Chapter Twenty Five
‘Who are you?’ I stuttered.
The theatre was dim. The sound of the others chatting on the stage echoed around me. The shadows of the hallway crowded me as I stopped dead. The figure moved quickly, trying to back away. A dark hood covered the face.
‘Tell me!’ I demanded.
My heartbeat tripled as I took a step forward. I didn’t feel threatened, even though my body wanted to flee.
The shadow of the person became still. The stage I’d left behind grew silent. The eerie dark space vibrated. My skin prickled.
‘Who are you?’ I whispered.
The hood tipped back slightly. Brown eyes peeked out from underneath. My breath caught in my throat.
‘Who’s there?’ Artie shouted from the end of the corridor.
He must have been checking up on me. The shadow made to run. I reached out to stop him. I knew the eyes. It was-
‘Wait!’
Artie barged past me, following the figure to wherever the corridor led to. Purple appeared by my side, causing me to jump. I put my hand to my chest to steady myself.
‘Come on.’ He put an arm around my shoulders and guided me back to the stage.
The kids ran to me, both throwing their arms around my waist. I embraced them, holding them tight. We were a family now. Our own little unit.
‘I’ve caught him,’ Artie announced striding out of the corridor. ‘Purple, will you watch the kids for a moment? Elizabeth, please will you come with me?’
I tucked Alison’s hair behind her ear as she frowned at me. David ran to Purple to show him the new toy he’d chosen.
‘You’ll be okay, won’t you?’ I asked my new teenager.
She smiled gently before wandering over to the dragon half breed.
I followed Artie to a room at the back of the theatre. When I walked through the door, the air left my lungs.
‘William!’
He opened his arms. Stepping into them, I felt my energy build. Being on the other side of the river had drained me.
‘What are you doing here?’ I asked him.
Artie cleared his throat from the doorway. Stepping away from the leader of the Perfect government, I looked at the floor.
We were in an old dressing room. There was a mirror with lights above the dressing table. I imagined actors getting ready a long time ago in the past.
‘I know what you are,’ Artie announced, stepping into the room and pushing the door shut behind him.
William lowered himself onto the scuffed sofa. Patting the cushion next to him, he indicated for me to join him. United. That’s what we both needed.
‘Tell me what you think we are,’ William asked.
Artie stood in front of us. He clicked his knuckles as his eyes closed briefly.
‘A long time ago I came across someone like you. Someone who wanted to save the world.’
William sat forward, linking his hands in front of him. I sat back, chewing on my lip as we waited for him to go on.
‘He claimed that he was one of the last of his kind. They were failing, he told me. They had no choice but to leave. He’s the reason I have this.’ He pointed at his scar.
My thoughts returned to Hope. Her image flashed into my mind. ‘I’m sorry, Artie. If this goes wrong, I need William to know something.’
He frowned but nodded for me to go on. Grabbing William’s shoulders, I leant in to his ear.
‘I’ve found her,’ I whispered. ‘She’s nearby.’
William grew stiff. I released him, glancing at Artie. The Avoidable watched us closely, evaluating our actions.
A slow smile spread on William’s face. ‘It’s all in motion,’ he muttered.
Our gaze met. I had been afraid that he would be cross with me. I had broken the rules. Being by his side had been my mission. I had failed.
‘That’s why you’re here.’ He looked at me sincerely.
I couldn’t look away from him. My leader. My best friend. An angel brother. He obviously trusted Artie. Maybe he was also part of the plan.
‘Yes, I think it might be. And to take care of the kids, too,’ I replied.
He put his hand over mine. I smiled at him. My experience would be very different to the other angels. I wouldn’t have to pretend. I couldn’t, even if I wanted to.
‘Yes. Those children will have a part to play once they’ve matured.’
Artie sighed and took a seat at the dressing table. A few pictures were stuck on the wall surrounding the mirror. He had resigned himself to waiting.
‘What more can I do?’ I asked, grasping William’s fingers.
He glanced down at me, tucking my short hair behind my ear.
‘Experience everything. You’re an Avoidable now. Report back to me through Artie. I have a feeling he will be compliant.’
William’s gaze sought the Avoidable’s. His lip quirked slightly, which made me smile. The man wasn’t an angel but he knew something.
‘I can’t believe you’re back,’ Artie said. ‘I thought you had given up on us.’ A flash of pain crossed his face. He must have had a run in with someone in the past. It didn’t feel like it had been a happy outcome.
‘I’ve never been here before. None of us have. We’re a new team. We have never given up on you. We never will. It’s different this time, though. You’ll learn more as we go along. It’s still very new.’
Artie shook his head, running his hand through his greasy hair. ‘But see how far you’ve come in such a short time. I will support you every step of the way. I may have a personal issue with one of you from the past but that was a long time ago.’
William looked at me. I grinned back at him. We had done it. My job wasn’t to infiltrate the Perfect government. It was to live alongside the Avoidables. To help with the synchronistic meeting of two people in the future.
‘One of you? What is one of us, Artie? I’d like to hear you say it.’
William liked to test people. Not because he didn’t trust but because he did. Too easily.
Artie would be his new ally. Our new ally. There was nothing that would stand in the way of our goal.
‘You are angels and you’re here to unite the Perfects and Avoidables.’
Want to know what happens next? Click here to check out Avoidables 1-6. Or search for Avoidables 1-6 on your chosen retailer.
If you loved Avoidables Angels, please consider leaving a review. Thank you!
Free Books!
Click HERE for free books!
Copyright
Copyright © 2015 by Rachel Medhurst
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Author
Rachel Medhurst wants to bring hope, excitement and feeling through her work. An avid reader herself, she loves to get lost in a book. Writing is Rachel's passion. To keep up to date on new releases please check out her website.
www.rachelmedhurst.com
Avoidables Angels Page 25