Sparrows

by Laura Mae

  Sydona smirked slightly, not because he had to do something he didn’t want to do but because she agreed with the Shaman, and Raoul had to tell her what was on his mind. “Okay.”[SD224][LM225]

  The door clicked shut, and Sydona made herself a seat on the toilet with a towel.

  “Thank you for wanting to talk with me--”

  “No, no… let me start with you. You made me do this, Syd.” He flew up and paced in front of her face with animated arms. “I don’t think you understand the level of danger you put me in. I had to fly back home when I thought my heart was going to explode. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’m much smaller than you. When you drop a bomb on me, you may as well have literally dropped a bomb on me!”

  Tears started to form in her blue eyes, and her lips shook. She had never seen this side of him before, not in the sixty years she had known him. “I’m sorry--”

  “No! Not done yet. Let me talk!”

  “Raoul--” Shaman Faro spoke from outside the window. “Breathe, Raoul. Remember to breathe.”

  Raoul stopped ranting, formed fists at Shaman Faro’s words, but then relaxed and took another breath.

  [SD226]“I’m trying to understand why you kept this from me. Me. I’ve been there for you through everything, Syd. Since before I could even fly. I risked my freedom for you, went through torture and then you tell me you killed the man who tortured me, only to find out that he was never actually dead. And then I find out that Jubilee was captured… Of everyone I lived with, why her? Every time I think of what they could be doing to her, I think of...” He paused to put the horrible thought behind him. “Ever since this trip, I feel like I’ve only begun to really know you. Everything is always about you. Well, what about me? I’m not your sidekick. I have needs; I have ambition. I always do what you want to do.”

  Sydona understood his pain, but the last part irked her. “I’m sorry Raoul. And I wish I could turn back time and tell you the truth about Malik, but… Raoul… you’ve never spoken up about that other stuff before. And you’re not a sidekick. You’re my family, my best friend.”

  “I don’t feel like it sometimes, though,” he said. He was calmer but still pacing around in the air. “And you’ve never asked me. Ever! You’ve never asked me what I want in life.”

  “I’m sorry! What do you want, Raoul? Tell me!” Sydona replied strongly.

  Raoul paused, seemingly unprepared to be asked the question he felt so strongly about. “I want… I want to be treated like someone with goals. Not just along for the ride.”

  Sydona furrowed her brows. She wanted to sympathize with him, but not even Raoul really seemed to know what he wanted in life. He was just still upset and feeling unwanted and betrayed.

  “Do you want to be a Sparrow?” she asked, thinking maybe giving him options would help narrow it down.

  “I--I don’t know!” he threw his hands up. “I want to be like you…” Raoul admitted and stopped pacing.

  “What?” Sydona shook her head, thoroughly lost now.

  “I just… I want your passion. I want to be able to do stuff like you. But I can’t. Because… I can’t even peel an orange by myself! You saw something that needed changed, and you’re doing it. I know you didn’t mean to lie about the doctor; you were doing what you thought was best. But I mean, of all people, you could have just told me. You know I wouldn’t have judged you.”

  She saw a hint of a smile creeping up on his reddened face. “I know; you’re right.”

  “I’m what?” His smile grew.

  “You’re right, Raoul. About everything. I can be selfish, and I hate it. I don’t want to be. I guess I feel by keeping things to myself I’m protecting others. I know I have trust issues that I’m also working on. And honestly, if you weren’t there for me, none of this would have happened. I never would have met Gia, who I consider to be, well, a daughter. And Willow who I never thought I would like, but she’s growing on me. And Silas who, well… he’s the first person I’ve known in a long time that I have real feelings for. None of us would even know each other if you didn’t come along. You’re more than my sidekick, Raoul. You have to know that… The day we left the house for Eagle Lake, and I was driving away; [SD227]I was just upset. I could never leave you behind. You’re my rock.”

  They both smiled wide through the tears. The air that was once stiff and tense now felt clear and light. Raoul flew to her shoulder and hugged the side of her head. He whispered in her ear.

  “I’m sorry I scared you.”

