\u201cHas my sister been here this morning?\u201d I asked for the millionth time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI haven\u2019t seen Elonyah since yesterday on the way home from the river,\u201d Brena said. \u201cI\u2019m sure she\u2019s off visiting a friend.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve checked with everyone<\/em>. No one knows where she is.\u201d Despair was creeping in. At first I\u2019d thought it a terrible joke, but now\u2026now it was far too real.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, she\u2019ll be back soon. Do you want some breakfast?\u201d Brena\u2019s hand found my arm and she pulled me to the table. \u201cI have more than enough for myself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I slumped onto a stone stool. \u201cI\u2026suppose. Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOf course. Here.\u201d She handed me a bowl. I dug my fingers into, finding a cavemeal paste, cold and sticky. I scooped it to my mouth with my fingers. \u201cHow are your attempts at warming food?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Brena sighed. \u201cI can\u2019t seem to get it to work. Blankets won\u2019t work, and I can\u2019t get the stone warm enough to hold any heat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t give up,\u201d I said rather suddenly. If we give up trying, we will never get anywhere.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t know, Ceceleah. I\u2019m running out of ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n We sat in silence for a while, and then I stood. \u201cI need to find my sister. Thank you for the meal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I traced my way back to our room, checking for Elonyah again, reading the mangled words on the clay tablet. \u201cEl, why? Why would you do this?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I sighed, then turned to exit the room. Maybe Jeris would know where she was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n * * *<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elonyah was truly gone, leaving me with one option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019d finally given in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019d made my way to the Leaders\u2019 chambers and was now standing in front of them. I had just finished explaining what had happened, leaving out a few details here and there. They didn\u2019t need to know everything she\u2019d said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis does not bode well for you,\u201d one of the Leaders finally said. \u201cYour parents attempted similar things.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I swallowed. \u201cI just want my sister back. Please. I need help finding her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCeceleah Trace, this is an offence punishable by imprisonment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Treason. <\/em>The word hung in the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This was a mistake. I shouldn\u2019t have come here.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe will help you find her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I sagged in relief. \u201cOh, thank you! I will\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd when we do, she will face just retribution for her crimes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n My throat closed in. \u201cBut\u2026she hasn\u2019t done anything wrong!\u201d I knew it was a lie before I said it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She had<\/em> done something wrong. She had questioned the Leaders\u2019 authority by leaving our colony. It was the ultimate act of distrust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDo you agree with such sentiments as Elonyah Trace has expressed?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I froze. This was a trap.<\/em> If I said no, then it would be no hardship to release El into their care. That\u2019s what happened with Mum and Dad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But if I agreed\u2026I would die along with Elonyah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2026\u201d My heart pounded. What do I do? What do I do? I slowly continued to back up until my back hit the edge of the doorway. I slipped through it and crept down the hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maybe they\u2019re hiding something. Maybe I should find El myself. We can find out together.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Another question was asked, but I ignored it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Footsteps rang out. A shout of indignation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I ran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/em> I took a step back. My foot didn\u2019t make a sound as it hit the floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n