Breakout

Chapter 2

"I have to go, Bandi," I say. "Times are dwindling down."

He chuckles little. "Of course you do. I guess I'll see you at graduation, Weatherman."

"I'll be the one in a green robe," I say. "See you at graduation."

I drive away with a heavy feeling sunken onto my shoulders. Knowing that Bandi means well on trying to help me brighten up about my departure, the truth is I won't ever be. There's no successful way to get what I mainly want; to be free from my own decision. To not be force by the government's law to be trained, merely as a soldier I surely will become one . . . And the only option I have is to curve around the destiny people expect me to have. Only if I can seem weak enough I wouldn't be chosen to be an Airman. Maybe it could work how Bandi believes. And maybe I could become a Safeguard. As the second strongest potent, it could work.

I would be lucky if I could get away with that title, I think. But first, I have to just live through this day. Graduation.

I have to face the mass attention of people, and the cameras who will watch me receive my diploma. And if he hasn't yet described who I am, there's no telling Ludis will come down to it by the time I walk. And the time of my salute.

My eyes blink a few times, and I settle to focus my thoughts on the road again. I further try to get my mind back to my plans for today. But it takes a while to help me get back to catch myself.
Oh, that's right.

I finally catch on. With an hour to spare, this would be a good time to have one long, yet last look around my town. So I decide to drive through and around the heart of Desiree. Most building-family owned small businesses, gas stations, open markets-it's all inherited down to their older owners who've lived here longer than I have. Including my parents. The rest of the edifices around are brand name stores, apartments and even a new town center encircling a clock tower. From a corner to another block, I run into construction that promises a new unknown structure. But as of now, hold up of traffic. When I have enough images that could stick around for years, I tend to drive to the one place I can get away from the innovative modernized suburbia. This other place that reminds me of the calming old times when I was little; a ranch just a block away from my home.

The small farm is equipped with a hoard of cattle, three horses and a few chickens that never liked me. All of it is owned by Famer Earl and his wife Chrissy-Maye. From the time I was a small child, my parents brought me and my sister here for the good times we use to have milking cattle or riding the horses. Unfortunately to the time I turned sixteen I limited my visits, except during the moments I felt wretched or frustrated. I'd walk here, sit in the field and my problems would melt away. During the multitude periods of rain over their land-the incorrect predictions of the weather on the news, they both hunched that I had something to do with the forecast. It isn't until I confessed to them that I am a new breed of aviants; the Aeries. But it wouldn't matter to them because of the bond I have with them.

In that case, Earl and I even started doing each other favors since then; I was always welcome as his favorite visitor, in exchange of bringing him enough rain to keep his land green. Not a single problem for me. Sometimes when I don't pay attention to myself, I give Earl more rain than he needs.

I walk around the home noticing he and Maye are nowhere in sight. Then I decide to head for the horses' barn where I usually find him, stacking his purchased hay. Instead I catch sight of his steeds, Sassy. She's the beautiful tan one with the silky black mane. And out of the three, she's the calmest.

"Hey girl," I say as I pet her. After I do I a soft, soprano voice sound.

"I thought that was you." The voice belongs to Chrissy-Maye's. I spin at my heel directly towards the small old woman standing by the barn door. She's wearing one of her yellow dresses again. A tray of cookies are held delicately in between her hands. And by the aroma of sugar and chocolate swaying in my nostrils, I know she just baked the treats. "Been a long time," she extends out her arms to me, "Would you like one? I know you do, or if your finally too old for delicacies." She jokes and finishes her sentence in a smile.