here just moments ago, but they aren’t in the main areas. I can’t see them anywhere. Mum and Dad lead us to a living area with a fireplace and leather bound couches. Shilah and I sit down across from Mum and Dad. Seeing them together is just weird. It’s really odd to see them being affectionate towards one another. They aren’t being completely obvious about it but it’s the little things like Dad placing his hand on her lower back as she walks by, both of them sitting that little bit closer to each other than necessary, the quick looks they give one another. It’s nice, but weird.
“I guess I should start,” Dad says. “I’m sorry I ever agreed to that harebrained idea about the woods. I knew I shouldn’t have let you go, Shilah. I’m so sorry.”
“Dad, it wasn’t your fault. It was mine. I brought Drew into our lives,” I say.
“Neither of you were to know that boy was working for the Institute. For all you knew, he was just another Defective person looking for refuge from the same fate,” Mum interjects.
“What do you know about it?” I ask a little more hastily than intended.
“Only what Chad and your father have told us,” she replies.
Okay, now I’m weirded out for another reason – Chad talking to my mother about my totally messed up relationship with Drew. I actually let out a little laugh at the idea of it.
Taking in a deep breath, I look at my mother as I build up the courage to ask something I’ve wanted to know the answer to for three months, ever since I found out about the Resistance and her still being alive.
“Why didn’t you come for Shilah?” I ask her, but it comes out so quietly I don’t know if she heard me.
“There’s something you have to understand, Allira,” Dad answers. “I wouldn’t have allowed it.”
“You knew? You knew Mum was alive this whole time?” I ask.
“Allira, don’t,” Shilah says, his voice pleading with me not to get into it.
“He was doing the right thing,” Mum says. “As a parent, you only ever want the best for your child. A life on the run can be lonely, stressful, and dangerous. I wanted better for you two. I wanted Shilah to have a normal life. If we had known that it was both of you that needed protection, I would’ve brought you both with me.” Mum grabs a hold of Dad’s hand. “I would’ve brought all of you with me.”
“But how was running away with Drew different to running away with you?” I press.
“Drew was offering a life of solitude,” Dad answers. “You can’t become a part of an organisation like this without sacrifice. There will always be an element of danger living here, more so than just running away to the woods to hide. You’re responsible for not only your safety, but the safety of others. At the time, I chose what I thought was the better option. But I was wrong, and I’m going to have to live with that decision for the rest of my life. You were both locked away because of me and I couldn’t be sorrier.”
“But—”
“Allira, enough!” Shilah interrupts me.
“I just want answers, Shilah.”
“And you will get them,” Mum says. “But emotions are running a bit high tonight. We’re all tired, it’s been a long day. We should all get some sleep.”
“I’ll be fine here for the night,” I say, looking at the fireplace. “The fire is thawing me out.”
“Me too,” Shilah says.
“I’ll go get you some blankets,” Mum tells us.
Mum leaves the room and I can’t hold back my questions. I just need to know.
“Where did you go?” I ask Dad.
“What do you mean?”
“Drew said the Institute lost track of you after I was arrested. Whenever Chad gave me updates about the Resistance, he never mentioned that you were here. So where were you?”
“I originally set off to find the cabin in Boyce Forest where Drew said he would be with Shilah. It took me a while to work out it didn’t exist. I think deep down I knew as soon as I started looking that it wasn’t real,
“I guess I should start,” Dad says. “I’m sorry I ever agreed to that harebrained idea about the woods. I knew I shouldn’t have let you go, Shilah. I’m so sorry.”
“Dad, it wasn’t your fault. It was mine. I brought Drew into our lives,” I say.
“Neither of you were to know that boy was working for the Institute. For all you knew, he was just another Defective person looking for refuge from the same fate,” Mum interjects.
“What do you know about it?” I ask a little more hastily than intended.
“Only what Chad and your father have told us,” she replies.
Okay, now I’m weirded out for another reason – Chad talking to my mother about my totally messed up relationship with Drew. I actually let out a little laugh at the idea of it.
Taking in a deep breath, I look at my mother as I build up the courage to ask something I’ve wanted to know the answer to for three months, ever since I found out about the Resistance and her still being alive.
“Why didn’t you come for Shilah?” I ask her, but it comes out so quietly I don’t know if she heard me.
“There’s something you have to understand, Allira,” Dad answers. “I wouldn’t have allowed it.”
“You knew? You knew Mum was alive this whole time?” I ask.
“Allira, don’t,” Shilah says, his voice pleading with me not to get into it.
“He was doing the right thing,” Mum says. “As a parent, you only ever want the best for your child. A life on the run can be lonely, stressful, and dangerous. I wanted better for you two. I wanted Shilah to have a normal life. If we had known that it was both of you that needed protection, I would’ve brought you both with me.” Mum grabs a hold of Dad’s hand. “I would’ve brought all of you with me.”
“But how was running away with Drew different to running away with you?” I press.
“Drew was offering a life of solitude,” Dad answers. “You can’t become a part of an organisation like this without sacrifice. There will always be an element of danger living here, more so than just running away to the woods to hide. You’re responsible for not only your safety, but the safety of others. At the time, I chose what I thought was the better option. But I was wrong, and I’m going to have to live with that decision for the rest of my life. You were both locked away because of me and I couldn’t be sorrier.”
“But—”
“Allira, enough!” Shilah interrupts me.
“I just want answers, Shilah.”
“And you will get them,” Mum says. “But emotions are running a bit high tonight. We’re all tired, it’s been a long day. We should all get some sleep.”
“I’ll be fine here for the night,” I say, looking at the fireplace. “The fire is thawing me out.”
“Me too,” Shilah says.
“I’ll go get you some blankets,” Mum tells us.
Mum leaves the room and I can’t hold back my questions. I just need to know.
“Where did you go?” I ask Dad.
“What do you mean?”
“Drew said the Institute lost track of you after I was arrested. Whenever Chad gave me updates about the Resistance, he never mentioned that you were here. So where were you?”
“I originally set off to find the cabin in Boyce Forest where Drew said he would be with Shilah. It took me a while to work out it didn’t exist. I think deep down I knew as soon as I started looking that it wasn’t real,
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