Earth Can't Hold Us All

Clementine's POV: Sick Curiosities

June 3rd, 2080

Last night Belle climbed through our window. She tried to take our savings that we kept hidden in the sock drawer. She didn't know that this was my apartment I guess, otherwise she wouldn't have robbed me; I'm her friend. After I got home last night, my mother wasn't even able to scold me because she found Belle rummaging through our dresser. My mom screamed and grabbed Belle by her short brown hair and shouted at me to call the authorities.

And I did; I called them.

Belle begged me with her eyes, she apologized with her quivering lip. But I was scared of my mom finding out that I was one of them, and I feared how she would shame me for it or even turn me in. I couldn't risk defending Belle, I couldn't risk my self for her.

Because that's who I am; I'm selfish and scared. Last night when that prostitute begged me to help him, I wanted to, but I turned him away. Just like I did to Belle; turned her away.

I feel for others, but act for myself.

"Clementine," my mom snaps at me, pulling me out of my self pitying thoughts. "I never got to ask you where you went last night. Or should I say, I never got to yell at you for it."

"I went...to see Hinge," I say, not lying, but also not telling the complete truth. "And before you can start assuming, we didn't do anything."

"I don't care about what you did right now, I care about the fact that you lied to me. I thought you were in your bed sleeping last night," she says.

"I'm sorry."

"You're sorry?"

"Yes."

"Okay," she says, sounding tired. "I forgive you. And I'm trusting you to always tell me where you go from now on. I don't want to worry."

"You can trust me, I promise," I say; anything to end this conversation.

There's silence for awhile as we sit on our small couch, watching the rerun of the news from earlier today. My mom is talking to the news woman on TV, she is ranting about the Girl Gang and how dangerous we are. This is the biggest news story The Floating Village has had in a long time. It's been replaying and replaying all day ever since it was on live this morning. It makes me nauseous of guilt every time I see it.

"Mom, what do you think they'll do with Belle Vicente?" I dare to ask.

"Most likely, they'll Sink her. That's what they do to most criminals," she answers simply, as if stating a fact.

"Really? But she's only a teenager!" I feel sick.

"She's a thief, no one cares about age when their money starts to disappear because of slums like her."

"But...but don't they need her to find out where the rest of the Girl Gang are? Don't you think they'll keep her alive to get answers from her?" I know I shouldn't be asking this so desperately.

"I suppose...why do you care?" She raises her eyebrow, giving me a side glance.

"I don't care. I'm just curious," I lie.

"I guess we'll find out when they announce on the news if there'll be a Sinking Ceremony."

"I don't like Sinking Ceremonies," I say, remembering the last Sinking Ceremony about a month ago. It was a man from the Slum-Side who had raped woman and left her with a stab wound. They brought him to the Sinking hole in the middle of the village, and chained him to a cement block. Everyone watched as he struggled and sank to the bottom. I watched it on the news, I cried myself to sleep that night.