Running With the Wave

Chapter 31

Era:

I wake up to the familiar darkness of cell fifteen. I groan, massaging my aching head then up at the terrified yet curious faces around me. I realize that I know each one of them by name, they're my family. Immidiately I get up.

"Where's Keara and Moa?" I ask, swaying slightly as the world spins around me.

Damn, they hit my head hard. One of the women, Utopia, catches me and looks me in the eye.

"Is that really you, Era?" she asks quietly, looking slightly nervous.

I smile softly at her.

"Yes, it is. I wasn't Disposed, I escaped the prison." I explain.

They all stare at me, murmering among each other.

"Why are you back?" Utopia asks, incredulous, "You should be free! They're going to murder you, you know that! You haven't got a chance!"

"I'm back because I couldn't leave you." I tell her, "I can't escape, then leave you here to suffer. I'm back to free the women."

"You're crazy, girl." Utopia shakes her head, but she's smiling.

"Maybe I am." I say thoughtfully, "But you don't abandon family. No matter what."

All the women smile at me, their faces lined with worry and sadness. I know that they don't think it's possible for them to be freed, but I have to do it.

"Where's Keara and Moa?" I repeat to women who've ignored me most of my life.

"Under your ledge. They've been sitting there for days now." Utopia tells me, then they all go back to whatever they were doing.

I turn to the ledge and fine them curled up under it, both of them sleeping, their eyes tear stained. Tears pour down my cheeks, seeing them so miserable. I'd always been able to keep them happy or preoccupied at least for most of the time.

Of course, that's before I discovered I'm barren and left the prison. When I was a different person who followed the rules.

I walk towards them, but don't wake them up. Sleep is a short relief from this life and I don't want them to have to wake up from dream land when they might be here longer than I anticipated. Smiling through my tears, I position myself in between them, then fall asleep with both of them sleeping on my shoulder.

I wake up some hours later to Keara screaming.

"Sweetie, what's wrong? Are you okay?" I reach towards her but she pulls away.

"Who are you?" she screams at me.

"Keara, it's me. Era." I plead.

Moa wakes up, groaning.

"Keep it down, Keara." she complains.

Her eyes slide open, widening when she sees me. Her mouth hangs open in a 'O' and she looks absolutely terrified.

"Era's dead." Keara trembles, "She's on of the Disposed."

I can see the uncertainty in her eyes.

"Utopia?" I beg helplessly.

The older woman shuffles over to Keara.

"Era escaped, hun. She was thrown in here by a Keeper when you were sleeping. She's come back to save us."

"Era?" Keara asks softly.

"She's right, baby." I murmer, sending a thankful look at Utopia.

She crawls towards me and wraps her arms around me, her little body racking with sobs.

"Era... Oh, Era. We thought you'd been Disposed! We thought you'd left us..." Keara cries.

I hold her close to me, never wanting to let go and rock back and forth.

"I will never leave you, Keara." I whisper.

Gently, I pry her off me and wrap my arms around Moa's small figure.

"How you've been holding up?" I whisper in her ear.

"Without you, barely." she whispers back, "Keara and I don't fight anymore."

I smile at her.

"I know." I tell her.

I let go of her and pull both of them towards me. They wrap their arms around me and I lean back, sighing. Back to being the mother, at least for a while.

Too be honest, I really don't mind.