Crying: A Dystopian Novel

Standing: Chapter 9

++++ MICHAEL ++++

"Lae?" I knock on the door.

"You don't have to knock to come into your own room, ya know."

"If only I had known. I would have been in here ages ago." I laugh as I come in and sit next to her. "How are you?" I ask. She hugs me and doesn't let go.

"It's not your fault. I'm sorry."

"Don't be." I sigh.

"Yes, I need to be. It's not your fault and I know you still think it is." She gives me a knowing look and I frown.

"I thought you were dead. I was the last one to see you and I blamed myself because I knew I had upset you." I offer my explanation.

"It's my fault, really. You didn't do anything. I just accidentally fell asleep in the cove and woke up in captivity." She shivers and I hug her.

"Laelynn?" Anna pokes her head in the door. "Oh, here you are. Were you guys talking? I'll go..." She turns to leave and Laelynn jumps up and catches her.

"No, it's fine." I see her blistered hand reach out to grab Anna's and squeeze my eyes shut; that's got to hurt. They come back inside and sit down next to me.

"HELP!" I run into the kitchen and find Eleise and Mom pressed against the back wall by men in strange uniforms, and more of them stand in the room. I run to Eleise and pull her out of the man's grasp, then release Mom and stand in front of them.

"WHAT DO YOU WANT?" I demand.

"Bring in those two and search the house for more." The apparent leader orders. Men drag two squirming figures through the doorway that leads to the front door. They are completely wrapped in cloth but strands on red hair still manage to stick out; it's Grace and John. I fall to my knees as the men throw them down in front of me. I pull the gag and blindfold from Grace and her bright, firery curls fall to the floor as she turns to face me.

"They came so fast..." She whispers. "Get John." I turn to unwrap John but stop when I hear Grace gasp. The man that dragged her in is holding a gun to her head.

"Get up and get away from everyone else." He orders, clicking a bullet into the chamber.

"Two more back here, sir." Someone says from across the room. I look up to see Anna and Laelynn being shoved our way. They are pushed in front of me as I stand, and I step in front of them.

"Who are you and what do you want?" I demand through my rage.

"We are here to save you and are sorry for any inconvenience. A war has started and you are not save here." The leader says. "I am Captain Drew Freeman, by the way. Who might you all be?" I start to reply, but my response is not what I intend it to be.

"D—Drew?"

"Yes. Now who are you all?"

"If you were really here to protect us, you wouldn't have gagged them and threatened her with a gun." Eleise gestures toward Grace.

"I'm sorry for that. Truly, I am. I was not in there when that occurred and my men did not follow orders. Now, please tell me who you are so we can go."

"We're not going anywhere." Mom says and steps in front of me. "I am the leader of this community and I demand that you tell me exactly what is going on."

"We are with a group of people who have banned together and agreed upon starting a war against the pack. Just as we prepared our first attack, news of a war got around. Everyone in former America that was not in the compassion movement area has either been killed or is now a refugee in our territory. Rumors of your allegiance to the pack have been spread, so we had to be extra careful. Now, is your community loyal to the pack, Ms..."

"Versi, and no. We hate them. These two on the floor and their parents are not either. No one in this community is."

"Okay. Please pardon us for our cautions. Clark, Jones, untie the two on the floor."

"We can do it." I stop them and untie Grace as Anna unties John. Grace hugs me as soon as her arms are free and I have to force myself not to show relief; these people could use it against us.

"Are you okay?" John whispers to Anna once he's untied and stands up. It's a while after Grace and I stand, due to Anna's arm. She nods and hugs him before he turns to face Captain Freeman. "Where are my parents?" John stares straight at the captain until he answers.

"There was no one else in your house when we were in there."

{7XɆ