What belongs to me?
My words? Others don’t use them often.
My time? I wish Saskia had been right, but time isn’t always a riddle’s answer.
My feelings? I hope not.
Nothing seemed to fit. Anja knew not knowing a riddle didn’t make her stupid, but it did make her feel it. She went through every answer she could think of, from the utterly stupid to just plain ridiculous. Frustration slowly drowned her grief as it simmered within her.
She was about to give up and start crying again when Rufus called to her from behind the bathroom door,
“Anja, have you eaten anything yet?”
She froze.
The answer.
It was her name.
Exhaustion hit her then. She leaned back against the bathroom wall, tears slipping down her cheeks. She’d expected relief when she’d figured out the answer, but instead, all she felt was a sense of finality.
It was over. She would never solve any more of Kano’s riddles.
* * *
“Up you get!” called a voice from the doorway. “We’re going to pick up your friend and the other Sorcerers. We’ve got to move before the government comes looking for you and before the sun rises. Let’s go!”
The four of them rose quickly, their belongings already packed. They were led out to the alleyway and into a small van. The whole group sat in the back, on the grimy floor. The rest of the strangers from the bunker piled into two identical vans parked next to theirs.
The constant movement of the vehicle slowly lulled Miles and Rufus to sleep. Their snoring filled the van and added to the reasons that kept Anja from sleeping.
Faye coughed. She seemed to be on the brink of talking, but instead, she shook her head.
“You can say whatever it is that’s bothering you,” Anja said, her voice not conveying any emotion.
Faye looked away. “I just wanted to tell you that what happened wasn’t your fault.”
“Sure,” Anja replied, unconvinced.
Faye sat up sharply. “Don’t you dare do that!” she hissed, jabbing a finger in Anja’s face. “Don’t you dare feel sorry for yourself! Do you think that I don’t feel awful about what happened? Do you think that you’re the only one who feels guilty? If I could take their place I would!” She stopped, and her voice went deathly quiet. “But that’s not fucking possible, now is it?”
Anja couldn’t think of anything to say. She stared at the inside of the van, focused on keeping her breathing steady.
At last, for a few brief minutes, she was able to fall asleep—only to jolt awake minutes later, haunted by dreams of Kano’s limp body and Saskia’s lifeless eyes.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Kettleton was exactly how Anja remembered it. The roads were just as dirty and the buildings were still crumbling down around them.
They parked a few streets away from the orphanage. Faye jumped out of the van first, her eyes darting from side to side.
“You two girls go get your friend,” the driver told them. “The redhead and I are going to find a healer whose family has been in this town for generations. The injured one is staying with the van.”
Faye moved silently in the shadows, with Anja following behind, whispering directions to keep them on route.
Finally, Anja spotted the orphanage and its cracked walls. Faye stared at the building, her feet remaining firmly in the same spot.
“What’s wrong?” Anja asked, concerned.
“It just hit me that I’m an orphan now,” Faye replied flatly.
“I’m so sorry.”
Faye rolled her eyes. “You don’t need to apologise for everything, Anja. I know who’s to blame and I will make them pay.” Her fists clenched at her side.
“If you want to talk about it I’m here.”
“Thanks, but I don’t need to join the orphan club and talk about my feelings.” And with that, she rushed across the street and began scaling the perimeter wall. Her feet and hands clung to the bricks as she pulled herself up. Anja stood staring as Faye jumped over and onto the other side.
A second later the gate opened and Anja snuck in.
At the front door, Faye dug a lockpicking set out of her boot.
“What else do you keep in those?” Anja asked in a whisper.
Faye didn’t reply, she just handed over the lockpicks. Anja rolled her eyes and went to work.
It took far too long to pick the lock on the door. Her hands began to shake and sweat dripped down her forehead and stung her eyes. Then, at long last, the door creaked open.
Faye gave her a quick nod, “Well done.”
Their footsteps were quiet on the carpeted floor. As they passed the kitchen, the light switched on, and Mrs Dorsin appeared in the doorway. They froze.
“You’re here for Willow, aren’t you?” Mrs Dorsin’s voice was as croaky as always.
“Yes, we need to bring her with us. She’ll be in danger here.”
The old lady’s hands were shaking. “I’ve heard rumours about you, sweetie. And they aren’t good.” She breathed in, her voice unsteady. “Did you really…?”
“No. But they want people to think I did, which is why Willow needs to come with us. Or they’ll come for her.”
“Just please let her decide for herself.” Mrs Dorsin moved forward and hugged Anja. She whispered in her ear, “It’s good to see you again.”
Anja pulled away, then headed down the corridor.
The door to her old bedroom creaked just like she remembered. The two girls entered the room. It took a few shakes to wake Willow.
Willow’s eyes widened. She shoved herself away and opened her mouth to scream—but Faye’s hand clamped over her mouth, muzzling the sound.
“Don’t scream,” Anja warned her. “Willow, I need you to come with me.” Willow tried to move further away. “Let her speak,” she said, and Faye moved her hand.
“You killed the president!”
