by Sarah Dalton
“Mina, please. I had to. If you knew what had happened. If you understood the position I was in at the time.”
“Fine, then tell me!” I said.
Dad faltered. “It’s complicated, and it’s not something I can just blurt out in front of people––”
“He has no excuse, Mina,” Mum said. “He just wanted to take you away. Don’t let him lie to you again.”
I ran my fingers through my hair. My stomach twisted with frustration and anger. “How can I believe anything you say to me? It’s been over a year since I thought Mum died. You had your chance to explain everything to me.” My fingers tingled with anger. It warmed my body, seeping through my veins as I lost control. The power seared through my mind and lifted Dad from the gravel. He stared down at the ground, his eyes bulging in terror as he shot up into the air.
Daniel approached. “Mina. Calm down.”
I couldn’t. The heat spread through my body, hotter than ever before, and an intense hatred grew in my guts. How could he do this to me? How could he keep her from me? All those lies. The hatred heightened my power. I fed from it. Dad rose higher and higher, dangling twenty feet in the air. I kept him suspended there like a puppet on a string.
“You’re so powerful,” Mum breathed. “I had no idea how powerful you are.”
Daniel grasped my shoulders and forced me to look at him. “You need to put him down, now. This isn’t you. You don’t hurt people in revenge.”
“Revenge?” I repeated. “You think I’m going to hurt him? Is that what I’m doing?” The intense heat calmed, and I regained control over my gift. I gently lowered my dad until his feet hit the gravel. Then I backed away to get as far away from him as possible.
“I’m going to talk to my mum now,” I said, “and none of you will stop me.”
*
We sat facing each other under the large Chestnut tree I loved so much. Mum lay with her weight on her side, pulling at her pencil skirt. Every now and then she brushed the soil from the expensive fabric.
She sat upright and took my face in her hands. I felt her soft skin against my cheeks. “You’re very beautiful, Mina. You have my eyes and hair, but your father’s mouth.” She stroked my hair, which had grown almost to my chin. “It’s short.”
I pulled away. “It used to be long.” I didn’t say any more, not wanting to relive the moment Mrs Murgatroyd hacked away at my hair.
Mum’s lips pursed as though she wanted to ask me a question and I held my breath in anticipation. The moment passed, and she said, “I’ve missed out on so much.”
“I feel like that too,” I said. My cheeks warmed, and I glanced down at the grass.
I needed so many answers, and yet I didn’t know where to start or what to say. Luckily she started for me.
“You were so young when your father took you away. I wanted to find you, but I never could. He was always one step ahead of me. I searched for years and years, and I never gave up. When I saw your face on the screens after what happened in Area 14, I knew I had to get to you – and your uncle helped me.”
“Why is Dad so unhappy to see you?” I asked. “Why did he take me away? What was it like in the Resistance? You fought with them, didn’t you?”
She sighed and gazed at the ruins of the castle. “Is that what he told you? That I died in the Resistance? Oh, Mina.” She touched my cheek. “You were so young when your father took you that you probably don’t remember.” Her eyes welled with tears. “I’m so sorry you’re in the middle of all this. It’s not what I wanted to happen. I know what your father did was selfish, incredibly selfish, just… don’t be so hard on him.”
“Don’t be so hard on him? He stole me away from you. He let me believe you were dead.”
“I don’t think he meant it to go that far. I think part of me will always be angry with him for robbing me of precious years with you, yet somehow I can’t hate him. No matter how hard I try. In his own warped way, he believes it was for the best. To protect you… from me.”
“Why would he want to do that?”
“Because of where I work. I’m not sure how much you know about the Genetic Enhancement Ministry. I’m sure that from living with your father, none of it will be good.”
“Of course it isn’t good,” I said. “They labelled me Blemished. They made us live in the ghettos and didn’t let us mix with the Children of the GEM. Why would I think any different? They’re horrible. What has the GEM got to do with anything?” Her eyes dropped from mine, and she bit her lip. I couldn’t believe it. I moved away from her, shuffling back on the grass. “No. You don’t… You don’t work for them do you?”
