Blemished, The (21 page)

I
peeked out between the wooden slats of the shack. “It’s dark out. We should be leaving soon. Is he waking up yet?”

Angela shook her head. She knelt by Daniel, her hand on his forehead. Daniel looked relaxed and peaceful. With his intense eyes closed his face lost some of its seriousness. He was a child now, an innocent child. Something inside my chest burned. I swallowed it away.

“I think I have an idea,” I said.

“What is it?” Angela asked.

“Didn’t you tell me that you used to go to birthday parties at Billie’s house?”

“Yes,” she answered, “a long time ago.”

“But you know which room is her bedroom, right?”

Angela nodded. “I think I remember.”

“Well, we’re going to go there when her parents will be asleep. She’ll help us,” I said.

Angela’s eyes narrowed. “Why would she help us? She doesn’t even like you.”

“Because we are going to get out of here. We’re going to break the system against all odds and actually have a chance of a better life and I’m going to offer it to her too.” I paced the shack, trying not to look down at Daniel. He’d been out for several minutes and it made me nervous.

“Do you think she’ll come?” Angela asked.

“I don’t know. She’d be stupid not to though.”

Daniel stirred. He rolled onto his side and moaned. I dropped to my knees next to him.

“Are you all right?” I asked.

Angela looked at me, confused for a second. Then she recovered and helped Daniel sit up. “You were out for a long time.”

He laughed. “I feel like hell.”

I looked desperately around the shack. “We don’t have any water left.”

“I’ll be okay,” he said. His voice was hoarse and dry. He moved awkwardly and his fingers trembled.

“It was a bad one,” Angela said gently. “Wasn’t it?”

Daniel looked at me and a shadow of pain crossed his features before disappearing in an instance. He stared at his feet. “I don’t remember it.”

He was lying. It wasn’t even a good attempt at a lie. Angela glanced at me. She knew it too.

I chose to ignore it. “We’re going to go to Billie’s in a few hours,” I said. “The sun set a while ago. We need to stay put for a bit. Are you okay with that?”

He nodded. “Sounds good to me.” He smiled with his mouth all crooked. “Maybe I can shift this headache and Angela can take a nap. We can take turns keeping watch.”

“I’ll take the first one,” I said. “You rest your head.”

Daniel’s eyes grew tender. I rocked back on my heels and stood up awkwardly. The burning in my chest came back. I tried to avoid Daniel’s eyes. Angela curled up next to her adoptive brother and I paced the shack, wondering how we were going to get to the farm.

*

I woke to Daniel gently shaking me. He pressed his finger to his lips and squeezed in between me and Angela. I’d curled up in the corner of the shack to get some sleep. Angela snored softly.

“Do you really think Billie will help us?” He asked quietly.

I could tell that this wasn’t what Daniel really wanted to ask me. I nodded but didn’t say anything else, giving him time.

“Are you okay,” he said eventually. “You cried.”

“I’m fine.” I went very still, worried that reliving the memory would kick-start my tears. “It’s just been a really crazy day.”

“It’s all my fault,” he said. “If I hadn’t let you stay at Murgatroyd’s I’d be the one banged up and everyone else would be free. You would have had time with your uncle. You wouldn’t be in this dirty shack.” He put his head in his hands.

“Stop it,” I said gently. Feeling bold, I slipped an arm over his shoulders. “I chose to go with you and I wanted to. Stop beating yourself up about this because… well… I don’t want to lose you. Do you really think that you being locked up instead of my uncle would make me any better off?” I fiddled with the necklace, feeling the smooth wood. “I knew him for a few hours. I’ve known you for weeks and…” My cheeks felt hot. I stopped talking before I made a fool of myself.

“W
hat?” Daniel said.

He lifted his head from his hands and looked at me. Even in the dimmest of lights his eyes seeme
d to shine. They took me, wholeheartedly, all of me. They took every bit of my attention, swallowing me up. Even if at that moment we were hit by a meteor I wouldn’t have noticed. Everything was Daniel. Daniel was everything.

