As the sun rose in the sky, flooding the small village in Sumner with warm light, Holland Evans rose from her bed. Well, cot really. The thick mattress had a white cover, gray cotton sheets, and a downy duvet. Yes, the duvet had a few lose threads and the mattress was practically falling apart and losing its stuffing—but it was comfortable.
Holland stretched her arms above her head and shook the last of sleep from her head. She stood up from her bed and walked over to the small, dingy bathroom that was connected to her room.
It had yellow tiled floors, a few were missing though, a sink that sometimes ran hot and sometimes ran cold, never both. A toilet that you had to flush by sticking your hand in the tank and pulling the chain. A shower that's curtain was cut off at waist length. No windows and a cracked mirror above the sink.
Holland pulled out a towel from the cabinet that was underneath the sink, the right door was falling off its hinges; and she was sure there was a spider crawling around somewhere.
She went over to the shower and started the tap; as she waited for the water to warm up she stripped off her sleep shirt.
Goosebumps spotted on her skin when she stepped into the warm water, she didn't realize how cold she was till now. Wrapping her arms around herself, she let the water chase away the chill.
Using a bar of soap, Holland scrubbed her tawny skin and subbed up her long, black hair. As she scrubbed her hair she thought about what she had to get done today.
Drills in thirty; teaching self-defense at eleven; help Jordi with his reading, and meeting is at six.
Gonna be a long day. . . .
Holland opened her eyes, turned the shower off, and stepped out into the ice cold bathroom.
After drying herself off with a towel, she brushed her teeth—they were running low on toothpaste—and went to her small dresser to look for clothes.
She pulled on a pair of navy green, straight legged jeans; a black tank top; and her regular combat boots. She went back into the bathroom to brush her hair, letting the damp, springy curls fall against her shoulders. Putting it up in a ponytail, Holland made her way out of her room and went toward the front door.
She lived in a small shack, it was made of oak wood and was one story. The kitchen was small but usable, though the oven was acting up; and the sitting room had a semi-comfy couch to sit on and read. Yes, it was shabby and worn but to Holland it was the only home she's ever known. A place of love and memories; a place she could always come back to no matter what.
That's what her mother had told when she was small. And she believed it.
"Holland!" A voice brought her out of her head and made her turn to see a figure jogging over to her.
"Hey, Jordi!" She grinned when the boy stopped in front of her.
"Are you going to Drills?" He asked.
"Yeah, kind of an everyday thing, ya' know?" She rolled her eyes good-naturally.
"Wish I could go, but I got school." He sighed and stuffed his hands in his jean pockets.
Holland chuckled and put an arm around the boy's slim shoulders, at ten years old Jordi was on the thin side. Mostly it had to do with rations being low, the adults will have to go out and get more. Not that Holland was okay with them stealing from the local town, but no one would sell to Rebels. Especially Southern Rebels.
"You'd rather spend an hour working your butt into the ground than learn a few math problems?" She raised an eyebrow, even she'd take the math over doing one hundred sit ups.
"Yes!" He exclaimed, he rose up on his toes for emphases, "Wanna switch places?"
Holland shook her head but let a laugh escape her lips, "No can do, Jordi. You need to learn." She started leading him in the direction of the school house.
They made their way out of the section of shacks and down the gravel path that would take them to where the school was. It'd been built near the woods and stretched a good feet across the grassy area. It could hold about eighty students, though classes were divided into groups of twenty. They clocked out at different times during the day and it worked well, the kids got an education.
Holland had gone through the same thing, started school when she was six and graduated last December. Now she spent her time teaching kids to read and helping out with Missions—nothing physical, just organization and planning. She wasn't much of a fighter but she knew if the time came she'd know how to save herself.
"Here we are." Holland stopped in front of the school house, it was made of wood the color of stone and had a slanted roof. Kids flocked near the front yard, all waiting for their teacher to come and lead them inside. Holland spotted a few kids from her reading class by the big oak tree a few feet away.
"See you after?" Jordi asked, looking up at her with those deep brown eyes.
Holland smiled, "Of course. We're starting a new book today." She let her arm fall from his shoulders.
"Cool!" He hugged her around the waist.