  Sydona swallowed and nodded slightly. “It’s alright. Are we okay now?”

  “Yeah…”

  “I’ve missed you, buddy…” She wiped her face of an embarrassingly large number of tears that soaked her cheeks.

  “Missed you too, Syd.”

  “And we’ll find Jubilee. I promise. I know how much she meant to you.”

  “Thank you,” Raoul said. His chin raised a little higher.[LM228]

  Sydona composed herself and exited the room.

  “Did you see your bed is still in the window?”

  Raoul buzzed over to her bedroom. “Holy cow! It is! Can we take this with us?”

  “What, you mean you don’t like sleeping on washcloths and hand towels?” Sydona winked.

  “Not if I could have a bed instead,” Raoul replied as he flew over and straightened the covers. “I’ll make Silas carry it.”[SD229][LM230]

  Chapter Twelve

  It was time.

  While Raoul took everyone on a tour of the house, Sydona found the scissors and began boiling water. Stains from black tea constantly soiled her countertops, so she figured it would stain her light hair, too. She moved the hot water into a large bowl and steeped ten tea bags to a deep amber color. It would be a darker, more dramatic change but not permanent. She carried the bowl up the stairs, which she later regretted. Carrying a full bowl of boiling water upstairs covered in branches and leaves was extremely difficult. She was thankful no one saw her trying to juggle it.

  The bathroom door clicked shut, and she hushed her heart. It was silly to be anxious over cutting hair, considering worse things laid ahead. She grabbed a chunk of silky blonde hair and stared at it as if she were already mourning it. The scissors snipped and snapped. She didn’t much care if things were even. Just to getting it off her head would help her disguise herself even more. Once all her hair stopped just above her shoulders, she stopped. Her lungs filled with air, and she let it out as she admired her work. It didn’t look half bad, but it wasn’t her anymore. She threaded her fingers through her short hair, still able to feel the length it was only a minute ago. [SD231][LM232]

  Once the bowl of black tea cooled enough for her to dunk her hair in, she let it soak for several minutes. Her mind wandered off. She took in the smell of the dark tea through her nose and breathed out. Her ears found the sounds of chirping birds enjoying the warm weather. Wood from the branches made its way into the aroma, and it made her feel like she was in the forest. The warming water helped her relax as well.

  When she thought it had soaked enough, she flipped what hair she had left back and washed her hair quickly in the shower. She examined the new color and cut in the mirror.

  Unrecognizable.

  If she barely knew it was her, certainly no one else would be able to tell either.

  Sydona made her way downstairs where she heard everyone. The tour must have ended. As she turned to face the living room, everyone stared at her. Her cheeks turned red, and she bashfully tried to twirl a piece of hair around her finger. It felt weird.

  “What’d you do to your hair?!” Silas quickly stood up.

  “I cut it,” she said with a shrug.

  “It’s brown!” Giovonna shrieked.

  “It’s just hair you guys. What’s everyone talking about?”

  Just then, someone knocked on her front door.

  Everyone stopped in their footsteps and chatter. They looked at one another with wide eyes. They thought if they all st
ayed perfectly still, they would go away. The fairies immediately hid away in their cubbies, and some flew to the backyard. They sensed something wasn’t right. Then, another louder knock came followed by: “Police, open up!”

  Sydona’s heart plummeted to her gut. She looked at Willow with desperate eyes. Willow shook her head and stepped back. When she denied her, Sydona glanced at everyone else to open the door. Giovonna and Silas both did nothing. With their purple eyes, she couldn’t fault them. They might be tortured for information about her. Suddenly, Harold lifted his scruffy chin and stepped forward. He patted her shoulder and headed for the door.

  What was he doing? No hesitation. He knew them, the police. He planned it all along. Adrenaline pumped through her veins, and she began to lunge toward him. But before she took two steps, Harold swung the door open just enough for the cops to see him. Everyone else hid in the corner of the living room.

  Harold cleared his throat before speaking to the two men at her door. “Yes?”

  “Good afternoon, sir. Is Sydona Wilder home?”

