“I know.” It wasn’t a surprise after what my mother had told me earlier that night. I wondered if Rebecca knew why I’d been arrested. I wasn’t sure where I would go or even how I’d get there. Leaving Genesis seemed like it would be difficult as guards always stood duty at the wall. Even if Rebecca knew one or two, dozens usually patrolled the area.
“Follow closely,” Rebecca informed me as she extinguished the flame and we walked through the darkened streets towards the east end of town, where my childhood home resided. Guards patrolled the streets, but none approached us. I wondered why they left us alone. His mother’s voice was soft, answering my unspoken question. “They’re members of the rebel alliance.”
“How many are there?” I asked in wonder. I never knew such a faction existed.
She didn’t answer me. Quietly, she led me across the street and toward my mother’s home. We walked along the grass and to the side of the house, finally coming around back. Immediately, I knew where we were going but I didn’t see how it would help. “The old cellar,” I mumbled quietly, unsure why we were heading there. There wasn’t much but old, dusty, illegal books. Did they want me to hide there until morning? As soon as daylight came and the guards changed shift I’d be found. Having escaped from a locked prison cell, they’d come looking for me. I didn’t want to think of the interrogation my mother would endure.
“Come quick,” Rebecca had pushed aside the shrubbery and pulled back the large wooden door. “Take this,” she encouraged, handing over a skeleton key that had been strung around her neck.
“What’s this for?” As soon as I asked, I already knew the answer. There had been a door in the cellar, locked for as long as I could remember. I had never been able to find a key and wondered how Rebecca had it while it was my mother’s cellar. I found myself with more questions as she gestured for me to go.
“There’s a locked door just down those stairs. Use the key. It’ll take you someplace safe.” She told me with a serious look. “You can never come back to Genesis. The Governor will have your head and try you for treason. He’ll kill all of us if he knows we helped you escape. I’ll send word that you’re on your way. You’ll be safe there, Olivia.”
I took the key and the first step before turning around, eyeing Rebecca. “Why are you doing this for me?”
She merely smiled and gave her son a hug. “Take care of her, Joshua.”
My mouth hung agape. I hadn’t thought he’d come with me, but I didn’t argue or suggest otherwise.
“We should go.” I knew it wouldn’t be long until the government started hunting us. I didn’t want to face their wrath. I felt Joshua’s hand at the small of my back as he ushered me further into the cellar.
His mother closed the wooden door, and complete darkness encompassed us. I carefully took the final step down, my hand reaching behind me to help Joshua on the stairs.
“Hold on,” he insisted. I turned around to face him but couldn’t see his outline in the blackness of the cellar. I heard the faintest sound as he struck a match and used the visible light to guide him further inside. “Give me a minute.” The flame licked his fingers, and he shook his hand. A moment later he repeated the motion, finding a lantern. It illuminated the room, casting a faint glow over the small space. “Grab this.” He handed me a backpack and put one on his shoulders.
“What’s in here?” The few times I’d snuck inside I hadn’t seen any backpacks. I pulled it over my shoulders and took the key toward the cellar door. Using the light Joshua had from the lantern, I guided the skeleton key into the lock, giving it a turn before pulling open the heavy door. A wave of dust erupted, and I coughed and grimaced as I wiped myself off as best I could. Together we set out into the tunnel.
CHAPTER 5
The journey on foot was difficult. Already, I felt chilled from the damp tunnel we navigated. The first few hours were quiet between us. I didn’t know what to say to Joshua. He risked his life, as did his mother, and then he chose to come with me, knowing he could never return home. Neither of us could.
“Let me know if you need water,” he offered.
My mouth was parched, but I hadn’t thought we had anything to drink. In fact, I had no idea what was inside the backpacks. “We have water?” I asked, glancing back at him and pausing for a moment. I knew we needed to walk faster, but I was thirsty and hadn’t eaten since lunch. It was now the middle of the night and likely would be morning soon.
Joshua stopped walking and pulled off his pack. Unzipping it, he brought a bottle of water out. “I came prepared,” he smiled, offering it to me first.
I took it from his grasp, opening the lid and swallowing half the bottle in a few short seconds. Removing my lips, I handed it back as he finished the drink and tossed the empty bottle into his bag. We continued down the path, lantern in hand.
“I have to admit,” I glanced back in his direction as we walked. “I was surprised you had two backpacks in the cellar.”
I could hear the smile in his voice, “We all have secrets, Olive.” He wrapped an arm around my shoulder as we walked beside one another. “So, are you going to tell me why I broke you out of jail?” he teased with a growing curiosity. “I know you’re my wife,” he nudged me playfully, “but if you killed someone, I would like to know now before I’m your next victim.”
I laughed, glancing at Joshua. “It’s nothing like that.” I shook my head. “That, at least, would be a reason to throw me in jail.” I was disgusted with Governor Craynor.
“But your mother?” He raised an inquisitive eye. “It wouldn’t explain her arrest. Unless, of course, there’s a new law since she raised you and did such a horrible job,” he taunted.
I slapped his arm playfully. “You’re terrible!”
“You still haven’t answered my question.” Joshua pointed out.
I handed Joshua the lantern, my fingers having grown tired from holding it for so long as we walked together. “Promise not to judge me?”
“We’re running away together.” He smiled. “I make no promises. Go on.”
I nodded faintly as we walked further into the darkened tunnel. I was silently grateful we were alone, and I knew no one was listening. “I’m not like the other girls.”
Joshua laughed. “That’s not a surprise, Olive. You’ve never been like the other girls at school.”
I raised an eye, wondering what he meant. “I’m different, Joshua. My mother didn’t win the lottery to have a daughter. Actually, she did win the lottery, but only because she had to. It was rigged because she was already pregnant with me,” I admitted, letting my words hang in the air for a moment before I glanced at him. “My mother thinks it was the doctor who gave us up today.”
“What? Why? How?” He had so many questions he couldn’t seem to form a single thought. “Start from the beginning.” He kept walking, and I was grateful I hadn’t scared him away.
“I’m not sure where that is. The first I learned of it was in prison,” I remarked. “Once Mom was arrested she told me the truth. I was conceived naturally, and they had to pay a doctor to include her name in ‘The Day of the Chosen’. She went back to the doctor before the marriage ceremony, and I guess the doctor had a change of heart.”
“Why now?” he asked as we walked faster downhill.
“My mother suspected I could conceive naturally and was concerned with the marriage ceremony that perhaps we would unintentionally try.”
“Try?” he asked curiously. I felt his eyes staring at me. “How do people try?”
I didn’t answer his question. My cheeks flushed at the implication of what I was saying. I glanced down at our feet and the trail ahead of us. “That’s a story for another day.” I changed our conversation directing it back to him. “You still haven’t told me what I’m carrying,” I gestured toward my pack.