Past Truths

by Em Pitts

  "Excited, pretty girl?" His rasp asked me. I gave him a sheepish smile.

  "If it's good news, then I can see Abby soon." I shrugged. Nick's smile dimmed even as it looked more genuine.

  "Then I hope it's good news for you." And with that, he opened the door.

  We went back towards the same room as last time and there was no hesitation on the guys part as they knocked and opened the door to step inside. I took a deep breath and followed closely behind them.

  The minister was sitting down in his chair again and the judge was standing beside the table turned towards us. I watched as his arms crossed against his chest and his expression seemed annoyed. My chest deflated at the thought that maybe this wasn't good news.

  "I did not request for all of you to come." Judge stated when everyone finished gathering in the room. The men surrounded me on either side. The minister took note of the arrangement before speaking.

  "We requested to speak to Ms. Woods, gentlemen." I saw a nod from my left side but didn't turn my head away from the minister to check who it was.

  None of the men spoke regarding the minister and judge subtly telling them to leave. None of the men left either. When it seemed like the standoff was going to continue, I interrupted.

  "You needed to speak with me." I stepped forward to draw the attention back my way. It seemed to do the trick as eyes gravitated to me.

  "It has been brought to my attention, that you need more permanent housing Ms. Woods." The Minister said completely bafflingly me. I was silent in my confusion while I processed what I was being told. I was brought here to talk about permanent housing?

  "Permanent housing?" I questioned when my brain stopped firing off mixed signals.

  "Your housing and working solutions were meant to be temporary. You are no longer working with Goodwife Bishop which shows how brief the solution became. We don't know how long you will be here, it could be a few more weeks, it could be a few more years." The minister continued oblivious to the cuts he was making on my heart with the thought of years here.

  "And who brought this to your attention?" Raynor drawled from my right.

  "You will not speak to the minister in such a way." Judge demanded, then dropped his arms as if ready to square up to Raynor.

  "We were just curious as to who was looking out for Tessa is all." Nick placated from my left.

  "I did." Judge smugly replied as if he was a hero for doing this. I heard a quiet snort from my right and watched Judge cut his head that way sharply.

  "What is the permanent solution you have come up with?" My head jerked to the left at Ollie. Surely, he wasn't about to go along with this.

  "Judge Snelling has interest in courting her. If she agrees then her housing solutions may be fixed in time that way." The minister spoke up in a detached way.

  "And if she doesn't?" I gritted out.

  Nick's hand touched my arm as I stared around him at Ollie. His voice was filtering through my head quicker than before with a soft wash of static underlying his words. He continued to repeat calm reassurances to me.

  "That won't be necessary." Isaake's voice surprised me. "She already has plans for permanent housing." I felt Nick's hand tighten and saw Ollie's body stiffen. It gave me a clue that Isaake was going off script.

  "That's good to hear. What are your plans, Ms. Woods?" The minister spoke to me.

  I turned towards him not knowing if I was supposed to bullshit an answer or pretend to have a seizure to get out of this. Nick’s hand tightened even further on my arm a moment before Isaake spoke again.

  "She's accepted my hand in marriage." Isaake calmly stated.

  "Don't say a word." Nick's voice rang out in my head. He needn't have worried. I had no words to say at that moment.

  Nick's hand never left my arm. Even now, as we strolled through the town appearing to have no worries. He hasn't said a word sense leaving the room, but the soft static continued to whisper in my mind.

  I thought back to the Judge's enraged face and the minister's easy acceptance of Isaake's response to my “solution”. My hand rested on my stomach as the empty feeling settled deep in my gut. I wasn't hungry for food; I was missing my freedom.

  "We're not really getting married, are we?" I spoke in a strangled whisper. I can't stay here. I have to leave. Don't they remember I have to leave?

  "Not here," Ollie spoke in a firm tone. There was silence for a moment before he started rubbing at his beard. "It's broad daylight." He complained randomly.

