• tab My grandmother once said we were pure. We were still one. We were not seen as anything else.Then the world spilt. Humanity broke apart at the continental divide. My grandmother says it was sudden. The world ruptured and was torn asunder, and land drifted away from itself. Like an orange pulled in two directions, the juice and color slowly spilling out onto the floor of the universe. Because of us. Because my ancestors sinned before God. Dared to question his creation, and creation was unmade. Fragile is the world. That’s how my grandmother spoke of it. After the split, we had hope that things would return to they way they were. But they ruined it, my ancestors. They destroyed hope. I was once told that rocks aren’t supposed to change. That they’re supposed to remain constant and stable. Today, rocks change all the time. They crumble and fade. Mighty stone giants at the mercy of time. We, my people, weren’t supposed to change either. Thanks to my ancestors, we did.
    tab That was over four thousands years ago.
    tab Today, we live in a whole other world. What was once broken has now been brought back together. Things though, can never go back to the way they once were. We are, as they say, too different to interact with the rest of society. Banished to live in the wild tangles of the decayed jungles of the old world, my tribe thrives.
    tab Who are we? you may wonder. We are but beings with no identity. I have not three names like those in the cities, but one. Nor; that is what they call me. Not Nor Smith. Just Nor, always Nor. Two simple syllables is what my life has been broken down into. Most of us have simple names like mine. Complex names are solely reserved for the Civilized Beings, or CBs. They’re names are special, always with a different sound. At night, me and some other Unwanteds sneak into the metal city that protrude from the ground like a boulder that sits in the middle of an open field. The CBs don’t see us; we’re all good at hiding. Hiding in the shadows, we listen with envy as they speak so beautifully. Koh likes it when the CBs pronounce the names of other cities. Ness prefers to hear names of food. She says that her stomach aches by just hearing those exotic and foreign words. For me though, I love hearing the CBs use each others names. Names for CBs are always different; even the ones that sound same always end up being different. Later, when we sneak back into the outer-zone that is our domain, I repeat the names I’ve heard, wishing that my name was something more special than just Nor.
    tab A long time ago, my grandmother said we all had special names of our own.
    tab When the accords were laid down by my great, great, great grandmother, we still had our own individual and unique names. Years later though the accords were broken and we were stripped of our names, told that simple names were necessary to maintain order. I once asked my grandmother why the others took our names away. “After being separated for so long weren’t the others happy to see that we had survived The Great Divide?”
    tab My grandmother said no. When the lands shifted again and brought the broken world back together, the others had believed that my people had long since died. When they discovered our existence again, they declared that we were unfit for living with their society and told us to live else where. Having been apart from the others for so long, we asked what we had done to deserve our exile. Their answer was simple. “Your ancestors have sinned and that sin is reflected in all of you. Look at yourselves! You have changed while we have not. Surely then this is sign that your ancestors have sinned and have been punished.”
    tab A long time ago, there used to be a word for what happened to my ancestors.
    tab They called it, “Evolution.”
 ‘Evolution,’ the CBs say, is bad.
    tab Only the sinners evolve. Never those who are pure.
    tab According to the CBs, while we relied on instincts and strength to survive, they used things like science and technology to assist the rebuilding of their world. For us, science was the first thing to be thrown away. The way my ancestors saw it, who needs science in a world plagued with chaos and despair? Only ones natural intuition would help them survive. While the CBs dwelt in the their cities and created modern marvels that ensured their survival, my ancestors crossed rivers, climbed trees, and ate the meat of whatever prey they could find. It was during this time that their sin took hold, slowly over taking them until it consumed their minds and bodies. Our skin hardened, our agility increased, and our nails became long and sharp. Our senses improved and our lifespans lengthened. We stopped wearing the heavy clothes of the old world since they only slowed us down when on the run. Even the slightest weight could be the difference between life or death. The ones who didn’t agree with my ancestors choice were left behind.
    tab This is how my people lived for thousands of years. As time went on, they mastered the wild until the other creatures bowed down to them! Most of us separated into different tribes, spreading out across the land. My grandmother who spent her childhood in the mountains, had never seen a CB before joining my grandfather’s tribe.
    tab “So different when compared to us. I thought if I so much as touched one, they’d crumble like a dry leaf!”
