And When the Empire Began to Fall

You think you caught a lamb, but I'm the wolf

"Get up."

Star blinked herself awake, mumbling about it being too early and shooting daggers at whoever was standing in the darkness of her room. She went to turn the light on, to see what brother she was going to be yelling at when a hand shot out and grabbed her wrist, holding it in an iron grip. 

"Don't turn the light on. Are you dressed?"

"Yeah." Star squinted. In the dark, she could make out the outlying of Jackson's dark blue eyes and shiny blonde hair. Instantly, her mood soured. "Jackson, you bitch—"

"Star, shut up."

There was something in Jackson's voice, a sincerity and urgency she had never before heard, that made her listen. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

"Get up. We've gotta go," Jackson said.

"What?"

"We've gotta go, Star."

"But we haven't packed—"

"It doesn't matter. Listen for once in your life. Please."

Star slowly got up. Outside she could hear things, people talking in jumbled, panicked voices. "Do we need to pack—"

"No, grab maybe one or two sentimental items just in case, then come on."

Jackson let her go, allowing her to do as he said. Star instantly looked to her nightstand where a necklace with a purple planet pennant sat, glistening ominously. She grabbed it and clipped it around her neck. She eyed her dictionary, sitting on her nightstand, but she couldn't justify taking it, so she just let her arm fall awkwardly to her side. Jackson grabbed her wrist once again and began to drag her toward her door.

"Jackson, what's happening?" Star whispered.

"I'm not sure exactly," Jackson admitted. "I think—" He cut himself off. "I'm not sure."

Star's throat tightened and burned. Something was wrong, and whatever Jackson thought was going on he seemed to think was too scary to tell her. That didn't bode well. If it were any other brother she would have been less worried, but Jackson, who loved to antagonize and scare her? There were very few things that he would consider off-limits, and Star didn't want to think about any of them. 

Everybody in the neighborhood seemed to be outside, except for the adults and the older teenagers. Was there an emergency that required their help? If so why was everyone else wandering around like headless chickens? 

"Shit. Where did Gale and Uly go?" Jackson mumbled. He kept a tight hold on Star's arm, leading her through the anxious crowd. She saw some of her friends from school, holding little siblings on their hips or talking to others, trying to gauge the situation. She saw Jude standing by Jaz, and she tried to pull away from Jackson.

"Where do you think you're going?" Jackson snapped. Even though he was typically mean-spirited and harsh, Star was hurt by his tone.

"Jude and Jaz," she said.

Jackson looked at her two friends, pondering for a moment. "Go to them. Don't leave that spot. I'm going to find Gale and Uly and come back to you. Understand?"

"Yes, but what about Brose and Daniel?"

"They're alright. Don't worry about them. Go."

Jackson watched her as she approached her friends, making sure she was safe with them before turning around and disappearing into the crowd. She turned to Jaz. "What the fuck—"

"I think Calila invaded," Jaz said instantly. "The capital down south from what I heard. And they're heading north to us."

Jude put her hands on her hips, gnawing on her lower lip. Her hair wasn't braided as it usually was at night, instead, it was slightly wet and matted. Star wondered why she hadn't braided it, but before she could think any further, Jaz's words proceeded.