Broken Apart

Chapter 3

"Leaving?" Ash gulped after he opened the window. "Can I come?"

"That's why I'm here." I rolled my eyes.

"Of course. Let me grab a few things." He vanished behind the curtains and appeared a moment later with a black backpack, almost identical to mine.

"Here, let me help." I held out a hand.

"Careful!" yelled James. I looked back at him as soon as Ash grabbed my hand. He was standing on the ledge, shaking.

"I have an idea!" I yelled back. "Get the rope from the bag." I turned so my back was facing Ash.

"Okay." He huffed, digging into the bag. A second later, his hand appeared, with the rope, in my face.

"Thanks." I took it from him and began to unravel it. "Take this end and tie it around your waist." I tossed it toward my brother.

"I can do that." His voice shook, and he bent down, slowly, to retrieve it. I tied the other end around my waist.

"Get Corinna." I commanded Ash.

"What made you so reckless all the sudden?" his eyebrows furrowed.

"Just do it!" I grinned, crouching slowly. I lifted a foot and set it on a brick that stuck out. James began to do the same. Soon, we were on the ground, waiting for Ash and Corinna. I heard a cheer and a flash of lilac flew from the ledge, landing on the grass at my feet. Corinna tumbled and leapt to her feet, brushing off her jeans.

"Playing with death today, aren't you?" I smirked, giving her a friendly punch on the shoulder. James stood a few feet behind the three of us, marveling at a tree.

"That is my brother, James." I pointed my thumb over my shoulder.

"Cool." They said in unison.

"What now?" Corinna crossed her arms across her chest.

"Well. I didn't think my plan would get this far." I rubbed my temples. "Any suggestions?"

"We could take you to the bakery?" Ash supplied.

"It's her first time outside of her own walls. She needs to go somewhere amazing." Corinna protested

"The park?" I heard James yell.

"You just want to see more trees, don't you?" I smirked.

"Look at them!"

"A trip to the lake." Corinna nodded. "There are trees there."

"You mean, the one with real water?" my mouth opened slightly in awe. The only water I saw was the genetically engineered water that ran from the faucets.

"Yes, the 'real water'." Ash smiled. "Let's go before it gets dark."

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Seeing the city was like having cold water fall over me. It was fresh. There were several tall buildings surrounding the square, and as you went farther out, the building got smaller. Most were white, gray and black; not much color.

I slid around the corner and into the ally, my hand gripping an apple pressed into my palm. Ahead, Corinna pulled to a stop. She turned around to look at us, her brown eyes wide and her lips pressed together.

"What's wrong?" I asked, pushing in front of my brother and letting the apple fall.

"This road is full of Linemen."

"Let me see." I hissed. I took a slow step forward, my fingers curling around the corner of the wall. What I saw was definitely different. Linemen hugged the sidewalk on both sides of the narrow street. The horrific part; they were all holding guns.

"What's this?" Ash chimed in, his expression slack.

"Looks to me like an escort." James pushed his way through. His foot stuck out into the light, just between two Lineman.

"James, get back!" I grunted, wrapping my hand around his forearm to pull him back. It was too late.

A gunshot fired. I kicked James behind his knees and let him fall, pulling him back into the shadows.

"Go, go!" I yelled, helping James up.

"What was that for?" he spat gravel from his mouth.

"Do you want to die?" I reached back and wrapped my hand around the hammer in the side of my backpack. I brought it forward, pushing James toward Corinna and Ash. I held my hand on James shoulder as I pushed him forward. A shadow appeared at my feet. I froze; James running ahead and into one of the buildings where Ash and Corinna were.

"Freeze and drop the hammer!" I deep, gruff voice shouted.

"I mean no harm." My voice shook. I heard a click, and my body tensed. "Don't shoot."

"Put down the hammer!"

"Okay." I bent down slightly, my hands in front of me, both wrapped around the hammer.

With a quick movement, I spun around and launched the hammer at the Lineman. It hit him on the helmet where his forehead would be, making him crumple. I darted toward the door of the building and barreled inside. The door slammed shut and I landed, safe, on the concrete floor.

"Are you okay?" gasped a voice. I opened my eyes, my hand in my hair. The ceiling rose in front of me.

"I'm fine." A hand gripped mine and I found myself at my feet. It was hard to thing; hard to process. Fear had taken over me. I looked up from the ground; Corinna stood with James, Ash nowhere to be seen.

"Where's Ash?" I puffed, my hands on my hips.

"He's by the window." James responded. He sounded nervous. Of course, he does, I almost died.

"One question." I rose a finger. "What did I do?"

"That," Corinna began, her brown eyes wide and full of fear, "Is what you call an uprising."