Too Far

Dabria’s dark hair reflects the moonlight like a mirror. The long flowing locks a stark contrast to her pale skin.

My attention snaps back to where it should be: the task at hand- breaking into the government building. The building looms over Lower City, reminding everyone in the lower city just how much they’ve taken from us. The people in power have imposed deep taxes, leaving most of us with nothing left to pay for food.

Breaking in will be no easy task, but the rewards will be worth it. The food stores could feed half of Lower City for a month, easily.

“Just how do you plan to do this, Laren?” Dabria’s smooth, silk-like voice cuts through the silence.

I hadn’t really thought it all the way through, but I don’t want to admit that to her. I avoid looking in her direction as I hop down from the ledge we’ve both been perched on.

“Look, it’s a work in progress,” I chuckle through my teeth, “we’ll figure it out together. We just need to figure out how to get past the guards at the gate, once we do that, we’re golden.”

Dabria rolls her eyes, “Like that’s the hard part.”

She’s not wrong, the building’s front doors have cameras above them, that coupled with the biometric sensor that reads palms, makes getting into the building a nightmare. None of that matters though if we can’t even get close to the building.

Dabria follows after me, heading back towards our home base. The alleyways of the Lower City smell of poverty. The mud clings to the base of the run-down shacks, and the scent of fire hangs in the air. There’s always smoke in the alleyways. That’s how the government keeps us in check, by setting the shops of those who refuse to pay on fire, or by simply shooting them in the street; the treatment my father received.

No amount of terrorism will dissuade me in my pursuit of equality. I will make them pay for all the wrongs they’ve committed against myself, Dabria, and the rest of Lower City.

It takes a solid fifteen minutes to make our way back home. Opening the door, there’s a familiar noise bolstering about the room; Leora and Baelyn arguing over the stove. Hands are flying every which way and for a moment it looks as if the singular pot that we own might get knocked right off the burner.

“Cut it out you two,” I growl as I brush a hand through my short ashen brown hair, trying to keep my cool, “we don’t have extra rations to spare if you make a mess!”

“Baelyn is trying to add in tomorrow’s meat!” Leora squeals.

I sigh, “Baelyn. Listen to her please and stop the bickering. I need quiet.”

Baelyn’s face looks disgruntled as he put the extra ration of meat back into the cooler. He’s hungry, hell, we all are. We’ve been eating the bare minimum of calories to try to extend the amount of food that we have left. Baelyn seems to be taking the calorie cut back especially hard though, he’s a rather large fellow that looks like he lifts fifty pound sacks of flour for fun. His cheeks are starting to look a little gaunt.

I take my seat at the table in the center of the room, Dabria as usual, taking her spot right next to me. The rest of the room follows suit and quietly takes their seats.

“We need a plan for the government building.” I demand as my gaze skips across each of their faces.

Baelyn laughs, “We’d have better luck trying to blow the damn thing up!”

Laughter fills all of our bellies for a moment before getting back to our brainstorming.

“We need an inside man,” Leora chimes in.

The thought had crossed my mind. If one of us could get through the biometrics, then we could simply be let in when the guards aren’t paying attention. Fat chance though, most of us here in our little group of rebels have committed some act against the government to land us on a list.

Baelyn’s low chuckle interrupts my thought, “Who do you suppose we rope into doing that?”

Silence fills the air as we all ponder who would be stupid enough to throw their lot in with us.

“Arabella would do it.” Leora’s tone is soft, almost cautious.

My stomach drops. Theres no way that I could let Dabria’s little sister into our mess. Or that Dabria would allow it for that matter. Dabria’s hand slams on the table, “I’ve told you, she is off limits. Just imagine what they would do to her if they figured out our plan!”

I slide my hand onto her shoulder to try to calm her down, “It’s not happening. We’ll find another way. Let’s eat and we’ll come at this fresh minded in the morning.”

The stew could have really used the extra ration of meat.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The morning comes with no change in the air. There must have been more fires set while we slept. As per usual, I’m the first awake. Making my way to the bathroom, I tiptoe over my friends who have each found a spot on the floor to camp out.

My ashen hair looks wet from the sweat that’s accumulated from the lack of air conditioning in the house. Brushing it won’t help much, but it’s the least that I can do.

Leora’s soft footsteps drag my eyes away from myself in the mirror, “I’m going to go talk to Arabella, she’s old enough now to make her own decision about joining the movement. Also, she’s perfect. She even looks like the government people.”

Arabella is the opposite of her sister, light blonde hair, with blue eyes and a soft smile. Dabria has been hardened by the life that she’s had to live, even her features have sharpened over the years.

I know that I can’t stop Leora, once she’s made up her mind, no one can. She turns away without another word and heads out the door. Presumably to Dabria’s family home.

