Broken Clocks

Jack part 4

(9)

The sky had went from its muddy blue to a musty black with barely any stars in sight. It was a color of a worn dusty black book. I was very surprised we hadn't got caught I mean we're only hiding behind a splintering wood shack. I inched a little closer the Ever and gently nudged her as a child would do to their parent in the morning to wake them up. She woke up almost as soon as I touched her, she's always been a light sleeper. She had slept for 30 minutes at the least but still had the dark rings around her eyes and droopy eyelids. I stood up and put my hand out to help her up but of course she didn't take it and stood up herself.

"You ready?" I whispered.

"For what, you never explained what we're doing."

"You can't freak out on me, if you do we'll get caught."

"What, why wo-" she stopped and stared a cold stare at me.

"George no, no that's a suicide mission we both know that, we can't do that."

"Ever it's not up for discussion we have no other options. Do you want what happened today with Isic to just go on forever, and since he knows we are gone and trying to run who knows what he would do if he found us like he said he would. I for one don't want to find out because it probably involves me being killed and you wishing you were. Don't you remember when he broke your arm Ever? He can do much worse," I said all this without thinking or filtering my thoughts before I let them curl off my tongue.

"No George I already know the worse he can do not you so you don't get to say whether or not it's up for discussion and tell me he can do worse. Because you weren't there and it didn't happen to you!" She said in the same harsh and bitter tone I used on her.

She was shaking again, a mix of glimmering anger and glazed fear shown in her eyes. She wasn't going to go easily which is just perfect with how we have to leave at a precise time.

"Look, I'm sorry I should have thought before I said that but the part about it not being up for discussion is still true I am the oldest you listen to me and frankly you can't really do anything about it so we're leaving and I will carry you onto that damn train if I have to I swear Ever."

She looked at me with the fear gone from her eyes leaving pure anger, but I don't think that's completely true. I don't think she'll ever be fear free again there will always be an awareness in herself conscience. I mean if she had no fear she wouldn't be shaking right now would she, and I was doing a terrible thing by using that against her but I had to. I would have to manipulate her feelings and poke at the sensitive topics until we were on the train then she can be pissed and give me the silent treatment and scold me, but the reality is that at that point she wouldn't be able to do anything about it.

I grabbed her arm and pulled her along behind me again while trying to keep quiet, lightly walking throw the shadows keeping track for any signs of movement. It was terrifying.

If they find us, if they catch us... Well it would be the same scenario as at home just worse because I wouldn't be able to save Ever from all of them. Then they would turn us into our father and we would never get to leave. Ever wouldn't be safe, even though this is dangerous Isic will be 5 times worse.

I pushed the thought to the back of my head where it wouldn't bother me for the time being. It would come back later when Ever goes to sleep like all the thoughts I try to avoid do but I had to focus right now. I had to focus on getting on a train as soon as possible. We rushed from one spot to the other, the dark being a safe blanket. Then I saw it. There was a small almost unnoticeable pile of people laying in the ground by the tracks. I contemplated for a moment to risk going over and decided it was our best chance. So I pulled Ever over then immediately pulled her down to the ground with the others. She was being stubborn and sulking, she made sure I know she was mad by looking at anything other then me and tightly held her jaw shut so she would remember not to talk to me.