Out After Dark

CHAPTER 1: Cobblestone
"Ethela! Athena! Time for bed!"

Us two lavender-colored foxes moaned in dismay.

"But mom, it's our birthday! Can't we stay a little bit longer?" I pleaded.'''

"No, you know the rule. No going out-"

"After dark," we said in unison. Those words were etched in our minds since they we three years old up until now, at twelve years old. I thought being twelve would mean that we would have more freedom, but clearly, no.

"Mom, why can't we stay out after sunset?" Athena asked. We had already asked a million times, and always received the answer of 'just because'.

"Yeah, why? And don't say 'just because'," I chimed in.

Their mother sighed. "You're not ready yet..."

"We are, Mom! Just tell us already!" Athena snapped.

Mom opened her mouth for a few seconds, at a loss for words. Then, she clenched her jaw and shook her head, turning and going back inside. "Just get back inside, girls." I scowled in disgust, but Athena, being the more wise twin, calmed her down.

We were identical, which made it strange for others to see Athena calming down me. Well, we were... almost identical. Every fox in the history of their family had faint blue eyes, shimmering like crystals. But, me- well, I didn't. I had gray eyes- they were very gray. They were dull and wry, with no emotion even. But that was definitely not the case for me- in fact, I was probably one of the most emotional animals in all of Jamaa. I wasn't one to hide my feelings.

"Let's go inside, Ethela. The sun's going down. Mom will get mad if we don't," Athena said.

As Athena went inside, I began to follow her. But then I turned around and hesitantly walked down the dreary steps infront of our house. They were made of stone and were almost ancient, and had vines consuming its surface all at once.

I turned my head back to see if Athena was inside. She was. I turned my head again and looked around.

What's so bad about the dark? I thought, arching one eyebrow.

"Ethela! What are you doing out there?!" Athena called. I abruptly ran through the streets, trying to avoid Athena. Athena would surely make me come back in. Such a goody two-shoes, I thought unfondly. I finally slowed down and panted, trying to catch my breath. I looked up and saw I had reached a dead end.

There was a tall wall made of cobblestone, covered in thick, twisted vines.

"Ethela, come back in the house! Mom's gonna be so mad at us!"

Athena had followed me here, not to my surprise. "I don't really care, Athena. I just want to know what's so bad about being out after dark," I said, my back still to Athena.

"Turn around, Ethela," Athena said firmly.

"No." I was also known for being an immature brat sometimes.

"Now," Athena demanded.

I shuddered at that tone- it was like Dad's. Well, I hadn't heard it from him since I was ten, before he left. The only time I ever thought of him was when Athena used the same tone.

I turned around reluctantly, my arms crossed, attempting to look dominant and unscathed.

Athena's nostalgic tone quickly, but not hastily, turned into a pleading tone. "Come back home, Ethela. Please."

"There's nothing out here, Athena. Why are you so worried?" I said.

"Even if there's nothing, there might be dangerous people that Mom didn't want us to come across."

I looked into her eyes- her gorgeous eyes which I wish I had inherited too. Suddenly, my arms fell slack and Athena sounded... reasonable. She sounded so reasonable, like going back home was the best thing I could ever do. I shook my head. "You're doing it again!" I cried. "You're using compulsion! Sisters don't use compulsion on each other!"

"Well, sorry, but you being my sister I had to do it or else I don't know what would happen to you."

"Fine, I'll go home. Just don't use compulsion on me."

I began to walk behind her home. But after a few steps, I couldn't move.

The vines had entangled me.