Black In Black

Dont Tread On Me

For the second time today I had the feeling that all the air from my lungs ad been sucked out violently. But this time, I knew it was just my body responding to life changing news, no big deal.
So, dad wasn't my real dad. That's okay. He kept this from me. That's okay. I actually died eight years ago. That's okay.
It's okay.
Then why do I feel like running away? I want to push away from my friends and hide somewhere where I could never be found, but why?
I could accept dad as not my dad, he still is dad to me. It wasn't like I was going to go on a long search for this drunken abuser to reunite my real family, I could care less really. My family was here, isn't it? With dad? The Guardians? Isn't that all I need?
Running away comes to mind again. Maybe I need to wrap my head around this news. Figure out where to go from here, and go. But the thing is, I can't run away. I'm a Guardian now. Guardians don't run. Then what do they do? In a situation like this, who is there to guard?
"I'd understand if you were mad at me." The somber words from dad sliced through my thoughts like his scythe.
"No." I said quickly, urgent to relieve him from worry. He was always worrying about me. Now, it was worrying if I'd what, disown him as my father? "No.. You're still my dad. You always will be. "
The room was quiet after I spoke. Dads eyes grew teary with my words. Or maybe it was a number of things that has happened today, but I didn't bother to focus on that for long. I grabbed his rough, grey hand and squeezed it instead.
After a moment, I decided to stand. Everyone still crowded around me in a circle. Gulping down the feeling of being awkward I spoke again.
"Where do we go from here?"
North spoke up, is voice softer the usual. "Well you're a Guardian now. Your next step is to find your center."
"Don't you think finding her sister is more important? We don't know what she wants, she could be out there now... terrorizing. " Jack spoke up from behind me. I turned to him in reply.
"I don't think she's here for the children, Jack.. She wants me to come home." I bit my lip. "That's what she said when she grabbed me, she told me I can still come back to my family."
"You denied to, didn't you?" Dad spoke up.
"Of course. I wouldn't go anywhere with her."
Jack looked to the rest of the group. "She might come back and take her by force." The rest, including me, nodded in agreement.
"Ellie, you're staying here. The Pole is the most fortified of all our homes, which makes it the safest. We'll figure this out one step at a time." North said surely, setting a heavy hand on my shoulder as I nodded.
Here, a direction to go. Stay and strategize our next move. Find out what she really wants. It was the best plan I could think of, if anything. I guess by the end of today, I'll get to do what I wanted to do originally, hide.

___________________________

Just keep reading!