Chastity finally regained control of her emotions and they worked silently together until a knock came at the door. Ursa jumped to her feet to answer, a smile already working its way through her gloomy haze.
“Hi girls!”
Chastity instantly wrapped her arms around her mother’s waist.
“Ursa is going to come and play tonight,” Chastity announced.
“Wonderful. Will she be sleeping over? Tomorrow is my free day.”
Hope looked around the room for Cora and found her lurking in the bedroom doorway, arms crossed. “No. Ursa will not be sleeping over.”
Hope flinched at hearing Cora’s tone. “Are you certain? I know the girls can be a handful—especially when they get excited. I can give you a break, if you like.”
Cora’s jaw tightened; her gaze piercing. “No, thank you. Ursa needs to catch up on her studies.”
Hope nodded, biting her bottom lip. “Alright then. I’ll have her back before bedtime.”
Chastity pushed past her mother into the hall and scanned into their apartment. Ursa followed, but heard her mother speak just before she entered the apartment.
“I’d like a word with you, before you take Ursa.”
“Sure. Is something wrong?”
Ursa instantly hugged the wall between their apartments and waited until the door clicked shut. She pressed her ear against the door, straining to hear.
“The girls seem upset.”
“Yes. Ursa will leave soon.”
“Oh my. I don’t know what Chastity will do without Ursa.”
“I need to discuss something with you. You told the girls a story I found rather inappropriate.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, about a girl wandering outside the dome.”
“Really? Oh. I’m sorry if you found that inappropriate. It was just a silly story I made up to entertain them.”
“Yes, well. The State wouldn’t approve of it—I don’t approve of it.” She spat. “Ursa has such a difficult time concentrating on her studies. I don’t need your frivolities distracting her further.”
There was a moment of silence.
“Is this why Ursa hasn’t been coming over to play lately? I wish you had spoken to me sooner. Like I said, it was silly. I will let the girls amuse each other while they play.”
“Yes, well, you weren’t properly trained to be a parent as you were never expected to fill that role. I didn’t feel simply bringing it to your attention would correct the damage you have done. You don’t have the education. If you had, you would know better.”
Another moment of silence passed.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize.” Hope paused. “You are correct, I didn’t receive the training you did. But I think it is unfair for you to take my mistake out on the girls. As Ursa is about to—”
“What are you doing?” Chastity popped her head into the hallway.
Ursa instantly bolted into their apartment. “Shh. I was listening.”
Chastity looked at her confused. Ursa grabbed her hand and immediately led her to the sofa. “Never mind. Let’s play Patti-cake.”
Her attempts to distract Chastity worked like a charm. Soon they were clapping and chanting together—appearing much more innocent than Ursa actually was—when Hope walked in the door.
“Playing already, I see.” She smiled broadly, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. “I have splendid news; your mother agreed to let you spend the night, Ursa.”
“Really!” Chastity screeched.
Ursa eyed Hope carefully.
Hope took notice of her watchful eye and spoke directly to her. “Yes, but this will probably be the last time as Ursa will go off to be educated soon. I convinced Cora the two of you needed one last night together.”
Ursa had always known her mother could be just plain mean but seeing her affect a grown up like this was nearly incomprehensible.
Hope tried to smile once again. “I’ll be in my room if you girls need anything.”
Ursa watched her leaving, wishing to say so many things. She wanted to tell Hope how horrible her mother was. How she had often wished Hope was her mother instead. Hope had always made her feel special—she had never treated her any different than she did Chastity—she never made her feel dumb or as though she were less important.
Chastity disrupted her thoughts, pulling her back into their game of Patti-cake. Ursa was no longer in the mood for such a silly game, yet she knew this was it. Soon, she would be gone. Ursa put a smile on her face and played every single game Chastity requested of her, even having a contest for who could hold their breath the longest.
Hope came to eat their evening meal with them and stayed for a few games. Ursa could see her mood had lightened, but she was not yet truly herself. She let them play until it was far past their usual bedtime. Hope finally pushed them off to bed when Chastity’s eyes grew heavy.
When they had sleepovers, Hope always gave up her large bed for them to share, taking Chastity’s small bed in her room. Hope tucked them both in.
“Do we get a story?” Chastity yawned.
Hope laughed. “You can hardly keep your eyes open.”
“I want a story.” Chastity protested.
“Okay then, what do you want to hear?”
Ursa bit her bottom lip. “Well, since it’s my last night here, I would like you to finish the story about Princess Cecilia.”
Hope took a seat on Ursa’s side of the bed and took hold of her hand. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Your mother doesn’t like it.”
