Chapter two – Zack's promise
What if, in the escape of '09, Max hadn't escaped with the others? What if Jondy had tried to save her when she fell in the ice, but in the end they both got caught?
…
'10 (same night as last chapter)
Zack huddled in one of the trees outside of the perimeter fence. He had been gone from this place only six months, but he had to come back. He had been able to find every one of his siblings that he knew had gotten out, all ten of them. But when he had tried looking for Jondy or Max, he hadn't been able to find them. That could only mean one of two things – they were dead, or at Manticore.
So he had traveled back to Manticore, and stationed himself outside of the perimeter fence each night. He had been waiting here for six nights now, and was just about ready to give up, when he heard two familiar voices. Searching around, he found his two favorite sisters walking through the woods towards him. He thought about rescuing them now, and showing them the real world, but a guard walked past, and stood just two meters in front of the perimeter fence, and his hiding place.
'Keep your voices down Maxie and Jondy.' He thought to himself, wishing he could somehow transmit the message to them. He didn't need to however, because all of a sudden their voices dropped, and Zack could only just hear them with his enhanced hearing.
"Hey Maxie, do you think the others are happy out there?"
"I don't know Jondy. I heard that it's scary, and mean, and there's no one to feed you and look after you either. But there's no one to order you around, and no punishment duty. I don't know if it's safe out there."
"Don't worry baby sister. If we get out, I'll protect you." Jondy said as she gave her sister a big hug.
In his hiding place, Zack smiled. Jondy always protected Max, even more than he did sometimes. He knew that Jondy meant what she said, she always promised to look after Maxie, and she always did.
"What do you think they're doing out there?" Max asked.
"I think that what ever they're doing, Zack's looking after them."
"I know that. He was our CO. He'll always look after us."
Max and Jondy had stopped just inside of the tree line, where they couldn't be seen by the guards. They sat down and continued talking.
"Do you think the Colonel will ever find them and bring them back Jondy?"
"I don't know Maxie. If Zack's looking after them, the Colonel shouldn't, but if something happens to Zack, then I don't know. It would be nice to see them again."
"I know. I miss Ben's stories, and Tinga's hugs, and Krit's way of annoying Syl. I even miss Micah flicking us with his fingers. I want to see them again so much Jondy."
"So do I baby sister. But I don't think we will. Not unless we see them when we're older and on missions."
"I know. I just wish I..."
"Yeah. And I hope that whatever they're doing, wherever they are, that they're all ok."
"With Zack looking after them how could they not be?"
"Even Zack can't be every where at once. Come on Maxie, we better get back before wake up call. If they catch us out here, we're going to get more punishment duty."
"Ok."
With that, Zack's two baby sisters walked away from his hiding place, and back towards the barracks. He wondered why they hadn't tried to get away, but then remembered the guards. Sneaking away, Zack left the perimeter, and headed back to his hideout. Before he got far though, he turned around, and looked for his favorite sisters. He could just see them, sneaking around in some bushes.
Silently Zack made a promise to himself. 'I'll come and get you two one day. I promise. I'll get you out of there and into the real world.' He wished he could do it now, but he wouldn't be able to do it himself. He would have to come back when he was older, with some of the others.