Jay's Journey

Chapter 14

It kept getting closer. Jay knew that they would all leave The Flatties forever the moment their end of Madame Midnight's deal was done but it still felt like months of work was crumbling. Every uncomfortable night beneath a cold sky, countless hours lost within a factory of seamstresses, multiple life threatening experiences, it had all led back to the place it was meant to break free from.

Was it still getting closer? Were they getting further away? Was Jay failing to move? There wasn't a choice, the only other option was death by Madame Midnight. What about Vayen and Zira? Who's to say Madame Midnight wouldn't kill them too. She'd been rather nonchalant about putting them near 'death's door', after all.

Despite it not being hot, sweat pooled beneath Jay's clothes in a way that felt sticky and moist.

"Jay, are you alright?" Zira asked. Jay shook his head.

"Do you need a moment?" Zira asked.

"We don't have that. I have to do this now. Besides, sooner I do it, sooner we're out." Jay reasoned.

"That's the spirit!" Vayen offered encouragingly.

They were near the edge of the cornfield. Between the house and them was merely an empty lot of tumultuous dirt. They stopped when Jay held up a hand.

"I need to go now." He declared.

"Jay, a few minutes isn't going to get us killed." Zira pointed out.

"No, but I'll feel worse." Jay said. Then, fighting against every instinct, Jay stepped forward. There were several stops, times where the only thing possible was to bear the harsh sun. The entire time, Jay silently prayed that this wouldn't be as much of a disaster as it was almost certainly hurtling towards.

Finally, Jay had enough strength to stumble up to the front door. He tried to swallow, but only ended up rubbing the dry walls of his throat together. He gripped his greasy hair with dirty hands and gritted his teeth against intrusive tears.

Jay knocked on the worn wooden door with shaky hands.

The wind whispered from a great distance, yet the air still managed to feel stagnant. There was movement inside. The wooden floor was hardly quiet. There was a pair of pitter patter of steps. It was Jay's younger sister, Amy. The more methodical, slow steps belonged to Jay's mother. Jay had forgotten about his little sister, but in relation to his parents, that was definitely a good thing. Unlike them, she hadn't actively made his life worse.

The door opened, and both of them were standing there. Jay's mother matched his height, with the same brown hair, pale skin, and brown eyes. It was her appearance that he'd taken on. His sister on the other hand had taken on a hair color that was closer to black. She too had brown eyes.

"Jason?" His mother asked, a levee of denial the only thing holding back a flood of emotions. What was he supposed to say in return to that? There was only one reason to be here, and it was the highest of obligations.

"What?" That was the only thing Jay could decide on saying.

"I'm calling your father over." She said, but not before giving Jay a hug. The gesture was not returned. Then, she began briskly walking off into the fields. Amy was left behind, standing there nervously, playing with long hair that Jay was instantaneously envious of.

"Why did you leave?" Amy asked in a quiet voice.

"Couldn't take it here." Jay replied.

"You sound different." Amy observed.

"I do." Jay agreed. Amy lost interest and continued to play with her hair. Jay knew that she wasn't doing it to flaunt, but a part of him certainly wanted to make it feel as though that were the case.