Chapter 5

8 1 4
                                    

"So are you going to tell me about what you saw," Aaliayh said, trying to pull her sister from her dazed state.

"Huh," Jolie shook herself from her daze and looked down to find her hands shaking in frustration.

"Tell me what you saw because mom and dad won't tell me anything and I have to figure out whose side I'm on," Aaliyah pleaded. Jolie gave her a bored look, Aaliyah had been asking her all week but Jolie was under strict orders not to let Aaliyah in on the obsession.

"C'mon Liyah, you know I can't do that. I'm under strict orders from the sergeants." She saluted Aaliyah before flopping back into bed. "Besides I don't want you ending up like me," she muttered.

Aaliyah flopped down beside Jolie, letting out a dramatic groan and running a hand over her face. "I thought you were doing the whole rebel thing and would that really be such a bad thing."

"Stop with the dramatics please," Jolie groaned. "And I'm not rebelling. All I did was let them know that I was leaving in one month." Jolie decided to ignore her other comment because it depended on who you asked. Personally, Jolie thought that her sister would be lucky to turn out like her but she was sure that if you asked her father the same thing he would conclude that this is the worst possible outcome.

"Yeah well they're not the only ones you're leaving, I mean I'm here too," Aaliyah said glumly. "But to make it up to me-as your goodbye present to me, you can tell me about what you saw."

"Why-why would I be getting you a goodbye gift," Jolie questioned.

"Because you're the one leaving, duh," She shrugged, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Yea but-ok you know what, if you want to know what happened who am I to keep you from it. Grab my bag."

Aaliyah leapt off the bed to retrieve the bag while Jolie made room. She emptied the contents of the bag, polaroid pictures spilling onto the bed. She spread them out just as she had done the night she found them.

Jolie pointed to the picture of the Howler and began explaining. "So this thing is called a Howler, I assume because of this howl they let out before they attack but I don't know for sure because I couldn't read the journal. So right there you can see that their eyes are scabbed over so they're blind but they're incredibly skilled at picking up noise." Jolie proceeded to tell her about the praying man before pointing to the next picture.

"That's disgusting," Aaliyah said in response to the close up picture of the Howlers mouth. "That glowy thing right there is how they hear?"

Jolie nodded in response. "It extends from the back of it's throat and makes this clicking sound. Trust me, it's much more horrifying in person." She let out a breath, thinking of her experience. "And last but most confusing is the fog. It only comes out during the day and I can't understand the mechanics of it whatsoever. I also can't see if John Sawyer learned anything about it thanks to our birth givers."

"Who's John Sawyer," Aaliyah asked, switching between the three photos.

"The owner of the journal and the taker of those photos."

Aaliyah studied each picture a few times before looking at her sister. She knew Jolie wasn't going to agree with this but she was tired of living her life through textbooks and novels. That's how she learned everything, where she learned multiplication, what a movie theater was, and even her first swear word. She wanted to see what the surface had to offer, even if it was the blown up, less beautiful version of it.

"I want you to take me outside," Aaliyah rushed out.

"And there it goes. You know, honestly didn't think you'd last that long," Jolie laughed. "Absolutely not. This is all I know about the surface and it is too dangerous to go back out there without reading that journal first. I nearly died because I didn't know enough." Although that was true it wasn't because of anything the surface had it was because of that weird, smiling man, but she decided to leave that part out.

Jolie was being somewhat hypocritical, she knew that when she turned eighteen she would be out on the surface whether she had read the journal or not. She was willing to risk her life for survival but not her sisters.

"Oh come on. I can handle myself out there and besides once you leave the male birth giver will crack down on me and I can't handle the pressure like you did."

Jolie snorted at the name. "Firstly if what you're suggesting is that I take you with me when I leave you've got another thing coming and besides even if I wanted to I only have one mask and you won't be going alone."

Silence surrounded the two girls as they both contemplated what the other was thinking. Aaliyah knew Jolie wasn't keen on having to protect someone else while she was out there. Aaliyah knew that it wasn't that she didn't want her there but Jolie had always worked best by herself.

Jolie knew that Aaliyah didn't want to suffer the same fate she did when it came to their dad but she wouldn't be able to live with herself if something happened to her out there. Not to mention that she couldn't imagine the grief her mother would go through if both her daughters left. Jolie had noticed her mothers worsening state and didn't want to put her through anymore than necessary.

"What if I got the journal back for you," Aaliyah blurted.

Jolies jaw went slack. "Absolutely not," Jolie said roughly. "Are you crazy? Do you have any idea how much trouble you would get it, not to mention how much trouble I would get in if they found out that I put you up to it."

"Who's to say you put me up to it, maybe... I was just curious," she shrugged.

"Or maybe you're just stupid." Jolie stood up from the bed and began pacing with her arms crossed. "What do you gain from me having the journal anyway, I know you want something out of this."

"I get you the journal," she said slowly. "And you make me a mask." Aliyah winced, ready for the lecture she was about to get from her sister. When Jolie said nothing Aaliyah opened her eyes to find her already staring with sad eyes.

"You want to get out of here too," she whispered. Jolie sat back on the bed and put her head in her hands, trying to keep the tears at bay. "I can't Liyah," she sniffled.

Aaliyah laid her head on her shoulders and pulled Jolie into a comforting hug. "I can't keep living my life through books. I don't care if the world is blown up and destroyed, I have to see it for myself," she mumbled.

"Ok," she whispered. "You get me the journal and I will make you a mask." Jolie felt so guilty saying this. She knew that Aaliyah's curiosity almost outreached hers and she knew that once she got the mask no one could stop her from leaving. Aaliyah wouldn't contemplate it for months like Jolie had, she would just leave.

Aaliyah couldn't stop the smile that spread across her face and she squeezed her sister a bit tighter. She was finally going to get out of here, she could live on the surface and have an apocalyptic adventure like the ones she had read in books.

"Thank you, thank you."

"No, before you get all excited I have some conditions," Jolie said seriously. She wiped the tears from her eyes and pulled herself from the hug, immediately missing the sensation. "I'll take you out there and when... when I leave you can't come."

"That defeats the whole purpose. I want the mask so I can get out of here, not visit the surface once," Aaliyah exclaimed.

"No," she responded harshly. Jolie let out a sigh and her voice softened when she saw Aaliyah's distraught face. "Those are the conditions," she said slowly. "If you can't agree with them then I'm not making you a mask. Aaliyah you can't be out there by yourself, I could never forgive myself if something happened to you, neither would mom."

"But," Aaliyah said as she began to cry.

"No," Jolie said, her own lip trembling.

"Then why don't you just stay. Just agree with dad and stay, don't leave me. Please don't leave me," Aaliyah wept.

"It's not that easy kiddo," Jolie muttered. She looked at the battery clock on the wall, 7:30. "You should go ahead and go out, dinner will be ready soon."

Aaliyah stood slowly and shuffled over to the door, leaving her sister there for dinner. Jolie waited until she heard the small click before her head fell into her knees and the tears started to fall.

Failure of GloryWhere stories live. Discover now