Song Suggestion: Flashlight by Jessie J

CLARA: 341 NE

They call it Dawn Day. It's a day in which everyone takes to the streets for parades and parties to celebrate the fall of a tyrant's regime. The end of centuries of oppression.

That's what I've been told my whole life. And sometimes I do take part in the festivities, but never fully. While others eat, drink, and shoot fireworks, my family keeps to themselves. They have a good reason too. Afterall, my aunt died this day twenty years ago.

When I was younger I resented it. I would watch others smile and laugh while my family mourns. But they're not like this all the time. Only four times a year do I see my grandmother shed a tear. On the birthdays and death days of my aunt and father. Other than that she is cheerful and always bustling around or fussing over my cousins, all of them under the age of twelve.

I know I shouldn't be so apathetic about my dad and aunt, but I can't help it. My father died before I was born and my aunt a few months after I was. But I never tire of hearing stories. I know the two were very close and they died for what they believed in. So the next generation would never know the suffering they went through. But of course, these stories are never told by my mom. She doesn't talk about my dad much, other than, "He was a good man." Which I suppose is the best she can manage. I know she loved him deeply and I don't ask her about him as often as I used to, wanting to avoid the pained look in her eyes. But I get plenty from my other aunt and uncles. And of course, Kilorn.

And no matter how many times they tell the stories, even though I know them by heart, I still ask. If only to feel closer.

I love my mother more than anything in the world, she's the toughest and strongest woman I know. But there are times I wish she was warmer. But I know she too has her reasons. But I love to watch her, always with a straight posture, shoulders back and chin up. In her element when she's working. I used to want to be just like her.

But recently I'm not sure what I want. Sometimes I feel like I'm at a fork in a road without any clear path. I'm twenty years old and still, I don't know what I want to do with my life. But recently I met someone who's given me some kind of general direction. I'm on my way to meet him now.

As I walk down the sidewalk I spot my reflection in a shop window. Small strands of brown hair begin to curl with the humidity, so I take the hair tie from my wrist and it up into a tail, out of the way of my honey-gold eyes. I've always been told I have my father's eyes.

When I enter the town square, it becomes chaos. So many people are about. Kids running and yelling and playing games. Still too young to understand what this day means. Then again I'm not the one to talk. Like with my aunt and my dad, all I ever heard were stories about life before the war ended. Where reds lived as slaves and silvers reigned over them and etcetera. But they are all just stories to me.

It takes me some time but eventually I spot him. I remember when we met two months ago, we were both jogging actually. I turned a corner and plowed right into him. And somehow we became friends after that. Which is weird because I don't have any friends.

I wanted this Dawn Day to be different. I didn't want to be inside the house all day. So this time I'm spending it with him.

I weed my way through the crowd and come up to see him leaning against a street lamp, eating an apple.

He pushes off from the pole when he spots me, swallowing before displaying a brilliant white smile.

"Hey," he says. "You made it."

"I said I would," I say, flashing a smile back.

He takes another bite, finishing his apple. Then he turns and with an incredible aim, throws the apple core into a trash can twenty feet away. It hits the rim and then falls inside.

"Wow," escapes my lips.

"Eh, could have been a cleaner shot." But he doesn't say it as to impress me but as if he's genuinely criticizing himself.

Then he turns his attention back to me. "Now, what shall we do first?"

His skin is light in tone but with a faint tan. He runs a hand through his black hair before he offers his arm. And after a moment's hesitation do I loop my arm through his.

"Um…"

"Oh, come on. You have to have some idea. I'm relying on you to show me the sights. I'm only in Norta for a few more weeks."

"And then your back home to Monfort. I know."

"You can always come with, you know. I came here for the summer. And you'll love Monfort in the fall."

"I don't know…"

"Just ask. All your mom can say is no. I'm nineteen and my parents let me come here by myself. You can even stay with me and my crazy family," he jokes.

I smile, "Okay, I'll ask, but tomorrow. Tonight you experience the best of Norta for the first time."

"Somehow I think you mean we."

This stops me short. And I look to see bright blue eyes shine with amusement through his glasses.

"Relax, Clara. There is nothing wrong with being an introvert. There are times when I catch my brothers and sister being the same. Even I can be one sometimes."

"How perceptive of you," I say and we continue walking.

