Mania

Chapter 12

Easton
After

Mom and Dad,

I have decided to leave. There is no belonging with me in the Mania and I believe that it is wrong. The Mania killed Leah with their plague and we acted like the Maniacs had nothing to do with it.
I still love you, though, I just don't love the Mania.

Your son,

Easton

I set the note down on the kitchen table and I run my hand along the table's smooth surface. My hand draws a line in the dust and I frown. We hardly ever ate at the dinner table.
I hear Claire coming down the stairs and I turn around. "Ready to leave?" She asks, her hair still damp from her shower. She probably won't shower in a long time.
I adjust the straps of my backpack and I nod. Out of the two of us, I carry the heaviest of the two bags. "I'm ready,"
She looks up and smiles. The smile fades as the door open and in comes my father. My stomach drops to the floor. He turns around and his mouth twists into a scowl.
"You." He says venomously, glaring at Claire.
Her face is colorless and her eyes are wide with terror.
"You are supposed to be dead." He continues and I put two and two together. How could I be so oblivious?
"Wait, you shot her?" I blurt.
My father makes a sound of annoyance, "It's not like that, Easton ."
"Oh, so it's not like you left her out in the middle of a lake to die."
His eyes fall away from me and Claire and onto the note that I left on the table. "What is this, Easton?" He whispers being shocked.
I look away and I meet Claire's eyes. 'Tell him.' Her eyes seem to say.
I glance away from her and I hesitate with telling my father. "I'm leaving, dad." I say after a while.
His eyes harden and his face is grim. "Don't call me that. Ever again." He spits bitterly.
"Dad, please." I beg, looking to reason with him.
"Get out." He replies flatly.
"Da-"
"GET OUT!" He screams and slams his hand down on the table. He points to the door and Claire grabs my hand. I'm surprised by the gentle action.
"C'mon, Easton." She says quietly and leads us out of my house. I look back and I see my father in the doorway.
Say anything and I'll come back.
Make me stay.
My father scowls and my stomach twists. He slams the door and something settles inside me.
I know I can never come back.

~~~~~~~

Claire

     "What's the plan?" I ask as Easton and I trail through the forest. We walked all day yesterday, rested up, and then we walked all day today. Our main goal was to get away from the Rhodes's house. Now that we did that, I'm pining for a new plan.
     He shrugs and replies, "Didn't you want to go to California?"
     I nod, but I detest, "I wanted to go there for the winter, but now since it passed, I'm not sure what to do."
He sits down on the ground and rests his head on his hands. "Do you want to try to go there still?"
I sit next to him and I open up my water bottle. I take a swig of water and I reply, "I don't see why not- there's nothing for us here."