Awakening

Chapter 4

My stomach dropped, and my blood ran cold. If we got captured, my sisters would be tried for minor crimes and given labour jobs like scrubbing floors and latrines for the rest of their lives. If they had husbands or children they would be sent home, if not they would be considered adulterers by default and be branded for the rest of their lives. I did not even want to consider what would happen if the mages got their hands on me, I might never see day light again.

          "Where are Tia and Rita?" asked Victoria, somehow remaining calm.

          "I left them behind, we found a place to move to but Tia got attacked by a bear. She'll be okay, she's just not in shape to travel. We can go there for now," I mumbled, running my fingers through my hair and glancing around camp. Most of it had been taken down.

          "I do not think simply moving away will be enough to deter them now that they know we are here, if word gets out and other women find out... They'd lose control, and they won't allow that. It is a start though, you are right. We will find Tia and Rita and then decide where to go. Can you and Finn be ready to lead us back within the hour? I have asked Evelyn to carry your tent as penance," said Victoria, a hint of bitterness to her voice.

          "Yes," I answered, but before I could ask any more questions she'd turned to help other sisters.

          My legs ached from running all the way here and Finn panted heavily next to me, but I shuffled over to where Evelyn was trying to roll my tent up with tears spilling down her face. I poured some water in a bowl for Finn and shoved a few stray belongings into my pack, sighing at what remained of my home for the last three years.

          "I'm so sorry Adria," Evelyn sniffed, strapping the tent on her back. Other than some ashes on the ground, there was no sign I'd ever lived here.

          "Why are you sorry? It was your home too." I tugged on my braid, feeling awkward.

          "I... I'm the reason the mages found us," Evelyn mumbled, her brown eyes downcast.

          "What?" I felt the burning prick of anger nip at my tongue.

          "I wanted to see the fireworks! I didn't mean to get caught, I didn't think I was that close to town, and I was hiding in a tree, but my foot got all tangled up and I fell out and there were these mages there and they started asking all these questions and I just started running and I ran back here without even thinking and I lead them right to us," she rambled, a new set of tears streaming down her face.

          Not sure what to say, I sat down in the snow next to Finn and buried my head in my hands.

          "I- I said I'm sorry... If I could take it back-"

          "Well you can't! You stupid, spoiled girl! How could you possibly think risking all of our lives just to see some sparkly lights in the sky was in any way acceptable? Some of the women here are actually running away from horrible, painful pasts that they could be forced to return to now. But what does it matter to you? You'll go back to your mansion and your lace and your suitors because of who your family is, who cares if we go back to hell right?" I grabbed her shoulders and shook her, anger dripping from every word I spat.

          I turned away from her, pressing the sores on my hands to focus myself. Once I regained some of my senses I took off again to look for Victoria, loosely aware of Evelyn trailing behind me, and sobbing even harder. When I found Victoria she was standing in a circle with some of the older sisters, discussing strategy.

          "They've undoubtedly involved the army at this point, once they realized how many of us there are. I bet they'll send out scouts first, and dispatching those scouts could buy us the time we need to disappear," suggested Mira, who was Victoria's second in command.