“Aurora.” A whisper made me jump and I looked up to find Tyler's silhouette leaning against the bedrooms doorframe in the darkness. “Come with me.”
I rose from the bed, brushing my hair back with my fingers and twisting it into a bun on top of my head before fastening it with a hair tie from the bedside table. “Where are we going?”
“Not here. I'll take you somewhere safe.”
“What about Alice?” We both turned to look over her.
Alice groaned a little but didn't move.
“She's a terrible sneaker,” he said. “And we'll be back before anyone wakes.”
Searching his expression, trying to decide if I could trust him, I hesitated as he stepped through the curtains.
“You coming?” he asked.
I'm not sure what pushed me to follow him, but part of it was knowing being alone meant I had to start working out how to get myself out of the predicament I was in. The only way to do it was to take any opportunity that came my way and try to understand the dynamics of the crazy household I'd been forced into.
I followed Tyler as he crept silently through the dwelling, down the hallway and towards the front door. Being careful with each step on the wooden floor I didn't take a breath until he reached to push the door open. He unlatched it with the slightest noise and the door creaked a little as he swung it opened and we both stepped through before he closed it behind us. Letting out a relieved breath Tyler took off to the left down a gravel path lit by the bright silver light illuminating from the half-moon hanging in the clear sky. The path crunched beneath our feet, the small rocks hurting my soft soles. I wished I'd thought to wear my boots, despite the damage they'd done to my poor big toes. But the sound of them crunching down the walkway would've woken half of the camp.
“This way,” he whispered, before ducking between two dwellings. I followed him until we came out behind them at the edge of the tree line.
I pushed up onto my tip toes as we stepped over fallen sticks and ducked under low lying branches until Tyler arrived at a small clearing and turned towards me. Arriving behind him I turned to make sure we were hidden from any prying eyes from the camp.
“This should do. No one will see us here,” he said before turning and looking me in the eye.
I settled back onto the soles of my feet, the cool soil making me shiver a little and I hugged my arms around myself.
“Sorry, I didn't think it'd be cool out here.” His shoulders slackened and he looked around as though a jacket might materialise out of thin air.
“What's this all about anyway? Leading me out into the bush to get rid of me for Brent?” I was only half joking.
His gaze shifted to the ground for a moment. “I need your help.”
“My help? I don't know if you've noticed but I'm pretty much a prisoner of your parents at the moment.”
“They're not my parents,” he growled at me.
“Sorry, Brent and Lula. My point is how can I help you?”
“I haven't got a plan yet. All I know is, I need to get Alice away from them. They're brainwashing her. Turning her into one of their mindless followers with all their religious crap.”
“I don't know much about religion, but all the stuff at dinner was crazy. They're kinda controlling and possessive over you and Alice, aren't they?”
“Sometimes I wonder if they got my parents killed on purpose so Lula could have Alice all to herself. Her and Brent tried for years but weren't able to have a baby of their own. So, when poor Alice was orphaned of course they took her in. Unfortunately for them I come with her, and I'm not going to let them manipulate and change her until she forgets who her real family were. It's why I need your help. You care for Alice, I can see it in the way you look at her. When your team escapes you have to take her and me with you.” He crossed his arms across his chest.
I couldn't blame him for wanting out. But I wasn't exactly sure how it was going to happen without being able to communicate with my friends. I mulled over his words. Tyler was the key. He had to be. The only way we could orchestrate an escape was by communicating, and he had free reign of the camp.
“I have no way of communicating with my team right now. Brent split us up so we couldn't talk about escaping. I'm guessing he's going to be keeping a close eye on us if we're ever together. Either we spend six months trying to gain his trust, which knowing some of my teammates isn't going to happen easily, or we need someone on the inside to help get messages between each of us.” I raised my eyebrows waiting for him to offer his help.
“I can be the inside guy.” His eyes lit up at the idea. “Brent is hell bent on having me get close to you. He wants me to find out what the pendant was and where it's gone. He wants me to find out where you're going.”
Could I trust this guy? For all I knew he was playing Brent's game to get close to me and learn our secrets. The events at dinner could've been staged to make me sorry for him by pretending to have an unhappy home. Looking into his hopeful eyes I found it hard to believe his enthusiasm wasn't real. You couldn't fake the tears in Alice's eyes and the fear in her voice during the altercation at dinner. And you couldn't pretend to have such deep hurt for the family you'd lost. Tyler might have been our only chance to escape.
“I still don't know if I can trust you.” I eyed him over.
“I know. But all I ask is you give me a chance and I'll show you.” He noticed the desperation in his own voice and swallowed it away. “Alice can't grow up with their religion being shoved down her throat, and being made to forget our parents. If I keep fighting, Brent is bound to get rid of me one way or another. People who oppose him tend to disappear never to be seen again. It's why your dad is doing as he's been told. Brent trusts him, we could use it to our advantage too.”
“Yeah, but I don't know if we can trust my dad either,” I admitted.
“But he's your dad.” His face scrunched up in confusion.
“I've learnt a lot since he disappeared. He's not the person I thought he was,” my voice wobbled and I swallowed to hide my sadness.