  She could see the right half of his face and sort of read his facial expressions. He seemed calm and collected. Thankfully.

  “I’m afraid not.” His accent seemed to almost disappear. Sydona almost smiled.

  “When will she be back?” the policeman inquired with a steady tone.

  Harold chuckled. “Your guess is as good as mine. She been gone over three months now.”

  A pause.

  “Do you have any idea of where she went?” they asked.

  “Nope.” He scratched his balding, ash-colored hair. “Sorry I can’t be more help to y’all.”

  “The reason we’re here is to find… this girl.” Harold leaned out to examine something. “Name is Giovonna Carr. Her parents are Frederick and Denise Carr.”

  Harold’s head slightly turned as if to match it to something, but then he turned his attention back to the cops. “Never seen her.”[SD233]

  Sydona’s eyes widened, and she turned to Giovonna with the same look. She scooted closer to her and hugged her as she could tell she was about to cry.

  “She was last seen with Ms. Wilder. She’s been reported missing. Since Sydona is a fugitive, we have a warrant to search the premise.”

  “Now, hang on. I don’t know who in the blazing saddles that little girl is, but I do know someone’s already been here looking for Sydona. Destroyed the damn place!” Harold’s tone got louder.

  “Who’s been here?”

  “Them folks from the NFA. Couple days ago. I’ve been watchin’ the house for her like she asked, but I ain’t gotta clue where she at or when she comin’ back. Now, I’d like to be left alone to watch my shows in some peace and quiet!”

  Another pause. Then one cop spoke up. “We’re very sorry sir. But, if you happen to see her or Ms. Wilder, please let us know.”

  Harold grabbed something and nodded.

  “Have a nice day, sir.”

  He shut the door and sunk his head. He held a piece of paper in his hand and looked at it again. Sydona peeked out of the curtains and waited for the cop car to get back on the road before moving another muscle.

  From the corner of her eye, she watched as Giovonna stormed over to Harold and ripped the paper from his hands. Her fists wrapped around the edges so tightly it almost tore in two.

  “Bullshit!” she gasped and hit the paper over and over again. Her eyes flooded with tears, and she collapsed onto the floor.

  “God! I can’t believe they reported me missing! They couldn’t give two shits about me.”

  Sydona couldn’t believe the language she was using. She had been a bad influence on her. Giovonna’s anger was justified, though. After months of not hearing from her, they just now put in a missing person’s report? What horrible timing. And they used Sydona as an excuse to come looking.

  Giovonna sobbed so hard she fought for air. “And I’m with a fugitive now? Like, come on guys.”

  “Sorry, pumpkin…” Willow sat on the edge of the couch and rubbed Giovonna’s back. Just then, she looked down at her hip and lifted her shirt. A small black device was clipped to her jeans, and she read it carefully.

  “Knox wants us,” Willow announced calmly.

  “Is that a pager?” Silas asked.

  “Yep.”

  “When did you get one of those?”

  “Avani gave it to me. It’s how I been keepin’ in touch with ‘em,” Willow explained as she pulled up her pants. “We should prolly get goin’.”

  Sydona listened to both conversations on either side of her. She knew Knox would eventually want to see them again, especially after the news.

  Giovonna could only focus on her parents. “What am I gonna do?”

  Sydona lent Giovonna a hand and she grabbed it, and Sydona pulled her off the floor. “We’ll figure something out, don’t worry.” Sydona side hugged her and kissed her on the temple.

  Giovonna wiped tears from her face with one hand while the other wrapped around Sydona. She didn’t want her to go back to her parents. Sydona needed her. She wanted her. It would be so hard to keep going without her around. But having her around meant the authorities would be constantly searching for her. Neither one of them would be safe as long as Giovonna stayed around.

  Sydona made a point to sit across from Giovonna in the car. Several minutes passed before Sydona tried talking. Giovonna needed time to figure things out for herself first.[SD234]

  “I don’t want you to leave, Gia, but I understand if you do.”

  Giovonna sighed heavily and turned to her. “I don’t want to either. But if I stay, you know they’re going to be constantly looking. And if they end up finding me, they’ll find you and…”

  A dry spot formed in Sydona’s throat. She wasn’t sure what to say to make anything better. But the fact was, nothing about any of it was a good outcome.

