Friday night rolled around. Orange painted the sky in artful strokes and everyone arrived, huddling into the lounge. Biscuit, Sugar, Meringue and Cookie all knew the plan and had agreed to go with Cinnamon on her escapade as they had called it. Now they needed to see who else was joining them. Once the adults left they gathered around and explained what was going on. Milkshake was being forced to come no matter what, as Meringue's brother he did what she said. Clair, Lime and Pepper said they were coming as well. Mac was sat on the floor looking at each of her friends with intense thought.
"I'm not about to risk my life for this. I'm happy here, I get fed, I have a bed and a roof over my head. It was fine before, why the sudden change?" She tilted her head and looked into Cinnamon's soul with those big brown eyes. She looked genuinely concerned for her like she was her daughter who had come out with the most absurd comment.
"We aren't living. We are captive. We are like rats that they just use to their benefit. We need to leave before they take advantage of us any more than they already have. They took our childhood and our teenage years. Why let them take our adult years as well?"
"They said they were going to let us go at eighte-" Salt began to say.
"How can you trust them?!" Meri shrieked, eyes flashing yellow.
It was clear Mac was not up for coming with them, and neither was Salt. Cookie and Brownie sat quietly on the arm of the couch where Spice sat between them rolling his eyes now and then. Cinnamon sat across the room watching him, trying to tell if he would come or not. He seemed like the kind of person for a rebellious act, but then again it probably depended on the company. Clair broke the moment of silence by asking where they were going to go. It was a good point, that's when Brownie came in with their saving grace.
"Cookie and I were heading to a camp on the borders of the city. It houses runaways like us and places us in actual homes... apparently. Our friends escaped there a few months ago and wrote us a letter about it. We know where it is and how to get there, maybe a two day walk from here?"
"Right, so we will leave Monday. Skip tea for the next three days so you have enough food for yourselves. Meet us at the amusement park Monday evening. We will go from there. Wear something that makes you fit in as well, ok, no bright colours." Cinnamon glared at Pepper who smiled sheepishly. He was the only one there wearing a colour in general. Everyone else was in black.
That night Cinnamon lay on her, staring at the ceiling and concentrating on the hard wooden floor beneath her. This was it... this was where they were truly freed.
