Half Bad

by Sally Green

  I stand by the fridge and drink an energy drink. Then another. They help. I can heal better already.

  I grab the man’s small battered backpack and fill it with drinks and sugary sweets.

  Now I have to find the apartment. I head downhill, toward the lake. When I find that, I can find the apartment. My legs feel stronger.

  At last I find the corner of our road. The apartment block is across from me. There’s no one around but something feels wrong.

  Parked on my side of the road is a blue car and also a rusty red one that I’ve seen before. On the left, up from the entrance to the apartment, is a van. I think I’ve seen that van before but where? It’s not a Hunter van . . . so why am I hesitating? There isn’t anything unusual. If I run I’ll be inside the apartment in a minute and at Mercury’s in two. But something seems different.

  I stand in a doorway, well back. The rain has started again. There’s the sound of distant traffic.

  I wait.

  Nothing happens. Nothing. And it’s killing me. Gabriel’s not here and Rose is dead and that girl’s neck was so thin. And I can’t think that they’ve caught Gabriel and what they’d do to him. I can’t think about that.

  More rain.

  A car driving down the street.

  Someone comes out of one of the apartments, puts her umbrella up, and, heels clacking, walks quickly away.

  I’m sweaty. It’s warm and the rain is still falling. There’s the sound of a car in the street behind me. And then I see it . . . a movement, a shadow in the doorway down from our apartment entrance.

  All is back as it was before except now I know what’s wrong. I know what the shadow is. I can see that it is a Hunter, gun raised, motionless again. Her mobile phone is buzzing, faint but there. That is what I could sense.

  There’s nothing I can do except hope. Maybe they followed Gabriel here and he had no option but to go through the cut with Hunters close behind. They wouldn’t have been able to work out how to get through unless they saw exactly where it was, and even if they did get through the cut Mercury would pick them off while they were stuck on the roof. That would mean that Gabriel is safe at the cottage and couldn’t risk coming back to warn me.

  But he said he’d lead them away.

  How else could they know to come here?

  If they’ve captured him and tortured him . . . how quickly would he tell them about the apartment?

  A car swings into the street from the far end. A black jeep, the one I saw at the Hunters’ house. Clay parks the jeep in the middle of the road and gets out. He doesn’t look pleased. He goes to the hidden Hunter and then to our apartment building and in. The Hunter gets into Clay’s jeep and reverses it fast up the street and away. A minute later she is running back to her position. The road is quiet again.

  I have to leave.

  I’m covered in blood; fains will stop me if they see me.

  I need to find somewhere to rest and get clean. I set off, although I don’t know where to.

  Twenty minutes later I spot her. She’s at the end of an alley, partly hidden by a small van, but I can tell it’s her straight away. And I know I should walk on by, but there’s Rose and Gabriel and a whole bunch of other stuff that stops me from doing the sensible thing. I don’t know where her partner is but I’m not going to hang around for long.

  I heal before I approach her, sneak up as quiet as can be, and draw the Fairborn out of its sheath.

  And, in that instant, things change.

  The Fairborn is almost alive in my hand. It’s part of me, but I’m part of it too.

  I reach the Hunter and pull her round, the Fairborn at her throat.

  “Looking for someone?” I ask.

  She flinches. Even now she hates my touching her, but she gets over the surprise in less than a second and starts transforming into a huge man. But I’m her little half-brother and I’m ready for her tricks, and so is the Fairborn. We stab Jessica’s shoulder and slam her half-morphed body into the wall. We stab her other shoulder and she squeals. If her partner is nearby, she’ll be here in less than a minute.

  Jessica is fully changed into a man but her arms are useless and I have the strength and the Fairborn to hold her back against the wall.

  Jessica transforms quickly again, into Arran.

  Arran’s voice pleads with me, “Please don’t hurt me, Nathan. I know you don’t want to hurt me.”

  “Shut up.”

  “I know you’re a good person. I’ve always known that. Please. Don’t hurt me.”

