Time Catcher

by Cheree Peters

  The leader lets go of me and takes a step back. ‘Wha . . . what are ya?’

  Jay rounds on him. ‘I’m a Variant, and I’m about to kick your butt.’

  Just as Jay raises his hand, I scream a warning. Baldy has recovered and tackles Jay to the ground. Blondy races over, pulling out his rope belt. The leader rushes to help and soon Jay’s hands are tied behind his back. Blondy and Baldy step back warily as the leader steps forward, looking at the kneeling Jay with a broad, malicious grin.

  ‘You were sayin’, mate?’ He picks up the metal pipe, throwing it and catching it a few times. ‘Ya girl’s gonna have to wait while we deal with ya.’

  With the tattooed man recovered, all four surround Jay who struggles against the rope, powerless without his hands.

  That’s when it hits me: his hands. He needs his hands.

  I think I finally understand. I raise my own hands to the sky, palms facing forward. I close my eyes, hoping that it will work but dreading it won’t. I implore my Ability to work, focussing on what I have to do – which is impossible. It is impossible to slow time. What a ridiculous thing to try and do.

  Just as I think I can’t clench my eyes any tighter, I hear Jay’s voice, ‘You can stop now, Thea.’

  I slowly open my eyes and see Jay grinning at me. I didn’t slow time. I stopped it completely. The leader is frozen, his pipe almost at Jay’s side, while Baldy’s fist is centimetres from Jay’s face. I keep my arms raised, unsure of what will happen if I drop them.

  ‘It’s all right, Thea,’ Jay says. ‘You can lower your arms.’

  I drop my arms, then rush over and untie his hands.

  He stands, giving the leader a light slap. ‘Unfortunate for you, mate.’

  Jay lightly holds me by my upper arms, looking down into my eyes.

  ‘I stopped time deliberately.’ I give a half smile and he grins back before wincing. I notice a bruise already forming on his jawline.

  ‘For future reference, you only need to use your left hand,’ he says, stepping back.

  I turn my left hand to examine the underside of my wrist. I feel the tingling sensation returning. I look back up at Jay who has lifted his shirt and jacket to look at his ribs. They are red and swollen, but I can’t help but notice his nice muscles. He catches me looking and pulls his shirt down.

  ‘You’re injured.’

  He dusts off his jacket. ‘I’m fine. We’d better get going. We don’t want to be here when they start moving again.’

  ‘When will that be?’

  He shrugs. ‘Who knows? It’s your Ability. But I doubt you can hold them for much longer.’

  We hurry down the street and as we turn the corner I look back. The four men are still like statues.

  For a few streets we walk in silence, keeping our heads lowered. When we are closer to Casteel, I know Jay will have to leave me. The pain in my jaw has eased but my hands shake and I feel light-headed. We turn into a paved street and I realise how lucky we were not to be caught by sentinels. Thankfully they never travel far into the West Quarter; it’s not important enough to patrol.

  ‘That’s a pretty neat trick you’ve got,’ he says as we wait for a break in the traffic to cross. ‘It’s strange how you never used it when you were younger. Back then the adults had a pool going on what your Ability would be. Nobody picked Time Suspension.’

  ‘Time Suspension?’

  ‘That’s the best way to describe it. I’ve never seen anybody with it before. There are rumours that a Variant had the Ability to stop time about sixty years ago, but I don’t know of anyone since who has your Ability.’

  I feel smug that my Ability is so rare, but that reminds me of Duncan – he’s often smug – and I just feel sore and weary again. I start rubbing my wrist to distract myself.

  ‘Don’t worry, you get used to it,’ Jay says, noticing.

  ‘I don’t want to get used to it.’

  He just grins.

  ‘What’s your Token?’ I ask.

  ‘It’s none of your business.’ It looks like his sullenness has returned.

  I try a different approach. ‘What’s your Ability then?’

  ‘Air Warping.’

  ‘Which involves?’

  ‘Warping the air.’

  ‘Thanks,’ I say sarcastically

  He takes a deep breath. ‘Ergh, fine! Basically I warp the air particles into creating a ball of energy that deflects things. Happy?’

