Ever since Jaxon and I got here, we, especially me have been dealing with the government. Just a couple days ago, a couple scientists came knocking on the door for Willow. I explained as nicely as possible, there was no way they were ever gonna get my cat. Other than that, I've been doing everything possible to avoid death or prison. A couple times, we got letters inviting us to meetings, but obviously, we didn't attend.
Today is the memorial of all the people lost to Cora. I can't help but feel responsible for their deaths. I know it's not completely my fault but it's still hard.
"You don't have to go," Jaxon says, behind my bedroom door.
For now, Jaxon and I share a house. I definitely can't go back home and I scraped enough saved meny together from my old room to get a two bedroom house. Jaxon doesn't know his real age, so he said he was eighteen, although, he says he's probably not that old. Anyways, since they think he's eighteen, they let him buy a house with my money.
"I need to let the people know I care, it might help my case in the future anyways." I say and grab my shirt. "Besides," I slip my shirt over my head and open the door, "It's my fault those people are dead, I should pay my respects,"
"It's not your fault, you were under Cora's influence."
"But if I could fight her then, I could've fought her before she killed half the community,"
"Well if it's your fault they're dead, it's my fault my friend's dead," he says. Jaxon was under Cora's influence when he was forced to kill his friend. "That's not fair, you can't use your guilt to make me stop feeling guilty,"
He smiles, "Why not?" he asks and kisses me. The doorbell rings which makes us both jump. "I'll get it." Jaxon says. Jaxon opens the door and Graham is in the doorway.
"Hey," I say, joining Jaxon's side. "Hey," he says. Jaxon opens the door wider, "Come in," he says.
We all walk into the kitchen, which has a furnace, small counters, and some wooden stools. "Have you checked for mail?" he asks, a look of concern on his face. I look at him curiously. "No," I say back. People hardly ever get mail unless it's from the government, people sometimes steel things so things are usually delivered by the people themselves, it's not a big town anyways.
Jaxon gets up and heads outside, leaving Graham and I alone. "So," he says. "Are you and Jaxon-" he doesn't need to say anything else. "Look," I say, "We love each other, I know you and I used too, feel that way too, but I'm not sure it'd work, not after what you and my mother did," a sad look crosses his face.
"Your mother- have you talked to her yet?" he asks. "How could I?" I ask. "She's your mother, she loves you, I'm sure she misses you,"
I scoff. "I don't miss her, she betrayed me, and honestly, that's the last thing I wanna think about right now,"
Jaxon walks into the room holding an envelope. "I didn't know anyone used mailboxes," he says. "They don't," I say staring at the envelope, suspiciously, as if it was gonna explode or something.
"I got one too," Graham held up an opened envelope. Jaxon hands me the letter. I open the letter slowly and read it.
Dear Miss. Rose,
I hope this letter gets to you safely. We are hosting a meeting Tuesday of this week. The meeting will decide what to do with you and your friend, Graham brown, and Jaxon. If you do not attend, your both sentences will be decided with what we already know. If attended, you may be able to get out of your fates. I hope you attend, it will be held in the auditorium noon Tuesday.
I hastily grab Graham's letter. The letter says the same thing but to Jaxon, it doesn't say any more information. I groan. Today is Monday, so it's tomorrow. "Well I'm glad they gave us so much time to consider our options." I say.
"Oboron, shouldn't we talk about the letters?" Graham asks. I hand the letter to Jaxon to read. "What is there to talk about? You should've let me die that day, then we wouldn't be having this problem," I say.
"Well, I wouldn't be here either," Jaxon says. "Oh, so your siding with him now?" I ask. "No, I just- well, maybe I guess, I mean, I want you to be here so I guess I'm okay with it?" he says. "Look, I understand why he did it, I'd do anything for you," he says. Graham had a guilty look that came whenever we mentioned what happened years ago.
I walk to my room, "look, we'll talk about this after the memorial. Before I can open my door Graham says, "You're going?"
"I should go to get a little more respect from the people and I should pay my respects anyways."
I slam the door behind me and sit on the bed, thinking about what to do now. Well, I think. I guess I go to the meeting and see what happens. Willow, who had been sleeping on my bed, hops onto my lap, I pet him softly.
I finally get up and grab a ribbon to tie my hair back and go outside my room, Willow trailing behind me. "I'm leaving now," I say to Graham and Jaxon. "I'm coming too," Jaxon says. I smile a little. "Me too," Graham says getting up.
Outside, there's still pieces of homes on the road and on the ground. I try to ignore the death stares the best I can. I walk towards the auditorium, Jaxon next to me and Graham trailing behind us, glaring at anyone who stares.
"Graham, I want people to hate me less." I say. I don't even know why I said that, I know there's nothing he can do. "Well then, they should stop staring and mind their own business." he says. I sigh, it's no use, he doesn't listen to me, or anyone.
As we near the auditorium door, I begin to get nervous, the people in there won't be nice, most of them have no idea what happened that day, only that their friend is dead, or their son, or maybe their mother. And who can blame them? Cora ruthlessly destroyed half the town and killed many people while in my body.
I take a deep breath and put my hand on the door handle. "Don't worry, we're here with you," Jaxon says. I don't say a word just nod.
Inside is worse than I thought. There are what looks like hundreds of pictures of people on long tables, and people in groups crying.
I gasp. "Look at all of them," I whisper. Jaxon puts his hand on my shoulder, both him and Graham look around sadness on their faces. I walk down towards the pictures, examining each face. There's now nearly every pair of eyes in the room staring at me, the light chattering stops.
"God, I'm so sorry," I say, but it comes out as a whisper. Most people looking at me are angry, and judgy, but some look almost sympathetic. I walk toward Jaxon and Graham. "I need to get some air," I say to Jaxon and Graham. I don't wait for their responses as I walk straight towards the door.
I go beside the huge building and put my hands on my legs and bend over, gasping for air and crying. "Wow, look at you," a familiar voice calls. I imminently stand up straight, a shiver shot down my spine.
"You are a mess," the voice is Jordan. He leans against the wall. "What do you want?" I ask, annoyed. "Ooh you've got some fire in you don't you? You're nothing like the girl who left."
"I'm here to offer your job back, y'know, we can still tell them the truth, you need to finish your time, and I owe you a beating." he says and a smile twisted appears on his face.
"No," I say. "Tell them whatever you want by tomorrow the place won't exist," I say. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going back inside." I turn away from him and towards the door.
"No! I won't! Don't walk away from me," he says. "Did you already forget all of our nights together? Don't worry, we'll make new memories, starting now!" he tries to hit me but I duck and punch him hard in the stomach.
"Fine, if that's what you want," I say. He bends over groaning, and I hit him again in his shin. "Don't talk to me again," I say coldly, and turn to the door again, leaving him on the ground, catching his breath. Wow, he really is a wimp. I think.