Planet X Vulcan

Chapter Vl

Akira lay on her bed, staring at her ceiling, expecting to be called down any second. She knew she'd crossed the line this time with her father. Alas, just as she had predicted, one of the guards knocked on her door.

" Yeah, I know. I'm coming. " she said, not even bothering to let the guard state why she was needed. He waited at the door for her and followed her down the stairs. She stomped down, bracing herself for her fathers wrath. When she neared the living room, she saw her father on the sofa, his legs crossed, smoking an old fashioned pipe. He looked very tense and rigid.

" You called me father....? " she ventured nervously. He didn't answer for a while. She cleared her throat cautiously, risking his anger. She didn't want to sit and wait for his anger, dying in anticipation. She wanted it over with.
" Akira..." he began, his voice strained, barely under control.

" Yes father? "

" How many god damn times do I have to tell you? "

" I know I'm so- " she began her usual speech.

" Sorry  doesn't cut it! "

She gulped, not daring to say anything.

" You are a dishonor! I have raised you better than this!  You have responsibilities, expectations placed on you! You need to stop being so arrogant! " her father spat some more hurtful words at her. She was holding back tears. I know where I stand in his eyes now.  She had stopped paying attention to his words a long while back.

" Are you listening, you useless thing?! "

" Useless?  Am I that low in your eyes father? I know I have responsibilities! I know very well what you expect me to do! And yet  I still try to get away from this wretched place! Have you ever thought why, father? Of course not. You only ever care for the perfect family image! Mother would have listened to me! " she yelled, tears streaming from her eyes. She wished her mother was here. She missed the smell of warm cinnamon and nutmeg. She felt safe and happy. Now with her mother dead, her father was unforgiving. Mother would understand me. She would be there for me.  Her father was fuming.

" I wish it was your mother that lived. " he spat angrily. She was taken aback, shocked. How could  father say that?

" Don't you think I wished that too? " she whispered. Her father stared at her, speechless. She ran up the stairs, crying. She felt useless, and she knew everything her father said about her was true. She missed the feeling of being loved by someone. She wanted to call Death himself, make him exchange herself for her mother. She sat in her room for so long, she didn't even notice. When she looked at the clock it was already nine o' clock. Her mind was turning over a new thought. She'd been thinking about it for a week. She couldn't live here anymore. She was scared, but she was angry. She wanted to forge her own path, not some princess life filled with misery and responsibilities. She was trying to make up her mind. She was either going to stay, or run away.

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It was 10 o' clock, and she knew what she had to do. Before she could change her mind, she snatched the satchel that she had been stuffing with supplies for a few days. She knew it was dangerous, but it was better than living a normal life, same old schedule of bleary work. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing. She calmed her racing heart. She knew that whatever happened after tonight, nothing would ever be the same again.

She looked out the window, double checking her calculations that the patrol guards were changing shifts at the moment. She had a few minutes max to clear the garden, and make it to the gate, without getting caught by the spotlights or night patrol guards. Piece of cake.