“But…” Worry passed over Mary’s face. “You can’t leave now.”
“Sorry. I shouldn’t have come here in the first place.” Colli turned her head to stare out the car’s open window. Sweat brought by the heat that had built all day, glued once loose clothing to her body. The planet brought more than comfort of bright blue sky. There had been hints that it offered the best way to escape. They’d made it feel so easy. Now Colli wondered why.
Be careful what you wish for. Once more Gram’s words haunted her. I always wished for the freedom to make my own choices.
A strange, determined look spread over Mary’s face. “It’s not just Dad I’m thinking about,” she said.
Before Colli had time to react, Mary started the car and backed out the driveway.
“Mary?” Colli tried to get her sister’s attention.
“Yes?” Mary kept her eyes forward and gave no further response. Before they got to the freeway entrance, Mary turned down an insignificant side road. They continued for several minutes before Mary pulled the vehicle into a wide area. Once off the pavement, Mary pulled close to a solid rock wall. Colli looked down into a deep canyon. Mary set the break and got out. At the edge of the precipice she turned to motion Colli to join her.
Perspiration gathered on Colli’s upper lip. That didn’t bother her near as much as her sister’s changed demeanor.
“Come on over here,” Mary laughed.
Still Colli held back. “I want to leave. You have to go home.” Colli called, not releasing her firm hold on the door handle.
Mary shook her head. “Yes I know, but come over here first. Then I’ll take you where you need to go.”
Colli acquiesced. Not that she had any choice. The car would not drive itself. She released her grip She stepped out and moved around until she came to the driver’s side.
“Come on silly.” Mary admonished her. “I want to show you what I wished for.”
“What?” Mary couldn’t mean what Colli thought. Could she?
“See what I wished for,” Mary repeated.
Before Colli could reach her, Mary stepped over the edge into the canyon.
“No!” Colli screamed as Mary disappeared from sight. All fear for herself vanished. Colli raced forward to save the sister she hadn’t even had a chance to get to know. At the thigh high stone wall, Colli stopped to look over into the deep gorge.
Why would Mary do that? Fear ravaged Colli’s mind. She expected to see a broken body lying on the rocks below. Instead, when Colli stepped up on the cemented boulders, she came face to face with Mary, whose feet didn’t even touch the ground.
“I don’t understand.” Colli brushed at the muddy paste tears made on her face. “You’ve never been to the moon.”
“No. But we do share another hereditary link.” Mary tapped the area behind her left ear. The same place that, for Colli, carried the link to The Council.
“But you were afraid. You didn’t know what to do.” Colli tried to take back the control she’d lost.
“Was I?” Mary settled beside her. “Or am I a good actor? Just sayin.” She laughed. Then her smile evaporated. “I don’t have the skill you have.”
“And what skill would that be?” Colli sat down and swung her legs over the edge of the wall. Gravity tugged at her. It reminded her of her vulnability. Far below a ribbon of the fast moving river wound over rocks and through brush. “I thought I’d like here, but…”