I lay in my bed I hadn't slept a wink since last night I was thinking about what today would bring with my father being thrown into the mines, and my banishment. I couldn't believe what had happened I mean I had broken a couple rules, but normally these kinds of things are easily overlooked. Dad was right I should of been more careful knowing that an angel would be directly involved in a survey would mean these kinds of things would happen. Angels enforced laws beyond harshly even something minor might be grounds for death if an angel so decided. Life itself was trivial to an angel one human meant nothing to them seeing them in pain, or dying was like seeing an ant get crushed.
I had already packed most of my belongings after the ordeal yesterday, and I was told that today I would have to set off from the front entrance. The guards from yesterday would sit watch all night until it was time to go, so I couldn't run away. I sat up it would seem that I should get an early start it was mid summer, so I really shouldn't wait too long to set off. I walked outside my room to see my father looking like a nervous wreck he appeared to have been drinking all night. His black hair hung to the sides, his shoulders were slumped, and he smelled like a mix of unwashed clothes with whiskey. Once he saw me his face grew dark, I could tell he was holding back tears when he took a look at my face. He chocked on his words, "Son are you ready to go?"
I couldn't even look at him the man I respected had in one day already fallen to such a display I can't even imagine what the future holds. I noticed that even in his depression he had one plate across from him light vegetables, juice, and toast had been laid out for me. I sat down in front of my dad, "Ready as I can be." I tried to sound unshaken, I ate my dad's cooking, but all it did was feel like a lump in my stomach I forced a smile. Honestly a felt like I was also on the verge of tears I would have to say goodbye to the only home I knew today, and it would be the last time I would see my dad. Through my sadness I felt a new emotion one that had been brewing since the day my mom died.
I felt anger why should I have to leave my home, why should my dad have to be taken away to the mines just because some angel said so. My world collapsed in one day, and I have nothing I can do to stop it, but cry? No, since the day my mom had died I should of realized that crying accomplished nothing. I spoke up to my dad newfound resolution in my heart, "Dad I have a promise that I would like to make to you." My dad's tired eyes glanced up at me, but they regained a bit of life once he gave me eye contact. I had a newfound resolution I would need to fight for, or rather I had a new enemy I had set my sights on. Deep down I always hated them, and their suffocating rules, and them executing my mom, but this was the push I needed to see the cage I was in.
I spoke up to my dad I promised, "Dad I just want to let you know I haven't given up, and I also want to let you know I will never say goodbye to you. I promise I will be back one day, and when I come back I will release the iron grip they have on this town." I could feel the blood rushing to my head now I bashed the table with enough force that the table splintered, causing my dad to jump. I proclaimed in a serious tone, "I also want you to promise me something. I want you to make a man's promise to me right here right now. Promise me that you will survive long enough to see me again." My dad began to cry a bit now, but through his tears he began to smile, "You look like your mother right now more than ever son, and I couldn't be more proud. I promise that until I see you again I will survive by any means necessary."
I smiled back, I made my way to my stuff I had packed, I couldn't look back at him I knew if I did I would also start to cry. Instead I made my way to the door carrying only the necessary things on my back, and in my pockets. I didn't look back at my dad, but I called out one last time, "Dad, I love you next time I will be the one making breakfast." I motioned to leave I heard one last I love you from my father, before I closed the door, but I wouldn't let it be the last time I saw him. Once I was outside the two guards from yesterday greeted me, we didn't speak much they motioned for me to follow. I followed in the middle of the two guards they were escorting me to the front gates were I would be let go into the world outside the walls.
We went through town square with everyone standing outside their homes gawking at me I wasn't particularly close to anyone here, but I still felt some sadness when I saw them. The older people were whispering, and the younger folks were staring at me with wide eyes. It was to be expected something like this didn't happen everyday it was extremely rare. Executions happened every once in a blue moon, but banishment was a very rare thing to take place. In my lifetime I had never heard of anyone being banished, usually severe crime was instead punished by death. I felt fear I had never stepped outside of the walls of this town, so I had no idea what to expect, or how I would survive.
Once we got to the gates that led to the outside of the town the town guards stepped in front of me. The younger one Kyren speaks up, "Kreyol Mallory son of Cyrus Mallory and Diana Mallory I hereby declare you banished from the town of Gensia. Keep in mind that if you are seen around this area again Juna has given us orders to kill you on site. Kreyol Mallory do you understand the punishment that has been handed down to you?" I speak up, "Yes, I do." Kyren responds, "Very well I thereby order you to peacefully exit the town of Gensia." I nod my head I keep my hands out of my pockets to show compliance I walk outside the gates of Gensia.
The gates slowly close as I watch from the outside I silently say farewell to the place where I was both born, and raised. Kyren suggests from the other side of the gates, " I bid you farewell, and good luck on your travels young man." I have to admit other than being a guard Kyren just seemed to be a regular guy, but he had his orders to follow. I could tell he wasn't entirely unsympathetic to my situation, and so In didnt have any malice for Kyren, my only malice was directed at Juna. Kyren's voice came threw the gate again, "I would suggest you head east there are towns to the east that I am aware of perhaps you can at least seek shelter. Live smart, and stay safe young man I believe we won't meet again, but this is all the advice I can give you now."
I started walking along the dirt path that laid out before me I waved back at the town I guess Kyren wasn't such a bad guy. He at least cared enough to give me some parting words perhaps he had a kid of his own, but I guess I wouldn't get time to ask. I found my first choice of my journey I would either follow his advice at the crossroads exiting town, and go east, or alternatively go west. I choose the obvious path, and looked back one last time at Gensia town I would finally be leaving my cage. I would be heading west at the start of what I assume would be a long, and grueling journey. I appreciated the advice to head east, but for this point on I wanted to make my own choices. Not knowing even a bit about the lay of the land, or what would await me to the west I started a brisk, but cautious pace. This was the start of many choices, and crossroads that I would encounter going forward, but this time I had the key to my own fate.