When the Sun Cries

Chapter Fourteen

It had been too close. Grace realized it as soon as everyone had finally composed themselves, clustering in the kitchen and sitting on counters and around the dining table. There were too many of them to be capable of staying hidden in town for much longer. Someone would surely stumble across their safe house eventually and they would fail to be as fortunate as they had been previosuly.

Grace cleared her throat as she prepared to banish the silence. The room appeared hostile and suffocating and Jace hadn't spoken since they had entered the living room, knowing that the timing was unwell regardless of his young, and clueless age. He could hardly understand the concept of subtlety, but he finally understood the concept of remaining silent.

Before Grace could mutter the words that everyone must've wanted to say, Mason found his voice, "We have to leave, now. There isn't time to waste any longer and the authorities are becoming restless."

Everyone glanced skeptically at each other, unsure of whether to scurry into their bedrooms and pack the bare necessities or protest against his spontaneous suggestion.                                                 
        "He's right. We're leaving this evening, just after the moon has risen," Alsiah stood suddenly, grabbing Emili's hand supportively as the woman stiffened due to her touch.

Grace eventually followed Alsiah's lead, although she grabbed Jace's hand, which was quivering slightly, and led him into the bedroom. They didn't have their own belongings, but they rummaged through the small amount of clothing in the wardrobe, discovering a couple pairs of pants and sweatshirts that all appeared to be too large. Jace sat cross legged on the bed for the duration of their time packing a small suitcase that Grace had discovered under one of the beds, although she hardly objected. His slouched posture and worn features created a painful tightness in her chest that she couldn't quite place. It felt as though a small gust of wind could pick him up and carry him away from her forever. As though her words could shatter his ears and leave him motionless on the ground. He was too fragile for their conditions, and she knew that fragility could be detrimental.

With a quiet sigh that she hoped he couldn't hear, Grace slid the zipper across the bag, finishing the small amount of packing that she had been able to complete. Jace watched attentively, standing up quickly once Grace had a firm grip on the bags handle. They both silently exited the room and Jace bit his lip nervously when she whipped her head around to look at the door before continuing down the long hallway toward the kitchen. A strong hand clutching Grace's arm caused her to stumble backward, knocking the young boy to the ground as she attempted to push him behind her.
        "Grace!" Mason shouted innocently, removing his hand from her arm and shoving it into the large pocket on his jacket.
She quickly stuttered her apologies as she turned to pick Jace up, balancing his small body on her minimally protruding hip.
        "Everyone else is waiting in the truck outside. We have to go, now."

Nodding slightly, she took immediate notice of Jace's trembling body and she quietly whispered into his ear, trying to ignore his curly hair tickling her nose, "We're just going for a quick, little drive, okay? Everything's okay."
      "Grace," Jace mumbled, grabbing onto the sleeve of her dress. "Is the truck going to go fast?" "I don't know. I've never been in a truck before, but I'm sure it won't go too fast, right Mason?"

She looked encouragingly at Mason, who was waiting for them patiently at the back door. His back was pressed against the doorframe that had begun to peel with age. He looked at them once he heard his name and nodded in agreement to her statement. Grace looked back at Jace, her artifical smile making her look upset.