“No, I didn’t, Jabez did. We need to take you somewhere safe.” Anja reached into her jacket’s pocket and pulled out the small wooden heart. She placed it in Willow’s shaking hand. “Do you trust me?”
A tremor shook Willow’s small body. She swallowed, her hand closing tightly around the heart. “Yes.” Willow reached over and swung her wheelchair toward the bed.
Faye stared at her. “You didn’t tell us she was in a wheelchair.”
“I didn’t think it mattered,” Anja replied, shrugging.
When they passed the kitchen again, the light was off, and Mrs Dorsin was gone.
They made their way out of the orphanage and back to the van, the wheels of the chair making too much noise on the gravel path.
* * *
“You’re late,” said the driver.
A girl who looked to be a year or two older than Anja stood beside him. Her purple hair fell to her waist. Her features were sharp, a face you couldn’t forget—which was why Anja had a feeling that she’d seen the girl before.
“Come on, we need to get going.” The driver turned, the girl following behind him and climbing into the front seat. Willow slowed down, her eyes scanning for Rufus. When she finally spotted him, she called his name.
Rufus’s face lit up as he rushed towards Willow, embracing her. “Hey little W,” he chuckled. “I’ve missed you.”
Anja stood watching, a smile lifting her lips as she saw her brother’s shoulders relax. They all made their way into the back of the van.
She let Rufus tell Willow everything.
“I can’t believe what you went through.” Willow gawked, staring down at her hands. “I’ve heard things about Atgas’s son but I could never believe this of him.”
“We didn’t either until he sliced his mother’s stomach open,” Faye muttered from the corner.
* * *
They stopped in the middle of nowhere. The driver opened the doors and quickly explained that they’d stopped for a toilet break.
The girl who’d joined them in Ket
tleton moved to the back of the van. “I’m Hailey,” she announced, crouching so she didn’t hit her head. “And before you ask, no I’m not a Sorcerer.”
Rufus pulled an exaggerated sad face and Hailey laughed.
Something clicked into place, “You were at the execution!” Anja exclaimed, finally remembering where she’d seen that deep purple hair.
Hailey’s face fell. “Yeah, Charles Boman was my grandfather. Which one of you wrote the article about him?”
Rufus raised his hand. “The name’s Rufus and that article caused more trouble than good.”
“So far,” Hailey said. She sat down beside Anja.
“I’m so sorry for your loss,” Anja said, remembering the old man.
“You don’t need to apologise, I wasn’t the one who was shot in the head.” Hailey looked around the van, raising her eyebrows. “Sorry, wrong audience.”
Hailey’s left arm was covered in tattoos from her wrist to her shoulder. She nudged Anja when she caught her looking. “I know the redhead’s name, but what are the rest of you called?”
“I’m Anja.”
“Ah, grace.”
“No, Anja.”
Hailey chuckled and explained, “Your name means grace.”
“Oh.”
Rufus sat up straight. “What does my name mean?”
“Probably ‘dog breath’,” said Anja loud enough for him to hear.
“Your name means red-haired. Obviously, your parents enjoyed an inside joke.”
Rufus smiled at his sister, who grinned back.
Hailey went around the room telling everyone who asked what the meaning of their name was. Faye meant loyalty. Willow meant graceful. And Miles meant soldier. She explained name meanings were something she’d been fascinated with for years.
“While your name doesn’t define you, it can give an important insight into who you are, or at least who your parents planned you to be.”
“So, my parents planned me to be red-haired.” Rufus laughed, ruffling his hair. “Glad I didn’t disappoint.”
* * *
It was a two-hour drive until they reached the next town, Ansola. Anja was sent with Hailey to collect the next Sorcerer while the others slept.
The walk was quick, they only had to avoid one street patrol on the way. Ansola was surrounded by farmland. The Sorcerer war had hit them hard, and even after years of peace, they still had a long way to go before they were as developed as the other towns nearby.
The house they arrived at was less like a house and more like a large shed. Hailey knocked quietly on the door. It creaked open, revealing a man with grey stubble and a young girl in tow.
He sighed, obviously relieved.
“You’re here. Quick, come in while we get our bags.”
Inside, the house felt even smaller. The furniture was almost crumbling away from old age. The man ran around, grabbing all their possessions.
The tiny girl with frizzy black hair moved closer to them.
“What’s your name?” the little girl asked, tugging on Hailey’s jacket. Hailey bent down so she was level with the girl.
“Hailey.”
The girl giggled. “You have funny hair.”
Hailey grinned. “It’s because I swallowed too much bubble-gum as a kid. What’s your name?”
“I’m not allowed to tell strangers.” She lifted her chin in the air, pursing her lips together.
Anja smiled. Defiant. I like her.
They grabbed the bags and left the house quickly. The little girl walked past her father and held Hailey’s free hand, smiling up at her.
They made their way through the night, sticking to the shadows. After a few minutes, the little girl began to complain that her feet were hurting. Her father picked her up, hushing her. They weren’t far from the van when a policeman rounded the corner at the same moment they did, bumping into them.
Anja backed up, trying to get away—but it was too late.
“What are you doing out at this time of night,” he barked.