    tab As I said before, my people are rough and agile; CBs are delicate and pale. Most of them never leave their cities because the effort makes them tired. Inside their metal world, they have machines performing every task they need. I wish I had machines working for me, than I wouldn’t have to slink through the decayed trees keeping my eye on the wild deer that graze below. Unwanted don’t have machines though; they’re reserved solely for the CBs. Though I am jealous, I understand that perhaps we do not posses the intellect required to use them. After all, we do live in trees.
    tab As a member of the Sétál tribe, we live mostly in the hallowed out trunks of trees and on their spidery branches. In my tree which I named Żetya, I live with Nan, my grandmother. Since my bloodline belongs to the chieftains, our tree is in the heart of our village. Someday when I’m older, I will lead and protect my people. That time is very far off. At the moment, my older sister controls the tribe.
    tab Morrow is one of the strongest Unwanted to be ever born to my tribe. She leads us with pride and strength. Sine the age of nine, Morrow has lead the tribe through many perils. A natural born leader, Morrow doesn’t listen to anyone but the council and her instincts. The CBs mean nothing to her. In fact, she hates them.
    tab “Why must they keep us in the dark while they horde the cities and supplies?” She often asks that whenever she gets the chance. Morrow doesn’t believe that we should be exiled to the wilderness like vermin. She claims that we are stronger than the CBs and should take our place within the cities. The council laughs at her when she says things like that. They tell her that our place belongs in the wild, away from the society that our ancestors so foolishly shunned. They tell her that we brought this misfortune upon ourselves and must live with it.
    tab Morrow just sneers and insists that the CBs keep us away from them because the know who is truly superior. Everyone just looks away quietly when she says things like that. Sometimes I hear the council whispering about how they worry that Morrow might do something radical one day, something that would upset the peace between us and the CBs. Morrow knows what they sigh and asks bitterly, “What peace?”
    tab Personally I don’t think Morrow would ever do something so extreme. She may hate the CBs, but she’d never do anything that might her put people in danger....

    tab Nobody knows when the fire started.
    tab According to Nan, she awoke smelling the crisp, bitter scent of fire. Shaking me awake, she asked me to climb to the top of Żetya and report to her what I saw.
    tab Prior to my rude awakening everything about the day had been normal. Well, almost normal.
    tab That morning I had been pulled from my bed by Morrow, ordering me to join the mornings hunting party. Though we’re only three years apart, Morrow usually treats me like a child. She always insists that I am too much of a ğway, or coward, to join her and her best friend Say when they’re out hunting in the early hours of the red sunrise. That morning though, Morrow shook me awake long before the moon had disappeared underneath the horizon. She told me, “Nor, it’s high time that you start acting like ćredan, adult,” she whispered seriously as she yanked me out of my comfortable bed of soft leaves. “I’ve had enough of you sneaking off to play those childish games of yours. You are fourteen, a ćredan, adult, now. I expect you to act like one. Don’t think I’ll turn my head just because you are my sister. Now get up, you’re going hunting with us.”
    tab The hunt itself was not as exciting as I thought it would be; probably because Morrow and Say would order me to go a head and scout the land for any promising prey. Since it’s the spring, the chances of finding a tasty red-furred bear are high but Morrow said not to expect such luck. In the last fifteen years, my tribe has only enjoyed four red-furred bears.That, however, doesn’t discourage us from hoping.
    tab As it turned out, Morrow was right about the red-furred bear. We did however, manage to kill a pack of antlered rabbits. They taste delicious when boiled down into a stew. 
 tab After the hunt, Morrow resumed her duties and I went off to find Koh. Like I knew I would, I found him in his favorite hiding spot; the one in the little crevice between the split rock.
    tab “Morning Nor,” he grumbled as I slid into the space besides him.
    tab “Sorry about this morning,” I apologized glumly, “Morrow invited me to join and the hunting party and you know I can’t say no to her.” That morning, Koh and I had had plans to sneak off from the others and explore a gorge we had found the week before.
    tab “It doesn’t matter. I took Ness instead.”
    tab Though we are all friends, hearing that Koh had taken Ness to the place that we had found just didn’t sit right with me. Inside, I could feel my blood starting to boil as I suddenly replied coldly, “Well I guess you don’t need me then since you’ve got Ness.”
    tab Ears turning red, something that always happens whenever Koh gets either embarrassed or angry, he fired back, “I’d rather hang out with Ness than you any day!” He stood up and started to climb out the crevice before turning around and adding, “At least with Ness, I don’t have to worry about her going berserk over something so stupid.”