  I give him a sweet smile. ‘Yes, very. See, that wasn’t so hard was it?’

  He mutters under his breath, ‘Says you.’

  ‘Next question. Who did you inherit it from, your mother or your father?’

  He stops walking and his whole body stiffens.

  ‘Jay?’

  ‘This is so stupid,’ he says angrily. ‘You should know this already!’

  ‘I apologise that some strange man took me and erased my memories so that a king could raise me as his fake daughter. It must be so inconvenient for you to answer my questions.’

  ‘I’m sorry,’ he says. ‘But I can’t – I don’t want to talk about it, all right?’

  I’ve upset him somehow. There is so much I want to know and not too many people to ask. I try distracting him. ‘How did you get past the Rampart?’

  ‘Eli and I created a little door just to the north of here.’

  I think back to Finn telling me about a problem with the Rampart. I hope they haven’t discovered Jay’s exit. I glance at Jay in his black, strappy jacket, a style unknown in the Kingdom of Cardiff. ‘The emerald coat, that grey flat cap – they’re not Variant clothes, are they?’

  ‘I, uh, borrowed them to blend into the kingdom.’ He looks down. He has lost his disguise.

  ‘I noticed you through the clothes.’

  Jay looks at me sidelong. ‘You did, didn’t you?’

  ‘There was something about you, like I could sense you. Which I know sounds odd.’

  ‘Then we’re both odd. I sensed something about you at the parade, too.’

  We look at each for a moment before I become uncomfortable and look away. A working-class couple walks past us, looking at Jay with curious eyes.

  ‘I should get going. Vaughn’s expecting me.’

  I resist an urge to ask him to stay. ‘Thanks for defending me back there.’

  He grins. ‘Of course, damsel.’

  He walks away and I call out, ‘Be careful.’ The couple look back and I run over to Jay so as not to be overhead. ‘Jay – They know there’s a problem with the Rampart, if that’s where you’re planning on leaving from.’

  ‘Thanks. Goodbye, Thea.’

  ‘Goodbye, John.’ I don’t know why the name John slips out. He stops, looking back with a mixture of anger and hope. ‘What did you call me?’

  ‘Um, John. I’m sorry. I don’t know why. Maybe my brain thought Jay was just a letter so I’d better give you a proper name and that was the first one that came to mind.’ I know I am babbling and I force myself to stop. ‘I’ll see you soon.’

  He nods and crosses the street, deftly avoiding a pile of horse manure.

  I head for home. No, not home. It’s only Casteel now. After all that has happened today, acting normal seems impossible.

  A sentinel I don’t know walks out of the north entrance to the Gardens, startling me. ‘Your Highness, can I escort you home? The king has been very concerned.’

  ‘I am fine.’ I hope my jaw doesn’t show the bruise from the elbow that hit it.

  The sentinel keeps one hand on his baton and pulls out his transceiver with the other. ‘Harries, I have her.’

  My stomach starts churning. How will I explain to Harries and my father why I chased a man through the city and ran away? Fake father, Althea, fake father, I remind myself.

  The sentinel escorts me along the North Road to Casteel, with me racking my brain for a believable story as to why I ran from the markets, away from Harries and protection, and why my clothes are dirty.

  In
the foyer by the sentinels’ station stands Jeresh and behind him, Francis, concern all over his face. He takes a step forward but at a look from Jeresh he steps back, but mouths, ‘I was worried.’ I nod.

  Two sentinels emerge from the room behind Jeresh and usher me towards the staircase. Jeresh says, ‘Crisis over, back to guarding the cells, Francis.’

  The tingling on my wrist has grown into the burning sensation and it distracts me from my nervousness. The sentinels are silent as they march me up the stairs, the only sound coming from their heavy footsteps. We reach the king’s floor and the sentinels usher me into the sitting area.

  Duncan is waiting for me, Harries by his side. Duncan glares at me while he scratches at the scar on his left hand, a sign of his anger and stress. I almost feel sorry I caused him worry, but then I remember he’s not my father.

  Clearly seething with anger, he nods to Harries, who asks, ‘Where did you go, Your Highness?’ His voice is concerned – maybe I have been too hard on him these past couple of days.