Anja was going to make up some excuse when the officer’s eyes fell to the bags they were clutching. His eyes raked Anja’s guilty face. “Hands up!” he shouted, reaching for his gun.
Hailey lunged forward. In one swift movement she kicked the gun out of his hand. It skidded across the ground, giving them a second to turn and run.
They ducked down a side street, but the sound of the policeman’s footsteps could be heard behind them.
Through her heavy breathing, Anja raised her voice, “We can’t lead him to the van!”
Hailey huffed back, “Well I’m not letting him shoot me either.”
The little girl began to cry in her father’s arms. He stumbled, catching himself.
“I can’t keep going,” he cried before halting. The girls came to an abrupt stop next to him. The policeman was just around the corner.
“What are you doing?” Hailey yelled.
“Keep my daughter safe,” he whispered, kissing the girl on the cheek before pushing her into Hailey’s arms. Then he dropped his bags and ran around the corner, right into their pursuer.
Anja ran, scooping up the dropped bags as she went. Angry yells followed them as they made their way to the van.
Finally, they reached the van and jumped in the back, shouting instructions to the driver. Before the doors could shut Anja took one look behind them, but she saw no sign of the girl’s father. They couldn’t afford to wait. The van’s engine shot to life, and they swerved onto the road.
The little girl was wailing, tears spilling from her eyes. Her hands were clutching a small grey blanket. Anja tried to move closer, but the girl only screamed louder, thrashing her legs against the floor.
“Somebody shut her up!” Faye snapped.
“It’s okay,” Miles tried to soothe the girl. “No one here bites.”
“Faye does,” Rufus added.
Anja glared at her brother, hissing through gritted teeth, “Not. Helping.”
The girl carried on screaming. Willow moved over to her and pulled the little wooden heart from her pocket.
“Have you ever seen one of these before?”
The little girl stopped crying for a second and looked up.
“What does it do?” she whispered.
“It’s a symbol that you’re never alone.”
Willow passed the heart over to the little girl, who grabbed it and clutched it close to her small body. She was still crying, but more quietly now. Willow caught Anja’s tearful eyes and smiled.
“I can’t believe you kept the heart, Willow,” said Rufus.
Anja turned to Willow. “Wait, Rufus gave it to you?”
He nodded. “Yeah, I stole it from a shop a few weeks before you left and gave it to Little W.”
A deep blush crept its way onto Willow’s cheeks. “I might’ve forgotten to mention that part.”
Anja actually laughed. I’ve been carrying around a stolen heart! For a second her grief for the past and fear for the future was forgotten.
The little girl fell asleep, her small hand enclosed around the wooden heart, her head resting on Willow’s arm.
* * *
When they got to the last stop, the driver and Faye went to collect the next group.
Rufus turned to Hailey, “So how have you ended up here?”
Hailey laughed, “You can really tell that you’re a journalist. I’m here because I’m a medic. All Sorcerers can do is move wounds, they still need someone to heal them.”
Miles frowned. “You’re not here for revenge?”
“Oh no, I’m definitely here to help fuck up the government. I’m just also a damn good medic.”
He nodded, his eyes glassy. Anja knew he was thinking of Saskia.
Faye returned shortly afterwards with an old man and woman who got in the van with them all, nodding to each member of the group in polite greeting.
“All right, that’s it,” the van driver called back to them. “Next stop is the camp. Prep
are for a long drive, kids.”
The sun was beginning to rise, and everyone around her looked utterly shattered. Anja felt her eyes closing and she finally fell into a deep sleep.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The van stopped abruptly, causing everyone in the back to jolt forward.
“Stopping is good, right?” muttered Hailey, her eyes glued to the doors.
Anja moved slowly forward, placing herself right in front of the doors. She could hear distant voices on the other side. A hand on her shoulder made her jump. “Calm down, sis.” Rufus gave her arm a squeeze. “What do you think is out there?”
Miles stood, staring blankly at the door. “It has to be better than what we left behind.”
“Not necessarily,” Faye grunted from the back of the van.
Faye, always the optimist.
Anja’s body was telling her to find somewhere to hide. Her mind was clouding over again, her heart rate sped up and her breathing staggered. The walls of the van felt like they were closing in around her.
But just as she took a step back, Rufus’s hand closed around hers. Miles took a step to his right, positioning himself next to Anja, and reached his hand out to her. Their hands locked. She pushed her anxiety down, forcing herself to stop overthinking.
The noise outside grew louder. She clutched her brother’s hand and squeezed. Rufus smiled as he noticed her begin to calm. In unison, all their eyes widened as Faye moved next to Miles. She didn’t look at any of them as she held out her hand to him.
“Take it.”
Anja had never heard Faye speak so quietly, her voice begrudging. Miles stammered, pulled himself together, then placed his hand in Faye’s. They stood there, hands linked.
“Ready?” asked Rufus.
“Not really,” replied Miles.
“Kinda,” said Anja.
“Whatever,” spat Faye.
The doors were pulled open from the outside.
A crowd was gathered outside the van, the people at the back pushing to get a better view. They were all different ages, all gawking at the odd group inside. Their murmurs were unclear but they seemed excited by the new arrivals.
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