by Lizzie Rose
*
Ten minutes later we were back in Oscar’s car, which he drove at speed without lights. If I’d thought the previous journey was scary, it was nothing compared to this one.
‘I’m taking you to see a friend of mine,’ he told me, his eyes glued to the windscreen. ‘Hopefully she’ll be able to help you.’
At the far side of the village we followed a winding track until we reached a large square house. The front door was unlocked and Oscar swung it open without knocking.
‘This way,’ he whispered. He pushed another door open and gestured for me to enter first. The room was full of people. Leaping back against the wall, I sank into a crouch and balanced on my toes. A woman with dark skin and long black hair knelt down on my left. Behind her was a second doorway, but I figured there would be no point going deeper into the house when I didn’t know how to get out of it.
On the other side of me, Oscar crouched in front of the door we’d just come through. I could force my way back out past him, but I didn’t want to risk hurting him. At the far end of the room, thick brown curtains were drawn across a large window. It was my only option. As I glanced quickly around the room once more, a movement caught my eye. A young boy moved slowly until he was standing in a direct line between me and my escape route.
‘Hugo, I don’t think that’s a good idea,’ a man called out.
‘We can’t let her jump through the window,’ the boy retorted.
My mouth popped open. How on earth did he know?
‘Honey?’ the lady with the dark hair called to me. ‘Can you tell us who you are? Where have you come from and who is your guardian?’
I need to get out of here, I thought, before they attack me.
‘No one’s going to attack you.’
Startled, I focused my attention on the man who had spoken to the boy just minutes ago. How does he know that’s what I was thinking about? Is it coincidence?
‘No, I’m a telepath, as is Hugo here and several others in the room.’
A telepath? The question sprang into my mind.
‘Don’t you know what telepaths are?’ he asked incredulously.
Of course! At least, I’ve heard of such things in story books but I didn’t know they were real.
‘How could you not know? You’re one of us, aren’t you?’
It was my turn to frown. One of what?
The man shook his head as though to clear it. ‘I’m sorry, I’m confused.’
You’re not the only one.
‘Well that’s apparent,’ he replied. ‘Who’s your guardian?’
My what?
‘Who’s responsible for you?’
An image flashed into my mind – a memory that was raw and painful. A figure lay on a bed with ghostly pale skin and dull, lifeless eyes.
With a jolt I came back to reality and realised that the entire house was shaking.
I’m sorry.
Concentrating hard and inhaling slowly, I felt myself calm down and the shaking eased.
‘I’m sorry too.’ The man spoke gently. ‘Where are you heading to?’
Betnor.
‘Really? Are you looking for anyone in particular there?’
I’m not sure.
‘Well there aren’t many of our kind there.’
What do you mean, our kind?
He studied me for a moment. ‘You really don’t know?’
Look, I have no idea what you’re talking about and I really don’t want any trouble. It would probably be best for everyone if I just left.
‘You really can’t . . .’ he began, but he stopped suddenly and turned to stare at the brown curtains. Several of the other people shifted their weight, some of them glancing at me with strange expressions on their faces. The man turned back to me and crouched down so that he was level with me.
‘Right now you’re in a whole lot of trouble. We can help you but we need you to trust us, ok? Let us handle this. Don’t run and don’t say anything. Can you do that?’
I heard car tyres crunch on the gravel outside the window. For some inexplicable reason, I felt afraid. Nodding at the man, I stood up, as did the dark-haired woman.
‘I’ll see if I can get rid of them,’ she said as she stalked past me to the door.
Watching her go, my gaze swept across the room. A gasp escaped me. The carpet was a lovely cream colour, apart from the areas I’d been standing on, which were now an awful muddy brown.
‘Don’t worry about it,’ the man said quietly.
I can fix this.