  And I know I should run. But seeing Arran is so amazing. I just want to look at him. But it’s not Arran; it’s Jessica, and she’s an evil witch. I’m holding the point of the knife to Arran’s eye. And the Fairborn wants to cut it out.

  “Nathan, please. You’re a good person.”

  And I know it would be a good plan to cut out her eye. She’d never be able to disguise that. But I can’t do it. I don’t want to. Not to Arran, even though I know it’s not Arran and I’m telling myself it’s Jessica but I don’t even want to do it to her . . . but the Fairborn wants to cut . . .

  I’m shaking again, trying to get the knife in the sheath. And Jessica pushes me back, weakly but it’s enough, and I raise the Fairborn and then it slashes down across her face.

  * * *

  I’ve broken into a small house in the suburbs. There’s no alarm and no one around. I think they’ve gone to work. I shower. My body keeps shaking, shivering.

  My gunshot wound is a neat round scar but if I touch anywhere near it I feel like I might faint. I’m not even tempted to try to get the bullet out. Besides, the energy drinks and sweets seem to be working well enough.

  I help myself to a huge bowl of cereal and a banana and then another while I think how to get back to Mercury. I’ve a vague idea where her cottage is. Gabriel said that he sometimes went by train and sometimes hiked. Hunters are bound to be at the train station and also watching the roads, but maybe I can get a bus. There must be one that can take me out of Geneva to somewhere that I can get a train. It’s four days until my birthday. Caution is more important than speed.

  I need a map.

  There’s a computer, but I’ve no idea how to use one. In the drawers I find a road map of Switzerland, but I need a walker’s map so I can find Mercury’s valley. I’ll have to buy one. The one good thing that’s happened is that the small battered rucksack I took from the shopkeeper had his wallet and till money in it. Normally I wouldn’t steal money from someone like him but I didn’t mean to, I didn’t know the money was there, and this isn’t normally.

  I look in the mirror before I leave. The house must belong to a middle-aged couple. His clothes are a bit big. I can’t find any sunglasses so I’m wearing his red baseball cap with a white cross on it and her paisley scarf wrapped twice round my neck. Gloves! I find a pair of leather ones and cut the finger ends off them.

  Before I leave I want to look at the Fairborn properly. I want to feel it too. As soon as I slide it out of the sheath it seems to want to cut something. The blade is unusual, not shiny metal but a dull gray, almost black. The knife feels alive but looks dead. I really don’t want Mercury to get her hands on this knife, I don’t want Hunters to get it, and I don’t want it. I could leave it at the back of a cupboard here and it would probably be safely lost forever. But I take it with me. I’ll bury it somewhere. I can’t give it to Mercury, can’t let her know I have it. But she has Annalise. One thing at a time. Leave here. Find a place to bury the Fairborn. Get to Mercury. Get my three gifts.

  I make my way to the main road and a bus stop.

  * * *

  The bus was a good idea. It stopped at a train station in a town half an hour outside Geneva. I’ve bought a map at a climbing shop near the station. The map is wonderful. Switzerland is full of valleys but Mercury’s valley is unique, with the glac
ier and the villages strung along the river east to west, so it’s easy to spot on the map. The train will take me so far and then it’s another bus and a hike but I’ll be back at Mercury’s late tonight. I buy a bag of energy drinks, sweets, and fruit and get on the train. It’s busy. I find a seat and keep my head down.

  Shit! Shit! Shit!

  A Hunter’s walking up the platform. She’s scanning the train. She’s getting on. I get off. Casually.

  * * *

  Early morning, but it’s still dark. I’m in a woods somewhere. The Hunter can’t have seen me or I’d be a prisoner or dead by now. There’s no way I could outrun them like this. I can’t run. I’m covered in sweat, shaking and shivering, and my side has swollen. An egg-sized lump has grown on my rib. At least I have the energy drinks. I can’t risk going back to the train station. I could hitch, but if I stand at the side of the road for more than ten minutes the Hunters will pick me up. Anyway I couldn’t make myself get into a car, I’d feel trapped. Besides, I have a map. I know where I’m going and I have the time to get back. It’s two days’ hike to Mercury’s valley and my birthday is three days away. I can do it. I can get back to Mercury, get my three gifts, and somehow help Annalise.

