In the Name of Order

Chapter 8: For freedom

My father steps out of the car before I walk over to it. He places a kiss on my head as a form of greeting and takes my suitcase from my hand to throw it into the boot. I place my hand on the car door then slide into the front seat when the door slides up. I sit in the car while I wait for father to finish greeting other parents who've come to fetch their children for midterm.

I hear Mathea rushing towards the car with luggage big enough for double the amount of time we'll be spending at home. She smiles at father, who is still greeting parents, and I lose sight of her when she stands behind the car. A minute must have passed before there's a knock on the car window. I slide my finger across the window-bar and the window rolls down.

"Dad still hasn't updated the system. I don't have access to the boot." I climb out the car before Thea gets through her second sentence.

As I walk to the boot, some person throws a stink bomb at me before hurrying away and laughing.

"Thea." I crinkle my nose and try to calm down.

Mathea has already fished a crumpled-up paper and a pen from her pocket, and her fingers begin sketching the face of the person I'll make sure to find and punch once the break is over. 

Mathea hands me the paper in a couple of seconds, and I stare at the sketch in amazement of her artistic skill and all the details she managed to sketch. Laken. The sketch shows a girl with six pimples, a scar on the left cheek, and thin eyebrows. I'll be punching Laken.

I stuff the paper into my pocket and continue making my way towards the boot. My dad told me he won't need to update the system since this car will be mine in a few months.

I reach boot and the screen displays 'access accepted' as I place my thumb on the fingerprint-scanner. Mathea stuffs her suitcases into the boot as I climb back into the front seat.

By the time Mathea climbs into the back seat, our dad arrives at the car, and we're all ready to go home. Dad asks us about our classes, but the conversation comes to an end when I, being my turn to answer, remain silent. Dad says he's regularly updated with my recovery and apologizes for me not receiving much of the Studies sector of my schooling due to my treatment, assuring me that there will be a balance of my Studies and Gift classes once I return to the Gifted Site after midterm.

The rest of the car ride is silent. I know I'll prefer home to the Gifted Site, but I wonder if there's something better than it; something better than home. I suppose I'll be able to find out once my gift is deemed useless; when a poor soul can perform my duties better than me. When that day comes, I'll seek a paradise. There must be some place where I will be satisfied with my whereabouts.

One week. I'll have to endure everyone for seven days before I return to my hell at the Gifted Site. Hopefully, Kane will provide an escape from my family; they who can't see me endure the pain they allow to be inflicted upon me.

Hopefully, I can also be an escape for Kane. I haven't seen him since the fight he caused in the dining hall, and I'm sure his stepfather was informed about that. My heart breaks a little when I think of that. Everyone has heard about the creative punishments that man decides for Kane.

I can't remember if there was ever a time I simply was something for Kane for the sake of being there for him. All the memories I have of him include him being something for me, giving me a reason to owe him, and I believe all debts must be paid. However, if the time ever comes for me to prove my support for him is more than an obligation, I'll be whatever Kane needs of me. I must see him before midterm ends, because the program officials surely won't like us together at the site.

The car slowly turns into our garage. As soon as I hear dad say he'll take the luggage up to the room, I exit the car. I can't decide what I'm trying to get away from so quickly or who I'm trying to avoid, knowing it would be impossible to avoid the family I live with, but my strides are quick in the first direction away from the car.