Sephonia: The Stolen Children

Restitution

The girls kept running until they couldn't anymore; until their bodies became too exhausted to move any longer. It felt like they had run for miles, for hours. Their young minds were fogged, unable to process what they had just been through. They had no idea where they were or how they'd ever get home.

The sun was just beginning to rise above the trees, illuminating and bouncing off the leaves of the trees. The twins could feel the heat of it against their skin as they laid, tired and hungry.

Mak's eyelids danced ferociously. She began to whine, half-way asleep as the whispers from a thousand voices started flooding her ears. She couldn't make out what they were saying or if they were saying anything at all. But they sounded angry. Her breathing became heavy. She was starting to hyperventilate like never before. Her eyes shot open. She gasped for breath, desperate to take in any air. But she couldn't. This only made it worse. Sweat formed, beading her forehead as the world began to spin around in circles. She couldn't scream. She couldn't make any noise at all. But there was one thing she could do.

Mak smacked her hand against Mia's back repeatedly, trying hard to wake her. "What is it?" Mia grumbled, just barely opening her eyes. That's when she noticed it. Mak's face was turning blue from lack of oxygen. Mia sat up, slightly panicking. "What's wrong?" She asked, getting increasingly worried. Mak shook her head, crying. She still couldn't speak but her breathing was coming back.

Mia wiped the tear coming down the side of Mak's face. "It's okay, you just freaked out a little," She said with that same gentle smile from before. "You're okay now-" "I'm not okay! This isn't normal. Stop acting like it is!" Mak sobbed. "I'm a freak." Her body was overcome with emotions that she couldn't explain and all she wanted to do was disappear.

Mia shook her head. She didn't think Mak was a freak at all. She saw her just the same as she always was. She held her in a hug, allowing her sister to cry until things went quiet and all they heard was the sound of birds in the trees. Mia knew she couldn't change the way Makayla felt but she could provide love and stability. A few minutes passed and Mia finally decided to speak again.

"I don't think you're a freak if that helps you at all," She exclaimed. "You're just my sister. The same one I've always had. Nothing is different about you. Maybe on the inside but that doesn't mean you've got something wrong." Mak sniffled, just listening to Mia. Her heart had finally slowed as she laid in her lap. But, deep inside, she knew Mia was wrong. She knew something wasn't right in her mind. Hearing voices wasn't normal. Mia just didn't know the very extent of how bad this was; how overwhelming it had become.

The sun finally rose enough to light up the entire forest. Mia looked around, trying to figure out where they were as Mak stayed curled against her lap. Something about the forest looked familiar. They had been here before with their parents a long time ago. Mia's eyes widened. "I know where we are!" She yelled excitedly. She shook Mak's shoulder, unable to contain how happy she was. "We're outside of the Brookstone walls!"

Mak rubbed her burning eyes, still trying to recover. She couldn't really understand what Mia was saying. "What are you on about?" She questioned, still confused. Mia pointed, "If we go that way, north, we'll reach the doors to Brookstone Mak! We made it!"

Mia jumped up, clapping. They really had done it. They had escaped. Mia's happiness drowned out the fact that Autumn was still there in the camp, even for a few minutes. Mak rolled her eyes, exhausted. "Okay, I guess we should go there then, let's go," she sighed.

Mia grabbed Mak's hand, taking off, hooping and hollering. Makayla laughed, feeling free with a sudden burst of energy. The adrenaline kicked in. The leaves crunched under their sore, bare feet as they raced each other. The spring air filled their noses and flooded their lungs. The sunlight illuminated Mia's dark hair and lit up her freckled face as she smiled at Mak.