  ‘I . . . I thought I saw a man take something from a stall in the markets so I chased him.’ Although I stutter my way through it, I don’t think my lie is half bad.

  Harries’ expression softens slightly. Duncan’s does not. ‘You were chasing a thief? Why did you not simply alert one of the sentinels? You could have saved us a lot of time and worry.’

  ‘I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking.’

  ‘Diction, Althea, diction.’ I consider the best way to put Duncan onside.

  ‘Only afterwards did I recognise my error and I apologise. In the moment my instinct was to help my people.’ I look down in apparent remorse. ‘I know how hard you work to protect the kingdom’s citizens from the Manipulators, Father, but who will protect them from the thieves and crooks that already lie within our borders?’

  Duncan regards me, thinking. He walks over and hugs me before I can react. ‘Althea, you must know I worry about you!’

  At least he seems to believe me. ‘I am sorry, Father. I did not mean to worry you.’

  ‘But you did.’ He releases me and notices my bruised jaw, grabbing my chin to inspect it. ‘Althea, what happened?’

  ‘I . . . the thief attacked me.’

  Anger returns to Duncan’s face. ‘How dare he! Harries, I want this thief found – now!’

  Harries nods, unclasps his transceiver from his belt and steps away.

  ‘Althea, you must be careful! You are all I have left in this world. I would never forgive myself if something happened to you.’

  I don’t know what to think. He sounds so genuine and caring. Maybe he doesn’t know who I really am and does love me as his daughter. Doubt makes me question everything I have learned in the last two days. Eli and Jay are still so mysterious to me. And they dodged some of my questions, making me wonder who is telling me the truth. Why wouldn’t Eli tell me who stole me from my family? And why is Jay so reluctant to talk about his own past?

  Harries rejoins us and Duncan says, ‘Harries, ensure Althea makes it to her room. I do not want her leaving Casteel again today.’

  Harries nods again and I notice his timidness in front of Duncan. ‘Of course, sire.’

  ‘You will come back and see me after. There are words to be had.’

  Harries and I exit, both with sheepish expressions.

  I sit on my red velvet lounge chair, willing myself to remember my old life. I wish for so many things: that the day would move faster, that my jaw would stop throbbing, that I could discover the truth about my life and the people in it.

  I try to remember what I was like before I was taken. Jay kept calling me a damsel-in-distress, but I can’t imagine myself being so dramatic and demanding. The more I think about what has happened to me, the madder I get. After experiencing his relief at seeing me safe, I can’t decide if Duncan is innocent. I worry about keeping my composure around him; can I hide the truth from him as he hides the truth from me? Unless he is innocent, why is he hiding the truth?

  My mind keeps circling back to Jay. I can’t work him out. One minute he is friendly and joking around, and the next he is angry and surly. It’s almost as if something triggers his anger. He clammed up when I asked him about his Token and his Ability. Why? And his demeanour changed after I called him John. Maybe his father’s name was John. I shake my head. I wish I could remember more than just flashes of my childhood with Eli.

  I look at my wrist. Jay was right, I am getting used to the tingling. Maybe the stinging means my Token is forming. There seem to be faint lines under my skin, but it may be my imagination. Jay was so protective of his Token; I just want to know what mine is.

  I decide to distract myself with a book, perhaps one of my favourites, fairytales or history. As I walk over to my bookshelf by the window, I see a flash of blue beneath the tree line at the north end of the Imperial Gardens, about a hundred metres from Casteel. I realise I’m gripping the drapes, scrunching the heavy brocade. Something’s wrong.

  Another flash of blue illuminates the trees – bigger and brighter than before. Is it Jay’s flash? What else could make that distinctive light? Or who else?

  I’m stuck. I can’t rush down there; Harries and Jeresh would stop me in the foyer. I am scared for Jay, the man I just met, but have known all my life. What has caused him to use his Ability? It can’t be those men from earlier, they wouldn’t dare cause trouble this close to Casteel.

  I frantically scan the Gardens. No more blue flashes occur. After a few more anxious minutes, on the East Road I see a cluster of sentinels, dragging someone along. People shy back as the slumped figure is hauled north. Jay’s short black hair unmistakable. The sentinels march Jay to the corner of the East and North Roads, stopping carts and horsemen as they cross the road to turn down a side street.

