Freedom Workers (boyxboy)

Freedom Workers part 2

At home, I set down my bag and went to the kitchen to get a bite to eat. Mam stood at the stove stirring something in a pot. All seven of my siblings sat around our scarred steel table. My older brothers, Mrin and Heston, were fighting over who got the last piece of bread. The twins, Serrin and Offrin, were throwing water from their cups at each other. My little sisters Anza and Marra were chatting complacently as they tied baby Cata’s bonnet more tightly. I took my seat and grabbed a piece of bread from the table, stuffing it into my mouth. The evening bell would be ringing soon, and I wanted to get to Shia’s as soon as I could.

Mrin laughed. “Easy, Tem, we don’t want you choking.”

“Yes we do!” Serrin hollered. Offrin snickered, and I threw a chunk of bread at him.

“Temerren!” chided Mam as she set a bowl of stew in front of me. “Eat up now, children.”

I shoveled spoonfuls of stew into my mouth just as the bell began to rang. I jumped up and grabbed my pass, tucking it in my vest pocket.

“Bye, Mam!” I called as I ran out the door. I hurried down the steps of the apartment building and slipped out the door.

As soon as I was out onto the street, I pulled my cap low over my eyes and stuck my hands in my pockets. It was pure folly to draw any form of attention to yourself on the streets.

I had just crossed onto Durne Street, which was but two blocks over from Shia’s apartment, when a sudden call made me jump.

“Boy! You! Report!”

I turned to see two guards, one tall and lanky, the other short and fat.  I marched over to them and stood in Counting form. My back was ramrod straight, my chin up, my arms stiff at my sides.

“Name, Group, Station.” One of the guards, the taller of the two, ordered as he took out a notebook and pen.

“Temerren Jense, Fifteen, Messenger.”

“Where are you going, Citizen Jense?”

“To a fellow Citizen’s, Guard.”

“Pass.”

My hands were shaking, and my fingers fumbled with the buttons on my coat. I had just undone the third one when a smack sent me sprawling on the street. I looked up, my cheek throbbing, just in time to see the guard swing his fist at me again. This time his blow landed on my lip. I felt it split, blood trickling down my chin. The other guard smirked and came over, then started to kick me in the side. I groaned.

“Shut up, Citizen! You dirty workers need to learn to obey more quickly! You pieces of dirt seem to think that we operate at your beck and call!” The fat guard kept kicking, the tall one kept punching, and I curled into a ball and let the blows fall.

Finally they finished and ordered me to stand and take out my pass, quickly this time. I unbuttoned my coat as fast as I could and stuck my hand into my vest, withdrawing the pass.

The fat guard inspected it closely, then handed it back to me.

“That’s better, Citizen. Perhaps your lesson was effective after all.”

With that, they left, whistling and joking.

I groaned and stumbled over to a wall, where I sank down to kneel on the ground. My head, side, and arms were throbbing. My lip was split and bleeding, and it felt like my wrist was bruised at least, or maybe sprained. I took a deep breath, then winced when a rope of pain twisted in my abdomen. I struggled to my feet and began walking down the street towards Shia’s.

Somehow I made it to their building. I crawled up the stairs, gasping, and knocked on the door.

Shia’s shocked white face wavered in my vision for a moment, then I blacked out.

                “I can’t believe he walked all the way here with injuries like that.”

“I know. But we don’t know where it happened. It could have been just outside our door.”

“But why would he have passed out?”

I groaned and stirred a little.

“Tem?”

I blinked my eyes open slowly, Shia’s face slowly coming into focus above me.  

“Tem! Good thing you’re awake. You’ve got me mam worried outside her wits.”

From the corner of my eye, I saw Shia’s sister Leila slip out of the room and shut the door behind her.

I scrunched my eyes. “What happened?”

“You showed up at our doorway all beat up. Mam took care of the injuries- she says you have a sprained wrist, a cracked rib, and a bunch of bruises. But you’ll be alright.” He leaned in. “So what happened? Guards?”

I nodded carefully. “I met them on Durne Street. They asked me for my information, like normal, then they wanted to see the pass. I was too slow to get it out, so they beat me.”

I looked up at Shia. His face had gone taut, his lips pressed tightly together. I reached for his hand with my good one and stroked his fingers.

“Hey. Don’t worry. It wasn’t so bad.”

He tried to smile. “You say that now. Wait till you look in a mirror.”

I faked shock. “Is it that bad? Oh no, not my beautiful face!”

That wrung a smile from him. “Oh, stop.”

I smiled, but stopped short as pain shot through my bottom lip. “Ouch!”

My lip was throbbing now, and I felt blood dribble down my chin. Shia laughed and pressed a rag to my chin.

“Shia?”

“Hmm?”

“What time is it? How long was I out?”

“It’s two hours after the bell. So not long.”

“Oh. Good.”

He laughed and rolled his eyes. “Don’t want to waste your precious time with me, do you?”

“Of course not.”

Shia sat next to me on the bed, then slowly lowered his body down so he was lying by me, our faces inches from each other. He reached a hand up and cupped my cheek.

“You had me really worried,” he whispered, his breath fanning over my face.

“Sorry,” I whispered back.

“Your eyes are really bright,” he said. “It’s scary. They’re practically glowing.”

I frowned. “Why?”

Shia chuckled. “I haven’t the slightest idea.”

I pressed my forehead to his.

“I’ve missed you.”

“But we’re together every day.”

“You know what I mean.”

Shia smiled and pressed his lips to my forehead. He traveled down, his mouth skimming my nose, my eyes, my cheekbones, before stopping at my lips.

I opened my eyes and stared at him. “Stars,” he whispered, before pressing his lips to mine.