"You backstabbing coyote!"

The furious Esther raised her hand to slap me but Alatha skillfully caught her arm.

"What's with you?" Alatha snarled at her.

"You too? Defending this—" Asther's eyes strayed to my back. With pressed lips, she ended her words with a growl instead. Anger clung to her face even after yanking her arm from Alatha's grip. Turning, she gave me a look sharp enough I could almost feel a cut when she left.

At the end of the hall, I espied one of the teachers looking at us. Probably that was the reason she halted her rage.

Amy who just reached us gave an apologetic look. "That's my fault. She didn't take the breakup well."

Alatha gave her a cold stare, "What do you mean and what does that have anything to do with Charis?"

"Ah, she saw me at Charis's house yesterday and started making stupid assumptions. It's complicated." Amy eyed me as if she was trying to tell me something. "Just forget her, she'll be over it in no time, " she added.

"What's with your head?" Alatha gestured towards the purplish-black mark on Amy's forehead and I instantly got jittery.

"Well don't get into a fight with a woman... Or you'll get one of these, " Amy pointed to the bruise and chuckled, the irony to what she just said actually tickled my funny bone.

"I don't know she had it in her... She looked so nice," Alatha replied, paired with a shocked expression on her face.

"Me too." Amy made a tsk sound and sighed.

A giggle threatened to escape from my mouth after hearing the conversation between them. Amy was practically implying my mother, but of course, Alatha would think she was talking about Esther since she was the subject at hand. Thankfully I managed to keep a straight face.

"So, about the school trip?" Alatha picked up where we left off.

They both looked at me intently amidst waiting for my answer.

"I'm in."

***

The last few minutes before the bell rang felt like hours. Some of the other students were doing the same as me, looking at the clock from now and then. Most were probably eager for liberation since ending the exam would mark the first step of our adulthood.

There were too many restrictions going on and one of it was that we couldn't leave town before we sat on the exam. The government said it was a rule made for our safety, so everyone was curious to see what was beyond the borders.

Instead of the bell ringing when the clock turned 12, a different sound blared out; it was an announcement. A few women in uniforms suddenly appeared at the door.

"Good afternoon, ladies. Some of you probably had already heard about the field trip. Assemble at school ground tomorrow at 5 am sharp if you wish to join. Congratulation on completing your exams. Thank you."

After that, the warden spoke, "Once you hand in your last paper, please queue up to get your arm tag."

Everyone got up in a mannerly order, including Amy and me. We submitted our paper and stood in line towards the door. I watched as the woman in uniform took each girls ID then shot something into their arm with what looked like an injector gun.

"Do you think that would hurt?"

The girl in front of me whispered to another girl ahead of her in line.

When my turn came, I handed over my ID and closed my eyes. The shot was painful, but thankfully it was quick. The uniform woman who was handling me smiled when I slightly pouted.

"It will only be sore for a day or two, " she said with a wink. "Move along now. Next!"

Alatha was already waiting at my locker. She didn't look different at all, whereas I was sulking up from the shot. The hairs on my skin stood up every time I felt the bulging under my skin.

"You okay?" she said with a smirk.

"Yeah, I guess."

"We need that" —her eyes trailed to my arm— "to pass the border tomorrow."

***

Night came too soon. Alfie was observing me while I packed for the trip. His head turned from side to side, following my moving hand. An apparent curious look took over his usual blank expression. Once or twice, lines appeared on his forehead.

"Charis?" he called, looking at my face and to my bag.

I halted and attended him. "Yes?"

The blink of his eyes was all I get in return. He probably didn't know the words to express whatever he had in his mind. But I was always an excessive talker when it came to Alfie, so I was eager to tell him everything.

"I am going on a trip to the big city, I'll be back the day after tomorrow," I said with a smile.

Suddenly he smiled back at me, and I was locked in the moment with a fast-beating heart until I heard the sound of my bedroom door opening.

Hands pulling on her turtle neck shirt, my mother walked in. I noticed her wearing the same design for the past few days, and I couldn't help from getting wary about it.

"I know you are hiding something there, " I confronted, motioning to her neck. There was no use to shroud the matter any longer.

"Nothing... I just feel chilly recently, " she answered.

If not for the trickled of sweat beads on her forehead I would already believe it, the temperature was high even out of daylight.

"Tell me, please. How could I leave tomorrow worrying about you?" I pleaded.

With a sigh, she pulled down her collar, revealing red-marked all over her neck. I might be young, but I knew what caused it. At first, I felt like I was invading her privacy. However, her sad expression told me otherwise.

"I don't mean to pry, but-"

"Yes, I'm with somebody, " she confessed. Her eyes refused to meet mine while she said it.

One thing I knew about my mother was her optimism, yet the person who just spoke to me lack of it. I didn't need words to figure out she was hiding something from me. I wished she would tell me the truth, but I knew I wouldn't get more out of her for now. I doubted my decision to join the tour, but she cut me off from the idea.

She gave me a faint smile before her expression turned serious, "Listen honey, this is very important. Tomorrow you will travel over the border, I need you to pass the first gate twice. "

"Gate? I don't understand."

"Yes, there is an inspection gate at the border. The gate records when we leave and come back. Act like you drop your bag before you pass so you could get your arm over the gate again. That way, it will record you twice."

"But why? What if I get caught. I'm afraid ma," I imparted.

Her eyes hinted her worry but she masked it with a smile, "We are leaving this place as soon as you get back from the trip. You will succeed and I believe in you. Don't worry okay?"

I nodded even though I was still in the dark about her plan and I was somehow afraid to deal with it tomorrow. But I told myself I should trust her.

After she left my room, I finished packing and tucked Alfie into bed. I was bothered about the matter that I spent the whole night staring at the ceiling.

In the dimmed light, I saw my mother pacing back and forth. It appeared I wasn't the only one who couldn't sleep.

It was 4 am when I got off my bed and Alfie had woken up too. One thing about him that I was certain, he was very alert about sound and his surrounding. The slightest movement would catch his attention.

"Alfie, go back to sleep... It's okay," I told him.

However, he kept watching me as I paced around the room getting prepared for the trip. Before I left, I kissed him goodbye on his forehead. I actually saw his eyes turned down like he was sad. But when I looked back at him, he was already facing the dracaena.

My feet felt heavy as I started to school. I had to leave early for my 10 minutes walking journey. The sunrise graced my way, but it didn't seem to cheer me up, my heart was filled with worry to make room for it.

The school front yard was already occupied with all kind of colour dresses when I arrived. But I spotted Alatha instantly standing among the crowd. It was an advantage of having a tall friend.

"You look..." She studied my face prior to finishing her sentence, "Tired."

Before I replied to her, I heard our chaperone briefing some of the girls. The mentioned word had been bothering me lately that it was impossible for me to miss it.

"First we will stop by HEROIN, " the chaperone informed.

HEROIN?

To be continued...

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Thank you for reading everyone. All reads, comments and votes are highly appreciated.