and I
couldn’t focus on which to ask first.
“Why?”
I blurted out quietly. “Why did all of this happen?”
“First
Penny, let’s get something to eat and then we’ll talk,” he replied.
Thinking
about it, my stomach was empty and I knew he needed to eat after all the
regenerating. “Okay.”
We
walked over to the table. A large silver pot filled with oatmeal steamed and I grabbed
a small bowl off the side. We both slopped a few scoops in before walking over
to the outer edge of the circle, beyond the benches and the Lowers.
James
began whispering, “Look Penny, I don’t trust these people. I never have. We
need to get out of here.”
“Where
else are we supposed to go? I can’t go back home. And… I have to find my
sister,” I said.
James’
head popped up with confusion by my sudden mention of Madeline. I never told
him about that part of my life, never knowing there was much to tell.
He
shook his head. “No, I know we can’t go home. That’s not what I’m saying. We
have to find a way over the perimeter.”
I
started laughing, but he wasn’t joking.
“That’s
suicide, James. We both know there’s no way over it. You’ll be fried before
your body hits the ground on the other side.”
“How
do you know?” he asked.
I
thought about his question for a brief moment. “Well, I don’t. But we’ve both
been told exactly what the perimeter is and to stay away from it for a reason.”
I scooped a bite of warm oatmeal into my mouth and sloshed it around.
“Exactly.
How will we know until we get there? It’s our only option,” he whispered.
However,
I wasn’t sure if it was our only option. “Maybe we could hide out in the
wilderness for a while?” That was a stupid idea, but so was the perimeter.
I
took another bite, realizing my identification card had been dangling in my
bowl.
“Your
ID, you still have it?” he asked.
“Of
course, where else would it be? I have it on me at all times.”
“Give
it to me right now. If they haven’t tracked us yet, they will very soon.”
He
grabbed my ID and slipped it off from over my head.
“What
are you talking about?” I asked
“I
thought I told you to toss it out the window last night.” James rubbed his
forehead. “I guess I was more out of it than I thought. I’m surprised the gun
shot affected me so easily. Listen, I’m going to take your ID and then I’ll be back.
There are trackers in these; we have to get rid of it,” he warned, and then he
jogged into the tree line surrounding the village. Branches and bushes flung
around his body as he disappeared into the dewy thickness.
Even
though none of the Lowers acted like they heard any of our conversation, I knew
they did. Now that I was positive they had vines just like us, it would be irrational
for me to think none of them had hearing capabilities like James.
Chapter Six
I finished my last drop of oatmeal and went back for
more when the weather began changing. The humidity sucked away into the clouds and
the fog vanished. Tips of trees bent from wind gusting about; leaves and dirt tossed
in circles like dozens of tiny cyclones.
My
empty bowl was in my hands and I looked up in the sky. In the near distance, large,
gray clouds were rolling in. Just then, the table holding the bowls fell over
from the weight of the wind thrusting against it, utensils scattered across the
ground and crashed against the dirt.
Lowers
scrambled, picking up bowls and pots and moving the breakfast into a tiny, nearby
house.
The
storm was moving swiftly, ghastly clouds almost directly overhead.
I
hope James is okay.
I
helped pick up the fallen bowls, ran them inside the house, and sat them down next
to the rearranged breakfast. People disappeared in and out, gathering more
supplies. I squeezed by the door, slipping into the stormy weather. The area
where everyone once gathered was now empty; most everyone went back into their
own homes to wait out the weather. The only person still
couldn’t focus on which to ask first.
“Why?”
I blurted out quietly. “Why did all of this happen?”
“First
Penny, let’s get something to eat and then we’ll talk,” he replied.
Thinking
about it, my stomach was empty and I knew he needed to eat after all the
regenerating. “Okay.”
We
walked over to the table. A large silver pot filled with oatmeal steamed and I grabbed
a small bowl off the side. We both slopped a few scoops in before walking over
to the outer edge of the circle, beyond the benches and the Lowers.
James
began whispering, “Look Penny, I don’t trust these people. I never have. We
need to get out of here.”
“Where
else are we supposed to go? I can’t go back home. And… I have to find my
sister,” I said.
James’
head popped up with confusion by my sudden mention of Madeline. I never told
him about that part of my life, never knowing there was much to tell.
He
shook his head. “No, I know we can’t go home. That’s not what I’m saying. We
have to find a way over the perimeter.”
I
started laughing, but he wasn’t joking.
“That’s
suicide, James. We both know there’s no way over it. You’ll be fried before
your body hits the ground on the other side.”
“How
do you know?” he asked.
I
thought about his question for a brief moment. “Well, I don’t. But we’ve both
been told exactly what the perimeter is and to stay away from it for a reason.”
I scooped a bite of warm oatmeal into my mouth and sloshed it around.
“Exactly.
How will we know until we get there? It’s our only option,” he whispered.
However,
I wasn’t sure if it was our only option. “Maybe we could hide out in the
wilderness for a while?” That was a stupid idea, but so was the perimeter.
I
took another bite, realizing my identification card had been dangling in my
bowl.
“Your
ID, you still have it?” he asked.
“Of
course, where else would it be? I have it on me at all times.”
“Give
it to me right now. If they haven’t tracked us yet, they will very soon.”
He
grabbed my ID and slipped it off from over my head.
“What
are you talking about?” I asked
“I
thought I told you to toss it out the window last night.” James rubbed his
forehead. “I guess I was more out of it than I thought. I’m surprised the gun
shot affected me so easily. Listen, I’m going to take your ID and then I’ll be back.
There are trackers in these; we have to get rid of it,” he warned, and then he
jogged into the tree line surrounding the village. Branches and bushes flung
around his body as he disappeared into the dewy thickness.
Even
though none of the Lowers acted like they heard any of our conversation, I knew
they did. Now that I was positive they had vines just like us, it would be irrational
for me to think none of them had hearing capabilities like James.
Chapter Six
I finished my last drop of oatmeal and went back for
more when the weather began changing. The humidity sucked away into the clouds and
the fog vanished. Tips of trees bent from wind gusting about; leaves and dirt tossed
in circles like dozens of tiny cyclones.
My
empty bowl was in my hands and I looked up in the sky. In the near distance, large,
gray clouds were rolling in. Just then, the table holding the bowls fell over
from the weight of the wind thrusting against it, utensils scattered across the
ground and crashed against the dirt.
Lowers
scrambled, picking up bowls and pots and moving the breakfast into a tiny, nearby
house.
The
storm was moving swiftly, ghastly clouds almost directly overhead.
I
hope James is okay.
I
helped pick up the fallen bowls, ran them inside the house, and sat them down next
to the rearranged breakfast. People disappeared in and out, gathering more
supplies. I squeezed by the door, slipping into the stormy weather. The area
where everyone once gathered was now empty; most everyone went back into their
own homes to wait out the weather. The only person still
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