Chapter 31
"Maaaaaaple. Maple!"
I groan.
"Maple, wake up!" Something heavy pushes my chest and I curse.
"Leave me alone!" I grunt.
"I have water for you," Farra says, and that makes me reconsider. I open my eyes, which feel gritty and dry, and reach out before I can even really see.
Something cold is thrust into my hands, and I gratefully unclasp the lid, gulping the water down greedily.
My eyes finally adjust to the stinging light of the room. I'm met with Farra's devious grin, as she hovers over me.
"What?!" I grumble, sounding snarkier than I intend. I feel rough.
She smirks. My mattress dips, and I realize, to my irritation, that Leo is also here, and is now also in my face.
"Wanna explain yourself?" Farra asks, cocking an eye and looking far too smug.
"Can you just cut to the chase? My head feels like there are blocks banging against my brain." I sigh, flopping back onto my pillow.
"She means: why did you get dropped off by our Lieutenant, drunker than a garden gnome during a full moon, wearing his jacket?" Leo blurts, absolutely giddy.
I sit up. I am, in fact, still wearing Tane's jacket. Memory floats back to me in fragmented pieces, and I cringe.
Tane had gotten me to the dorm, and when I nearly keeled over at the entrance, he'd slung me over his shoulder like a child, and carried me up. My entire face heats as mortification creeps over me. I cover my face and groan.
"Maple Treow, did you hook up with our Lieutenant!?" Farra squeaks.
"No! Gods, no. I just… He found me outside a bar after I left the twins, and then brought me home." I peek at them, and they both look at me with raised eyebrows. "I'm serious! Nothing happened."
"But you're wearing his very nice jacket," Leo prods.
"Yeah. I was cold, and he made me take it."
"Oh, what a dick!" Leo says sarcastically.
"What happened with the twins?!" Farra asks, giving me a look, and I'm thankful for the topic change.
I breathe out, trying to get my bearings.
First, I demand food. They flip a coin; Leo loses and reluctantly fetches my breakfast while I lay perfectly still, head throbbing.
Once he's back and I feel a little less like vomiting, I talk.
And I tell my friends absolutely everything.
The Wire, where the twins are from, and how misled we are about the other countries' standings.
Everything my groggy little brain can remember.
"You can't remember the name of the herb they're bringing back?" Farra asks, pacing and tapping her pencil on her leg.
I rub my temples, uttering a pained, "Not right now."
"This is crazy," Leo says finally.
"What do we do now?" Farra asks, still pacing and tapping.
That is the question, isn't it? I've known since I got to The Centre that I wanted to get my siblings out of Strayton.
At first, I thought I wanted to get them here.
.. but now I'm not so sure. I’ve been ignoring this tiny twisted feeling deep in my gut; one that says this place isn't any safer.
Willow would have to be even more careful with her wild spirit this close to so many devout.
And the more I've seen here, the more that tiny, twisted feeling becomes weighted.
If there’s a place in this world where Willow would be safe–where she could breathe clean air and eat real food, and could be a kid who makes mistakes, without me having to worry about her being executed––why would I bother trying to bring them here?
What if there’s a place where Linden could focus on science instead of medicine, and where he doesn’t need to bend himself in half trying to fit into boxes that he simply doesn’t fit into.
If what Briggs and Mack said was true, maybe I just need to get them out of New Providence.
Sitting up, I lean my head back against the cool wall.
"I think... I think I have to get my siblings out of here," I whisper, because I know what admitting this means.
It means I'm bailing. I'm cutting and running.
I'm not helping Farra find out what happened to her brother, and I'm not helping Leo and his family find a better future.
And somehow, what used to feel right—caring only about keeping Linden and Willow safe and well— it feels different now.
The justification of that one purpose seems less black and white.
Farra sits on her bed across from me.
"Ok," she finally states, blankly.
"Yeah, that makes sense," Leo responds.
I can't help but notice the tension hovering in the air.
"I'm sorry. I just... I promised my mom I'd keep us together and safe, and I don't think we'll ever be safe here.
I suspect The Council's next move is to pull Willow's meds completely.
