Icelamb

Chapter 13

Ara's P.O.V

My heart soared with hope at the news I received. Someone actually broke out of 'Aye.'

"Who broke out of Aye?" I ask because I realize I have a chance to escape with Titi as well.

"It was a girl that broke out of 'Aye.' I remember the night the rumours started. "

"It was raining heavily, the sky gloomy. Thunder and lightning ruled the sky that night. I was in my room, pacing restlessly. I could not sleep; I couldn't explain why. I saw her, Ara...I...really...did."

I remember her wearing a long shirt, and her body was covered in blood." He says with sadness in his eyes, and his voice came out softly that I had to lean closer to hear him properly.

I don't understand why he is telling me the story with sadness in his eyes and with so much grammar as If trying to delay what he is about to say to me. I decide not to interrupt him and let him finish his story.

"She was a skilled fighter, the best in her crew. She was the head of the 'Aye' group."

"Everyone thought she was cool with the group, but no one knew she had been nursing a grief against 'Aye.' She knew all the road maps, secret routes, and hidden trains around, through and out of 'Aye.' "

"I discovered her in the security room one night. I knew of her plan, and she swore me to secrecy" Naade swallows, and I watch his Adam's apple bob up and down as he speaks.

I shake my head to ward off the distraction and focus on his eyes as he tells the story.

He doesn't seem to notice my movement as his eyes are focused on the wall in the room, lost in space.

"She had holsters around her body. She was equipped with all of 'Aye's best weapons; guns, grenades, and much more. She had a backpack strapped to her shoulders."

"I can't explain all the machines; you must see them to understand how they work. I will show you later." I nod in agreement with what he said.

"The warning alarm blared loudly and went off. Even my...my.. father came out to fight." he continues, "Her only mistake was me seeing her that night. I decided to follow her, still unsure of her plan, but I took the risk, and she held my hand. She brought out an umbrella which operated by touch."

"The umbrella made us invincible. It covered us and was stronger than the 'human detectors' released to find us."

"The UFOs' did not work against us. She had spent months crafting the umbrella." I smile inwardly, admiring the girl's braveness.

"She could only make two; she explained that the materials used in making the umbrellas were tough to find," Naade held my hands and didn't let go. I didn't stop him. It was like he got comfort from having our hands intertwined.

"I was anxious, scared and hopeful that we could make history that night."

"I still had a hard time memorizing 'Aye,' so I slipped in one of the holes I did not see because it was dark. I asked her to go and make a run for it, but she didn't listen to me. Her umbrella fell from her hand, and she bent over to dig the hole. She was struck with the butt of a gun."

"She was caught trying to save me. My...sister was caught." All this revelation was too much for me. It blew me away. I had many questions, but I decided to listen and process everything he said."

"She fell into the hole to hide me before they could discover we were more than one, and I was able to slip away unnoticed. She was bundled roughly and carried away to my father's quarters. I ran back through the hole to a connecting door that led to the entrance of the hostels in 'Aye.'"

"Thankfully, the guards did not see me; I still had the umbrella. I then heard a sharp cry from up.

I crept past the guards and made for my room. I picked a spare key to my father's quarters; I had no roommate, so there was no interruption."

"My sister had given me a few weeks before our escape. I passed through a secret connecting door from a ceiling in my room."

"I got to my...my...my...father's quarters in time to see 3 dead guards on the floor. She had escaped! I tapped her lightly to indicate I was there. She understood, and she ran to a corner."

"I gave her umbrella back, and we ran as fast as we could. We could hear the shouts of the other children. Everyone was confused."

"We heard footsteps behind us, but we ran. This time, I observed, and we reached the exit of 'Aye,' which was a tall, metal gate. It was heavily proofed, but she looked fine. She looked prepared."

"She brought a grenade out; all her weapons were made by her. She was more advanced than all armourers 'Aye' had. 'They' had created a 'weapon.' She brought out two black coats on arrival at the exit."

"We wore the coats hastily. By now, all the guards were out and were a distance away. They were about two hundred."

"My father started calling my sister, telling her to surrender. He couldn't see us but still called out to the air. She threw the grenade to the gates, and I watched it break down."

"The effects threw the guards and everyone by surprise. I looked back to see wounded guards and realized everyone was down except us."

Naade looks at me and smiles for a bit. "The coats shielded us from the grenade. For the first time, I felt...free. 'Aye' is in the middle of a forest. We saw trees and no sign of humans. I tasted freedom, but It was short-term lived."

"My sister dropped to the floor, clutching her stomach. She was wounded; we examined her wound and discovered her injuries." Naade's voice was shaky, and his teeth clenched. His eyes become cold, and I am slightly afraid of him, but his voice tones down after a while.

"She was rubbed with 'black water' while fighting with the guards. 'Black water' wounds the skin and absolves into the blood. It travels to the body and kills the heart." He continues.

"My sister survived the wound that long due to serums we drank in the past to protect us from injuries. She gave me a map in the form of a scroll and asked me to run away." I barely hear him as his voice breaks down, and I lean closer, his breath fanning against me. He tightens his hold on my arms and continues his story.

"My heart was broken. I didn't have the heart to continue. My sister tried pushing me away and asked me to run away. I held her in my arms."

"She died in my arms. I took the map and umbrella and dragged her into the forest. The guards went into the night looking for her. I brought out the map but couldn't go through with the plan."

"She was the brave one, the sweet one, the funny one who made me laugh every time."

"I burnt her body that night, not caring anymore If the guards found me though they didn't. I had a 'wax lighter' which could burn anything without detecting smoke or smell." I dug the ground and buried her remains."

"If the guards had found her that night, they would have butchered her. Her body deserved respect and honour," he finished the story in tears, and I joined him in crying.

We don't say anything though a silent understanding passes through us. I stretch out my fingers to hold Naade's hands, and we stare at each other till we fall asleep.

Ara knows more about Naade. Is he, however, saying everything that happened or not? Why didn't his sister inform him of her plans earlier?