Jordi let go of her and walked over to the kids near the oak tree, already laughing and looking happy. Holland's lips lifted into a soft smile, she was glad Jordi had friends. When he isn't around her or his friends he's quiet and shy, not one for social conversation. But that was okay, he'd find his place and grow to be more social.
Holland turned from the yard and walked back down the rocky path, the sounds of Jordi's voice filling her ears all the while.
"Pick it up, Evans!" The Drill Leader, Zelena, barked as she stood behind Holland just as she was doing her second to last push up.
Sweat poured down her face and her teeth gritted together as she pushed against the ground. Zelena always did this, shout at someone to make them go faster. Today, it was Holland.
"C'mon! C'mon! I want to see you move!" Zelena clapped her hands and walked to stand in front of Holland. The tips of her boots were shiny and the hem of her pants were tucked in neatly.
"Give me one more!"
Holland let out a strangled breath and closed her eyes, she pushed off the ground with her hands and used the tips of her toes to keep her locked in place. She made sure her shoulders were squared and back straight.
"Good." Zelena said, "Now, get up, Evans."
With a sigh Holland let her body go limp and fell to the ground, she let out a ragged gasp and slowly stood on her wobbly legs.
"Nice work, Evens." The Drill Leader's voice was friendly, Holland looked up to see the woman's face set into a smile. It made her look less scary.
"Thanks." Holland panted, she wiped her hand across her damp brow and tried to steady her breathing.
"Now, join the others for a lap." She gestured to the edge of the training field, where Holland saw the nineteen other teenagers jogging.
With a tired huff Holland did as her Leader told her to. Even though she'd rather lay on the ground and pass out.
"C'mon, Holland, move that butt." Tanisha Rollins, Holland's best friend, advised as she jogged up beside her.
Tanisha's dark reddish-brown skin was slick with sweat and her braided brunette hair was pulled into a tight bun.
"Kind of hard to do when I feel like I'm going to fall on it." Holland huffed as she rounded a bend in the perimeter.
"Well, don't let Zelena hear that. She'll make you do double laps." Tanisha's black eyes went over to rest on the Drill Leader.
Holland glanced over and saw the woman screaming at a girl to jog faster, her peach colored face was red and her eyes bugged out. Holland pressed her lips together to keep from laughing at the sight of Zelena.
"She's more pissed off than usual." Holland said as they jogged passed a line of cherry trees.
"I know." Tanisha nodded, "Wonder why."
Holland shrugged and together she and Tanisha finished their lap around the field. Both were panting and bent over at the waist, sweat trailing down both their backs and foreheads.
Holland knew Drills were mandatory but she wished they weren't every day.
Wish I'd taken Jordi up on his offer.
"Th—Th—the cat jumped over the . . . the . . . ." Wendy Adams's eyebrows furrowed as her blue eyes focused on the book in her lap.
Holland watched as the blonde tried to figure out the next word, her face was scrunched up in concentration and her finger was resting on the page.
"You can do it." Holland murmured, she sat beside her on the faded purple rug in the school house. They were in the Reading Area—a medium sized nook where she taught her classes. It was a nice little space, comfy pillows to sit on and a fuzzy rug. A shelf was nailed to the wall and was crammed with books. Holland had organized them into sections based on reading level. The ten groups of eight kids Holland taught were all at different levels. The one she was teaching now was at level One—Orange—and after them was level Two—Purple.
"The cat jumped over the . . . . The cat jumped over the, ch—ch—ch—a—a—ir. Chair. 'The car jumped over the chair.'" Wendy read with a grin, "I did it!" She looked up at Holland with shining eyes.
"You did! Great job, Wendy!" Holland beamed at the six year old.
Holland stood up from her spot on the rug and walked toward the last kid in her group. She was making her way around, wanting the kids to read out loud to her. When they did, she could see how far along they were on their own and check if they needed extra help. So far everyone was doing fantastic.
"Hey, Connor." Holland took a seat on a blue pillow beside the little boy.
Connor Jacobs was small for his age, he was seven but he looked five. With unruly copper hair and doe brown eyes, Connor could melt the heart of almost any person that crossed his path.
"Hi, Miss. Holland!" He thrilled, his freckled face lighting up at the sight of her, "Wanna hear me read?"
"Go for it!" She grinned, she settled into her pillow and let Connor confidently read aloud the same thing she'd heard for the past hour.
