Rise

Alana

They left me here. They fucking left me here.

Nari left before Adara, going back home to do I don't know what. Adara left early in the morning, Powell and that girl Christine come in before dawn. I don't know why Adara is cleared for such a thing and I wasn't, but I try and pay it no mind. I haven't slept since she has left, and I look like it too. The memory of my sister disappearing into the trees haunts me. I only leave my room to gather food from the mess hall, and I get dirty looks the minute I step out of the door. The whispers echo through the rooms as I make my way to the back, grabbing two apples. Before I make my way out, an orange barreling towards my head startles me, freezing me in my spot. I flinch, waiting for the fruit to pound into my face, but it never comes. Slowly, I open my eyes to see a hand, its fingers wrap around the orange. My eyes trail the arm, leading me to his face.

If I was attracted to him, or to any man for that matter, I would understand why every woman in the mess hall eyes him, running over his figure. He drops his arms, tossing the fruit in the air before catching it once again. He eyes me up and down, making my skin prickle slightly.

"Alana right? Just the girl I've been looking for." my eyebrows rise slightly.

"me?" I stutter and look behind me, kinda hoping he is talking to anyone else. The man nods.

"something about Triton wanting you. Come on." he makes his way out of the silenced mess hall. I follow him, moving to his side. I didn't want him to think less of me. No one should think less of me. Though I'm probably not allowed to say it, I still am a future queen, it's what I am raised for whether they like it or not.

I let my eyes wander over his face yet again, he can't be more than seventeen. Why does it seem only children work for Rise? He catches me staring, giving me a cheeky smirk in return.

"take a picture princess it will last longer," he speaks amusingly. I huff and walk ahead of him; I may not know where I am going but I push on, only stopping at the end of the hallway. I don't know if I go right or left, so I wait. When he turns left so do I, moving back into my stride.

"the name is Edric by the way." he stays behind me, kicking at the back of my heels. It takes everything I have not to kick him in the knees.

"your home is Imber, right? I have a mission in Lence to go see your brother." I stop dead on, causing Edric to bump into my backside. I turn on my heels facing the boy.

"you're going to see Fin?" I watch him, searching for any sort of reaction. He nods, his eyes widening slightly. I turn back around. My fist curls, fingers digging into my palms. The sting distracts me from the thoughts that creep into my brain. I sigh and start to walk again.

"Alana you're going too far!" he stops at the door. One that I know very well.

"are you insane?" I spit. He grins again.

"I call it deranged."

"there is no way I am going down there" Edric looks at me, his expression blank. I scoff, looking at him.

"why not? Its just offices, some extra cots and-" he goes to push the swinging door open, stopping once I interrupt him.

"and the cells that hold me and my friends for months." sighing, he turns to look at me.

"Alana, are not putting you in a cell again. You have my word." his tone is soft and his touch gentle as he rests his hand on my shoulder. I look at his hand, sneering at it, only stopping the steely-eyed boy remove it.

"let's just get this over with." I go willingly and push past him and the door, making my way down the white marble steps. I can feel my body shiver and my blood turns cold. My ability is no longer with me.