Avoidables

by Rachel Medhurst

  ‘He’s through here,’ I heard Artie say as he came into the small room.

  We had moved the patient as soon as the blood-flow was stemmed.

  Jason squeezed my hand, not taking his gaze away from me. I knew we had to talk about it. The truth was, I didn’t feel capable of embracing my dark and light side at the same time as trying to protect Jason too.

  ‘Hello,’ the doctor greeted us politely.

  My mouth dropped open when a tall elderly man with ridges over his hands came forward and stood in front of us. He was wearing a smart suit and had short grey hair. Glasses balanced on the end of his nose, covering bright purple eyes.

  I looked up as Purple walked through the door. His jaw was tight as tension vibrated from him. Purple rarely spoke about his father. He had told me that he had been rejected by him at a young age, and as such, Purple had found his own way.

  ‘Okay, let’s get going, I need to…’ he paused when he looked at Jason’s face. His gaze travelled down his perfect bare chest. A sheet covered the lower half of him, but his flawless legs were showing too.

  ‘He’s a Perfect?’ he whispered, turning to Artie.

  ‘No questions, remember, Pa?’ Purple growled.

  The doctor looked at his son and growled back. His teeth actually bared and I could see the flame in his eyes.

  ‘Doctor, please can you do the stiches? I’ve managed to get the bullet out and stop the bleeding.’ Artie lifted the sheet.

  I looked away. Even though Jason and I were soul-mates, it felt wrong to look at him in that way. My gaze clashed with Purple’s. He gestured with his head to follow him.

  ‘I’ll let you get on.’ I squeezed Jason’s hand and left to join Purple on the stage outside.

  ‘You never said your father was a doctor,’ I accused, folding my arms over my chest and leaning back against the wall.

  ‘No, I didn’t.’ He didn’t explain anymore. Purple had always kept quiet about his life before knowing me. We had become close friends since we started to work together for Artie. Well, since I had decided that I wanted to do what he did and tagged along.

  ‘Want to talk about it?’

  ‘No, I don’t.’

  Now he was just being a man. They always went into their caves and didn’t speak. I was dreading the time when Jason and I would have our first man cave experience. I handled confrontation better than silence.

  ‘He wanted me to become a doctor, but I wanted to be a warrior.’

  I burst out laughing. I couldn’t help it, the worry of Jason made me on edge. Purple jumped off the stage and started to walk away.

  ‘No, wait! I’m sorry, Purple, but warrior sounds so…’ Nope, I couldn’t stop. I was giggling into my hand when he stormed out of the theatre and onto the street outside.

  I sat on the edge of the stage as my laughter died down. He would be mad at me for a bit, but hopefully he would calm down soon. I suppose we were warriors really. We were constantly fighting. But in essence, all we had tried to do was to break down the barriers between our two races. Everyone deserved to be acknowledged as equal. We were all the same. Just because some of us had defects, didn’t mean we didn’t feel the same. I looked at the space where my arm should have been. I was getting fed up with the unpredictable limb.

  ‘He’s fine. The doctor’s just cleaning him up and giving him a complete check over,’ Artie said, coming out of the shadows.

  ‘Thank goodness.’ I released a shaky breath, bending over to try and steady nerves.

  At least Jason was out of danger. Getting up, I shook myself. I had to keep my cool. There were things I needed to know.

  ‘Artie, you said Jason was your nephew?’

  I had been thinking about what he said when we brought Jason back. He smiled softly before a hint of pain flashed across his eyes.

  ‘You can control it you know,’ he said, gesturing to the empty space to the left of me.

  Frowning, I waved away what he said. He was trying to dodge my question.

  ‘You don’t want to know how to control your arm and wings?’

  I shook my head, realising what he had said. I hadn’t been listening to him.

  ‘You know how I can control it?’

  He ran a hand through his hair.

  ‘Your dad was the same.’

  My mouth dropped open. My father only had one arm too?

