The Brotherhood: Jasmine: Followed (part 2)

[k_a_webb]

Part 1

“Why did you join the Brotherhood?” I asked eventually, thinking it was one of the safer questions, because almost everyone who had chosen to join them had done so unwillingly.

“I was born into it,” he replied, and I felt my heart sink. “Don’t feel bad about asking – it’s one of those questions everyone asks and everyone feels bad for asking when I answer it. The Brotherhood was the only thing I knew for a long time and I grew up believing that we were right to be doing what we did. It wasn’t until I turned thirteen that I started asking questions about the outside, because that’s when they think it’s safe for us to mix with people like you, people who were forced to join as they happened to have powers, and they were the only ones who would answer. That was when I finally learnt about Unity.”

“Your parents are still there?”

He nodded. “My parents, my sister, and my brother. I miss them sometimes, but I know I did the right thing when I walked away. Unity is a much better place to be for the Millennium Children, because they don’t view us all as weapons, and we aren’t forced to do anything we don’t want to. Unfortunately with all the anti-Unity propaganda the Brotherhood can pay for anyone who finds out their child has powers is much more likely to take them to the Brotherhood, thinking it’s a safe place for them, when they have no idea that Miles wants to use us all as an army to eventually take over the country, because we’re better than anyone else.”

Miles had talked to me about that before and that was one of the reasons I’d chosen to leave the Brotherhood behind. I didn’t want to be used as a weapon. “Unity is going to end up having to fight the Brotherhood,” I said, sighing. “I’m not sure I want to join Unity, but I don’t want to be with the Brotherhood any more either, and I feel like I don’t have any choices left.”

“As much as I hate to say it you don’t. The day you joined the Brotherhood was the day you signed your freedom away and the only way you’re going to be safe is by staying at a Unity safe house.”

“Miles chose me as one of his favourites. I know I don’t have any other choices, but I wish I did.” I wiped a tear off my cheek. “Mum told me to join the Brotherhood so my siblings would be safe when I was eight, because she didn’t know what else to do with me, and ever since then I’ve wished that I had the sense to run away before. Then no one would know I existed, so they wouldn’t be hunting me, to take me back to Miles.”

“From what my parents said Miles is my grandfather.” He shook his head. “I hate to think that I have his blood running through my veins, but I’m so glad I’m not like him. He’s an evil bastard.”

Mirrored from K. A. Webb Writing.