Rising From The Ashes

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

I found a way out. I met a rebel woman today and she promised me an escape from this society of lies. She told me stories of a place without Officials were people are free to make their own decisions. It sounded a bit like a fairytale to me, but I have to believe she is telling the truth. I can’t stand to continue living this way anymore.

-The Diary of Lucinda Jane Waders

A few weeks have passed since I saw the boy at the town hall building. I tried to push him out of my head, but as much as I tried there was just something about him that stuck with me. No matter what I’m doing my mind just keeps drifting back to him. I will be at school trying to pay attention and his face will suddenly flash through my mind. Or I will be doodling in my notebook and look down to see the boy’s face staring back at me. After this I made sure to rip out the page and throw it away, but I was so shaken I ended up just trashing the entire notebook. It might seem crazy, but it seemed almost tainted after that.

I have been filling all extra time that I have with as many distractions as I can find to keep myself from thinking about him. I have been dragging Sadie along with me to do a bunch of weird things. So far we have gone hiking, which is actually something we do a lot, shopping, watched movies, went biking, and a bunch of other things. She must know that something is going on, but she never says anything and I’m grateful.

By Saturday we are already running out of things to do and we decide on just going swimming in a little lake we discovered while hiking one time. As far as we know, nobody else knows that the lake is there and so we have it all to ourselves. It’s much better than swimming in crowded public pools or beaches as far as I’m concerned.

Sadie had to help her mom with something during the morning, though, and so we made plans to meet at the lake instead of walking there together. So, on Saturday morning I headed out on my own. I walked to the edge of town and into the woods, looking forward to a nice day away from all the things that have been bothering me recently. I know that it will be a long walk, but I don’t mind. I love the peaceful feeling that fills me the further away from people and the Officials that I get. I strolled leisurely, listening to the birds chirping and feeling the sunlight shine down on me from between the tree branches.

My peace was suddenly broken when I heard a branch snap behind me. I spun around quickly, expecting someone to be standing right behind me. There was no one there, though, and a frown settled onto my face. I knew that I heard something, but I guess it could have been an animal or something. This explanation doesn’t entirely satisfy me and I can’t shake the feeling of being watched.

I took one last look around before turning back to the path and starting towards the pond again, a little quicker this time. I only get a little distance away when I heard the sound again. I spun around for the second time, but this time I see a flash of color just before it completely disappears behind a tree. I suck in a breath and then bite my lip to stop myself from screaming.

Instead of panicking like I wanted to, I tried to think rationally about what to do. It was probably just one of the younger girls from town that saw me go into the forest and was curious about where I was going. I remember when I was younger and always wanted to do what the older kids were doing. I’m sure that’s all and I have nothing to worry about.

“I know you’re there! You can come out,” I called out, still feeling more nervous than I wanted to. I held my breath as I waited for whoever it was to step forward. Nobody does after the first few seconds and I felt my heart start to beat a little faster. This was not a smart idea at all, going into the woods all on my own. Something could happen to me and no one would ever know. Just when I can’t take it any longer the person finally stepped out from behind the trees.