Haunt

Ch. 24- Two Warnings

Lianna's POV

Dad and Kayla pick crops far up ahead of me and mom. Her and I linger in the back, taking our time not in any kind of rush. I can feel the impending conversation about to happen. Mom with her kind nature won't force anything out of me but she will ask questions. I'm certain of that.

I stare at the weeds in between the tomato plants and wait for her to say something.

"It's a lovely day isn't it, darling?" Mom's sultry voice carries throughout the constant wind and I half smile, relieved that she doesn't start with curiosity questions.

"It's not too hot or too cold. Just right."

Her arm rubs up against mine as she inches closer. I make no attempts to move, enjoying the calm moment we are having.

"You know it's only because your father loves you that he gets so upset, right?"

And so we begin...

Now, I take a step sideways. More tomatoes fill my burlap bag as I move along.

"I know that he only wants the best for me."

Mom glances in my direction. I'm sure her face in racked with concern but I pay it no mind and continue moving down the row.

"That man you were with...do you know him somehow? School maybe?"

It suddenly dawns on me that my mother wouldn't have any knowledge of who Eric is. He's much younger than her and she's never had any association with Dauntless previously. It wouldn't be such a bad idea to tell her what happened. Mom, of all people, would understand, hopefully.

I stop what I'm doing and turn to face her full on. I need to tell someone the truth. It may eat me alive if I don't.

"I met him here. When Dauntless decided to come here for their initiation. I didn't mean for any of it to happen like it did. I was just curious to know what they were  like."

She sighs in defeat, obviously upset about something. She drops the bag of tomatoes out of her hands and runs the back of her palm across her forehead.

"What could you have possibly been curious about?"

I lick my lips, ready to explain myself.

"I've wondered if maybe I made the wrong decision. Should I have chosen differently, I wouldn't be reckless to know these things."

A small group of people pass us and mom waits to respond.

"You don't think you're right for Amity?"

"I don't know."

She doesn't  say anything else but wraps her arms around me in a reassuring hug. I cling to her like a new born clings to their mother when scared. I'm scared. The motto has always been faction before blood. But did I choose blood? Did I choose Amity because  of my family?

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Mom somehow convinces Dad that I am alright to be left alone. I watch the two of them stroll along the fence hand in hand and it makes me smile. What it would be like to have a relationship where you love one another, unconditionally.

I half expect for Ebony to walk up on me while I sit here under a grand oak but to my disbelief, she doesn't. I pick at the strands of grass and pull on sprouting yellow flowers. I'm unsure how long I sit there before I turn my head up to see a dark clothed figure walking in my direction.