Broken Apart

Chapter 2

I sat down on the ledge, Corinna on my left and Ash on my right. Looking up, I took in my surroundings.

A few rows of houses, then a lake. Its surface rippled and shining under the sun's light. A forest gathered beyond that; The Outward Lands. The lands that were unexplored and forbidden. Several trees flanked the gray stone road below us.

"You need to get outside, Robin." Corinna's words broke my thoughts.

"If I did my parents would kill me." I ran a hand through my charcoal colored hair. It went down to my waist but was usually tied up. Today, I was draped over one shoulder and a strap of leader was wrapped tightly around it.

"You're not an animal." Ash stated firmly.

"I just can't go out there." My gaze traveled slowly across the lake. "There's a war raging with Adira taking over our government and all."

"I know, but you need to see the world. Be free!" Corinna shook my shoulder.

"Adira is a tyrant. The Lineman have never seen me, for all I know I'll be shot down when I go out there." I paused, "If I got out there." My hand fell from my hair and to my side, landing close to Corinna's lap.

"Come on, Robin." She pleaded, grasping my hand in hers.

"I can't." I whimpered and tugged my hand back.

"You see this?" Ash pointed to the band on my right arm.

"Yes." I sighed, rubbing mine.

"It's a sign that you belong in society, that you're a part of it. You're safe to go out there."

"Certainly not safe from my parents." I shook off their protests and I stood, playing with my armband.

"At least tell us one thing." Corrina shouted when I turned to go down the ladder.

"What?" I shouted, spinning back to face them.

"Are you a Renegade? Or a Follower?" she asked.

"I can't tell you that." I shifted my weight between my feet nervously.

How could they ask me that? I don't go outside, I don't know what it's like out there. The Renegades go against Adira's wishes, they've been causing up risings. Or so my parents say. The Followers are peaceful and respect Adira's wishes. According to my parents, I'm a Follower. It's all sick, tearing apart society to set a compromise. They can't do what the founders of The Colonies did and settle it with words, not violence?

"Follower." I muttered.

"What?" Corinna yelled.

"I don't have a choice, okay?" I snapped back.

"You do, Robin, you just have to make the right one!" pleaded Ash. His voice was soft and soothing, and I could tell everything would be okay.

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I slid down the rest of the later, landing in the hall way. My feet hid the carpet with a thud. Quickly, I went into my room. I traded my boots for flats, my tank top for a tee shirt, and my jeans for a skirt. I discarded the clothes into a basket. A knock sounded on my door and I leapt to my feet.

"Yes?" my brother, James, stood there. He was three years younger then me, 13. "What's up?" I sat on the trunk that rested against the foot of my bed.

"We need to talk." he murmured, shuffling into my room.

"Shut the door." I slid over to make room for him.

"What's up?" he sat down at my side, slumped over and his head on my shoulder. "You okay, kid?" I set my hand on his head.

"You want to go outside too, don't you?" he whispered, his hazel eyes meeting mine.

"I have an idea." I pushed a strand of hair out of his face.

"What?" he sat up, his eyes wide. Hungry and pleading.

"Go tell mom and dad you'll be in your room for the rest of the night, working on a project." My brother was an inventor. Always thinking, always creating. He could muster up anything from a few puny materials. "Take a hammer and a rope from dad's workshop." I hoped off the chest and motioned for him to do so. "Then return here."

"What are we doing?" he was chewing on the inside of his cheek.

"James." I opened the chest and pulled out a black leather back pack, "We are going outside."

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After he left to do what he was instructed to, I started shoving clothes, a pair of sneakers, a canteen, and some energy bars into the backpack. I pulled off my clothes and put back on the boots, tank top and jeans. Crouching by the window, I shoved the bag onto my back and started to unlatch the window.

I started to think about my siblings, Lilly and Finick. Lilly was younger and Finick was older. They wanted to go out too, but I couldn't risk all four of us gone. I'd take them out another time.

"Got it." said an urgent voice, then the door shut.

"Put it in my bag." I instructed. The backpack shifted, then got heavier.

"Okay, now what?" he crouched by my side.

"Stick something under the door knob."

"A chair?" he pulled away the metal chair that sat in the corner of my room.

"Sure." I pushed the window open. Air flushed into the room, cool and fresh.

"Woah." James breathed.

"Come on." I urged, lowering myself onto the small ledge that hugged the building.

"Down there? We can fall!" he squeaked, his arms wrapped around the window frame.

"It's fine." I smiled, "Besides, we are only going over to Ash's window. Then Corinna."

"Who?" James was quivering.

"My friends." I started to work my way toward a window a few feet away. The drop was several feet, twelve at the most. I inched my way, slowly at first, then I picked up my pace, becoming more confident.

"Ash?" I yelled, banging on the glass of his window once I reached it. The curtains parted and a friendly, but groggy, face appeared.

"What are you doing?" he mouthed.

"Leaving, come on!"