    tab Then he was gone, leaving me alone in the crevice.
    tab Since that time I haven’t spoken to him. During dinner he sat with Ness, leaving me to sit besides Quec, a boy my age who’d rather play with bugs than do anything else. While Quec kept trying to show me his latest additions to his collections, I kept stealing glances at Koh. Whenever our eyes met, he would hastily turn his attention back to Ness and start talking with her again. It’s strange, I don’t know why something that is so insignificant is bothering me so much. I mean, I have known Koh since we were children and we have had our fair share of fights, but this was the first time that we’ve had one this bad.
    tab After dinner, we all went our separate ways. Usually after eating, Koh and I would climb to the top of his tree and share stories. While mine are always boring Koh’s are always filled with creativity. Tonight though, I slipped into Żetya and crawled into my bed of leaves and closed my eyes.
    tab When I opened them it again, it was because Nan was shaking me awake frantically.
    tab “Get up child!” she shouted as she shook me furiously again. “Something is burning, can you not smell it?”
    tab I did and it was horrible.
    tab “Climb up there and tell me what you see Nor.”
    tab Without even waiting for her to repeat herself, I threw on my deer skin dress and slipped out of Żetya. Swinging onto the lowest branch, I dug my nails into the tree’s trunk and started to climb, moving like a squirrel desperate to reach the top.
    tab When I finally broke through the tree line, I had to cover my mouth with the back of my hand because the air was so dense. In the distance I could see the city. However, instead of the usual gentle white glow, the city emitted a furious glow of red and orange. Narrowing my eyes through the haze, I could see the small figures of CBs running around frantically, there screams so loud that they pierced my ears.
    tab “What do you see child?”
    tab Jumping down, I landed soundless besides Nan before reporting back to her what I had seen. When I was done, I asked Nan if there was anything we could do to help the CBs.
    tab “Even if they don’t accept us, how can they deny our offer to help?”
    tab Shaking her head, Nan solemnly looked into my eyes. “I’m afraid it just doesn’t work like that...” her voice trailed off as Morrow appeared at her side.
    tab “Sis-Morrow?” I asked, catching myself before I addressed her as ‘sister.’ If there is anything that Morrow hated more in the world than CBs, it had to be admitting to others that her and I are related.
    tab “You have my permission to speak.”
    tab “Have you met with the council and discussed the issue?”
    tab Around us, other members of the tribe gathered, each one more anxious than the last to hear what their great leader Morrow had to say.
    tab Not even hesitating, she nodded her heard. “Yes, and we have reached a discussion...”
    tab I tiptoed closer, unaware that I was holding my breath with anticipation.
    tab “...We will not enter the city.”
    tab My jaw dropped the moment she had finished speaking. How could we do nothing? Stepping forward, I opened my mouth and shouted, “We should help them. If we don’t, hundreds of CBs will die!”
    tab All at once, every set eyes in the village turned and focused on me. In front me, Morrow’s face twisted into one of frustration; probably because I had just challenged her authority.
    tab “I’m surprised Nor,” she hissed, “at how quickly you have forgotten the law.
    We’re not entering the city because we don’t want to, we’re not entering because we can’t! When the CBs broke the accords, our right to enter their domain was forsaken.” Signaling for the others to step back, she walked into the middle of the circle before turning around and pointing directly at me. “Of course, that has never stopped you before, aren’t I right?”
    tab My face suddenly grew red with shame as the others started to whisper. I didn’t blame them. Though my little excursions into the city might have been harmless, had I been caught the CBs would have had me arrested and the rest my people would have been cleared out of the forest, forced to find a new home. That was the lowest form of punishment that we might receive. Depending on the CBs, things could get a lot worse.
    tab Even though there was barely any light, I could tell that Morrow was now smirking triumphantly at me, like she had just won a game or something. “Do not follow this fool’s example,” she shouted. At that moment, there was a terrible cracking noise followed by the ground shaking. Though the city was at least two miles away, I knew just from the sound that a building had just crumbled to the ground. Morrow, not moved in the slightest by the collapse, continued to speak. “By entering that city you are putting us all at risk. That is why I will not send our people there! If we help them now, it will only cause us trouble, do you all hear me?” Around us, the others all nodded in agreement before returning to their trees. Soon it was just me, Morrow, and Nan.
