Runaway Part 2

Instructions

“Look, you’ve been in a… a really bad mood recently and…. well... I wanted to help! It’s been a year since they left so… I think that it’s something else on your mind. You can tell me if you want. You’re my….. best friend…..” “Kalonia… Look. I know that it’ll probably make you hate me but….” Oramon started to try and think of an excuse. Then it came to her. It’d make sense for why she’d been avoiding her. If she played it off right, it should come across as a joke. “Kalonia, I’m gay for you.” Kalonia instantly stood up, causing her glasses to fall off. “I-I don't understand!” the girl backed away from Oramon as she wailed. “Kalonia, it’s okay!” “G-Get away from me! You- you!” “I’m not going to--” But the door was already slammed in her face. “I-I was just kidding….” The test was skipped, likely due to the drama that Oramon had started. She was left in the cell all day, the only person she saw was Isoka. “Oramon #001, your food is here,” he mumbled, sliding a plate with bamboo, roots, and a few dead crickets on it. “Oh, thanks, uh….. what’s your tag again?” Isoka sighed as he hammered something onto the door, “Isoka #396, but you know I’m not called that anymore, #001.” “Oh. Yeah. Right…” Oramon was surprised that she’d forgotten that the donkey homture had gotten a rank. “So, uh, what are you putting on my door?” “Just your new sign, #001.” Oramon raised an eyebrow in confusion. “But I thought they only changed that when someone either….. wait… it’s not…” “Yes, #001, it’s because you came out to Dr. Kalonia Whu,” the donkey grumbled, starting to get tired of #001’s questions. He probably had other things to do, anyway, like cleaning up Qalad’s waste. “Look, if it was a joke then it wasn’t funny. At least not to her and the rest of us.” “But I didn’t know she----” “What, that Kalonia takes things seriously? For Kal’s sake, , you’re 17! You should’ve learned that by now! Hell, she created you. You’re like a daughter to her.” Oramon flinched as she realized that Isoka was probably right. “I’m sorry I didn’t---” “Yeah, no kidding. I’m 15 and I still know more than you! Look, no one else is going to be happy with what you said. You might as well just…. leave.” “LEAVE?! You’re kidding, right?” “Heh. Unlike you were, I’m not.” Oramon avoided her common tormentors as she dashed through the hall, hoping that she wouldn’t be seen…. “Oh look, it’s the fake gay girl,” Oramon heard people muttering under their breath. But today was the day. She’d thought about what Isoka said last year, and decided that she should go through with it. “I hope today’s test kills that dumb homophobe,” Oramon heard a guard mumble. But I’m not homophobic… it was a joke…. I hope that Cindy will understand when I find her…. Oramon thought, wishing that she might make it. After the test, Oramon knew it was time. She waited until one of the escorting guards opened her cell door and… NOW! Oramon jumped back behind them, kicking their heads into the wall to knock out the armed soldiers. She took everything that may be useful to her, including a bulletproof vest. Then Oramon locked them in her cell. No one here will want to help me after what I did… I’ll just make a break for it, then. Her red ears bent back as Oramon dashed through the halls, strapping on the bulletproof vest. A left turn here and….. there! Even though she had only seen it a few times, Oramon still knew where the exit gate was. She stared at the turrets, wondering how many guards were with them. After making sure that no one was watching, she dashed for the forest but… There was a loud BAM! and Oramon felt something pierce her leg --not just entering, but coming out on the other side, too. Oramon kept running, not even caring to look as the bullets kept hitting her. Come on! I’m so close! If I just keep going then-- She felt something graze the main artery on her neck. As Oramon’s vision blurred, she instinctively turned to see who had shot her, only to find Kalonia Whu standing over her, screaming and crying. “I-I thought you were someone else! I’m so sorry!” Oramon pressed a cloth up against her neck, hoping to stop the bleeding. “I need a medic at the exit gate, fast,” Kalonia ordered as she injected some O negative blood into her friend. But they forgot about the other wounds. “Kalonia… I’m…. I’m the one who needs to say..” “Don't talk, just breath, okay?” Oramon looked away from the scientist, knowing that she wasn’t going to make it. “Look, I’m--” “Shut up! You’re wasting your energy! Just--” Kalonia felt Oramon go limp in her hands. “Oramon, stop playing around! This isn’t funny! Just stay with me! Please…. just… just stay….” But there wasn’t any response from the homture. Kalonia whirled around to face the medic. “Why were you so late?! Couldn’t you get here faster? You could have saved her!” “M-Ma’am, I’m going to have to ask you to calm down, alright?”