  "So, keep your eyes open," Raynor answered back. I didn't understand what they meant and when I looked at the guys’ faces each of them looked preoccupied.

  "Are you speaking through their minds?" I directed that thought towards Nick. I wasn't sure if it would work but I got an affirmative answer back, proving my theory. "What now?" I thought desperately. I didn't realize I directed the thought until Nick replied.

  "Now we get away from everyone and figure out our next step." I felt a strange sensation as the static cut out and Nick left my mind. His hand remained a comforting weight wrapped around my arm.

  The men led me away from the town in the opposite direction we always traveled. I had not been completely around the town despite having been here for almost a week. The new sights stood out briefly distracting me.

  Soon the businesses faded, and I saw a dozen men gathered inside of a large barren circle with a hefty pile of dirt lined across the back edge. Hector stood out as one of the men who was yelling at the others.

  "The training grounds," Isaake spoke up seeing me watching the men. When he said that, I noticed that some of the men were fighting. It looked like Hector was directing them.

  "What is the mound of dirt for?"

  "Shooting practice."

  "I haven't heard any guns."

  "They won't practice so close to the trials. The trials are supposed to be a time of peace between everyone as people journey to take part." Isaake informed me. I watched a moment more as we continued around the training area.

  "Do you guys practice?"

  "Not the way they do," Raynor spoke up this time. "We practice with our gifts." His statement made me curious and I looked at the men in the training area. Only Hector had the one glove on signifying he was gifted.

  Soon enough the training grounds were behind us and I only had nature to keep my mind occupied. Nick groaned out dramatically as I kept watching the trees and everything else around me.

  "Are we really going to walk the whole way?" I looked at him in time to see his wink aimed in my direction. Raynor snorted.

  "Your pretty little feet can't handle the walk?" He prodded his brother.

  "How will a woman ever accept me if I can't walk because you drove my feet into the ground?" Nick teased back.

  "Pretty sure women aren't looking at your feet." I surprised myself by saying my thoughts aloud.

  My face flamed as Nick roared in laughter. The others snorted or laughed along. His hand disappeared and a comforting weight was thrown around my shoulders as he slid me into his side.

  "What do you say, pretty girl? Do you want to travel through a tunnel?" He questioned me cheekily. I smiled at him for giving me something else to focus on and trying to cheer me up.

  "That's the best news I've heard all day."

  "Ollie." Nick prompted.

  "I’m aware." Came Ollie's retort as the ground started rumbling beneath us.

  The rumbling reminded me of the night that the men jumped out of the ground like demons. Sure enough, the earth started collapsing in on itself creating a large opening. When the ground opened below us, there was a descending slope of dirt leading to flattened ground.

  I walked down separating myself from Ollie to find a darkened tunnel laid out in front of us. I couldn’t see past the lights reach, which was enough to light up the walls and three feet in front of me. It had an overwhelming scent of the earth, reminding me of gardening. The cooler air down here was a relief from the sun’s rays. The wall of th
e tunnel had roots sticking out and rocks embedded in, making it a collage of intriguing textures.

  "Will it collapse on us?" I eyed the roof of the tunnel warily. Nick grasped his shirt at his chest with a gasp.

  "She mocks your abilities. She's going to be a terrible sister-in-law." He shook his head in disappointment. I hardened my gaze at him for bringing up the problematic solution. "Ow!" Isaake slapped the back of Nick's head in retaliation. I looked to give him my thanks, but his expression had hardened as well.

  "No, it won't collapse." Ollie's voice brought us back to the previous topic. I eyed the tunnel once more and stepped into the darkness.

  "How do you see?" Light exploded from behind me and I turned to see a large flame in Ollie's hand. "So, you keep a flame going the whole time you travel down here?" I questioned.

  "We usually just travel in the dark." He shrugged. Before I could question him again, Nick came back to my side.

  "You're not getting the full experience yet, pretty girl. Patience." He tsked at me. For some reason, all the guys turned towards Raynor waiting on him. Raynor rolled his eyes before addressing me.

