Dawn of Rebellion Book 1 PDF

 Dawn of Rebellion Book 1 of The Dawn of Rebellion Series Michelle Lynn Copyright (C) 2013 Michelle Lynn Layout design and Copyright (C) 2019 by Next Chapter Published 2019 by Next Chapter Cover art by Cover Mint This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and inci...

 Dawn of Rebellion Book 1 of The Dawn of Rebellion Series Michelle Lynn Copyright (C) 2013 Michelle Lynn Layout design and Copyright (C) 2019 by Next Chapter Published 2019 by Next Chapter Cover art by Cover Mint This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the author's permission. For my sisters  Chapter 1 Dawn History is going to be the death of me. My chin tilts down as my mind wanders off in an attempt to stay awake. Mr. Giles has been wittering on for the past half hour and I can't remember anything he's said. My eyes droop as weariness washes over me. I'm so tired. Tired of this class. Tired of this school. This entire life. It used to be easier for me, but I don't like to dwell on the past – hence my disdain for history. England sucks. It has sucked for a long time. That is our history. But don't say it or they'll come for you. A sigh escaped my lips and the boy in the row next to me gives me a curious look. I shake my head and look down at my desk. “The Colonies,” Mr. Giles says. “Represent the worst that can happen to a modern society.” My slowly closing eyes snap open. Year ten is the first chance we get to learn about the mythical colonies. Suddenly wide awake, I lean forward and rest my elbows on my desk. We've all heard the stories since we were kids. The truth is hidden in those tales somewhere. But now we get the whole picture. Mr. Giles continues. “They are proof that in the midst of disaster, the strong countries will survive and the weak will perish. An entire nation was destroyed. Let us never forget the mistakes that led to their demise.” I am listening so intently that the bell signaling the end of the day makes me jump out of my chair. “Your homework for tonight is to choose one of the many reasons the colonies were destroyed and write a one-page paper. Use your textbooks. You're dismissed. We'll pick this up on Monday.” I look around in a daze and barely notice my classmates packing their books. Everyone is chatting and smiling as they leave the room, no doubt excited for the weekend. I slowly move around my desk, grab my rucksack, and head for the door. Everything I pass is a blur as I make my way to the exit. Excited chatter fills the hall as students hurry by. In the distance, I hear my name. This snaps me out of my stupor and I almost trip on my own two feet as someone taps me on the shoulder. “Dawn.” My older sister Gabby is annoyed as usual. “I've been calling you from the other end of the hall.” “Sorry, I'm just really tired.” I scrub a hand across my face. Gabby plants her hands on her hips, looking me over in that scrutinizing way of hers. If they didn't already know, no one would ever guess we're sisters. Gabby is tall and fit, with long strawberry blonde hair that falls over her shoulders in waves. Her eyes are emerald green and stand out against her tanned skin. Gabby has the kind of smile that gets what she wants and she knows how to use it. I, on the other hand, am built differently, short and thin. My hair is dishwater brown and cropped short, because why bother? My appearance suits me. It lets me go unnoticed and I'm okay with that, really. I swear. Okay, sometimes I'm okay with it. “Dawn. Dawn.” Gabby is snapping her fingers in front of my face. I hate when she does that. “What is wrong with you today? You're acting like a proper nutter. It's like you're here, but you're not.” “Yeah, cuz that makes a lot of sense, sis.” She scowls at me and I look away. “Sorry, s'been a long day,” I finally say. “Let's just go home, OK?” “That's what I came to tell you. Drew is taking me for a ride in his new car. I'll find a way home later.” “Can't he just drive you home?” Before I even finish that sentence, I know the answer. “No way, do you want me to blow it? I need to go find him.” I can see Gabby's mood turning sour so I just say goodbye and continue on my way. I think about turning back to remind her not to miss curfew, but she knows when that is so I keep moving. Since I was a kid there has been a strict curfew enforced by the government. No one is supposed to leave their houses after nine at night. Gabby doesn't always make it back in time, but she hasn't been caught - yet. As I'm walking towards the end of the hall, I hear something coming from a classroom on my left and freeze. Turning towards the sound, I suddenly wish I'd minded my own business. A girl I recognize from my sister's track team is pressed up against the chalkboard by a boy I don't remember ever seeing before. She giggles but it's cut off as he attaches himself to her lips. I'm such a creeper, but I can't look away. He must be a senior. His shirt is stretched tight across his back across well- defined muscles. She pushes her hands into his dark hair and a blush creeps up my neck. I have to get out of here. I break away from the scene unfolding before me and hoof it down the hall. Pushing through the double doors to the outside, I groan as I watch my bus pulling away from the curb. I run towards it, but I'm too late. Perfect. “Shite.” I look around considering my options. Most people have already left the school grounds. We're not allowed to hang around once school lets out. As soon as the bell rings, rankers start showing up. The military uses the area for training. Actually, they use pretty much all of London for training. I need to get out of here so I guess I'll have to take the tube. Sighing, I set off towards the station. I walk slowly, in no hurry to get home. People go around me as they rush on their seemingly important tasks. The streets are teeming with squaddies carrying large guns as if they would ever have to use them here. This part of London is where the rich people live. Their streets are lined with department stores that most people could never hope to shop in. I don't belong here and I'm not the only one who seems to notice. Men and women in suits cast suspicious glances my way as they push past me. I've only had to take the tube home from school a few times before and I wouldn't even have to come into the city for school if they hadn't shut down the East End Academy. They called it a breeding ground for the rebel movement. I can't say they were wrong. Rebels are dangerous. A society works better when all citizens follow the law. That's how England still prospers in a world that saw many fall. At least, that's what we've always been taught. Sometimes I question it. I question them, our government. I'm not blind. I see what they do to us. But no good can come of rebellion so I shut it down when it enters my mind. It isn't in me to fight. It takes me the better part of an hour to reach the tube station. I take the escalator down to the platform and swipe my card. I don't know how Gabs managed to nick these tube cards for us, but I learned to stop asking questions of her a long time ago. I'm always amazed at how beautiful this platform is. There is a large mural painted in bright colors on one wall and adverts everywhere. I don't think there is a cleaner platform in all of London. I watch the people around me, instantly categorizing them into the three categories in society based on their dress: The upper class, middle-class, and the rest of us. The government decides where you belong. During your senior year of high school, you get a placement. If you're really smart or really rich, you go to university and eventually end up assigned to a great job making a lot of money. If you have an ounce of athletic ability, you'll be a ranker. Gabby already has her military assignment. The military makes up pretty much all of the middle-class. The third possibility is for people with no smarts and limited skill. They work for little pay in public service jobs. I'm hoping to be sent to uni, but I still have a few years. I squeeze through the crowd to get to the front. The tube pulls up and I board the nearest car. It's packed with people so I stand and hold onto one of the railings along the walls. It is about ten stops before we reach the east end of London and by the time we do, there are only a few people left. Not many people live out here in the dodgy parts of the city; well, not many people that can afford to take the tube. I exit the car and the contrast to this station would be shocking if I wasn't used to it already. The paint on the walls is peeling and trash litters the ground from the upended dustbins. The only art present here is graffiti. I barely notice the state of things around here anymore. And, of course, the escalator is broken. Once I climb the stairs from the platform - did I mention Gabby is the athlete in the family? - I've got about 10 streets to go until I reach my flat. As I walk, my mind drifts and I'm back in history class. The mythical colonies. Before my father died, he would tell us stories that were meant to scare us into being good. Today, the colonies are home to England's prisons. Criminals are sent off and never come back. Our government is saved the cost of courts and our society gets rid of its troublemakers. I always wanted to know more but never had the courage to ask. I want to learn about the people that lived there before the prisons were built, but some things are forbidden. There are so many things I could choose to write my paper about. We haven't gone over much in class yet, but I've read my course book cover to cover. I think I'll choose the disease. It was the final nail in the coffin that wiped out much of the population. I'm sure most of my mates will write on the war, but that was only a result of everything else so I don't think it's as important. “Out of my way.” I'm stunned as someone pushes me aside and legs it down the street. My shoulder slams into the brick front of a building and I start to regain my footing on the sidewalk when five, no six, soldiers rush past. They don't give me a second glance as they chase the gaffer down and tackle him to the ground. I don't dare move as a squaddie pulls out his gun and shoots the man in the head. He collapses and is left there, in the middle of the road. As soon as the soldiers are out of sight I start walking again, not looking at the dead man as I go by. Things like this happen around here all the time. The rest of us just have to keep our heads down and our mouths shut. Even so, my hands shake at my sides. Some things you never get used to. The rebels operate out of East End and sometimes it seems like a war zone. I keep my eyes trained on the ground and keep moving. By the time I reach my flat, the light begins to fade. I'm zonked. I don't like nights when Gabby is out late. You don't want to be caught up in the nighttime events of this neighborhood. I enter my building and climb the stairs, careful not to touch any railings or walls. This place can be pretty grotty. I pass many other flats, each with their worn doors standing wide open. As I walk by, people wave to me or just smile. We all know each other here and look after one another. Technically, our building is abandoned and scheduled for demolition, so we're all just squatting here, but we do have rooms all to ourselves, even if they have been deemed unsafe. As soon as I get to my room, I pull out the tattered course book Mr. Giles has given me and start on my homework, waiting for Gabby to get home.  