A legend, a myth, a mystery; that’s what the free land was. Everyone knew about the free land, yet no one dared to speculate about it. The mere name was a curse, and anyone who had the audacity to utter its name publicly would surely be sentenced to death. Despite that, their father didn’t have a fear of it. When they lounged in the confined solitude of their home, he spoke about it with no restraint, leaving his children with dangerous thoughts spinning in their heads. Perhaps that was what had been the final straw for those enforcer scouts, what had caused them to storm their house and take him away. Many said there were bugs planted in the walls of each house, listening to every last word that was said — she didn’t doubt it anymore, like she used to.
The crunch of dry leaves was about the only sound in the dense woods of whichever sector they were in. She wandered around, peering into the crevices of moss-covered trees and behind bushes, searching for any source of water and food, eventually returning to Emery empty-handed. He regarded her with a grim look, mouth pressed into a thin line, following Rina’s lead as she started to walk again, finding that this time around, her breaths came short and labored. She felt exhausted.
Some days ago, when they had just begun on their journey, Rina had told Emery that their names were no longer Carina Cambridge and Emery Cambridge. Instead, they were Danielle and Felix, for anonymity. He’d obliged with the sudden change, only nodding mutely in response. Lately, Emery’s usual flamboyant personality had been seemingly tamped down by what he’d endured. Rina couldn’t blame him, and she had more pressing things to worry about — but it still made her sad that the small, frightened boy by her side, her brother, was utterly unfamiliar to her.
“Rina, why are we running? What happened to Dad?” Emery’s brown, baggy eyes were wide.
Wincing, Rina averted eye contact. How easy was it to tell someone their beloved dad was locked captive by scouts and probably dead? How easy was it to say that the past crimes their dad now regretted had caught up to him? How easily could she tell her brother that they were guilty by association and had to leave as soon as possible unless they wanted to die as well?
It was anything but easy. Rina settled for a simple “it’s going to be okay,” with her eyes downcast. She knew that he, as a nine-year-old, wouldn’t handle this information well. As predicted, he nodded, looking away uncomfortably. Rina felt a pang of sorrow.
Rina recalled that moment, nine days ago, when they sat in the living room of their house. Sunlight calmly streamed through the windows. As usual, Emery pressed their father with a constant stream of questions, dimples displayed on his smiling face. Rina curled up on the couch, reading a book, grinning internally at this everyday spectacle.
She didn’t remember much after that, only a panicked haze of chaos that had erupted out of nowhere, tears that wouldn’t stop streaming down her face, and the look in her father’s mournful eyes, staring at her meaningfully as he was dragged out. Eyes that told her they’d be back soon, for Rina and Emery — and that the siblings better run if they didn’t want to die. Rina could put two and two together. There was only one place people ran to, and he’d made it obvious where that place was. There had been no comfort in the warm sunlight then as she and Emery dashed to the sector borders and squeezed between the electrified wires when the watch scouts weren’t looking.
And what was the free land, anyway? Rina’s nosy neighbor said it was a compilation of three conjoined sectors. Her best friend said it was a place where scouts didn’t exist. Her aunt said that commuters were so lax on the rules, it was like there weren’t even any. And of course, their father said all of these things and more, adding that the free land was just North of their sector.
Wherever and whatever it was, Rina knew they would be better off there than here.
It became harder to walk as the day went on, and Rina felt mildly thankful for the trees shading them from the heat. They had crossed through at least three sectors by now, all of which were to the North of their sector. She never remembered being this hungry and fatigued in her life; before, there had been food and water always within reach. Her vision went out of focus; her breathing slowed drastically. If they didn’t reach civilization soon . . . Rina wouldn’t think about it.
She started to hear noises. A faint gurgling sound. The rustling of a critter overhead. The motor of an aircraft. Rina trudged along, dragging worn-out shoes through slightly damp dirt, feeling sweat drip down her face. She felt Emery slowing his pace behind her, and she knew he was getting tired. For days, they’d had a limited amount of food, water, and rest. She didn’t know how much longer they could put up with this way of living that they just weren’t used to.
Rina heard it, then — a murmur at first, and then a larger swell. Voices, she was sure of it. Had they finally reached the free land, or was this simply another sector? From the tilt of his face, Rina could tell Emery heard it too; she wasn’t imagining it. She started to walk faster until she reached a clearing. The woods were long behind her as she sped up, feeling Emery’s footsteps next to her. She rushed down a hill, noting the absence of wire and watchtowers; she didn’t dare believe it yet.