“Um….” I faltered. “I don’t know, I erm…”

He leaned towards me, his face just inches from mine. Tingles ran down my spine and I heard the rushing noise of blood in my ears. I held my breath. He tilted his head, angled so that our mouths would fit together. Our lips touched just for a moment and then I heard Angela stir. I pulled back, my breath rasping out of my body. Panicked I jumped to my feet. Daniel stared up at me, wounded.

“What’s going on?” Angela said sleepily.

“It’s time to leave,” I answered.

*

We ventured out of the shack. Daniel and I carried the guns. I folded mine into the vast material of my tunic and Daniel tucked his in the waistband of his jeans. We tried not to draw attention to ourselves but it was dark and there was no one around. It seemed that even the excitement of our chase and the town meeting had faded and died into the night.

“Right at the end of this street,” Angela whispered.

She navigated us through the ghettos expertly, occasionally whispering to us about people at the school. I had forgotten that these streets were her playground, the place she grew up. Sometimes I spent so much time protecting her that I forgot she was capable too.

“Third house on the left up here,” she said in the darkness.

I quickened my pace, ignoring the pain. “Which is her bedroom?”

Angela squinted up at the house, an end terrace which meant fewer neighbours to wake. “I think it’s the window on the right. Upstairs.”

I bent and scooped up tiny pebbles. “Okay, here goes.”

The pebbles tapped against the glass and I cringed, half expecting Billie’s parents to shout out of the window or call the Enforcers. I paused, waiting for movement. Nothing. I collected more pebbles and tried again.

“Come on, Billie,” Angela whispered.

She held her body with her arms. It was a cold night and we were all hungry and freezing. I tossed the last pebble, beginning to lose hope.

“Maybe it’s the wrong house,” Daniel said sullenly.

He’d remained quiet and withdrawn since our almost kiss. I dared to turn and look at him. His eyes were brooding thunderstorms. I pulled myself away from his gaze, feeling a shiver down my spine. Above our heads a hinge creaked.

“Oh great,” Billie said, “it’s you. I should have known.”

“Can you let us in? Just for a minute?” I said.

“What mess are you in now? My parents are asleep next door you know.”

“We’ll be silent. Please, we haven’t eaten or had any water all day.” I paused. “And we lost people today.”

Billie looked us up and down and her expression turned to pity. I glanced down at my ripped tunic. We were a mess. Finally she sighed and closed the window. A few moments later she herded us into her kitchen.

“You do realise that you’re on the most wanted list of Area 14, don’t you?” Billie said to me with raised eyebrows. “You seriously broke into Murder-Troll’s house?”

“Yeah,” I said. “But I’m not proud of it.”

Billie laughed without humour. “After what she did to Emily, I think you should be. Anything that hurts that bitch is fine by me.”

I smiled half-heartedly.

“So what do you need?” Billie asked.

“Food, water and medical supplies,” I replied.

She nodded and moved silently around the kitchen. We gulped down water and devoured apples. She even gave us bread, cheese and fruit for the journey as well as aspirin, gauze and antiseptic cream, some of which I smeared on my bullet graze and on Daniel’s ankle. Angela redressed my ankle and I took two of the pain-killers.

“Thank you so much,” Angela wrapped the girl into an unexpected hug and Billie’s eyes grew wider. She laughed and hugged Angela back.

“Don’t mention it, kid,” Billie said.

Daniel patted her on the shoulder. “You’re a life saver.”

Billie nodded in reply. “Listen, guys. We had the town meeting today. Murgatroyd is a big-wig. Did you know that?”

“I had my suspicions,” I said.

“Well, she’s Ministry level, or she must be, because we have a new Commander.”

I gawped. “At her
request
?”