Chapter 2 Gabby The wind whips through my hair as we speed down the road in Drew's brand- new convertible. “Drew, baby this is brilliant”. I can't remember the last time I felt so free. Pushing my sunglasses up my nose, I look sideways at him. Exhilaration shoots through my veins. The air has a biting chill, but it's not enough to make us stop. “I'm glad you like it.” Drew smiles as he ramps up the speed. “Now you're just showing off.” I have to shout to be heard over the wind. “Yep. I can stop if you want.” “Well, you should pull over, but that doesn't mean it's not working for me.” I reach over and start running my hands through his hair the way I know he likes it. I smile when a small groan escapes him. He slows down the car and pulls to the side of the road. As soon as we're stopped, Drew reaches over and pulls me towards him. His mouth slams against mine like a starving man at a feast. A car honks at us as it passes our spot. I break away with a laugh. “Probably our cue to get moving. I need to be getting home soon.” “But things are just getting started here,” Drew says in his low sexy voice, trying to draw me back in. Any normal day that may have worked, but not today. “I have to go find a present for my little sister's birthday. It's tomorrow. Then my parents want me home early.” I cringe as I mention my parents. It's a lie that hurts every time I speak it, but he can't know the truth. I watch his face and see how easy it is for him to accept. Proper teenagers do have rules and parents that enforce them. I was ten when my father was killed and my mother couldn't handle it so she abandoned us. Most people will never have to live with that kind of pain. “Well, where do you want to go? I'll take you.” “I'm just going over to Fenwick's. I can get there myself.” My defenses start to come up. I don't need anyone's help. I can take care of myself. I've sure been doing it long enough. “Just take me to the tube station.” He shrugs and starts the car.  I got lucky with this one. He doesn't ask many questions. Plus, there's the whole sexy as hell angle. As he drives, I reach over and push my fingers into his dark hair. He flashes me a smoldering wink with his deep blue eyes. I melt right there in his car. God, I'm a sucker for a man with a footballers build. So what if he's the district commander's son, and so what if he's a player. I think I can hold onto him; as long as he never learns that my life is rubbish. I look up and notice we're nowhere near the station. This git just doesn't listen. As we pull up outside the department store, my anger is seething. “What do you think you're doing? I told you I don't need anyone's help. I wish you'd just listen to me.” I get out of the car and slam the door without giving Drew a chance to respond. Entering Fenwick's reminds me of everything I could never afford; Designer clothing, purses, jewelry, and accessories of incredible colors and styles. I'm usually able to get by on what I can lift but I've never tried that here. It's a dangerous hobby and most people would think I'm a right nutter for even trying. It carries the same sentence as any other crime. You're shipped off to the colonies and I don't even know what happens there. I don't worry about the consequences though. I know I'm good. I have to believe it'll work. Nerves are usually what get people caught. I pass by a heavily armed guard near the doorway. That's something the usual east end stores do not have. But, then again, they don't have much merchandise either. I can still do this. Dawn deserves something special for her birthday. She hates it when I pick out her clothes, so that's out. A purse is only practical if you have money or are borrowing things from stores like I do. Dawn would never do anything she considers “wrong”. Incredibly annoying how good she is. I go to the jewelry counter. This is the perfect gift. It'll be much harder to take, but it's for my sister. Sitting directly on the counter, as if they are calling out to me, are the most beautiful charms I have ever seen. Dawn would love these. I pick up a silver bracelet and slip it discretely into my purse. Then I pick out a charm for sister. “Can I help you with something?” I don't know how long the saleslady has been hovering, but I'm sure if she's seen me pinching the bracelet, the guard would already have me in cuffs. “I'm alright, thank you.” She doesn't take the cue to leave. Instead, she continues to watch me as I head for the door and slowly make my way out of the store. As I pass the guard he reaches out and grabs my arm. “Ma'am, I need you to empty your purse,” he says. I rip my arm free of his grasp and sprint out the door before he can catch up. Once outside, I look around frantically for the easiest escape and am relieved and surprised to see Drew sitting there in his car, waiting for me. I run forward, but a hand clamps onto my wrist before I make it too far. A soldier who'd been in the store shopping holds me in place. I twist my arm and jerk my head back to collide with his. Pain shoots through me, but the soldier lets go with a curse. I sprint the rest of the way to the car and scramble into the passenger's seat. “Drive. Now!” It takes him a moment to comprehend what I'm saying. “Gabs? What's going on? You just assaulted a soldier.” He eyes me with something akin to fear. “Get out of here now, you stupid prat!” With that, he starts the engine and the car lurches forward. We're heading down Bond Street at getaway speed. “Shite,” I yell, letting the energy flow from me in a rush of adrenaline. My body sags back against the seat as I breathe heavily. A laugh rips from my throat. I've never been so close to being caught. We're not in the clear yet, but wow, that was kind of fun. Damn the consequences. I'll worry about those tomorrow. How likely were they to even find me? “Are you going to tell me what's going on?” “Well, my sister's going to love her present.” I hold up the bracelet to take a closer look. It really is something. “Did you nick that?” Drew is finally catching on. Just then we hear the sirens. The police are actually catching up with us. I didn't think they had it in them. “Gabby, I'm pulling over.” “What! Are you daft? I just headbutted that guy. You know what that means for me? We can totally outrun them.” “It's OK, I got this. They'll listen to me.” He pulls the car to the side of the road and we wait. It takes a few moments for the cop to open his door. He must be running Drew's plates. We hear a car door and footsteps. “Mr. Crawford, I'm Officer Sutton. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir.” I roll my eyes. Even after being in a car chase, Drew is treated like royalty. He can thank his well-connected father for that. It's as if I'm not even a part of this, even though I'm the one who committed the felony. Drew speaks in his smooth, future diplomat voice. “You as well officer. Is there something I can do for you?” “Err…well, we have reason to believe that you have stolen merchandise in your car, sir.” I let out a laugh because this cop is trying to be as polite as possible while making accusations. “I'm sure this is all just a misunderstanding. We can fix this right up. How much is this item worth?” Drew pulls out his wallet and I just groan. He should not be paying for this. “I'm sorry sir, but it isn't as simple as that. We have this young lady on vid assaulting a soldier.” He looks over at me for the first time and the polite reverence he has shown Drew is gone. “I'm afraid she's going to have to come with me.” Drew plays his last card, “Let me call my father and get this all cleared up.” “He has already been alerted to the situation, sir, and has requested that we proceed with the arrest.” I can see where this is going so I slip the bracelet into Drew's center console and step out of his car. Drew looks at me and tries to reassure me that everything will be OK, “Let me talk to my father. I'll head to the station as soon as I suss it out.” I just nod and get into the back of the police car. He has such faith. But I don't. I know what happens to girls like me. Girls with no parents and no status. We're the forgotten. We're the punished. A tear rolls down my cheek because I'm not like Drew. I can't afford optimism. I know what assault on a soldier means. A shudder rolls through me as I think of my sister sitting at home waiting for me. Sitting in the back of the police car, something inside of me breaks as my future begins to disappear before my very eyes.  Chapter 3 Drew “Sorry mate,” I give a little wave as I yell out my window and pull out in front of another car. In my rear-view mirror, I can see the man behind me cursing and shaking his head. Chuckling to myself, I keep going. I weave in and out of cars on the motorway, paying no attention to speed limits, as I try to get home as fast as I can. My girlfriend was just arrested and there's only one thing I can do about it. Being the district commander's son has major drawbacks, but it can have its benefits. The policeman said my father was notified, but I refuse to believe he won't do anything. As much as the man acts uncaring, will he really have someone I care about sent to the colonies for a minor offense? To be fair, she didn't just break the law. If she'd only stolen a bracelet, that would be an easy fix. But soldiers are sacred in England and they have a recording of her attacking one. I get off the motorway and head further into town. We live smack dab in the center of London with all the other exceedingly rich folk. I fly over speed bumps and through traffic lights until I finally reach my street. It doesn't escape my worry that I'm about to ask for him to help a girl he believed to be below my station, whatever the hell that means. I hope he'll make sure she's released and sent home to her family. I'll probably just have to promise I won't see her again. We'll make a deal and then eventually I'll break it. It's a never-ending dance my father and I do. He tries to control my life, but in the end, I win. I've lived in the same house my entire life and I still laugh every time I see it. It's a monstrosity. For starters, it's huge. I don't mean huge as in good sized, it's huge as in a giant could live here. The front gates are made of steel and manned by two guards round the clock. I always thought that was excessive since there is no way you could get past the gates in the first place. Why do we need guards? “Alright, Willie? How's it going?” I ask as I pull up to the gatehouse. “Fine sir.” He doesn't even look at me as he opens the gate and I drive past. It was probably the Willie crack. He hates when I call him that. He says William is so much more respectable and dignified. So I never call him William. In this house, you've got to find some way to have fun or you'll go crazy. I park in my spot on the drive and head for the door to my fortress. Dad doesn't want me calling it a fortress, but when all the windows are bullet proof and there are about eight ways in and out of the house, there is no way I'm calling it a home. I ring the bell as usual. Apparently, Crawford's aren't supposed to open the door for themselves. We have some poor chap that got put into civil service after grade school and is now our butler. We also have two maids and a cook. All of this just for three people. The door swings open and I step inside. “Welcome home, Mr. Crawford.” “Thanks, Carl.” I wipe my feet on the mat and hand Carl my coat before asking, “Is my father here?” “Yes, sir. He's in his study. Is there anything else?” “No. I think I'll go and find him.” “Very well, sir.” As Carl heads back towards the kitchen, I begin climbing the spiral staircase to the upstairs rooms. I drop my school bag in my bedroom before knocking on the door to the study. My father spends a good deal of time in here. I can remember sneaking in when I was little and going through father's books, fascinated. Now, it's just a place where we hold most of our better rows. There've been a lot of them. “Yes? Who is it?” says a voice from inside the room. I push open the door and step through, bracing myself. “Hello,” I say in the formal, tense tone that is always reserved for this man. He looks up from his desk. “Oh, it's you.” The callous nature of my father no longer stings. I've grown used to disappointing him. “Yeah. Can I talk to you?” In response to my question, he lowers his eyes back down to his papers. “If it's about that girl, there's nothing you can do now. Best forget about her.” He doesn't even bother to look up again. “Forget about her? Nothing I can do?” I go from zero to rage in a matter of seconds. “Yes, son. She was just another slag, trying to rise above her station. She assaulted one of our countries dedicated soldiers, not to mention the stealing. Now, I have important work to do. There is a climate meeting later this week.” My arms are shaking as I slam my hands on his desk. Startled, he scoots his chair back and regards me with hard eyes. “Now you listen to me dad, Gabby does not deserve this.”  