(Last Chapter)
And for once I didn't have to stress about the decision.
And it seemed neither did Max.
He and his family, the Lodge's had become exiles too. His parents, Jacqueline and Fredrick Lodge were a part of the Technology Guild, both who had jobs as Computer Technician's before Queen Paxton. It was Max who had wanted to rebel, but wasn't allowed to and joined the Technology Guild alongside his parents. But, when his sister Julia also planned to rebel against the kingdom, the Lodge parents decided to rebel as a family.
Max, who had written the letter I held in my hand, had seen my family in town buying groceries and out here with said groceries and knew we were too exiles like him. He had put the letter where my family lived in Burningham, a small convenience store we converted into a four bedroom house. We found it this morning and I decided to go.
"So Max, where to you guys reside?" I asked him.
"We're staying in the dress boutique on Goulding Lane." He answered pointing down a street I assumed to be Goulding Lane.
"Our families have to meet, is tomorrow at three good?" I asked.
"That should be good, see you there." He said standing up from the bench beside me.
"See you then!" I said watching him pick up a small skateboard and riding off down Goulding Lane as I started running in the opposite direction to my house.
I slowed down my footing as I got closer to the house. I entered the small building to see my mother baking something. The strong scent of chocolate filled the air and I breathed in heavily making my mom jump slightly.
"Mama! That smells wonderful!" I said walking up to her, where I noticed Vanessa, my 13 year old sister standing triumphantly beside her.
"They're brownies and they were my idea." Vanessa scoffed.
"I didn't think it was anyone's birthday." I said.
"I saw you talking to that boy just now, I figured he must've been an exile and we'd be meeting him tomorrow." She said.
"Yes, he is and yes, we are. His name is Maxwell Lodge and his parent's names are Jacqueline and Fredrick Lodge. He has a little sister your age named Julia, and his is sixteen a year older than me." I said looking at my mother.
"What time tomorrow?" She asked looking up from the bowl of brownie batter. 7
"Three." I said walking to my room.
I looked up at the dark green walls I detested; it was such an ugly color. But alas, I had to deal with it, we couldn't buy paint. I grabbed a shotgun out of the corner of my room and slung it across my back; I snatched a few rounds out of my bedside table and headed out the door once again.
"Be home by seven!" I heard my mother yell as I exited the building. I checked the old watch on my arm and saw it was 5:38pm; I had 1 and a half hours. I walked the streets till I found the old park; I picked a few metal cans out of the trash bin and lined them up along a stone wall. I backed up about 5 meters and took my first shot.
I missed.
I took a step back and shot again.
"Bull's-eye!" I yelled aloud without realizing. After about a half an hour I had successfully shot each can of the wall twice. I wandered the streets still having an hour 'till I had to be back. I adjusted the shotgun on my arm and continued walking down Goulding Lane. I saw a small blue ball lying in the middle of the street and picked it up; I dropped my shotgun and threw the ball as high in the air as I could. As it came down it hit me square in the nose.
"Oh My God, Ouch!" I said throwing the ball into the fog.
I heard snickering from behind me and turned around.
"Nice One." Max said pointing to my nose.
"Shut up." I mumbled rubbing my nose.
