'II' Hope

Chapter Three

The air is cold and harsh, I can feel a tremor of ice crawl upon my skin as the sun removes itself from the day. I walk cautiously towards the food flat with Zella and Piper, passing the poor soul whom was harassed, more so punished by his own leader. I can't help but wonder what mistake he made. The village really is all I know and there's nothing more, no where else to go or move, only here. This is of course for our own safety and although I have an impeccable curiosity for what is past the lavender fields and the old wise shrivelled trees, from everything I do know, it is safer here. I have nothing less than to believe I am safe here, but some part of me doesn't feel that way, there is alway a continuous check and clearing of tents, the entire village, we're all watched over by the protectors for safety reasons but I know that cannot be all.

The food flat is full and people are sitting quietly eating their meals, I make Zella a plate and pass it to her watching everyone as they talk quietly in almost a murmur.

"Go sit with Piper." I tell Zella as she walks over to Piper. I make myself a plate and join them, I sit quietly and pick at my food before beginning to eat.

"The farmers aren't back yet." Piper says leaning into me.

"They should have been back at dusk." I say looking at Zella trying not to worry her.

"What if something has happened to them? Dad went out with them today and Semina, the Mayor is here and he never comes to dinner." Piper says shaking, she's scared and so am I. I try not to worry. I imagine they got caught up trying to test the crops or helped some lost travellers. The Mayor walks around past our table towards the front of all the tables, he walks alone and stands in front of everyone. He removes his hat from his bald head and awaits silence. We sit quietly as he takes a breath.

"Snowrexville." he begins.

"Pleased to see you all so well and in the caring company of one another, this village, the village I've built that we've built, we're safe." he smiles

"So safe inside of these walls. This morning we had news of one of our crops dying, I gave permission to 12 of our farmers to go outside of the gates today to view the damage." The mayor pauses and looks around the room.

"I know many of you seen them leave but still haven't seen them return, I assure you they are okay. The crops appear to have been destroyed by a virus in the soil, this is a sign not to worry about as the farmers will maintain it, but for the safety of each of you I have some rules for the next few weeks, the gates open tomorrow and no children are to leave the village, the travellers will load the carts inside the village and are the only people allowed to leave. There is nothing to worry about and each of you will be informed otherwise, thank you all." The mayor puts his hat back on and walks outside of the food flat, everyone begins to chatter and an arising worry crosses the room. I can feel myself disbelieving his words.

"He says they are safe but they're still not here, how can they possibly be safe if they are still outside?" Piper says quietly to me as she gets up and leaves. Zella looks up at me, tears in her eyes.

"Come don't cry, it's okay." I say to her wiping her eyes.

"Are you sure we're safe?" Zella asks expecting an easy answer.

"Yes, and Semina is okay just like the Mayor said they will be home soon." I say as the worry falls off of her face and we leave. To speak the indefinite truth is hard and to lie is much easier and soothing to hear, the words from my mouth seem all so right but they are all so wrong, I have no idea how safe we are, Semina should have been back and the twiddling of the mayors thumbs didn't seem so reassuring either. I put Zella to bed and I lay next to her until she falls asleep, it's quiet outside and I try to shut myself down to sleep but I can't, not knowing where Semina is and still outside the gates. I try to sleep, I roll over in my bd to a comfortable position in my warn bed and close my eyes to darkness and I feel like I've finally fallen. It isn't long before I'm woken from my mid deep sleep to Zella shaking my bed, I sit up Semina still no where to be seen.