~ Chapter 4- A family torn asunder~

Paula was sitting in her classroom, listening passively to the lecture. She tried to stay engaged, but as these were the last few days of school and she already had a job slated for after graduation, it was hard to be as invested. But she wasn't going to falter this close to the end.

Outside the classroom, there was a blue and white flag atop a flagpole outside. The flag of the country of Rhivera.

"Paula and Maggie Orania," A voice chirped over the intercom throughout the school, "Please come to the principal's office."

The teacher looked at the intercom, then at Paula in her seat before gesturing to the door, "Go ahead."

Paula gathered her backpack and headed into the halls of the school. As she walked, she came across Maggie.

"Hi." Paula greeted.

"Hey. What do you think is going on?" Maggie asked.

"Not sure."

When they reached the principal's office, they saw her waiting just outside for them. As soon as she saw them, the principal met them halfway.

"Girls, your father has been injured." The principal promptly told them.

"What?" Paula asked.

"I received a message from your mother. He's at the hospital now," The principal explained.

Paula's heartbeat quickened, "Wait, what. How did this happen? Is it bad?"

"I'm not sure. Your mother just wants you two to hurry to the hospital now. Uneva's southern hospital."

That wasn't a long walk from there. Rather than ask more questions, Paula pivoted away. "We're going right now! Come on, Maggie."

As the two girls headed out, the principal said, "I hope he's okay!"

Paula and Maggie jogged along the streets towards the hospital, gripping their backpacks tightly as they went. Maggie was quiet and moving very quickly. She was as eager to find out what happened to Pa.

How did he get injured? It'd make sense if it happened on the farm, but he wasn't supposed to be working today... Paula thought to herself.

The girls were jogging by a lightly wooded area on their way to the hospital. But before they passed by, something reached out of the woods, grabbed Paula, and pulled her in.

Paula didn't hesitate and threw her elbow into the individual's stomach, and they loosened their grip with a grunt. She gripped their wrist and twisted it hard, gaining the upper hand.

"Paula! Stop, it's me!"

Paula looked at the man who had grabbed her, "...Dad?" She released his wrist, "I thought you were hurt!"

"I am now!" Ignacio remarked, rolling out his wrist.

Maggie jumped into the woods, saw her dad, and promptly hugged him. "We thought you were in the hospital!" She mumbled as she held her Pa.

"I just needed to get you out of the school somehow. If we said I was at the hospital, I knew you'd come this way. We need to go!" Ignacio explained, keeping his voice hushed for some reason.

"What do you mean?" Paula asked.

"Population Control came for Ernesto."

Paula froze for a moment. She always considered that a possibility, but never thought it would actually happen. She figured he was too young for them to come for him. Doing nothing for as long as he did must've put him on the PCC's radar.

"Is he... okay?" Paula asked, her voice now hushed.

"He's safe. But we have to leave the country now. We're going to take one of my buddy's boats and sail out. Your brother and mother are waiting for us." Ignacio gripped Maggie's hand, and reached out for Paula's. But she pulled away. He must've seen the hesitance in Paula's eyes. He peered into the woods and quietly told her, "We need to hurry.

He took Maggie and began moving through the woods. Paula hesitantly followed.

Ignacio was crouching as they left the woods, quickly moving into the backyards of nearby people's homes. They moved closer to the coast, using whatever they could as cover.

They were moving through a park when a vehicle began to drive by. Ignacio hid behind a tree with Maggie as it passed. Paula didn't bother to hide herself, simply walking along normally. The vehicle was owned by the military, sporting their country's signature white and blue.

The vehicle continued, paying Paula no mind.

"What did you do?" Paula whispered once the vehicle was gone.

Ignacio was back on the move, "I had to stop them from taking Ignacio somehow."

"How?" Paula said, following behind him.

"...I may have pulled a gun on them..."

"What!? Where did you get a gun?" Paula stammered.

"It was the bolt pistol. I know we can't stick around here after this."

"Where will we go?" Maggie asked.

"We have to leave the country."

Maggie asked, "When will we be able to come back?"

"We can't worry about that now," Ignacio replied, urging his daughters forward.

As they moved through shrubbery, other people's backyards, and any other cover they could find, Paula was deep in thought. She knew that if they left their country of Rhivera, they wouldn't be coming back.

