The Marked Letters
Chapter Two
Dear Liam;
Sometimes, I think this place has truly driven me crazy. I’m writing to a person living in a different universe, not knowing whether that mondhorn that I can’t really think of as my delivery boy actually brings you the stuff I write. I would have proof if you answered though. Just saying.
I try imagining your face when you read this, but I can’t. Maybe you’re angry with me. Maybe you miss me. I don’t care, because I need someone to talk to. You were the only one who understood me. You’ve always been.
Yesterday, they gathered around the fireplace. I was watching them from my window, but I couldn’t understand the language they spoke. The fire wasn’t the way flames are on earth, they were blue and somehow less transparent. I didn’t notice a signal or anything, but all of a sudden all the inhabitants dropped to their knees. I could see some crying and others screaming, but none of them seemed to notice each other. They were praying for themselves and their families, praying that they will survive this winter.
I haven’t left my room the past three days. Would you call that living? Back on earth, I would’ve said no, but it’s different now. There are things changing about me body, my belly getting flatter and flatter if I don’t eat, my skin getting oily if I don’t wash my face. It’s nice to know that I’m finally aging again.
The thing is that I’m scared of them. I fear the religion that leads them. I could never look up to a leader I’ve never seen myself, but for them it seems to be ordinary. The conditions here are tough and we all know that not every family will make it through the winter, but they don’t even seem to consider building better houses or providing more food. For them, it’s much more important to pray for better houses and more food. I’m scared that this place has already driven them crazy.
Maybe I will get used to it. Do you remember how often you told me back at the camp that I would get used to no longer breathing, no longer aging? So many times. And guess what: I’ve never quite adjusted to it.
The moment I woke up at the Academy it was Anouk’s face that was right in front of me. She was blocking my view and I couldn’t see anything else in the room. There was only her face, staring down at me as if I was something special, something beautiful.
“Jolie?” she asked. Her voice was soft. “Are you alright?”
The moment she said my name I could suddenly feel a horrible pain in every of my bones and muscles. I could tell that something was different.
“What do you want from me?” As I inhaled, air filled my lunges and they felt as if they were going to explode. I coughed and bit my lips in an attempt to stop breathing, but my heart was asking for more air. Only my lunges didn’t want more.
The woman in front of me stayed calm. She didn’t look the way I had expected kidnappers to look. She looked more like an Elementary teacher. Soft and patient.
“My parents will find me,” I murmured. “They will come and get me. And the police will look for me.” My eyes were burning. “You can’t do this.”
“We don’t mean to hurt you, Jolie,” she said. Her voice remained soft, but there was something else about it. It sounded painful as if it hurt her to know that I expected her to have kidnapped me.
Suddenly, adrenaline shot through my veins and my body roared up, but there were invisible chains keeping my on the bed and I couldn’t fight them.
“Welcome Jolie,” Anouk whispered. “Welcome to the Academy of the Marked Ones. I’m sure you will be a lovely addition to our people.”
I wasn’t paying attention to what she was saying. My brain suddenly seemed to be so slow that there was only one thing I could focus on and that was your face that had suddenly appeared behind the window.
Your eyes were cold, almost icy. For a second, I couldn’t place the expression on your face and almost believe you would smile back as soon as you would notice I had seen you. Instead, your eyes stayed on mine, glaring, as if I had made a horrible mistake.
“Who’s that?” I whispered, but I felt so weak I had to lean back.
Anouk turned around and made an angry sign with her hand that made you disappear. In that moment, I suddenly felt safe around her.
Back then I not yet knew what was expecting me. I could not yet tell that you were so much more than just a face I had seen behind a window. There are questions I could ask now. Will I see you again? Do you miss me? But I’m not sure whether I want to know the answers.
For now, I’m going to tell myself to enjoy this, because after I woke up at the Academy, this universe might be the only chance I’ve got left to truly live. Please, don’t take that away from me. Don’t make it any difficult for both of us.
I would love to hear from you,
Jolie