“Seems so,” Billie said. “And he’s a complete arse. They are searching houses for illegal material tomorrow. Things in Area 14 are pretty much getting shut down so you have to get out of here.”

“We’re leaving tonight,” I said.

“I thought as much,” said Billie, eyeing our back-packs. “The Enforcers are still looking for you. I saw a couple of them running past my window when I went to bed. You gotta blend into the shadows like you never did before.”

“We will,” I replied. “Billie, why don’t you come with us?”

She hesitated. Billie looked younger in her pyjamas and her hair loose. It was long and red, which suited her personality. I saw her expressions change as she mulled it over.

“I can’t leave them,” she said eventually. “I’m all they have since…” Her voice trailed and she shrugged.

“I understand,” I said. I placed my hand on her arm and smiled. “We have to leave. Will you look after the Daffodils for me?”

She smiled back. “Of course I will. Good luck.”   

“S
o, do you know how to get to this farmhouse?” Angela asked as we left Billie’s house.

I thought back to that night with Sebastian, the sincerity in his brown eyes as he asked me to give up my family and live with him. Now I had no family. I looked guiltily across to Daniel.

“I think so. He gave me a map.”

“Did you bring the map?” Daniel demanded.

“I memorised it,” I said, biting my lip.

He scowled.

“Look, I remember, okay? There’s a forest on the edge of Area 14. It’s going to be a long walk though.”

“How long?” Daniel said.

“I’m not sure. Maybe a few hours.”

He snorted. “You don’t even know do you?”

I glared at him. “Not exactly, no. I’ve only lived here a month.”

“We’re basing this entire escape plan on your vague idea,” he snapped.

I walked straight up to him and shoved his arm. “What’s the matter with you? I don’t see you coming up with any better ideas.”

“Guys, stop fighting,” Angela said with a sigh.

“I’m just not sure that trusting a GEM is a good idea.” Daniel raked his hands through his hair.

“Why are you only saying this now?” I said.

We stood close to each another. Heat spread over my skin. He had an earthy smell – like after rainfall.

“I dunno,” he shrugged and turned away.

I gazed at his back, confused, and tried to ignore the breadth of his shoulders. Or the way his blond hair curled at the back of his neck.

“Is this something to do with your vision?” I asked.

Daniel’s head twitched to the side. “No.”

“You’re lying,” I said. I moved forward and spun him around to face me. “You have to tell me what you saw.”

His mouth opened and closed. He looked at me with more vulnerability than ever before. I had never seen Daniel afraid before. It disturbed me so deeply I couldn’t breathe. If Daniel was afraid then it must be something bad. This was the boy brave and reckless enough to break into a mansion in the GEM part of town.

“Guys,” Angela said in a warning voice, “I hear something.”

We fell silent.

“Running footsteps,” I whispered. “We’ve got to get out of here.”

*

My feet hammered the tarmac. I blocked out the pain. Daniel urged us on, all the time the footsteps gaining on us. They knew we were here. My grip tightened on the gun. I’d never fired a gun before
. I had no idea whether, if it came down to me or them, I would even be able to pull that trigger. But I carried on running, checking Angela was still by my side, the dank smelling streets whizzing past in a blur.

“This way,” Daniel whispered.

He turned sharply to the left we followed. A cluster of cats scattered from an upturned bin. Angela tripped on a rusty bicycle and I caught her wrist. We stumbled together before regaining balance and Daniel disappeared around another corner. The stumble twisted my ankle again and I winced as we continued to run. The footsteps behind us kept the same steady pace. I waited for them to shoot, bracing myself.

“Halt or we shoot!”

The alley bottlenecked out by the canal where there were a few boats dotted along the edge. Some of the GEMs kept their fancy speedboats moored here in between trips to the coast.

“Where now?” I called to Daniel.

He spun around and shook his head. We could continue running down the canal but there would be nowhere to hide. His mouth gaped and he looked at me with wide eyes. The footsteps were just around the corner now. I heard the creaking of their leather uniforms. I lifted my gun and took aim. The Enforcers, two of them, ran around the corner, their guns held high.