  I pace my room, close to panic. Why was Jay in the Gardens? How did they catch him? What am I going to do? There is only one place I can think of that he would be taken: the cells. I think of Francis, guarding the cells – guarding Jay. He can help. But what would I tell him? My mind is buzzing with anxious, fleeting thoughts.

  Tahan bounces into my room and I try to smile.

  ‘I am so glad this day is nearly over,’ she says, flopping onto my bed. She seems her usual self, completely unlike the desperate, panicked Tahan I saw earlier at the markets. ‘I had to clean the whole house because Aunty J insisted, and then I covered for Niklen at his stall because he wasn’t feeling well. All self-inflicted.’ She delicately sniffs her fiery hair. ‘I’m going to smell like fish for the next two days.’

  ‘Anything else interesting happen?’

  ‘No, not really.’

  I hoped she would tell me about the incident in the jewellery lane. Why wouldn’t she tell me? Why was she receiving secret messages? Maybe it was all innocent . . .

  ‘How was your day?’

  ‘It was . . . it was all right.’

  She looks me up and down. ‘So you’re not going to tell me?’

  Does she know I followed her? Did she see me with Jay? ‘Tell you what?’

  She rolls her eyes and says, ‘About Finn, of course! I can’t believe you didn’t come see me the minute you broke off your relationship!’

  I feel my shoulders loosen. ‘Oh, yes, that. Who told you?’

  ‘Yes, that. And never mind who told me, why the pex didn’t you tell me? I’m your best friend, A, you’re meant to tell me your important life-altering decisions.’

  The irony in her words does not escape me. ‘You’re right, I should have told you.’ I remember Jay and my forced smile drops.

  ‘What’s wrong?’

  ‘Nothing.’ I can’t tell Tahan about Jay, or me being a Variant. It’s too dangerous. I trust Tahan, but I also trusted Duncan. She’s hiding something from me and now I’m hiding things from her.

  ‘A, tell me. What’s wrong?’

  A plan forms. ‘T, I need a favour.’

  ‘Anything.’

  ‘You can’t ask me why, or tell
anyone, but I need to sneak out of Casteel.’

  Her brow furrows before she smiles wickedly. ‘My, my, Your Highness, what are you up to?’

  ‘I can’t tell you but there’s somewhere I need to go. Father has banned me from leaving Casteel today.’

  There is caution in her eyes. ‘Right. I’ve never been shy about breaking rules but do you think it wise to go against the king?’

  ‘Please, T, I need your help.’

  ‘Fine, I’ll help. As long as you tell me everything later.’

  Tahan and I make our way down to the kitchens, and the servants’ exit. Thankfully dinner is not for a few hours and only a kitchen maid keeps the fires stoked, too busy singing a rude song I’ve never heard before to notice us as we pass by. Tahan creeps down the final flight of stairs, peeking around the corner to the door at the end of the corridor. She signals me to follow and I hurry down to look over her shoulder. Two sentinels guard the door.

  ‘Now what?’ I whisper.

  ‘Get ready to run.’ Tahan walks out of the stairwell and says to the guards, ‘How’s everyone’s day going?’ Two metres from them she falls, sliding across the floor and screaming, as if in agony.

  The sentinels run to her side, their backs turned to me. I quickly step out of the stairwell but as I approach the back door begins to open and I dash back to the stairwell. Another sentinel enters and one of the sentinels ministering to Tahan looks up and says, ‘Watch the door, will you?’

  The sentinel stands to attention beside the door. Tahan writhes and moans louder than ever, trying to distract the new sentinel, but he doesn’t move.

  What will I do? There’s only one option. I sneak my left hand into view and point my palm towards Tahan and the two sentinels on the floor, encompassing the new sentinel behind them. I put all my focus into freezing time, waiting a few moments before looking around the corner. No one is moving. Tahan is frozen in an uncomfortable-looking contortion and the sentinels are completely still.

  I can’t help smiling as I slip past them all and out of the door into the not-so-fresh air. The smell from Casteel’s trash compartments is strong enough to curl my nostril hairs.