(Sang)

"Go into Mother's room, she's waiting for you." Marie says sternly. Behind her harsh demeanor I see something akin to pity in her eyes. Something must be really wrong for her to feel anything but loathing for me. I hurry into mother's room, not wanting to cause any further trouble.

Though she's still in bed she radiates a power and cruelty that can be felt from across the room. "Get in here Sang. And shut the door." She snapped. I jumped to comply.

"Your father is gone, he's abandoned us, our money is almost used up. I'm sure that the thought has never crossed your selfish little mind, so it's up to me to make the hard decisions."

"Y-yes mother." I stammer. What could this possibly mean for me? Why did she only call me in here?

"Your life is no longer yours to waste on skipping through fields or swimming in the creek. It does not belong to you anymore."

I blinked, "W-what?"

"I sold it." She said simply resting her bony hands on her lap. "They will be coming to collect."

I gasp. How could she do this to me. She- she sold me? And what does she mean by 'they'?

"Mother, please reconsider. I could work. We- we could find something to sell."

"Enough," she snarled, "its too late for that you stupid girl. They will be here soon."

"Mother who is they?" I asked, terrified of the answer but even more terrified of the unknown.

Miss sorenson pursed her lips, "the boys of the Blackbourne Academy. They paid good money for you Sang so you had better make yourself presentable. I will not have you making a mockery of this family. Do you hear me?"

I gasped and put my fingers to my lips. This could not be happening. The Blackbourne Academy was not a real school but more of a group that was in charge of maintaining the laws of the land. They were very powerful and very frightening. It was a group of boys led by Mr. Blackbourne who were said to have a heightened sense of strength and mental capacity. But more then that they seemed not to be human. The acts they were said to have carried out... How could she do this to me?

"Oh god. What have you done?" I gasped, panic clawing at my chest.

"I did what was best for this family you selfish brat. Maybe it wouldn't have been necessary if you had been a little less self absorbed over the years. It's all you father's fault, spoiling you rotten. Get out Sang. They'll be here soon and I expect you to be ready."

I bit my lip and hurried out of the room. All my life I had obeyed without question, and this was what I got? I understood the importance of doing what was best for the family but it was clear that they didn't care what was best for me. I shut the door to my room and paced.

My mother wouldn't hand me over to people who would hurt me, like really really hurt me. I scoffed. It was a nice thought but the truth was she would be the one to throw me to the wolves and complain when I screamed too loud.

With a start I realized that was exactly what she was doing.

Oh god I had to get out of here.

I grabbed my small leather satchel I used to collect healing herbs and emptied it of it's contents. Most of it I left scattered on my desk knowing I could find more in the wild and needing the room for other belongings, but I grabbed the baboa roots and a sprig of forwood. The baboa roots served as a type of sponge in case I ate something toxic by mistake. It only grew once a year on the edge of the swamps two towns over. It was tricky to find and prepare and I knew it could be important. The forwood was a type of herb that gave off a sweet incense when burned and was thought to bring luck. And oh man was I going to need all the luck I could get.

The rest I left scattered on the beaten up desk, hoping after I was gone Marie would have the good sense to either use or sell them. Knowing my sister she would probably mistake them for weeds and throw them out but I couldn't worry about that now. I grabbed my wooden brush and shoved that into my bag first. Next I wrapped a long knife in cloth and put that in to. Afterwards came a roll of twine, needle and thread, a canteen, and matches. Lastly I climbed onto the rickety chair and removed a section of the wall revealing a small pouch containing 8 copper coins and two silver coins.

I felt guilty having kept them a secret but I had worked hard on them and I feared my mother would have spent them on ribbons for Marie or useless witch doctors for herself. No wonder father had left, I thought resentfully. Did no one in my family ever think to put me first? I took a deep breath and replaced the rotted piece of wood. Stowing my anger I debated leaving the silver coins for Marie and Mother. She had said that they needed the money desperately and with my escape would go her pay day.

Though I was kind I was not foolish. I knew I would need to pay for food and shelter when the winter months came, and I would need to get far away before I would be able to stay in one place and work. With a sigh I pulled out two of the copper coins and laid them on the desk. Hopefully this would satisfy the landlord until my mother and sister found a way to pay the rent. I knew that we had enough plants stored away that, if they were careful, would last a few weeks.

I put a finger to my lips, was that everything? A pounding fist at the front door drew me from my thoughts. I had wasted too much time. They were here to collect. Trying hard not to panic I grabbed my back and pulled the window beside my bed open. I heard my mother shuffling to the door, snapping at Marie to get me. My body was halfway through the window when I sensed my door swing open.

"Mother," Marie called in a panic. I turned my head to see my sister's face drained of color. Behind her I could see my mother's face red with anger holding the door open for two gentlemen both wearing the crests of the Blackbourne academy. We made eye contact and though my heart was frozen I gave them a little wink. The one in front with a broad chest and dark hair formed a curse while the slighter blonde boy behind him smiled in delight. Before my mother could get a word out I was out the window and sprinting towards the woods.