    tab “Nor,” Morrow said once the others were gone, “ignore your feelings of sympathy. We owe those people nothing. Do not involve yourself in this predicament.” She didn’t wait for me to reply, she just clenched her fists tightly before strolling past us, heading towards the tree where the council dwells.
    tab Later, I was sitting on one of Żetya’s highest branches while watching the fire continue to tear through the city. In the last hour it had grown to immense size and I understood that there was nothing the CBs could do to contain it, that the fire was surely going to spread until it reached the sea on the west side of the city. Thankfully there was no wind so we didn’t have to worry about the flames blowing into the forest. Even so, CBs were dying and I couldn't just sit there anymore. Standing up, I moved back down the branches before reaching the opening of Żetya. Slipping inside, I maneuvered over Nan’s sleeping figure before grabbing my diamond dagger and sheathing it into the holster on my hip. I didn’t care about Morrow’s warning. I couldn’t just sit back and watch all those CBs be burned to a crisp.
    tab As it turned out, sneaking out of the village was a lot easier than I had originally thought it was going to be. Amazingly, Morrow hadn’t ordered the guards to surround the village. I guess she assumed that no one was going to be stupid and go against her word.
    tab Getting to city however, proved to be a pose much more of a challenge. Before I even reached the outskirts of the city, I had to hide in the upper part of the trees; there were hundreds of CBS running frantically into the forest. From my hiding spot, I watched large groups of them come spilling out of the city’s entrance. Only moving when there was no one around, I gradually made my way towards to city’s outer-limits. When at last the familiar buildings came into few, I jumped from one final branch to another before reaching the white-stone wall that surrounded the city. Not to my surprise, there were CBs all over the place, pointing and screaming as the fire roared up from behind it.
    tab Pulling back until I was once again hidden in the shadows, I moved to another tree. I needed or to find a place with the littlest amount of CBs. It took me a while, but I finally found one. By that point though, my eyes were already tearing up and I was staring to cough from inhaling so much smoke. Not wasting another moment, I untied the strip of cloth that I wore around my waist and tied it over my mouth so I wouldn’t inhale the toxic air. Once it was safely secure, I backed up until my back rested against the tree’s trunk before running forward and leaping into the air.
    tab As I had done so many countless times before, I landed soundlessly on the top of the wall, my balance firm and true. Crouching down, I dropped down the other side of the wall and landed on the metallic ground. I guess now would be a good time to mention that there is never any grass in the cities, only metal.There are no trees either; all the buildings are connected into blocks. Usually the ground is cold like ice, but tonight it was hot, and even burned the soles of my feet at times. Thankfully, the spot where I landed was still relatively cool but as I moved further into the city, the heat gradually grew to be unbearable. My skin might be tough, but it is not impervious to things like searing hot metal.
    tab It’s sad. I used to always think that the CB’s city was some a thing of great beauty, a majestic place that only those who deserve to, could live there. Now however, watching this once great place seemingly melt into nothing more than molten metal made my hear hurt. The CB’s spent so many years building this place; they started shortly after the two halves were put back together and now all their efforts were literarily melting away.
    tab I had officially been in the city for about fifteen minutes and so far, I had not seen any CBs. Despite my mask, my lungs felt heavy and I could barely see. Around me, shards of glass littered the ground from when the windows had cracked under the influence of the heat. I had just turned a corner when suddenly there was a loud crash before shiny shards of glass fell from the sky. Having nowhere to go, I ducked down and shielded myself the best I could. Despite the effort, I felt the shard graze my arms. Had they fallen with greater speed, they might have actually cut into my skin! It was while I was protecting myself from that glass that I suddenly dawned on me just how foolish my decision to come here had been. What had I been think that I might actually accomplish by coming to this burning city? That I might save a few CBs and be regarded a hero? Even if that was my intention, coming here and been a mistake, one that Morrow had foreseen and had tried in vain to prevent me from fulfilling. I decided right then and there that as soon as the coast was clear, that I’d escape while I had the chance.
    tab When the glass finally stopped falling, I slowly uncovered my head and stood up straight. It was then that I heard the sound of someone calling for help.
    tab It was very faint, but it was there nonetheless.
    tab “Please, somebody. Help!”
