by Moira Murphy
“No, Niko, don’t go. We love you.” Niko mocked them with exaggerated hand motions.
“Niko….” Sully shrugged.
“It’s just that you’re the only one we can be sure she’ll come out for.” Tessa felt horrible.
“I know. I know.” He agreed. “That’s why I’ll do it.” He smiled. “…and because you’ll all owe me one.” A much needed laugh was exchanged among the friends.
“Well, alright then. It is decided.” Mooney ushered them to the hallway. “We leave in the morning. You may rest in the rooms provided…” Bindy appeared at the end of the stone hall. “Bindy will show the way.” And with that, he was gone. Bindy smiled, her hands clasped together at her waist. She really was beautiful. The lavender colored hair only embellished her brown skin and dark eyes; which were on Sullivan. The two must have had quite the adventure together.
“We have enough rooms for everyone.” She said. “Not many of us here at the moment, you can all have your own room.”
“No.” Tessa, Niko and Tucker said, united. They were not going to be separated. There was no way they would sleep without one another.
“I told you.” Sullivan chuckled at Bindy.
“You did. You did.” She nodded. “Well, in that case I think we have the perfect place.” Bindy led them down a labyrinth of barren hallways to a room with a pillow-like floor. Hundreds of mismatched quilts lay about the house sized room. Small fire-lit lanterns hung along the walls providing a dim, serene feel. “There is a bathing room there,” she pointed to a door, “And a fireplace there.”
“Where are you going?” Tessa asked.
“To my room.” She smiled. “I assume you’ll all need some sleep.”
“We do… but, you should join us. Sleep here tonight.” Tessa urged her. Bindy looked over to Sully, who was already climbing beneath some blankets, then to Tucker and Niko pushing one another from the bathroom door, and then back at Tessa.
“Alright.” She bent to her knees in front of Tessa. “It’s been a long while since I’ve felt like this.” She pulled the dress over her knees.
“Like what?”
“Like… something good could happen.” The corner of her mouth lifted.
Tessa took off her boots, removed the necklace and placed it inside the boot. “It will.” She said. She stood and calmly walked between the fighting boys and through the bathroom door. A loud click signified it’s locking.
***
Bindy kissed Sullivan’s cheek and patted his stomach. “Time to wake up.” She whispered in his ear, “We have to get ready.” She sat up; perky and eager to begin the day. Sully groaned and rolled away from her.
“Coffee,” he whined.
She shushed him, “We don’t have that here… and hush. Everyone is sleeping.” She rolled him back towards her.
“Why aren’t we?” he pulled her toward the pillows, “Sleep time.”
“No. Let’s go.” She sat up.
“Do you even sleep?” he sat up and rubbed his eyes.
“Yes.” She laughed. Niko was asleep and snoring near the bathroom door. Tessa had some blankets piled over her face. Her arms were outstretched and her foot peaked out under a quilt. Tucker was asleep; leaning against a wall near her. His arms were crossed as well as his ankles.
“Let’s get breakfast.”
She stood up and held a hand out to him. She was barefoot, but still had the black dress on. He grabbed her hand and walked with her to the dining area. Bindy disappeared to the kitchen area; none of the workers were on duty, yet.
“Do you remember being here?” Bindy plopped a bowl of something similar to oatmeal in front of him, “When we were kids?”
“Here?” He pointed to the table.
“Well, not here here, but Wiklow here. Do you remember...” she paused and stirred her own bowl, “...me?”
Sully gulped a spoonful down, impressed with how good it tasted.
“Kind of. It’s like a dream. Ya know?” he looked at her. “I can’t tell what actually happened and what didn’t.”
“Oh.” Bindy took a bite of her food.
“Why?” Sully asked.
“Well, it was all real to me. It was my only life… I didn’t get to go home…”
“I know.” Sully felt guilty for not remembering.
“When you guys left, I was alone.” She put her spoon down and put her hands in her lap. “I didn’t have people to go home to.”
“I’m sorry. I wish I could have been there for you.”
