Still Burning

Chapter 3

I felt a pair of eyes looking at Ash like he was an alien, and it didn't surprise me... One second he was acting like a total gentleman and now he was laughing at someone falling to the ground. Totally opposite behaviour. The 'lad' had been looking at Ash for almost 5 minutes now, by the expression on his face he seemed like he wanted to say something rude to him, but I assumed his upper-class manners seemed to stop him from doing so.

I remember those times, the rare occasions when my parents fought, it was always my father, who seemed to have no leash on his tongue. Mum had other ways to make him apologise like a silent week or no dinner for him. The boy sitting in front of me had an expression that matched the one that I used to witness with Mum. I could sense his want to say something vile, but constraining himself. I felt like I owed him some sort of explanation, after all, he helped us. That feeling ate me up. I hate owing people because whatever I do, I feel like I haven't done enough.

"He isn't always like that." I motioned towards Ash with my hands. The boy's expression didn't waver, he only raised an eyebrow, as if questioning everything I had just said. I looked towards Ash to find some sort of reassurance only to find him asleep, and so was his sister. The driver and Maple couldn't care less.

"You're lying" The boy had finally spoken up, in a hushed voice, just loud enough for us to hear. He wasn't eager to wake Ashton up from his slumber. "And you shouldn't need to defend him." He sneered.

"I'm not trying to. I'm just stating a fact." I fired back in the same hushed tone. He made me feel like a second-class citizen. I was one. However, I wasn't used to this behaviour, since the colonials treat each other as equals. All of them were second class, so there wasn't much of an inequality issue based on our class.

"You are from the white-collars? Aren't you?" A Cheshire cat grin stretched across his face. "They believe that they are so important. Always trying to form a 'better' society."

I didn't answer his question truthfully and instead decided to twist the comment he threw at me. "Yes, I am." I lied "What about you? From the elite Regals? With their perfect homes and careers, blind towards the poverty and suffering around them?" His grin widened, like he thought we were playing some sort of game and he was winning.

"Name's Zane. From the white-collars. I'm travelling south to join the rebellion. What's yours?" He was playing a game.

"Your clothing says otherwise"

"Oh, these?" he motioned at the jacket and jeans "I stole these from the colonies, they have good quality fabric. Anyways, you didn't answer my question."

"My what? Nationality? Here's a hint: I'm not from Rashar." Trying to play dumb, I didn't want to give him anything especially after the stunt he had just pulled.

"Your name." He dead-panned. "I know that you aren't from Rashar. They say the ladies over there have class-"

"Hey." I scoffed. I have class when I need to. But I didn't say that. "I'm Pearl. From the white-collars." I smiled. Lying is not as hard, when half of it is true. Mum was promoted to the government from the white-collars and my father stayed as a colonial.

"How are you going to join the rebellion? Isn't it a top secret?" I tried to gain more information.

"The rebellion is hidden in plain sight. They live in normal colonies, there are experienced leaders, who roam around the colony joints trying to gain new recruits. You don't need to find them, they find you." His gaze shifted towards Alina. "I have heard that they also have programs for children like her. People who lost their loved ones in the war and government ideals. My friend travelled with his little brother, too. He wrote me letters. That's why I'm going there."

"Programs? Like educational programs? She'll be able to meet kids her age. And make friends. And be safe." My eyes must have shone with hope, because he just smiled and nodded. "And how does it provide food?"

"Well, I don't know much of that." He shrugged his hair bouncing with his body movements. "I'll have to find out later. Why are you going south?"

"Oh, we are out of money. North is getting more and more expensive to live in, and forget about the East. All our money would disappear within a few days there." I focused on creating a believable tale while he processed this information in silence.

"Are you two together?" his gaze shifted towards Ash's sleeping figure.

"No." I replied quickly, maybe a little too quickly because he raised his brow and a knowing smirk formed on his face as soon as I said that.

"You sure? Anyone would thin-"

"I'm not interested in him. Nor do I think I'll ever be. And whatever other people think is none of my business." He was walking on thin ice now. I have had enough of these discussions with the colonials, who just didn't seem to understand our friendship.

"Fine, fine." His palms faced me as some sort of defensive gesture "How old are you three?" Gosh, this boy doesn't give anything a rest.

"He's 16, a few months older than me. She's 9. You?"

"Just turned 15 a month ago." That meant he had gotten access to units a little more than a year ago. He extended his had in my direction and I saw the little jagged scar between his thumb and index finger. "Cashed it out and threw it away yesterday. Took it out a on my birthday. A gift to myself." 

"A gift?" The thought made me shiver. It was a reminder that the society we lived in was so cruel that cutting yourself and removing a GPS placed inside yourself was considered a 'gift'. "Did it hurt much?"

"Not really. The person doing it was...experienced." His tone was uncertain, I assumed that he didn't know much about the person who got the chip out. "...so, do you wanna join? It'll be a great help, to have someone with me when I join."

My gaze went towards the sleeping figure of Ash. We can think it through. Joining the rebellion would be better for Alina, but us? It will only provide a sense of belonging and possibly some more safety if we aren't sent to vandalize the plantations and railways. Possibly attack the locals. I wanted to discuss that with Ash, so I told Zane truthfully.

"We'll think it through."