Beyond Our Control

Chapter 16

 TW: (Manipulation and SA* here)

She was already regretting her choice. They have been walking under the sun for hours by now. She could barely take any heavy exercise. Even her description said that she was unfit. She was panting and her breathing felt hard. Her legs are already trembling, her hair and shirt is soaked with sweat and she felt stinkier than ever. The only thing she saw in front of her was grass. Grass, grass, grass. A bunch of golden wheats and golden grass everywhere that brushed to her thighs and knees. It was torture. She could barely take it anymore. This was a terrible idea!

"Come on, Kenna!" Faye who was ahead of her waved her hand at Kenna for her to catch up. She wasn't sweating one bit, nor panting. Her close to grey blonde hair was still braided perfectly, her face still pale as snow. And she wore a perfect smile, not one trace of annoyance or frustration from the heat.

"Where are we even going? It's been hours!"

"We're almost there! Just keep walking."

It was hard to believe that when all she sees around them are the same things. The sun is already starting to set, the color of the skies starting to change into an orange to twilight color. If it took this long to get here, they weren't going to make it back in time for dinner. The others are going to worry about them, that will cause suspicion to Ms. Edmund too. What are they even doing anymore?

"Faye, we're going to get in trouble. We're technically breaking a bunch of rules right now by being out here." She groaned, but even if she wanted to head back now they wouldn't make it in time. And the thought of even walking back felt painful.

Faye turned back around, a mischievous smile on her face. "Since when did rules ever matter to me?" She turned around and walked toward Kenna, picking up her hands and looking her in the eyes. The mischievousness danced in them. "Rules are made to only be broken by certain people. And I'm one of those people. Now c'mon, we're almost there!" She dragged her by one arm, and Kenna only sighed since she didn't have much of a choice.

They walked and walked, one filled with energy, one with all of her energy sucked out of her.

She looked up at the sky, hoping for anything to get her mind off of the exhaustion in her. She could see the moon, white as a slick, rising as the sun started to set. She realized then, the sun and the moon are up in the sky at the same time. Even if they aren't that close together, they're up together in the sky, visible to anyone that sees. Maybe it wouldn't be so impossible for her and Faye to be together if the sun and moon are somehow together. Maybe the things she wanted can still be possible. Maybe saving Lina and being with Faye can both be fulfilled. It might all be possible...but how? How will that all happen?

"We're here, Kenna." Faye came to a halt.

Still trying to drain away her thoughts, she barely even noticed the view in front of her. But now she finally does.

A river. A still river. Wide and long, stretching from afar to beyond. This river could stretch all the way to who knows where. The long golden grass had covered the view but now as they're closer all is clear. Clear as anything possibly clearer on this planet. Clean and fresh. The sun and the moon both reflected on the water surface. And on the river they looked even closer together somehow. The water looked funny orange, with the whole sky reflecting itself onto the river. With the moon reflected next to the sun, it looked almost like they were combined together. Taking in a deep breath from all the walking it all felt worth it now. At that moment, everything felt possible to Kenna. Everything.

She stopped staring at the long outstretched river and found Faye smiling at her.

"I knew you'd like it."