and
took a pair of handcuffs from his belt. You held out your hands, making it
easier for him to cuff you. He then heaved the body over his shoulder and
guided you towards the law hall in Landia.
For six hours, you sat in the damp, draughty cell at the back
of the building while the two soldiers went in and out. You stood as one of
them came in with Noah, Ethan and their mother, watching them being led across
the room. Noah caught your eye in the second before the door closed behind him.
You waited a while longer, straining to hear anything being
said in the other room. The thick walls allowed only muffled sounds to reach
you, giving you no indication of what they were saying. When they were done,
Adina and Ethan walked away, but the soldier brought Noah to see you. He smiled
at you and put his hands around the bars.
“I’m sorry,” he said, sliding his fingers along the bar to
touch yours. “I had to tell her. She saw the bruises.”
“It’s not your fault. I hit him.” You looked at your feet,
unable to face him.
“You saved my life.” He turned towards the guard. “What’s going
to happen to her now?”
The soldier shrugged. “The council will decide. Chances are
she’ll be sent to live with her next of kin.”
You shook your head. “I don’t know who that is.”
“My mother would look after her if—”
The soldier shook his head. “If we don’t find family, she’ll
get a place in the nearest orphanage – most likely Chapra.” He put his hand on
Noah’s shoulder. “It’s time you were going now. I’m sure your mother will let
you know what happens.”
“I’ll write to you,” he said, as the soldier steered him away.
“I’ll find you.”
* * *
He kept to his word. Once a week, he wrote to you and every
time, you wrote back. The orphanage wasn’t secure and you could easily jump
over the wall each day. You took any job going in the town, no matter how
small, how tough, how demeaning, saving the money you made so that one day, you
might be able to get back to Landia. So that one day, you might see each other
again.
The End
(Back to start)
36. “MY FRIEND DID IT”
“It wasn’t me!” you cried, turning your face so that your
mouth wouldn’t fill with dirt. “My friend got into a fight with him and hit
him. He wasn’t breathing and I thought I could hide him in the woods. I was
trying to protect my friend!”
“Does this friend have a name?” The soldier pulled you to your
feet.
“No.” You shook your head. “I don’t know his name.”
“Then he’s not really your friend, is he? And you’re gonna take
this hit for him?”
“I didn’t do it.” You began to walk, pushed by the soldier.
“It’s not me you’ve got to convince, Miss. It’s the council.
And from where I’m standing, it looks like you’ll be spending the rest of your
life in some institution in Chapra.”
“What?”
“You have blood on your hands and your friend has no name. If I think you did it, they’ll think you did it.” He gave you another nudge
as you made your way out of the woods. “Still can’t remember his name?”
Choice: 89. His Name Was Ethan or 90. His
Name Was Noah or 91. I Don’t Remember
37. TRY TO RUN
You pushed the man and turned to run, but he was much faster,
trained to react to fleeing hostages. He pulled you by the hair, dragging you
to the ground. You screamed, but knew no one would hear you. The second man
stood over you while you wrestled with the first. His fist struck you in the
cheek and you felt teeth come loose.
“Let me go. Please!”
His hand wrapped around your throat. That must have been what
Noah had felt, just an hour ago when your father was choking the life from him.
Now it was your turn. You tried to call out, but could make no sound but the
rasp of air as you filled your lungs. You gasped as he let go, coughing and
fighting for the use of your hands, pinned beneath the man’s knees.
“Let me go!”
The men spoke to one
took a pair of handcuffs from his belt. You held out your hands, making it
easier for him to cuff you. He then heaved the body over his shoulder and
guided you towards the law hall in Landia.
For six hours, you sat in the damp, draughty cell at the back
of the building while the two soldiers went in and out. You stood as one of
them came in with Noah, Ethan and their mother, watching them being led across
the room. Noah caught your eye in the second before the door closed behind him.
You waited a while longer, straining to hear anything being
said in the other room. The thick walls allowed only muffled sounds to reach
you, giving you no indication of what they were saying. When they were done,
Adina and Ethan walked away, but the soldier brought Noah to see you. He smiled
at you and put his hands around the bars.
“I’m sorry,” he said, sliding his fingers along the bar to
touch yours. “I had to tell her. She saw the bruises.”
“It’s not your fault. I hit him.” You looked at your feet,
unable to face him.
“You saved my life.” He turned towards the guard. “What’s going
to happen to her now?”
The soldier shrugged. “The council will decide. Chances are
she’ll be sent to live with her next of kin.”
You shook your head. “I don’t know who that is.”
“My mother would look after her if—”
The soldier shook his head. “If we don’t find family, she’ll
get a place in the nearest orphanage – most likely Chapra.” He put his hand on
Noah’s shoulder. “It’s time you were going now. I’m sure your mother will let
you know what happens.”
“I’ll write to you,” he said, as the soldier steered him away.
“I’ll find you.”
* * *
He kept to his word. Once a week, he wrote to you and every
time, you wrote back. The orphanage wasn’t secure and you could easily jump
over the wall each day. You took any job going in the town, no matter how
small, how tough, how demeaning, saving the money you made so that one day, you
might be able to get back to Landia. So that one day, you might see each other
again.
The End
(Back to start)
36. “MY FRIEND DID IT”
“It wasn’t me!” you cried, turning your face so that your
mouth wouldn’t fill with dirt. “My friend got into a fight with him and hit
him. He wasn’t breathing and I thought I could hide him in the woods. I was
trying to protect my friend!”
“Does this friend have a name?” The soldier pulled you to your
feet.
“No.” You shook your head. “I don’t know his name.”
“Then he’s not really your friend, is he? And you’re gonna take
this hit for him?”
“I didn’t do it.” You began to walk, pushed by the soldier.
“It’s not me you’ve got to convince, Miss. It’s the council.
And from where I’m standing, it looks like you’ll be spending the rest of your
life in some institution in Chapra.”
“What?”
“You have blood on your hands and your friend has no name. If I think you did it, they’ll think you did it.” He gave you another nudge
as you made your way out of the woods. “Still can’t remember his name?”
Choice: 89. His Name Was Ethan or 90. His
Name Was Noah or 91. I Don’t Remember
37. TRY TO RUN
You pushed the man and turned to run, but he was much faster,
trained to react to fleeing hostages. He pulled you by the hair, dragging you
to the ground. You screamed, but knew no one would hear you. The second man
stood over you while you wrestled with the first. His fist struck you in the
cheek and you felt teeth come loose.
“Let me go. Please!”
His hand wrapped around your throat. That must have been what
Noah had felt, just an hour ago when your father was choking the life from him.
Now it was your turn. You tried to call out, but could make no sound but the
rasp of air as you filled your lungs. You gasped as he let go, coughing and
fighting for the use of your hands, pinned beneath the man’s knees.
“Let me go!”
The men spoke to one
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