Phantom

Chapter Six

                                                 8.5 Years Ago

      I curled up against Liam's mother, choking on my tears and large intakes of air. "What did they do to her?" I wailed. Liam sat on the other side of me, leaning on the wood of the tree. Mitch looked a little annoyed by my bawling.

      "Hush," she whispered, rocking gently. "Your mama's gonna be fine, Kanoa."

      "Shut up," Mitch muttered.

      Mrs. Polsen became rigid. "Excuse me?"

      "Don't feed her that crap, Mom. Her mom was taken, You can't fight against Marshal law. She knew that, and she should've just given up Simon."

      I stared at Mitch. He had always been so kind and forgiving to me. How could he say that?

      He looked away and put his head in his hands. Liam looked at me and then stared at his brother. "Take it back," he nonchalantly demanded.

       Now it was Mitch's turn. "Excuse me?"

       "You heard me. Take it back, Mitch."

      "You don't know anything about real life. She was taken, and they're going to kill her."

       "Mitchel!" Mrs. Polsen scolded as I gasped back a sob.

      "What?" Mitch was standing now, towering over us. "There's no hiding it!"

       "Shut up, you idiot!" Liam hollered as he stood. He was shadowed by his older brother.

       "Oh, like you're going to make me?"

      Liam shoved Mitch's chest. He shoved back, knocking his brother to the floor of the tree.

      "Boys!" Mrs. Polsen shouted. She parted the two and looked between them in befuddlement. "This is not necessary!"

     Mitchel turned and glared at his mom in disgust. "Mom, she's dead! What happened back there-"

       "What happened back there was a declaration of war. They're trying to tear apart our defenses. And you are doing just what they want you to do! This... We are on our own now. And if we are going to work together, at least treat each other with respect. Look at Kanoa. She's alone and scared. Do you think that what you are doing is helping her?"

        Mitchel and Liam ducked their heads in what, shame? Humility? "Please. For the sake of this child, stop fighting... We head back tomorrow evening, before we arise any suspicion. Now get to sleep. We all need it."

      Liam backed away and plopped down next to me. Mitch eyed his mother for a moment before slightly declining his head and moving to the edge of the tree to sit.

      I leaned into Liam, since Mrs. Polsen had moved to where the branches were, so that she could rest.

      During the fight, shock had dried my tears. I put my forehead on Liam's shoulder and muttered, "Is he right?"

      "What?"

      "Is my mom alright?"

      Liam looked down at me. "Where's your Dad?"

     "He's at the bottom of the tree."

      "On lookout?"

      "I guess."

      Liam draped an arm across my shoulder. "I wonder what happens now." We sat in silence for hours, until Liam finally fell asleep. Not long after, with my head in his lap, I allowed the nightmares to take me as tears rolled down my face.