Escape To The Truth

At the intersection, I could go right and head home – but turning left would take me…

To the state line.

I’d never crossed it before. We’re not supposed to without permission from the governor.

But maybe, just maybe it will get me somewhere.

Hopefully that somewhere is not called prison.

I think I’m going to take the chance. I’m sick and tired of being trapped in this place. We’re constantly monitored and kept in line.

Right now is the first time that I have been out of reach of the surveillance system and I’d rather it stay that way.

I anxiously glance around before proceeding to take the left turn.

This is wrong. I’m probably going to get in trouble. If I do, my parents will be disappointed and who's to say what the government will do to me?

I’ve heard about the disappearances.

My friend was caught sending a message out of state, once.

That was two years ago.

I haven’t seen her since.

I want to take the risk though. No, I have to take the risk. For my friend. For all the citizens of this state who are sick of living like this. Plus, anything would be better than where I’m stuck now.

I slowly approach the painted line on the road. I’m surprised there are no guards or security monitors. They should be more cautious.

Holding my breath, I ease my car over the line.

I’m expecting an alarm to go off as soon as I pass the line. But nothing happens.

I’m free.

That doesn’t matter right now, though. I just need to drive. Get as far away from here as possible.

I step on the gas and flee down the road, a smile pulling at my lips for the first time in a while.

The further I go, the more forested the area becomes. There’s no sign of life anywhere as far as I can see. Perhaps our state is separated from others. Unless…there is no one else out there.

But I’m sure there has to be. We can’t be all there is.

A flash between the trees catches the corner of my eyes. I pull over the car and slowly push the door open, scanning the forest with my eyes as I step out.

There it is again. Somewhere far to the left.

I shut the car door behind me and slowly walk towards the movement that I saw.

Okay, this is stupid. I should just turn back and continue driving. Why am I heading towards the danger?

Because I’m curious.

Dammit, what am I doing? Curiosity is always a person's downfall. I should walk away from the scary noise. Not to it, where someone could be waiting to murder me.

“Hello? Is someone there?”

Agh! Stupid me, again. No one’s going to answer. Especially if they mean to cause me harm.

A branch snapping behind me catches my attention and, before I can even turn around, I feel a cold blade pressed against the center of my back.

“Don’t move a muscle,” I hear a low, firm voice command.

I freeze, my breath hitching in my chest. I take a deep breath in an attempt to stay calm.

“State your name and where you’re from. Now.” I can tell the voice is a young woman now.

“Elle Jones. And I'm from the state just southeast of here. Th-The Marjinic, as it’s known to some,” I say quickly, hoping that’s enough for this mysterious stranger.

“Marjinic. You mean that governmented area where they monitor everyone like pets?” she recalls with a tone of distaste. “What are you doing out here?” She sounds less harmful now. More…intrigued.

“I escaped. Surprisingly easily, actually,” I explain, now more calm than I was a minute ago.

Thankfully, she lowers the blade from my back and I am able to slowly turn around.

She has beautiful black hair that is up in a high ponytail, perfectly charred skin, and bright glowing green eyes. She’s wearing boots, black traditional pants, a white tank top under a dirtied bomber jacket, and a black mask covering the bottom half of her face.

She is holding a knife in her right hand.

“You can call me Nerami,” she says as she pockets the knife and pulls out a canteen of water to take a sip.

“Nice to meet you, I suppose. If you don’t mind me asking, what are you doing out here?” I ask with honest curiosity. I cross my arms and tilt my head to listen to her explanation.

“The government? They’re up to some suspicious things. They’re monitoring all of you people to study the human body. To see how it reacts to certain things and what they can do without pushing it too far. I escaped a few years ago, about two, I’d say, and I’ve been living out here ever since,” she recalls thoughtfully, downing a tad bit more of the water and then putting it away.

She motions for me to follow her and, after a moment of hesitation and contemplation, I do.

“Could I…Could I stay with you? I don’t know where to go, and I don’t want to go too far. My family is still in there and needs my help,” I suggest quietly as she leads me deeper into the dense forest.

A moment of silence passes.

“I suppose you can. The more the merrier. A greater number would be harder to defeat,” she says tentatively.

A branch from the nearest tree drags along my bare right forearm and I cover it with my left hand. It stings, but I don’t complain. I can’t risk the loss of a possible companion in these hard times.

We arrive at a small cave and she leads the way inside. She grabs a torch from the entrance and uses it to light a fire in the middle of the small cave room.

The fire illuminates the whole space.

A small, hand-made table to the right. A few blankets to the left. Drawings on the wall of the cave directly in front of me.

I pause as I look at the carvings. I walk closer and inspect them.

There’s a heart with a star in the middle. Inside the star is the word “Hope.” I know that symbol.

It’s the symbol my friend and I used when we were younger. All the way up until she disappeared.

Two years ago.

I freeze and then turn my head to look at Nerami.

“Palan?” I ask, my eyes tearing slightly. “I thought you were gone forever.”

“Wait…” She doesn’t seem to remember at first but I watch as the realization fills her eyes. “It’s you.”

She smiles and I return it. She runs to me and pulls me into a bear hug. “I’ve missed you. I didn’t recognize you. You’ve grown so much in such little time,” she complains.

“So have you,” I respond more positively.

“We’ll get through this together, won’t we? Just like we always have,” she whispers, looking at me tenderly, now that she knows who I am. She always did have a soft spot for me.

“Always,” I murmur back, feeling my heart warm.

“But for now, how about dinner?” she asks kindly, letting go of me and walking to the table.

I nod and follow.

Perhaps this won’t be as bad as I thought. Especially with a friend, now.