Francesca's Dream

Out Break

It had been weeks since the letter was delivered to the group. Aira and Audrey were digging in the tunnel one evening when Vincent called down to them. "Guys you should come up and see this." Audrey looked up from her shovel rolling her eyes. No one in the group had grown to forgive, or trust him since he had betrayed Francesca; giving her to one of the guards as a way to keep their  tunnel a secret. 

They climbed the small latter up to the bunk house, Skott, Helena, and Vincent were reading a notice posted on the wall by the front door. "What is it?" Aira asked. "its a notice saying that they found a case of miolta in the camp. It says that they are going to shave everyone's heads tomorrow, so that it wont spread." Skott said locking eyes with him; he knew that if a case of miolta had infected one person in the camp it wouldn't take long to infect the whole camp. Moilta are tiny lice like creatures that suck your blood, they can leave red spots on your skin. They can also make people sick; hallucinations, vomiting, fever, and in some cases death. "What are we going to do?" Audrey asked, running her hand through her flaming red hair. "Their isn't anything to do, we can't risk getting sick." Aira said sadly. 

The next morning everyone was grouped together in front of one of the platforms the officers often used to deliver messages, and hangings. "One of the leading officers stepped up on the platform. His loud, direct voice booming over the mass of curs. "As all of you know, their has been a case of miolta has been found in the camp. To reduce the chance of further infection, everyone is to have his or her head shaven!" He bellowed.

Audrey was on the verge of tears, as she clutched her flaming locks. The officer stepped off of the platform; several lines began to form leading to female officers with electric razors, scissors,and old barber chairs. 

Slowly the lines moved forward, one by one the children were losing their hair. Audrey was next in line, when an officer called for her to sit next. Audrey having accepted her fate slowly walked forward, still clutching her hair, and sat down in the old barber chair. The female officer greedily snatched her her flaming hair from her; carelessly started hacking away with rusty scissors. Pieces fell away onto the ground, and into her lap. Scooping what hair she could clutching it too her chest; tears running down her face. 

When the officer couldn't cut away anymore she brought out the razor, finishing the job. The officer set the razor down, grabbed Audrey by the arm, pulling her from the chair ready for the next person. 

Audrey walked over to a small puddle of water by one of the bunk houses. She stared down; not a shred of hair left on her head. Scott who had gone through one of the other lines, stood over her offering his hand. He brought her into his lean arms, hugging her as she sobbed. Aira sitting in a barber chair of his own, saw just how much Skott cared for Audrey, for everyone in their group.

At the end of it all, everyone returned to the bunk house shaven and humiliated. Aira went to sit on his bed when he noticed the small piece of paper sticking out from underneath his pillow. "Hey guys, I think I we got another note." He said. He unfolded the scrap piece of paper and read aloud," It will not be long now, we will meet you half way. Keep heading east under their noses. - TW" "Meet you halfway? Does that mean that they plan to dig a tunnel to meet us in here?" Helena asked softly. "Maybe, or they are gonna meet us half way to their camp." Skott said still clutching the letter. Aira sat there quietly for a moment before speaking up, "How do they know our tunnel is heading east?"