Out In the Dunes

Angel's feet had gone from aching to completely numb in the past few hours. This three day journey had become four and with sunset coming soon it may turn into five. With not a cloud in sight the extra water had come in handy with the sun beating down on them throughout the day.

Seeing a mirage of water appear in the sand in front of her Angel urged herself to move faster. She knew it wasn't real but deep down still hoped. She had somewhat left the others behind. The last of her family had made this journey to escape the dominion of the council.

"We're almost there!" Nyle tried to sound reassuring.

"You couldn't possibly know that. Argued Nala his twin sister.

"I have faith." He smiled weakly looking back at the covered wagon he had pulled alone for most of the journey.

Inside the wagon his grandmother had been able to survive the journey, she was barely capable of walking but they refused to leave her behind. Nyle, Nala, and Angel were the last of their family. They lost their parents to an accident and the council refused to provide aid to the young orphaned children. That was years ago, and since they have learned to survive as the council only grew more cruel and their city fell deeper into poverty.

It was no longer safe to live there and the closest town was too far away for anyone to risk traveling. Unless you went through the Dunes. According to travelers, going through the Dunes you'd reach civilization in half the time it would take going in any other direction. The problem was saving up that much food and resources to make it through a desert. You'd have to survive heat, wild life, and the walk.

Feeling as if they were out of options Angel and her family worked over time to be able to afford the wagon and extra rations to survive the journey.

Angel tuned out her siblings as they continued to discuss nothing that she felt mattered. She decided to go over a large sand dune instead of following the path through them as the group had been doing for about a day now.

The incline is a bit harder on her legs she's short of breath once she makes it to the top. Angel grabs the water from the side pocket of her backpack as she looks out across the desert from the top of the dune.

"What's that?" Angel wonders aloud squinting her eyes.

She felt her legs carrying her as she moved into a jog going down. No one tried to keep up with her as they noticed her running away.

"A tree," Angel exclaimed.

"You're imaging things," Nala yelled out after her.

As she got closer the tree got bigger and she could see a few more surrounding it. The sun was setting fast, she was breaking the rules they'd set for the journey. She shouldn't be running this far. Angel's thoughts battled one another as she joyfully headed toward this tree. Angel was beginning to feel fatigued so she slowed down back to a brisk walk.

Nala helped Nyle drag the wagon over the dune before trying to go after Angel.

Once Angel finally made it to the tree she found a golden heart shaped locket hanging from a low branch of the tree. It had the word 'freedom' engraved on it.

Angel beamed as she turned back to look for her sister. They'd made it! This long awful journey had been worth it. They escaped the Council!

As Nyle caught sight of Free City blended into the trees, he shouted out "Whooo! I told you we were there."

Nala was speechless she had fallen to her knees in tears. She was afraid to be hopeful, she thought it was so stupid of her family to leave the security of their home for some fantasy. No it wasn't perfect there and she didn't always agree with The Council, but the regulations and discipline was necessary for them to thrive. Seeing Free City gave her hope that the family would be alright.

The three siblings approached the city gates proudly Nyle and Nala pulling the wagon and Angel leading them. A guard nodded to someone behind the wall and the gate began to part in the center.

They'd finally made it to freedom. A place where they can work for fair trade. In their town the council controlled the food and to eat you had to work for them. For a home you had to work for them. No citizen owned anything but their name. Which is why it was so hard for Angel and her family to gather enough resources to take the journey across the desert. They had to cut rations and work as much as allowed to get enough for themselves not to mention their grandmother who couldn't work.

In Free City citizens were allowed to own whatever they desired and there was no one system of trade. There was bartering, services, and a community of individuals who respected each other. Any person could have a better life, all you had to do was find a golden locket in the middle of the desert.