All Of Us - Part 1: Summer

Chapter 23 - A natural

- Evangeline -

I'm picking my way across the debris of my mind castle. With my index, I bend over and tap a rock. It rings hollow. I lift my head up and sigh.

I push myself in an upright position and shake my thoughts away. There is no use wallowing in my own despair. No, I don't want to go back to the Castle in Epoh. I really, really don't want to go back. But yes, it's what is best for them - for us. It's what's best for the rebels, and it's what's best for Methron. I have a duty. I have to do it.

Knock knock knock !

Even the sound itself is happy. I pass my fingers in my hair and pull back. I really don't want to see her right now.

I took too long to answer, so she opens the door.

"Hiya, Eva- What's wrong ?"

"Nothing," I reply hurriedly, letting my arms drop. "Nothing."

"Sure ? Yah don't seem that good."

"I'm fine. Don't worry about me." I smile, and she lets the subject go. I don't want to talk about it with her, and besides, I'm not even sure I can tell her. The mood at the meeting earlier seemed secretive. About the meeting... Why would Dæor push me away like that ? Wait, no - why am I so surprised ? He can have his privacy. Just like I need mine.

"Aline, do you mind getting dinner for me ? I'm still not allowed to go into the dining room."

"Yah know yer allowed. Yah just not... Encouraged."

"Same difference," I toss as I fall back on the bed, one arm crossed over my eyes. "Please ?"

"Yeah, no problem," she answers. I hear her footsteps. She's walking away, and pauses before closing the door. She's gone.

I roll over to my side. I feel so tired.

*****

Sheso, I feel so much better. My eyes are recovering - I can see again. Well then again, it has been a week since the rebels beat me up.

I slide my feet across my bed and lift myself up. Delicately, I lift my shirt and prob the bruises carpeting my side. Immediately, my fingers snap back and I softly tut. Not a good idea.

Dropping my shirt, I move over to the ring of coal in the corner of my room. My makeshift fireplace. I had to beg for this one.

The fire is blazing, and I pause for a few seconds, just sticking my hands out and reveling in the heat. It feels nice. But I have things to do.

I drop a brick in the fire and get up slowly. I still have a few bruises on my legs, but they're healing much faster than the ones on my side. I walk over to the chair leaning against the wall, before gathering my clothes and layering them on.

If I'm being honest, I haven't done much these past few days. I couldn't. Keiti, Gail and the others haven't yet decided what to do. On one hand, I need to be trained to be prepared once I'm in the Castle. But on the other hand, they need to be careful with regards to the other rebels. So, since I've spent the last week doing pretty much nothing, I have constantly needed to remind myself that I am a rebel. A full-time, certified, real member. I use little things, like these clothes. For the first time in years, I'm not wearing white. I pull on my bright red shirt and smile. It feels incredibly good. I also wear pants. Pants ! On a woman ! The King would recoil in horror. But boy, are they comfortable... The brick should be warm by now. I move over to the fire and grab it. Ouch ! It jumps around in my hands for a few moments until I'm able to wrap it in a band of cloth. I press it against my bruises - not too hard - and lean back on my bed.