“But it’s my last night here. I’ll wonder for the rest of my life how it ends.”
Hope shook her head. “I don’t want to cause any more trouble with your mother. She’s right, it’s not what the State has laid out as appropriate for children.”
“Well, she won’t know. I won’t tell her—it was all my fault. I didn’t know—”
“No Ursa, it wasn’t your fault.”
“But now that I know, I won’t tell her. And Chastity won’t either. Right Chastity?”
Chastity’s eyes were closed, her head fell off to the side, unresponsive.
“Chastity won’t even know.” Ursa corrected. “It will be our little secret.”
Hope smiled. “Ursa, you have always had so much spirit. I hope you never lose that quality. I hope when you move away, and as you grow and mature, you will always have that fire burning inside of you. I think you will be someone really special when you grow up.”
“Really?” Ursa’s eyes began to well up with tears. “My mom thinks I’m not smart enough. I’m not like Chastity. She says I’m going to end up doing laundry or cleaning as my civil duty.”
Hope rose an eyebrow. “And what is wrong with those duties? They are both necessary and honorable callings—if that is where you end up.” She squeezed her hand. “It’s not your civil duty which determines if you are special. That is something that comes from inside.”
A few tears escaped Ursa’s eyes. “But I’ll never be smart. You are so smart that you had someone else educate your daughter. Your duty is so important.”
“No Ursa, you’re wrong.” Hope shook her head. “I didn’t educate Chastity because her father died. If he had lived, I would have stayed at home with her until she went off to school.” Hope reached into her top drawer and retrieved a handkerchief. “You know who I think isn’t special?”
“Who?”
“Your mother.”
Ursa burst into a fit of laughter.
Hope quickly shushed her to keep her from waking Chastity. “You can’t ever tell anyone I said that, but that’s what I think. I think you have something special, something that I don’t think Chastity has—something your mother certainly doesn’t have.”
Ursa nearly sat up before Hope gently pushed her back down. “You think I’m more special than Chastity? But how? She’s so smart.”
Hope nodded. “Yes, she is smart, but she does everything she is told without question. She is muc
h like her father was. You may not be as good at school, but you have a mind that is unique. You question everything. I think it’s wonderful that you think for yourself.”
“But my mom says that’s bad.”
“It can be seen that way, yes, but that doesn’t mean it is something negative, just different. It’s something that makes certain people nervous—like your mother—and certain people in the State.”
“Will I keep getting in trouble when I move away?”
Hope laughed. “Probably. Or, you can learn to keep those unique thoughts inside your mind. If you stop sharing these thoughts with your mother, she can’t get mad at you.”
Ursa’s jaw dropped. “You want me to lie to my mom?”
Hope’s head teetered back and forth. “Lie, no. Not quite. Just be more selective in what you tell her. Be selective in what you tell your instructors and your peers. They will try to make you think like them. That’s what I’m afraid of. You are perfect as you are. I don’t want them to change you.”
Ursa’s mind was spinning yet a weight lifted off her chest. She pondered Hope’s words.
“I think it’s time to get some sleep.” Hope pushed off the bed.
“Wait! Don’t I get the story?” She pleaded, pressing her palms together. “I already promised I won’t tell my mom. I won’t tell my teachers, or anyone, ever.”
Hope gazed at her sideways then sat back on the bed. “I’ll make you a deal. I’ll finish the story, but there is someone I do want you to tell.”
“Chastity?”
“Yes, you may speak to Chastity about it—as a shared secret—but there is someone else too; I want you to remember the story and tell it to your child someday.”
Ursa stared blankly as Hope’s request settled in her mind. “What if I don’t get selected for reproduction?”
Hope brushed a strand of hair from her face. “Then I guess it will always be our little secret.”
Chapter 5
2 Years Later
Ursa
It had been just over two years since she had seen her best friend, heard her voice, and impish giggle. Her heart still ached daily for Chastity.
At first, she was excited for each call home, each opportunity to see her friend. After her first six months away, she realized her mother was intentionally keeping them apart. Ursa didn’t know if Cora separated them to keep Chastity focused on her studies, or if she just wanted to torture her, keeping the one thing away from her she truly cared about.
The first few calls Ursa cried, pleaded, begged, and even promised to do extra homework if her mother would let her speak to Chastity. Her mother would reply with something dismissive, never properly explaining Chastity’s absence. The last time Ursa broached the subject, her mother told her to stop being ridiculous and switched off the monitor.
Their monthly calls were now terse at best. Ursa never felt they had anything to talk about. Their conversations would both start and end the same way each time they spoke. Cora would press her for information about her life and use the information as fodder to criticize her. Each time she asked to hear about Chastity, her mother focused on what an excellent student Chastity was—so unlike how Ursa had been. How it was clear Chastity was headed for greatness.