    tab Closing my eyes, I tried to follow the sound of their cries but the roaring of the fire made it nearly impossible. Opening them again, I glanced at the row of metallic buildings in front of me. Both were nearly overrun with flames but my instincts told me that somewhere in either building, was a CB who needed my help. The only problem; which building. I had to chose; left or right. Staring at both of them, I moved my eyes slowly back and forth, before finally deciding on the building to my left. Unsheathing my dagger, I charged forward with a might cry before slamming my shoulder against the door, effectively knocking it down.
    tab Prior to this point, I had never before stepped inside a CB home. Always gazing form the outside, I had imagined that the inside of the CBs’ homes to be just as marvelous as their city; full of mesmerizing machines and sleek metal. Instead though, the inside was spare, the walls naked in the fiery light. Upon closer inspection, I could see that building’s interior wasn’t even made of metal, rather of some soft material I did not recognize. If all the other buildings were built like this one, than that would explain why they were all burning so quickly. Knowing this just fueled my desire to help the unfortunate CB even more.
    tab “Hello?” I called, stepping further into the stark room. “Can you hear me?”
    tab I waited a few moments but heard no reply. Taking a few more cautious steps I surveyed the room again, this time noticing a set of steps leading up into the building. Though I no longer heard the CB’s cries, my instincts told me to investigate the upper levels, just in case.
    tab Clenching my dagger tightly in case I might need it to break down a door, I took a hurried glance back behind me to make sure that my path to street was still clear. Though the flames were slowly creeping across the soft floor, I estimated that I had at least ten minutes to search before the bottom level was completely overrun with flames.
    tab The steps creaked with pain as I tread on them. While the first level had been filled mostly with smoke, the second level glowed brightly with reddish orange flames.
    tab Pulling my mask away from my face, I allowed myself to inhale the foul air as I once again shouted, “Can anyone hear me? I’m here to help. Do not be afraid!” As was before, my shouting was met with silence.
    tab I was about to continue on to the next level when the building suddenly let out a mournful groan. Glancing around frantically, I looked up just in time to realize that there was smoke seeping out through the cracks in the ceiling, that surface was trembling. Hearing another groan more sorrowful than the first, my eyes widened as I realized what was about to happen.
    tab Crack!
    tab I didn’t move fast enough.
    tab Coughing, I struggled to move underneath the weight of the floor that had collapsed on top of me. No luck. The boards were too heavy, most of them smoldering with small flames. Besides, while I had one heap of boards pinning me down, another held my right arm captive. With my left arm pinned to my side, I could hardly move anything other than my head. All around me, the flames were slowly drawing closer, their smoke seemingly wrapping an invisible hand around my throat. I think that’s when the realization that I was going to die there hit me. Morrow had always said that my foolishness would be the end of me; I guess she was right.
    tab As I laid there, pinned against the burning floor, it suddenly occurred me that somewhere in this building, a CB was also dying! I think it was knowing that fact that made me cry, than again it could have just been the smoke....
    tab -Here, she’s here!
    tab -You two, help me move these boards! The building’s about to crumble!
    tab -Just hold on Nor, I’ve got you.
    tab It was the first splash of water that pulled me from the darkness that had overtaken me. The second cold blast left me coughing and gasping for air as the majority of it seeped into my mouth and filled my throat.
    tab “Nor?”
    tab Wiping the water off my face, I coughed a few more times before wrenching my eyes opening, realizing that the I was no longer in the burning city.
    tab “You’re one lucky idiot,” the same voice from before said, “anyone else and they would have died!”
    tab Rubbing my still stinging eyes I watched Koh’s figure gradually grow more distinct as my vision cleared. Above him I could see that the night sky was no longer full of stars, just smoke. Below the sky, the familiar grey trees stood in attention around us, as if they were trying to shield us from the dangerous fire. Glancing back at Koh, I could now see him fully. He looked angry.
    tab Not allowing me a moment to speak, he instantly started shouting, “What were you thinking? Didn’t you hear what Morrow said? No one is to go near the city!” He had taken hold of my shoulders and was shaking me furiously. “Do you have any idea what would have happened if I hadn’t realized that you were missing?” Suddenly, he let go of my shoulders as his expression softened. “Nor...” his voice now a whisper, “you’re crying.”
    tab I’m not sure why I started crying at that exact moment. So many emotions were going through me at that moment, fear, sadness, relief, anger. Too many to count. I was overwhelmed. But I think the worst part of it was that I was crying in front of Koh!
