Afterland by Masha Leyfer Read Free Book Online Page A

__              __              __              __              __             
     
    The next morning, the entire village is gathered around Thirty One Center Street. The roads here are packed enough to walk on without falling through. I creep up to the back of the crowd, making myself as small as possible, but the person standing in front notices me and steps to the side. Immediately the whole crowd has parted in front of me, leaving a clear path leading to the door. I understand that they want me to go in. Probably because half of them don’t expect me to come out alive.
                  Carefully and painstakingly slowly, I walk to the door. I am uncomfortably aware of the awkward crinkling of snow beneath my feet. It is the only sound breaking the silence. I want to run inside quickly, or better yet, run away completely. But instead, I walk in what I hope is a dignified way, adopting a prouder stance with every step. They want me to fail? Well, in that case I’ll prove them wrong. Them and myself both.
    I open the door.
    The four rebels in full attire are walking down the stairs at that moment.
    “Come to wish us a farewell?” Mike says.
    “I came to make sure you would keep your promise. So you can go now.”
    Part of me really does want to see them go, so that I could forget my taste of another world and return to the repetitive lull of Hopetown. I can’t bear any more of this false hope. Just a little more and I’ll be at their feet begging them to take me along, and I wouldn’t be able to handle their rejection.
    “We’ll be gone very soon. I promise. But,” he smiles a little, as if he knows something I don’t and my heart catches in my throat. I breathe out softly.
    Say it.
    Say that I’m worth it.
    Say that I’m worth bringing along.
    Please.
    “You know, you could come with us.”
    My body breathes out in relief, fear, and electricity.
    He did it.
    I can’t believe it, but he really did it.
    And I can’t believe it, but-
    My heart stops and I hold my breath as I am torn in half. I don’t trust this Mike character, I can’t. He could be lying and he probably is, because things like this don’t happen, and he’s probably just a spy, and he must be taunting me, and why would they ever want to bring me with them, but-
    But, my goodness, I want to believe. My chest hurts from how much I want to look at the faces in front of me and call them the Rebellion. How much I want to look at my own face and call myself the same.
    Come with us.
    I have absolutely no idea how to respond so I just stand there with my mouth open.
    I throw a glance around the bar and out of the single grimy window. This — all this — has been my home for almost thirteen years. Most of my life has been lived out here. Most of my memories are from here. Everything I am now originated here.
                  Would I even survive in a different world? I am so carved for life here that I might never be able to make it out.
    My heart rises to my throat.
    The truth is, I want to say yes, I want to go. More than anything else in the world, I want to get onto one of the snowmobiles and ride far, far away from here and not come back. Every molecule in my body protests against staying here. Every breath I take begs to leave. And here it is, the chance to do it, placed right at my feet.
    But the scale of that decision stops me from agreeing.
    So instead I say, “No.”
    I think my voice must be shaking.
    “Why not?”
    Check.
    “I don’t know who you are. I don’t know what you do. For all I know, you could be CGB spies. I don’t trust you.”
    Your move.
    “Don’t you? What’s your name.”
    “Molly,” I respond automatically. Why did I tell him my name? You don’t trust him, remember? I remind myself. But it is too late.
    “Aha!” He cries triumphantly. “So you do want to come with us!”
    “What?” I cross my arms across my chest,