Running With the Wave

Chapter 18

Era:

I storm out of the house, hurt and seething. Both because of Hunter, the jerk. Love can be a gift, peaceful, nothing wrong. But the pain and the hurt... It's too much. Love isn't worth it, I know that now. I burst out the door and run into the middle of the back yard and open my arms up to the sky as if greeting something there.

"Never again!" I whisper, "Now I understand, mom. I understand why the men took away love."

I should have known better than to trust Hunter, a man. I was stupid, desperate for something to hang on to, scared that I would lose Keara and Moa. I had thrown myself at Hunter in hopes of finding that, I know that now. How could I have been so blind? I had tricked myself into thinking that I need Hunter, that I need to kiss him, feel his hands on me...

No. That was fake, but maybe not all of it. I know I love Hunter, but that need was a trick... It's sick, that the first time I met him I felt like that. Tears fall down my cheeks and I collapse onto the ground, lying down in the grass, completely spread out.

"Be strong, Era." I tell myself over and over again.

As if telling myself to do something would make it any easier. The door squeaks open and I hear footsteps coming towards me. I close my eyes and try to stop the oncoming tears.

"Go away, Hunter." My voice cracks.

"It's Sebastion."

"I don't care. Go. Away."

He sighs and lies down next to me.

"You know I'm not going to."

I turn onto my side, facing away from him.

"What did Hunter do to you?"

"Can you keep a secret, Sebastion?" I ask, ignoring his question.

Just like the man with the clipboard, Dr. Ventrez, and Dr. Halisdio did to me my entire life.

"Yes."

"Would you desert me because of what a secret holds? Would you turn against me?"

Sebastion looks surprised.

"Of cours not! What's all this about?"

"I'm tired of hiding. Tired of running away. Tired of keeping secrets." I murmer, turning onto my stomach and picking some grass, twirling a bright green blade between my fingers.

"Erad?" Sebastion asks again.

"I'm being stupid." I go on, "I know I am. But I've snapped."

"You're scaring me, boy."

"How old are you, Sebastion?"

"Twelve. Why?"

I cock my head at him.

"You act older than me sometimes... Being here and away from pain, it's as if I've lost what maturity I have. You, you've kept it. You seem older than me sometimes. Moa is only eight... Yet, somehow..."

"Who's Moa? You're scaring me."

I stand up and he does the same.

"Don't abandon me because of my secret... What if only Hunter understands? No... He never truly did, did he? Just played along. Being a monster, as I've been taught you all are."

"Erad-" Sebastion begins, scrambling up next to me.

"My name isn't Erad." I tell him shortly.

He raises an eyebrow, an amused smile on his face.

"Oh?"

"I'm not joking. My name isn't Erad."

His smile melts away, and he grabs my shoulders.

"What are you saying."

I step backwards so that his hands slide off my shoulders.

"My name is Era."

He chuckles nervously.

"What? You're saying that you're a girl?"

I sigh and pull of the hoodie, letting my shoulder-length hair free and showing my face. Breaking my cover. It wasn't going to last much longer anyways. Sebastion's eyes widen and he takes a step back.

"That's exactly what I'm saying." I whisper.

He shakes his head.

"You can't be here... You're a... a... a woman! Women die or serve us! You're a traitor! This is exactly what I've been telling Hunter! We have to kill women or this will happen! Or.... or.... or you'll escape and the plague will start again! The Authorities..." He trails off.

"Sebastion!" I plead, stepping towards him.

"GET AWAY FROM ME!" he screams, stepping back.

"Shhh, shhh..." I whisper, "You're going to get me caught!"

Sebastion whips around and screams at the house.

"FATHER! HUNTER! COME NOW! BRING YOUR GUNS! HELP!"

I wince, remembering the bullet that had simply grazed my shoulder but left so much pain.

"Sebastion, it's fine. You promised..." I beg him.

"I didn't knw you're dirty secret, did I? Didn't know you're a woman!"

Hunter and his father rush out of the house.

"Erad... He's a woman! She lied to us! Her name's Era!"

I refuse to look at Hunter, staring coldly into his father's eyes instead. Time to leave this fake heaven. Time to get back to the real world.

"Era..." Hunter trails off, sounding defeated.

"Good evening, head Keeper." I cross my arms over my chest.

"Era." He says shortly, a smirk on his face, "Well, well, well, I thought I ordered to have you Disposed."

"You did. I heard the entire conversation. I didn't know you abuse your employees as well as your sons. Dr. Ventrez seemed absolutely terrified."

"But you don't."

"Oh no, I'm scared to death. But sometimes fear is what makes us strong."

"You are a strong girl." He says quietly.

"I've been through a lot. It was all because of men. You try having the Prick done, having the people around you dropping like flies. Starving to death. It definitely hardens you up. I don't know why I trusted Hunter, should have known better. The heart is a very fragile thing, you know." I answer, letting my hair whip behind me in the growing wind.

"Oh, Era." Hunter groans.

The head Keeper's eyes narrow and he turns to Hunter, who scurries away under his very gaze.

"You!" He barks, "You knew that Era was in the house! You love her! YOU KNOW THAT THAT IS ILLEGAL!"

Hunter closes his eyes and takes a deep breath then opens them again and stares into his father's.

"I don't know what she is saying, father." He whispers, "I never knew nothing of her secret. She is lying to you."

He may as well have just shot me in the chest.

"Hunter?" I whisper, betrayed.

"Save your breath, girl." The head Keeper snaps.

"You are a heartless man." I hiss then turn around and dash into the forest, fast as lightening.

Bullets stream past me, exploding in the trunks of trees. I have no idea where I'm going I just need to get away. Far, far away.

I'm running with the wave, alone now and a part of me ripped away from the pain of ultimate betrayal.