  ‘Angels lived with both Perfects and Avoidables. When they were on either side, they had to take on the characteristics of that race. They knew they had to blend in with us. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to do their job. They were like you…they looked just like a person. Your dad befriended me just after the accident. Your mum was a Perfect, like me. Do you remember her?’

  I watched him closely. My father, an angel, had been an Avoidable? I tried to picture my mother, but her face was blurry. I hadn’t even thought about what it had been like for her when she was a Perfect.

  ‘I remember bits of her but…’ I didn’t want to tell him that I had tried to block out the last few months of being with her. It was too painful. I couldn’t bear the memory.

  A bang knocked the front of the theatre and we both jumped up. Purple came running in and stopped when he saw us.

  ‘Hope, Artie, a source just told me that the Perfects have requested a meeting with the enforcer of Lower Side. They’ve also called a halt to the search for us. They want to talk to us about getting someone on the jury for Sandor’s trial.’

  ‘Do you think we can trust them?’ I asked.

  He shrugged and we looked over at Artie.

  ‘What choice do we have? This is a chance we never thought we’d get. Sandor blew up the compound because of what they done to her. She was innocent before they used her as a slave. I don’t understand why they’ve decided to give her a trial, let alone allowing Avoidables to go on the jury. What’s going on over there?’ Artie said.

  Purple looked at me with raised eyebrows but I shook my head quickly. I still didn’t know Artie well enough to trust him. He seemed to want to help make the world a better place, but his experience with angels didn’t sound like it went all that well. I wasn’t sure how he would handle the knowledge that they were working with the Perfects to try and change them.

  ‘You kids are still so young. I can’t believe they’re going to drag you into this.’

  He wasn’t being condescending. He didn’t know that we knew about the angels. I frowned. Thinking about it, I didn’t know that much. Jason was the one who talked to them. He knew what they planned in regards to the action steps of integrating the two races. Maybe I needed to have a meeting with the angels to get more involved. After all, I was meant to be the one doing the work this side of the river.

  ‘I think we need to go see them,’ Purple said, turning to leave.

  ‘Wait, I want to say goodbye.’ I turned the other way.

  ‘Hope, why do you have to be so…’? Purple stopped when Artie chuckled.

  I had become a bit soppy since Jason had come into my life but that was only because I finally had someone to love.

  ‘Fine, hurry up,’ he growled, slumping in an old theatre seat.

  Artie walked over to join him as I ran backstage to Jason.

  Chapter Ten

  Approaching the guards was daunting. The bridge was full of them. We had forwarded the message that we wanted to meet with the Perfect government.

  ‘Do you have any weapons?’ one guard called as we walked up to them.

  Did they think we were stupid?

  ‘No, we don’t,’ Artie replied, taking the lead role. And we didn’t, not on show anyway.

  ‘Come forward then,’ another said, gesturing with his gun.

  We had roughly thirty guns aimed at us. I had the urge to laugh. It all seemed a little unreal. Yesterday, they were hunting us down, but today, we were willingly meeting them. We stepped forward and the main guard opened the door to a car. We all squeezed onto the backseat.

  ‘Are we seriously
trusting them?’ I asked, elbowing Purple when he put his arm around me.

  ‘I’m just trying to get comfortable,’ he hissed, rubbing his side.

  ‘Stop it,’ Artie said tightly.

  We froze and looked at him. He was sweating as he stared at one of the guards. The man was older and had similar eyes to both Artie and Jason.

  ‘Is that your brother?’ I asked, my gaze switching between the two of them.

  A guard shouted from outside as they all got into their vehicles. The man that looked like Artie climbed into the driver’s seat of our car.

  ‘Okay, let’s get you over to the compound.’

  I kept my head forward but sneaked a glance at Artie. His face was clear, he had managed to regain composure.

  ‘So, how does it feel to have three dangerous Avoidables in your car?’ Purple asked.

  I glared at him, tempted to elbow him again. Artie chuckled, which made me even more confused.

