Cadie

I knew I was in trouble. I didn’t know I would be sent away.

“This is not good, Cadie. I’m serious. This is going to cost you big time. I have to send you to the Fields.” His dark, green eyes study my reaction.

“The Fields? Why?” I ask, holding back tears.

“Cadie, what you did, it’s….unthinkable. I don’t even know how you pulled it off.”

“It wasn’t hard. I’m not stupid,” I say, trying to make light of the serious conversation. His expression changes from disappointment to anger to sympathy.

“I’m sorry.” He presses a button on his desk and guards burst into the office.

“What’s the charge?” The leader asks in a rough voice.

“20 years in the Fields. After that, it’s up to the Dome.” I glare at my former friend across the desk as the guards handcuff me.

“I won’t forget you, Cadie,” he whispers as I am whisked out of the room. I turn my back on him and look towards my dreaded destiny.

The guards march me through the halls of the Academy until we get to the doors. Students stare as I walk past them, terrified that they might be next. I hold back tears to look brave. I don’t want them to think I am scared. Outside, there is a truck that will take me to the edge of the Wall, where I’ll be transferred to a bus to take me to the Fields.

We approach the Gate of the Wall and slow down. I have to get out of the truck for security surveillance.

“Cadie Roburts, charged with 20 years in the Fields,” the Gate officer recites as I walk through the metal detector. “Your bus number is 88. Please proceed to the lot.”

I walk towards the bus lot, aware that I was outside the Wall for the first time in my life. I look around. The sky is orange and pink, a hint of blue sprinkled in the sunrise. Everything has so much color, it almost hurts my eyes. On one side of the bus lot is the road to the Fields and the Dome. On the other is a dense forest. I know I’m not the fastest person in the lot, but it seems empty enough. I take a chance when the guards aren’t looking and bolt towards the dark green trees. I know the guards are taking chase because of the gunshots fired in my direction. I feel a bullet graze my shoulder, but keep running. I finally reach the forest edge, tripping over a branch in the process. The gunshots are louder now; closer. I cry out as a bullet finds a home in my leg. I crawl into the thicket of trees and foliage, hiding behind a bush. I hold my breath as the guards march past my hiding spot. I look at my wound, the flesh torn. Ripping a strip off of my shirt, I tie it around my leg as a tourniquet.

Darkness falls on the forest as the guards finally return to the bus lot. The guards have given up on finding me and I slowly emerge from my spot in the bush. My leg is throbbing and I limp my way deeper into the forest.

“Are you lost, girl?” whispers a voice from behind. Then, the world goes dark.

I wake up to a searing pain in my leg and someone screaming. I then realize I am the one screaming.

“Shut up! I’m trying to help you!” It’s the same voice from before. I open my eyes to see the speaker. He has dirty blonde hair and pale skin. He’s tall and skinny and his large hands are bandaging my leg. I am on a cot in a small, dark room.

“What are you doing?” I ask the boy through my teeth.

“I’m trying to help you. You could’ve died out there. This wound is infected. You fainted when I found you.” He looks up at me, concerned. He has blue eyes and a broad chin. There is an angry red scar running from his mouth to his eye.

“What’s your name? Where am I? How did I get here?” I demand.

“I’m Dean, you’re in my base, and I carried you.” The boy smiles at me. I kick him with my good foot and try to stand up.

“You shouldn’t move on that leg,” a female voice comes from behind Dean. I turn around to see a girl, around my age, who has red hair and green eyes. She is wearing leggings, a sweatshirt, and boots.

“I respect you for kicking him, though,” she gestures to Dean. I decide I like her.

“I’m Cadie,” I say.

“Rose,” the girl sticks her hand out to me. I shake it and sit back down on the cot.

“I’ll be tending her wounds from now on, Dean. Go help Jess outside.” Rose shoos Dean out of the room.

“How’d you get out?” Rose asks desperately as soon as Dean’s gone.

“What do you mean?”

“How did you escape the Fields?”

“I never went in the Fields,” I say. She looks disappointed. “Do you know someone in the Fields?” I ask.

“My brother. He was sent there for misbehaving in the Academy. I should have gone with him….” Rose trails off.

“How’d you get out here?” I gesture to the room.

“I was never in the Academy. My family and I escaped to the woods, but not before they grabbed my brother. My parents died trying to get him back. All I have is Dean and Jess, my brother’s friends.” I stay silent for a while, processing her depressing past.

