This is the nineth installment of my NaNoWriMo challenge: My Sister's Keeper, chapter twelve. With this chapter I have uploaded a total of approx 15,300 words. Total written to date is 17,750 words.
Chapters One and Two (Part One)
Chapters Three and Four (Part Two)
Chapters Five and Six (Part Three)
Chapter Seven (Part Four)
Chapter Eight (Part Five)
Chapter Nine (Part Six)
Chapter Ten (Part Seven)
Chapter Eleven (Part Eight)
CHAPTER TWELVE
They waited for the war planes to leave; for the sound of death and destruction to no longer bombard them from above. It had only been a few minutes. Yet it was a few minutes of complete carnage. A carnage that they had managed to escape – thanks, it seems, to Emerald. Anastasia was grateful for the protection and guidance. But her own survival just added to the weight of the guilt she felt, for all the others who were left behind at the charity centre.
“Emma says it's not your fault.” Ruby explained to Anastasia.
Anastasia was jolted out of her deep contemplation by Ruby's words. “I'm sorry, what's not my fault?” she asked, unsure if she had missed half a conversation through all the attention she was giving to her thoughts.
“The death of those who stayed behind. That's not your fault.”
Anastasia wanted to tell her she knew, that everything was fine; that she didn't blame herself. But that would have been a lie. She did feel guilt. And Emerald knew that. She knows my thoughts and my feelings? How is that possible? Anastasia reflected on the significance of this revelation. She felt herself choking up at the thought of just how responsible she felt for their deaths. Stop being foolish, she told herself. How is any of this your fault? Still the feelings of regret and remorse flooded through her.
“I don't think we could have helped them,” Ruby offered, as an antidote to Anastasia's current mood. “They wanted us gone, remember. Didn't they say there was something wrong with us? With me?”
“That is true, Ruby.” Anastasia knew the facts. However, the reality had left her feeling very troubled. She would get over it; it had always been her job to stay strong for others. To put her own feelings to the side, and be a beacon of support for those around her. But out here, in the wilds as it were, they all needed each other. She had hoped the group could have been a centre of support for them. Instead they rejected Ruby. The more Anastasia thought about it - the more she allowed her thoughts and feelings to speak their story - the more she realised that she too had rejected them. She had wished ill upon them, for the audacity they had in casting them side. War has made monsters of us all, she thought.
The day was still very early, and the adrenaline was pumping through their bodies, spurring them on, to keep moving as far away from this place as possible. They slowly emerged from their shelter, and walked back to the street. Looking back in the direction of the supply centre, Anastasia could see fresh smoke billowing up, covering all the surrounding area. That must have been how they treated this whole city, she thought, scanning her view for any signs of trouble or concern.
Anastasia held Ruby's hand. “We need to go now,” she said
Ruby turned and smiled at Emerald, walking beside her. “Momma told me I need to look after you, Ruby,” Emerald told her. “I wont let Momma down.”
Those people rejected an angel, my sister, she told herself. She's always taken care of me, even here in this brutal land. Why would they reject her? Or me? Or did they reject us both? Ruby's mind had trouble contemplating what had happened exactly. And then death visited them too. Emma is my angel of life. She marched on, Anastasia on one side, Emerald on the other. I have my two pillars of protection. Nothing can touch me.
They made their way out of the city, along the path the group would have taken. Anastasia had been given a chance to familiarise herself with the route, although everything became tricky now that all distinguishing marks and signs had been destroyed. Still, there was one main road leading from the city in the direction of the coast. Hard to believe this road once transported all of this city's needs. No cars could possibly get through now. She looked around, as the old highway opened up in front of them, leading out of the urban world behind them, back out in what should have been the pristine countryside. The narrow city streets were impassible for any vehicle – what had once been people homes were laid out strewn in all directions. But now here in front of her Anastasia had another dilemma to face. There were no buildings and structures to destroy out here, so instead it seemed the war planes let loose upon the road itself. Potholes and cracks filled the bitumen as far as the eye could see.
“This won't be easy, walking along here,” Anastasia told Ruby. “We may need to keep to the side, away from all this destruction.”
Ruby nodded in agreement, “yes we should walk over there.” She pointed to the side of the road, where many trees stood, as if watching over their journey. “I like those trees. They're still green and happy looking.”
“Yes, they are happy looking trees, aren't they?” Anastasia responded. It was a good idea she thought. There is far more shelter over there, over here is too exposed, and we will be slowed down too much trying to navigate what's left of this road.
“Those trees will protect us,” Ruby continued. “Then the planes wont be able to see us as easily when they come back.”
“What makes you think they will come back?” Anastasia asked.
“Because death comes for every body,” Ruby explained.
How does a child learn to think like that, Anastasia wondered. Then she looked back, at where they had come from. Behind them lay a city in complete ruin. Smoke rising from dozens of locations, a grey and lifeless vapour hanging menacingly over her. There's no one left alive there. No one who has escaped the clutches of death. Ruby speaks the truth, she told herself. Yet despite all that, we're still alive, guided it would seem by a force more powerful than death. She looked away from the city, and turned to Ruby. “Is Emma okay?” she asked her.
Ruby smiled, and said, “Yes Emma is fine. She said to say thank you.”
“For what?” Anastasia inquired.
“For believing in her.”
This fiction is my own work, written for Steemit
Image Credit: Unsplash.com
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