Clouds

Part 2-3 Revealing

Part 3

            “So, you don’t believe in the Queen?” I ask Jason as we continue to walk.  I look at the back of his head as he flinches.

            “I don’t believe in her,” he replies.  “But I’ve told you that, and you never told me about your story.  Do you believe in her?”

            “No,” I say, surprised he had asked.  “Of course not.”

            “Good.”  We walk for a few minutes in silence.  Wanting to know more about him, I press more questions.

            “So, why did you quit being a guard?”

            “I wanted to get enough money to last me a few months,” he replies.  “And then I quit.  All boys have to serve the Queen when they reach the age of sixteen, you know.”  I nod, even though I know he can’t see me.

            “Yeah,” I say, not knowing what else to add.  I watch as he continues to make a path for us, and I see a drop of blood fall.  I instantly feel guilty; the thorns are scraping him so that we can both pass.  He is hurting because of me, and I’ll have to ditch him later on.

            “There are so many things I’ve held back,” Jason says quietly.  He stops for a moment and then continues walking.  “Life wasn’t always that simple for me, you know.”  We come along a worn-down abandoned trail, and he motions for me to walk beside him.  I see a few small tears streaming down his face.

            “What do you mean?” I ask, suddenly curious enough not to care if it hurts him more to recall the past.

            “I had a brother,” he says.  Oh, no.  “You see, my family has always been against the Queen.  We never joined an organization to work against her, but we tried to do as much as possible that might have helped our community.”

            “Where did you live?” I ask him.  Maybe he was from Shrouded Glade, too.

            “Merry Vale,” he replies. 

            “Oh.”  He raises an eyebrow as if asking, “Were you expecting something different?”  But I can see it now: his tan skin from working out in the sun, his warm eyes, warmer than honey made by bees, and his mature nature.  Merry Vale was always about growing crops, and I would have loved to taste some of the fresh food before it was packaged and shipped throughout the Sanctuary, or felt the honey melt in my mouth, just having come from the bees’ gently care.

            “When I turned sixteen, my brother was still fourteen, so he didn’t understand what it felt like to have to work for someone you are against.  He wouldn’t let me explain that I just needed enough money to be able and take our family to Sunstone Canyons, where we could really live.

            “But a few weeks ago I learned that my parents had left to join an organization with the Queen, and had left my brother and I behind.  Knowing him, he must have run away or joined them without their knowing.  All I know is I would never be able to find him, especially since I was sent to work here in Briarwood.  It would take too long to get back to him, even if I had a car.  And so I decided to just leave on my own and maybe come back later for them.”

            “Jason…”

            “It’s alright,” he says, shrugging.  “I know they’re fine.  They’re all strong people, and as long as I know they’re alive I’ll be okay.”

            “That’s always true.”  He nods again.

            “He was also adopted, so I know it was always hard for him…”  We stop as we come to a fork in the road.

            “It looks like either path could lead to the mountains,” he says with a sigh.  “Buts since you need to get there by morning we better take the direct route.  We don’t know how many twists and turns either could have.  Find me a good bushwhacking stick, please.”  I look around for a thick tree limb that could do the job, still halfway in a daze.  Poor Jason!  He has no idea where his family is or what they were thinking!  My heart sinks at the thought and then rises as I find a good stick.

            “Got one!” I whisper-exclaim.  When I emerge from the bush I found it tucked under my heart skips a beat.  Jason is reading a piece of paper.

            Oh, God, no.  Please, no!

            “Is this you, Emily?” Jason asks, holding up the wanted poster.  My eyes widen as I see my face in black-and-white, unmistakable, with Colby and Awesome’s pictures in either top corner.  It reads:

            Wanted: Emedee Harless, Colby Maclin, and Victoria Hart.  All three are wanted for treason against the Queen and defying many of Her laws.  Wanted only alive.  Reward: five million dollars for Colby Maclin and Victoria Hart each, ten million for Emedee Harless. 

            If found, please bring to the Queen in the Sanctuary.  You will also be rewarded with many gifts and offered a high-paying job.

            Five million dollars!

            “I though so,” he says, looking at me with pain in his eyes.  “What could you have possibly done that would make you wanted so badly?  That’s a lot of money.”

            “Wait,” I say, studying him, “you’re not going to turn me in?”

            “Why on earth would I do that?” Jason asks me, curious.  “Sure, I could do a whole lot with that kind of money, but you’re the first real friend I’ve ever had.  Criminal or not, I don’t want to lose you.”         

            I’m his first friend?

            “My parents and I work for the Shrouded Glade association against the Queen,” I say.

            “Who are Victoria Hart and Colby Maclin?”

            “They’re my friends,” I add.  “Colby is the best inventor ever and Awesome is a great fighter!”

            “They sound like great people,” Jason replies sadly.  “But why would the Queen want you this much?”

            “I don’t know,” I say.  “But it’s vital we get to the mountains before the sun is completely up.”  Jason nods.

            “We can make a camp there for the daytime and then continue at night,” he adds.  We look up to see that the sun is beginning to rise.  “Come on!”  He grabs my arm and we are off, flying into the night.  I strain to run fast enough to catch up.  Jason ditches the bushwhacking and he uses his own to brush away the spiders and plants.  It’s a thoughtful act even though the plants end up whacking me instead.

            I know this was a short chapter XD.  Too short, but I need to reveal the next big part in a different section.  Plus, I’m not in the mood to give more details right now, so enjoy!  Thank you for reading.

            Also, what do you think of Jason so far?  I must warn you, he turns out to be a pretty big part of the story as you’ll learn later on in this part…