“I’m sorry,” I say. She smiles a sad smile and busies herself with my bandages.

“Would you like new clothes?” Rose changes the subject, gesturing at my torn and bloodied uniform. I nod and thank her as she hands me an outfit similar to her own. Rose then shows me a small closet I can change in.

“I’m going outside real quick. I’ll be back,” Rose calls to me.

“Ok,” I reply.

After carefully changing so I would not disturb my wound, I step back into the room, but it is empty. I hear urgent voices outside. And a gunshot. Then, all is still.

“Rose?” I call. Silence greets me. I do not like this at all. I open the door to the outside, the door Dean had gone through. It is twilight in the woods and the only sound is the wind moving the leaves.

“Dean?” I whisper-shout. “Rose?” Nothing. “Rose?”

“Shh!” I whip around, looking for the source of the shushing.

“Who’s there?” I ask the darkness.

“I’m Jess,” he whispers back. He then utters terrifying words: “The guards took Rose and Dean. And they’re coming back for you.”

“What should we do?” I ask Jess as he comes out of his hiding place. In the dim light, I could just make out his features-he was tall, had a firm jawline, and broad shoulders.

“Well, first of all, we need to make sure your leg doesn’t get infected again. I’ll grab all I can from the base and meet you back out here. Hide behind that bush and don’t move until I get back.” I nod and Jess disappears into the dark base. I sit down carefully behind the hedge and listen to the forest around me. All is silent except for the occasional rustle of leaves or scurry of squirrels. I wait for what seems forever, looking at the stars through a break in the leafy canopy.

Suddenly, a sound pierces the silent darkness, a sound that makes me shrink in my hiding spot. Boots were marching across the ground, occasionally stepping on a twig or leaf. I pray silently that it is Jess, and I hold my breath.

“Cadie! Get up! Let’s go!” Jess whispers from next to me. I bite my tongue, trying not to scream.

“You scared the crap out of me!” I whisper angrily. Jess sighs, annoyed, and grabs my arm to pull me up. I swallow the blood in my mouth. I still hear the boots, though Jess is standing still.

“Guards?” I whisper fearfully. Jess nods silently and we both run into the trees. From our hiding spot, I can see the clearing in front of the base. The first guard steps into the clearing, the moonlight catching on his helmet.

“Come on, this is where we found the girl,” he calls to the darkness behind him. Two more guards step into the light, surveying their surroundings.

“Is this the rebel base?” one of them asks. I look at Jess quizzically. He shakes his head.

“It has to be, it’s the only base we’ve found in these woods,” answers the other younger one.

“No,” says the first one, the general, I assume. “This is not the rebel base. But there are more people here. Another girl.”

“Who is she?”

“The girl,” the general begins, “is Cadie Roburts. She was sentenced to the Fields this morning.” I gulp.

“How many years?” Jess asks me quietly. I jump and glare at him.

“20,” I say angrily.

Jess grins at me and turns back to watching the guards. They enter the base, leaving the clearing open.

“Let’s go!” I hiss at Jess.

“Not yet. Once they realize this small base is empty, they will be running out here to regroup.”

“Are you going to tell me your plan or not?” I demand. I’m beginning to second guess my choice to listen to him.

“Eh,” he shrugs.

“Just how old are you? Should I be trusting you?”

“28. And yes, you should. You would trust Rose, wouldn’t you?”

“Yes.”

“There, see? You would trust her, a complete stranger, but me? Someone helping you escape? No way.”

“It’s not like that.”

“Whatever, kid. Now be quiet, they’re coming,” Jess shushes me.

“I’m not a kid,” I whisper under my breath. Jess smirks, but I barely see it in the dark.

We wait what seems like forever, but finally the guards burst out of the base and begin to converse with each other.

“Spread out and search the parameters. She may still be here,” the general whispers. I turn and glare at Jess, although my gesture may be lost in the dark.

“Here he comes,” Jess mutters.

“I hope you have a plan,” I hiss at him as a guard gets closer to our hiding spot.

“Trust me.” I roll my eyes at his lame response and watch the guard.

The guard creeps closer and closer to our hiding spot. Suddenly, Jess cries out and staggers into the clearing.