Hours pass while Dabria and Baelyn spit ball ideas. Crazy thoughts were thrown out, even one that suggested Dabria seduce one of the guards in the front of the building; that one specially made my skin crawl.

I can hear giggling through the doorway and I know that we’re about to experience a downright, dirty, Dabria explosion. One that may be well deserved.

“What. Is. She. Doing. Here?” Her voice is low and bone chilling.

Leora puts her hands up in defense, “You know it’s the best option, she has no criminal background, she looks the part, and is also downright loveable.”

Dabria’s voice heightens, “You’re right! Loveable, I love her! What if something happens to her, I RAISED her!”

Arabella pulls out a small card from her coat pocket, “It’s too late, Bria. I already enlisted. I start tomorrow morning.”

The look of defeat that washes over Dabria’s face forms a pit in my stomach that I can’t stand. I step towards her to caress her face, but she pulls away from me, her gaze staring through me.

I’m officially in the dog house.

Giving her some space will be the best option. Grabbing my jacket on the way, I make my way onto the street.

There are vendors all over Lower City, selling all sorts of things. Back Alley is known for the, lets just say less than legal items. There are a few long standing vendors in Back Alley that have become sort of a family to the four of us. Might as well go check out their wares.

The weathered familiar faces offer up half smiles and nods as I pass by. Much of the same sits atop the stall counters: knives, a couple of guns, and-

Baelyn’s voice rings through my head: We’d have better luck blowing it up.

Right in the last stall sits the answer to our problem. It gets Arabella out of the government building and back home. More importantly, gets me out of the doghouse.

I walk over to the merchant and flash the last of the silver pieces that I own. He sighs before handing over the homemade explosive, “For the cause.”

“Thank you,” I whisper as I take my jacket off to wrap around it. I need to hurry home. If I’m caught with this, it’s firing squad on site.

The setting night has provided me with some cover at least. I briskly make my way back to home base, not too fast as to not draw any unwanted attention.

Dabria is in the shower when I return, Baelyn immediately knows that I’m up to something.

“What are you up to?”

I flash the corner of the bomb to him and his eyes widen. “I was only joking! People could get hurt. We’re trying to help people, not kill them.”

“They choose to kill us everyday, why shouldn’t we play by the same rules?” I question.

Baelyn is barely speaking above a whisper, “Someone from Lower City could end up in the crosshairs, then we would be just like them.”

I scoff at the thought, making my way to my own special corner of the room we all share and sulking down into it. I’ll place it tonight, then before Arabella even has the chance to go in, I’ll set it off.

“Are you with me or not, Baelyn.” My voice is grizzly, demanding obedience.

He nods his head but doesn’t look up from the floor.

The sunlight fades to darkness and it’s time for Baelyn and me to head out to set the explosive.

Back Alley is unusually empty; the goosebumps form and I can’t help but feel as if something is wrong. Eventually we make it to the government building, now just where to set the damn thing.

There’s a corner that peaks my interest, not wrapped up in fencing or set with guards, just brick foundation that stands about fifteen feet high. The perfect spot.

We set the explosive and then run as fast as we can to get away from the blast. Baelyn and I take cover behind a car that looks like it hasn’t moved in a decade.

1..2…3….

Nothing. Nothing happens?! What the hell?

I throw my hands in the air, “The guy sold me a bum bomb!”

Baelyn looks almost relieved, “It’s probably for the best anyways. We don’t know who we could’ve hurt. Let’s head home and get some sleep. Arabella will continue with the original plan.”

The morning whisks away the cover of night and Arabella is off to do her first job as a part of the cause. Sneaking in right under their eyes.

A few hours go buy and we still hear nothing from her.

Then sirens sound through the alleys of Lower City.

Smoke billows above the government building, or what’s left of it. It has crumpled in on itself.

Dabria screams, “Arabella was in there! What is happening?!” She runs out the door running towards the chaos. Baelyn’s face is ghostly white as he stares me down.

Leora exchanges glances between us, “What have you done?”

I don’t spare her an answer as I chase after Dabria. My feet not able to move fast enough to keep up with her. Finally I make my way to where she’s kneeling, holding Arabella’s crushed body in her hands, tears pouring down her face.

“I…I’m sorry.. I thought..” I mumble.

“You thought what? You did this?!” She screams, wiping away tears.

Baelyn pushes me away, “I told you this was a bad idea man, it had a delayed timer. You blew the building with everyone inside,” he rushes his hands to cover his eyes, “you took it too far this time man.”

Dabria stands and throws a punch that lands squarely on my jaw, knocking me down. I’m unable to think, or move. I did this.

Leora grabs me by my collar, forcing me to my feet, “You need to leave.”

“Don’t come back,” Dabria yells as she clutches to Arabella’s lifeless body.

I stumble a few steps back, looking up at the destruction that I have caused.