The Rebel Club

Nineteen

Three days later...

I lied in my bed the past three days. I kept the door locked indicating I didn't want to see anyone. Soon enough, I heard a knock at my door. It was Joe, Josh. But, I didn't open the door. Like I said, I really didn't want to see anyone.   

Joe, Josh was at my door though. Nothing was his fault but, I felt like I would lose him also. It seemed like everything and everyone I cared about just died. 

He said, "Chione? Look I know you're sad and depressed right now. But, they are having a memorial for Athine and Wolf asked you to be there."

I said nothing and stared at the wall hugging my pillow. Joe, Josh asked me, "Can you please open the door?" 

I didn't want to but I did anyways. I opened the door and went back to lay down in my bed again. Joe, Josh sat on my bed next to me. He said, "I hate seeing you like this Chi."

I said tears starting to fill my eyes, "I really just want to be left alone." 

"I know... I just wanted ti check in on you mostly. Wolf was going to ask."

"Thanks..." I said and went back to my thoughts. Flashes of my family dead, went through my head and I couldn't get it out. I curled up into fetal position. Joe, Josh said, "You can't keep doing this. We all care about you. Everyone has been asking were you have been. May has tried to get you out of here and you didn't even answer the door. Only for food have you even open the door."

"I can't even sleep, Josh! I keep seeing my family dead on the floor!" I said loudly. I was now sitting up. "Also! I could have helped Athine! But I was too shocked by my mother dead in frount of my eyes to do anything until the last second! I could have stopped this all! I could have not joined the rebelion! I shouldn't have punch that stupid Commander in the face-" 

Joe, Josh stopped me by putting his hands on my shoulders and saying, "Stop it Chione! It's in the past now! They are thinking about expanding out to other schools. In the end, this will help women gain independence. You and other who will be the future of this land don't have to live in this screwed up place. That is the coast. Yes it's harsh. Yes it's sad and you are allowed to be sad but, you can do this. Pull yourself together and stand up. I know you. You are strong. In life there is loss and you have to pull through it. I'm not saying it's not good to cry and have emotions flying around, I'm saying, it;s not doing any good. It's tearing you apart. That is what the Ruler wants. Don't give that to him." 

I looked down. He had a point. The Ruler is a vicious man with no heart. He sent his own daughter away because she wasn't a woman in his eyes. He is suborn, relentless and, blind. This is what women have wanted from the start of our civilization being advanced enough to wear as we could buy meat from others and not kill each other or others for it. Women are just like men with only physical and maybe some small mental variations. The Ruler is trying to tear us down. He is picking us off one by one. Starting with me. I then had an idea... I asked, "What if we let a reporter or two come in so we can tell our side? Tell them what the Ruler is doing. Maybe we can get other districts to back us up."  

Joe, Josh smiled, "There she is."  

I curled up next to him and said, "Thanks. I guess I just needed to hear it."

...............................................................................

I went to Athine's memorial Everyone smiled and made a pathway for me to Wolf. We had it out outside in our newly, and sadly, formed cemetery. There they had found red paint and made a life sized statue of her and painted her hair red, had her tattoos and, she was looking up to the sky.