The wall

To Magda's surprise and dismay

Magda shuffled in her spot before kicking a small pebble, she walked over to Cairo “How about we explore together, I still have a few hours before dinner,” she said.

He looked up at her, the remnants of tears present in his eyes “You mean?” He wiped his sleeve across his eyes and stood. “Alright, let’s do it!” he said and grabbed her hand. “I can show you everything I’ve found so far.”

The pair made their way along the dirt path that separated the grass from the wall, Cairo lead with Magda in tow. All the while he explained to her his theories and beliefs on the wall, her eyes glued to the structure as she became engrossed in his tales.

“What is that?” she asked and pointed up to the tructure. Two large pieces of metal had been attached to a higher area in an x shape, the metal was worn and showed signs of rust damage.

“It’s to stop the wall from breaking, see the giant cracks under the metal,” he said.

“What broke it?” she asked her mouth agape.

He shrugged his shoulders and continued along their path “No clue, but whatever it was must have been giant.”

She skipped along after him careful not to fall behind “Wait, aren’t we going towards the edge of town?” she asked and stopped in her tracks. “my mother said I can’t leave the town alone, ever.”

“Well good thing you aren’t alone then,” Cairo said with a confidant smirk.

She stomped her foot in annoyance “You don’t count, she meant an adult.”

“Aww come on it’s only a little bit past the fence, and I promise we will be back by dinner time.”

“Just like you promised we wouldn’t get caught taking those cookies, or leaving class early.” She said and gave him a doubtful look.

“Your still upset about that,” he expelled a bit of air from his mouth “I said sorry, didn’t I?” he asked.

“No, actually,” she said and sighed “But its ok, let’s just keep going.”

“Really?” he smiled and walked a bit ahead of her “Like I said it’s only a little way past the fence.”

The pair trekked on with Cairo in the lead. Magda kept herself preoccupied with the various items that littered the grass, her eyes traced over anything that glimmered in the dying sunlight.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been this far from town, are you sure this is safe?” she asked and quickened her pace.

“Sure enough, besides if anything happens ill protect you,” he replied.

“You’re going to protect us?” she asked rolled her eyes “We are doomed.”

“No way!” he walked a few feet into the grass and surveyed the area. After a moment, he knelt down and picked up a medium sized stick. He swung it a couple times and hoisted it on to his shoulder.

“A Stick? Really?” she asked.

“It’s like a sword,” he said and brandished it.

“It’s a stick,” she said in a flat tone.

“its close enough, geez,” he said and started on the path again.

They arrived at the chain link fence that separated their town from the lands beyond, much in the same the wall separated them from the unknown.

“What now? there’s no way we can climb that fence?” she asked.

“That’s why we’re going to go beneath it,” he replied and walked to the edge of the fence that connected to the wall. He grabbed the corner of the fence and peeled it back “Well come on, girls first.”

Magda kneeled down and crawled through the hole careful not to tear her clothes “Ok, pass me the sword?”

“What, Why?” He asked in confusion and clutched the stick closer.

“Because, I’m on the other side and you can’t protect me from there,” she said.

“But you called it a stick before.”

“Just pass it here already?” She asked again.

He sighed and slide the stick through the hole “There happy now?” he asked as he knelt and crawled through after.

“No,” she lifted the stick and lightly swatted at him.

“Ouch, what the heck was that for?” he asked in shock.

“The cookies, now I’m happy,” she replied and extended her hand to help him up.

He dusted himself off and took the stick back from her. He used it to motion towards a point in the distance “See that?” he asked her.

She leaned forward and squinted her eyes” Yeah, what is it?”

“I’ll race you there,” he said and took off running.

“Cairo, you jerk!” she took off after him “You better not ditch me out here.”

The two raced each other, Cairo in the lead at first. Magda over took him and pivoted in her step, she faced him. “Ha, even when you have a head start I’m still faster.”

Cairo hunched over in an attempt to catch his breath. He pointed past her with his free hand.

“What?” she asked and turned around, her eyes widened. “Is that?” she asked and stopped mid-sentence.

“Yup, a door,” he said and walked up beside her.