“Put the guns down and come quietly,” said the one on the right.

They were dressed in their usual, identical attire, heavy-duty black leather and the helmet. You never saw their faces.

“I repeat. Put the guns down or we will shoot you.”

My finger trembled over the trigger. There was a chance for me to use my gift but I’d already used it so much today that I was fatigued. I couldn’t rely on it. We had to either think quickly or shoot. Two guns against two guns. We’d all die. I backed up, towards the canal. Daniel turned to me, his face convulsing, fighting inner decisions. I shook my head at him, knowing his thoughts. He rolled his eyes, turned his chin away and then put the gun on the ground.

“I’m the one you’re looking for,” he said. “I broke into Murgatroyd’s house.”

I wanted to kick him.

“We are here to capture two of you. One boy. One girl. Both white.”

Daniel turned to me. He was in pain, the moonlight revealing his contorted face. “No. Just take me. Let the other two go.”

The Enforcer shook his helmet slowly. “They are not my orders. We will take the girl also.”

“Screw your orders,” Daniel shouted. “Take me and leave her.”

“I will follow my orders,” the Enforcer said. There was not one bit of emotion in his voice.

“I’m bargaining with you,” shouted Daniel. “Don’t you understand?”

“Daniel,” I said softly. “Kick your gun to the edge of the canal.”

He turned to me. “What?”

“Just do it. On three, okay? Trust me.” I turned back to the Enforcers. “All right. I’ll surrender too. We’re putting our guns down, see?” I slowly placed my gun on the ground. As I did so I turned to face Daniel. “Do you know how to drive a boat?”

A small corner of his mouth twitched. Angela looked from me to Daniel and back at the Enforcers in terror. Seeing me surrender, the Enforcers relaxed their grip on the guns and began to walk towards us.

“1… 2… 3…,” I whispered.

We kicked our guns back and they slid noisily across the tarmac towards the canal. I grabbed hold of Angela’s arm and ran towards the water. Just before jumping in I reached down and scooped up the gun. The Enforcers opened fire. Our black clothing blended with the dark water making it almost impossible to identify us at night.

“That boat,” I called over to Daniel and Angela. He nodded.

The Enforcers gave up shooting and instead removed their helmets and boots. My tunic, flooded with water, felt like it weighed a ton, but I pushed myself forward, trying to keep the gun out of the water as much as possible. Luckily the canal was narrow and we reached the boat. I gave Angela a shove to help her onto the step ladder and then climbed up after her. I heard a splash as an Enforcer jumped into the canal. The other had decided to stay on the canal bed and shoot at us. I ducked down to avoid the bullets.

“Angela, quick, untie that rope but stay down behind the cabin,” I said. “I turned to Daniel. Do you know anything about boats?”

“I once fitted out a few shelves in a speedboat for a GEM. He talked a bit about them.”

“Do you know how to start one?” I pointed to the complicated buttons and levers. They were arranged around a steering wheel so at least we knew how to steer the boat.

Daniel climbed up the cabin and into the driver’s seat. I stayed to make sure Angela came back from untying the knot and helped her into the seat next to Daniel. Another bullet whizzed past, hitting the boat with a plink.

“Okay, Daniel. Now would be a good time to get it started.” I shivered in my sodden clothes and stared down at the water. I couldn’t see the Enforcer who followed us but I guessed he would be a strong swimmer and it wouldn’t take long for him to reach the boat.

“Hold on,” Daniel shouted back. He swore. “You need a key.”

I put my head in my hands. We were going to die.

“I think I can hot wire it.”

I lifted my head from my hands. “How do you…? Not important. Start it.”

Daniel fumbled with the control panel, trying to pop out a section of the plastic. Something thudded against the side of the boat. Then a hand grasped the metal bar around the tail. It was the Enforcer.