“I know you do.” Bindy was uncomfortable with this talk and desired to change the subject. “But my point was…” she blushed, “...you were my first kiss, when we were kids.”
“I do remember that.” Sullivan thought back to the hot summer day, and how their adolescent kiss was much too moist, and yet it was the single greatest moment of his juvenile life.
“You do?”
“Yes.” He took a spoonful to his mouth. “I do.” Spit shot out from his two front teeth and onto the table. They both looked at it. Silent.
“Wow.” Bindy smiled.
“Yeah.” Sully answered, chuckling.
“You guys are up early.” Palmer entered the room, sat down at the table, and pulled the bowl from under Sully’s mouth. “I’m usually alone in the morning.”
“I can tell.” Sully wiped his face.
“In Illinois, you had to wake up early if you wanted to eat.” He gobbled the food.
“Illinois?” Sully asked.
“Yeah, my parents were farmers. Corn.” He cleaned the bowl with his spoon. “We had to wake up before the ass crack of dawn if you wanted hot food.” He licked his lips.
“How did you get here?” Sully asked.
“Long story short?”
“Sure.” Sully nodded as Bindy slid her bowl to him.
“Family died and I tried to jump off a cliff.” He laughed. “Ended up being a one way ticket to here. Thought I was in heaven for a while.” He stood and pushed his chair in, “See you guys in there?” he waved as he left.
“Wow.” Bindy said.
“Yeah.” Sully replied.
***
“Why are there so few of you?” Tucker asked looking around the great dining hall in the Renegades headquarters. It was extremely large, built for hundreds to dine, and yet there were less than twenty Renegades. Mooney looked behind him at the empty room.
“There used to be many of us. When all of this began there were hundreds of us.” Mooney slid his plate to the center of the table; clean. Tessa, Niko, and Tucker looked back at him, waiting for an answer. Their plates were empty as well. “For months we had all the help we could have ever wanted. We had more than enough. But, people began to grow impatient.”
“With what?” Tucker asked.
“They wanted results fast. And they weren’t willing to wait for the proper planning.”
“Understandably… their people were dying.” Tessa played devil’s advocate.
“Yes, true. Nonetheless, people began to turn against us—against Cami.” Mooney said sadly.
“Against Cami? What did she do?” Niko asked angrily.
“Not necessarily against her, but against what she was doing.” Mooney tried to explain. “They started to blame her for everyone dying. They said that she should turn herself into Nathayre, that if she would just go back to him that he would return the water.”
“But, he would have…ya’ know.” Tessa said in awe.
“I know. Those of us that are left don’t believe that her going back to Nathayre would have worked. They just wanted a quick fix.” He shook his head. “They thought his tirades would end with her, but the rest of us knew that this wouldn’t be the end. We have been working to get him from the throne, but they were more concerned with the present—which I understand…” Mooney trailed off. “It’s just a bad situation all around.”
“So that is why Cami has been hiding? Because half of Wiklow has turned against her?” Tucker restated.
“Yes. And now is the time for the hiding to stop.” Mooney stood. “We have to get going. Get ready.”
Mooney, Tucker, Niko, and Tessa were ready for the long hike to the city. Again, they could not travel by carriage so they resorted to walking. Sullivan and Bindy were to stay with Palmer and continue their planning of the take down of the wall. This was the Renegades’ first priority, to allow the people of Wiklow to get to water.
Freshly showered and clothed, back packs full of rationings, the group set off to the forest. Mooney took the lead, followed by Niko, Tessa and Tucker. Heat was rising from the ground shortly after dawn, Tucker was thankful for the clean jeans on his legs. They protected his legs from the tall grass and the creatures that lived in it. To pass the hours, he watched Tessa’s multicolored ponytail swing from left to right with each step. She, too, was wearing long jean pants and a white tank top. Her military jacket was slung around the right strap of her back pack. He wished he could carry it for her, but she wanted to be a part of the adventure, not just a passenger. She wouldn’t allow it.
“Can we break?” Niko huffed.
“No breaks.” Mooney continued walking.
