The Secrets Among Us

TSAU Ch.25

|Audree|

Braylon takes us to campus and he lands the pod in a shady corner of the campus for the dorms. A hatch falls open and Zahaire and I exit.

"Wait. Where are you gonna hide the pod?" Zahaire stops to ask.

"I saw a scrap pile on the way here. I think that could be a good place, especially with the cloaking."

"You mean a junkyard?" I say.

"Why would you call such useful scrap junk?"

"I know, I know-- 'we humans are such wasteful beings'...yada yada."

Braylon chuckles and honestly I don't think I've ever seen him do that. I look at Zahaire and he seems to have caught that too. It makes us both smile.

"Well, you two should get going. I don't want to bring any unnecessary attention." Braylon says.

Me and Zahaire start to walk off and he taps my arm.

"What is it Zahairia?"

"I wanted to ask you--about before, you looked really conflicted."

I can feel that pit from before again. I never really told Zahaire the full details about my dad. I just said he was in jail, most people get weird when they find out you're the child of a murderer.

"I was just upset that I probably killed someone. I--I know they're trying to kill us but...they're people. You and me both know that most humans would probably do the same and then some if it were us in their shoes."

There is a beat of silence between us.

"Yeah, I understand...I don't want to kill them either. But I know they will probably kill us if we don't do anything."

"I know...it's just--knowing that doesn't make it any easier."

More silence occurs. I can tell that this conversation is turning into a real bummer.

"Look at you Zahairia. Getting all serious 'n shit."

I poke at his rib and he cringed away from me, a laugh escaping his lips.

"Stop calling me that! Good night loser."

Zahaire hugs me.

"Good night."

We go our separate ways and I continue heading towards my dorm.

Once I make it down the hall and into my room I see Delilah sleeping, head laid at the foot of the bed and feet where the pillows would be. Her mouth is agape and an arm hangs off the side of the bed.

I take my shoes off and scratch the back of my hair. I notice that my weave has loosened up.

Has it been that long already?

I think about that last time I had this installed and it was a week before I left home. My mom put it in for me. I begin to start thinking about the last time I called her. I pull out my phone and open up my contacts, scrolling until I see her name. I press call.

"*click* I was just thinking about my baby and to my surprise it's you calling me!"

"Haha, hey mom." My voice starts to shake a little.

Hearing her voice right now is making me want to cry. I just want to be in her arms.

"I was just looking on the news and there were explosions happening in a forest a few miles away from you!" 

Shit. Well that took no time.

"Really? That's crazy."

This time I couldn't hide it. My voice was clearly shaky and my throat hurt trying to hold back my sobs.

"Oh baby, what's wrong?"

Everything mom! The world could end if we don't do anything about it!

"I just...I had a crazy day--and I need a new weave--a-and I just...miss you."

"Oh, everything is gonna be alright. You know how I know?"

"How?" I sniffle.

"Because you are Audree motha fucking Sinclaire." she laughs, "You would always tell me that, remember? You have your fathers resilience and your mothers stubbornness. Just keep praying and doing you, then everything will work out...you'll see."

I chuckle, and I can hear the smile in her voice as she spoke. I'm glad I called her, she always puts a smile on my face when I'm down.

"Okay mom, I'm pretty tired. I think I'm good now."

"Okay baby. Don't be a stranger now. Love you. Bye bye."

With another click the call ends. I lay down not even wanting to take a shower before bed. I sink into my pillow as my eyes grow heavy.