“I do,” she said. “But they aren’t as bad as you think. They’ve actually done a lot of good––”
“Oh, I know. I know from the lessons they forced on us at school, the way they made us read those books about how the GEMs were perfect, and we were blemished. I could quote page one hundred and ten if you like.” I moved to stand up, to get away from her.
“That won’t be necessary, Mina.” She reached up and took my hands in hers, pulling me back to the grass. She held them tight and wouldn’t let go. She had soft skin and manicured nails. “Forget where I work. I’m not a bad person, and I love you very much. I’ve always loved you.”
I wanted to believe her. Her large brown eyes filled with tears, and she squeezed my hands. I wished I was Hiro so I could know what she was thinking, but all I could do was trust her; trust in her and believe she really did love me.
“Ahem.”
I pulled my eyes away from Mum to see Mary standing above us, blocking the sun with her body.
“Ah think we need te have a wee chat, Ms Hart.” Mary raised her eyebrows at Mum.
“And you are?” She let go of me and glared.
“Ah’m the leader here. Ye can call me Mary, everyone does. Ye need te come wi’me. Nae.” She jerked her chin to indicate that Mum needed to get up.
I immediately stood and helped Mum to her feet. She dusted her skirt down and beamed at me.
“Seeing you makes me feel young again.” She stroked my hair. “But then my body reminds me I’m not. I’ll be back soon, darling. Mary and I are going to have a little chat. Don’t worry; everything’s going to be okay.”
Mary cracked her knuckles and eyed Mum with suspicion. Wiry strands of hair poked through her ponytail; more grey than blonde since the battle with Hamish. “Ah think ah’ll be the judge of that. Nae then, let’s take a walk, shall we?”
3 ~ Angela ~
Angela woke to the sound of crying children and snoring. It felt weird to sleep in a place with so many people, especially so many men. Everything she’d been taught in Area 14 told her that she shouldn’t be here cozied up to her boyfriend. And yet she was, and even worse – she liked it. She watched Cam sleeping soundly on his side facing her. His eyelashes fluttered against his cheek, mid-dream. Not many girls would say he was beautiful. She would though – especially after what he’d done for her.
They made a strange couple. He was so pale, with his freckle covered white skin and bright ginger hair, and she was so dark, with her skin the darkest shade of brown, and wiry black hair. If they had children, would they have Cam’s bright blue eyes and her dark skin? She shook her head, realising how ridiculous she sounded – even in her own mind. They hadn’t even kissed properly yet. She couldn’t think about children. But maybe with her fifteenth birthday coming up they would soon. She quelled the giggle in her throat so she didn’t wake the others. Then, she re-fixed her headscarf and decided to wander round to see Sebastian who was still recovering from a concussion. Perhaps she’d see Mina on the way there.
She stepped into the misty morning and saw Daniel and Mike walking off towards the Compound gates. What now? With everything that’d happened recently, she didn’t want to know. The battle had been enough excitement for the rest of her life.
“Hey gorgeous.”
Angela watched Cam walk towards her with this cool swagger
that made her heart flutter. Her eyes dropped to the ground. She couldn’t get used to his compliments.
“Want some tea?” he asked.
Sebastian could wait for ten minutes. “Yeah, sure.”
They headed over to the Professor’s camping stove, knowing Mina’s dad wouldn’t mind them using it. Cam lit the flame and placed the kettle on top. Angela sat on one of the small camping chairs and scanned what was left of the campsite. Since the battle, the Compounders had tried to clean up by lifting the trailers upright and clearing rubble from the castle. Ali’s wooden caravan seemed to have survived unscathed and provided a little colour and hope in a broken landscape. Most of the tents were in shreds, having caught fire or collapsed during the fighting. But the worst of the damage affected the castle. Its border walls had broken, and barbed wire hung down from the gate posts, no longer stretched and taut. Most of the castle walls had crumpled into enormous piles of rubble, with remnants of grandeur poking from the stones; a shredded painting here and an antique table there. The tower stood alone like a broken tooth.