My father lets out a harsh laugh. “She broke the law and now will pay for it half a world away from you.” “Are you going to send her to the colonies?” “That is where criminals belong.” “She barely touched the soldier and only pinched one tiny bracelet,” I yell. It takes all my strength not to reach across the desk and clock him. “There are many reasons why she is there.” His voice is eerily calm. “You're only a small part of the much larger picture. The bracelet is an even smaller part. My son, why don't you call up one of your other women to cheer you up?” Once again, he resumes his work. Bile builds in the pit of my stomach as I watch my father so easily send someone to such a fate. My hands turn white as I grip the edge of his desk trying not to completely lose my cool. I imagine myself doing and saying so many things in this moment, but only one thing escapes my lips. “I know James is over there. He isn't dead.” This grabs his attention and he searches my face to determine how much of the truth I know. The next few minutes pass without words as we stare at each other as strangers. “You know nothing,” he spits. “I know I need to find him. I know I need to get away from you.” I say the last part almost in a whisper, but I can see that he heard it. He rises to his feet and I take a step back. Pointing one finger towards the door, he says in a low, menacing voice, “There's the door. Get out of my house.” I turn as I reach the exit, “Mom,” I begin to say. He cuts me off. “I'll figure out something to tell her.” I nod and run into the hall and down the stairs. I don't bother to grab anything other than my keys as I book it out the door and into my car. I lean my head back on the seat and close my eyes, feeling utterly screwed. What now? I have to find my brother and do what I can for Gabby. I have nowhere else to go, nothing keeping me in England. I can't help but wonder if I'm making some colossal mistake as I think on how to get to the colonies. I wish my brother James was here to help me, but if he was I probably wouldn't be going at all. I grab my phone and punch in the number of someone I know can help me. He works at the airport. Once that is figured out, I turn in the direction of the east end and set out to find Gabby's family. They need to know what's happened and that I'm going to do something about it.  Chapter 4 Dawn Panic sets in when I wake to realize Gabby never came home last night. She's never done this and I can't help the nagging feeling that something is wrong. Happy birthday to me, right? I stand at our broken window watching the angry sky. It's been raining since the early hours of the morning and the sun has yet to make an appearance. If I went looking for Gabby now, I'd never find her. I jump at the flash of lightning and brace myself for the waves of thunder. Thunderstorms have always freaked me out, making me feel vulnerable. Gabby and I usually just grab our blankets and go curl up together in the corner farthest from the window. Having Gabby around makes me feel safe, but she's not here and I'm alone. I sit in our corner by myself and huddle under a blanket, trying to calm the shaking in my bones. My head jerks up when a soft knocking sounds against the door. “Gabby?” I call. “That you?” The door is pushed open to reveal a beautiful man with dark hair and wild eyes. He steps into the room and stops as his eyes take in his surroundings. His curious gaze burns into me. What the hell did he expect? This is East End, not freaking central London. I pull the blanket to my chin and wait. “Are you Dawn?” It doesn't look like he slept at all last night and he could be on some sort of drugs. Water drips from his hair and his shoes leave wet prints as he steps closer. I watch his face. There is something very familiar about him. My mouth clams up as I try to talk and all I can manage is a simple nod. “I'm Drew. I know your sister.” That's when it hits me. This is the boy from the classroom yesterday, but that girl wasn't my sister. My fear turns to anger. What makes him think he can run around on my sister? She's too good for the likes of this asshat. When I find her, she's going to be crushed. Slag. As I think about her, I push what I saw to the back of my mind because I just want to know that she's okay. Despite my desire to spit in Drew's face and walk away, I find my voice, “Is she OK? Where is she?” Drew nervously runs his hands through his hair and sits near me without an invitation. Too close for comfort. “She was stupid, so stupid. I didn't know what she was going to do or I would've stopped her. There was a chase, and I couldn't help. And now…” He trails off and his hands start to shake. I let him sit in silence for a minute trying to understand his jumbled explanation. I finally ask, “Drew, what are you saying? Where is she?” He looks straight at me, his eyes pained, “She's on her way to the colonies.” I can't speak. This can't be true. What has Gabby done? Words clog in my throat as tears threaten at my eyes. My whole life, she's taken care of me. Now she's off to have who knows what done to her. This can't be happening. I shake my head furiously. Drew is talking, trying to explain to me the events of the night before, but I haven't been listening. His words come rapidly as if he wants to get it all out there and never have to speak of it again. “…that's when the police took her and I went home to talk to my dad. He wouldn't help me. I tried to explain it to him and he said he was just happy to have her out of my life. He had her sent on the first air shuttle to the colonies this morning. I couldn't stop him. I left home and came looking for you.” “How did you find me?” “Well, Gabby never told me where you lived; only that it was in the east end. So, I've been driving around for hours, asking anyone that would talk to me where to find you. I knew her family would be worried.” “I'm Gabby's family.” “Wait, what? Where are your parents?” Both of us start to calm down as everything sinks in. “Gone.” I look away; acting as if that word doesn't kill me every day. The last thing I'm going to do is explain to this boy my family's sordid history. Drew blinks rapidly, taking in the new information. “We have to help her.” “We?” I don't want anything to do with the git who is cheating on my sister. I don't trust him. “Why would you want to help?” The question comes out harsher than I intend, but he deserves it. “It's my fault.” He breathes out a long breath. “She never had a chance because of my father.” “Your father?” “The district commander.” “Shite.” I bury my face in my hands. “Get out.” “What?” “I don't trust you. I don't like you. Your father just ripped apart my family.” A sob tears from my throat. “My sister is gone. So get out of my house.” “You can't do this by yourself. You need me,” he protests. “Do what?” “If you're at all like your sister, you already have a plan and, if you don't, I do.” “We're nothing alike,” I snap. “There is no plan. People go to the colonies and they don't come back. Ever.” As I curl back up on the floor he pulls a scrap of paper from his pocket and writes something on it. “Here, in case you change your mind.” And then he is gone. I reach for the piece of paper and unfold it. Tomorrow 11 PM Airport Hanger 18 Out on the street below, a car engine roars and thunder rolls.  Chapter 5 Gabby I'm screwed. “Gabriella Nolan, you're hereby accused of thieving behavior, taking place at the Fenwick's department store. You assaulted a dedicated soldier. You have been seen on vid and fled the scene of the crime. These are very serious charges and will be met with a very serious punishment. Here in England, we do not indulge reckless persons.” I look up as my accuser finishes reading my crimes and am surprised to find that I am face to face with the district commander himself. I have been sitting here for hours, unsure of what was going to happen, but now I know I'm in some serious shite. All I did was take one measly bracelet, but apparently, this is about more than a crime. The commander doesn't get involved in petty theft. I shake with anger as I look at this man with his cropped hair and pressed uniform. He's handsome, just like Drew, his son. They have the same dark hair and smooth skin. Unlike Drew, however, as this man smiles down at me, it gives me no comfort, only dread, as if he takes great pleasure in my situation. I finally unclench my jaw enough to speak, “What about my trial?” “My dear girl,” This isn't a term of endearment, but of superiority. “This is your trial. I am your judge. I am your jury. I have already found you guilty.” “You can't do that.” I stare defiantly into his eyes, full of wickedness and glee. He's so pleased with himself that he actually winks at me and says; “On the contrary, I can and I have. Enjoy your stay in the colonies.” A thunderstorm shakes the plane and I jolt awake. For a moment, I think maybe it was a dream, but no. It was no dream. Surely my own country wouldn't do this to me. I see his face in my mind and am disgusted with the way he looked at me. He considered me trash, not worthy of dating a district commander's son and so he threw me away. Would it have made a difference to tell him that Drew and I weren't even that serious? I liked him, sure, but we were just having fun. It's not like I was truly a threat to the commander. I shake my head to clear it of those thoughts. Drew has no place in my mind as I head into the unknown. The plane lurches. As I try to brace myself, the shackles around my wrists tug at my skin. My feet are chained to the seat awkwardly and I let out a grunt as I try to get some semblance of comfort. I have never been on a plane before, much less one going to my doom. Trying to get my bearings, I realize I'm not alone. I count nine others, all drugged, unaware that they too are heading chain in place. There are rankers here too; two at the front and two at the back of the plane. Seems overkill to guard a bunch of drugged prisoners. I watch the two at the front, waiting for them to move. Their backs are ram-rod straight and they're still as statues. Their eyes stare ahead at nothing in particular. Good little soldiers. They make me want to scream. I might if it wasn't for the nasty looking guns at their feet. Don't they know what they're doing to us? Don't they care? I turn away in disgust but, out of the corner of my eye, I see one of the guards actually move. He knocks on the door to the cockpit. A woman in a gray suit walks out and immediately looks at me. Our eyes lock for a moment before she frowns and calls to someone on the other side of that door. “I got a live one back here. Requesting assistance.” A man opens the door and walks toward me, holding what looks like an enormous needle. “Hold still,” he tells me. I would've liked to tell him to try holding still when someone is about to stab you with a needle and inject who knows what into your body. The last words I remember saying are, “You son of a bitch.”  