Chapter One: Wren
Many people in my society believe that everything needs to be perfect. But, there is one tiny, little thing they are forgetting. Nothing is ever perfect. Few families, including mine, remember this detail. We are known as the Runaways.
With a strained voice, I said, “Pa, what’s going on?”
My Ma and Pa exchanged a worried glance before my father spoke up with a firm voice, “Wren. They are here.”
* * *
I remember that day like it was yesterday. That was the day my brother, Caleb, died. He died proud, for he knew that he exchanged his life for ours. I was playing by myself, like always, but I never knew exactly why I never had any friends. Ma and Pa came into my room with panic in their eyes as Caleb rushed around trying to find the “runaway kit.” My family was talking in hushed voices, but when I strained to hear the voices stopped. How was I suppose to know what was happening with my 4 year- old mind? There was a strong pounding on the door and my family froze, all color from their faces draining. We were too late. We couldn’t escape from the “Boarders”, the society’s police. They made sure that everyone agreed with their terms and laws of in their definition, a “perfect” life. Caleb slowly rose from the ground where he sat organizing our belongings and walked to the door without hesitation. He opened the door and stood with enemy. The boarder asked if he was alone and he quickly nodded. They then asked for his personal information, including his name. When he agreed to everything with a firm “Yes.” Just with those answers, he was shot straight through the heart. Ma and Pa told me that he knew he would die just as he got up to answer the door. Caleb created a distraction so we could run out the back door. I knew I could never repay him for trading his life for our family’s. But Pa said that it just doesn’t work that way and that we have to stay strong for him so he knows he didn’t scarifies himself for nothing. Every time he tells us to stay strong, he always has to walk out of the room, cause Caleb was always his favorite.
My Ma said he was always with us, even in our darkest moments. Pa talks to him every night, regretting for the loss of his son, getting mad at the Boarders, and even telling him about our day. I love Caleb, even though the memory of him was fading away with each passing day. The Boarders are targeting people like us because we “don’t agree with their terms.”Like, they forced us into a job, even though we didn’t like that profession. The Boarders believed that the only way to eliminate our kind, the Runaways, was to execute us. All these reasons didn’t seem like a big deal for the other members of the community because they thought it was a perfect idea, at least that is what the so called “ruler of our society” hammered into our brains. These “rulers” were husband and wife, Crater and Tammy. These people weren’t mean, they were malicious. But of course they never showed their true colors in front of the society. Only the Runaways notice who they really are, unlike the fools surrounding them.
When we ran away we made it on our own in the wild forest. It is the only place that hides us. Pa keeps reminding us that we cannot hide here forever, and that worries Ma more than it should. I have to admit living in the forest is pretty nerve wracking. I’m always stressing that they will find us, and it shows; bitten down nails, constantly playing with my hair, and more. 12 constant years filled to the brim of worry, stress, and anger. My birthday is on December 2, but that’s another thing the Boarders took away from us. The imperfection of a birthday.
“Come help me with the laundry, Wren,” Ma called over by the tub.
“ OK. I’m coming!” I yelled back over to her over the sound of the water running. I started to put my journal away that I had been writing and drawing in since we left our old lives behind. Pa never liked that I had a journal though; he was worried that a Boarder would find it and track us down. We have been living in the forest for 2 years now, the longest we have ever stayed in one place, so Pa decided to build a cabin, far where the Boarders would look. The cabin he made was nothing special, not compared to the complex towers and buildings back in society.
“Wren! What are you doing over there?” Ma yelled now. This made me laugh, but Ma must have heard the false note in it cause she turned around and glared in my direction.
“Um.. just writing and drawing in my journal,” I mumbled, barely comprehensible.
“Wren,” scolding Ma, but with a hint of sympathy in her voice, “You know how your father feels about that journal.” I sighed and put the leather journal away as Ma shook her head disapprovingly at me.” What are we going to do with you?”
I smirked, knowing they aren’t going to do anything to me. I turned to go help my mother when I heard a faint whimpering from behind me. As I whipped my head around, I saw a four- legged creature come limping towards us, looking straight at the water we were using to clean the clothes.
“Is that a dog?!” Ma asked, surprise taking over her body. All I could do was nod, still amazed at the creature coming towards us. “ Did you know Caleb had a dog before you were born?”
“Really?” I asked Ma, but was looking at this foreign dog
“Believe it or not, he adored it; dogs were his favorite animal in the world.” The new law came out just before you were born so the dog had to go. I remember the look on Caleb’s face. For days he wouldn’t stop crying. He loved that dog with all his heart.” Ma said with a small grin widening on her face as the memories flooded back of the cute boy and dog.
“What was the dog’s name?” I asked, wondering if he ever spoke of it again.
“He named it Bruno,” she replied. I smiled at the name, grateful that Ma was telling me more about Caleb’s past. I slowly started walking to the stunning animal standing before me. I peered into it’s shocking blue eyes and all I saw was Caleb.
“Ma… is it ok if we keep it?” I asked, already imagining a life with a pet.
“Well, you have to ask your Pa first, you understand?” she said, so stern. I was so happy; Pa would never say no to anything that was against the laws. My Pa loved being rebellious.
a/n:
Hi guys!
This is Maile (mi-lee)
I just want you guys to know that this is a book written by my friends and I, but I will be the one posting and managing it on watt pad!
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