Shadow Trails (ONC 2021)

Part Five

By the time Sassa had submitted the report, Yano had prepared breakfast, piling up the table with toast and egg. They ate in silence, too tired for anything besides chewing. After, Sassa crawled into bed to catch up on some sleep. When she woke up, it was two in the afternoon. The council meeting must have ended already but there was no word from their parents. She got her phone and was staring at Ced's number in her recents list before she remembered she was going to send her mom a text. Half an hour later, there was no reply from her mom. She went out of her room and asked Yano but he too did not get any word about the meeting. It was near dinner time when her parents called. Her mom sounded tense.

"What's wrong?" Sassa asked.

"There's trouble. The council could not reach a consensus on what to do about the orphanage. We won't be home as planned. We'll be reconvening tomorrow. But they've sent someone to double check the findings on the sensor"

"But we already sent a report" Yano complained, "We spent all night on it"

"You two just need to cooperate. Give them what they need. I trust they will be objective"

"You make it sound as if they're here to investigate us, Mom" Sassa said.

It took a moment for their mom to reply, "There's been a backlash against sympathizers, Sassa. Some think we can't make the right call because we've gotten too attached. So they sent a unit."

"But if all of you are kept in the city, who are coming here?"

"They sent the young ones, your age so you'll probably know them. Jason will be there." Sassa frowned when she heard the name. "I think we can trust him. His parents have always given fair judgement and we think he'll do the same. They should be there by now"

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Yano and Sassa answered the door and a group of four was at their doorstep. Leading them was Jason.

"Hello" Jason greeted, his eyes meeting Sassa's. "Didn't think I'd see you again so soon"

"So soon? What is he talking about?" Yano asked.

Sassa looked at her brother briefly then to the group behind Jason. They all couldn't fit on the porch so the rest were outside the gate. Sassa knew them by face but whether they could be trusted, she doesn't know. It was more confusing cause she doesn't know why she shouldn't trust them either.

"Were you able to talk to your parents by any chance?" Jason asked before the silence got too long.

"Just now" Sassa said.

"What's the hold up? Are you letting us in or what?" someone from the group said.

"If you don't want us to stay here, it's fine. We obviously took you by surprise. We can find lodging nearby" Jason was saying.

But Sassa was already stepping away from the door, pulling Yano with her to give them space at the doorway so they could enter. Her mother's words to cooperate was still echoing in her mind as she said "We've got room for all of you. Come on in."

The group filed in the doorway, looking around them. They were all familiar faces. Sassa's mother had said that Jason could be trusted, and Sassa was of the same mind. The other three was more concerning. Two of them were boys that Sassa didn't know very well, only that they came from the south whose practices were more conservative. The last one was a girl, Tiffany. A wild card. Sassa could not be sure whose side her family would choose. The whole group seemed to be watching Sassa and Yano and the two could not help but stare back.