Violet

The first time I saw a butterfly marked the beginning of my death. More often than not, they get killed by the hidden watchers- the so-called guardians of my small world- and I had never seen one before.

I finally made it out of the forest, and my feet became one with the beach, I was too overwhelmed by my escape to comprehend the dire situation I had placed myself in.

The violet butterfly zoomed past me, my eyes glued to it, following it like a hawk. It was so beautiful and graceful. It created feelings that were so overwhelming I couldn’t think straight. So it makes sense now that I didn’t hear the helicopter flying over my head- I was too focused on the crashing waves. I didn’t see the rope fling down, or the man who was swinging down with it. I didn’t anticipate him and his inhumane characteristics taking me from behind, while I tried to get in gulps of air in between my blood-curdling screams. My throat grew raw from these screams, and my eyes grew puffy from the angry tears that followed. But there was nothing I could do. I caught a glimpse of the butterfly fly past me- just missing the hidden watcher’s fire.

This memory haunts me. I hadn’t planned on running away. It just happened.

I wonder how long they’ll keep me here. I lost track of how long I’ve been here. I guess at least a few months judging by the condition of my hair; it’s grown so much. I wonder what they’re going to do to me. I keep remembering weird things happening. Sometimes I get confused between what’s real and what’s not real. Some of the cuts and bruises are on me; some disappear like it’s all a dream. Maybe if I’m lucky, this will all be a dream.

Then I slump into the flashback. It goes on a loop for what feels like eternity.

“Alex? Honey, are you okay? I’ve been trying to wake you for hours,” my mom says as I wake up.

“Mom? I had an awful dream. I was captured by the hidden watchers. They nearly killed me,” my mom holds me as I explain.

“What are you going to on about?” Gregory asks, walking in.

“I had a nightmare.” I say, still in shock. It all felt so real.

“About what?” Gregory says with his eyebrows furrowed.

“I was captured by the hidden watchers because I ran away, or rather attempted to, and I couldn’t escape.” I run over and hug them tight.

Then suddenly I’m with Caleb at Felons Café, eating our usual- rabbit soup.

“I’m going to the beach on Wednesday, would you like to come?”

“Huh?”

“I was asking if, what are you looking at?”

“Don’t you see that cloud? It looks like a storm.”

“It’s coming our way.” We continue to look at the cloud. Then it comes toward us, faster and faster; we don’t have time to react. It sucks us up, and things go black.

I open my eyes to see I’m still in my cell. I feel the tears building up but i don’t let them fall.

“Alex?” It’s a whisper. I look up to see a guard cracking open the glass door of my cage. He has the same light brown hair as me. Same eyes as my brother: big and brown. He is tall, also like my brother. In fact it takes me aback how striking the resemblance is to Gregory. “Alex? Is that really you?” He asks, yet he seems so sure. He has an expression on his face that reminds me of my brother.

“Honey, why are you crying? I mean um- Alex. What’s wrong?” I look at him puzzled. “It must be you; you just made your mother’s face. You have her eyes.” He smiles, then looks at me seriously. “I can’t stay long, if they found out- well let’s just say I’d pay the consequences. But I had to see you.”

He reads my face. “You don’t know who I am, do you?” He says, eyebrows furrowed just like Gregory’s always did. Do.

“You remind me an awful lot like my brother.”

His face lights up. “Do I? So he didn’t change much.” His smile fades when he looks back and sees my confused expression.

“Well you were so young when I got taken; I thought you would at least recognize me.” He looks so disappointed- just like Gregory…

“Dad?” I say, aware of the leap.

“You do remember!” He rushes into my room and hugs me.

“You can’t be my dad, though. He abandoned my family when I was three.”

“I was arrested for picking from an orange tree. They forced me to have a new job placement, as they called it. Essentially, they gave me a guard’s uniform and told me to stand at my post and that’s what I’ve been doing these last 14 years.

“I felt terrible. Still do, I miss you three every day. I’m so sorry, Alex. I do have to go, though. I could get into a lot of trouble for this.” He tosses me a piece of bread, an orange, and a bottle of water. “I love you sweetie. I’m going to get you out of here as soon as I can.” At that he smiles and shuts the door as silent as possible.

I walk over to the bathroom: a short wall to cover me when I have to use the toilet and shower. I set down the food where nobody will see. I take off my clothes and get into the shower. The water is warm. Back at home we had pretty cold water. So this is quite an improvement. The water feels nice on my cold skin. While I try to get the tangles out of my hair, I let my thoughts wander.

Is that really my dad? He looks an awful lot like Gregory. He says things it would be hard for him to otherwise know. Unless it’s a trick from Stupart. He could have set the whole thing up.

