Bound by Glass

04| No One Agrees With Us

"Jaedie doesn't want to realise Anya is probably gone," I said, dropping my hands in my lap, as I watched over the valley stretching out in front of me. Jaedie was hellbent on going after her mother—which meant going to the Globes. No one had ever attempted going back into the Globes; we would be mad if we tried to figure it out on our own. Even then, we still had to find a way to break out of camp—which was virtually impossible, now the curfew had been set in.

Darkness was already setting in, the rays of sunlight casting long shadows on the trees with the river slitting through the forest like a silver thread. I followed it with my eyes, squinting when I reached the horizon where the red sun was slowly closing in on it. Over a few hours, it would be completely dark.

I turned my gaze down to Kael, who was sitting on one of the rocks below me. "She's my best friend, and I want to do this—for her sake. I just don't want her to get killed." I sighed and put my head in my hands. I looked at the pale purple-blue skies and the strands of ever-present ash grey clouds, thinking about how Jaedie seemed to believe it'd be a piece of cake.

She was sure we would make it. I had my doubts.

So, I consulted the professional, Kael Jonah. He'd been on several train raids, since he's already eighteen, unlike me who had to wait another bloody four months.

"So, uh–" I pulled some loose bits of bright blue-green moss from the rough surface of the rock. I could better get this over with. I inhaled deeply. "Can you help us? Tell us what we have to do?" I pleaded, clasping my hands together. "Please?" I said, dragging the word.

I saw him sigh and move next to me on the rock we called Ol' Tom. "Tenna," he said, and turned to me, "This is dangerous. People have died on raids. I was there. You can't go by yourself."

I exhaled deeply, letting the air escape through my nose. I could have expected this answer. I rolled a piece of moss between my index finger and thumb. It rubbed off on my flesh, tainting it a faint blueish hue. Apparently, Kael wasn't finished talking yet, since he took a deep breath.

"Okay... So, me being the ranking adult here, I have to be the responsible one now." He folded his hands together, and said quasi-dramatically: "I have tried my very best to stop you."

He shrugged, a grin playing around his lips. "So there is no other option other than I am obliged to go with you," he said bluntly with a wide smirk.

"Wha–come with us?" I said, not being able to form a coherent sentence, "But–you're saying we could die!"

"Yeah. And you need a healer," he said, and clacked his tongue. "Plus, maybe I don't care," he whispered mischievously.

I laughed out loud. "So, you don't care if I die either?" I asked jokingly.

My smile faded when Kael suddenly grabbed my arm. "What? Yes! Of course I care!" he exclaimed. He frowned. "Don't ever say something like that again," he said gently.

My eyes locked with his for a split second, and I thought I saw something... but then it was gone again. He looked away. "I–" he stood up, "I'm going to check on—uh—stuff. The patroller." He looked like he had wanted to say something else, but he walked away, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

* * *

"Is Kael coming?" Jaedie asked happily when I returned to camp, "Can Cilen come too? Please?" she asked with her big, grey, puppy dog eyes.

Now I know how Kael must've felt.

"Why are you asking me? It was your plan!" I laughed, and leaned against a low stone wall, covered in moss. We were in the outer ring, just at the edge of the forest. Normally, there would be people walking around, carrying their laundry and hanging out pelts. Now, it wasn't that busy because everyone was already back in their huts. Only some latecomers were still walking around—no one wanted to miss dinner. Nightfall was a dangerous thing, and if the smell of stew didn't drive you back home...well, then the sounds of wolves howling would.