We, Kraken by Eule Grey

Author:Eule Grey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: YA, alternate universe/fantasy, lesbian, intercultural, culture and inclusion, student, artist, wartime trauma, PTSD, anxiety, othering, child abuse/endangerment, human rights, equality, voice and representation, redemption, creativity as a vehicle of change, atonement, family, identity, folklore, sea creatures, restorative justice
Publisher: NineStar Press, LLC
Published: 2022-09-19T00:00:00+00:00

Shield Diary Six

Korl

It’s been weeks. Uncle hasn’t been back. Good flipping riddance. Jon’s getting better. I’m going to get us out, like Ma said. I keep thinking about it. I don’t care what it takes. I’m going to get Devi, Jon, and me out of here. I’m trying not to think about the little kids, the other shields, because I don’t know if I can leave them behind.

I’ve got a plan.

I’m going to get us out.

Me. I’m Korl Kraken, and I’m going to get us out.

We’ve got a plan!

“Shh,” I tell the shields. “Don’t move. Not even a muscle. Wait until I give the signal. What’s the signal?”

“Raise your hand,” Oosha says. “Right up in the air!”

“Right. Very good! When I raise my hand—what do you do?” I ask in my teacher voice.

“We run out of the door, into the big light of victory,” Nila says. “We jump over the body of the major. If there’s blood, we won’t look.”

“Well, yeah, we run out of the doors, yeah. I dunno if the big light of victory is going to be there. One step at a time. We run out of the doors, and we keep on running.”

“Where to? Is it to our ma’s?” Heva asks.

Oh, gods. Their mas. This is where the plan falls apart. What plan could work when there are missing mas and das? “Just follow me.”

Jon won’t speak, not a word. All he does is smile at Devi’s songs. I’ve started making a new book, a kind of alphabet. I’m Korl, and I’m going to get us out of here. First, I’m going to help Jon speak. Not with words, because he’s used them all up. No words left. I’m going to help Jon speak by using the mermaid book. It doesn’t matter if all the words have gone because there are always merfolk. It’s what Arker Fi taught me, and I won’t ever forget.

Yesterday, I asked the stone mermaid for help, and she told me, “Do it. Make the book and get them out.”

I made the book. Jon points at the letters, and I translate what he’s saying. It gives us something to do.

Devi says, “Draw me a mermaid apple,” so I do it. We write apple on the paper. Jon smiles and smiles, and my heart breaks into tiny bits of angry shields.

When the door rattles, I’m going to be ready. I’m going to get us out. Like the mermaid says.

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