Stay Safe

6 Jewels

BUZZ.
BUZZ.
BUZZ.
BUZZ.
BUZZ.

Alice's eyes flew open, her ears hearing the buzzing noises.
"Where..."
She looked behind her and saw the dragon, fast asleep.
Shit!
Alice reached in her pocket searching quickly for the key. Her pockets were empty, besides from a coin and a piece of lent.
Her eyes grew wide as she ran all over the small room looking for the bronze key. "Where is it, where is it....Here!" Alice ran to the door and practically hit the door three times with the key. She shoved it in her pocket and closed the door. And then and there it disappeared. There was a slightly different beep, which probably meant there was an announcement on the speakers.
"Attention. There is a ceremony at the garden this afternoon. Please dress in your best attire. For those who have no good attire, you will have a set outfit prepared in your wardrobe. Please wear something appropriate for every day wear before the ceremony begins. You will be notified later on. Thank you." The speakers announced loudly. Click.
**
Alice was dressed in her everyday wear, making her way down the stairs and into the kitchen. She went behind the counter and took out two plastic bowls. She placed them carefully on the metal counter, arranging a plastic spoon next to each bowl.
Alice opened the wooden cabinet and took out a box of cereal. She poured the food into the bowl, and put the box back. She opened the white fridge to get the milk, but there was none to be found.
"Our next delivery is not going to be till next week..." Alice murmured to herself.
Hopefully just the cereal will be enough for Mira. She thought.
Alice went up the stairs to check on Mira, and she saw her sitting on her bed.
"Mira? Are you ready?" Alice asked.
"NO!"
"Oh no.. What's wrong..?" She sat down on the bed.
"Why aren't we normal? Was it ever normal?"
"Mira-"
"Is the movies just make believe? Why can't we be normal?! Why am I not dressed in a sparkly pink dress, with pig tails, hugging my puppy, and talking to my friends on the phone?! Why aren't you with an ear piercing, dyed hair, moody clothes? Why don't we have PARENTS?! Why aren't we celebrating a holiday with our family!? WHAT DID WE DO?!"
"Just be patient-"
"I don't want to be patient, can't you see?! I've been patient enough! Those people out there OWE ME A CHILDHOOD. And it's all their fault. We aren't normal because of THEM!"
"Shh... Mira if they hear we will get caught.."
"I don't care!"
"I have something ready for us, OKAY? I'm waiting for the right time because if we do it too early or too late we will BOTH be punished! Just wait. I'll fix this soon, okay? I promise. Just come downstairs, and pretend this IS the normal..."
"Why.."
"Mira... Soon love is going to be all I can give you. And when that time comes, I want us to be out of here..."
**
The girls ate their breakfast, and were preparing to go outside, putting on their coats, as Alice grabbed the sack of jewels on the table. She shoved them in her pocket, and squeezed Mira's hand.
"Ready?"
"Yes."
Alice pushed the heavy iron door open, and ran on the dirt road, to the closest wooden kiosk.
An old man stood behind one, wearing a grey uniform. Alice and Mira went up to him. She gulped.
Pride. Have pride. Act like you have your shit together.
"Hello, my name is Alice Drewwood. I need a second delivery of groceries. I'll pick them up here."
The man looked at her and the younger figure.
"What do you got?" He asked.
"Jewels." Alice repositioned her stance.
"I don't want jewels. He looked at her.
"Then we'll leave." Alice squeezed Mira's hand and was about to turn away.
"Fine! How many jewels do you have?"
"10, but I'll give you 5. You could've lost a very good customer."
"8."
"6."
"7."
"6."
"Deal. Hand them over."
Alice held her breath and placed 5 jewels on the table.
The man counted them and reached for something in a drawer. He took out a sharp knife and grabbed her hand.
"Please.. I'll give you 6."
With her other hand she threw another jewel onto the table and the man let go of her hand and placed the knife back on the drawer. He looked nervously at the building behind him and looked back.
"Pleasure doing business with you," his rude pitch changed to a happy one, "Ma'am." He added.
Alice took the groceries with both her hands and walked back to her house.
**
Alice was packing the groceries in the fridge as she looked at Mira.
"So let's see the attire you were prepared with." She raised an eyebrow at her sister.
"What attire?"
"The one in your wardrobe. Did you not see it?"
"No?"
"You're serious?" Alice's heart pounded.
She ran upstairs an into Mira's room opening her wardrobe. Nothing. No prepared attire. Does this mean... "MIRA!" Alice screamed. She ran down the stairs, understanding Mira's look of confusion. Alice hugged her.
"I love you." She whispered, with tears.
"Alice, what's going on?? What's so bad about this?"
"I..."
"Alice."
"I could loose you."
"How?!"
"Did you apply for the higher end school.."
"No....."
"Mira, I'm serious. Did you apply?"
"I'm sor-"
"Why?!"
Mira remained silent, looking down at her feet.
"Do you want to go? If you don't want to we'll leave tomorrow. We'll pack our things and leave!"
"I.. I thought it would fix things. They sent a message to me, and said that I would get a Red Carpet degree. And with a Red Carpet degree I could be part of the government. And if I was part of the government, I could put an end to this..."
"You knew I was planning something for us, though. Was it not good enough for an answer?"
"I didn't think it would work out. Ever since we were babies, Alice. Nothing worked out like we planned..."
————————-
FLASHBACK
"MOM!!!!! PAPA!!!!!!" Alice screamed.
Mira was crying hysterically, Alice squeezed her tight, tears dripping all over. Lights flashed. Speakers beeped.
"Hello new community."
"Hello new community."
"Hello new community."
"Hello new community."
Alice screamed.
Green lights.
Black lights.
Red lights.
White light.
———————
That's it for this chapter, I know it's short but I'll work on the next chapter longer, as it's the ceremony! Please feel free to vote this chapter and follow me for updates <3! And a special shout out to @nuclear_wildflowers thanks for the vote, follow, AND comment it means a lot ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🖤 See you next time loves!