Chapter VIII - Part II

Read all available chapters:

1. Chapter I
2. Chapter II - Part I, Part II
3. Chapter III
4. Chapter IV
5. Chapter V
6. Chapter VI - Part I, Part II
7. Chapter VII - Part I, Part II
8. Chapter VIII - Part I

Chapter VIII - Part II

There wasn't much she wanted to take along with her. She didn't have any personal possessions other than her comb, book, and now Grandpa's box. The first two she could fit into the third and get going. Her mother had eyes only for Margaret who was feeling better now that she was home. Andrew was pacing back and forth in front of the house his mind drifting somewhere dark.

Andy knew she would come back for them once it was safer so she left her farewells for some other time. Without saying a word she stepped out of the back door and started walking towards the A quarter of the city. She avoided the main roads and stuck to the narrow streets between houses, always looking around checking for guards. It was only a matter of time before the guard she had attacked would find her and seek justice. For him her life was worthless but Andy wasn't looking to die just yet.

Fortunately for her, the streets were packed with people so she could disappear quite easily. Aggie was standing in front of the house when she got there. Her red hair was messed by the chilly breeze that was declaring the day's end. She smiled noticing Andy and opened the door.

"Didn't expect you to arrive this early," Aggie said.

"Didn't want to waste any time," Andy answered and stepped inside. This time the table wasn't covered in rich foods but ordinary soup. Andy could feel her stomach clench with the thought of soft bread in her mouth turning into a sticky mash.

"No bread this time, uh?" she asked putting her box on the bench beside her.

"Nope, can't get used to that," Aggie said while setting the table. "And as I remember you ate most of it during lunch."

"How can such a small girl fit that much food in her?" asked Hodge jokingly. Andy looked at Hodge thinking how could a man be this happy all the time.

Aggie filled Andy's bowl with soup and then started pouring it to others as well. Andy didn't wait for Paine, Steele, and Morgan to join. She slurped the soup and noticed that it tasted different. The leaves tasted better, almost like meat, which was funny. The soup she was accustomed to was practically tasteless. She couldn't describe the flavor any other way. But you get used to it once you've eaten it for breakfast for fifteen years.

"Morgan, come fast! The girl is gonna eat all the soup!" Hodge yelled and the three missing men came from the other room. Their faces were serious and worried. Andy wondered if she was the cause of their frustration or was it due to the revolution. She had still trouble believing she had found people who are actually planning an uprising. Out of all the people in the city she had stumbled upon rebels.

"I see you're not exaggerating," said Morgan looking at the pot on the table.

Andy didn't feel comfortable enough in their company to go along with the jokes so she just kept eating. Perhaps her presence made the others feel uncomfortable as well because they ate in silence for a while before Morgan started making preparations for the next day.

"Tomorrow we will all go to work in the morning. I will show you a place you can hide during that time so the guards shouldn't be able to find you if they start going through houses," explained Morgan. Listening to him gave her an opportunity to study his face closer. He might have been the same age as her mother, how else did they know each other. He had a flawless posture accompanied by broad shoulders and rectangular face. His look was sharp like a knife piercing through a person's soul. He didn't ask to be heard, his presence demanded it and his commands to be fulfilled.

"Do you really think they will start looking for her that desperately?" Paine asked. At least Andy thought it was Paine. She had trouble telling which brother was which. Although one of them was taller and more muscular, their faces were the same. Noone had made it clear to her as which was named how so in her mind she called the taller one Paine and the shorter and leaner one Steele.

"I don't know but we'll have to be prepared," answered Morgan.

"Maybe one of us should stay behind?" suggested Hodge. "I mean, we might as well take advantage of our newest member and put her to work."

Andy liked the suggestion. She wanted to be a part of their plan and help to free the people.

"Wouldn't it be suspicious?" asked Aggie and lifted the bowl to her mouth to drink the remaining fluids.

"It's only suspicious if we allow it to be," said Hodge, "we have allowed one of to stay behind before and the guards have never asked about it."

"I still think it's risky," said Aggie and put the bowl back on to the table.

"What kind of work could we give her anyway?" said Paine. "We can't let her go outside or start recruiting. Let's think this through!"

"I agree!" said Morgan. "I also agree that someone should stay behind tomorrow. Even if it's only for one day. Aggie, will you keep her company? Show her around, acquaint her with our progress so far. If she wants to be a part of our group, there are things she should know."

Aggie nodded. "If you think it's for the best."

"I do," said Morgan with a firm nod.

Andy wasn't surprised to see Aggie agreeing to the idea although she was against it. Morgan had ordered so. Andy was excited to be there and looked forward to helping out, but she felt as if something was squeezing her inside and whispering doubts into her ears. She heard Andrew's words asking if she wanted to get killed. She wasn't sure what exactly she had hoped when she had come up with the concept of breaking free. But now there was no turning back.