This is Prompt No.87-Plan
That night, with her mind sufficiently dulled by Delia Prindle's visit, Mitchie lay in bed with her hands behind her head, with no intention of sleeping. She was rapidly trying to revive her dead brain cells so that she could think clearly. She turned her head and saw that Anna was already asleep, curled up on the pile of blankets she used as a bed. Perfect. She could think aloud now, if she could think at all thanks to her gossipy neighbor.
"This is serious," she whispered to herself, trying to keep quiet enough not to wake Anna. "I really have to think."
For three hours, she lay in bed, her mind sifting through all sorts of different plans that were perfect in theory, flawed in reality. None of them would ever work unless life became a fairytale, and that wasn't about to happen any time soon. Mitchie rolled over onto her left side, staring at the fire that was slowly dying away in the fireplace. Just as quickly as it was burning down, so were Mitchie's hopes. Was there nothing that could be done?
There was a slight, almost imperceptible tap on the door and Mitchie jumped, startled. She frowned and climbed out of bed, hurrying to the door and opening it as silently as possible. There, standing fully clothed, was her brother, his face pained and drawn. "Mitchell!" she gasped.
He quickly whispered, "Not here. Can you meet me outside under the willow tree?"
Mitchie nodded. "I'll be right there," she said softly and closed the door once again so that she could find her robe and a sturdy pair of shoes.
She found the house once again quiet, but the sight of her brother's face had uncovered the tension that had been lurking around the house. Lightly, Mitchie slipped out of the house, putting her shoes on when she stepped out onto the porch, and headed in the direction of the willow tree. When she finally reached the spot, she saw Mitchell's outline propped up against the tree. "Mitchell," she said seriously, sitting down in front of him. "What's happened?"
Mitchell didn't respond at first. He instead said, "I was happy to see that you were awake. I really needed someone to talk to."
"Of course," Mitchie said. "I'm always here for you."
Mitchell smiled, even though he knew that his sister wouldn't see it, and said, "I know."
The sadness in his voice frightened Mitchie and she said, "Mitchell, what's wrong? What's happened?"
"You remember when Jefferson Davis formed the Confederate States of America?" Mitchell asked, not answering the question directly.
Mitchie remembered. He had formed the Confederation in order to help states that wanted to keep slavery lawful secede from the Union. "It was over a month ago, in February, right?"
Mitchell nodded. "February 9th to be exact," he said softly. "Dad was so excited, yet he feared for what might happen to Virginia. Now, Lincoln's about to be sworn into office, and I'm afraid that war will break out." He paused. "Father has enlisted me."
"No!" cried Mitchie, jumping up from where she sat. "He can't!"
Mitchell ignored his sister's cries and went on to state the facts. "He can, and he did. He even sent me into a different division where I know absolutely no one. He thought that if I were with my friends, they might help me escape the war."
Mitchie turned towards him and said, "I'll go with you. I don't care if it looks like we're running away. I'll go with you and Anna. We can leave tonight and be safely on our way, and father would have no control over that."
Mitchell smiled into the darkness and felt for her hand so that he could pull her down next to him. "My sweet sister," he said lovingly. "Always so protective of me." He kissed the top of Mitchie's head and said, "We won't be able to go now."
"What?" Mitchie asked. "Why not?"
"Because I'm enlisted," Mitchell reiterated. "If I disappear while I'm under their service, they'll hunt me down and shoot me for desertion." He sighed and pulled her close. "What I was trying to tell you was that I'm going to be here for a very long time. Perhaps until I die. If you still want to go up north with Anna, I'll help you both as much as I can to get there, but I have to stay here."
Mitchie broke out into sobs, and Mitchell joined her, holding her close in the dark hours of the night as they shared a burden that no one else knew about. Soon, Mitchie pulled away from her brother and said, "If it's alright with you, I'd like some time alone."
Mitchell nodded and stood, careful not to step on her in the darkness. "Sure," he said. "I'll be in the house. Make sure that you get back before anyone misses you."
Mitchie nodded and hugged her brother hard. "I love you," she said, holding him tightly.
He returned the hug and whispered in her ear, "I love you too, sis." And then, he was gone, a tall figure against the night, walking towards the house with his shoulders slumped in dejection. The sight would be forever imprinted on Mitchie's mind as she turned to sit back down against the tree.
"Why?" she cried aloud, knowing that no one would be able to hear her. "Why him?" She began crying again, the tears streaming down her cheeks so quickly that she couldn't wipe them away.
When she was finally able to settle herself a little, Mitchie leaned her forehead against the tree and whispered, "I wish I could take his place." Almost instantly, her eyes popped open in surprise and her mouth fell open. Image after image flew through her mind, and soon, Mitchie began to smile. That was it! She would take Mitchell's place until the fighting began, then she would somehow fall ill and be sent home unable to serve. Since he was in a different division, no one would know that she was not Mitchell Torres. Mitchell and Anna would be free to disappear up in the north, and all would be well.
"Perfect," she whispered and stood to walk back to the house when the only flaw in her plan hit her full force.
She would have to convince Mitchell to let her go.
A/N: That should be a fun conversation! :D Please let me know what you think!