Chapter 6 Gabby My skin is on fire. Is this hell? Did I die? I can see the flames dancing around me. Sweat pours down my face. Water, I need water. “Somebody please help me.” There's no one here to hear me. I'm alone, I'm on fire; what else can possibly go wrong? The heat has finally gone to my head and I faint right there, with the flames still refusing to go out. “No. Please. Put me out.” I wake and there is no fire. The heat persists, but I'm not burning to death. I can't think of a worse way to die. But where am I, if not dead? I can't control my breathing as I start to panic. It's too hot; I don't know how long I can stand it. I'd give anything for a drop of water, just one drop that isn't my own sweat. I'm alone in what seems like a small box. It's too small for me to stretch out my cramped legs, but the pain is the least of my worries. My head pounds from the heat. I know enough to realize that if I keep sweating like this, I won't survive long unless I get some water. I don't know if it's because of the heat, the thirst, or simply a left-over effect from whatever they drugged me with, but I can't stay awake. I just need a little kip. At least, that's what I tell myself before I pass out. How long does this go on? A day? A week? I pass in and out of consciousness. I wake up to a hand reaching through a small door at the bottom of my prison. The mysterious hand places a small cup of water and a piece of bread on the floor and then pulls back. I want to cry out to whoever is out there, but I can't find my voice. I reach for the cup and could swear that the water sizzles as it hits my tongue. That may just be the delirium talking. My thirst is worse than ever as I suck the last dribble of water from the cup. When it's empty, I throw it to the ground and attempt to eat the bread. I can barely choke it down my swollen throat. I curl back up and sink into the darkness once again. In rare coherent moments, I can't believe this is happening to me. It's not like I'm a danger to anyone. I'm a teenage girl! And I'm all that my sister Dawn has. I just wanted my sister to have a nice birthday in the middle of this shite world. She deserved it. What will happen to her now? Oh, Dawn, I'm so sorry. The tears fight to come, but they lack the water so I end up dry heaving instead. I have nothing left to give.  Chapter 7 Dawn I don't have another choice. At least that's the mantra I repeat to myself as I run through the dark. I stayed up all last night trying to figure out how to help my sister and came up with nothing. I don't know what Drew has planned, but I have to go along with it. By the time I reach hanger 18, Drew is nowhere to be found, but neither is anyone else. A plane sits on the tarmac, waiting to take off. I don't know what to do so I wait, hoping Drew actually shows. I'm crouched down low, hiding behind a truck when I hear footsteps behind me. I flatten myself against the side of the truck and listen intently. “Dawn?” A whisper comes from the dark. The footsteps have stopped by the time he whispers again. “Dawn are you out here?” “I'm here.” I step out from behind the truck. He walks up and grins. “I wasn't sure you'd come,” he says. “Well, I had no other choice.” “I know.” At any other time, his cockiness would make me mad, but I just shake my head and let it slide. “Is it strange that no one is guarding the plane?” I ask. “Yes and no. Come on, we don't have much time.” He takes off running across the pavement. I follow him, looking around constantly to make sure we won't be caught. We reach the plane and Drew immediately gets to work on some sort of latch. He manages to get it open and the door swings upwards. Without hesitation, Drew hauls himself up through the opening and then reaches down to give me a hand. I take his outstretched hand and grab the bottom of the door frame as well. It takes some effort but I manage to pull myself into the plane. Drew closes the door behind us and I let out a sigh of relief. My breath comes fast as I lie on the ground and look around. We're surrounded by boxes. Most of them are unmarked, but I recognize the Red Cross that symbolizes medical supplies. This must be a supply plane headed for the colonies. Good, Drew was right. I sit up and look at Drew. He's been watching me. “What?” I ask.  “I'm glad you decided to trust me,” he says. “I never said I trusted you.” “But you're here.” I sigh. “Because being there for my sister overrides everything. Basically, I'm just using you.” His intense stare doesn't waver. “Don't judge me on who my father is. You can trust me.” “Who said your father is the reason I don't like you?” He presses his lips together. “I got us a plane and now we'll get to Gabby. I won't let her be trapped there like …” His voice trails off and I don't press him. I know what it's like to have secrets and I won't begrudge him them. Gabby isn't the first person in his life to be sent away. I file away that information. Even the district commanders son has tragedy in his life. I shift my gaze away and move a few things around to get more comfortable. “We have a long flight, I'm going to try to get some sleep.”  Chapter 8 Dawn We're trapped. In this cargo bay. In this mission. Our choices have been stolen from us. Now there is only purpose. The flight seems never ending. My whole life, I've always been looking for escape routes. I don't confront things like my sister does, I run, but there is nowhere left to run to. I don't know what kind of dangers wait for me when this plane touches down. For the first time in my life, I am heading straight for the fight, straight for trouble. No more avoiding, no more hiding behind Gabby. It's my turn to be there for her and I won't fail, I can't. Even though I have no plan and my only ally is this boy I only know by his bad reputation, I will do this. I may be daft for trying, but I will try. “Dawn?” Drew interrupts my thinking. “Are you hungry?” I lift my head and turn to look at him. He is sitting on his knees, leaning towards me, and holding out something in his hand. In it is a long, thin, red and yellow package. “What is it?” I ask. “Jerky.” “Huh?” “Seriously? You've never had jerky? These things are the best.” His face- splitting grin is enough to lift my mood and I take the food, opening it slowly. It's tough and hard to bite in to, but as soon as I do the delicious juice fills my mouth. It only gets better as I chew and soon I have my own smile to match Drew's. I wouldn't have admitted this to Drew, but I was famished. In between bites, I try to explain, “We could never afford stuff like this. Food was in short supply in our flat.” At this Drew is silent. I look up from my food and catch him watching me again. Sensing I don't want to elaborate on my money issues, he says, “Well, it looks like it's a popular food in the colonies. They have whole crates of this stuff here.” “Yeah, must be a treat for the officers or something.” Drew hands me another piece of jerky and as we're eating, I think of something. “How did you do it?” I ask. “Do what?”  “Get us on this plane,” I answer. “I had help,” he says. “The officer in charge at the airport is a friend and a sympathizer.” “Seriously? You made a deal with a sympathizer? They're dangerous.” He shrugs. “Not as bad as the rebels.” An image of the gaffer I saw gunned down in the middle of the street flashed across my mind. “I guess you could say that, but at least rebels don't hide their views. Sympathizers in the government and military believe in the same things - independence from military rule, freedom – but they don't actually fight for it. Is it worse to push disobedience and disorder or to have those ideals and choose to turn your back on them instead?” Surprise twists his features, his smile slowly growing. “You sure you weren't a rebel?” “I'm not sure what I believe.” “I don't know.” He scratches the side of his face. “Sounds like you chose a side.” One of my shoulders lifts in a shrug. “My sister is the fighter. She'd probably ended up a rebel at some point.” Then I stopped, realizing who I was talking to. “I mean … shite. The rebels are fighting your father. I didn't mean …” “Dawn. Chill. To be honest, I support a lot of the things the rebels say.” “So, you're a sympathizer?” “I was.” He looks around. “But I guess this is my coming out party.” Lifting a hand, he gestures to the plane surrounding them. “Hate to break it to you, but we're rebels now. There's no going back.” His words echo through my skull. No going back. Rebel. For Gabby, I'll be anything she needs me to be.  Chapter 9 Dawn I'm jolted from sleep when Drew shakes my shoulder. “Hey Dawn, I think we're landing.” Drew shakes my shoulder lightly. After our conversation about the rebels, my walls started to crumble. Drew and I are in this together now. We both gave up everything. I don't know his full reasons, but he's here. For that, I'm glad. He gives me a warm smile. A smile that seems foreign in this place, but it puts me at ease all the same. How is this the same boy who cheated on my sister? Everything that happened in London feels like another world. His boyfriend skills aren't important at this time. In this place. All that matters is my sister – not her heart, but her life. I stand up as straight as I can, which still means I'm hunched over a little bit in this tight space. “I've got a plan. First, though, let's fill our bags with some of this food.” “You got it, boss.” Drew gives me a mock salute and I can't help the smile that comes to my lips as I roll my eyes. I immediately go for the Jerky. I look over and see Drew going for the sweets. Laughing and shaking my head I say, “Uh…I think we should get food that will actually keep us alive, not send us into a sugar coma.” I see him put all the sweets back and then slip a couple pieces into the side pocket of his rucksack. As soon as we feel the plane touch down, we hide and wait for the door to open. It feels like an eternity goes by before someone finally comes to unload the plane. The door creaks loudly as it opens and then a man is standing within arm's length of our hiding place. He's a tall, imposing figure and needs to bend almost all the way over in order to get through the door. As soon as he does, he begins looking around inspecting the boxes. His eyes sweep right past us without stopping and I inhale sharply, sure that he will see us any second now. The colonies man steps closer into the cargo bay to count the boxes. Another man calls out to him. “Sir, you have a call on the sat phone.” He turns and exits the door without a second glance. I exhale the breath I'd been holding. “Drew, he left the door open. We need to go now.” He goes to the open door and sticks his head out, checking to see if the coast is clear. He motions me forward and I see that there's only one man on the runway and he's busy pumping petrol from a truck into the plane. I crouch by the edge of the door, watching the man, waiting for my opening. He walks behind the truck and I immediately jump out. I stumble when I hit the ground, but pop right back up. Drew is right behind me. I've never legged it this fast in my life. My legs throb and my chest starts to burn, but I don't stop, I can't. We reach the nearest tree cover and allow ourselves to slow down. Silence follows as we listen for any sign of a pursuit. There is none. I bend over, resting my hands on my knees, exhausted and panting. “We made it,” I whisper to myself. Drew hears me and tries to pull me into a hug. Immediately, I stiffen and pull away. Unbothered, he releases me, still grinning like a prat. “We can do this, Dawn.” We move a little further into the woods to find a place to rest until the sun comes up. The darkness provides, cover, but in an unknown wilderness, we wait for morning to travel. We decide on a small clearing where we find a patch of grass to lie down on. We settle in and pull out our packs. I choose a very small nosh, just enough to hold us over because we don't know how long this food has to last us. Even in the night, the warm air feels good. England never gets this warm anymore and I revel in the unfamiliar sensations. Over dinner, we get down to planning our next move. “Where do you think we are?” Drew knows more about the colonies than I do – which really isn't hard being I know very little. I didn't have a high ranking father to eavesdrop on. “I think we're in the Northern part of the colonies.” He raises his eyes to look around. “We need to head south.” “And you know which way that is?” I ask skeptically. “Sort of.” “What kind of answer is that?” “One that has to be good enough,” he answers. “The sun rises in the East, okay? I think I can figure it out from that. Plus, my father had all sorts of charts of the colonies in his office.” “Fine,” I grumble. “You better be right. I don't want to be lost in a foreign country.” “How did you think you'd find your sister?” he asks. “I didn't really think past the getting here part.”  “Exactly,” he says smugly, throwing an arm over my shoulders. “It's a good thing I'm here.” I pushed his arm away. “Whatever.” “You'll realize it eventually.” With that, he walks off into the dark to take a piss, leaving me completely and utterly alone.  Chapter 10 Dawn Is defreshed a word? Because that's how I feel when I wake. What's the opposite of refreshed? Just freaking exhausted I guess. Batteries not charged. Bone-weary. Source of mental depletion? Defeat. I already feel defeated. It only takes me a moment after I open my eyes to realize I'm not in London. Then a moment longer to remember the plane ride. The colonies. Shite. We're in the colonies. And they have my sister. But what am I supposed to do about it? I guess we'll figure that out. I groan as I roll over and try to sit up, stiffness invading my limbs. I've spent years sleeping on hard surfaces. I can handle the aches and pains. Especially when I think of what Gabby must be going through. She's been a prisoner in the colonies for six days. She's the strongest person I know, but what if that isn't enough? It has to be. I'm coming big sis, don't worry, I got you covered. I hope. Drew's presence nearby is an instant comfort. The woods stretch around us and the thought of being alone strikes a terror in me. “What are you doing?” I ask as I kneel in the dirt beside him. He's cleared pine needles from a patch of dirt on the ground and is drawing with a stick. “Oh hey.” I've startled him, “Morning, Dawn. Sleep well?” “Yep,” I lie, “You?” “Kinda. Sleeping on the ground isn't fun, but I guess I'll get used to it.” I nod as I kneel down next to him. “What are you doing?” I ask again. “This is what I know about the colonies. We're somewhere here.” He points the stick to an area on the ground. “There are only two airfields in the colonies. One is for supplies and the other is where the prisoners are taken. Our supply plane landed at the northern one. From here, supplies are trucked to the various camps.” He turns to me. “I think I know where she is.” “How?” “Prisoners from London are only taken to one of the camps. It's the farthest one south, in a place called Floridaland.” “Drew! I can't believe you remember all of this.” I scanned his drawing of the colonies in awe, knowing that with him, I may actually have a chance. “This is brilliant.” He flashed me a million-dollar grin, but as soon as it appears, it's gone again and the intensity returns to his eyes. “We should get moving. It's going to be a long walk.” He walks by me to grab his pack and I tie my hair back away from my face. I pull out two pieces of jerky and toss one to Drew. He catches it mid-air. Hiking my bag onto my shoulder, I take a bite of the tough meat and follow Drew further into the woods, each step taking me closer to my sister.  Chapter 11 Gabby When I was really little, my dad would take care of me when I got sick. He'd take the day off from work and sit by my bed telling me stories that he was making up on the spot. I used to get these really high fevers where my face would feel like it was on fire. My dad would wipe my forehead with an ice-cold washcloth. He'd tell me that I was his little angel and that he loved me. That's the best memory I have of him. “Who is she?” “I'm not sure yet. They had her in the hot box almost all week.” “Wow, someone musta not liked her very much.” I wake up to the whispers, not knowing where I am. I don't want to open my eyes yet because I'm not sure where I'll be. Someone is wiping my forehead like my father used to, but the water isn't cold enough to ease the pounding in my skull. I know I heard two people whispering, both women. Slowly, I open my eyes. A small room surrounds me with a thatched roof and shoddy walls. They've put me on a makeshift bed of cloths. Leaning over me is a thin blonde-haired lady. She looks maybe forty or so, but how would I know? She's wearing the most grotty clothes I've ever seen. Cutoff jeans with patches that I assume are covering the many holes. Her shirt is no better. It's faded green and just kinda hangs off her bony shoulders like a sack. “Hello there. Do you know where you are?” Her voice is surprisingly sweet. “Ummm … the colonies. Who are you people?” My voice comes out hoarse and scratchy. “Oh my dear, let's get you some water, yeah?” I nod, thankful for this woman's kindness. I've never really appreciated the wonder that is water before. It's the most amazing substance in our world. You would never realize that, though, until you're without it. “Thank you,” I manage, in between greedy gulps. “After what they've put you through, it's the least I can do. My name is Amanda, and this is Claire.” Amanda turns so that I can see behind her. For the first time, I see the source of that second whispering voice I'd heard. She's just a child. Her long red hair dances around her shoulders like the flames I'd been engulfed in for the past days. “Hi.” Claire's voice is as tiny as she is. I smile at her and she blushes. There's something sweet in that rosy face that reminds me of Dawn when she was little. “Hi.” I can't manage anything more. “Claire, honey, if we don't get back to work, there will be trouble.” With that, Amanda and Claire head out of the room. That was strange. They were taking care of me and didn't even ask me my name. I can figure it out later – perhaps when I can keep my heavy eyelids open. When I wake again it's dark. I don't know how long I've been asleep, but it takes me a few minutes for the grogginess to wear off. I have to orient myself to my surroundings. I'm stiff and every muscle aches. The room spins as I try to sit and I fall back. A sharp pain throbs in my head. I try to sit again. Still dizzy, I manage to get one foot on the ground to stop the spinning. It helps. My eyes begin to adjust to the darkness and they dart around the room. It's hard to see much, but I can tell that the cup of water is still by my bed. I reach for it and take a long drink. It's warm and tastes kinda funny, metallic-like, but I'm not in any position to care about that. Slowly, I swing my other leg around so that I have both feet planted firmly on the ground. Using my arms, I try pushing myself up so that I can stand. Every muscle screams in rebellion, but I don't stop. It takes a few attempts, but I'm finally able to stay on my feet. I take a few tentative steps forward until I'm outside my door. The only light is coming from the stars in the sky. In England, we rarely see the stars, with all the light pollution and whatnot. It would almost be pretty if I could forget for a moment where I was. That's not going to happen. I inch my way forward, wanting to get a look at where I am. It's hard to get your bearings at night, but the air out here feels so good, I don't want to go back yet. I look off in the distance and notice a small glow that must be a fire. I walk towards it. In the dark, I trip over sticks and uneven patches of ground. When I'm only a short distance away, figures around the fire begin to emerge. Excitement rushes through me, but also nervousness. I've heard about the dodgy people that are sent to the colonies. Then again, I was sent here, wasn't I? As I get close, my entrance into this little powwow does not go unnoticed. They've all turned to see who the intruder is. The conversation has grown silent. A few are still staring at me, but most have found something much more interesting to stare at on the ground. Just then, someone stands up from the group and walks towards me. When she gets close I see it's the woman who helped me earlier. I think her name was Amanda.  “Hello dear. You look awful; let's get you back to bed.” Amanda keeps her distance as she moves past me, expecting me to follow. I do. “Sorry if I interrupted something.” I'm not really sorry, just confused. “No no, we were just wanting some light.” I can tell when someone is lying to me, but she's trying to be kind so I don't call her on it. Amanda doesn't say anything else as she leads me to my little hut, for lack of a better word. We reach the door and I step inside, but as soon as I turn to say goodnight, she's gone. Something about this place doesn't seem right. Oh yeah, maybe it's because we're all freaking prisoners. If I ever make it home, they're going to regret the day they sent me here.  Chapter 12 Gabby The next morning is an improvement. My headache has turned to a dull beat against my temples and I can deal with that. It seems that my little walk last night did me some good because my whole body seems to want to work with me today. Someone must have been in here recently because beside my bed is a new cup of water, a piece of bread, and a bowl of something kind of like oatmeal. In England, oatmeal was a food for the lower classes. Some days, we lived on the stuff. Others, we couldn't even afford that. It's pretty tasteless, but in my world, food wasn't for enjoyment, only nourishment. I eat quickly and step outside. As soon as I do I'm in the midst of a stream of people all headed in the same direction. I decide to follow the group and we end up walking for what seems like the better part of an hour. People are chatting and acting like this day is just like any other. Once again, no one talks to me or even looks at me. It's strange and frankly only adds to my hatred of the place. By the time everyone has stopped walking, we're in the middle of a forest. Rows and rows of trees stretch in every direction. The trees are covered with oranges. When we were little, Dad bought us oranges every chance he got. Since then, they were another luxury that only the rich could afford. And now I was here to pick them for the very people who sent me to this place. Wonderful. Before even my parent's generation was born, fruit wasn't all imported into England like it is now. England had a warmer climate for parts of the year. But the world is forever changing. As the icecaps melted, the ocean stream that warmed that part of the world was diverted. I don't know much more than that. Dawn was always the geek who actually listened to her lessons. I didn't need to study much since I always knew they'd put me in the military. All I know is that it means England can't grow oranges. Now I also know their slaves do it for them. Bastards. We're all standing in the middle of a clearing waiting for something; I'm not really sure what. A car drives