But for the first time, I had something to offer as a rebuttal to her reasonings. She said a lot of things with such passion and pain over the years. Her heart died that day, and she’d never allowed herself to move on.
We had escaped. Constantine didn’t. She was right; but little did she know, there was one part of her story that wasn’t true.
Rule 5 - Eisley
Be weary with who you trust.
Ten years ago.
“Kansas, I think I’m in trouble.”
A single, dull bulb blinked above us, threatening to engulf us in darkness at any moment. I huddled closer to the eleven-year-old boy with the glasses to share warmth.
He pulled me in closer, and, teeth chattering, said, “Why do you say that?”
“Something happened.” I shivered. “I told a Mother about it and she said the Minister would need to know. That’s why we haven’t gotten any food.”
We stared at the large metal door that remained locked. We’d been trapped in here with no food and no information on why we were being punished or when it would end.
Kansas took in my words but said nothing. He knew as well as I did that once the Family decided something, they wouldn’t go back on it. We wouldn’t be eating until they decided our punishment was over.
It’d been five days.
“They’ll come soon. I know it,” he reassured me. We came here together years ago. We were raised with the Family, despite not knowing any of them. We shared all of what we could glean from them with each other. They weren’t coming.
“Come on, we’ll get some more water.” He pulled me up with him. “And then we’ll sleep. It saves energy.”
My body wobbled as I dragged my bare, dirty feet across the cement floor. I held onto Kansas tightly, knowing I’d collapse to the ground if I didn’t.
“It’s okay, Eisley, we’ll get through this. It’s just another punishment. We’ve been through this.” He reached the filthy sink, black with mildew, and twisted the old knobs. It squeaked and yellow water poured from it. Kansas picked up the green plastic cup we shared and filled it. We took turns drinking until our empty bellies were full. We’d grown accustomed to this, but it didn’t make it any easier.
Then, we returned to the mattress. It had been here before we arrived. That and the sink were the only things in here. This had been our home for so long, and still, nothing had changed except our strength and will to keep fighting.Slowly, it was disappearing.
Had I been put in here alone, I would have broken years ago.
We were a foot away from the bed, when Kansas froze.
I looked up at him in confusion. His eyes were wide and his mouth had fallen open as he stared down at the floor.
“Eisley, you’re bleeding.”
I looked down. A long trail of red slid down my legs and dripped onto the cement. I dropped his hand quickly and hurried to the bathroom. I shut the old, metal door behind me and reached for the only towel we had. It was thin and ripped and covered in holes, but it was all we had. I shoved it between my legs and began to clean myself, but the blood kept coming.
I’d tried so hard to hide it. Ever since it started, I couldn’t get it to stop. It hurt so much, and yet no one came to help me. I was being punished, but for what, I was still unsure.
Kansas pounded on the door.
“Eisley, are you okay? Where did you cut yourself? Do we need to see a Mother?”
Hot tears stung my cheeks as I continued to stop the bleeding coming from my privates, but nothing worked.
“No!” I shouted back.
This was why we were being punished. The Mother had said it was normal. How could it be though? There was so much of it!
I jerked my head up to the sound of a loud screeching in the other room. Someone had finally opened our door.
“Where is Eisley?” the Minister demanded.