    tab “Shut up!” I shouted defensively after Koh pointed out that fact again. “Just shut up!” I yelled as Koh’s arms suddenly engulfed me in a warm embrace.
    tab “What were you thinking?” he whispered softly to me as I sat there numb in his arms. “Just tell me that.”
    tab Closing my eyes, I fought the urge to break down into another round of fresh tears. “A-all those p-p-people....I c-couldn’t just watch them burn,” my voice came out small and weak. I hated the way it sounded.
    tab I’m not sure how long we stayed like. All I know was that the first one to move was Koh.
    tab “Come on,” he said stiffly as he let me go and got to his feet, “we should head back.”
    tab After getting to my own feet, I started to take a glance back at the city, to see what remained of it but Koh stopped me. He said it would be better if I didn’t look. I trust him enough to know that we was probably right.
    tab The journey back was quiet; not a single CB in sight. Half through our journey, Koh started telling my about how he had convinced two other Unwanteds to come with him to find me.
    tab “I sent them back once you were safe,” he added as we neared the entrance to our home. Something however, was wrong.
    tab Instead of the familiar faces of my tribe, our village was flooded with CBs.
    tab Leaving my side, Koh rushed ahead and spoke with Quec before returning. His expression was grave.
    tab “It’s Morrow.”
    tab “What about her?” I asked. The expression on Koh’s face was one that I had never seen before. It worried me.
    tab Turning his gaze to the ground, he too a long and deliberate breath before saying the following words, “The CBs claim that she started the fire. They’ve arrested her.”

    tab The trial took place three days after that.
    tab For those three days, the whole village was shrouded in a veil of mourning. As for the CBs, with their city now destroyed, they had slowly started taking over our village, demanding that my people sleep out doors while they take over their homes.
    tab “Greedy worms,” Nan whispers whenever she is given the chance, and I agree with her. Since the night they accused Morrow of destroying their city, the CBs had made it a habit of seizing our possessions and claiming them for themselves. One tried to steal my obsidian necklace from me but Koh scared her away. For meals, they order us to hunt for them, though most of our hunters refuse to do so. They only take orders from Morrow, they said, no one else.
    tab As for Morrow, their keeping her guarded in a cave not far from my village. According to the CBs, they’re doing this to protect their people from any more danger that Morrow might unleash on them. I don’t believe that Morrow did it; no one in the tribe does. The CBs insist otherwise and after three miserable days, they pulled Morrow out of isolation and had their tria;.
    tab While most of us Unwanted were prohibited from attending. I managed to gain entry for Koh and myself. Since the city was nothing more than a head of smoldering metal, the CBs held the trial on shores of the sea that lay to the east.
    tab I’m not sure what I was expecting. Maybe I thought that the CBs would all stand up and supply their reasons as to why they thought my sister and started the fire. Thats what we would do in a similar situation in the village. Instead, they brought out this weird machine with lots of flashing lights and a man asked, “Did Morrow of the Unwanted start the fire?”
    tab There was a loud ringing noise as the machine suddenly started blinking like mad. There was a lot more ringing and flashing before voice escaped the machine saying in an empty voice, “Yes.”
    tab Around the machine, all the CBs cheered as the same man addressed the machine again.
    tab “Should Morrow pay for her crime with her life?”
    tab “Yes.”
    tab There was a round of approving nods as the man turned around, this time addressing the audience. Snapping his fingers, the man from before turned and addressed the audience as the machine was taken away.
    tab “A verdict has been reached,” he declared as if no one had been paying attention to his conversation with the machine. “The machine has declared Morrow guilty and has declared that she be punished.”
    tab More cheers followed as three CBs led Morrow away. Koh and I didn’t stay at the meeting long after that. I didn’t want to hear those CBs decide my sister’s future. Since coming here, I have slowly grown to resent the CBs. Up close, they are not as wondrous and superior as I thought. Most of them are weak and cannot spend more than thirty minutes in the sun. With nearly translucent skin, the CBS spend most of their time in the shade, going through the original owner of the trees things. I, for the most part, keep a good distance between myself and the CBs. Yesterday I learned that Morrow was going to be beheaded and just the thought of looking at a CB right now makes me sick.