Before Paula realized it, they were at the docks. Her father was crouching as he trod closer to a particular boat. A small vessel without sails, and with a rotor in the back. She recognized it as Julian's boat; they took it for fishing trips often when they were kids. Paula stopped in place.

From the boat peeked the head of her mother. She said with a sigh, "Oh good, you've got them."

"Where's Ernesto?" Maggie asked.

"Below deck," Their mother assured her.

Ignacio lifted Maggie off the docks and onto the boat, then extended his hand to Paula, "Come on, we've got to go."

Paula didn't move. She simply stared at her father's outstretched hand with the hesitant eyes. Ignacio inched closer to her, but Paula instinctively backed away.

"Paula, we don't have much time. Get on the boat."

"I-I..." Paula muttered, "I-I can't!"

Her father's face stirred, "What?"

"I can't go with you..." Paula said, her voice nearly cracking as she did. She looked at her family, trying to memorize every detail of their faces while she still had the chance.

"Paula, what do you mean?"

"If we leave..." her throat felt dry as she forced the words out, "we can never come back. I'm not going to throw my life away for Ernesto like that!"

Ignacio was in turmoil. But when Paula looked at her mother... she could tell she understood.

Ignacio spluttered to respond, "Wh-What are you talking about? We have to stick together!"

From the boat, Delilah placed a calm hand on Ignacio, "I think she's right, hun. We can't force her to go."

Ignacio was distraught. He grit his teeth and tore away from Delilah, "This isn't a discussion! We're leaving together!"

Ignacio began marching towards Paula. She was prepared to run, but before he could reach her, he suddenly stopped. He was looking past her with a terrified expression.

"Delilah, start the boat!" Ignacio cried. He took one more look at Paula before pivoting and jumping on there vessel.

Paula turned behind her and saw several military vehicles pulling up to the docks. They had run out of time. PCC officers, other officials, and even a few soldiers stepped out of the vehicles and headed there way.

The rotor purred to life, and the vessel began moving out of the docks to open water. A few officers were jogging along the docks as it set out.

Maggie and Delilah watched her from the back of the ship. Paula imagined herself sprinting along the dock, leaping from it onto the boat and joining her family. They'd be together then. But... Paula didn't move.

Instead, Paula watched as the boat sailed out of reach, her eyes lingering on her mother and sister for as long as she could.

"I love you more than life, Paula! I know you're going to be fine!" Delilah shouted from the boat, her voice barely reaching the docks. Paula couldn't help but cry. She watched as long as she could, until her mother and sister were unrecognizable specks on the horizon.

Paula heard many steps behind her slowing to a stop. One of the individuals continued and stood beside her on the dock, watching as the boat sailed further out to sea. He appeared to be some sort of officer.

The individual cleared his throat, "Are they your family?"

Paula wiped away her tears and nodded, her eyes still on the boat disappearing into the horizon.

The man nodded, "I'm very sorry."

Paula composed herself before asking, "Are you going to go after them?"

"...No. They didn't hurt anyone. Now that they're leaving, we don't have any motivation to pursue them."

Paula nodded to herself. That was one less thing for them to worry about.

"Do you... have anywhere to stay?"

"I can stay at their house until it's time for me to move into my new apartment..." Paula replied solemnly.

"If you're not planning to keep their house, I'd let someone at the Government Business Bureau know about your situation. I'm sure they'll pay you well for it."

Paula sighed, trying to keep her composure. The officer nodded to himself before heading back the way he came on the dock.

Before he could leave, Paula asked, "I'm never going to see them again, am I?"

The officer folded his arms and turned to her. He sighed and answered, "It's better if you don't. If they come back to Rhivera, they'll be in trouble. I'm going to check in with the Seaguard to make sure they truly leave the country.... I wish them the best of luck."

With that, the officer turned away and left with the rest of the PCC who had arrived on the scene. Paula simply sat at the edge of the dock and watched the boat her family had left on as long as she could. Despite the turmoil that took place, the water were calm.

When there was no sign of the boat, Paula lingered there a while longer. Maybe out of some naïve hope that her family would turn back, and they'd somehow sort things out with the government and be allowed to stay. But Paula knew better.

Eventually, Paula took a deep breath, turned away from the sea, and headed home alone.