in the dark, me reaching down to try to unclasp the man’s fist from my legs, his knife slashing my shin. This was it, I told myself. The Faction had me now. How pleased would they be to have found a member of the Elected family defenseless?
I could already feel my own hot blood leaking out of the wound on my leg. The Technologist was pulling me farther down toward him. In a second, his hands would circle around my neck. The man would destroy me here on the spot.
Right when I thought I couldn’t fend him off anymore, a high pitched whistle came from the pavilion in front of us. The man hesitated just long enough that I was able to extricate my leg. Bleeding profusely, I didn’t care to look back. I scrambled up and ran as fast as I could. When I reached the entrance of our stable doors, I finally stopped and looked behind me. I couldn’t see the man anymore, but I didn’t see anyone else either. Neither the Technologist, nor the person who’d startled him.
I clutched my leg, knowing I needed to wrap the wound so I wouldn’t keep bleeding. At the same time, I knew my family deserved to know the Faction’s plans as soon as possible, even if it meant I was forced to tell them about sneaking out. Tomlin was right; freedom was dangerous. Maybe I just didn’t need to tell my parents exactly how dangerous it had become for me.
So instead of confessing everything that night, I held back. I limped my way into the dark house and up to my room without being noticed. I wrapped my leg tight with the bindings from my chest and made the resolution to tell my parents only about seeing the Technologists. I wouldn’t tell them about making it all the way to the dance.
I’d sought independence, but I’d come away with a few other realities that night. Having seen the Faction up close, I finally understood my family’s relentless dedication to maintaining stability. There were people who wanted to overthrow us and put our country in harm’s way once again. My father was the only man with enough clout and power to keep the Technology Faction at bay. My family needed to stay in power. I should show pride in my Elected role, not lament how unfair my life was compared to all the other kids. It was time I embraced the responsibility.
That night, though, as I continued to stave off the bleeding from my leg, I’d taken one last moment to revel in the excitement of my escape. I’d run out on my own. Intermingled with my people. Caught up with the Technology Faction. And... the boy. Griffin, the one I sometimes saw helping his father around our house. He touched my arm. I looked down at my palm, tracing a pattern over where his fingers grazed mine.
Right there was my downfall. If I weren’t infatuated with the excitement of being at the dance, I might have told my parents the whole story. I might not have merely centered my admission on seeing the Technology Faction, but also told them how someone may have guessed my gender. If I’d been brave back then, maybe I wouldn’t be in this predicament now.
5
I sit against my bedroom wall, trying to think of something to set myself right again. What has Tomlin always told me when things are rough? After my parents took all the toys from my room? When my first “play” fight session ended with a black eye and a broken rib? And, of course, when I asked my parents if I could go to the annual dance and they said absolutely not?
He said, “This too shall pass. One step at a time, Aloy.”
I do as he instructed. I get up off the floor and walk to my water basin. I splash a cold handful of the liquid onto my face. When I think I’m presentable, I open my bedroom door and step into the hallway again. This time the corridor is empty. My guards must still think I’m going about my usual schedule. By the daylight, I think it’s noon. The sun is high in the sky. What do I usually do at noon each day? I eat lunch with my parents. So with this in mind, I walk stiffly in the direction of our
I could already feel my own hot blood leaking out of the wound on my leg. The Technologist was pulling me farther down toward him. In a second, his hands would circle around my neck. The man would destroy me here on the spot.
Right when I thought I couldn’t fend him off anymore, a high pitched whistle came from the pavilion in front of us. The man hesitated just long enough that I was able to extricate my leg. Bleeding profusely, I didn’t care to look back. I scrambled up and ran as fast as I could. When I reached the entrance of our stable doors, I finally stopped and looked behind me. I couldn’t see the man anymore, but I didn’t see anyone else either. Neither the Technologist, nor the person who’d startled him.
I clutched my leg, knowing I needed to wrap the wound so I wouldn’t keep bleeding. At the same time, I knew my family deserved to know the Faction’s plans as soon as possible, even if it meant I was forced to tell them about sneaking out. Tomlin was right; freedom was dangerous. Maybe I just didn’t need to tell my parents exactly how dangerous it had become for me.
So instead of confessing everything that night, I held back. I limped my way into the dark house and up to my room without being noticed. I wrapped my leg tight with the bindings from my chest and made the resolution to tell my parents only about seeing the Technologists. I wouldn’t tell them about making it all the way to the dance.
I’d sought independence, but I’d come away with a few other realities that night. Having seen the Faction up close, I finally understood my family’s relentless dedication to maintaining stability. There were people who wanted to overthrow us and put our country in harm’s way once again. My father was the only man with enough clout and power to keep the Technology Faction at bay. My family needed to stay in power. I should show pride in my Elected role, not lament how unfair my life was compared to all the other kids. It was time I embraced the responsibility.
That night, though, as I continued to stave off the bleeding from my leg, I’d taken one last moment to revel in the excitement of my escape. I’d run out on my own. Intermingled with my people. Caught up with the Technology Faction. And... the boy. Griffin, the one I sometimes saw helping his father around our house. He touched my arm. I looked down at my palm, tracing a pattern over where his fingers grazed mine.
Right there was my downfall. If I weren’t infatuated with the excitement of being at the dance, I might have told my parents the whole story. I might not have merely centered my admission on seeing the Technology Faction, but also told them how someone may have guessed my gender. If I’d been brave back then, maybe I wouldn’t be in this predicament now.
5
I sit against my bedroom wall, trying to think of something to set myself right again. What has Tomlin always told me when things are rough? After my parents took all the toys from my room? When my first “play” fight session ended with a black eye and a broken rib? And, of course, when I asked my parents if I could go to the annual dance and they said absolutely not?
He said, “This too shall pass. One step at a time, Aloy.”
I do as he instructed. I get up off the floor and walk to my water basin. I splash a cold handful of the liquid onto my face. When I think I’m presentable, I open my bedroom door and step into the hallway again. This time the corridor is empty. My guards must still think I’m going about my usual schedule. By the daylight, I think it’s noon. The sun is high in the sky. What do I usually do at noon each day? I eat lunch with my parents. So with this in mind, I walk stiffly in the direction of our
Similar Books