I silently curse at him. Jess nevers turns to look at me, just motions with his hands to run. I finally realize what his plan is and instead of running, I step into the clearing next to him.

“Cadie!” Jess hisses. “What are you doing? I told you to run!” he says through clenched teeth as the guard watches him.

“I’m injured, officer. I was shot and found myself in this forest this morning,” he tells the guard.

“I know what you’re doing and I want to help,” I reply, also clenching my teeth. Jess rolls his eyes and we both march with the guard holding our arms.

“General, I found this man and girl, sir.” The general smiles at the guard holding us.

“Well done, Mason. I’ll hold them and you go get Jack.” The guard that found us leaves to find his partner.

“Mr. Morro. I’ve waited a long time to see you again, Jess.” The general looks at Jess.

“Wait, you two know each other?” I ask. Jess rolls his eyes and sighs.

“We fought together in the war. He was like a son to me-until he left,” the general explains.

“You were just mad I didn’t let you come with me,” Jess argues.

“It doesn’t matter. It’s in the past now. I’m taking you to the Dome,” the captain says hotly. I gape at the captain. Mason comes through the trees, panting. “Jack’s been shot!”

“Run,” Jess whispers while the general is distracted. I barely hear him. I don’t want to leave Jess, but I know he will be fine without me.

“There’s a rebel base not too far from here. Tell them I sent you. Go!” he hisses through his teeth. Jess turns away from me, focusing on the shot guard. As soon as their backs are on me, I sprint towards the dark trees, going deeper into the forest. I run as fast as my bad leg will allow me, never slowing. I hear the guards’ shouts as they realize I left. I see a break in the trees ahead and, with a burst of speed, I reach it.

“A cliff?!” I exclaim to myself. I had arrived at an escarpment, with the rest of the forest at the bottom. It was beautiful, but I was stuck.

“Really, Jess,” I mutter, “you had to tell me to run this way.” I sigh and look over the edge. It’s probably only 15 feet down, but it’s still dizzying. In a break of trees at the bottom, I spot movement. I squint and finally make out what it is. A boy is jumping up and down to get my attention. He mouths one word. “Jump.” I shake my head at the boy, but he nods his head vigorously. I hear rustling behind me and the sound of the guards’ voices. I look at my bandaged leg, which was throbbing from my flight through the trees. I close my eyes and jump towards where the boy is, hoping he’s not crazy. I brace myself for death, but it never comes. I land on something cushiony. The boy had put a pile of hay right where I landed.

“Thanks,” I say opening my eyes.

“No problem,” says the boy. He has a thick british accent. He looks to be no older than 12 and wears scraps sewn together.

“I’m Cadie,” I say, standing up.

“Bruyfourd,” he sticks out his hand for me to shake. “My friends call me Bruy, though.” Bruy smiles at me. I instantly trust him.

“Bruy, I’m looking for a base. Morro sent me.” The little boy’s eyes widen.

“Jess?” he asks. I nod.

“How do you know him?” I ask.

“He’s my uncle. He left a couple weeks ago with Rose and Dean. We thought they had died.”

“They’re all alive, but...they’re being taken to the Dome.” Bruy’s eyes widened in terror at the name of the execution center.

“Come meet my grandfather, Jess’s dad. He’ll want to know what happened.”

The little boy leads me into the thicket of trees, away from the cliff and the Dome.

“So, Bruy, tell me about the rebels. How long have they been hiding out here?”

“Since 5 years ago. When Rose, Dean, and Jess escaped and found the building. You’ll see it in a second. Anyways, my grandfather had been hiding in the woods ever since the Wall was built and Jess told him to go with them to the base. They’ve been recruiting people ever since.”

“Wow. And, how old are you, Bruy? You must have been very little when this happened.”

“I’m 11, almost 12. I was 6 when it all happened.”

“You are very old. I’m 17, almost 18.” Bruy smiles at me, but doesn’t say anymore.

No more than 5 minutes later, we reach a building. It’s made off cement and covered in ivy, with stone steps leading up to the cold, steel doors. I’m surprised I didn’t see it from the cliff, considering it’s massive.

“I call it the fortress,” Bruy whispers, noticing my awe.

“We’ll have to go through security first. I’ll tell them you’re with me.” I cross my fingers, hoping the little boy’s word will be enough. We enter ‘the fortress’, shutting the world out behind us.