The State required the monthly conversation for all students until they completed their education, and she would be no different. Once her training was behind her, contacting her mother would be her choice. For Ursa, there was no choice in the matter. She would always be a disappointment to her mother, and she knew she deserved more.
She deserved a mother like Hope. Although Hope was always busy with her civil duty, she hadn’t let Ursa down. A message came through from Hope late the previous evening, explaining Chastity would be on the call with Cora the following day. She didn’t know how Hope won that fight with Cora, but she was eternally grateful, nonetheless.
For the first time in two years, Ursa was excited to call home. If for some unforeseeable reason Chastity wouldn’t be able talk, Ursa would find a way to make it the last time she ever spoke to her mother.
She paced the length of the floor, heart pounding rapidly. The monitor flashed, and she nearly ran to activate it. The moment an image displayed, she nearly burst into tears. The entire screen was filled with Chastity’s excited face.
Chastity squealed in delight and bounced up and down.
“Ursa!”
“Chastity!”
Ursa could have burst into tears simply from the sight of her. She inhaled deeply, working to hold her smile. If either of them started to cry, her mother would most certainly end the call abruptly.
Chastity spread her arms across the monitor. Ursa laughed but quickly followed Chastity’s lead with the artificial hug, regardless of how ridiculous it was. The fact Chastity was as excited as she was, it was enough to send her spirits soaring into the clouds.
Ursa backed away from the monitor but Chastity greedily stood, blocking Cora from view.
“Tell me everything! What’s it like to live on your own? How’s school? What do you do every day?” Chastity bounced on her heels with every word.
Ursa laughed. “School is fun.”
“Wow, there’s a statement I never expected to hear from her.”
The bright smile fell from Ursa’s face just as Chastity turned to look at Cora. With a confused expression, Chastity turned back to the screen, immediately pushing away thoughts of snide comments from Cora.
“I can’t wait to move out to be educated! Do you have lots of friends? Do you have sleepovers all the time?”
Ursa smiled, shaking her head. “No, sleepovers are not permitted. We don’t have much free time to play with friends, but when we do, there are large rooms filled with puzzles and games.”
Chastity’s eyes bulged. “Wow! Everyone from your class meets in this room?”
“Not just my class, everyone. Both the males and females who are being educated can meet there.”
“Males?” Chastity wrinkled her nose. “I don’t know any males. Is that weird having them around?”
Ursa laughed and blushed softly. “It was at first but now I'm used to it. I spend most of my free time in the common room.”
Chastity looked confused. “What do you do all day?”
“Well, I go to the education center in the morning. I take a history class first, then I spend a few hours training in my civil duty.”
“No way!” Chastity leaned into the screen. “You know what your civil duty is?”
Ursa hesitated. “Yes. Didn’t my mother tell you? I work in a greenhouse.”
If Ursa couldn’t see her mother’s leg behind Chastity, she would have wondered if she’d left the room.
“Wow! Is that where they grow food?”
“Yes. We grow food, but there are other plants as well. They use some plants in medication, some in tea. But all plants produce oxygen which is another reason they are so important.”
Chastity scrunched her face. “I don’t really understand what you do. Don’t plants grow all by themselves?”
Ursa heard her mother laugh. The sound felt as though it cut through her skin.
“Yes, they most certainly do.” Cora chimed in from behind the scenes. “It’s a menial labor kind of duty—the result of not focusing enough on her education.”
Ursa’s shoulders slumped, her face went slack. “I like it.”
Chastity looked back at Cora and hesitatingly replied, “We need to breathe and eat to live.”
Ursa couldn’t help but smile. Not because she had heard kind words from a dear friend, but because she could hear Hope’s influence shining through Chastity. The sentiment would have been enough to lighten her mood, but having Chastity say it right in front of her mother made it taste all that much sweeter.
“Yes, we do. We have to monitor the climate of the greenhouses, the soil, the moisture. We need to recognize when it is time to harvest a plant, when to take its seeds. After harvest, we prepare the compost to turn into fut
ure soil.”
Ursa lifted her chin, correcting her posture. She was special and wouldn’t let her mother make her feel otherwise. “There has been quite a lot to learn, actually. I like it. I like that I’m not stuck sitting at a tablet all day and I get to work with my hands. You get to visit with other people in the greenhouse, too. It’s fun.”
“That does sound fun. Hey, maybe I will be selected for the same duty and we can work together!”
A wide grin spread across her face.
Betrayed: Book Five of the State Series Page 3