  ‘Nothing new to me, I deal with Avoidables every day. You’re not as dangerous as you make yourselves out to be. Although, you’re a big one.’ The man looked at Purple in his rear-view mirror.

  We looked at each other and started to laugh. We hadn’t been expecting that. Artie kept his head turned towards the window. He watched the buildings as we drove past. I wondered if he ever missed being on this side of the river.

  ‘How is he?’ The question caught us off guard and we fell silent. He was looking into the mirror, directly at Artie.

  ‘He’s fine.’ Artie didn’t look away from the window.

  I was just about to open my mouth to introduce myself when Purple squeezed my shoulder stump. I looked at him, frowning when he shook his head.

  ‘Thank you for looking after him. I have no idea why he was over there, but when he gets back, I’ll…’

  ‘He won’t be back for a while. I don’t know why he was on Lower Side either, but I’m sure he’ll explain when he’s well enough.’ Artie ignored me as I poked him on the thigh that rested against mine.

  What was going on?

  I suddenly realised I knew nothing about Jason. I had been so wrapped up in our new relationship, and the sneaky visits, that I didn’t even think about his life in Upper Side, outside of the compound.

  ‘Catherine was going mad. So was Gina. I’ve told them both that he’s on government duty and that he’d be gone for a few days.’

  Artie looked into the rear view mirror and nodded once when their eyes made contact. He then turned back to the window. His hand came across to my thigh and squeezed tight. I had to bite my tongue from asking the many questions that ran through my mind.

  Who were Catherine and Gina? Were they Jason’s mother and sister? Or was one of them something more? I looked at Purple. His lips were thin as he watched me closely. Was I that predictable? I closed my eyes to stop the urge to do exactly what both Artie and Purple assumed I would do. My veins grew hot as I thought of Jason having someone over this side. I had never even thought to ask him.

  ‘We’re here. Artie, I…’

  ‘Don’t.’ Artie cut the man off.

  The look in his brother’s eyes sent a dart into my heart. He loved his brother and it was obviously killing him not being able to express that. Artie had managed to get a message to him about Jason being injured somehow.

  When we came to a stop, the door opened and we got out. Another guard escorted us into the side door of the main compound building.

  ‘This way,’ he gestured with his gun.

  We were in a hallway. The walls were bright white with pictures of famous Perfects on them. The show of famous people in a government building surprised me.

  ‘These people are so shallow,’ Purple whispered.

  We walked side by side as Artie led us. I turned to see a guard following close behind. They were all very handsome. Before Jason, I would’ve flirted with them. An ache settled in my chest at the thought of Jason and his other life. I was only a tiny part of it and I was a secret. The driver hadn’t looked at me once. He probably reacted the same way his son had when he first saw me in the club. That seemed so far away now, but in reality, it had only been a few months.

  ‘You will now meet with William Davies,’ the guard announced as he stopped in front of a door and opened it.

  He nodded for us to go through. We did as he said and entered a large dining room. A wooden table with about thirty chairs around it was in the middle. A chandelier hung from the ceiling and paintings of government officials hung on the walls. I had never seen anything like it.

  My mouth hung open. I had read a couple of books and seen pictures of a few of the luxuries the Perfects owned. All humans had access to luxury items before a few of the Perfect government had decided that people with defects, or what they classed as ugly, were below those who were physically gorgeous.

  ‘Welcome,’ said one of these gorgeous people.

  He was extremely tall, the same height as Purple but a lot slimmer and less broad. His suit fitted extremely well and he had dark hair with tiny bits of silver running through the side. His skin was light and he had blue eyes. All in all, he radiated power. and I had to lick my lips when he came up to me and smiled. His smile was the best thing about him. The corners of his lips formed dimples as they rose into his cheeks. His white teeth were in perfect alignment. My cheeks heated as he took my good hand and kissed it. He didn’t even glance at my stump like most Perfects did. Purple stiffened next to me. Artie chuckled again.

  ‘Artie,’ the man greeted, nodding with a smaller smile.

  ‘William.’

  I looked at Artie. He knew the man.

