The Coalition Episodes 1-4 by Aria J. Wolfe

scowled. Aliah shook his head. She always looked suspicious of him.
    On the front row on the left side of the room Shai sat between two Mothers: a woman with white hair and dark skin the other a younger woman with short dark hair and olive skin.
    The chapel door burst open and a small boy hustled to the front of the room. Pale-faced and wide-eyed he approached Maire.
    "Edward! You've broken the Law of Punctuality. Expect punishment!" Her loud reprimand startled a few children seated near the front and they hunkered down on their benches.
    Edward bowed his head and extended his hand toward Maire. He held a piece of paper which the Mother snatched and unfolded.
    Sweat dripped down Aliah's back as he moved closer to the exit. If his plan succeeded he'd have only seconds to act quickly.
    Maire's eyes scanned the paper then her dimpled hand flew to her throat. "Who gave this to you!" Spittle flew out of her mouth and Edward cringed. His answer muffled by whispers that began to echo around the room.
    "Shai! Step forward!" Maire's face grew red, the veins in her neck bulging.
    "What's going on?" Shai's voice sounded tense as she rose from her table to stand in front of the Mother.
    Maire stood with her hands on her hips. "This!" Her jowls wobbled as she thrust the paper toward Shai. Shai took the paper and bent her head to read it.
    The volume of Maire's voice rose. "You've committed an infraction. Your Reward has been removed. The Watchers have reported that they saw you take those children the other night. I knew it!" The room rumbled with chatter and the sound of shuffling feet. A few children started crying.
    Maire held up a hand. "Quiet! Remain seated!" She snatched the paper back from Shai. "It says your punishment will not be served at the next Reading but will commence immediately. You've been exiled."
    Murmurs rose from the crowd and several more children burst into tears. Shai stepped back. She looked terrified and confused.
    Guilt gripped Aliah. He couldn't fail her now. He had to follow through with the plan. He swayed and pressed a palm to the wall to steady himself.
    Someone spoke near him. "You okay? You don't look so good."
    He looked down at his friend and nodded. "Ellersly, it's time. Cover me." Aliah ducked behind a group of children that were trying to get out the door. Murmurs and whispers roared through the Chapel. Normal breakfast proceedings had been forgotten.
    Shai stood there with her arms hanging at her sides. The hairs on Aliah's arms stood on end as he moved through the crowd towards her. Her fear and confusion pulsed into his own body the closer he got to her. Heat flared through his birthmark. Things were about to get even more out of control.
    Aliah pulled on his hood and kept his head down as he approached the front.
    Maire gasped and stepped aside, her stubby finger pointing. "Here's a Watcher now!"
    Aliah pulled Shai into his arms, pressing her to him roughly. She pushed and clawed at him until he had no choice but to press his mouth to her ear and hiss, "Shai! It's me!" She grew quiet, but held herself rigid against his side as he led her out of the Chapel.
    Aliah ran down the street, across the bridge and behind the Girls' Houses into the woods with one arm around Shai who struggled to keep up with him.
     

CHAPTER 20
    Shai
     
    They crashed through the woods. Shai stumbled over a root, scratching her face on a low-hanging branch.
    “Aliah, stop!” She tried to yank her arm from his grip, but he grasped her firmer. “Stop! You’re hurting me! Where are you taking me?”
    Aliah didn’t stop until they reached a three-strand barbed wire fence that blocked their path. Aliah looked for the cut in the fence and they slipped through it. He led them along his most familiar route to Thunder Manor. When they reached his hide-away, he stumbled through the door and pulled her inside by her wrist again. Only when the door was shut did he yank his hood off.
    She whirled around to face him. "Where are