up and beeps three times so that everyone scrambles to get out of the way. As soon as it stops, the door on the left opens and the driver steps out. The driver is a large man in some sort of uniform. He's tall and tanned from the sun. With black hair and dark eyes, he's intimidating. He steps in front of the group and starts barking orders. “Today isn't going to be fun, but then, you weren't sent here for fun.” He lets out a harsh laugh. “You will be here until dark and I expect every bin full by the time you leave.” As he says this, he points behind him at a stack of massive crates. “Now get to work.” I seem to be the only one dismayed by what we were just told. People start moving and it's almost like a synchronized dance. Everyone knows what their job is; well, everyone except me. Groups of workers move to different areas. I suspect they're assigned. The men have begun climbing trees while the women are down below putting oranges into their baskets. I'm not really sure where I should go, so I just choose a group nearby that looks like they could use my help. The three men and five women in this area don't say anything to me as I walk up to the nearest tree. The work is much harder than it looks. I have to use all of my strength to pull each orange. At this rate, I'm scared I won't last very long in my weakened state. One of the young women from my group must have seen me struggling. “You're doing it wrong.” She walks over and reaches towards the tree. “Don't pull. Twist the fruit and it'll be much easier.” She demonstrates as she explains. “Thanks.” I try to be as nice as possible so that maybe she'll stay and talk to me. “We don't want you to get tired. Then you'd be useless to us. There's no room for that here.” After her blunt admission, she shrugs and walks back to the rest of the group. The remaining part of the day passes without incident. I'm left alone, but I work hard. We're able to fill up the crates and more. By the time the sun finally disappears, I'm knackered. We walk back to camp, or whatever they call it. Just as I'm reaching my door, I get the feeling that I'm being followed. I look around and don't see anyone. I walk around to the side of my hut to check it out and there she is. The little girl I met the other day is trying to hide the best she can. “Claire, right?” She just nods. “Why are you following me?” Claire stays silent and just looks up at me with those big eyes. I bend down to meet her eyes. “Claire, where's your mom? Isn't she going to worry when she can't find you?” At this Claire finally looks away and speaks, “Mommy is gone, and Amanda is at the fires. Jer's at our place.”  I'd just assumed Amanda was Claire's mom. She's a young girl so she must have been born here. I can't imagine anyone imprisoning her. “Who's Jer?” I ask. “Brother.” My heart melts for this girl. “Come on,” I offer her my hand, “Lead the way, and I'll walk you to your brother's.” Claire takes my hand and we walk in silence for a few minutes before Claire speaks up. “Why can't we talk to you?” Her question surprises me. So, it's not just newcomer hazing. “I don't know, kid. I wish I did.” “I don't think you're bad. The hot box must have been a mistake.” I don't say anything to this because she's actually made me speechless. Well, that's one question answered. Everyone here must think I'm some murderer or something. The District Commander must've really hated me. But was it bad enough to deserve this fate? What kind of horrible person does that? Without even realizing it, we've reached Claire's place. It looks identical to mine in every way. Well, every way except for the tall, scowling boy standing out front. “Claire,” he yells. “Get inside. Where have you been?” He glances at me standing there holding his sister's hand. “You must be Jer. I found Claire near my place and was just bringing her home.” I tread carefully. His scowl deepens. “Name's Jeremy. Only friends call me Jer. Stay away from my sister.” With that, Jeremy turns on his heel and goes inside. I'm dumbstruck. What a prat. What the hell is his problem? I don't care that his intense gaze made my hair stand on end or that his strong, stubble coated jaw is just about the hottest thing I've ever seen. The guy is a dick. This place is going to kill me. I walk back to my hut, and collapse in exhaustion on my bed, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. My life hasn't been easy is a long time, but this is different. I can't help thinking that now my life is just … gone.  Chapter 13 Dawn Weeks? Days? My feet scream at me. It's only been a few days and I feel like we've been walking for weeks. I'm not used to this; it's exhausting. Drew seems tireless. He just keeps going at a pace that I can't really keep up with. At times, I get pretty far behind him. We think we're moving south. Neither of us really has any survival skills, so the most we can do is guess. We keep walking, through dense forests and valleys. A lot of what we see is really sad; ruins of a culture and a people. Destroyed buildings, large forests, and roads gone to waste. Yesterday we skirted the edges of an old and abandoned city. The land is broken and the people are gone. This place is in shambles. In England, we're taught that the colonies had it coming. They destroyed themselves. They'd been warned about a possible drought, but they didn't heed the warnings. Everyone saw global warming coming, but some countries did nothing to forestall the effects. There was corruption and greed. It was just the tipping point. Everything got worse from there. Famine, war, disease, and a nation was gone. Just … gone. Once the darkness comes, we stop to rest for the night at one of the ruined buildings we come across. Only one of the walls stands more than a meter tall. Most of them have fallen completely. It looks as if the entire structure was made of concrete. As I walk through what used to be the doorway, I steady myself on a partially fallen wall and it crumbles beneath my hand. Drew follows behind and, for once, he doesn't have anything to say. I'm grateful for his silence as I grieve for those who once lived here. He puts a hand on my shoulder and I don't brush him off. I stop moving as my eyes find a freshly painted image on the floor. It's a large bird surrounded by blue and red stars. It's majestic and for some reason I don't understand, I'm careful not to step on it. I turn to leave the place behind, but Drew stops me. “Do you hear that?” he asks. I strain my ears to listen until I hear a stick snap. “What do you think it is?” I whisper.  “Someone's coming,” he says. “Or something.” As I say this, a light appears in the darkness. A flame moves towards us. “Stay here. I'm going to find out who that is,” Drew says and walks out the door. “Drew,” I hiss, “don't leave me here.” But he's gone. I inch back towards the wall and slide to the ground to wait. A foot scuffs against the ground and I look up right into the eyes of a ripped, shirtless man. The light from his torch illuminates his wild eyes as he focuses them on me. “Drew,” I scream as the man steps forward, closing the gap between us. His lip twitches and he snarls, “You stupid Brits.” I scramble to my feet and try to sprint by him, out the door. He grabs the back of my shirt and pulls me back towards the wall, slamming me into it. A dust cloud surrounds me, sending me into a fit of coughing. The man closes a hand around my throat, pinning me against the wall. “You shouldn't have come in this room, little girl. Long live the USA,” he growls. I try to scream again, but his hand closes tighter around my throat, cutting off any words. My breath is bottled in my throat, screaming to get out. I kick and tear at the man to no avail. My head starts spinning as I feel the oncoming blackness. I close my eyes, waiting for it to come. It doesn't. In an instant, the pressure on my throat is gone and I'm gasping for air. There's a thud as the man's body hits the ground and I collapse next to him. Drew stands nearby with a bloody rock in his hand. He doesn't look at me. I move away from the body on the ground and scramble to my feet. I turn to Drew, who still wears a blank expression. “I killed him,” he whispers. I put my hand on Drew's shoulder and urge him out the door and away from the scene behind us. Taking the bloody rock from the strong grip Drew has on it, I throw it as far as I can into the woods. I grab Drew's hand and lead him away. When I think we're far enough, I stop. Drew still doesn't say anything more, but the horror on his face tells me what he's thinking. Guilt rises in his eyes. Sitting Drew on the ground, I grab a bottle of water and make him drink. Taking his blood-spattered hands, I pour water over them. Once they're clean, I set aside our packs and wrap my arm around his shoulders. A shudder runs through him and he leans his head on my shoulder as silent tears make their way down his face. “We should move from here,” I whisper. “He may not have been alone.”  “I killed him,” he responds. “I know.” I run a hand over his hair. “I know, but you saved my life.” He tilts his head to look at me. “Of course I'd save you. We're in this together, right?” He holds out a hand palm up. I smile. “Yeah Drew. We're in this together.” I place my palm against his and he curls our fingers together. Gabby was the only person I'd had in my corner for a long time, but I don't have her now. I have Drew. And in this moment, if feels good just to not be alone. I know what he thought of his father, so I begin to wonder how alone he'd been in London. We may've struggled to survive, but at least I had my sister. Who did he have? Me. At least for the time being. Now he has me. The tortured look doesn't leave his face as I stand and pull him with me, but he holds on tighter, not letting go of my hand as we leave the horrors of the night behind.  Chapter 14 Dawn Outrunning demons is a funny thing. It can't be done. They stay with you no matter where you roam. Doesn't mean you don't try. We walk through the night, only stopping the sun is just beginning to rise. Somehow, everything seems safer in the light of day. I only manage a few hours rest and when I wake, I'm surprised to see that Drew is already up and digging in his pack. I assume it's to get out some breakfast for the two of us. Something has changed between us. The trust. It's beginning to grow. Or it has grown. I don't know, but I'm not so wary of him before. I've almost forgotten about the cheating on my sister thing. It's almost as if we're becoming friends. But the look in his eyes after killing that man will stay with me as long as I live. He's not just the rich git I thought he was. When he walks towards me, I'm surprised to see something other than food in his hand. He sits down before speaking. “Dawn, I have something for you.” He holds out a bracelet with a single charm in the shape of a heart. “Drew…” I begin. And then I stop. On the heart is a single word. Sisters. Nobody has ever given me anything so beautiful. “I'd forgotten I had this,” Drew explains. “Gabby hid it in my car when she was arrested.” “I don't know what to say.” Words stick in my throat as tears well up in my eyes. This is why Gabby was sent to the colonies. And that whole assault thing. I slip it onto my wrist and it fits perfectly. “She thought you deserved a great birthday.” “Thank you, Drew. You have no idea how much this means to me.” I wipe my face and smile at him as he helps me to my feet. For a moment, we're face to face. Close. But it's time to get moving again. My sister needs me. Us.  