  It’s getting light. I’ve covered a lot of ground. Steady pace. Sticking to the woods not far from the road. I can rest now. I’m as stiff as an old man. But I can let myself have a couple of hours’ rest.

  * * *

  It’s twilight already. The whole day has gone, I’ve just slept through it. But I’ll be stronger now it’s night and I’ve had sleep. I’ve only got two energy drinks left but I hope I can buy more. I can relax in the trees. I change my pace, walk fast past five trees and walk slow past five. The egg-sized lump is now a fist-sized lump.

  It’s getting light and I can’t walk at all any more.

  Rest a bit. Don’t go to sleep.

  * * *

  Shit! What time is it? Midday, maybe. Keep falling asleep. Got to get going.

  Keep on going. Feeling dizzy.

  There’s a village. I’ll buy some drinks. I need sugar.

  I need to check what day it is too.

  What day is it?

  Feeling odd . . . dizzy . . .

  I’m back in the trees. I walk at a steady pace. Sugar’s done me good. It’s my birthday the day after tomorrow.

  Is that right? I checked. Didn’t I? Someone checked.

  Or did I imagine that? No, I had a drink. I checked. I saw a newspaper. Yes, that’s right.

  I’ve forgotten again.

  It’s a good day for a walk. Sunny.

  I’m a bit slow. It’s sunny, though.

  If I walk through the day and the night I’ll be back at Mercury’s before my birthday. I think that’s right.

  Just keep walking.

  What day is it?

  I’m wet. Sweat.

  The lump is still there.

  My chest aches. Everything aches.

  Don’t touch it, just walk.

  I’m slow but sunny.

  Sunny. Sunny. Sunny.

  What’s that? Someone’s in the trees up ahead. I saw someone.

  Who is it?

  A girl.

  Sunlight. Long blonde hair. She’s running like a gazelle.

  “Annalise! Wait!”

  I run but have to stop almost immediately.

  “Annalise!”

  Lean against a tree, rest for a minute.

  Annalise has gone. I sink down to the ground.

  I wish she would come back for me.

  “Annalise!”

  A giggle comes from the other side of the tree trunk.

  Rose?

  I crawl forward to look and Rose is lying on the ground, giggling, and then I realize she can’t giggle because she’s dead and, even though I know I shouldn’t, I try to lift her head up to check. I can’t stop myself, and she’s changed into the Hunter and I feel her blood and her broken neck in my hand.

  I wake up, panting. Sweaty. Shaking again.

  It’s dark. Got to get going. I’ve slept too much. I get up and my legs collapse.

  It’s light already. The sun is shining through the trees. And I hear Rose giggle again.

  “Rose?”

  She peers from behind a tree and says, “Happy Birthday tomorrow, Nathan.”

  Is it my birthday tomorrow?

  Hey, everyone, I’m nearly seventeen!

  But where is everyone?

  Where’s Gabriel?

  “Rose, where is Gabriel?”

  She doesn’t even giggle.

  It’s silent again.

  And where am I?

  My map! Where’s my map?

  And I had some drinks, didn’t I?

  I have the Fairborn, though. Yes, I have the Fairborn.

  And I have a stream. Don’t need drinks. I have a stream. This was a good place to stop. A good place.

  Let’s have a look at the lump.

  Not good.

  Yellow, very yellow, with a little scar and lots of red veins.

  Not good. Not good.

  If I touch it . . .

  F***!

  * * *

  Rose is back. She’s dancing around me. She bends over and looks at the lump on my side. “Yuck! You really need to cut that out.”

  “Where’s Gabriel?”

  She blushes but doesn’t reply and I shout, “Where’s Gabriel?”

  Silence.

  It’s getting dark.

  I look at the lump. I think it’s still growing.

