Others

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER TWO

        I glance around my room and sigh, something should be done about this horrid mess before I leave this city. My eyes examine the childish mixture of design I decided when I was ten, so I have been stuck with an immature pink and green as my bedroom color, not that it would matter in a few days, any ways. 

        I look through my closet and find my sketch book that I have managed to keep from being destroyed for so many years. As I flip through my hundreds of drawings of what I think the outside will look like my eyes begin to feel with tears, I close my eyes and think about the days when I thought everything was perfect and Vilnius was the only place that I believed existed.

        Until I turned thirteen and I learned the dark truth about this city, there is so much space that the rest of the country has hidden from us for years, and that for so long the population has taken a sharp decrease.

        Ever since I found out the truth I have been planning that when I turn sixteen I will travel outside the fence and find what's out there.

        The last people, and there wasn’t many, that have left the fence have never returned, the one that was closest to return died outside the fence.

        I want to know why nobody returns, I will find out soon.

        My sixteenth birthday is in three days, those three days will be the longest days of my life.

        I chose my sixteenth birthday for a reason, not because I feel as if I am older of I can do whatever I want, but because that sixteen is when you’re considered a full adult in Vilnius.

        The morning of my sixteenth birthday I am leaving the house and leaving no signs of where I went.

        No note, no foot prints, no hint — nothing.

        I don’t care if they try to find me or track me down, because the second they find out that I left the gate, nobody will bother even thinking about me again, mostly because I’m the first person in years to even step foot near the gate in my knowledge.

        My best friend, Marlo, has been by my side since we were four years old, those were the peaceful times. As we grew older and more rebellious there was more risks that we took.

        Marlo and I have been inseparable since we first met, I am an only child so I could have a friend over whenever I wanted — and I always wanted her over.

        I had a few other friends during elementary school that never lasted very long because I would only spend time with Marlo.

        When I turned fourteen I spent my birthday in the hospital, because Marlo fell and broke her arm.

        Neither my mom or my dad knew that happened because when they got home from work they didn’t ask me about my day. That was the first time I realized how little my parents are around for me, but to this day I still think I was a mistake.

        It was the worst birthday of all birthdays ever.

        My fifteenth birthday was just Marlo and I, then when my parents got home they forgot until Marlo took out the cake she made me.

        This year will be my best birthday, my sixteenth.

        I don’t need any expensive presents, a car, or anything that my parents will think about giving me. The best present I could possibly get is running away with my best friend and starting over.

        She has been prepared since I told her when we turned thirteen.

        Marlo never thought I was serious about going until I reminded her about a month ago, that was the first time she realized how badly I wanted this.

        I decide to call her and give her the three day warning, and to collect all last second supply's and buy whatever she thinks we will need.

        After the third beep she answers, "What's up, Adria?"

        "Three days until my birthday and you know what that means!" I tell her excitedly, practically jumping up and down from where I’m standing.

        “I know exactly what it means! We are going to do what you planned, very early." She says in code word, so I assume her parents or siblings are in the room.

        "Bingo, want to come over? Nobody's home so we can talk me about you-know-what." I say.

        "Okay, let me ask my parents first,” she says then I hear her having a short conversation with them. "They said yes, I will be there in ten minutes."

        "The door is open so just come in, but yell out saying you are there because you know what I would do with my bag by accident." 

        "Got it, bye!" Then she hangs up.

        One time I was home alone and she came over without me know and she just walked in without telling me.

        Usually my defense is a baseball bat so I took my bat thinking someone broke into the house and I hit her hard on the side.

        She had a massive bruise there for months, she was mad at me for a while then she realized it was her fault then we forgot about it, that was the stupidest reason she was ever mad at me, now we just look back and laugh at it.

        “I’m here!” Marlo exclaims from the front door and slams the door shut. 

        Time to finalize plans.