"You'll find I'm remarkably good at reading people, Clara."

I suppose this should make me nervous, but it doesn't. Spending time with him is like spending time with family.

"Well as for the festivities," I say. "How about we start off small. Food?"

"Yes. Another thing you should know about me, Clara, is I'll eat anything."

"Well, there's certainly a lot to choose from Thomas."

"I hope so."

THOMAS

My cousin is charming.

That was my first impression. Although she doesn't know it, she is interesting in her own way.

We had a good time. She was right, the food was great. Then we watched the parade and then the fireworks. And although it was not my preferred definition of fun, I did have a good time with Clara. And I could tell she did too.

Being so far away from home has been difficult but knowing that I'm still spending time family has made it bearable.

I walk Clara home after the night draws to a close and I wave back before she closes the front door to her house behind her.

It's not that long a walk back to the loft I've been renting. I rented it out for three months, but I told the landlord I might stay longer. It's been two months and I've heard little to nothing from home.

Once I reach the loft, I take out my key from inside my pocket and slide it into the lock. The tumblers click and I walk into the loft. I do a quick survey of the room before closing the door behind me.

But I don't make it ten feet into the room before something hits me hard on my jaw and I lurch backward. But I don't have time to focus on the pain. My attacker goes for another punch, but quickly regaining my balance I catch their arm and I twist it behind them. I kick them behind the knee and they fall to the ground. Once down I place my knee between their shoulder blades for good measure. That's when I'm able to get a good look.

Her hair is pulled into a high neat tail. Not a strand out of place. Even in the dim lighting, I can see her chocolate colored eyes match her skin.

"Nice try," I tease.

"Worth a shot," she grumbles.

I stand and move over to turn on the light switch. As I do, I watch as Thalia moves from the floor and onto the couch.

"I almost had you there," she says while massaging her shoulder.

"Whatever makes you feel better."

Taking off my glasses, I place them on the kitchen counter, it's not like I need them for anything other than disguise. I grab two glasses from the cabinet and fill them with water from the sink.

"Ha-ha, first in his class at the Academy and suddenly you're better than us lower ranks."

"Still sore you got second?"

"Two points and I would have been first. If it wasn't for your whole healing thing I would have gotten it."

Handing her one of the glasses, "Please, you know that whole room was filled with adjusters. I couldn't use my ability same as you."

"Yeah, whatever."

I just roll my eyes and take a seat by her on the couch.

The loft isn't much. Built inside a warehouse that was eventually converted into apartments. I chose this building because it closely resembled my other loft back in Monfort.

"Now, I know you didn't come all this way to talk ranking," I ask. " What have you heard?"

She takes a sip of her water before continuing. "There's been a development in the arms trade," she says, now solemn. "A new shipment crossing borders."

"How much?"

"Enough to know that it will take months to fully transport."

"That should give us some time."

"Not enough."

And then the question I've been dreading of asking. "And our parents?"

She takes another sip before placing the glass on the coffee table. "Your mom is fully recovered from her injuries, but-"

"But because of that, she'll be going back into the field soon."

Thalia leans in closer, placing her hand on my shoulder. "Hey, don't stress. Both our moms are total badasses. They can take care of themselves. Besides, your mom taught you everything she knows. Plus, she's been doing this for thirteen years. The fact that she was injured only once all that time...no one has that kind of record."

"Yeah, I guess."

"How are things going on your end?"

Sighing, I confess, "I don't like using Clara like this. She's family."

"Don't beat yourself up, Thomas. You said it yourself, there isn't another way. They can't know who you are, no one can, not yet."

I know she's right, I nod. Thalia is the only one outside my family who knows who I truly am. And that's because she grew up knowing. Together we were raised in Monfort, she's my best friend and my partner in the field. I rely on her to keep my head on straight. Our parents go way back. Her mom, Riley helped my mom during the war twenty years ago.

"There is one more thing," she says, running her hand from my shoulder to rest on top of my hand.

"What?"

"Rumor." A chill runs down my spine at the name. "I think he's planning something. Something big."

"We haven't heard anything from him in months, Thalia."

"Maybe your family hasn't but my mom...I can tell she's hiding something from me. She's been really shady lately. I think he's going to make her do something awful. And I think your parents are going to be the center of it."