Chapter 29: Silas
“We’re friends?” Silas asked with a note of disbelief. “Friends don’t let that happen to their friend’s sister.”
“There was nothing I could do,” Jamar said still holding out the pillowcase. “Are you going to escape or not?”
Something told him to let it go, but Silas couldn’t. He wiped the rain out of his eyes. “There was nothing you could do? You’re a Tirean. You weren’t being held by two guards. You weren’t tricked into letting them gut your sister. You weren’t....” Trapped inside. Silas wanted to scream. He’d done nothing. It was all his fault and he still felt a chill inside. How could he feel this cold when he knew he cared?
“So you don’t think we’re friends?” Jamar asked his eyebrows lowered and the arm holding a pillowcase dropped.
Silas closed his eyes. “We hung out a few times and we had several small adventures, but being friends is more than that.”
“I am looking out for you. I got you out of the Cartiam all by myself. I’m risking everything to do this one thing for you.”
“I’m not saying I don’t appreciate the risks you took to help me.”
“Then what are you saying ‘cause it sounds like you don’t think I’ve done enough.”
Silas held out his hand. “Maybe if you had protected Malina like you promised. If you’d saved her like I asked,” the weight of what had happened started to crush him. He glanced at Malina and she was staring ahead at the road, rain soaking her hair and streamed down her face. Several drops rolled right over her eyes and she didn’t even blink to stop them.
“I tried to. But she was ready, she had to be harvested. Besides she’s still safe. Look at her, she’s happy to be like this.”
“Stop it! She doesn’t know what she’s lost, but I do.” Silas ran his fingers through his hair. The stillness inside him hardened as a clamor of anger, frustration and despair tried to claw its way out. He waited a second to let his heart slow down. “This is not the sister I had. You and your father stole her from me and from her. You emptied her of everything she loved. This was what she feared. It was why we tried to escape to keep her from becoming lost and she struggled to keep herself calm every day for me. Everything I worked so hard to avoid has--has swallowed me whole and I may never forgive....” He had failed and he would never be able to forgive himself.
Jamar took a step forward. “I don’t care if you forgive me. I don’t care if anyone forgives me. You’re Car scum. Nobody cares about you or your idiot of a sister.”
Silas said nothing. It’s not what he meant.
“Here,” Jamar said tossing the pillowcase so it spilled out in the mud at Silas’ feet. “I put one of her e-mems in there. Maybe you can find a way to stick it back in her empty head.”
“You’re going to let us go?” Silas raised his chin.
“I said I would save your sister and I did. She’s alive so I kept my word. As for you, you saved my life once and this is me returning the favor. Run as far and as fast as you can. I won’t say a word all night, but,” Jamar stepped closer and stuck his finger in Silas’ face. “In the morning, when the first rays of light poke over the horizon, I’ll be leading the charge and I promise you this, I will find you. On the day I do you will lose everything you care about and then I will strap you to the Machine and watch the life drain out of your eyes. As of this day I will never care about another Car. Your whole class will suffer under my wrath and it will be your fault.”
“Then I will make it my purpose to stop you.” For once Silas felt calm. It was too late for him to protect Malina, but he would find a way to protect the others. He wasn’t sure how or if he would even know where to start. But one day he wanted all Carillians to be free, he would rescue them from Malina’s fate and give them a future.
“If you ever figure out which end of a sword to hold come look me up.” Jamar spun on his heels and stomped back to the Cartiam.
“I will.” The words were quiet, but Silas meant it. He felt heavy and a new chill crept into his bones. The rain was starting to fall heavier. Jamar broke into a jog and Silas watched him go. When they were alone he stuffed the spilled food back into the pillowcase.
“I’m really am sorry,” he said. Malina stared at him as if she’d just met him and it hurt more than Silas thought it would. Her hair was matted to her face and some of it blocked her eyes. He reached over and brushed it away tucking it behind her ear.
“I will do everything I can to keep you safe,” Silas promised her. Perhaps Jamar was right. Perhaps he could get her memories and put them back into her mind. The thought gave him the smallest amount of hope that he might one day get his sister back. If there was a way he’d find it.
“Come on.” Silas took her hand and they ran into the woods.
Watch for Book Two in this Series
Remembered
Available Summer 2013
About the Author
Christina J. Adams finds inspiration in the green rolling hills and farmland surrounding her home in Maryland. She loves writing and reading books for children and teens and gets so excited about a new book coming out, from any of her many favorite authors, that it’s probably not good for her health. She didn’t think being a writer was a serious profession until after high school, but has since decided it is the best career ever.
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