Following Footsteps

1. Aytia

I'm awoken by the sounds of discontent coming from the front of our house. The sunlight peeking through my curtains and searing spots through my eyelids does nothing to help. I try to press them together harder, and when that does nothing to block out the light, I squint and blink a few times to clear the sleepy film from my eyes.

I scan the room, noticing the empty bed to my left. Naomi is up, which is unusual of her. Most of the time I have to struggle with her to get out of bed. If there is anything she loves more than her books, it's sleeping.

My mind immediately reverts back to the noises I was hearing earlier. As I'm trying to strain and hear what's causing the commotion, Naomi bursts through the door. She looks as if there's something caught in her throat, her eyes wide and lips pressed tightly shut. As graceful as always, she sits on the corner of her bed, back facing me.

"What's happening out there?" I ask, sitting up in my bed, "Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm alright. Father's in the kitchen, speaking to some men from the Guard. They had a few questions for me about Khusal Cove.."

My heart skips a beat.

"Questions like..?"

"The one man asked if I'd heard any talk of trespassing, and I said no, because I haven't. He asked if anyone at my program had said anything, again I answered no. He asked me if I personally had any involvement."

"And you said?"

"No. Of course not. Do I look like someone who can afford to lose my spot in my program? And what would be the point anyway? It's just a stupid old cave with stagnant puddles and lots and lots of bugs, and I don't do bugs. Hell, I barely do 'outside' unless the program requires it," she said, smirking.

What a devious child, I think to myself. She's so good it's scary. Once we're out, she can use that smart brain of hers for good instead of deception. She will have a normal life and more opportunities than I was ever afforded.

"Well good. I don't know why they would suspect you of anything anyway," I say, eyeing her back suspiciously. "It's not like they have evidence."

She turns to face me now, and I can see that the look of worry has not completely been erased from her eyes. Something went wrong. I need to get out of this house with her so we can talk freely, and I can find out exactly what it was. She must be able to see what I'm thinking as well, and simply nods her head once to signal to me that she understands.

I slide off the side of my bed to dress. I hear a few footsteps outside the door and my father's voice. I can barely make out what he says to the Guard men, but it seems to appease them and they leave. I hear a loud sigh and more footsteps as the front door shuts.

A pit forms in my stomach as I slide my shirt over my head. I haven't even greeted him this morning but I have no doubt that my father, Roeden, is displeased. This isn't the first time the Guard has shown up at his door regarding one of us poking our noses where it doesn't belong.

As I grab the door knob and begin to turn it, the door flies open and I stumble back.

"I'm sorry, Aytia," he mumbles under his breath, clearly upset as I figured before. I detect a hint of something else behind his eyes though, something I haven't seen before. He looks.. worried?

As quickly as I saw it, the emotion vanished, replaced by a stern look in my sister's direction. "What is the meaning of all this?" He asks.

"I'm sorry father, but I have no idea what he was talking about," she says, shaking her head.

The look on his face says he can see right through the facade she's attempting to put up. Her shoulders drop, and she sighs. Here comes the "talk" again, I think to myself, knowing what he will say next.