The Run-aWays (I)

~ChaptEr Two~

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Athena walked alone. She walked through the empty street dragging her size too big shoes. The back of the shoe rubbed against her skin causing blisters. Athena was used to this but the pain was still irritating. She turned into the alleyway; The deeper she goes the bigger the walls become looming over her. It went so high she could just about see the Midnight blue sky and silver moon that mirrored onto the puddle on the floor. Athena gripped harder onto her bag with her sweaty palms and she crept ahead. She kept checking behind her with the corner of her eye. She soon notices the yellow beams of the houses head and the end of the alleyway...the grip relaxes.

"psst"

Athena her heart skipped beat so loud she feared whoever made that noise could hear it, she was truly terrified. She looked behind to see a girl a year older than Athena. She had ginger hair that hung below mid-back that complimented her dark green eyes. Freckles covered most of her delicate pale skin; she was much taller than Athena and looked very mature and beautiful. She was wearing the same school uniform as Athena.

"I need to show you something" she whispered, her voice was delicate and calm. "me?" Athena whispered.

"Follow me-"

"I'm not going to follow a random person!" Athena yelled slightly.

"My name April, now you know me. NOW LET'S GO"

She grabbed Athena by the wrist practically dragging her along, she tried her best not to trip over and the strange girl pulled her along to a destination she only vaguely remembers. Athena lost completely track of time before she knew it they were in the middle of nowhere. April slowed clearly tired from all the sprinting leaning against a wall Athena never seen before. Not just any wall, but the great wall Teresa towering over the teenagers completely blocking them to see what's over it. Twisting ivy lining the thick concrete walls like artificial veins but have been deliberately cut to not reach the top or even halfway. Highly secure, precipitous wall magically didn't appear there but was built there for a reason. Keeping whatever is out there from here, or just keeping us trapped in here. Either way, it was clear the government was hiding something. Athena placed her hand on the wall feeling the cold concrete which felt nice against her hot skin. "Why" she breathed, "Why did you bring me here, why me?" she asked highly out of breath. April swept her hair out her face and looked up to the lofty wall which caused her head to tilt right back; she squinted at the moon which glittered in her eyes. Grinning, "Aren't you curious what's behind it?"

She was right Athena was very curious but it still didn't answer why April decided to bring Athena. "You know the government is hiding something," April said, Athena simply nodded

"They control everything we do, they want everyone to follow the rules, and it's so artificial. We can't choose how we live or who we love...When we die. They control everything!" She paused "They killed my best friend simply because she loved girls, pushing her off the building and tell everyone it was suicide." Her voice cracked at suicide, she cleared her throat and looked at Athena.

Athena's eyes opened, flashbacks to that horrible school day. The ghostly faces of the Students and cries of those who knew her flashed in Athena's mind. "that girl who jumped- "

"-WHO got pushed" she cut through Athena's sentence. April looked up wiping a single tear that dropped down her cheek. "her name was Rebecca, she confessed to her mum that she was gay ... her mum snitched on her and..."

There was a short silence.

"I'm sorry for your loss" Athena whispered bluntly looking at her feet. "It's okay." April took a deep breath in. "I just want to see what's behind this wall... Some say there is something called the ocean!" she said dreamily

"Ocean??" questioned Athena. April simply laughed and sat under the tree. She reached her hand into her pockets, "come see." unfolding an old photo that had corners curled with age, and the photo clearly faded. "it's salty water that stretches for miles" she stretched her arm out, " great grandfather used to tell his adventures outside the wall."

In the faded coloured photo pictured a once blue ocean, that stretched out as far as the photo was taken. The sun glistening in the water making the light dance within waves, there was a feeling of calmness within the photo.

Aprils eyes glistened as she peered up at the sky, "It made me want to go adventure out there myself."

while dazzled by the photo, her brain wondered with many possibilities.

April was right.

The government does control everything. What are they hiding? Why? Why are they so controlling?

She needs answers.

~~~~

Athena's fragile body meet the connection of the school lockers. There was a murmur of snickering from vile students. Athena regained her posture seeing a clawed-like hand coming straight to her face. She stopped it, peering at her attacker. Mikaela had an animal growl to her face, her long nails clawing into Athena's skin. Athena pushed her way, causing her enemy to tumble on the floor as easy as a glass bottle on a fence. "you bit-"

Athena turned around, completely shutting her up, and started walking away,

"Hi, Athena!" Said a familiar voice.

Athena looks up seeing April walking towards her. Her ginger hair flowed with her angel-like, her beautiful round eyes glistened with hope. "Athena, I have an idea," taking Athena by the hand and once again dragging her to somewhere quiet.

Athena who was also extremely tired wobbled behind her. "Elijah," she called out. Elijah arose from the crowd and approached the pair. Athena met them same hazel piercing eyes that she seems to admire. He smiled, placing his hands in his pockets.

"This is Elijah"

"We've met," he said smiling.

~~~