Every Day in May (grand prize winner) ✔

May 27th

Okay, you don't trust me either. Right. No one trusts Merryn because she's a lying, backstabbing traitor. Maybe when you and Graden finally meet on the battlefield, you can bond over how much you both hate me before the bloodbath ensues.

You can't do this. You really, really can't. I'm trying to save your life here, Theo. You were always going to be in serious danger whether my brother knew about you or not.

 I finally saw Graden today. I didn't have to go to the factory. Instead, he came to me.  The headmistress, still under the impression that he's my cousin, pulled me out of class and brought me to a meeting room.  There he sat, flashing a charismatic smile at the headmistress, who clucked her tongue, suppressing her own smile before sliding shut the thin partition separating the meeting room from her office.  Graden must have chosen that location because he knew I couldn't make too much of a scene there.

 As soon as she left, so did his smile. I thought he'd appear smug or even apathetic. Instead, he just looked utterly exhausted—spent.  The pallor of his skin, the way his eyes drooped—I could almost forget how pissed I was at him.  At twenty-one years old he was responsible for leading a band of instigators in a take-down of the world's most powerful man, and now he had me to deal with as well.  Still, I knew he was here because of you, Theo.  I couldn't let him make all of the decisions.

"So, you're finally willing to talk."  I kept my distance, standing across the table from where he sat.  "I'm so honored, Commander."

Graden sighed.  "Cut the crap, Merryn.  I don't have time to deal with your attitude. And I'm not here as your Commander—I'm here as your brother."

Sad, tired eyes lifted to mine.  I bit my lip to keep from reacting.  "Well?"

"You're the only sibling I have left.  Mother and Father—we don't even know for sure if they're still alive."

"Of course they're alive!"

He shook his head.  "We think they are, but we can't say absolutely.  They've been moved at least three different times in the past two years.  The paper trail vanished months ago.  We don't even know what camp they were sent to last."

"Why are you telling all of this to me now?"  I paced the room.  As if I didn't have enough to worry about.

"Because I love you, Merryn." He stood up and attempted to approach me, but stopped short when he saw my expression. "I know things have been strained between us, but gods, lately, all I can think about is something happening to you—of being alone."

"Graden, nothing's going to happen to me."

"Are you serious? You've been sneaking into the Tower every night for over three weeks!"

"Because you told me to." I rounded on him and poked him in his chest.

"I know!" He backed towards the wall. "It was wrong. I should never have sent you in there.  And for what? What good has it done?"

I didn't like where this was going.  "Theo's on our side, Graden.  He can help us.  This is what we needed.  This is why you sent me in.  It's worked!"  I sounded convincing, at least to myself.  No need to let on that you weren't even communicating with me at the moment.

Graden shook his head again.  "You can't go back there."

"What?"

"It's too dangerous.  It's too much of a risk."

 "I agreed to the risk.  I agreed to the danger."  My voice wavered between a yell and a growl.  "Seriously, Graden.  You have no say over what I do.  You are not my father. You are not my Commander.  You never were. You have no authority over me—none!  And if you harm Theo in any way, you won't be my brother either."

"Merryn!"

"Get out, Graden."  When he refused to leave, I headed to the door myself.  "I'm going back to class."

"I'll have eyes on you.  I can't let you do something foolish."

My hand slid from the door and I turned back to him one last time.  "You know, for someone so brilliant, it's amazing that you can't see how full of shit you are sometimes."

Tonight, I had to evade the babysitters Graden positioned outside my school, as well as the usual Tower guards, in order to get to you.

He's going to do whatever he can to keep me from the Tower, but I'll find a way to be here, I promise you Theo.  Please respond.  Say anything.  Even a single word.  Forget my stupid rules, okay?

 Please.