When The Clock Strikes Twelve

Chapter 13

Zaria couldn't sleep. Her mind was spinning, turning over the story Jaye had told her in her head over and over again.

She couldn't imagine what it felt like, to not know anything but a single room for seven years, and then for it to all be gone one day. She hadn't even tried to meditate, keeping her eyes on Jaye the whole time.

After tossing and turning for hours, Zaria finally gave up trying to sleep. She climbed out of bed, going into the kitchen. Perhaps she would walk around a little, try to tire herself out. Just as she gulped down some water, Zaria heard a noise from outside the apartment. Someone was walking down the hallway.

Probably just another restless person, trying to go to sleep. 

...but maybe an intruder, a police officer who had somehow discovered them.

Grabbing the sharpest knife she could find from a kitchen drawer, Zaria crept out of the apartment, being as quiet as she could.

A large figure was walking down the hall, going downstairs. Zaria followed behind carefully, praying she wouldn't run into anything in the darkness. Finally, when they were in the lobby, the figure glanced around before sitting down and pulling something out of a jacket pocket. Zaria pressed herself against the wall, releasing a breath when the figure didn't see her.

Zaria stayed where she was, her heart beating. The figure fiddled with the object, then finally spoke into it.

Zaria's heart stopped when she recognized the voice.

"Are you there?" asked Aram.

Zaria inhaled sharply, trying to hear the response from what she realized must be some sort of radio. Unfortunately, the sound was too small and Zaria couldn't hear it.

"Today, we had free time. Aram said, his voice almost too low for Zaria to catch.

Zaria's heart was torn as she heard Aram explain, in detail, what they had done that day. Aram was telling someone secret information, but Zander had said there was no spy.

Clearly, there is. Zaria told herself. Her head spun as she tried to reconcile Aram with the picture of a spy she had drawn in her mind. Aram was well liked, and always happy, ready with a joke and a smile. He'd even made Jaye laugh. Zaria's head started to pound, but she knew what she had to do.

Gripping the knife, Zaria walked forward until she was standing directly behind Aram. He didn't seem to notice, as he was still whispering into the radio.

"Drop it." said Zaria coldly, holding up the knife.

Aram startled and spun around. "Zaria? I-"

"Drop. It." Zaria held up the knife. Though it was dark, the knife glinted in the little light, and Aram's eyes widened. He put down the radio and Zaria used her foot to drag it away from him.

"Zaria, it's not-"

"Don't talk." Zaria said, waving the knife a little. She couldn't be sure that the radio was off, so she kicked it at the far wall. Aram winced as it hit the wall and bounced off.

"Zaria, I swear I'm not a spy!" Aram whispered.

"Uh huh." said Zaria.

"I can explain!" he said.

"You can explain to Zander." said Zaria, motioning with her knife.

"Please, don't. I was talking to my son!" said Aram, now wringing his hands alarmedly.

Zaria froze, trying to make out Aram's expression.

"I left him with his cousins, but I couldn't just disappear, so I've been talking to him. I promise I'm not a spy!"