She’d been part of a team working on saving what they could from the castle and medical centre. Many people had been hurt during the fight with Hamish and supplies were low. The Scavengers needed to make a potentially dangerous trip to get more supplies from neighbouring cities. Ali’s team were mostly okay, but Stevie had been hurt badly and needed to get better before they went out on a mission.
The kettle’s screeching pulled Angela from her thoughts, and she watched Cam pour the boiling water over the tea bag – enjoying the way he took care of her. It felt like a long time since she’d been cared for since her mother’s deterioration. She’d hated the responsibility and the pressure. Teenage girls aren’t supposed to put their parents to bed with a sleeping pill, or stop them from running into the street naked. Despite everything, she missed her so much. Leaving Mum in Area 14 created a tiny hole in her heart. Even with Cam it didn’t quite fill.
“What ye thinkin’ about? What’s on ye noggin’, eh?” Cam took a sip of tea and stroked her arm.
His way of talking made her forget where they were and what they’d been through; yet only for a second. “Just about how we need more medical supplies,” she said. “The Scavengers will have to go out and raid a hospital.”
“Aye,” he said. “We might have te dae it ourselves, te be honest Ange. Ah dunnae see poor Stevie recoverin’ quick. He’s got a broken arm an’ a wound te his leg. Ah think it’d be best te round up volunteers an’ go sooner rather than later.” Cam’s eyes surveyed the damage, before resting on the strange car near the gate. “What’s that over there, eh?”
“I dunno, I noticed it a few minutes ago.”
Cam shook his head. “We’ve had nae one protecting the border. Anyone could waltz right in.”
“There’s no one to protect the border,” Angela pointed out. “And hardly any border to protect.”
“Ah think we should go over,” he said. He stood and shielded his eyes against the sun to see more. “Could be Mina an’ her da’. Also, some woman ah’ve never seen before, an’ a tall guy in a leather coat.”
“Let’s just leave them to it.” Angela sipped her tea. “I can’t bear any more drama, not today.”
Cam sat back down on the camp chair. “Aye, yer right.” He squeezed her knee. “The world’s hard enough already, eh?”
She grinned. “Yeah it really is.”
They ended up cooking a breakfast of fried bacon before going to see Sebastian. The last of the bacon was losing its freshness and needed eating before it went off. One of the soldiers went around the camp and rationed it out to everyone. Angela loved the salty taste. She wrapped a couple of rashers in a paper towel for Sebastian and then set off to the section of the barn transformed into a medical centre. Some of the soldiers had managed to recover a few beds for the badly wounded. She walked past Stevie and said hello. Reg was with him, chatting away. Their bald heads nodded in unison as they acknowledged Cam and Angela.
Sebastian slept in the bed by the far wall. After the battle, he’d been unconscious for a few days, but things were looking up, and he’d started to come round. According to Nurse Susan he should stay under her watchful eye for a while longer even though he seemed much more alert than usual. Angela waved at Ginge as they moved closer and Ginge lifted her hand in greeting. She’d been by his side since the battle. He’d saved her from the rubble of the castle just after it had exploded. Angela imagined what it would be like if Cam was in the hospital bed. Goose bumps raised on the backs of her arms.
“How is he?” she asked.
“Aye, all right. He sleeps a lot more than me though,” Ginge said, her face only just visible through a curtain of long red hair. She sat with her feet up on the chair, hugging her knees, like a scruffy child. “Ah think he’s okay, coming round a bit nae an’ then.”
“You talking about me again?” Sebastian mumbled. He shifted his head and opened his eyes. Ginge leaned forward and immediately took hold of his hand.
“Take it easy nae,” she said.
Sebastian pushed himself upright and rubbed his temple. “I’m okay, really, just got a bit of a headache.”
Angela moved towards the bed. “You seem better. You’ve got a bit of colour back in your cheeks.”
Sebastian was olive skinned in complexion, so it had been disconcerting to see him so pale and sickly after the battle. He’d been hit badly by the rubble in the castle, saving Ginge from the bombs Hamish planted. She was relieved he appeared like himself, even with the cut above his eyebrow and the unusual mess of his dark hair.
