The Only Exception

Part #2

It must be morning because everyone starts shuffling around. Mitzi comes over to bring us our food portions, water, and also takes off the weird anklets. She pushes her dirty blond hair out of her face and gives me a sad yet heartwarming smile. Mitzi is like a mother figure to me and yet also a sister figure at the same time. She cares for me like a mother but can also understand me and help me like a sister. As she walks away Gareki shifts in my lap. I push a strand of his jet black hair out of his face as he opens his dreary, smoky, grey eyes to stare up at me drowsily. He sits up and stretches but lays back down with his head resting on my shoulder. I make him eat and after a hour of hard effort and coaxing all he ate was a half plate of old pasta and a sip of water. It's finally time to go outside for only the second time in weeks. The aftershocks are not really a problem anymore, even the five o'clock one is basically nothing so it's safe outside of the bunker. Gareki wants to stay inside but I drag him out, I tried to carry him out but it doesn't really work when you're 5'4 and the person you're trying to pick up is 5,8. He finally agrees after I drag him halfway there. I want to ask what he was upset about last night but he still seems shaken so I leave it be.

There is a rustle in the night that wakes me. I see two figures illuminated only by the tiny candle between them. I was shocked to hear Gareki and Mitzi talking, about me. "We need Nai to join the rebellion Gareki!" Mitzi whisper screams. "I will not let him risk his life for the dumb council that's trying to kill us!" Gareki screams and stands up wiping his eyes angrily. Mitzi stands up and throws him against the wall, "you're being ridiculous! He's the one they want he can help us overrule the council!" Mitzi screams at him. Gareki starts sobbing and falls to his knees. "I don't want to lose him!" He runs outside and Mitzi follows. "Get back here!" I get up and quietly follow. Does Mitzi want me to join the rebellion to die? What even is this rebellion? I get outside just in time to see Mitzi fuming with rage and screaming while Gareki screamed back although his sobbing made him sound like he was whisper screaming. "Stop!" Before anything the words came out. They both look over horrified. "H-how much d-did you hear?" Mitzi stammers out. "Everything." I say in a worried tone that i tried to hide as well as possible with defiance. I take a few steps toward them but they are hooked around the neck and torso with a metal net and lifted into the sky. "Help!" They both cried in unison and try to struggle free but to no avail. Before i could catch up the airplane lifted them into the body of the plane and took off.

After a long long night of crying and screaming I finally decided to join the rebellion. I was going to get back Gareki and Mitzi even if i have to give my life up for them. Luckily my neighbor was a former council member and knew the system like the back of her hand. We decided i was going to become a recruit to watch over the prisoners. We hid my white hair in a cap so that only the purple tips were visible. Kate also put hazel contacts in my eyes to hide the fiery red from showing. After two hours and forty minutes I looked brand new. We had to take a plane to Finland, that's where they were taken. You could tell by the flag on the side of the plane. We finally arrived and went to the front desk. Kate helps me talk my way into convincing the lady at the desk to let me fill out an application. After about a day and a half of waiting i got it back and it was approved. "We'll take you to the cells." The lady leads me to a long stairway leading down after i say goodbye to Kate. She shoves me in, throws me a uniform, knives, and the keys, and then locks the door behind me. There is a tiny space in between the cells lining each wall to walk. I walk down the corridor to find it goes from youngest to oldest. I find Gareki and Mitzi's cell and put my hands on the bars. They are sticky with blood and looked more scared than anyone else. I knock to let them know I'm here, the only response i get is a flinch and some whimpering. "Come here, I came to save you guys, it's me, Nai." I warily put my hand through the bars and Gareki slowly and cautiously nears the door. I take out a contact and lift my cap. Gareki starts crying tears of joy and so do I. I unlock the cell and hug him tight as if anything and anyone would take him from me at any second. He buries his head in the crook of my neck crying and smiling. I lift his head up and place a small kiss on his lips. He smiles widely and pulls me closer. I smile and place my head on his shoulder when i hear the front door rattle. "I will save you i promise." I kiss him again and he sadly goes back into the cell. "Here is your dinner." The lady at the desk sets down a bowl of warm broth and a small roll of bread. I give it to Gareki after she leaves and he hungrily eats it like a wild animal in the middle of winter. Mitzi seems lost in her bloody corner and Gareki told me about all the torture and beatings they received. I unlock the cage again and cautiously approach her. "Mitzi?"