I know I shouldn’t do this.

My family stares me in the eyes. Disbelief shines on their faces.

“Casandra. If you climb that wall, we will never take you back.”

Tribe leader’s powerful voice carries over the crowd.

“I’m tired of the lies! I saw that thing in the sky… I need to know the truth mother!”

My heart shatters. I love this place, it’s my everything. I love the nightly fires, I love the teachings and trainings. But as of today I have questioned everything. Is my world really this small? What lies behind the wall we were told to never cross?

I know people have came form the other side of the wall.

I know there are captives, I have heard the screams.

I know I have been lied to.

With a final look at my world, my family, I start to scale the wall. I memorize their long hair, their flawless faces, and their smiles. When I reach the top of the 20 foot wall a tear falls down my face. Anything could be on the other side.

—

I have been walking for days, all I have seen is trees, plants and nothing edible. No water, no food. Nothing.

My body hurts so much. My lips are so dry and I’m so so tired. Why did I climb that wall. I collapse to my knees, I brace my body for the feeling of the ground. Knowing I won’t get up.

—

I’m not in the forest. But if I’m not there than where am I. I smell fire. Smoke. I feel warm. Scratchy cloth covers my body.

I open my eyes and they fall to a tall figure in the corner.

I lose my breath.

What is that? It’s alive but it can’t be human like me. Can it?

It’s got shortly cut hair. Long limbs and broad shoulders. It smiles.

“You’re awake!” It crosses over to me quickly.

“Do you want help getting up? Here let me just-“ it puts it’s hands on my shoulders but I won’t let that happen.

I jump up and grab the knife tucked in my pockets. I push the thing back and kick it in the stomach. I quickly bring the knife to it’s throat.

“Woah woah woah! I’m sorry! Jeez!”

I don’t move

“Not the nicest thing to do to the man that just saved you!”

“What?” I reply

“Yeah, I found you unconscious in the woods on my hunting trip.”

“No, I mean what’s a man?”

“Uh, the opposite of a woman?”

I bring the knife down, and observe the man. I can’t imagine it being right, for everything it has said seems stupid, but I’m in a new place and for all I can know, it might be right. For some reason the man brings me joy. It’s face is perfect and I can’t pull my eyes from it.

“Wait a minute. You must be one of those lost girls.”

It pulls a small bright rectangle from it’s pockets. Light spews from it as the man begins to tap it furiously. I turn my head, confused.

“What should I call you, man?”

He looks up, and smiles a bit.

“You can call me Will”

I commit the name to memory

“You can call me Casandra.”

“I think I’ll call you Cassy.”

“That’s not my name” I question

“Yeah but it’s a nickname.”

Cassy. It’s beautiful.

Will turns the bright rectangle towards me and I see words display across it.

“Group of 500 young woman being raised in the middle of the Canadian forest”

I don’t know what Canadian is but that sounds exactly like my home.

“I didn’t know about your world, Will. Not until now”

I give the rectangle back. Wills blue eyes meet mine.

“Well, if you don’t plan on going back, maybe I can show you?”

I smile at Will and I don’t even know why. This man sounds intriguing and I feel safe with it. I doubt I can do this alone

“I’ll take you up on that offer.”

—

It’s been 6 months since my escape.

This world is beautiful, I have learned so much. I miss my home sometimes but I hope one day they can see all the wonders of this place. Tall buildings line the sky, yet fields of flowers can stretch miles. Everything lives harmoniously. Sure there are some issues but Will has taught me that they can be resolved. Im infinitely thankful for him and hope one day we can rescue the other girls, because though their home may be beautiful. They are missing so much because of their fear.