  “It’s just the police. It’s not like it’s the NFA coming for us. They have laws to abide,” Sydona said.

  “Yes, and you’re a fugitive, Syd. You basically have no rights,” Giovonna said. “Just like me.”

  Her words stung. “The cabin we’re staying in is so far in the middle of nowhere they aren’t going to find us…”

  Giovonna wiped her nose. “But what if they do? We have running water and electricity. I’m not an adult like you all, but don’t you have to pay for that? And if you have to pay, someone knows we’re here.”

  Willow cleared her throat. “Yes, darlin’, but it’s not in Syd’s name or your name. They won’t even think of comin’ here. We’ll find a way out of this, okay?”

  Sydona caught Willow’s eye in the rearview mirror and flashed her a smile. It seemed to have calmed Giovonna a little. She pulled her knees up to her chest, wrapped her arms around them and stared out of her window. Sydona squeezed Giovonna’s arm lovingly and then gazed out of her own window. Her eyes welled up, but she squashed the tears. The rest of the ride was quiet. No one knew what else to say; there was nothing else to say.

  Reality eventually sunk in as she remembered where they were headed. Sydona wasn’t looking forward to being yelled at again. Her time in the Sparrows so far hadn’t been ideal, and she wouldn’t be surprised if they kicked her out. Not being in the Sparrows might benefit her though; she could go find the doctor on her own.

  They pulled up to the warehouse, and her heart did somersaults all the way to the office door. She knocked. Heavy footsteps grew louder, and she took a deep breath with hands shaking.

  The door flew open. Knox’s eyes were dark and fuming, and he lunged at her with bared teeth. Sydona instantly hit the ground with his large hands squeezing her neck. She pried and gasped for air. His body crushed her as she squirmed to get him off. Everyone screamed at him, but his face and eyes stayed glued to Sydona’s bulging eyes. Her lungs felt as if they were already shriveling like a deflated balloon. No matter how hard she fought, he didn’t budge. Silas, Willow and everyone else tried to grab him off of her but were unsucce
ssful. Her head swelled and pounded so hard she swore her heart moved positions. Her vision began to blur. Nothing Avani said or did convinced him to let go of her.

  She was going to die.

  Her murderer would be the man who lead a rebellion to stop those who wanted her dead. A man who swore to protect those like her.

  But her mission wasn’t over.

  She needed to live to kill another. Doctor Malik would not stop the trials until he found someone else like her. Not today, Knox.

  As she felt herself fighting for life and gasping for air, her hand suddenly found her trusty dagger on her hip and gripped it tightly. But it was stuck. Whimpers escaped her opened mouth, and no matter how hard she tried, it wasn’t coming out. Her fingers went limp.

  Suddenly a scream from what sounded like a little boy called out her name. It was Devon. The boy exposed his tiny teeth and bit down on Knox’s forearm as hard as he could. Knox was forced to let go and get Devon off him, and when he released one hand, Sydona used her body to maneuver herself out of his grip. When she was able to free herself, Silas and the others instantly grabbed him and dragged him away. The stale warehouse air never felt so rejuvenating as it quickly filled her lungs. Her heart returned to its normal place in her chest, and her vision cleared. Giovonna stayed by her side and helped her sit up. Devon bit Knox so hard it made him bleed, covering the boy’s mouth in red.

  “What the fuck is your problem? You could have killed her!” Giovonna yelled at Knox who was slumped against the wall, gripping his side.

  “Hijo de perra!” Avani screamed in his face.[SD235][LM236] ”Too far, Elias. Too far!”

  “After what she did, why wouldn’t death be reasonable punishment? She’s killed us all!” Knox bellowed.

  “She’s the only one he wants, sir!” Willow joined. “If you’d have killed her, we would be right back at square one.”

  Sydona didn’t give Willow enough credit. She was right on the money. Sydona wanted to add to the conversation but didn’t want to give up any of the precious oxygen she just acquired.