When the Sun Cries

Chapter Eight

Grace pulled her arm out from underneath Jace's small body, extending her fingers to relieve the numb feeling that had started working its way through her hand.

The sun had gone down and the moon had risen, which shone down cold light on them and helped their eyes adjust to the darkness surrounding them. It would be completely dark without the street lights from the town reaching the forest, although just barely.
       "Okay," Grace sighed before lightly shaking Jace awake. She turned her body slighty to look at Katherine through the corner of her eye. "Did you get any sleep?"

The woman smiled kindly before shaking her head and turning towards the town, where cars were neatly parked in small driveways or at the larger houses, in the garage. Everyone had gone to bed a long time ago, which would make their trip to Alsiah and Emili's apartment much easier.
       "Okay bud. You have to open your eyes. We're almost there," Katherine whispered, tugging on Jace's arms as he sat up.

His head hung off his shoulders as he stood, stumbling forward slightly as he pressed his fists into his eyes to ward off the exhaustion. His stability wavered as he began to fall forward before Grace grabbed his tiny wrist and started guiding him towards the small opening in the trees, which was still hidden enough to keep them from being noticed.
        "I'll go first, if anything bad happens I want you to keep running for Emili and Alsiahs house, okay?" Katherine had pulled out the gun again, but hid it from Jace's curious eyes which darted from the metal barrel to her face. "And Grace, take this. You may need it now."

Grace nodded in reply, taking the knife Katherine held in her other hand and gaining reassurance knowing she was no longer defenceless.
        She faked a small smile for Jace's sake before whispering, "Let's go."

The three of them ran through the large expanse of flat land, expecting guards to ambush them at any moment. When they reached a large sign away from the houses Grace knew they had finally made it to the towns perimeter. Jace stopped behind her, his deep breaths caused a thin fog to appear at his mouth and slowly disperse into the air around them.

When Grace had finally made it to the first house she pressed her back against the rough brick, breathing heavily.
        "Grace, don't move. There are guards to your left," Katherine whispered under her breath, pointing over Grace's shoulder.

She turned her head slightly and caught a glimpse of a guard patrolling the streets. They must have been warned about them.
       "What are we going to do?" She answered quietly, pressing herself harder against the wall. "That's the way we need to go." Katherine nodded, her hand protectively over Jace's chest to make sure that he stayed in the shadows, "Alsiah and Emili's apartment is at the end of the main road. The last left turn."

With a final nod, Katherine held up her gun and ran out into the open. Grace put a shaking hand over her mouth as she watched Katherine weave her way through the streets and shadows just far enough that the guard couldn't get a clear shot.
      "Move, Jace!" Grace whispered harshly before pushing him towards the main road. "Katherine!" He whined, reaching out as if he were trying to grab her. "Jace, we have to go," Grace whispered frantically as she lifted him and started to sprint down the road.

Gun shots echoed throughout the empty streets and within minutes the house lights were flickering on and silhouettes stood at the windows hiding slightly behind the frame. There had been no doubt that at least one person would see her.

Jace's tears dampened her shirt and she held him tightly. She made it to the turn just as a bullet hit the cement slightly behind her, chipping away at it. More guards had started running out into the streets, pulling on their jackets and loading their guns as they left their homes as wives and elders peered curiously out their windows. "Grace!" The voice had come sharply from the shadows and further in the streets.

She immediately noticed how her muscles were twitching and she was forced to put Jace down, fearing that she would have dropped him otherwise. "Who's there?" Grace replied, pulling out her knife and continuing to walk towards the voice.

Every nerve in her body told her to run and find another way, but she didn't know where to go and risking the main road again would be too dangerous, especially with Jace.

The knife was comfortable in her hand, slightly heavy, but the extra weight gave her the reassurance that it was still there. She held on to it tightly and stepped in front of him.
        "It's Emili, child! Come on, now. We must get back to my house before they see you," She waved the children over and as Grace's eyes adjusted she noticed that Emili hadn't had time to get dressed and was in a large black robe and slippers.

Grace stared for a few moments, adjusting to the unkept version of Emili in front of her- the woman never had a hair out of place- before looking back towards the main road to see Katherine hiding behind a mailbox. She was holding her stomach and even from a distance, Grace could see how exhausted she was. Blood ran down the woman's leg and she winced as she applied weight on it.
         "Listen to me, Jace. You're going to go with Emili, I'll meet you at the house," She pushed him towards Emili and he turned around as he tried to run after her, only to be tugged back by the old woman. "Don't leave me! Grace!" He screamed, quickly being quieted by Emili pulling him further away from the main road.
         "Grace, don't do this. Katherine's a grown woman, she'll be okay," Emili warned, putting her hand out for Grace to take. "Take him to the apartment, I'll meet you there as soon as I can," She whispered before running towards the guards.