They are clearly messing with our food supply, our memories.
There's more unrest and hangings every day.
Those soldiers last night were looking for something, or someone, and I just can't wait around for this place to get.
.. somehow better." Tears well behind my tired eyes as I see the looks of resignation on their faces.
"Maple, we get it... I'm in," Leo says shrugging his shoulders.
"What do you mean, you're in? You're not coming with me, Leo. You have a family here. Who knows if we'll even make it?"
"Oh, we'll make it. And once we find somewhere that's better than this, and get settled, I'll send for my family.
Or come back for them. But with my nieces and nephews, there are too many people to haul them all right now, before we even find a safe spot," he grins.
"Besides, I always did want to be an explorer. "
I smile back at him because, of course, he would say something like that. I should feel guilty he's considering something so dangerous, but I can't help but feel relief at the notion. My eyes wander over to Farra, who is sitting with her hands clasped in her lap, painfully still.
Leo sits beside her and pulls her in for a hug.
"No pressure, Far. You still have stuff you have to work out," Leo says.
Farra just nods.
"Well, we better get you guys prepped, then," she offers with a sad smile.
I'm reminded again of the bittersweet price of loving people. It opens you up and fills all the gaping cracks of your soul, only to fracture it again in the end, when you have to part. And yet, I can't bring myself to regret it.
"First, I've got to get ahold of my brother... Willow will need to be ready to travel."
This is the complicated part––I can't just stroll into Strayton and take them.
They need to be prepared, but I can't send a letter.
We made a bit of a code before I left, but it wouldn't work for explaining what's going on.
So I have to get there... I'm going to need Deacon's help, and he's not going to like it.
"Miss Treow..." a voice calls from behind me.
Right on schedule.
I'd asked Deacon to talk to Zander for me, and apparently he'd done so, because there was Mr. Morosse himself, calling my name. I turn with an uneasy smile and head his way.
"Councilman Morosse," I say with a respectful nod.
"Hear you'd like a favour, thought we could have a chat." He smiles and opens the door to the empty classroom he's standing beside, motioning for me to step in.
I settle into a creaky chair and get comfortable. I'm not surprised when he sits on the desk across from me. Men like Zander need to feel superior. Every interaction is an opportunity to display that.
"So, Deacon approached me asking about a leave to visit your siblings?"
"Yes sir, my little sister has been ill for some time.
The last letter from my brother, who's looking after her in my absence, has me really worried that her symptoms have progressed.
My mother died of the same illness, and I was just hoping for temporary leave to check in on them.
" I fold my hands on the desk in front of me to keep them from nervously picking at things.
His eyebrows furrow as he considers what I've said.
"Ahh, yes. You know we don't permit cadets leave until their training is complete, and they've gone on their first permanent assignment. Otherwise, we'd have cadets vanishing all the time."
I nod in understanding.
"Of course, sir, and I don't like asking for special treatment, but this is a distinct situation where I feel it would really benefit me.
If I'm sent out on assignment for a long period of time without correspondence, I really feel it would be dangerous to my crew.
Distracted soldiers are bad soldiers," I say with confidence, and he gives a subtle dip of his head.
"I do have to agree with you there, and you and your crew have done quite well for yourselves. It would be a shame if something happened."
An icy undercurrent simmers beneath his otherwise pleasant words. Blue eyes lock with mine, and I fight the urge to look away. He's looking for something, anything, to prove I have ulterior motives.
"I'd be willing to grant you a small leave, just a night to get home check-in and arrange for treatments for your sister but using my position to override cadet policies wont come free. I'll need something in return."
My stomach knots. He reminds me of Giles, my old boss, at the diner. Except with Zander it's not someone warming his bed that he wants.
"You've made yourself quite popular here; everyone seems to like you. Even the misfits," he continues, and I scrunch my eyebrows at this. I hadn't really thought about it, but I suppose he's right.
"I need information. There are whispers of some unrest among our ranks, and the potential for another rebellion... I don't need to tell you how catastrophic it would be for our country. Civilian lives lost, and all the progress we're making to replenish the land would be stolen from us..."