“We’ve been walking for hours.” Tessa agreed.
“We need a break.” Tucker confirmed.
“We don’t have time.” Mooney was irritated.
“Why not? Why are we practically running?” Niko whined.
Mooney turned around and breathed out loudly, “You’ve had the pleasure of meeting Crawford, I hear?”
“Yes.”
“You see Crawford leads the Lavocs. He is cruel and evil, second only to Nathayre.”
“Okay…”
“He lives here. In the forest. In these woods. And where we are standing right this second is practically his backyard.”
“Well why the hell did we go this way?” Tucker shouted. Tessa shushed him.
“Because on the other side of these trees is a giant desert. Wide open spaces, where we could be seen by anyone!” He threw up his hands. “THIS is the only way through. So, if you could all shut up and keep moving.”
Tucker sighed and angrily stomped ahead of Mooney. “Jesus,” he mumbled.
Mooney allowed the rest of the group to follow and came up behind them. Niko felt like he was about to pass out, soil his pants, and puke all at the same time. These jeans were infuriating; it was so hot. Who on earth thought that these would be a good idea? He readjusted the baseball cap on his head, and inhaled drastically. Mooney came up next to him and gave him a water bottle. Tucker was not entirely certain where Mooney’s loyalties lied.
“Just a bit further and we can break.”
***
“We’ve been going about this the wrong way. Sullivan pointed to a map of the city. Palmer, Bindy, and a few others stood around him. “We’ve been trying to go through the city. We’ve been trying to dig under the wall. These were all good ideas, but….” He exhaled. “Have you guys seen Lord of the Rings?” Palmer snuffed in reply, knowing exactly what he was referring to. After examining the blank faces of his peers, Sullivan continued, “Well, the wall has to have a point of weakness; a drainage system somewhere. Somewhere at the base of the wall.”
“And blow it up?” Palmer laughed.
“No. No. we don’t have the means… but, we can get through at that part of the wall. We need to find the opening.” Sullivan put his hands on his hips.
“Let’s do it!” Palmer clapped his hands together. “Good job, kid.” Palmer slapped his back.
“Thanks.” Sullivan smiled.
“Better get ready to go,” he said.
“We are going?” Bindy asked.
“Yep, all hands on deck. Let’s go.” He ushered them out. “And Bindy, get some new shoes.” He pointed at her feet. Her right pinky toe stuck out of the side of the orange Chuck Taylor’s on her feet.
“I’m out!” she shouted, “This is all I have, the rest are at my house!”
“Find some.” Palmer laughed. “Those won’t make it very far.” He jogged up to meet another Renegade ahead in the hall.
“Where am I going to find shoes?” Bindy asked Sullivan.
“A baby?” He joked. Bindy gasped and clicked her shoes together. “We’ll find some.” He put a hand on the small of her back. “You’re like a backwards hobbit.”
“A what?”
“Nothing.”
***
“It’s time.” Palmer returned and threw a pack to Sullivan, “Let’s go.”
“What’s the plan?” Sully put the bag over his shoulder, “Where do we start?”
“I’m thinking we get as close to the city as possible,” he rubbed his nose “And then work our way out.”
“Are we walking?” Bindy asked.
“No time for that. We will go by wind.”
“Uh—is that a good idea?” Bindy asked, “With the two humans.”
Palmer reached in his pocket and pulled a small tube: dark blue acrylic paint. “For today, we are not humans.” He grinned. Bindy laughed as she swiped the tube from his hand,
“Allow me.” She twisted the lid. She squeezed the tube with both hands over Sully’s head, paint poured out of it like hot lava. It was torturous not to touch, as the paint dried it pulled at Sully’s scalp.
The carriage was much larger than expected and much more fanciful. Satin laced benches and candlelit chandeliers hung from the roof. While lavish, this carriage was obviously not a new model. A thin layer of dust sat upon all the furniture. Sullivan sat down on the bench, it creaked in protest. “So, now what?”
“We fly.” Bindy wiped a drop of blue paint from his forehead.
