Behind the fence

Chapter ten

A week later, we are suffering just as bad, maybe worse, in this foreign place. It turns out we were going to Ben moved here anyway, and now they apparently will be leaving us alone. My only punishment - according to them - is all the pay anyone any of us earns for the next mouth will be sent to the commanding offices.

But is all my friends being shot and punished really not my punishment.

It is the worst punishment ever.

I haven't seen Natalia or Maysie or Ella since, but the sea is a whole different story. I seek refuge there everyday. I clasp the locket and the golden pin from Lucy between my fingers and around my neck and hair, and I walk into the soothing water. With nothing to do all day - well no hunting at least - I may as well enjoy the cool ocean water on my skin, the golden grain beneath my feet.

After I returned on the second day of this, there was a letter waiting for me on the table. I read it through and stared at the anxious faces of my family, and gave them a weak smile.

"It's ok" I reassure them, "it's just our work forms"

So the next day we started work. In the bottle making factory.

I found it a sad sight, to see the buckets and buckets full of the golden grain slip down into that burning hot chute, and come out as a steaming stream of mucky amber colored liquid. What a waste I thought. 

I have to load the constant steam of clunking and smashing, still warm bottles into there crates. The work is tiresome, and there is absolutely no other way to describe it other than it's as dull as dishwater. 

Enyah works beside me for her shorter hours, then she goes outside and waits in the park for two more horribly boring hours of work. Then she walks back and meets me, and we walk our of the factory together, leaving the smoldering heat and sore blistering handwork behind. 

This afternoon while we wait another three hours for the others to come back - all except grandmother, who fills in paperwork for them from the mild comfort of our rundown shack - I decide to take Enyah to the sea.

We splashing in the shallow sea of the water, me not wanting to scare her, and laugh almost the entire time, enjoying our freedom, and letting the cool salt water run over our blistering hands. 

After an hours time, we move out of the water and onto the damp grain. Pushing it around, we create a mound, and use a stick to cave steps into it. Enyah ran off, claiming to get more water to further dampen it, but returns clutching something in her pearly white fist as if it is her lifeline.

"Look, Angie" she cries, "look at this" in her palm she holds out a small thing dripping with water. It's white, with tan to orange sort of colored lines running down the edges of the hard folds, making it resemble a miniature fan. I pick it up, it feels hard and sort of rough, but the other side is extremely smooth. It's still cool between my fingers as I try to figure it out.

"A Shell!" I suddenly burst out. I don't know where the word came from, but it's certainly there, I know it's a seashell. 

"Here, let's put it on top of our castle" I laugh. We do it.

Together.

"Come on, Enyah" I whisper into the laughter, "it's time to go"

We start walking up the golden grain, when Enyah sprints back down, Pickens up the shell from atop the castle, and runs back to my side, the shell has already disappeared into the depths of her worn uniform dress's pocket.

By the time we make it back to the shack, mum and dad are back, sitting over the communal steaming mug, spiraling it's way to the roof of the house, awaiting there turn as grandmother leans forward to take a sip. 

I'm about to say hi, when Enyah whimpers, then screams...

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Hi

I'm so sorry this has taken longer. I was away for the New Years. Happy new year and merry Christmas for a week ago:)