Does everyone have to do that?
Of course not, he scoffed as only a twelve-year-old could. Only boys.
That’s not fair.
He looked at me strangely, cocking his head to the side, his young face frowning in thought, then glanced up at the mountain again with unease.
Is there something up there? I asked this because I could feel his growing apprehension. Was something about to happen?
The prison, he muttered, setting a foot on his ball to keep it still. It looked like a regular soccer ball that would be found in any sporting-goods store back on Earth.
The prison is up in the mountains? Who’s up there? Anyone dangerous?
We captured Brausiians.
Brausiians? How long have they been up there?
A few months. They attacked at the border to the north of here, killing a dozen of our soldiers.
What’s going to happen to them?
Probably going to be executed. He looked up at the mountain again. I wish they had more security guards up there.
There aren’t that many?
He shook his head. Importantly, he reported, The mountain is mostly made of granite, which is an effective block for mylunate transfer.
Granite?
He nodded. They took a bunch of soldiers off prison duty because they wanted to spare as many soldiers for the border’s defense as possible. There’s only a skeleton crew on-site at the prison. There’ve been many attacks on the borders in the last month.
It sounds like a bad idea, taking soldiers off prison-guard duty.
My dad knows what’s best, Ryder stated firmly, probably more to convince himself than anyone else, since it seemed as though he was expecting something bad to happen. A shiver danced down my spine at the prospect.
A shrill scream rent the air.
Asily! The panicked horror on his face as he took off running through the woodlands had me following closely on his heels. Dodging around the maze of trees, turning left and finding no one, then right and finding no one, and spinning back around to run more was dizzying and terrifying. Leaves and branches scratched at my face and caught on my clothes. Ryder was hoarsely shouting, Asily! Answer me! Please!
Another cry split the peaceful beauty with its ugly secret.
No! Don’t! A girl’s voice cried out before going silent.
Oh, no! Ryder stopped running. It’s too late. He punched the tree directly in front of him once, twice, three times, sounds of anguish forced from his lips as he threw his body into each punch, making the blood run down his knuckles. Then he slid, boneless, down the trunk of the tree, bracing his head on his hands between his up-drawn knees. It’s too late. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.
Ryder, tell me!
She’s over there. I can’t go over there! I can’t look. I can’t look again. He was shaking with his fear.
I morphed into my grown-up body. Ryder. It’s me.
His tearstained eyes lifted up at the change in my voice from child to adult. In just a few seconds, he knew who I was. Moved to comfort him, I knelt and grabbed his young body in a tight hug, and after a slight hesitation, he accepted my hug and returned it, digging his face into my neck.
Asily is beyond the trees? I asked hesitantly.
Ryder pulled away, somehow still stuck in his young form, seemingly unsure what state of mind to remain in. Confusion, grief and guilt were mixed together on his face, and it was like his feelings forced him to remain in his young mind. I found her.
What happened?
I can’t tell you.
Please, Ryder.
You won’t like me when I tell you. Sorrow haunted his light eyes, making him appear so young and fragile, the evidence of his snarky side shelved in view of his grief.
That’s just not true. Why would you say that?
In a quiet, juvenile voice, he said, My dad stopped liking me. He looked down as though ashamed.
You can’t believe that. There’s no way this is your fault.
It is. I know it. There’s a reason for strict discipline and complete obedience. Things happen when we don’t meet expectations and rules of governance. I didn’t follow my instructions. I was selfish.
Trust me, I said firmly. Please tell me what happened.
With a deep, shuddering breath, he said, I snuck out to play with my ball. I was going crazy staring at the same walls all day, every day, for the last year while there was a quarantine, and I didn’t think that anyone would know if I just stepped out for a couple of hours. I just wanted to be able to run around for a short time.
A year’s a long time, I agreed. It was like he was trying to convince himself of his innocence in this, which was heartbreaking. Who would blame a child? I assured him gently, Anyone would grow crazy. I would go crazy after just a few days.
Ryder’s green eyes were wide and trusting, wanting desperately to be convinced.
Asily knew I snuck out and came looking for me to force me to go home. I heard her scream, but I couldn’t find her. He closed his eyes tightly, and his breathing grew harsh and uneven, reliving the memory. As he did, right before my eyes, he stood and became adult Ryder in low-hanging jeans, a T-shirt and his motorcycle boots. His deep voice continued the story.
The sound echoed in the woods, but then it was cut off, and I couldn’t pinpoint where she was. I was yelling for her, searching, but when I came across her body, it was too late... His lips tightened into a thin line, and his eyes glared straight ahead at an unseen nightmare that only he had access to.
Oh, Ryder. I stood but kept my distance, knowing he wouldn’t appreciate my comfort at this point.
Brausiian soldiers had escaped from the prison. A traitor in our own community helped them, someone we never found. A diversion at the borders had been deliberately created so the prisoners could escape to this forest. They were camping out in the woods, hiding from our security forces. Asily came upon them in her search, and they attacked.
It seemed the worst was still to be confessed. His eyes grew moist and reddened as he took a breath. I barely heard his voice. It was like he was talking to himself.
She was so quiet. So still. I tried to shake her. I tried to yell at her, because she hated that, and I think I was hoping she would yell back, but there was nothing. That’s when I realized I couldn’t feel her energy signature. Nothing. Her neck had been broken.