Prologue
Bronwyn
Is this how it is meant to end? A lonely death, entombed beneath the earth, without knowing whether I am a meter below the ground or a kilometre. Not knowing what happened, whether Miette or Wren survived. Everett will be alright. He always is. He told me he would look after them, but how often had he broken promises? I’ve lost count. In the end, Everett will do what’s best for Everett, and as every second goes by, I’m surer that I will never see Miette again. I led her into this, promised to protect her. I failed. That knowledge is the most painful, failure.
I pretend to watch my breath mist on the glass case. It is perfect darkness, so opening my eyes makes no difference. I know the case is glass because I can feel the smoothness of it under my fingertips. I’m sure I could break it if I needed to, but without knowing how far underground I am, I daren’t. The earth would crush me, I’m sure of it, it would fill my screaming mouth, choking any sound out of my throat, suffocating, compressing – No. I am making myself sick with fear. This has always been my greatest nightmare, being buried underground. I must stay calm. Fear makes my heart beat faster, which drives my breaths quicker. I do not move, which will also make me breathe quicker. But it is so hard. I do not know how long I have been in here. I woke up here, which means I must have been asleep in here. Simple logic. I don’t know how long I was asleep, so I cannot guess to how much precious oxygen I have left. Already, it is becoming harder and harder to breathe. I try not to cry, but the tears spill out in my eyes trickle horizontally, into my filthy hair. I could never control my emotions. That is the one thing Everett could not teach me. My anger, my grief gives me strength. My fear was my most valuable weapon alerting me of when to flee. I never thought of a situation in which I could not flee. Not I, the star runner in my school.
As I lie here and to distract myself of being sick, I think about the events that led me here. What was the turning point, I think. Maybe the battle. Maybe making the decision to leave Wren there, something I am glad of now. If Wren had fled with me, she would be lying under the ground as well. Perhaps when I met Faro, by the lake. Maybe when I decided to go with Everett, to leave Miette. But I would not have met Everett if I had not followed Miette that night. I think I need to tell my story. It seems right, as it will be the last thing that I tell. So I will start the night I followed Miette, the night my world was turned upside down. The night of the disco.
Chapter 1
Miette
“Mimi! Mimi, you have got to come! Seriously, it’s hilarious, when Alisha – Mimi?” I turned my face away as Wyn sat down beside me. She knew my face too well, she would guess in an instant.
“Miette, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” I sniffed, and concentrated on keeping my face composed. Breathe slowly. After a few seconds, I turned to look at my best friend, Bronwyn Rivera Campbell. She was shorter than me, slender, with a small face turned upwards like a daisy facing the sun. Her eyes were very large, black and coquettish. Her hair was short, the dark, silken fronds nestling in the hollow of her slim neck. Her lips were small and full, forever pouting and shining with lip-gloss. Her usually ice-white skin was flushed from dancing. As different from me as possible. I thought, my long wheat-coloured hair falling into my lap.
All I've got so far4. Please comment XD