Crouching down again, I held my hands out just above the carpet. A grain of dirt jumped up from the thick pile and hung suspended in the air, just below my palm. Another joined it, then another until there was a small ball of dirt particles spinning gently under my skin. It only took a matter of seconds to get the carpet and my feet completely clean. As my hands moved towards the dust ball, it shrunk smaller and smaller until it disappeared completely. I looked up into a sea of shocked faces, just as the door beside me opened again and several people walked in. Startled, I stood up too quickly and swayed on the spot.
‘You having some kind of party here, Gwen?’ a man said gruffly. It was the one who’d yelled at me after the truck had hit me. He was wearing a smart suit although his tie was loosened at the neck and the top button of his shirt was undone in an apparent attempt to look casual. Behind him was a woman with frizzy brown hair wearing a dark green uniform and a look of distaste.
‘Yes, actually,’ the dark-haired woman spat, her hands on her hips and a scowl on her face. ‘I invited some friends over for a get-together. We ran on a bit late so I invited them to stay the night.’
‘How convenient,’ the woman in uniform muttered loudly enough for the whole room to hear. The suited man raised his eyebrows at her and she smirked slightly then looked away.
‘Well we won’t disturb your . . . party for long.’ He turned his head towards me. ‘Actually, it’s this young woman we’ve come to see. Perhaps if we could go into another room for a chat . . .’ Before he could go any further I found myself standing behind a wall of people. ‘Now, there’s no need for that. I’m sure if we could just set a few things straight . . .’ He sighed in exasperation as the wall of people condensed.
My pulse quickened and my skin prickled as they pressed in on me. Something touched my hand, making me jump. The young boy stood next to me. He slipped his hand into mine and squeezed gently. Somehow, the contact was soothing.
‘You can speak to her here,’ someone shouted.
‘Look, this needs to be dealt with, otherwise security will get involved. And you don’t want that, I’m sure.’
‘There’s nothing to deal with.’
‘Yes there is! She was out after curfew, she stole a bike, and damaged a bus shelter, not to mention the whole thing with the truck and running away from the hospital. I need to know where she’s come from and why she isn’t with her guardian. Then we can decide what to do with her.’
The crowd in front of me broke into angry outbursts as the door opened and someone else entered the room.
‘Sorry I’m late.’ The newcomer bustled in, shoving the uniformed woman out of the way. ‘Marcus! How are you?’ He held out a hand and the suited man shook it warmly.
‘Now then, Brock. I’m very well thank you. I just popped in on my way home to try and sort out a situation that occurred today.’
The newcomer came into view. He was tall, stout and had a friendly, open face. His hair was short and dark grey, and a pair of rectangular glasses perched on his nose. He glanced briefly into the crowd then gave a slight nod.
‘Ah, yes. My apologies for not contacting you earlier but it’s been a busy day. The young lady’s guardian died recently . . .’ I inhaled sharply and felt the boy squeeze my hand tightly, ‘. . . and as I’m sure you can imagine, she’s very upset at her loss and her actions have reflected this. But I can assure you that from now on she will abide by our laws.’
‘I see.
Where will she stay?’
‘She will stay with myself and Esther.’
‘You’re going to take over guardianship?’
‘That is correct.’
‘You’ll need to fill out the paperwork as soon as possible . . .’
‘I’m aware of what needs to be done,’ Brock interrupted curtly, ‘and I will see to it first thing in the morning. Is that acceptable?’
The suited man glanced over at me. Holding his gaze as steadily as I could, I willed myself to stay upright.
‘Ok, well, I’ll see you tomorrow then.’
‘Fantastic,’ Brock replied. ‘And I’ll sort out a replacement bicycle for Mr Jackson tomorrow as well as a donation to the council towards a new bus shelter.’
‘That would be prudent. By the way,’ the suit added, hesitating with his hand on the door handle, ‘if anyone wishes to leave they may do so now under my escort.’
The door opened and people began moving fast. As soon as they’d gone, the boy took his hand away from mine and I fainted.
