Ember

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Ember’s footsteps echoed in the night air as she pattered along the way to the Seventh District meeting. Her back was aching from hours of work at Master Jenkins. She’d been scolded at left and right throughout the day, with barely a moment to herself. Ember kicked the ground and sighed. Reid, Glenn, and her little brothers had been filling her mind all day, stealing her concentration from her duties. The world seemed to be closing in on her, trapping her, and only reminding her of how little life was like what she had imagined as a child. It was no fairytale or happy dream. There were cold decisions to be made and hard facts to accept, though many times Ember wished herself and Reid young and ignorant again, inseparable sisters. Twins.

Emerging from the canvas flap and into the light of the secret meeting place, Ember pushed her thoughts aside and entered into the spirit of the meeting. As the meeting commenced, Ember began to zone out. Tonight things seemed unimportant to her. She really wasn’t contributing that much to the resistance other than little assignments here and there. Maybe they didn’t need her.

Ember was jolted out of her daydreams by the Tunneler saying her name. Heads turned toward her as she straightened and frowned. “Sir?”

“Ember, after consideration and counsel, I have come to the conclusion that you should be appointed to the guard lookout group, reporting to us which guards are acting suspiciously and are most dangerous.”

Ember blinked, shocked. The weight of the assignment settled into her as she realized that she was being put into a more dangerous position. Her heart began beating harder and she seriously considered sharing her problems with the group, sharing about Glenn and Reid… No. I can handle this on my own. She straightened and her tongue finally came to her. “Sir, I very much appreciate you trusting me with this responsibility and I will carry it out to the best of my ability.”

The Tunneler nodded. “Keep safe. If you are found out, our secrets would be put into jeopardy.“

Ember smiled weakly. “I will… try my best.”

“Thank you,” the Tunneler said. “Now let us bring this meeting to a close. Any more questions or comments?”

Ember did her best to slip away unnoticed in the leaving groups of rabbits, politely yet briefly replying to their congratulations. She ended up getting trapped in a conversation with a well-meaning elderly doe who spoke slowly and deliberately. Feeling drowned by the sudden responsibilities and added pressure to stay undercover, Ember stood there, feet pointed toward the exit and struggling to appear interested in the doe’s concerns.

Finally, she touched the doe’s shoulder. “Um, ma’am, excuse me, I simply must go right now - most everyone has left anyway, and I really need to get back home.”

“Oh certainly, dear! Well, I should be going too - have a good night!” The doe walked off with a last smile, her step spry and vigorous for her age.

Ember smiled tremblingly and stood there in the flickering torch-light, her breathing calming as she collected herself. After a minute she tied on her preymark and followed the doe, hurrying through the dark tunnel and the Leper’s District. The darkness seemed to give her a sort of peace as it shut away the snowballing buildup of problems. Once out of the Leper’s District, Ember leaned against a wall in the alleyway and closed her eyes. She knew she might have to face Reid and her scrutinizing eyes when she got home, but right now… Right now I’ll just rest a moment, all alone, away from everyone I know in this world.

“I can handle this assignment,” she whispered aloud.

Footsteps tapped down the alleyway. Ember stiffened and whipped her head around to see Glenn approaching. Her heart sank a hundred miles as if she was already defeated, as if she was already mourning the loss of her secrecy, already despairing. Glenn came to a standstill in his tracks about seven feet away from her.

“Ember, I followed you,” he said, his voice low yet carrying crisp and clear to her ear, even across the distance. “I want to believe the best of you. But I saw you were purposefully out at night, apparently in the company of at least several rabbits. I can only assume you were engaging in some illegal activity. Ember, what were you doing out after curfew?”

Ember was paralyzed for a minute, her mind blank and tongue dead. But then she swallowed and her wits came back to her. “I’m sorry, Glenn. I’ll never do it again.”

“It was never your job, was it - that was keeping you out at night?”

Knowing she couldn’t go down that route of excuses anymore, Ember kept still, feeling like she was crying inside. Glenn walked up to her, closing the distance. He bent to look in her eyes, and when he spoke his voice was tight and pleading. “Ember, why are you doing this? Why are you making me choose between you and my duty?”

“Don’t say that, Glenn!” Ember finally blurted. She inched back a step, trying to block out the hurt look in his eyes, trying to think of something to say.

“What were you doing?” Glenn whispered.

“I was meeting with some… some friends.” Ember held her breath, completely resolved not to give away any of them.

Glenn was silent for a bit, frowning anxiously. “My duty is to turn you in. You know that.” He looked dead into her eyes. “Don’t do it again, Ember, please, for my sake at least if you don’t care what happens to yourself. Promise me.”

“I promise,” Ember said in a monotone. I’m lying, I’m lying, I’m lying was all that was rocketing through her brain, but there was no other way out.

Seeing Glenn’s face relax in relief cut Ember deeper than anything else could have in that moment. “Thank you, Ember,” he said. “I trust you and I know you keep your word. And you know I won’t tell.”

Struggling not to cry, Ember held Glenn’s gaze until he broke it and squeezed her hand. “Bye.” He disappeared the next moment, leaving Ember’s heart crumbled in a thousand pieces.

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Sorry that it's been so long and this chapter is so sad! Happier ones coming, lol. I'd love any feedback you have so feel free to let me know if you see something I could work on! Bear the Flame and God bless you! And hey, how's the weather for everyone? It's so nice here, in the 80s but breezy!