“But, ya know…. how?” he asked. Palmer sat down and shut the door loudly. The carriage lifted into the air. Vibrating as it rose.
“Everyone ready?” Palmer put his feet up on the silver and glass table between the chairs. The carriage lurched forward, Sullivan’s head smacked the back of his chair.
Chapter 17
“We should be out of the woods now…” Mooney slowed his pace, “So to speak.” Niko threw his pack to the ground.
“Awesome.” He sighed and flopped to his knees. Tessa and Tucker also knelt down, digging around in the bags for some rejuvenation. A hum came over the forest, silencing the lullaby of the birds. The group quieted their movements. Mooney looked to the sky and squinted.
“It’s a carriage,” he whispered.
Niko stood up quickly. Tessa and Tucker pushed their packs closed and jumped up.
“No… wait.” Mooney put up his hand.
“For what? Crawford?” Tucker hissed. Mooney put his hand up higher, insisting they be quiet. The humming grew louder. The group stared at the blue sky. Suddenly, a white carriage zoomed overhead, the rush of wind causing leaves to rustle. “It’s Palmer.”
“How do you know?” Tucker asked.
“It had our symbol.”
“What symbol?” Tessa asked.
“Palmer gave the Renegades a symbol.” Mooney sat down. “He wanted us to have something to know one another by, without being too obvious.”
“What is it?” she was intrigued.
“Palmer calls it a broken arrow.” He knelt to the ground and began to draw in the dirt. “He said it’s an “Illini” symbol his mother taught him for ‘peace’.” He dragged his finger through the dirt, drawing a symbol.
“It’s on the bottom of the carriage… small… but visible to those who know to look for it.” He opened his bag “Sit.” He gestured toward the ground.
They sat. They drank. They ate. They appreciated the silence and relaxation they were being permitted, even if it was only for a few moments. Niko, however, did not do well with silence for too long, it allowed his mind to wander to unpleasant things. At that particular moment, Garrett and Benji were on his mind. He looked at Tuck, who quietly munched on a slice of bread. Niko hardly remembered any of his foster homes, but Garrett was one that had stuck with him. He was the definition of mean,
almost childlike in his insults and beatings, as if he never grew up from an elementary school bully.
Tuck asked Niko to go with him for the Yankees tattoo session, and despite all the friendly ribbing Niko supplied him with, Tuck never divulged the purpose of it. Most of his other tattoos had purpose or a memory that went along with them, but Niko never understood the Yankee’s one until yesterday.
“Niko?” Tucker interrupted his internal thoughts.
“What?” he asked, still staring off into space.
“Could you stop?”
“Stop what?” Niko snapped out of it, looking at Tuck.
“I’m seeing mounds of Yankees memorabilia. Give it a rest.” Tuck took another bite of bread.
“You are?” Niko was surprised and proud. “What did you see?”
“At first I thought there was a bee flying around my head, then I figured out it was a tattoo gun buzzing, and then the Yankees gear followed.”
“Sorry, I don’t really know what I’m doing yet,” Niko apologized.
“It’s fine. Just think about something else.” Tuck shrugged.
Niko fumbled with his thumbs, the thoughts of Benji were heavy on his mind, “Tuck, I just don’t want you to…” He thought hard about the words he wanted to say. “I don’t want you to think that it was your fault.”
“What are you talking about?” Tuck wiped his mouth with the back of his palm.
“If I had said something about Garrett to my social worker... he would have never been allowed to get another foster child.” Niko looked up at Tuck as he finished his sentence.
“Niko, don’t.” Tuck shook his head, he couldn’t bring himself to look at Niko. “I’ve blamed so many people and taken so much of that… weight… on myself and none of it changed a thing.”
“But, if I had just…” Niko started.
“Really, don’t. It’s not going to change anything for anyone.” Tuck finally looked into Tucker’s face, “Garrett is the one who should have that weight on his shoulders. Not you, not me, not his social worker. Garrett made that choice.”
“Okay,” Niko was slightly in shock, he hadn’t remembered a time that Tuck had ever said so much. “Okay.”