  "Are you going to be okay?" He questioned. For what? I nodded my head unsurely. He noticed if the doubtful look on his face meant anything. "Hold onto her." He directed to Nick who put his arms around me and pulled me close. I looked up at him to see him nodding seriously. I was starting to get nervous at how they were acting.

  "Maybe we shouldn't have any light," Ollie spoke up before he extinguished the flame in his hand.

  The darkness surrounded me again with the only light coming from the large opening. I felt the ground move as I heard the earth shifting. The light started dimming and Nick's arms tightened. Then, I was weightless.

  The wind was blowing my hair into Nick's shirt and I grasped tightly to his arms, scared I was going to fall any moment. Only, I still felt the earth beneath my feet. A light ahead was quickly approaching and getting larger as the noise surrounding me got louder.

  I could clearly see our exit and the inclining slope forming to lead us out, moving towards us. Or we were moving towards the exit? The feeling of flying was conflicting with the feeling of falling.

  We slowed abruptly and I rocked against Nick feeling like I was about to topple over an edge any minute now. The rocking motion and light caused me to see that we were above the ground on a slab of earth.

  I slammed my eyes shut expecting to fall to the ground hard and focused on Nick's solid presence. My feet steadied as the butterfly feeling in my stomach ceased. Popping my eyes open, I realized we were no longer moving. Nick's arms gently released me, and I stood by myself watching the guys exit the tunnel. I took a step to follow, only for my legs to turn to jelly and give out below me.

  "Gadzooks! I knew we shouldn't have done that. She isn't used to it." Ollie said as he rushed to me.

  I took stock noting my weak feeling. My stomach was settled but my body was zinging. It felt like a roller coaster ride. I smiled wide at the euphoric feeling of release of my nerves and problems, if only for a moment.

  My laughter bubbled out before his hand reached me to no doubt pull me up. I looked up at him to see his concerned face.

  "That was awesome!" I exclaimed. I heard a snort and chuckles from the guys as I watched Ollie look at me in humor. "Can we go again?" I questioned seriously. More laughter was my only response.

  “I just don’t understand where the dirt goes.” I shook my head again as Ollie tried to explain to me how the tunnel was even possible.

  “It hardens.” He repeated throwing his arms in the air in exasperation. I snorted at him. He was about as good at explaining his gift as I was at cooking seventeenth century meals.

  Isaake took pity on me as Ollie marched off towards a bridge that was in front of us. He bent down to the ground and dug a handful of dirt, surprising me by placing it in my hand. What was he up to? Isaake seems like the smart one, so I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.

  “Feel how the dirt feels.” I didn’t know what he meant. I brought my free hand up to the dirt and touched it.

  “Like dirt?” I questioned. He chuckled in response and I vaguely noted he looked more attractive when amused.

  “Now make a fist around the dirt and hold it tight.” I followed his instructions. “Good. Now let it go.” I did. The dirt was formed in a ball but was slowly breaking apart as I watched.

  “When it hardens it gets smaller, tighter, more compact. When Ollie moves the earth, it shifts with the earth around it and hardens together until he releases it back.” He gestured towards my hand.

  I was finally starting to get it. “Now, why didn’t he just say that?” I mumbled out loud.

  “Hello, children! Stop playing in the dirt and come be adults for a minute!” Nick hollered from the bridge.

  Raynor, Ollie, and Nick were waiting beside a wooden bridge that crossed over a river. The guys didn’t look like they were waiting to cross, however. They were leaned up against the side close to the river's edge.

  Isaake and I made our way over to the other men. Everyone looked relaxed but I was questioning what we were doing. If we were crossing the river, then there was a perfectly good crossing point that was being used as a leaning post by Raynor. If we were traveling down the river, then I did not see any boats.

  “Guys?” I questioned when we reached the others.

  “Welcome to our hideout!” Nick threw his arms wide in a dramatic display. I looked left then right to make sure I was not missing anything.

  “Your secret place is beside a bridge?” I questioned carefully.