“Thanks,” he said. “Nurse Susan says I can probably get out of this bed today. I need to move around and get some exercise.”
“Aye, but not too much, eh,” Ginge warned.
Sebastian rolled his eyes. “All right, all right, I’ll be careful.” His voice lowered to a more sombre note. “Can’t believe I missed the ceremony. I would’ve liked to have been there to get some closure, know he’s really gone.”
“He is,” Angela said firmly. She knew he meant Dr Woods, the horrible man who tortured Mina and changed Sebastian into a raged filled monster. “They said goodbye to the dead, gave them a good send off.” She glanced at Cam, mindful of how he’d lost his father in the battle. She knew how hard it had been for him – even though Cam’s father had been the cause of the battle in the first place. “Mary and Mina said a few words, and it was good to finally let go. You can do that too. You know he’s gone, and he’s never coming back.”
“Aye,” Cam said. “Ah know how yer feel ‘cos ah feel that way about me da’. He’s gone an’ he’ll never hurt ye again. He’ll never hurt anyone again. Ah’m glad fer that, but not fer the outcome. It’s never happy when someone dies, eh.” Cam’s voice faded and he stared away from the group, rubbing his eye. Angela slipped her arm around his waist and squeezed him once.
“Thanks Cam,” said Sebastian. “I’m just glad Dr Woods won’t be able to mess with anyone like he did with me. And I’m glad he won’t terrorise people like he did Mina.”
“Are your emotions back to normal now?” asked Angela. “You’ve not felt any rage. Not since he drugged you?”
He shook his head. “No, I seem back to my normal self.” He laughed without humour. “Which means I’ve probably still got a bit of a temper. Hopefully not like before though.” He turned to Ginge and said, “At least now I know what matters. It puts everything into perspective, doesn’t it? Nearly dying? For some reason, I just know I won’t lose my temper again. Having someone mess with your head makes you want to control everything even more. And now I know my priorities in life, I’ll never jeopardise them again.”
“It might no’ be easy, though,” Cam said. “Ah mean, ah know wha’ ye mean, an’ ah’m sure ye can dae it but, it might no’ be as easy as jus’ flippin’ a switch.”
Sebastian nodded slowly. “Yeah, I think it’ll take time.” He sighed. “I can’t change overnight.”
/> “We’ve all been through so much,” Angela said, almost to herself. “I feel about fifty years old sometimes.”
Sebastian burst out laughing at the serious expression on her face and the others laughed along with him until Angela joined in.
“Private joke?”
Angela spun around and saw a tall man with a leather coat approaching them. “Matthew? Wha… what are you…? You’re alive?”
“In the flesh,” he said.
Angela dived forward and almost knocked the man from his feet, pulling him into a huge hug. “Has Mina seen you? The Professor? They’ll be so happy!”
“I’ve seen them,” he said with a chuckle. “But right now I’ve got to deliver a message. Is Sebastian Cole here?”
Sebastian sat up in his bed. “I’m Sebastian Cole.”
“I’m Matthew Hart, Mina’s uncle. I’ve travelled here from London with Mina’s mother.” Angela gasped. “On the way here we passed through Area 14 and I saw your father there. He’s the commander now, and he wanted me to let you know that he’s safe. He also wanted to know if you would join him.”
4 ~ Daniel ~
Daniel watched Mina walk away. A sinking and squirming feeling warned him that something was going to go seriously wrong. She had the right to get answers, but the sight of her with that woman just made him feel uneasy. She’d been in his dream; right there in the midst of it all, encouraging Mina to use her powers for violence instead of good. He shook his head. The arrival of Mina’s mother only made his vision more credible and difficult to ignore. The thought made his stomach turn over.
“Jonny, you can’t take this so hard,” Matthew said. “She was going to find out eventually.”
The Professor stood with slumped shoulders. “Why did you bring her here?” he said. The lines around his eyes seemed more pronounced and the grey in his hair thicker. “Why, Matthew?”