Only when she saw the bustling, unfenced, freed town did Rina let herself release a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding.
They had made it to the free land.
The crunch of dry leaves was about the only sound in the dense woods of whichever sector they were in. She wandered around, peering into the crevices of moss-covered trees and behind bushes, searching for any source of water and food, eventually returning to Emery empty-handed. He regarded her with a grim look, mouth pressed into a thin line, following Rina’s lead as she started to walk again, finding that this time around, her breaths came short and labored. She felt exhausted.
Some days ago, when they had just begun on their journey, Rina had told Emery that their names were no longer Carina Cambridge and Emery Cambridge. Instead, they were Danielle and Felix, for anonymity. He’d obliged with the sudden change, only nodding mutely in response. Lately, Emery’s usual flamboyant personality had been seemingly tamped down by what he’d endured. Rina couldn’t blame him, and she had more pressing things to worry about — but it still made her sad that the small, frightened boy by her side, her brother, was utterly unfamiliar to her.
“Rina, why are we running? What happened to Dad?” Emery’s brown, baggy eyes were wide.
Wincing, Rina averted eye contact. How easy was it to tell someone their beloved dad was locked captive by scouts and probably dead? How easy was it to say that the past crimes their dad now regretted had caught up to him? How easily could she tell her brother that they were guilty by association and had to leave as soon as possible unless they wanted to die as well?
It was anything but easy. Rina settled for a simple “it’s going to be okay,” with her eyes downcast. She knew that he, as a nine-year-old, wouldn’t handle this information well. As predicted, he nodded, looking away uncomfortably. Rina felt a pang of sorrow.
Rina recalled that moment, nine days ago, when they sat in the living room of their house. Sunlight calmly streamed through the windows. As usual, Emery pressed their father with a constant stream of questions, dimples displayed on his smiling face. Rina curled up on the couch, reading a book, grinning internally at this everyday spectacle.
She didn’t remember much after that, only a panicked haze of chaos that had erupted out of nowhere, tears that wouldn’t stop streaming down her face, and the look in her father’s mournful eyes, staring at her meaningfully as he was dragged out. Eyes that told her they’d be back soon, for Rina and Emery — and that the siblings better run if they didn’t want to die. Rina could put two and two together. There was only one place people ran to, and he’d made it obvious where that place was. There had been no comfort in the warm sunlight then as she and Emery dashed to the sector borders and squeezed between the electrified wires when the watch scouts weren’t looking.
And what was the free land, anyway? Rina’s nosy neighbor said it was a compilation of three conjoined sectors. Her best friend said it was a place where scouts didn’t exist. Her aunt said that commuters were so lax on the rules, it was like there weren’t even any. And of course, their father said all of these things and more, adding that the free land was just North of their sector.
Wherever and whatever it was, Rina knew they would be better off there than here.
It became harder to walk as the day went on, and Rina felt mildly thankful for the trees shading them from the heat. They had crossed through at least three sectors by now, all of which were to the North of their sector. She never remembered being this hungry and fatigued in her life; before, there had been food and water always within reach. Her vision went out of focus; her breathing slowed drastically. If they didn’t reach civilization soon . . . Rina wouldn’t think about it.
She started to hear noises. A faint gurgling sound. The rustling of a critter overhead. The motor of an aircraft. Rina trudged along, dragging worn-out shoes through slightly damp dirt, feeling sweat drip down her face. She felt Emery slowing his pace behind her, and she knew he was getting tired. For days, they’d had a limited amount of food, water, and rest. She didn’t know how much longer they could put up with this way of living that they just weren’t used to.
Rina heard it, then — a murmur at first, and then a larger swell. Voices, she was sure of it. Had they finally reached the free land, or was this simply another sector? From the tilt of his face, Rina could tell Emery heard it too; she wasn’t imagining it. She started to walk faster until she reached a clearing. The woods were long behind her as she sped up, feeling Emery’s footsteps next to her. She rushed down a hill, noting the absence of wire and watchtowers; she didn’t dare believe it yet.
Only when she saw the bustling, unfenced, freed town did Rina let herself release a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding.
They had made it to the free land.