Chapter 15 Dawn Another abandoned road greets us. Surprise. Everything in this damn country looks the same. I'm tired of walking through woods and fields. I can't ever tell how far we're moving. Sometimes it feels like we're getting no closer at all. Hell, we may not be. I stop walking when I see something shining from the grass off to the side of the road. Walking over, I bend down to uncover it. “Drew, come here.” He turns, walks back, and crouches down next to me. “What is that?” he asks as I try lifting it to get a better look. It's heavier than it looks, so I have to lay it back down. “Looks kind of like a door. To a car or something.” He's right, it does. I brush away more of the grass and dirt that's covering it and find the handle. That's when I notice the writing on the door. I scrape my nails against the metal to remove as much of the mud as possible. I don't know why, but I just have to know what this says. United States Postal Service “Long live the USA,” I whisper. “What?” Drew asks. “That's what that man yesterday said to me.” “So, you think he was actually an American?” he asks the same question I have on my mind. “There aren't supposed to be any of them left,” I say. “Who else could he have been?” “I don't know,” I mutter, almost to myself. Just then, there's a noise coming from a little ways down the road. We frantically look around, at once both realizing how exposed we are. We begin moving slowly, so as not to attract the attention of whoever is out there. It doesn't work, because it's not a who that's out here with us, it's a what. I'm paralyzed, unable to make myself run as I stare at the largest bear I have ever seen. “Dawn! Dawn! Come on, we need to get out of here.” Drew pulls my arm, but I'm frozen to the spot. It's huge, with brown fur and dark menacing eyes. It isn't until it's coming straight for me that I'm able to start running. Drew is just steps ahead of me and we're going as fast as our tired legs will take us. The uneven road is littered with rocks that slide under our feet and slow our escape. Suddenly, pain shoots up my leg and I tumble forward. By the time Drew realizes I'm no longer behind him, the giant animal is standing over me. I try to get up and move, but the pain in my ankle is too much to bear. I fist rocks in both my hands and pelt the bear, but to no effect. I faintly hear Drew calling my name as he runs back for me, but I know that there's no way he'll reach me in time. The animal rears up on its back legs and lets out a long roar. I close my eyes as a whimper escapes and tears roll down my trembling face. I'm waiting and nothing happens. The roaring abruptly stops, but I'm still too scared to open my eyes. “Now, that is one hell of a bear.” This unfamiliar voice breaks me out of my trance and I open my eyes. The animal is lying near where I sit, with an arrow through its head. The newcomer looks down on it, grinning from ear to ear. I don't say anything because my mind is still reeling. Drew has reached us out of breath and looks at the man with an odd combination of relief and distrust. “Who are you?” he asks. After yesterday's attack, we can't trust anyone. Who knows what kind of people live here? “Well, I could ask the same thing of you folks.” There's a strange quality to his voice; some kind of weird accent, but not one that I've heard before. “Name's Anderson, Samuel Anderson. Call me Sam. This here is Beth.” He taps the bear with his foot. “Been tracking her for days, till y'all led her right out here in the open. Thanks for that. Now, let's get under some cover and we can take a look at that leg of yours, miss.” He walks towards me, grabs an arm, and looks back at Drew. “Don't just stand there, help a lady out.” In spite of the circumstances, I can't help but smile. With help from the two of them, I'm able to hobble my way into the patch of trees to the side of the road. “Where are you taking us?” Drew asks. “Well, sir, this little lady needs to see Ma. She'll get that leg right taken care of. It's not much farther.” With me leaning on both men for support, we make it a few kilometers before reaching a small, ramshackle house that looks like it was cobbled together with random materials. It's shelter, something we have been without since we touched down in the colonies. As soon as we're close, a woman appears out front, hands on her hips, looking narked. “Samuel Anderson! Where have you been? We have been worried sick.” We? I wonder how many people there are out here. Nerves flutter in the pit of my stomach. “Ma, I got her! I found Beth. Get Lee and Jesse to go get her. She's just a few miles away, out on the road.” “What's a mile?” I whisper to Drew. He shrugs. The woman called Ma finally notices us next to Sam. “Oh no no no. Who are these people? We don't take in escapees. You're going to get us all killed one day, Sam.” Sam turns to us and asks, “Are you slaves?” Drew responds with a quick “No.” “See Ma, it'll be OK. This lady needs your help. Beth was trying to gut her good when I found 'em.” Ma sighs and gestures us in. She doesn't say anything, just points to a table. Drew lifts me onto it and hikes up my right pant leg so that Ma can get a better look at my ankle. She walks over and begins putting pressure on various spots. “Tell me where it hurts.” She says quietly. “Right there.” I wince as she finds the spot. She then begins turning my foot left and right and then rotates it in a circle. The pain is intense, but not unbearable. “Well, it's not broken. It's probably just a sprain. There's nothing we can do about the pain, you just need to give it a rest for a few days.” She walks away without saying anything more. Drew walks up and grabs my hand. Sam comes to the other side of the table and says, “I guess you're staying here for a few days. Might help if I got your names.” Drew looks at me before he speaks and I nod. “I'm Drew and this is Dawn.” Sam smiles, “Well good, now that we got that cleared up, let's eat.”  Chapter 16 Gabby I don't know how much longer I can take this. It's not the work. No, I can handle that. It's not even these grotty living conditions. I'm pretty used to living in dodgy places. What gets to me are these people. You would think that everyone would welcome the newcomer and even help me out. I mean, we're all in the same boat here. It's not like I'm going anywhere, so they will have to get used to me eventually. I wake up with food next to my bed again. Strange. I don't know who's bringing this to me, but I know there's no room service here. I sit up and eat what's been left for me; same thing as yesterday, but whatever. As I'm eating, I see a flash of red hair outside my door and then Claire is standing right in front of me. She doesn't say anything, she just watches. “Morning Claire,” I say between mouthfuls. “It's time to go. I didn't want to leave you.” As she says this, I think back to last night. According to Claire's brother, I'm not supposed to be around her. What can I do, though, if she's the one showing up in my room? Plus, I'm grateful for the company. I finish eating quickly and head out to meet the others. Today is just like yesterday. We walk for a while until we reach the trees. Then we're told to get to work picking the oranges. Today, we have an extra bin to fill. The only reason we're given is that a storm is coming. I'm from England; I can handle a little rain. Towards the end of the day, everyone has slowed down. It's been extremely hot all day and people are exhausted. Claire and I work together to finish up our last tree. I stand down near the bottom, gathering the oranges that have fallen on the ground. Claire has decided to climb up into the tree and fetch the last few at the top. All of a sudden, I hear screaming coming from farther up the tree. I run around to a spot where I can see Claire. Everyone else has stopped what they're doing and come to see what the kerfuffle is all about. “Claire! You OK?” I yell up the tree. “My foot is stuck. It hurts, Gabby.” Her voice wobbles in fear. As I try to get a better look at where her foot is, I notice something hanging from the tree to her right. “What's going on? Is she OK?” Amanda has run over, looking worried. “She's fine now, just scared. But we need to get her out of there without disturbing that wasp's nest.” Amanda's eyes widen as she notices what I'm seeing. “I'm going up.” “There's got to be some other way.” As she takes in the determination on my face she changes that to, “Be careful.” “Claire, I'm coming to get you.” I can't even be sure she's heard me through her sobs. I've always been a pretty good climber so it doesn't take me long to reach her. Her eyes are wide and shining with tears. As she sees me she points to the wasp's nest. I was hoping she hadn't seen that. I grab her foot and rock it back and forth trying to pry it out of the tight spot it is stuck in. The tree shakes as I get it loose. “Claire, come on. We need to get down from here now!” Claire goes ahead of me and I follow. I always found climbing down from a tree to be a little more difficult than climbing up one. Claire touches the ground first and I'm close behind. As I'm almost down, I hear a noise coming from behind me. I slap my arm as I feel the first wasp land there. Its stinger digs into my skin before my hand smashes down. Another one gets my leg. I've never felt so much pain as my knee buckles and I tumble out of the tree and pass out.  Chapter 17 Gabby I feel silly, having people take care of me. Once again, I wake to someone putting water on my forehead. Once again, it's Amanda. “Claire, honey, she's waking up.” Amanda's voice is directed at the door as Claire pokes her head in. She runs to the bed and hugs me. “You saved me. I'm so glad you're OK.” “Shite, how long have I been out?” I ask. It's Amanda who answers, “Only about an hour or so. We're about to go to dinner. If you're feeling up to it that is?” I laugh at that, “I was beginning to think this was a hotel. What with the room service and all.” Amanda just smiles as she helps me to my feet. We get outside and Amanda leads the way. Claire is clinging to my hand as we join the group of people heading in the same direction. I don't know what I expected after the events of today, but it sure wasn't this. Nothing has changed. Amanda must have thought it would be different too or she wouldn't have brought me here. After I saved Claire, I thought people would at least be more accepting. That is definitely not the case. Once again, no one talks to me and those who actually look at me do so with as much distrust as ever. We reach the place where everyone eats and I realize it's the place where I intruded on that fire a few nights ago. There are a few makeshift platters covered in food. No silverware, only crude looking plates and cups. I grab a plate and some food and find a place on the ground to sit. The meat is some kind of salted fish. It doesn't have much flavor, but I'm so famished that I don't care. Along with it is that stale bread that we've had with every meal since I got here. There is little talk as we eat and I can tell that I'm the reason. People stare, their eyes burning into me, sending my anger to new levels. I can't take this anymore. I stand up and wave Claire down as she tries to stand as well, thinking I'm leaving. I will leave, but not before I say my peace. “Hey,” I yell to get everyone's attention. “What is the matter with you people? Look at me!” I say that last bit so that people turn to me. “I don't know what I've done to deserve the leper status, but I've had enough. I know it has something to do with that damn hot box, but I don't even know why I was in there. I only nicked a bracelet.” I pause. “And possibly assaulted a soldier. But for fuck's sake, I didn't kill anybody. But you people don't care, do you? Hello? We're all in the same situation here! In case you haven't noticed, we're all buggered. I'm not going anywhere, and neither are you. I risked my neck today to help Claire, and