Quantum State by M. Black

Author:M. Black [Black, M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Creativia
Published: 2017-10-30T23:00:00+00:00

State of Escape

The next day, I tuck myself deep under the covers, and when my stepmum shakes me to wake up, I cough and roll over onto my back with an exaggerated groan. I tried to stay awake at least half the night so that bags would form under my eyes, and I look at 'Mama' in a mock daze, blinking too frequently.

“What's wrong with you?” she asks accusatorially.

I groan in mumbled words, “My stomach hurts.” I grab my abdomen. “I don't feel well.” I roll over again, this time on my side, facing the far wall, and groan again.

“Maybe something you ate?” she replies, sounding confused. “But your papa's not sick. Couldn't have been the chili.”

“Maybe something from Pod. I shared food with Anna and Darya.” I try to make the lie more believable, my forehead wrinkling in thought only adding to my fake sickness and confusion.

“Okay, well, best if you stay home today. I'll call the doctorbot later if you're still not feeling better this evening.”

I nod, coughing. “Okay.” Then, I roll back onto my stomach in a heavy groan to finalize the deal.

After my stepmum closes my door, I jump up and dress in a fresh tunic for the day, and when my parents leave with Julian, I am finally free to meet up with Esfir. The sleepless night gave me a lot of time to think, to think of all the ways we could get caught by MAQS breaking into town hall and stealing the key from KLI. Of all the time I'd have to spend in jail—a jail cell much like the one my Mama had to live in for years.

When I see Esfir by his Pod, he waves to me to walk with him. In a rush, we race up behind the Pod building where no one will see us. The Pod horn has blown and everyone should be inside now. The streets are oddly empty, except for a few bot patrols and those performing gardening and harvesting duties.

“Are you ready to break in?” His expression is so excited, I hate to have to tell him.

I shake my head. “I don't think this is a good idea.”

“What are you saying? We've come so far!” Esfir's bottom lip twists.

“I can't do it.”

“Why not?!” His front foot stomps.

I look in the direction of town hall, my head tilting over my neck to a building much smaller in size from where we stand. “If we get caught, I'll be thrown into a cell and I'll end up like my mama. I…I just don't think I could stand it. I think I'd…”

Esfir nods. “End your life too, like your Mama did?”

I can't say the words aloud, but he knows me too well. “Yeah.”

He is silent for a few seconds, like my Papa grew silent at the dining table when I asked him about Mama's friend. “Okay, then we don't go.”

“You're sure?”

“We still have a path out of here. We'll follow the map I have here—” He pulls out a paper from his back pocket and unfolds it as he finishes.

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