Rising From The Ashes

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

I’ve been spending a lot of time with the rebels lately. I made some really amazing friends with some of the people I have met. I’ve gotten close to a man named Jacob Sanders, which is so strange for me. I’m still getting use to the idea that they aren’t all bad like we’ve been told and now I am even friends with some. I don’t know where things will go from here, but I’m excited to find out.

-The Diary of Lucinda Jane Waders

The silence wrapped around me as I walked back to my house that night. The only sound was my soft shuffling steps and my shallow, nervous breathing. It was driving me insane. The quiet made me feel like I was the only person alive in the world. I kept waiting for the screeching sirens of the Officials coming to arrest me, but it never came. I couldn’t believe that I was really getting away with it, that I was about to be safe.

The distance put between myself and Cameron felt like a blessing. The further away from him I was the safer I would be. There was another part of myself, though, that itched to run back to him, that was terrified of the thought of him being there all alone with every single Official searching for him. I didn’t recognize this new part of myself. I had always thought I knew myself so well, but never had I imagined doing something like this. Ever since meeting Cameron, no before that even. Ever since that day I went to see Lily Fisher something had been changing in me. It seemed like every day this new part of myself was showing itself more and it scared me. I had always counted on stability and knowing what was coming next, but now I couldn’t even explain my own feelings to myself let alone what decisions I’ll make or places I’ll end up. Losing control was terrifying, but I was starting to find that I kind of like it.

I reached my house after what felt like an eternity and as silently as possible, slipped open the front door. I was hoping that by some miracle my mother never even noticed I was missing and that I would be able to get inside without her jumping down my throat with questions of where I had been.

I made it all the way to the stairs before a voice stopped me. It took me a second to realize that it wasn’t my mother, but was Catherine.

“And what are you doing, sneaking into the house at a time like this?” Catherine said and I turn to see her standing in the entryway to the kitchen with a smirk on her face.

“I’d say it’s none of your business, but somehow I don’t think you’ll let it go that easy,” I replied calmly, trying not to give anything away. The last thing I needed was for Catherine to become suspicious of where I was tonight. Knowing her if she found out she would turn me into the Officials herself.

“You’re right. So, where were you?” she asked, tilting her head to the side.

“I was with Sadie,” I told her and she narrowed her eyes at me, a grin on her face.

“Oh really? Because Sadie called here a few hours ago and told me to tell you that she is extremely pissed off with you and isn’t talking to you,” Catherine informed me and I flinched. This was not going well.

“Why does it even matter to you where I was? It has nothing to do with you,” I snapped.

“Oh but it does. You see, I had to cover for you with mom and so I think I deserve to know what exactly I was lying for,” she told me and I think my mouth actually dropped open in shock. She covered for me? And here I thought helping a criminal escape would be the weirdest part of my day.

“You lied? For me?” I asked in shock. “What did you say?”

“I told her you went to Sadie’s. Luckily, I answered when Sadie called to talk to you, so mom still thinks you’re with her,” Catherine said.