I wonder how Caleb is doing. I wonder if he misses me as much as I miss him. I bet he hasn’t even thought about where I’ve disappeared to. Would he care if he did know? I’m sure he hasn’t even noticed my absence. Why do I even care? I don’t care. I always told myself we were just friends but maybe being gone for so long has exposed my true feelings.

What does it matter to me, anyways? What does it matter at all? Most likely I will never see Caleb ever again. I will most likely just rot in this cell.

“Alex. Psst. Alex? Over here.” It is a strong, deep voice, sexy even. I look around for the source and see him: tall, beautiful green eyes, long, messy brown hair, gorgeous at every inch of his flawless face. I become instantly mesmerized.

“Alex? Hey. Alex. I’m Logan.”

“Hi.” I stand behind the wall. Nude.

“If you are wondering why I’m here, it’s just, I keep seeing you, and I am lonely here, so I wanted to come and talk to you.” Logan said.

“This maybe isn’t the best time.” He looks at me and smiles.

“Look, I already go permission for us to be friends.” He says, the smile consistent, his tone playful. Is he flirting with me? I look at him skeptically.

“How did you manage that?” I say with suspicion evident in my voice.

“Well I noticed we got nicer cells than everyone else. I also noticed we got a better quality and larger quantity of food than the others. Plus we were put into cells right across from each other and are the only ones in this room. So I asked the guard who brings my food every day, and she said we get special treatment because the government is going to ask us to do a big favor. They said we’re ‘special’.

“So I took that opportunity to ask her if we could spend time together. She said she would ask, she did, and they said it’s up to you.” He looks at me expectantly, awaiting an answer.

“I guess it couldn’t hurt to have some human company. So okay. But I’m a little unclothed behind here, which I’m sure you’ve realized. And maybe it doesn’t bother you, but it does bother me to have a perfect stranger-”

“Yes, I understand. I just, I didn’t want to have to wait and come back. And I mean it’s not like I can see anything. Not that that I would be opposed-”

“Okay! Just turn around, perv.”

“Yes ma’am.” I roll my eyes, but he complies.

“So, why are you here?” I say as I dress.

“It was stupid. You see, my little sister had this bully. She is only 14 so I have to protect her. My dad disappeared years ago, and my mom was always working, so I’m really all she has. And this bully had been bothering her- some 16-year-old loser who was still in her hall named Braxton. Can you believe that? Most people graduate from first hall at 12, and second at 16. He’s in room 10. He has three more years when he should have been about to graduate. It’s ridiculous.

“But he would not leave her alone. So I thought I would go tell him to stop. Anyways, he threw the first punch and I was just defending myself. Not only that but he threatened to hurt my little sister Beth again. I got angrier and long story short, he ended up with a broken shoulder, leg, and ribs, plus eight missing teeth. I felt terrible. But what was done was done. I mean that’s what I thought. Turns out Mr. Big-Tough-Braxton-Who-Is-Still-In-Second-Hall has relatives who are connected to someone ‘important’, and anyways he ratted on me and I got arrested. So here I am. Which means Beth has no protection- unless my mom stops working. But she can’t because now I’m gone so my income is out of the picture.” He rants on a bit more then turns around and catches me staring at the back of his head. “Can I turn around now?”

“What if I wasn’t even done!” I am.

“I’m sorry Alex, I just didn’t hear anything, and you didn’t say anything.”

“It’s fine. And if it’s any consolation, I completely understand; my brother and mom, I can’t stop worrying. I know it’s not the same because I’m not the protector of either of them. All I can tell you is we will get out of here. I’m sure of that. And if we are getting some special assignment from the government they aren’t going to let anything happen to us or our families. Your mom will keep her safe.”

“I know she’ll try but, what if? You know?”

“Yes. I know. What if.” I say, repeating his words.

We both remain silent for a while, sitting: me on the inside of my cell, and him leaning against my door. We had been talking though the little window.

“I guess if you want you can come in. Oh right, it’s locked” I say, frowning. He holds up a key and unlocks the door. We sit against the brick wall in silence.

“So Alex, how’d you get here?” He asks, finally.

“Well,” the flashback I’d been trying to get out of my mind zooms through my thoughts. The worst parts along with it- the man grabbing me, the noises, smells, the butterfly, the way it escaped the hidden watchers fire, that black and violet butterfly runs through again and again. Again and again. Over and over. Like a movie. Me seeing the butterfly, the man grabbing me, and then the butterfly escaping death.

“If only I could have been like that butterfly.” I accidentally whisper to myself.

“Huh?” Logan asks.

