Page 64 of The Order

“I don't wish you were like Kai,” my mother says, resting her hand on my own, pulling my chin up to meet her gaze. “I know exactly who you are, Forest. Whether you realize it or not, you and Kai are my everything. Nothing will change how proud of you I am. You weren't dealt the fairest cards-”

“Detected criticism against society functions is a low-level violation, Katiana Blackburn.”

The room finally speaks up, stopping my mom’s thought before she can even finish it. I watch her eyes close while she takes a deep breath to relax.

“Everyone was given a fair chance.” She corrects herself, lying right through her teeth.

My mom’s eyes move to my hair, plucking away the silver strands now framing my face. I reach up, grabbing her wrist to stop her from taking any more than she already has.

“I liked those,” I admit, watching her drop the strands in a nearby bin.

“I don’t. It’s time for us to dye your hair again,” she whispers.

I look over her hair, seeing nothing but the beautiful, rich brown color she claims hides hair like mine.

“All the women in our family have it?” I question, watching her hand lower, gesturing me to keep quiet.

“A very rare genetic hiccup that I found easier not to disclose. Loss of pigmentation, nothing to make a fuss about,” she says, sounding like she’s reading from a script.

“No one else has-”

“Forest, not here. Not now,” she snaps, pointing her finger at me seriously.

I close my mouth, clasping my hands together on my lap impatiently. My mother checks her watch, ready to meet her next patient. She walks with an exhausted demeanor, looking more drained each time I see her.

“Your brother will most likely swarm you-”

My words leave me before I can process them.

“Do you trust them? Do you trust that New Haven has our best interest at heart?” I whisper, watching the room light up with yellow as the system speaks again.

“Talk against government and/or rules is a medium-level violation, Forest Blackburn.”

My mom pauses, turning on her heels. She comes inches away from me, looking me over with a wild expression.

“Why would you ask me that?” she questions, grasping the side of my face with shaky hands.

“Would they hurt us?” I push further, pressing my forehead to hers to hide the words I speak.

I need the truth from her. I need to know where she stands.

“Did you see an Unfortunate beating again? How many times must I tell you they deserve that treatment? Without it, there is no balance in the system we must all adhere to,” she shouts, trying to get the cameras to pick up on that statement.

“That's not what I asked, Mom…. Would they hurt us?” I question, letting her grip me tightly.

There are several seconds of delay. She stands still, deep in thought, while pondering the question. Just one word, one word, and I know there is someone in my family I can trust. One “yes,” and I no longer have to navigate this hell beside someone who hates me. Anything is better than being alone in this.

“No, Forest. They would never hurt you,” she says, letting her hands drop from my face, giving me the last answer I would have ever wanted from her.

I slowly back away from her, giving her a nod. The emotions must cover my face like paint on a canvas, because my mother’s eyebrows raise while she watches me move away from her and closer to the door.

“You have other patients waiting on you,” I say, swinging the door open, wanting to be nowhere near her.

“Forest-”

“Get out,” I say, no longer giving her the opportunity to stick around and lie to my face again.

She closes her mouth, looking dazed once she finally decides to accept my command and leave the room. Kai lingers in the doorway, watching me hold the door, waiting for something to give him a clue as to what’s going on. I shake my head at him, letting my mom move past us before following behind her. I want nothing more than to leave this fluorescent nightmare of a med unit. I peered down at the oversized shirt they forced me into, then searched for an exit sign as quickly as possible.

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