you know why? Because she and Amanda are the only people here with an ounce of compassion. You all should be ashamed of yourselves. My name is Gabby by the way, if anyone cares.” With that, I walk away. I don't let Claire come because, for the first time since I got here, I actually want to be alone. I walk around the camp for a while before heading back to my room. Everyone must be finishing dinner soon so I want to get inside before they do. I lay on my bed and stare at the ceiling, daydreaming about London, my sister, and even my father. What I wouldn't give to be with Dawn right now. I left her all alone. We were all each other had left. The tears start to flow and I try to stop them, but I can't. I'm not a crier, but then again, I've never been this desperate before. When I hear a drumming on the roof of my hut that drowns out my tears, I get to my feet and walk to the door to look out at the rain. It's as if the skies have just opened up. I jump when I hear the first clap of thunder even though I should've expected it because of the lightning that came before. I love thunderstorms. They're beautiful. When the skies are pitch black until that one flash lights up the whole world only for a second. Storms always scare Dawn. She usually hides in the corner of the room and I hold her hand. Without even realizing it, I've walked outside into the pouring rain. Soon everything around here will be mud. I wonder how our huts will hold up. At the moment, I don't really care. I look up to the sky and spin around. Nothing has ever felt as good as this water running through my hair and down my face. Back home, the rain is cold, sometimes it freezes. Here, it's wonderful. I want this feeling to last as long as it can. I lay down. The mud sticks to my clothes, but it doesn't matter. I close my eyes and am at peace for the first time since I arrived. I don't know how long I've been laying there when I hear my name. “Gabby?” I open my eyes to find Claire's brother, Jeremy, looking down at me. The water runs through is hair and clings to his shirt, pressing it up against his defined muscles. “What?” I have to yell to be heard over the rain. “What are you doing? Don't you know this is a hurricane? You need to get inside.”  “I want to stay right here.” As soon as I say that, Jeremy bends down and actually picks me up. “Hey! Put me down!” I try to wiggle out of his arms, but he doesn't budge. “What are you, daft? Let go of me.” He finally puts me down once we're inside of his hut. I turn on him, seething. “What do you think you're doing? You can't just do that, you stupid git.” “I was saving your life.” “Yeah right, how?” How am I going to die from a little rain? “This is a hurricane, not some little English storm. If, by some miracle, you didn't get crushed by one of the many things flying around out there, then you'd probably get pneumonia from being in the rain too long; we have no medicine for your stupidity.” His words deflate me, but I stay quiet. He looks at me for a long moment. “Now, take off your clothes.” “Excuse me?” I cross my arms over my chest. “Relax. This isn't for my own enjoyment. You're sopping wet. Wrap yourself in this blanket so you don't get sick. I'll start a fire.” Jeremy has a fire pit dug right in the middle of his room. I snatch the blanket from his grasp, “fine”. After making sure Jeremy has his back turned, I undress and wrap myself in the blanket, making sure it won't fall off. I turn around and take a seat next to the fire that is struggling to start. Jeremy sits on the other side, wrapped in his own blanket. I watch the light from the flames dance off Jeremy's prominent cheekbones. The light reflects off his golden eyes. He's not pretty or refined like Drew. His looks are rougher, rugged. But they're intriguing. What's his story? Why is he here? I decide to breach the uncomfortable silence. “So,” I start, “I've never been in a hurricane.” He looks up at me with amusement in his eyes. What a stupid thing to say. My stomach twists into all sorts of knots. “Well, now you won't be able to say that, will you?” He smirks. I pull the blanket tighter around my shoulders. I have resigned myself to the silence when Jeremy speaks again. “That was some speech.” I can't tell if Jeremy is making fun of me or not. “I meant it,” I snap, “Every word.” “I know you did. But you don't understand.” “Understand what?” I'm not in the mood to be scolded like a child. “The types of people that come in sometimes…well, it breeds a lot of distrust, especially when they come in the way you did. Only the true criminals, killers and such, get put in that box.” He gets quiet for a minute, “they're usually the ones who turn on us.” “Turn?” I ask. “First they become snitches; telling the bosses everything that goes on here. Then, eventually, they become the bosses. We call them collaborators. They're always watching.” “Oh. I didn't know.” I still don't feel guilty about my speech. I'm not like those criminals. I don't even know why I was in the hot box. “Yeah.” After that, we're silent for what seems like an eternity. I'm very aware of the fact that I'm only wearing this blanket. I'm not a shy person but something about this boy unsettles me. “So,” he says, “You stole a bracelet?” “Yeah, for my sister's birthday.” If most of these people aren't hardened criminals, then what are they? Some are probably thieves like me, but surely not little Claire. I work up the nerve and ask, “What about you? Why are you here?” “I was born here. So was Claire. Our mother was sent here for having an affair with some high-ranking official. She was pregnant with me.” His words stun me into silence, but I'm saved a response by Claire as she walks in and sits by the fire. “Hey, guys.” She's soaking wet from the rain, but doesn't seem to notice. “Claire, where have you been?” Jeremy asks. “Around. I wasn't feeling good though so I came home.” Jeremy sighs and makes Claire sit close to the fire. I stand to retrieve the other blanket from the bed, but Jeremy has the same idea. We knock heads. “Ouch. Sorry. You okay?” he asks. “Yeah.” He must not believe me because he places two fingers on my forehead and leans forward to take a look. His breath is hot on my face. A chill runs up my spine and my grip on the blanket loosens briefly. It slips from my shoulder, but I catch it from falling any further. Jeremy slowly pushes the blanket back up, his hand brushing my skin lightly. In the dim light of the fire, I can barely see his face as he looks down at me. As if making a decision, he takes a step backwards, grabs the blanket from the bed, and sits next to Claire. “You may have a small bruise tomorrow,” he says. I don't respond. I let out the breath I'd been holding and return to my spot on the floor. Claire starts telling us some story Amanda told her and I do my best to listen because it takes my mind off of the butterflies roaming around in my stomach. The three of us end up talking for hours as the storm builds outside. I try to leave on a number of occasions so that I don't overstay my welcome, but they don't let me. I'm secretly glad for this because I have finally gotten warm and comfortable. I doze off to the sounds of the fire crackling and the steady sounds of the rain.  Chapter 18 Dawn I haven't eaten this well in years. They gave us venison, bread, and even fresh berries. I'm even drinking a cuppa. I still don't know who these people are or why they've taken us in, but at the moment I don't care. I'm content to just sit here and enjoy the fact that my stomach is full for the first time in as long as I can remember. So far, we've only met two people that live here, but I know there are more. We heard Sam mention a few others. The room we're in is very small, though, so if there are more people living here there has to be someplace else. I'm guessing there is a lot more that they aren't showing us. I don't blame them. They're living in this hostile land; they can't afford to trust us. Ma clears our plates and heads out the door. Before getting too far she yells back to Sam, “They're back.” Sam jumps up and rushes out. “Should we follow him?” Drew looks at me and I shrug. “Well, I can't because of my ankle, but you go and see what's up.” He follows Sam out the door. I try to hear what's going on out there, but they're too far from the door for me to catch anything. I'd expected Drew to come back right away, but instead, Sam rushes in. “Up you go. We need you out there.” Unable to stand on my own, Sam bends down and picks me up, taking me by surprise. I don't say anything though because his face tells me not to. He looks unsure of himself. In that instant, it hits me. He has no idea how the others are going to react to us being here. He took a major risk bringing us back here. This scares me. I'm just hoping these people are more civilized than the man that attacked me. We head outside and a crowd of people has gathered. I don't know where they all came from. Surely if they'd been here the whole time we have we would've seen them. Once we reach the group, Sam puts me down so that I'm sitting on a log. I notice there are many more logs around the open space and some of the people make their way to them and sit down. The majority of people, however, are still standing and staring at us. Most of them look uncertain of what to say or do, but as I look around I pick out the ones that look angry; the distrust evident in their eyes.  Finally, one of these angry looking people steps forward and speaks. “Sam, what have you done?” “It's OK, Lee, they're not slaves. They don't work for any of the governments. They're just people, like us.” “Like us?” someone scoffs, this time it's a woman, “They're English. I heard that one speak.” I look to see where she's pointing and my eyes land on Drew. For whatever reason, he doesn't even seem worried. He just shrugs, all nonchalant. Doesn't anything ever get to him? “Jesse, come on. They're not all the same and you know it. These aren't the people that shot Aaron.” Immediately Jesse lunges. Sam doesn't even have a chance to get out of the way before she's on him. Her first punch connects to Sam's Jaw. I can tell he was trying not to have to fight her, but he can't control himself any longer as he throws her to the ground. He pins her there, not letting her move, despite her best efforts. She's still yelling at him, but the fight is pretty much over when Ma walks into the middle of the group. “That's enough.” Her words cut straight through the tension and bring everyone to attention. Sam lets Jesse up off the ground and even she is no longer yelling. “Now, I don't agree with Sam bringing these two here today, but,” she holds up her hand, one finger extended as if she is scolding each and every person, “now that they are here, they are guests and will be treated as such.” Ma turns to me and says, “You have until your ankle is better, then you will be on your way.” With that she turns and heads back inside, leaving the entire group speechless. Everyone starts to disperse quietly. I watch them go. No one has to go far; most disappear down a stairwell that I hadn't seen before. There must be something underground here. Sam and Drew walk over to me. Drew takes a seat, but Sam stays on his feet. “Hey man, thanks for that. We really appreciate everything.” For once, I can tell Drew is being sincere and not just pulling out the charm. “If you two are gonna be here a few days then you're gonna earn your keep. We need firewood.” Sam marches off without another word. Sensing he should follow, Drew gets up and does just that.  Chapter 19 Dawn Long day doesn't begin to describe what today has been. I'm completely zonked. The heat from the fire feels nice against my skin. A log bench isn't a comfortable bed. I noticed