  Don’t judge the men for where they decide to deem their special place, Tessa. I’ve had questionable taste in different things as well. So, what if the men had a hideaway that looked more appropriate for teenage boys to try and sneak cigarettes?

  Nick winked at me. “Under the bridge, actually.” I heard Raynor snort behind him.

  “He is having too much fun with this,” Raynor said looking at Ollie. Ollie leaned towards him and whispered in his ear.

  I stopped paying any of the men attention when I heard the crashing of waves coming from the river. The water was moving against itself and splashing back as I watched a curved line start to form from where we were standing leading to under the bridge. The more the water churned, the further it seemed to space away from itself. Soon there was a cleared path where the water was held up on either side as the river parted itself. No. The guys parted it, I corrected.

  I keep wanting to categorize the men surrounding me as normal men, but clearly, they are not. Whatever rule the guys seemed to have in place about not using their gifts around me has clearly been demolished.

  Nick looked so proud of his gifts. As well he should be. The last person I heard of who could part water, has his name used in prayers now. Well, not counting the ocean on Moana. I shook my head clear of my thoughts and pointed at the path laid out before me.

  “Just follow the water?” I questioned. In answer to my question, Nick grabbed my hand and hooked it around his arm as the others followed closely behind us.

  Before I knew it, we were stepping through the pathway on unexpectedly dry ground that reminded me of the path of an aquarium. I could see fish swimming around us as the current directed them on the new path.

  I couldn’t help but reach out and feel the water expecting a wall like the earth had made. My hand slipped right through the cold water and the mist sprayed outward as I disrupted the surface. It was like sticking your hand out the car window and feeling the air push back. Only it was water and was flowing to pull my hand forward.

  Raynor’s yelp surprised me and I looked back yanking my hand out of the water. His hair was wet and sticking to his face like he just got splashed. I laughed at his look of outrage aimed at his brother.

  “Seriously?” He growled at Nick.

  “Apologies, must have slipped.” Nick continued forward as Ollie laughed and Raynor grumbled some more. I caught a glimpse
of Isaake behind them looking amused as well.

  “Slipped, huh?” I whispered for Nick’s ears only. “Do I need to worry about your lack of control?”

  “Are you asking if I’m going to make you wet?” He whispered back. I saw him looking out of the corner of his eye at me.

  "N...no." I stumbled out then snapped my mouth shut and faced forward.

  I was not expecting that comment. I admit I'm out of my league when it comes to flirting and I refuse to open my mouth and say something stupid like "You're wet!" as a comeback. Nope. I'm staying quiet. Nothing to see here. He probably was not even flirting, just making silly comments like he always does. Yeah, stay smart Tessa, you can do this!

  We came to a wall of dirt that confused me. I guess I was expecting to be led somewhere is all. The rumbling sound started a moment before the dirt started collapsing on itself. I nearly rolled my eyes. I should have expected that honestly.

  An open doorway was left standing, leading into darkness beyond. I didn't bother questioning them this time, simply stepping into the dark with the knowledge I would be okay.

  I heard the noise of the ground moving as I watched what light pierced the room start to lessen. Before I could panic that my judgement was terrible Ollie was lighting the room. Fire flew around me to hit the walls and torches sparked to life.

  The room brightened to reveal a wooden table surrounded by chairs, a small dresser, some items in a corner, and a closed door on the back wall. The walls reminded me of the tunnel and held steady around the mostly bare room.

  There were marbles tucked into a corner with leather sacks and a hula hoop leaning against the wall. A strange looking wheel on a string on top of the dresser caught my eye. Children’s games?

  When I was done perusing the room, I noticed the entrance was now sealed off and the guys were sitting at the table. Isaake had his head cradled into his crossed arms on the table. Nick was lounged back on two legs of his chair looking like he was going to topple into the dirt wall any moment. Ollie looked troubled as he stared down the table and Raynor had his back towards me. I shifted on my feet realizing there were only four chairs.