    tab I don’t understand why they’re doing this. Nan always taught me that they only way to solve a problem is by stepping back and looking at all the issues. If the CBs would just do that, than they would see that Morrow is innocent. They don’t though. They just continue to insist that she was the one who started the fire, that she wanted to watch them all burn.
    tab And yet, despite all these accusations, Morrow never denied a single one of them.
    tab They night before her stance, the CBs allowed me to see her.
    tab Even in chains, she still carried herself with the same confident demeanor.
    tab “Evening Nor,” she said after I stepped into cave. They way she said was if we were back at home, rather than in a makeshift prison.
    tab Having only ten minutes, I walked over to her and offered her the dagger that I had hidden underneath my dress. “Let me cut your chains Morrow-” I started to say when Morrow cut me off.
    tab “Tell me Nor, what do you think of the CBs now?” I told her I didn’t understand and she rephrased the questions. “Nan told me how envious of their lifestyle you are, how you wish to be just as great as them.” She crossed her legs and sat up straighter. “What are you feelings towards them now?”
    tab Not understanding why she was asking my something like that, I shook my head and said, “They’re greedy and refused to listen to reason...” my voice trailed off, not sure what to say next.
    tab “Hmm,” Morrow mused before saying, “do you know what really caused the fire?” I shook my head and she continued, “A machine Nor. A machine that they lost control of and that exploded.” I asked her how she knew that. Her reply, “I saw the fire start.”
    tab Now I was angry. If Morrow knew what really caused the fire than why didn’t she speak up and clear her name. “Tell them that,” I almost shouted. “Tell the CBs the truth and they’ll let you go.
    tab Smirking, Morrow stood up to her full height. “Still thinking highly of them,” she whispered to herself before clearing her throat. “They already know what caused the fire. They’re using just me, using us to excuse themselves from taking responsibility. They know I’m innocent; they just want somebody to blame.” Sighing, she stretched out her back, “So tomorrow, they’ll behead me. And once I’m dead, they’ll start rebuilding that ugly city of their’s, and you will take me place as chief.”
    tab She said it all so calmly that I thought she surely had lost her mind. “Why are you accepting something like that? Run away Morrow, run away and stay hidden for a while! Come back when everything has cooled down.”
    tab Then Morrow looked at me with the eyes of a sister rather than a leader. “You’re going to make a good chief,” she said, as if she was oblivious to my yelling, “you might still act like a child now, but I know you’ll grow into the role.” Then she turned around so her back was to me.
    tab “Morrow,” I started, but a CB guard came in and told me I had to go. For a moment, I didn’t budge as I watched Morrow cast me a side way glance before saying, “Once I’m gone Nor, I want you to take a good look at the CBs around you. I think then you’ll understand.”
    tab The next time I saw Morrow, she was kneeling in the middle of the village, her head bowed low to the ground.
    tab Besides me, Koh held my hand tightly as the machine with it’s sharp blade stated to lift it towards the sky. Turning my head, I tried to focus on anything else but the machine. Gazing off to my side, I noticed that both CBs and Unwanted were all standing together. Before, I always thought that CBs were different, were superior, but as I continued to stare, I noticed for the first time that something wasn’t right. While my people stood tall and strong, all the CBs had their eyes to the ground and seemed to almost be trembling. Most of them were wearing dark cloaks to protect their sensitive skin to from the sun.
    tab “Do you have anything you want to say?” I heard a CB ask Morrow.
    tab Turning my attention, I watched her lift her head.
    tab “Yes,” she replied calmly. Eyes moving to mine, she smirked one last time, “Take advantage of this time of peace while you can,” she warned, “someday, one of my people is going to see you for what you all really are.” Her eyes never moving away from mine, I watched her wink as she knelt her down again.
    tab “What was thats supposed to mean?” Koh whispered while a CB gave the machine the order. I shook my head but I could still feel the weight of her words on my ears.
    tab “Don’t look,” he whispered again, but I did. I watched the blade rise further before suddenly coming to a halt. There was moment when there was absolute silence, all eyes, both CB and Unwanted focused on that long, cold blade.
    tab Swoosh
    tab When that blade came down, it brought down with it the end of the life I had perviously known. When Morrow’s head rolled away from her now useless body, it landed a few feet away from me. Despite Koh’s warning, I lifted my eyes and gazed into the ones that had once belonged to Morrow.
    tab What I saw there changed my life.
    tab Nothing is ever going to be same is it?