The Foreshock Project

Chapter Three

Being teased by your older sister is never a fun thing. It's even worse when she believes the only way to make you switch lives with her is incessant threats.

Deajah's constant catcalling games turned more violent and hurtful. She went out of her way to push me around the house. Since the day the army men came things just kept escalating. It was completely obvious now. She wanted to break me.

Unfortunately, school was cancelled for the next week while the roads were cleared, meaning that my only escape from my sister was gone. I was confined to the house. I wasn't about to allow myself to have another outburst, so I was left to sit on the kitchen chairs with taunts being thrown at me every three seconds. It was infuriating. It's a wonder I didn't go mad.

Remo was about as fed up with it as I was. After the first two days he stopped defending me and I stopped talking when not absolutely necessary. My parents gave up trying to stop Deajah on the third day, seeing as I wouldn't talk anymore. As people started to ignore her, Deajah ramped up her efforts. She became more physical and bruises gathered on my arms and chest from our scuffles.

Just when I was about to break down and cry in my room, I noticed three blurry figures make their way slowly towards the house through a frost covered window. My breath hitched in my throat. This was it.

I dug my worn leather duffel out from under the bed. I could easily fit everything I owned in it. Not paying attention to what I had in my hands, I quickly packed my bag. With a pull of the zipper I was done. I stood perfectly still, my duffel on my bare mattress. The room was completely devoid of all of the memories I'd made; it was merely a room now. I was about to leave and go downstairs when I stopped in the doorway. Turning to take in the room one last time, I felt something break. I'd probably never see this room again. Before the inevitable tears started, I shuffled down the stairs, duffel in hand.

I wandered into the living room, which was vacant. There were voices coming from the kitchen, so I headed in that direction.

"Mom? Dad?" I called as I walked through the room and towards the kitchen. "I saw someone outside."

The murmurs of conversation stopped as I entered the kitchen and there was a knock at the door. My stomach sunk. They were here.

My dad, who was sitting at the kitchen table with my mother, gestured for me to get the door. Part of me was shocked that Deajah hadn't said anything yet. The rest of me followed my father's instructions.

I had barely opened the door two inches when General Lank barged into the house. He was followed by the same gunnies who had accompanied him last time. The second one politely took the door from my shaking hand and closed it with a soft thud. Grateful for his simple kindness, I smiled sheepishly and stood in a corner, not wanting to draw attention to myself.

My father stood and approached the general. "I suppose you'll be taking Genesis with you this time?"

"Sure will," Lank said. He held out his massive hand. "Thank you for your cooperation."

They shook and my dad looked at me with sad eyes. Seeing my bag in hand, he sighed deeply.

I dropped my duffel and nearly tackled him with a hug. Dad laughed a little.

"Calm down," he said, returning my embrace. "You'll see me again. I promise."

Pulling away, I sniffed and wiped my eyes. I wouldn't cry. My mother held out her arms to me and I hugged her too.

Remo hugged me with his skinny ten year old frame. He barely came up to my shoulder. "I'll miss you," he whispered sadly.

I ruffled his dirty blond hair and looked into his teary eyes, trying to smile for his sake. "I'll miss you too," I said. "And don't let the control freak boss you around while I'm not here for her to pick on."

He nodded and smiled through his tears. Remo was ushered from the room by my mother.

Deajah glared at me, but I offered her my hand in an attempt to be polite. She looked to my hand, then back at my face. "Have fun playing army," she said. She brushed past me and I heard her clomp through the house to her room.

I grabbed my bag from its spot on the floor. I took a shaky breath before turning to Lank. "I'm ready," I told him in a quivering voice, my unsuccessful attempt to sound brave.

He clasped one hand behind the back and made a sweeping gesture towards the door with the other. One of the gunnies opened the door for me, his face completely placid now that his superior was watching. I walked out of the house and into the bright, cold light, followed by Lank and his two guards.

I looked over my shoulder for one last glance at my father before I left. That was when I saw it. One gunny tossed a stack of hundreds through the open door and into my father's hands. My dad looked up, noticed me watching and started to say something, but the door was slammed in his face.

Only one thought filled my mind as one of the gunnies took my bag and Lank lifted me onto a big black horse.

My father had sold me to the government.