Judge

Chapter 18

For the first time, I notice the ragged, almost obliterated cloth I'm wearing. I think they used to be shorts and a T-shirt. They're too shredded by bullet holes to be of any use anymore, but at least they cover my...private areas. Thankfully. I walk unsteadily but quickly to the door of my house. My hand shakes as I reach for the door to knock. Maddie blurs beside me.

"You have to stay with me."

"Okay, Ari."

"Go and get a sleeping bag or something. Anything left over from camping. We're going to need it." She runs faster than I can react. It seems like a pack just appeared on her back. Her equipment is all there. She lays a gentle, slim hand on my shoulder. I raise my quivering fist again and rap weakly on the wooden paneling.

It opens quickly with a creaking whoosh of air exhaled to reveal my mother. Her bleary eyes widen with shock when she sees the state of our clothes - and maybe the state of us.

"What are you wearing!? I've been awake all night waiting for you and this is how you come back to me!? How did this happen!?" She seems to notice Maddie standing next to me all of a sudden. Her whole demeanor changes in an instant.

"Oh, hi, how are you? You must be so tired! Come on in!" It's almost funny how different she becomes when another person is around. The parea come first with her. Her eyes still rove around my body, giving me a frosty yet subtle glare. She sits Maddie down at the oaken table with the promise that "I'll be back in just a second!" and drags me into the living room.

"Arion, what the hell was that? Kai yia ti exeis troupes mesa ta rouxa sou?"

"Mom, we were attacked. Xereis h mitera Maddie? O anthropos oti skotovi einai o grammateas Dillman. Mas polemisan."

"Sas diefige?" She asks. Her expression cycles from anger to shock and then rests somewhere between confusion and fear."

"Nai, mitera." Her demeanor hardens.

"Pos?"

"Den xero. Nomizo exoume uperdinameis." She shakes her head.

"This has to be a joke, Arion. No other way around it. I can't believe that you would li-" I light up my hand with a web of my electric energy. Her eyes widen once more.

"You believe me now?"

"Arion, you have to leave. This is way over our heads. Gather your things. I'll wake up the rest of the family to say goodbye."

"But-"

"Now!" When she sees my face, she sighs.

"I love you, Arion. You've always been such a good boy. I'm going to miss you."

"You too, mom." A tear trickles down my cheek as I head upstairs for the last time. It's early morning, and the light filters through the japanese maple in front of my window. I survey the cluttered room for a moment. Three dark green walls. A walk-in closet on the right. The left wall is covered in sheets of wood I put up myself. The mocking drawings on the old white wall beneath lie there under the beautiful walnut-colored finish.

"Ari likes Maddie"

"Ugly face" And a huge potato shaped head.Looking back now, even these rude gestures seem endearing to me. I brush my fingertips against the paneling. I find my sleeping bag and pack, stuff more clothes in as best I can. Underwear and socks. My eyes come to rest on a gold painted box. Time to break it out. Every redeemed paycheck, every penny. I always save. Refereeing is more than enough to put a little money away. I roll the crisp twenties between my palms. I forgot how much I have in here. Maybe enough to leave the country. I'll have to think that one over. The money is safely in my pocket. Clothes for all weather are packed.

I turn towards the door to find Peter and Paul staring at me, bleary-eyed and angel-faced. Somber. I can't leave them. They're my brothers. My family. My blood. I kneel down, setting my face level with theirs. Hot, salty beads of water well up in my eyes. One trickles down my left cheek. I hold out my arms and they fall into my embrace, one on each side, grasping me tightly like shipwrecked sailors to a beam. I squeeze firmly, yet gently, and the single tear becomes an outpouring from all three of us. I start to let go. My heart aches. I don't want to do this. I don't want to lose them. Their faces are hot, rouge already conquers the scape of their cheeks. Their streaks are distorted with tears. I must not look much better.

"I have to go, boys. Theos mazi sou." My voice, already hoarse with the immense lump in my throat, cracks and disappears as I barely squeak out a farewell. I hoist the backpack onto my shoulders. Soldier on downstairs, caressing the railing with a few fingers. My mother is already downstairs with my sister and father. I wonder how she got him up. I lay a heavy hand to rest on the kitchen counter and take in the sight of my family. They peer back from below, and a pair of unsteady legs lets me totter forward to envelop everyone in a last warm embrace. I spot Maddie respectfully peeping out from behind the slim partition between the kitchen and dining room. The emotion leaches from our skin and seeps into each other's hearts. It lasts all of two minutes before I can manage to ground myself again. If we got here that quickly, then the secretary should be close behind.

"Mom, I need to go. It's not safe." The words coming from my mouth break my heart.

"I know, Arion." Her hands, clasped in front of her face, are the worst. I break away and walk weakly to the dining room. Maddie is still trying not to listen. Her blond hair spills over her hands, which are covering her ears like delicate earmuffs. I make a small noncommittal noise. She looks up, fingers peeling off her face.

"Time to go." She nods, a pensive expression on her face. I know her well enough to tell that she wants to say something.

"Is there something else you wanted to do?"

"We...we could have spent our last summer together normally. Like the seniors we are. But all this bullshit happened and..." She sighs. "I just wish we didn't have to do this."

"My sentiments exactly. But we have to go. Did you let your dad know?" Her mouth quirks downwards.

"I left a note."

"Good." I extend my hand. She zips across the room for her backpack and returns. Then takes it. I give a squeeze to the delicate instruments, and we walk out the door hand in hand.