“He loves you. I know he does. It's how Brent recognised your name when you said it. Ben talks about you and your mum all the time.”
“Yeah well, he wasn't there when she needed him the most.” I was surprised he'd mentioned us. Part of me assumed by leaving Utopia he'd decided to leave us behind and create a new life. But I wasn't going to pretend I was okay with believing my dad was dead for the past four years while he made a new life for himself without me. “Half the problem is we haven't been able to talk.”
“I'll talk to him and try to work out a way Brent might let you have some time together. You'll have to be careful, he'll have Seth watching you both like a hawk as well.”
“The redhead? What's his story?” I asked.
“He's Brent's pride and joy. He's spent years grooming him and turning him into his biggest ally. You can't trust him Aurora. Ever. He'll say and do anything to make Brent happy.”
“Noted. But how do I know you aren't the same?” I questioned.
He thought on it for a moment. “I don't know? Just give me the chance to prove I'm on your side. I have no desire to make Brent or Lula happy, I care about Alice and keeping her safe.”
He was right. I had to at least give him a chance.
Tyler ran his hands over his short, cropped hair. “We better get back to the house before they wake. The sun will start rising soon and Brent and Lula like to be the first ones in the camp awake.”
“Don't want them freaking out over us sneaking off in the night I suppose. As much as I'd like to get away from here, I'm not especially keen on sleeping in the hole again.”
Tyler turned to start heading back towards the camp. “Thanks Aurora. If you can get Alice and me out of here I'll be forever in your debt.”
Tyler and I crept back out of the bush, between the dwellings and down the walkway towards Brent and Lula's house. When we reached it, Tyler open the door as quiet as he could and we both ste
pped over the threshold closing the door behind us. We crept through the entrance into the lounge and dining room. A dark figure sat at the dining table and I stopped in my tracks, my heart going into a frenzy.
“And where have you two been?” Brent leant back in his chair and crossed his arms.
I jumped at the sound of his voice and Tyler grabbed my sore arm in fright making me wince in pain.
“You scared the crap outta me,” complained Tyler relaxing.
“No, I think you'll find you scared me.” Brent rose from his chair. “I awoke to check on our guest and I found both her and yourself out of bed. Now, where have you been?”
“I, we.” Tyler struggled to speak.
“Tyler found me in the kitchen looking for a drink of water because I couldn't sleep. He offered to take me for a walk because it might help clear my mind. We didn't mean to scare you,” I said, looking to Tyler for support.
Brent's eyes lit up. “Is that right. I guess it's natural for two teenagers to want to wander off together in the night. But please, if you need to go for late night walks together let us know. I was worried sick.”
Tyler snorted.
“I am sorry. I'm not used to having to worry about anyone else. Next time we'll be sure to let you know.” I mustered up a smile.
“I would appreciate that Aurora. Now it's sorted I'm heading back to bed. Be sure to make your way to your own rooms and try to get some sleep. I have a lot to show you tomorrow Aurora. And once your arm is healed we'll be able to put you to work.”
I looked towards Tyler with a more genuine grin, and made my way back to Alice's bedroom. Stepping through the curtains I found Alice sitting up, her eyes half closed and drowsy.
“Aurora?” she asked.
“It's me Alice. I went for a walk with your brother. It's okay now, go back to sleep.”
She lowered her head to rest it back on her pillow and cuddled her blankets up to her chest. I watched her for a moment, sleeping so peacefully despite everything going on around her. I'd lost my dad at twelve and my mother at sixteen, I couldn't imagine losing my parents at such a young age. But I'd always had Fletcher, and she had her brother. I watched her sleep for a moment longer before relaxing onto my bed in the hope sleep would find me once again before the sun rose.
Chapter Eight
“Aurora, Aurora. Wake up.” Alice tugged at my night dresses sleeve waking me abruptly.
Rubbing my eyes awake I sat up on the edge of my bed, pulling the bottom of my dress back down to my knees. “Morning.”
“Morning Aurora.” She wrapped me in a tight hug before going back to her side of the room. “You need to get dressed. Bre… Dada will be calling us out for church soon.” Her eyes widened and she bounced up and down.
“Church?” I questioned, finding a folded pile of clothes at the foot of my bed. On top of it rested a fresh new sling.
I slid off my nightdress dropping it to the floor and held up the hideous dress Lula had left for me, screwing up my nose. It was patterned with big red and pink flowers and the sleeves puffed out. For the first time ever I found myself longing for the boring attire on Utopia. With a groan I stepped into it before pulling it up and sliding my arms in. I slid the sling over my neck and relaxed my arm inside. My shoulder was aching from having to support it and I appreciated being able to rest it again.
“Church is where Dada teaches us about God and heaven.” She pulled a white cotton dress over her head, fluffing her hair up into a messy pile.
I smiled as she beamed up at me. “Where's your brush?” She handed her brush to me and I sat on the edge of her bed letting her stand in front of me before running it over her hair. “What's God and heaven?”
She turned towards me in shock. “You don't know?”
I shook my head and she embraced me again before letting me continue to brush her hair.