Chapter Three
I awoke from a dreamless sleep to find myself in an unfamiliar bed. The walls around me were a light pink in colour and matching curtains were drawn across the only window. In the corner opposite me was a rocking chair, in which sat a man who appeared to be asleep.
Stretching my body out under the covers I let out a loud gasp as sharp pains stabbed at what was left of my skin. Almost my entire body was bandaged and a strange, herbal smell filled the air. The noise woke the man and he jumped up, looking wildly around the room. Finally his gaze came to rest on me. A memory surfaced of being in a room surrounded by strangers.
‘My name’s Brock,’ he said gently. ‘We didn’t get much chance to be properly introduced the other night.’
The other night? How long have I been asleep?
‘Two full days,’ he answered my unspoken question.
Telepaths!
‘That’s right.’ He sat back down in the rocking chair. ‘I’d very much like to ask you a few questions if you think you’re up to it.’
I pulled my arm out from under the covers and inspected the thick, neat gauze that covered it.
‘Our healers did what they could for you,’ Brock explained. ‘They tried using various medicines but they burned away in seconds, so they ended up using herbal remedies. They put a poultice over the worst bits and bandaged you. The bandages will need changing every few days and I’m under strict instructions to tell you to rest.’ He chortled softly. ‘Now, can you tell me anything at all about yourself?’
I didn’t know where to start.
‘How about your name?’ he smiled kindly.
‘Ava.’
‘Ok, thank you. And where have you come from?’
‘I don’t know,’ I replied truthfully.
‘All right, well can you tell me about yourself? How old are you and what brought you here?’
‘I’m sixteen and I was heading to Betnor. My mother . . .’ Another surge of pain flooded me but this time it wasn’t from my external wounds. ‘My mother died and, well, I think she intended for me to come here but I’m not sure why.’
‘So you don’t know anyone here?’
‘I don’t know anyone at all.’
Brock shuffled in his chair, not taking his eyes off me. ‘How is it that you know so little about the world we live in?’
‘I’ve spent most of my life away from people,’ I explained. ‘My mother thought it was for the best.’
‘That must have been very hard for you. May I ask you another question?’ He looked uncomfortable which made me curious. ‘How did you get the injuries on your back?’
Blushing furiously I played back the incident with the truck in my mind. He flinched and closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose with his fingertips.
‘Good grief! That has to be the most horrific thing I’ve ever seen!’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘You have nothing to apologise for. I, on the other hand, am so very sorry that you felt desperate enough to do something like that. It must have been agony. But actually, those aren’t the injuries I was referring to.’
The breath caught in my throat. ‘Excuse me?’
‘When Gwen and Phoebe were tending to your back they noticed some other marks on your body that look as though they’d been there a while. Who are you running from, Ava?’
A face swam into my mind.
‘Who’s that?’ he asked gently.
‘My stepfather,’ I whispered, closing my eyes and forcing the image away.
‘It’s ok,’ Brock soothed. ‘I won’t ask any more of you just now, but if you wouldn’t mind listening for a few minutes I’ll give you a basic overview of how things are in the world right now. There’ll be time to explain in more detail when you’re feeling better. The thing is, Ava, there are two different types of people in our society. There are ‘Standards’, who are people without powers, and there are ‘Unexplainables’, who have powers. Those are the names the government decided to use for us, however, we tend to refer to the Unexplainables as Nexes and the Nexes refer to the Standards as Duds.’
He gave me a little smile then carried on, ‘There are very strict rules as to the way Nexes are allowed to live and to move about. Any Nex under the age of eighteen must have a guardian who is responsible for making sure they don’t use their power in public. Now, as you heard the other evening, I’ve volunteered to become your new guardian, along with my wife, Esther. That may seem a daunting prospect for you, but I want you to know that we truly want to help you. Do you think you could give it a try with us?’
‘You want me to stay here?’
‘Well, not here exactly. This isn’t my house, you see. But we would like you to come and stay with us as soon as your room is ready.’
