Internal Sacrifice

Coming "Home"

I took nothing with me when I left the human world the first time, so nothing came back with me.

Gideon forced me to hide a small dagger in my boot, just in case. I wanted to argue, but I knew he wouldn't let me go other wise.

"I'll be back at dawn."

I tell Gideon, I'm not sure who I'm trying to convince me or him.

***

It only takes a few hours to hike back into town, I'm not sure where I'm going to go first.

Everything looks the same, nothing has changed in the three years since I left. The lack of people is the only thing that's different.

Without thinking I walk towards the mayors office. My hand is on the doorknob before I realize what I'm doing.

The Mayor was one of the only people to stand his ground and stand up to Gideon when he and his men arrived. Part of me still fears him. I turn the knob and walk into the building, his back is to the door.

"Mayor Livingston?" He sits up in his chair and spins around. It takes him a minute to realize who I am

"Kathryn Albertalli."

I nod
"Hi." I don't know what else to say.

He stands up and walks over to me, he looks slightly terrified

"You're suppose to be dead , we buried you Katie."

"I know." I respond "but, I'm not." I say smiling.

He looks at me closer, I know why, he's trying to figure out if I'm changed

"And you're not one them?" He asked confused.

I shake my head, my smile vanishing.

"Why are you here Katie?" He's angry.

"Five of your men attacked two of mine and killed them in cold blood." I reply.

Mayor Livingston expression is blank 

"It happened three nights ago." I finish.

"I know all about what happened Katie, and I am sorry. But you have to understand Katie, my people are scared."

"So you're saying your people had a right to attack mine." I ask angrily.

"No. But how do I know it wasn't your people who attacked mine, how do I know mine didn't simply want to talk and yours attacked so they defended themselves." Livingston retaliates.

I'm shocked, speechless

"I've been with them long enough to know they wouldn't do that." I defend.

"Oh. So in the three years you've been with them you know they better then the people you've lived with for eighteen?" He fights back.

"Just because you've lived around someone for a long time doesn't mean you really know them or what they're capable of." I respond.

"We both know you didn't come here to fight. So I will ask you again, why are you here Kathryn?" I'm only ever called by my full name when things are tense.

"I want to talk to the town. I'm one of you, you trust me or otherwise you would have kicked me out the moment I got here." The response I get is not one I expected

"Fine. I'll call a town meeting immediately."