Crossing Borders

Decisions

"Are you sure that's what you want?" Father Johan asks which Astrid answer with a nod, making the old man sigh, disagreeing. "You don't have to do this, love, that's why you have guards-"

"That isn't enough." She says, "It'll happen again and again as long as I'm here."

"But-"

"They say I have responsibilities to you," Astrid points out, "but I also have responsibilities to Ash." Father Johan stared at her. "This is the right thing to do."

"Very well..." Father Johan says, "I'll send the boys to the North Star Academy, it is the safest place for all of us," Astrid looks up at him, doubtful. "Only some Tigers know of its location so you need not worry. While you," Father Johan pauses as he took a deep breath, "I'll be sending you to Russia-"

"Russia?"

"I have a friend there." He continues, "You'll learn to fight there, by the time you come back, you won't need guards, not that I can send you any of them there either. You will leave-"

"Before the boys leaves." She says firmly, "I'm sorry, but I have issues of being left behind."

"I see." Father Johan watches her intently, as if waiting for her to change her mind. She is still a child after all, a stubborn one he must add. "Very well, you may go. I'll talk to the boys."

"Grandpa, if you don't mind..." she looks up to him, a blush crawling up her face, Father Johan watches her closely curious of what more she has up and under her sleeve. "Don't tell the boys that I'm not going with them."

A tear rolls down her cheek and she quickly wiped it off with the back of her hand before it can reach her chin, then she force a smile, "They're as stubborn as I am, they won't agree; besides..." she pauses. "I might change my mind."

"You still can."

"No." She shook her head. "This is the right thing to do."

"Very well, the term isn't over yet, I'll have you children prepare for NSA." He says. "You'll need to gain a little weight and get a bit taller too."

"Why is that?"

"You'll need it, I'm sure. You can also take taekwondo and judo classes. Once it's all taken care of, your father will update you." With that he goes back to work, "You have two months to change your mind, I'll wait down to the last minute. You may go."

Astrid glances at him, before she turns to leave.

Two months went by fast, it was quiet and peaceful, there seems no danger anymore, but Astrid's mind was made up.

"Did you hear that Astrid?" Ash jumps out of the sofa, excitedly. "We're going to an actual school!"

Astrid nods, "Yes, just like what we've always wanted."

"And you say the others are going too?" Ash asked.

"The whole gang," Mrs. Matthews says as excited as the boys, "luckily, the doctors had already given the go signal for you to leave."

"Yes!" Ash was jumping around again.

"But there is a down part." Mr. Matthews cuts in, "NSA doesn't allow communication with the outside, so..."

"We won't be able to talk to you?"

"And we can't visit you either." Mrs. Matthews says, forcing a smile, while Ash sank beside his twin sister.

"That's not fair." He says.

"But I heard that if you're good enough and you get real good grades, you can come visit us." Mr. Matthews says, trying to salvage Ash's celebration mode earlier.