“It's okay. Dada will tell you and you won't be a sinner anymore.”
I wasn't going to get any real answers from a six-year-old, so I didn't ask what a sinner was. But she appeared quite excited I wasn't going to be one.
“You girls ready?” Lula poked her head through the curtain as I finished brushing Alice's hair.
“As I'll ever be,” I groaned.
“Oh Aurora, you look beautiful. Like a real young lady.” Lula clasped her hands gushing.
“I look like a garden vomited on me,” I said, pulling at the dresses hem.
Lula's offended expression faded in an instant and was replaced again by her soft expression. “I forget you didn't have much to wear on Utopia. You all wore the same uniform, right?”
“Yes, and there wasn't a flower in sight.” I tugged at the collar.
“Well it's time you started dressing like the young lady you are. I'll get Sofia Baxter to sew you up some new dresses. Do you have a favourite colour? We can see if we have any material for you?”
“I don't have a favourite colour.”
“Yellow,” squealed Alice. “You would look pretty in yellow.”
“Yellow it is,” I agreed.
“I'll speak to Sofia after church. Speaking of which, we better hurry. Doesn't look good if the prophet's family is late to his service.”
Part of me wanted to argue I wasn't part of Brent's family, and technically neither were Tyler or Alice. But Lula swept Alice out of the room and I followed them keeping my mouth firmly shut. My only hope was the rest of my team would be at the church and I'd get a chance to speak to them, or at least see they were doing okay.
As I stepped through the curtain serving as a door, I managed to stop myself before running into Tyler.
“Sorry, I was seeing if you'd like to walk to service with me this morning?” He straightened his back and smoothed out the front of his white button up shirt.
He looked funny with his short sandy hair combed to one side and wearing long slacks. A small burst of laughter left my lips.
“Don't laugh at me, have you seen yourself?” He gestured towards my hideous dress.
“Okay, you win. I look ridiculous.”
“She looks like a lady.” Lula's voice made me jump. “And I see you found your sling. Why they needed to take it from you I have no idea, but I bet it feels good to be resting your arm again?”
“Sure,” I replied.
“How did you hurt it?” she asked.
“I fell,” was all I was willing to tell her. Making me wear a hideous dress wasn't going to open me up.
“I see. Now, come on you two, Brent will be waiting.” Lula proceeded down the hallway.
“Don't want to upset Brent now,” whispered Tyler holding his arm out for me to take.
I took hold of the crook of his elbow and let him lead me through the house and outside.
As we walked down the dirt streets Lula said good morning and smiled at people as we passed by. Alice skipped along beside her.
“She's excited,” I said, pointing at Alice's bobbing blonde locks.
“She's had this stuff drilled into her head since she was born. Doesn't know any better,” he said.
“Should I be worried?” I asked him. “What happens if they brainwash me?”
“I can't see that happening. Pretend you're happy and do as you're told. But don't believe a word,” he said.
“You two okay back there?” Lula had noticed our hushed conversation and beckoned us to catch up.
Around the corner, the hall we'd been in the day before came into view and Brent stood at the front. The double doors were opened wide, revealing rows of wooden pews. I hoped he hadn't made Marg and Bess drag them out on their own. The two of them fussed around inside.
“You made it. I thought I'd be greeting the congregation on my own this morning.” Brent greeted Lula with a warm hug and wrapped Alice in his arms. “Did he cause any trouble?”
“No, he was a complete gentleman bringing Aurora along,” replied Lula with a gleam in her eye.
“Wonderful, good boy.” Brent slapped Tyler on the back.
Before long people began arriving at the hall and Brent lined us all up to greet them as they entered. I stayed close to Tyler letting him take the lead and attempting to ignore the stares and whispers.
“It's like they think I'm an alien,” I whispered in Tyler's ear as he shook the hand of an elderly man with a cheerful nod.
“To these people you are an alien. You come from out of the sky and our prophet doesn't have kind things to say when it comes to your people,” he whispered through the corner of his mouth continuing to maintain his happy expression.
The sight of Fletcher, Braven and my father approaching sent a zing of excitement through my body. A grin lit up my face as I stepped forward to go to them, but the firm grip of Lula's hand around my bicep held me back. I swallowed hard, eyes still locked onto Fletchers.
“Enough greeting for today. Let us go inside,” she said eyeing over my approaching friends.
I hesitated to follow her, locking eyes with Fletcher.
“Aurora, come now,” she insisted pulling on my sore arm.
Fletcher's smile faded as my own excitement turned into a knot in my stomach and Lula led Alice, Tyler, and me through the doorway.
Lula took us to the front of the room and beckoned for me to take a seat between Alice and Tyler on the first pew. I turned my head to try to catch sight of my friends, spotting Braven's large frame finding a seat towards the middle of the room. Braven's face lit up as he saw me and gave me a wave. I lifted my hand to return the gesture only to have Lula grab my wrist.
“Facing the front Aurora. It's rude to turn around.” Her smile defied her tight grip but I turned as she asked and faced the stage in front of me.
“Here he is,” Lula's face lit up as she released my hand and began applauding with the rest of the room.
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