News
948 Words
Shoulder to shoulder, Caleb led Alex in silence down a long, narrow hallway lit by flickering candles on tall stands. A chill rose up around them as they walked. Finally, in a wood paneled room with a long, rough-hewn table and dozens of straight, wooden chairs, Alex eased away from Caleb and moved to stand on the other side of the table to put space between them.
Trust no one.
Alex didn’t want this refined boy being to nice to him. They weren’t going to be friends. As soon as he found Hailey, they would race for home. He would carry her all night if he had to. He would even let her talk endlessly about what they would eat for breakfast. He didn’t care if his mother forbade him from leaving the house for the rest of his life or yelled at him until morning.
“do you have any idea why you’re here” Caleb asked in a small voice.
“how would I? I don’t even know where I am.”
“don’t be mad. Everyone is mad on arrival, but there’s no point. You’ll figure out soon that we all want the same things.”
“what do you know about what I want”
Caleb paused and seemed to look kindly at Alex for a moment
“freedom”
Alex couldn’t argue with that
Caleb continued “be patient, answers will come in time”
“I don’t have time. I need answers now. Where are we and why am I here?”
“it’s complicated, but I promise you that following the rules is our best chance at survival.”
“what kind of rules”
“no outside contact is allowed for any reason. And you must stay quiet”
Alex was to tired to think and to tired to argue with a stranger. He had no desire to play games with this boy. Why had the girl from before said he was helpful? so far, he was as helpful as a red bellied turtle.
Alex pressed his finger to his temples
“you’d better sit” Caleb said “there’s more”
Alex didn’t want to do anything this boy suggested but because he was so exhausted and sore, he collapsed into a chair as Caleb moved to sit across from him. A gigantic bowl of fruit between them.
Caleb’s perfect hair, the string of rings on his fingers, and his black suit made Alex wonder what he might look like in comparison.
Not good
“I have one important question” Caleb said “are you 13”
Alex had almost forgotten it was his birthday. He nodded miserably.
“interesting” Caleb said as a sort of relief seemed to wash over him.
“why does it matter”
“because everyone here is 13” Caleb continued “you were the second person brought here today”
The girl from the raft
“where is she”
“sleeping”
Alex snorted and shook his head. He couldn’t imagine letting himself relax enough in this place to fall asleep. Suddenly ravenous, he pulled an orange from the bowl, peeled it and began to eat it, the juice running down his arm. And it was the strangest thing. the fruit was the best thing Alex had ever eaten. Unable to stop himself, he ate the pulp, the juice, and even the peel.
As Alex licked the stickiness off his arm, Caleb smiled.
“im on your side. Im not your enemy.”
“I don’t care, im not staying long enough to make enemies. Hailey and I need to be free of here tonight.”
Caleb nodded “everyone who arrives says the same thing”
Suddenly, Alex remembered he hadn’t seen his sister since arriving.
“where is Hailey”
Caleb averted his eyes
“where is she”
At Caleb’s solemn stare, Alex pounded his fist on the table.
“I don’t know” Caleb blurted “I didn’t want to tell you, but we are all separated from our sisters and brothers. But doing what we’re told keeps them alive.”
Keeps them alive? Alex couldn’t speak Oh, sweet Hailey!
He had assumed Hailey was travelling in a box behind him thee whole time and was now being entertained in another room. When Caleb said ‘we’re all 13’ he meant it.
Hailey isn’t here and it’s all my fault.
He suddenly wanted to feel her sticky hand in his or hear her endless chatter. And he knew with all certainty that he would kill anyone who hurt her, starting with the old man.
Caleb placed a hand on Alex’s shoulder, but Alex shoved it away and feared he would be sick. He stifled a scream that rose from that pit of his stomach and whispered
“help me” as thousand of pinpricks filled his head and his breathing became laboured.
Caleb called for someone, and soon Alex heard a voice that seemed far away but sounded like the girl from before.
“you’re going to be okay” she said “I will help you”
And then she spoke to Caleb
“does he know where we are yet? Did you tell him?”
“he’s not ready to know the truth”
- Writer