‘I don’t know. I’m not used to being around other people. I’m not sure that I’m safe.’
‘We’re more than happy to take that chance.’
There were a million and one reasons why I should leave. I tried to think of a good reason to stay and Oscar’s face popped into my mind. My decision was made. Brock raised an eyebrow at me.
‘I’ll leave you to rest.’ He stood and straightened out his shirt. ‘Your room should be ready by the weekend. In the meantime, Gran and Gramps have offered to look after you. And Oscar too, of course.’ He winked at me and strode to the door. I shifted slightly under the covers and thought about the prospect of staying in the village. My eyelids felt heavy and before I knew it, I’d drifted off to sleep again.
*
When I next awoke, sunlight was streaming through a small gap in the curtains. A movement caught my eye. The old woman was standing next to a small chest of drawers.
‘Oh, I’m sorry to wake you. I just thought I’d put these clothes away for when you’re ready to get up. They’ve sent them down from the farm. How are you feeling?’
Stretching gently, I tested all of my limbs and muscles. The pain had diminished to a dull ache – unpleasant but bearable. ‘I’m ok, thank you.’ My mouth was bone dry and my voice croaky.
‘Would you like a drink of water?’ she asked, moving quietly over to the side of the bed. She picked up a glass from a small table near my head and held it while I manoeuvred myself into a sitting position. The feeling of cool liquid on my parched throat was wonderful. The woman glanced into the empty glass and, holding up a finger, left the room. A couple of minutes later she returned carrying a full jug of water.
‘There now, that’s better, isn’t it?’ she said once I was finally satiated.
‘Yes thank you.’
‘You’re very welcome. My name is Marlene but everyone calls me Gran and they call my husband Gramps.’
‘I’m Ava.’
‘Yes, so I believe. Well, it’s very nice to meet you, Ava.’
A memory stirred inside my head, making me cringe. ‘I’m so sorry about what happened – about the apple.’
Gran sat down on
the edge of the bed and touched her palm to my cheek. ‘Why did you take it?’ she asked softly.
‘I was hungry. I hadn’t eaten anything for quite a while.’
‘How long?’
‘I’m not entirely sure.’
‘Are we talking days? Weeks?’
‘Months,’ I whispered. ‘Many months.’
‘How is that possible?’ she asked.
‘Well, I’m different from other people. I’m immortal, you see. Food nourishes me and I desire it but not having it won’t kill me. It hurts though. I feel pain just like anyone else, although perhaps not as prolonged as most people. My skin repairs itself quickly and my bones don’t break.’
A silence stretched between us as she considered me. Finally she spoke.
‘I had no idea that was possible. Then again, things are changing. There are new Nexes being discovered every day. But why didn’t your mother give you food?’
‘It wasn’t her fault,’ I replied quickly. ‘She was sick for a long time. She didn’t know . . .’ Tears stung my eyes.
‘I knew there’d be a rational explanation.’ She patted my hand. ‘To be honest, I feel awful about the whole thing. You see, I thought you were one of the town kids – they’re forever causing trouble around here. Once I saw you, my only concern was that you’d get hurt when you ran into the road.’
‘I don’t have any money to pay you back.’
‘Forget about it’, she replied. ‘I’d have given you the whole box for nothing if I’d realised you were one of us. Now, I’m going to be making breakfast for Oscar, Gramps and myself in a little while. You can join us if you’re feeling up to it, or stay in here and I’ll bring you a tray through if not.’
‘I’d like to join you if that’s ok?’
‘That’s fine. Would you like me to help you into the bathroom to freshen up?’
*
Half an hour later, I was sitting nervously at the kitchen table, wearing a pair of navy blue trousers and a grey long-sleeved top which were both far too big for me. Gran was busy loading the toaster with thick wedges of homemade bread as she hummed along to a piece of classical music coming from a small radio on the windowsill. Outside, the sight of blue sky and warm sunshine cheered me up immensely.