Witch Hunt

II: A Push

What kind of world are we living in? Are we so unlike animals that we always fend for ourselves? From what I learned, animals usually lived in packs or schools but we live for the greater good of our own selves. It may always seem that way because of how we seem to flock towards the same place but is it really a work of unity or is it a selfish step that everyone has to take at one point in their lives if they want to survive? I guess it was just what set us apart from animals, but in the worst way possible. 

I let out a sigh as I looked up to the gloomy sky, thinking calmly to myself. There was no way I was going to end up like everyone else and I would take every path possible to help myself and other people. I wasn't going to be apart of something I didn't think was right, and I surely wasn't going to be controlled by the man in charge. The only thing I would ever follow were the Witch Trials, because I would essentially be killing myself if I didn't.

I placed my palms on the floor behind me, looking straight up as the sun shone through the clouds ever so slightly. I squinted towards the light, wondering if it was the only thing keeping me sane in a place like this. Between that and my parents, I had nothing really going for me anywhere else. It was all just home school and following all the rules over and over again.

My head lowered quickly to the view ahead of me, my eyes widening. I had completely forgotten about my dad. After being caught multiple times wandering out, I wasn't supposed to be "exploring the world" any longer. My dad was still at home and I had been out for longer than I planned to be. I quickly pulled my feet up to the ledge, pushing up to a stand as I turned to grab my bag next to me. I looked up at the sky momentarily, wondering how long I had been out but having no clue at all. I bit down anxiously on my lip, grabbing both of the straps on my backpack before heading back the way I came.

For once, I liked gravity, taking me down the stairs faster on the way down than it did on the way up. I was nearly skipping stairs at that point, making sure the things in my bag didn't shuffle around too much as I held it tight against my back. It only made the trip seemingly shorter this time than it had at first. "The quicker, the better" is what I used to tell myself and it was a motto I tried to stick to, knowing that it would always lead me in a more efficient path. 

Going past familiar areas, I walked quickly out the front entrance as I had remembered it, heading back in the straight direction that was going back home. I made sure not to make too many twists and turns for myself when exploring new areas because of how it could elude my way of getting myself back. Thankfully, making maps of the areas helped me find direction on my own, though it left the habit of me marking things on my map just in case.

As I thought about the map, I suddenly stopped as I turned back towards the building I could no longer see. I bit down on my lip, anxiously remembering that I didn't mark the area as I had wanted to and yet it was already too late. I had already gone too far at that point and I was already late. With a quick look to the sun once more, I headed still in the direction, not knowing if I would be able to make it out of this one as I had the last. 

As I approached the house, I could see that it didn't go as smoothly as it did before. Out in the distance, I could see my dad standing outside the back door, his arms folded as he leaned against the wall next to the doorway. My pace slowed down, knowing that it was already too late and there was no need to rush. Already, I could feel the emotions swirling around in the pit of my stomach as I reluctantly headed closer to my demise. I didn't want to know what would happen this time around.

"And where were you this time?" my dad asked as I approached the door, moving at the same pace as I wanted to head past him and inside right away. Though, I couldn't always have things go as planned.

"Out," I told him simply, trying to dodge any suspicions he may have had, even knowing that he was already aware.

"Really?" he asked as he raised an eyebrow at me. I simply averted my gaze from him as I kept going, almost making it to the door. "And did this 'out' come with a bag, too?" he questioned as he stopped my body, taking a hold of the top of the bag that was on my back.