  I’m just going to be one big lump soon.

  What day is it?

  I can’t think. Can’t think.

  “Rose, what day is it?”

  No one answers. Then I remember Rose is dead.

  The lump is full of poison . . . Gabriel said it was poison . . . it’s poisoning me . . .

  It has to go.

  Just cut it out.

  I hold the Fairborn. It wants to do it.

  * * *

  It’s light. I’m lying on the ground by a stream. I’m aching but not as bad as before.

  Did I cut into the lump?

  I can’t remember.

  I look down and my shirt is open and covered in dried blood and dried yellow stuff. Lots of yellow stuff. There’s no lump, though.

  The stream water tastes good and I’m feeling better. My head’s clear. I’ve drunk lots of water, a stream-full. My wound isn’t too bad now I’ve cleaned the last of the yellow pus out. There’s still a bit of swelling but nothing much. My body doesn’t ache so much. Maybe the poison has gone but the bullet’s still in there so maybe more poison will come out. The worst must be over though as I’m feeling so much better.

  I’m not sure what day it is but I think it’s my birthday.

  It must be. I’m seventeen.

  I AM SEVENTEEN!

  And I’m feeling good. I can make it. Don’t need a map now. I recognize the mountains.

  I set off and then realize I don’t have the Fairborn. I have the knife that Gabriel gave me, but not the Fairborn.

  I run and stumble back to the stream to look for it.

  There’s where I cut myself. There’s all the pus. The Fairborn has to be here. I cut myself with the Fairborn. I was by the stream and I stabbed my lump and . . . when I woke up the Fairborn had gone.

  I don’t have time for this. I have to go to Mercury’s. Forget the Fairborn. I don’t want it. If I maintain a steady pace I’ll get to Mercury’s just after it gets dark.

  The rain is back, heavy drizzle and feeling cooler now. I’m walking up the valley along the road. It’s quicker on the road and I need to be quicker. Only a few cars pass by, their headlights dazzling me, but I stick to the road through three
small mountain villages and then cut up the mountain itself. I know the trail but the going is slow as it’s sodden and slippery. Still, I’ll be there in less than an hour of hiking.

  I have a pain in my ribs but it’s not as bad as before. I don’t heal it. Maybe the healing made things worse. I don’t know but I can put up with this. I’m going to make it. I will get my three gifts and I will help Annalise.

  As I get higher the rain turns to sleet and then to snow. Thick snow. The flakes are huge and seem to parachute slowly. I’m high in the mountains but even so this is far too cold for June. The snow is thick on the ground, up to my knees, and it is slowing me but only a little as it’s so light and powdery that I don’t take huge steps but just brush through it. I look back at the trail I’m leaving but it’s not obvious: the snow is light and collapses on to my tracks, almost as if it’s smoothing itself over. I keep thinking I must be near the cottage but there are no lights anywhere except behind me.

  I reach the broken tree trunk, its fractured, splintered ends so sharp and thin that little snow has settled on them. I should be able to see the lights from the cottage.

  I speed up and then slow down for the last twenty meters. The cottage is in darkness and I go along its side wall and down the far side to the door. As I am about to go in there is a flash, small and distant below and to the left in the valley. Then sound arrives. A shot. And another. Then lightning followed by thunder. Mercury is fighting the Hunters.

  The Hunters must have found the cut, but they wouldn’t have been able to get off the roof if they came through that way. They will have worked out where the cottage is, though; they’d be able to do that. And then they came up the valley. They must have only been a bit ahead of me. And then another thought hits me: if they captured Gabriel and tortured him he would tell them where the valley was . . .

  I can’t think about that. I have to find Mercury. I have to head to the shots. Mercury must be there. There’s a swirling cloud in the valley below me, toward the glacier. A flash of lightning shoots out of it. It’s her.

  But first I have to see if Annalise is here. I don’t know how much time I have left. Not long.

  In the cottage everything is neat and tidy. My things are as I left them. So are Gabriel’s. He’s not been back.