“Oh nothing. Um. Well I got here because, uh,” the flashback pierces my mind. The butterfly flying past me, the man grabbing me, the butterfly missing death’s call, “well I was going on a walk like I do every- did every Wednesday on my day off.” Tears start to sting my eyes. “Um well, I was upset- so upset- with my mom because she kept yelling at my brother Gregory. I know it sounds dumb, but he, it wasn’t his fault he got in trouble at work. She wouldn’t stop yelling, though. So I told them I’d be right back- I was taking my walk.” By now my nose is stuffy, my face is red and puffy with tears, and it takes a huge effort just talking clearly. “They said okay- then went back to arguing. I was walking, thinking about them, how upset I was. Then I- I started thinking these crazy thoughts about how easy it would be to run, to run away. I wasn’t thinking straight- I mean if I did escape, where would I go? God, I’m so dumb.”

I look at Logan. He frowns at me. He pets my hair, trying to calm me. It works. I breathe deep, forcing myself to stop crying.

“Sorry. I never cried before coming here.”

“Don’t apologize. You know, I’ve wanted to do this for a long time. Make you feel better, I mean.”

“Right. Don’t smile at me like that.”

“Why? Does it bother you?”

“You bother me.” I say playfully.

“Do I?” he scoots as close as he can get. I am practically sitting on his lap, which I don’t actually have a problem with. I just don’t know how he feels about it. Nevertheless I allow myself to smile at him through the fading tears. I’m sure I look hideous right now- I always do when I cry.

“Lay your head on my shoulder- if you want.” He says with a new found shyness- well, new to me. All I do is smile at him, then I lie on his shoulder. He continues to stroke my hair. That’s all we do for a while- both in our own world.

“I met my dad. We thought he abandoned us, but he says he got arrested. I didn’t believe him at first, but I decided he looks far too much like Gregory to be lying.”

“That’s wonderful,” he says with a smile. We continue talking for the rest of the night. Eventually things go blurry and a second later I’m with Caleb.

“Alex how could you? I thought I was your best friend. Then this guy comes along and poof- I’m nobody.” Caleb gets teary-eyed and runs off.

“Caleb!” I run after him.

“Alex what’s happening?” Gregory asks. He’s suddenly standing right beside me.

“I don’t know Gregory! I need help!” I yell.

Then I’m back in the prison.

“Hey I’m out of here. I found a way out!” Logan exclaims.

“Wait can I come?” I shout as he zooms away.

He laughs. “No.” I run out after him, just to be caught by guards. They all pull out their nightsticks and begin to hit me. All six. Logan looks back, yells, “Sorry,” and he’s gone.

Everything fades. I come to, screaming.

“Alex? What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“Bad dream.” I whisper faintly. I lay my head on Logan’s lap.

“About what?” He asks soothingly. I tell him everything, even the part about Caleb.

“I’d never do that to you. And I’m sure your brother would have helped you. Just calm down it’s okay. It’s alright Alex it was only a dream.” I shift my body and my head to look at him, and smile. Then I turn my head so my face is buried into his shirt. He smells so sweet. I love it. “You smell so good.” I say it into his shirt. I look up at his face to see if I made him smile. I did; which makes me smile. I really love his smile.

“Am I hurting your leg? Want me to get off?” I ask, hoping for a no to both.

He laughs a bit. “No you’re fine. I don’t.”

“Okay, good.” I close my eyes. I hear the cell door open after a few minutes. When I open my eyes, I see my dad and another man standing in the doorway. I jump right up.

“Alex, this is Robert, my friend and-“ He looks at Logan- both men do.

“Dad?” Logan says, inching closer to the man named Robert. He has blond hair unlike Logan’s. But otherwise he looks exactly like Logan. He has his green eyes, his body shape - tall, and slim, yet muscular- his cute nose, and his full lips. He looks like he’s in his early forties or late thirties- though very handsome like Logan.

“Logan! My boy!” At the same time, they both run toward each other and hug.

“How- why- what are you doing here?” Logan asks as they both pull away.

“I was arrested and made a slave. Thomas and I are in the same boat. I got arrested for catching a butterfly for Beth’s birthday- her third. I never got to give it to her. I just wanted my baby girl to see a butterfly.” He’s frowning. We all are.

“That’s, terrible.” I say. My dad shuts the door, then looks at me.

“Okay I have to say this fast. Robert and I are going to get you two out of here. We are part of the rebels, us and a bunch of others are planning to overthrow the government.” My dad blurts in a mouthful, his voice dropping when he speaks these important words. I look from him to Robert, then to Logan. His face is unreadable.

“This is insane!” I yell.

“Shhh. It’s that or you will both be forced into being the government’s little toys. Stupart’s little toys. There is more going on then you know about. A lot has happened since you’ve been in here.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Someone is attacking us. We don’t know where these people came from, but they are here and there are a lot of them. They’re fighting us. I think they came with peace but I’m sure our dear president started the fight. Also, our government plans is to kill us all and start over because he believes his ancestors failed. You two are more involved than you know.” My dad says. I look at Logan and he appears just as shocked as me.

“You and some other kids have been chosen to repopulate this island after the rest of us are killed.”