Read Online The Before by Emily McKay - Free Book Online Page B

was rocking frantically back and forth, humming nonsense as she bumped her Slinky from one hand to the next.
    Okay. So she wasn’t exactly making my case for me.
    “She didn’t wander off for no reason,” I told Mom. “She didn’t just freak out and bolt. Not like last time.”
    “Then why—”
    “She went over to Joe’s. Do you remember Joe Mateo from elementary school?”
    “Yeah. Why?”
    “Back in middle school, Joe started selling drugs. Mostly pot, I think, but—”
    “You can’t be serious!”
    “No, of course she didn’t go there for pot. Jeesh. I said mostly pot. He also sells prescription meds. Xanax and stuff like that. But Mel went to him for Valium.”
    “For what?”
    “Valium.” I reminded her about the doctor and Mel’s reaction to the drugs. I tried to tell Mel’s side of the story. Or what I imagined Mel’s side might be. And I wished desperately that she would . . . stop freaking out and back me up here. A month ago, she could have told Mom all of this herself.
    As I spoke, Mel calmed down. Her rocking slowed and her Slinky stilled, but never once did she jump in and tell Mom I was right.
    “Think about it, Mom. She knew what was going to happen. She made a decision for herself. She went out and got something that would help her. That’s a good thing.”
    Mom considered, but not for long. “It’s an incredibly reckless thing. She didn’t talk to anyone. She didn’t try to explain. She just went.” Mom turned to Mel. “That’s not okay, honey. Even if you were right this time, it’s not okay. You have to listen to Lily. When I’m not there, you have to—”
    I interrupted Mom. “I am not her mother and I’m not going to act like it. If you have a problem with that, then don’t drop us off at that transportation hub tomorrow.”
    Mom sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “We’ve been over this! I have to bring you. Your lives are in danger out here. Even if it wasn’t for the Ticks, have you seen the way people are acting? It isn’t safe anymore. And I need you to be logical about this!”
    But I didn’t see any logic in this. Going to a Farm might be great for someone like Joe who didn’t have any other options, but we did. I couldn’t understand why my mother, who had fought against injustice her entire life, was just handing us over to the government.
    I stood and hobbled out of the room. “I’m going to bed. After all, tomorrow is going to be a long day.”

Chapter Thirteen
     
    Lily
     
    The next morning, I woke up to the feel of my mother patting my back, the way she used to wake me up for elementary school. The sheets were cozy, her hand comforting. For one brief instant I felt warm and surrounded by love. Reality shattered that illusion all too quickly.
    My eyes popped open. Mom frowned as she looked down at me. Concern had carved years off her face.
    “It’s time,” she said simply.
    I looked out my window. “It’s still dark.”
    In the summer, the sun came up pretty early. It couldn’t be much later than six, hours still before curfew lifted at eight.
    “I’ve been thinking about what you said. About at least trying to make a break for it.”
    I pushed myself up. “Yes?”
    But she shook her head. “I hate the thought of you going off to the Farm with this idea in your head that I didn’t do everything I could to keep you safe.”
    “Then let’s at least try to get out of here! Uncle Rodney’s isn’t that far away.”
    “I just don’t see how it could work. There will be cops out everywhere.” She clutched at my hand. “Think about what has already happened. With the cop and with Mel bolting. I just . . .” She shook her head. “I don’t know what I would do if something happened to you or Mel.”
    She looked so afraid. So unsure of herself.
    These past few days, she hardly seemed like my mother. It was like she had no control over  herself at all. Like her emotions weren’t even her own. Like she just wanted someone else to