Call of Freedom

Chapter Four

Walking carefully from tree to tree, she collects the arrows she shooted yesterday. How foolish of her to not rethink of her actions? If someone had seen them, she would be in serious danger now. The sun is high, the weather moody and the birds fly low over the ground. The smell of rain has already filled the air.

Jogging in order to reach her Area as fast as possible, she starts noticing the houses behind the bench which circles the whole village. After hiding her bow, she makes a leap over it and lands on the legal grounds. Against her are beautiful narrow passages with tall sandstone buildings, decorated with tiny balconies and plants holding flowers of every colour. Large windows with glass and bannisters on the outside, an illusion of protection. What a place she has grown to love; a prison.

Before making another step, something unseen drags her back. Her balance flies away, being thrown to the ground. A breath comes out of her lungs at the impact with the ground. Her thoughts are running wild and her body responds to the threat. Immediately, she clenches her hands to fists and she is ready to punch whoever did that. Instead she stops right on time before hitting a familiar face.

"Naya! What the hell are you d-"

Before being able to finish her sentence, Naya's hand is placed on Deanna's mouth preventing her from speaking. Only then does Deanna notice her eyes. White all around them, jaw tensed and breathing fast. Slowly, she removes her hand, offering Deanna enough space to stand up. After dusting off her clothes, she follows Naya behind a random house in silence. They wait a moment, for some unknown reason before start talking.

"What happened?"

Naya's stare falls on Deanna. She blinks faster than normally and her inhales are sharp.

"The Army is here!"

Her face goes blank. What is the Army doing here? They rarely visit Areas, but when they do it's not for good. Recent example is Area4, Zion's home.

"What do they even want?" Crossing her arms she leans against the dirty wall, her voice stable.

"I don't know. They are in the Big House now, you should go before they understand you are missing," Naya says, nibbling her bottom lip nervously.

Seeing her cousin like that makes her heart beat faster from anger. Deanna and her have spent their whole lives together, with memories full of joy and laughter. The Army won't take these memories away.

"Right. I'm going," she makes a step back. "Naya?"

Her cousin's eyes meet hers. They somehow relax, just enough to stay focused on one place.

"Everything will be fine. They are just taking care of us."

"We both know you don't mean that."

Caressing her shoulder, she slowly drifts away, walking towards the Big House. She can already see the pointed roof and the blue flag on the top. She decides to enter, once again from the second entrance. Getting inside, an awful smell of alcohol fills her nostrils, making her leave a grimace. Looking at her left, she spots about 20 men with the typical red army suit. They sit clumsily wherever they can in the spacious room, laughing and teasing the women who are desperately trying to serve them.

Her face is flushed, her jaw clenched and she lowers her eyebrows. With clenched fists, she storms to the next room to find her father. But instead of him, she meets the smirks and the cunningly looks of these beasts. A wave of rage travels inside her body at the sound of the comment "Nice piece!"

His green eyes are studying her figure and his hand which has a deep scratch on it is around a woman's waist. Rushly she abandons the room and heads to the kitchen, only to see all the familiar, lovely faces sweating from the heat produced by the machines.

Standing still, watcing all this mess only one question comes and goes in her mind. Why? It's impossible to find a reason to serve this men after offering absolute nothing. However, no one ever seems curious enough to protest. And a weight in her stomach appears. A weight she had to ignore before she makes it dissappear with an explosion.

She storms out of the room with heavy steps, not even leaving a glance at these scums. Banging the door behind her, she stands still in the deserted street. The sun is still shining over the clouds, fresh air filling her lungs and the birds are tweeting like begging her to calm down.

Her eyes shut, and legs give up their efforts to keep her up. Rolling down the ground, her knees contact with her chest and her palms are feeling the soft ground beneath her. The sun is glowing and all she can see is orange. Her heart beats relax, her breathing softens as her eyes slowly open adjusting with her surroundings.

Sitting there won't give her what she wants; actions will.

She sprints through the paths of Area21, with each footfall a jarring pain shoots ankle to knee. A cloud of dusk forms around her, fading off as soon as she reaches her house. With a deep exhale, she pushes the door open. Zion's little figure is sitting next to her father, both of them looking worried at the fireplace.

When Zion notices her, a curted smile decorates his face, hands embracing his whole body. Her father doesn't even bother to look at her. She takes a sit by the fireplace, its flames failing to warm her up. They sink inside silence and dim lightning. Only after a few minutes, does her father's dark eyes glance at her. A quick meeting with his eyes manage to fill her with worry.

His brown eyes hold some tension that is not used in them. The crackling of the fire trying to break the ice in the room.

"Yesterday, when you left, the men left as well. I stood alone inside the empty room for quite a while, doing nothing but breathe." Zion turns his torso towards the fireplace, warming his limbs.

"I heard noises from outside. Crowds marching and talking. It was late at night, the villagers asleep and you... gone."

Only then does her father look at her, but her strength has abandon her to face him too. She gulps and hopes that her father will avert his eyes. He doesn't. Nor does he talk to much.

"They will stay in the Big House."

"What! Dad do you know what they are doing in there? In my home?"

"What can I do?" They have both raised their voice.

"Kick them out!"

"Have you lost your mind?" He gets up, Zion stares wide eyed both of the giants ready to fight. "They are no children, it's the Army! Where are these ideas of yours even come from?"

"They destroyed Zion's home! Killed everyone! They threaten to kill me if I escape the limits and all for what?" She gulps to moisten her dry neck. "Don't tell me you aren't curious enough to know father, I know you."

His shoulders fall, his lips part and he turns away. Leaning against the wall, his head lowers so that his eyes stare his shoes.

"I want to know what happened to mom-"

"Don't-" he exhales and his next words are full of dispair and tireness. "Don't complicate things. They are here for check. In a matter of days they will be gone."

He whispers, trying more to convince himself rather than the people in the room. The air feels thick and toxic to breath. The weight on her stomach returns and the need to leave grows with each silent second that passes by.

"In a matter of days, I want them gone."

And with that, she drags her feet out of the house, towards the source of oxygen and light. Soft and hurried footsteps reach her from behind.

"Where are we going?"

"To the forest."

"This is out of the limits," the low voice warns discreetly.

"I'm not forcing you to come." Her speed fastens, her steps loud and her eyes pointed at the exit.

"I want to come."

Her speed suddenly reduces, staring at him over her shoulder. "You do?" He nods. "Alright..."

"Why do you always leave the limits? Don't you like your Area?"

"I... I love my Area. But that doesn't mean I have to be forced to stay in the place I was taught to love."

He stays silent for a few seconds.

"But how do you know that the rules are bad for us and don't actually protect us?"

Her steps come to a halt. With a quick scan around the forest and back to the village, she starts digging. Her eyes are troubled and her thoughts running wild. Under the leaves and dirt, her bow and quiver show off. Their black colour covered with the brown mud.

"I'm not sure you are ready for this talk," She starts walking fast again, but Zion runs by her side and stops her.

"I am! Please, tell me what is happening."

Deanna sees something in Zion. A kindness and purity that she hasn't met before. A chance to talk and throw away the weight in her stomach. Under the singing of birds and the thrustling of leaves, Deanna whispers all the things troubling her; the secrets she knows, the actions she has observed. And hopefully all her words aren't taken away with the wind.