The sun coaxes me to rise, the sun peaks into the window and the sound of rain becomes a distant thought. I turn over to the empty spot and pillow where Echo once laid. I turn to the other side and grab my clock from my nightstand. I hold the cold metal in my palms as it reads 11:34.
"Shit," I groan, and kick my covers off. I've overslept, once again. I'm not used to the freedom of sleep. At home, Eunice would always wake me at the crack of dawn. She'd take my unruly, blonde hair and force it into a twist. I would yawn groggily and she'd pinch my cheeks until my face looked cheery and in full color.
I stomp my feet out of bed and unbutton the top of my pajamas. They sweep to the ground like brush off my skin in one piece. I make my way into the bathroom, I spit into the sink, fill my hands with water from the faucet, and splash it across my face. I fix my bra strap from sliding off my shoulder and turn into bedroom. I take the tulle skirt Maia provided me from the hanger and slip it on. I tie the bandeau around my chest and do a spin around myself in the mirror. I touch the edge of my hair, disappointed with its craziness. I sigh and pull it in with my fingertips, I brush along my scalp with my nails and tie it into a ponytail.
"Celestia!" Thorne calls from down the stairs, I follow her voice, every time I hear it, I tend to perk up. I answer her call and fly down the stairs, I skip the steps two at a time and the tulle flys up like I'm a bird and they're my wings. Then it hits me, I feel ashamed of my own happiness in those moments.
That girl.
I walk calmly into the kitchen, masking my feelings of joy and sadness, everyone is gathered around the center of the kitchen, all except Rune.
"Hi," I squeak out, "Where's Rune?"
"That's what we were going to ask you," Echo answers. He has his arms folded across his chest, a scowl printed across his lips.
"Oh," I whisper.
"He mumbled something about your job yesterday and ran out the door," Maia explains.
My thoughts jumble, the blue grey memories of yesterday rewind into my mind. My senses prick up and the feeling of short legs kicking into me resurfaces.
"I have to go," I blurt. I remove myself, getting a faint glance at the clock. 11:42. It's not too late, I can turn this around. I don't want to lose another life. If I run fast enough, I bet I could make it.
"Go after her!" Maia calls out in a blur of movement. I blink once and my surroundings have shifted. My legs feel unjust, my knees buckle and the won't move quick enough. I sprint out the front door, feeling the ground slap against my boots, the buckles jingle every leap I take. My hair flys behind me like white ribbons and become tangled in themselves. I soar down the street, dodging cyclists and people just trying to live their lives. I bump into a man and knock the coffee from his hands, I weave in between everybody. Everybody becomes a blur, as the houses become single lines of haziness and the streets become black galaxies, seemingly endless. I fight my way down Main Road and fall into Market District. I stop at the beginning of the street. My knees shake, pointing inward, like a duck. I clutch my bare stomach with my sides, feeling the sweat pour over into my palms. The spit in my mouth washes over my raw lips and I try to catch my breath.
"Celestia!"
I snap my head up, it's Echo, I don't have to look back to know it. But, I don't have time for him. I ignore him and continue. I fly down the District, following whispers of execution and a crowd streaming into a narrow line. The paraders who await death. The sick bastards stream into a crowd, forming a group along a tall pole, a primitive rope around it. It's barbaric. The girl stands clutched around an Authority. Purple bruises surfaced on her skin and her complexion is shrouded with despair.