  Just how involved was Artie with the government?

  Chapter Eleven

  ‘So, you’re saying that the Perfect government are willing to offer Sandor two witnesses to testify for her?’ Purple growled. ‘Instead of allowing an Avoidable on the jury?’

  We were sitting at the table opposite William. He kept smiling at me with a knowing look. Did he really think that I would be attracted to him? The Perfects were so egotistical. They loved the attention. Craved it, even. Okay, for a moment I was looking, but as soon as he had started to speak, I had gone off him pretty quickly. It wasn’t just about how you looked.

  ‘Yes,’ William said.

  ‘You want us to do it, don’t you?’ I asked.

  I wasn’t sure what they were up to, but my gut told me to refuse.

  William nodded, winking at me. I raised my eyebrows as Purple stifled a laugh by coughing.

  Artie shook his head. ‘I’m not sure, William, why are you giving Sandor a trial? Usually you would just kill her and be done with it.’ He stood and paced the room. Being in such a grand place was uncomfortable for us all.

  ‘Yes, we would, but things are starting to change. You know that, Artie. All your work hasn’t been for nothing.’

  I looked between the pair of them. I felt more and more like I was in the dark about everything. To the angels I was needed, I had a purpose. To Artie and William, I was just an Avoidable girl.

  Purple had a knowing look when our gaze met. He had always been in charge of our missions. I had even been clueless then.

  ‘Why us…?’ Purple said as I was about to open my mouth.

  ‘You know her better than anyone.’ William leant back in his seat.

  His spine was completely straight. I was trying my hardest not to slouch on the uncomfortable wooden chairs.

  ‘Something doesn’t feel right,’ I said quietly.

  I watched William as he looked at me. A flash of something tiny in his gaze made me pause. His half smile returned and I looked away. What had that look been? Fear…?

  ‘There is one condition,’ William said.

  Artie stopped pacing as stood behind his chair. We had been waiting for this part.

  ‘Hope and Purple stay here in the compound…with Sandor.’

  I couldn’t help the gasp that came out of my mouth. Purple jumped up and growled. His tall frame didn
’t intimidate William. He sat completely still with his arms folded on the table.

  ‘No.’ I stood and turned to leave.

  ‘Hope, wait…’ Artie sat back down opposite William.

  ‘Are you mad? I’m not going to be imprisoned. This was just a trick to get us over here. They’re basically arresting us, too.’ I spun back and started around the table. ‘You really think we’re that stupid?’

  Purple grabbed my wrist and pulled me away from William. My arm shook as a hot flush travelled from my feet to my head.

  ‘Hope, Purple, sit back down,’ Artie ordered. The tone in his voice was something I had never heard before.

  We both sunk into our chairs.

  ‘That’s not going to happen, William, and you know it. Why don’t you tell me why we’re really here?’

  William genuinely smiled as he looked at Artie. ‘Never could get anything past you, could I?’

  They both started to laugh. My blood pressure started to rise again. What the hell was going on? Were they in this together? Was Artie working for the Perfect government?

  ‘We’re after the rebel. He probably put Sandor up to it,’ William stated.

  I let out my breath and frowned at Purple. Sandor’s lover hadn’t been caught with her?

  ‘What have we got to do with that?’ I asked.

  ‘I can’t tell you too much, you know that, Artie,’ William replied, ignoring me.

  It seemed that all the flirtation was gone now that he hadn’t got the response he was after. Artie nodded and stood up. We all followed suit.

  ‘You have a choice to make, William. These Avoidables will not stay here, but they will testify for Sandor,’ Artie said.

  I hissed and opened my mouth as Purple pinched my arm. I growled at him. Artie put his hand up before I could do anymore.

  ‘In the meantime, I will try and find the rebel, and bring him to you.’

  I bit my lip to try and keep my big gob shut. What the hell was going on?

  William nodded slowly. It seemed he was happy with this deal. Was he really going to give up that quickly? Did the pair have a secret I didn’t know about?