"Can I come to the meeting with you?" Jordi asked after his group let out.
Kids were heading toward the school house door but Jordi hung back and helped Holland put away the books.
"Sorry, Jordi, but it's just for Members." Holland said as she closed her notebook and put it in her leather satchel.
Meetings were held by the Assembly every few weeks and they consisted of updates about the Illèan kingdom; Mission statements; Mission plans; Southern Rebels in other regions, and so on.
Holland liked the Meetings, she thought it was interesting how it all came together; how information was gathered and plans were made. It was more her speed than fighting, that was for sure.
The Assembly was made up of twelve members—the Head of the Assembly; the Vice Head; a Secretary; a Head of Combat, and eight other panel members. Members had to be seventeen to be considered and Holland had been one of them.
"But couldn't you bring a guest?" Jordi asked now, his dark eyebrows raised coyly.
Holland chuckled as she slung the strap of her bag over her shoulder, "Wish I could, buddy, but I can't."
"Maybe you could, though." He gave her a pleading look as they walked toward the school's front door.
"And how would I do that?"
"By asking your dad?"
"Jordi, just because he's the Head doesn't mean he's above the rules. He wouldn't let me bring you." She put an arm around his shoulders and brought him in closer to her side.
"You're part of the Assembly though." It wasn't an accusation, just a fact.
"Yes, but I had to work to be part of it. He'd never just give it to me because I'm his kid." She said firmly.
"Maybe he'd let it slid though? I just wanna see what goes on during a Meeting." He pleaded.
"I know and you will someday." Holland opened the door and they stepped out into the late afternoon light. The sky was a rosy pink and Holland could hear birds chirping in the distance. She loved dusk. It was so quiet and peaceful.
"Whatever." Jordi sighed and pouted as they walked down the path toward the section of houses Jordi lived in.
As they walked Holland looked down at Jordi, studying his face as subtly as she could. Her eyes went to his hair— black, shaved down at the sides and tousled at the crown. Then to his round, dark, brown face; long eyelashes, and small nose.
He was like a little brother to her and the way he looked up to her made her heart melt.
"Hey." She stopped in her tracks and turned him so he was facing her, his eyes meeting her green ones.
"I know you really want to go and I want you to go too, but somethings are just not meant for our eyes. This, sadly, is one for you." She took hold of his shoulders and squeezed, "But you will get to go, when you're my age. And I know you'll love it." She gave him a soft smile.
Jodi let out a sigh, "I know, you're right, it just sucks. I don't want to wait to be able to see it."
"Hmm. How about I tell you about it after." She said, giving him a mischievous smile.
His eyes went wide and his lips tilted into a surprised grin, "What? No way, really?"
"Really." She chuckled.
"But you're not supposed to tell anyone what you discussed in the Meeting."
"I know, but you won't tell will you?"
"No, of course not!"
"Then there is no harm."
"Awesome!" Jordi thrilled and threw his arms around her, she hugged him back tightly.
They soon picked up their pace again and finally made to Holland's house, she opened the door and walked inside. Jordi went over to the sitting room and picked up his sketch pad that had been sitting on the coffee table.
"I'll be home at seven." Holland said as she set her bag on the kitchen table, "What do you want for dinner?"
"What do we have?" Jordi asked as he flipped through the pencil marked pages.
"Uh . . ." Holland went over to a cupboard and opened it, "We have potatoes, a box of pasta, and a loaf of bread." She closed the door and turned around.
"Sounds good."
"Okay, I'll see you later." She walked out of the kitchen and toward the front door.
"Later." Jordi said.
But she didn't leave, instead she turned to see Jordi scribbling in his book, eyes zeroed in on the page.
"Hey, Jordi." Her voice had gone soft, more serious than before.
"What?" He looked up, pencil stilled in his hand, eyes on her face.
"He's your dad too, ya' know."
It was silent for a moment, Holland could feel her hand tightening on the door knob.
Had she said the wrong thing?
"I know." Jordi's voice was quiet but sweet.
Holland smiled at him before turning toward the door, opening it, and walking out into the dusk-filled evening.
A/N: Thanks for reading this first chapter! I hope you liked it; this idea has been in my head for a while now and i'm glad i can now share it with all of you! Please leave a review and i'll see you next time :) xx