing?" I took a step forward. "Put the gun down. Please."

"Don't," Si yelled, his face turning bright red, a vein protruding on his forehead. "Don't take another step."

"Si," I repeated his name, not knowing the right words to say. I knew if I said the wrong words, Pa could end up dead. I would have to choose my words wisely. "Please."

Si sniffled, putting the barrel of the gun to Pa's head and then mocked, "Please."

"Si, this isn't you," I spoke softly, my body shaking, afraid he would pull the trigger.

"Save the speach, Sage," Si whipped around, the gun no longer aimed at Pa's head. "You, Memphis, and Gracie abandoned me on the Outside. I had no one. No one. I tried coming back to the Borderlands, but the Council would not let me in. They said I was too tainted, too unrighteous. I had no one."

Si's body shook as silent tears trailed down his cheek. His face was locked in a snarl as he looked at the cobblestone street. "No one. So, I slept in the trees outside the Border, hoping someone would come for me. But, no one did. No one. I almost died out there. I got pretty sick. I had no food. I had no water. I had no one. The Council knew I was there, though. They sent that pest Gunther around to taunt me. I think they were counting down the days until I died, waiting for it, lusting for it."

Si paused, looking over the gun in his hand. "One day that changed. Councilman Henry came out to taunt me that time. Or, that was what I thought. I thought he was coming to finish the job – to kill me. But, he had a proposition instead: kill your Pa, and I'd be let back into the Borderlands."

My face fell, ears ringing. "Si, there is no Borderlands any–"

"–Shut up!"

"The Border fell," I continued, my voice trembling. "They're still manipulating you. Si, you have to believe me. Go to the Border and see for yourself."

Si's face quivered. "I can't. He'll get away."

Si pointed the gun back at Pa, and I let out a low, gasp.

"I'm sorry, Sage," Si hunched over. "But I have to do this."

I lunged for Si, but it was too late; a shot rang out, and I let out a blood-curdling scream. Pa had been shot. Blood trickled out of his chest, bright and red. I ran over to Pa, putting pressure on his wound.

"Stay with me Pa. Please, stay with me," I cried, trying to look if there was anyone around to help. But, there was no one. Si had left, and we were all alone.

Pa's eyes slowly opened up with shock; his eyes were hazy and glossed over. He tried to speak, but blood got caught in his mouth. I pushed harder into his chest wound, hoping it would help, but he started to choke on the blood in his lungs.

"Pa," I sobbed. "I saw Ma."

Pa looked at me, tears dripping down his cheeks. "Ma is alive. She's okay. She's okay, Pa. You don't have to worry anymore, okay. She's okay."

Pa tried to smile, but his lips just trembled. Shakily, Pa took his hand and cupped my own, removing it from his wound. He tried to squeeze my hands tightly, but he did not have enough strength.

"Pa, I'll be okay," I said through tear-filled eyes. "I'll be okay."

Again, Pa tried to smile, but his body went slack. His weak grip on my hands faltered, one arm falling to his side. The light in his eyes was no more. Pa was gone.

"I love you, Pa," I cried, clinging to his body. I buried my head in his chest. His body was still so warm and comforting, even without the familiar beat of his chest. Pa was gone.

Clinging on tighter, I sobbed into his lifeless body, wanting nothing more than to reverse time and save Pa. I imagined many people died today – both Borderlanders and members of Theo's pack – but what was it all for? Was the Borderlands really worth all this death and destruction?

Resentment built within me. Ma saw through the guise the Council put on for eighty long years, but she didn't try to do a thing about it. She stood idle when it came to making any change, and Pa died as a result. Or, did he die because of me?

The rational side was telling me the Council would have made an example of Pa either way – whether or not I brought them a witch. Pa was collateral damage. He died in a war he did not know he was partaking in. Pa had always been loyal to the Borderlands and look where that got him.

I never imagined a life without Pa in it in some capacity. Growing up in the Borderlands, many families lived in one house – even when children turned into adults and started families of their own. I always imagined Pa growing old, old like Gran and Pop, but he would never get that chance. He would never see me start a family on my own. He would never walk me down the aisle. He would never be there in any more of my life moments. Just his memory would have to be carried on.

I don't know how long I clung to Pa's body, but eventually, Pa's body began to grow cold. Yet, I remained unwavering, holding on to him with a clammy grip. I couldn't let him go. I still hadn't accepted that Pa was gone. If I let go, I knew it would start to feel real – I'd start to realize Pa was really never coming back, and everything I had gone through these past two months were for nothing.

"Sage," Theo's voice was light and airy. I didn't move at the sound of his voice. I, instead, clung to Pa tighter, my eyes frosting over. "The fighting is over. We have the members of the Council in custody. They will pay for this."

I remained frozen in place. Theo cautiously walked up beside me, trying to pick me up. I knew he had enough strength to pluck me off Pa's body without much effort, but he was being gentle.

"No," I whispered. "I want to stay here. I can't just leave him all alone. I can't. I can't leave him."

"I know," he tucked a piece of hair behind my ear, using his thumb to wipe a stray tear. "Flynn will take him back to the pack. He won't be left here."

"He's dead," I said, and Theo looked at me sympathetically before I broke down again. Theo lifted up my body, carrying me away from Pa.

"Shh," Theo whispered into my ear. "I've got you."

i am sorry for what i have done but if it's any consolation i did cry while writing this chapter