Sapphire R
New member
Some fear the last dance they shall ever have
Others see flame as terror illuminate the sky
But I know that until the day I die
The thing to scare me will be the look in your eyes
As I ran and said goodbye.
I shivered and tried to ignore the frigid stares from everyone around me. After all, I had not chosen to walk this path. My entrance into this way of life had not been my doing. I had been tricked.
I had run so far, from my home and from my past. Now, I was ready to just let them win. I couldn't keep walking for much longer.
My journey through this place had been terrifying, and I still wasn’t free. I was no longer a slave, practically shackled to the will of those in control. But I didn’t have the ability to run and beg someone for help.
It was my own fault. I should never have tried to ignore their final ruling. I should have nodded dutifully and took my punishment. I should never have tried to teach those monsters that maybe freedom is all we have; and that we have a right to it.
I stepped backwards from the crowd, pulling my coat around me. If I stopped walking for even a moment, then it could be my downfall. I glanced around worriedly. The snow falling steadily had slightly obscured my vision. Still I could tell that there were no police or peacekeepers lurking in the shadows.
“Do I know you?” I heard a boy asked me. I assessed his appearance critically. He was relatively short, with spiky brown hair. His bright red coat was designed to draw attention to him. He wasn’t a threat.
I smiled distractedly. “I don’t think so.”
“I’m sure I’ve seen you before. I wouldn’t forget a face as beautiful as yours.”
My eyes widened, and I noticed that something was concealed in his coat. I recoiled, already paranoid. It could be a gun.
“You don’t know me. I’ve only been in town a few days,” I replied as casually as I could.
He nodded, as if expecting this answer. “Are you staying long; I cold give you a tour if you like?”
I shook my head. “I don’t even know your name. How could I trust you?”
His expression betrayed his anger, and adrenaline began to course through my veins. Something was terribly wrong here.
“If my name is all you want, then I can tell you that. My name is Jayden.” His eyes searched mine, pointedly. This situation was starting to frighten me. I couldn’t just walk away, or he might realise that the place he knew me from was a wanted poster.
“I’m…” I froze. I couldn’t tell him my real name. For once, I thought of the past I had sought for so long to conceal.
“Your name?” Jayden’s eyes widened as if recalling some astonishing feat.
I settled on the name of my sister; who I had left behind to try and reach safety. Turns out that even the safest place in an Empire is not a place to call home for the poorest and the most alone.
“I’m Jeannette.”
He laughed. “Are you? I’m sure your name was Amanda Fitzpatrick.”
His expression that was before so warm and welcoming; had became that of a hunter stalking his prey.
I stepped back slowly. To run so far, across country and sea and to be found by someone who was barely a man. To outwit the most seasoned detectives and to be discovered by a boy was shocking. I must have been growing weak and complacent.
“You’ll never take me alive!” I snarled, preparing to run. Relying on the most primal instincts, I tried to sprint away. Jayden grabbed me.
“We don’t need you alive,” he pointed out as I struggled for freedom.
Others see flame as terror illuminate the sky
But I know that until the day I die
The thing to scare me will be the look in your eyes
As I ran and said goodbye.
I shivered and tried to ignore the frigid stares from everyone around me. After all, I had not chosen to walk this path. My entrance into this way of life had not been my doing. I had been tricked.
I had run so far, from my home and from my past. Now, I was ready to just let them win. I couldn't keep walking for much longer.
My journey through this place had been terrifying, and I still wasn’t free. I was no longer a slave, practically shackled to the will of those in control. But I didn’t have the ability to run and beg someone for help.
It was my own fault. I should never have tried to ignore their final ruling. I should have nodded dutifully and took my punishment. I should never have tried to teach those monsters that maybe freedom is all we have; and that we have a right to it.
I stepped backwards from the crowd, pulling my coat around me. If I stopped walking for even a moment, then it could be my downfall. I glanced around worriedly. The snow falling steadily had slightly obscured my vision. Still I could tell that there were no police or peacekeepers lurking in the shadows.
“Do I know you?” I heard a boy asked me. I assessed his appearance critically. He was relatively short, with spiky brown hair. His bright red coat was designed to draw attention to him. He wasn’t a threat.
I smiled distractedly. “I don’t think so.”
“I’m sure I’ve seen you before. I wouldn’t forget a face as beautiful as yours.”
My eyes widened, and I noticed that something was concealed in his coat. I recoiled, already paranoid. It could be a gun.
“You don’t know me. I’ve only been in town a few days,” I replied as casually as I could.
He nodded, as if expecting this answer. “Are you staying long; I cold give you a tour if you like?”
I shook my head. “I don’t even know your name. How could I trust you?”
His expression betrayed his anger, and adrenaline began to course through my veins. Something was terribly wrong here.
“If my name is all you want, then I can tell you that. My name is Jayden.” His eyes searched mine, pointedly. This situation was starting to frighten me. I couldn’t just walk away, or he might realise that the place he knew me from was a wanted poster.
“I’m…” I froze. I couldn’t tell him my real name. For once, I thought of the past I had sought for so long to conceal.
“Your name?” Jayden’s eyes widened as if recalling some astonishing feat.
I settled on the name of my sister; who I had left behind to try and reach safety. Turns out that even the safest place in an Empire is not a place to call home for the poorest and the most alone.
“I’m Jeannette.”
He laughed. “Are you? I’m sure your name was Amanda Fitzpatrick.”
His expression that was before so warm and welcoming; had became that of a hunter stalking his prey.
I stepped back slowly. To run so far, across country and sea and to be found by someone who was barely a man. To outwit the most seasoned detectives and to be discovered by a boy was shocking. I must have been growing weak and complacent.
“You’ll never take me alive!” I snarled, preparing to run. Relying on the most primal instincts, I tried to sprint away. Jayden grabbed me.
“We don’t need you alive,” he pointed out as I struggled for freedom.