Chapter 8

Loran

"That's it. School starts on Monday." Grandma Mae says as we come back in after the traumatizing announcement. She lights the fire with a match and hobbles into the back room. "You are officially wanted by the government." She returns with a sack full of brick colored beans, which she dumps into a pot with water. She places it at the fire. "I'll go to the building tomorrow to see if I can get you a spot. But if not..."

I nod. This is life. "I'll turn myself in."

"You'll do no such thing!" She stirs the beans.

"I can't let my country be burnt because of me!"

"You are their only hope!"

I am silent.

"Don't turn yourself in."

"My parents will be tortured!"

"Loran, it's the only way. You are their only hope."

I, not wanting to say anything else, pull out bowls and spoons. "Here," I hand them over to her. She takes them and scoops each of us a bowl. I put them on the table and sit down.

After a few bites, I speak up again. "Then what will I do?"

"You'll stay here if you are any good." She swallows down a bite. It's not very appetizing, but it's dinner, and I need to eat.

"If I'm any good," I begin with passion burning in my voice, "I'll go and save them."

"You will not save them until the opportunity presents itself!" She slams her fist down on the old table. The floor shakes.

"And what if the opportunity doesn't present itself until they are dead?"

She is silent.

"Well, good night!" I yell and pound up the stairs to bed. I light my lantern and dress in my clumsily made night-dress and tie the sash. I blow out the light and lay down. I am really in a pickle. School would be challenging. The kids could not associate me with Loraina because the similar looks and name would give it away. I finger through my short hair. Did he have to do so much? I think. It's for my own good. No one would think Loraina got a haircut. They would expect her to go much further away. They would expect her, probably, to hide in somewhere like First Dock or Airavia. But no, I have come to Allerakin. Here, I would hopefully be safe.

Somewhere in my thoughts, I bore myself and drop off to sleep.

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