SHATTERED

by S. C. Deutsch

  “Please tell me how I’m supposed to do that. I have so much on my plate already. Looking into the reasons could make things worse.”

  “Let me see what I can find out. My superiors weren’t happy with what I did, but they’re still willing to work with me. I’ll ask them to start listening for any rumors about a sixteen-year-old girl under special protection.”

  “Seventeen. I turned seventeen a week after I got here.”

  “Then we need to celebrate.” Jan smiled and pulled her into a big hug.

  “No, we do not. It can wait.”

  “Whatever you say,” Jan said breezily, his good humor returning. “You’re the boss.”

  Ana huffed. She was crazy about Jan, but sometimes he tried her mightily. Looking at her tab, she saw it was almost time for the next class. Rising, she turned, a serious look on her face.

  “Please be careful,” she said. “I don’t want anything happening to you on my account.”

  “I will,” he replied. “You need to be careful, too. I’ll see you at lunch.”

  Ana fled, not giving Jan another chance to kiss her. As much as she enjoyed them, she didn’t want their romantic relationship openly displayed. Making her way to the stairs, she headed to her next class, Jan’s concerned eyes following her.

  Chapter 15

  Month 3

  Week 1

  “Are you sure your father will be okay with this?” Jan asked worriedly. He stared at the house, nervousness causing him to tremble slightly. Ana took his hand, pulling him close as she reassured him.

  “Everything will be fine. I told Daddy all about you before I left. Besides, what else were you going to do? Sit around your room all weekend, staring at the walls?”

  Ana was on her first break from the Academy. The students were given forty-eight hours before they were due back. She had asked her father if she could bring a friend home but had neglected to mention the friend’s name.

  Ana needed this break desperately. She was mentally exhausted, and even with Jan’s help, was still struggling. The admittance test for sim program was six weeks away and she spent every free minute studying for it. If she missed it, she would have to wait six months to take it again. Ana wanted to learn to fly a heli-craft as fast as possible and was determined to pass the test on her first try.

  The school’s transport dropped the pair off at the gate. Walking up the long driveway, Ana shivered in the cold as a light snow eddied around their feet.

  Jan came to a dead stop when the pair reached the top of the hill, awed at the sight of the huge house. There was about an inch of snow on the ground and the surrounding firs, giving the entire place a slightly magical feel. The snow muffled any sound, making it quiet and peaceful. If Ana hadn’t been so cold, she would have stayed outside to enjoy her first snowfall, but the freezing temperatures combined with the lack of adequate clothing made her wish Jan would stop staring so they could go inside.

  The front door opened, and Ana pulled Jan forward as she ran to the house. Letting go of his hand at the edge of the porch, she bounded up the steps and flew into her father’s arms. Jax popped out of the pack, leaping onto her father’s shoulder as he enveloped Ana in a huge hug.

  “Oh, Daddy, I’m so glad to be home!” she cried, burying her face in his chest.

  “And I’m so glad you’re here,” her father said, smiling at the top of her head. “Come inside and warm up.”

  Ana raised her head and beckoned to Jan, who stood silently, two overnight bags at his feet. Wiping his hands on his pants, he picked them up and slowly climbed the steps, stopping at the top and looking at Ana’s father nervously.

  “Daddy, this is Jan,” Ana said, introducing him. “And Jan, this is my father, Piero Swift.”

  “Good day, kind sir,” Jan said awkwardly, bowing in respect. “May the day bring you luck and good fortune.”

  Ana giggled. Jan was so nervous he was giving her father the highest respect. She felt her father stifle a laugh and when she looked up, saw him quickly hide a smile. Ana buried her face in father’s chest again, hiding her mirth.

  “And you also, kind sir,” Ana’s father croaked. And then he lost it, laughing at the ridiculousness of it all. Ana laughed too, looking at Jan with tears standing in her eyes.

  Jan looked insulted, then started laughing along with them. Trudging up the steps, he followed the pair, setting the bags down inside the doorway. Jax jumped down and proceeded to peel herself out of her winter clothing. Leaving it in a heap on the floor, the little creature trotted into the living room.

  Jax only wore the clothing under duress. The first cold night, Ana had tried to wrestle Jax into the jacket and pants three times prior to heading to the garden. Jax removed them every time, kicking them under the bed. She finally gave up, telling Jax she didn’t want any complaints about how cold it was. Jax had been fine while running around, but as soon as the three sat, the animal started shivering. Jan attempted to curl around Jax, but Ana told him no, wanting Jax to learn a lesson. Jan thought her cruel, but the next night, and every night after, Jax wore the coat and pants. Jax removed them while playing but allowed Ana to help her re-dress before they started signing. She planned on shopping this weekend for more comfortable clothing for her companion.

  Ana led Jan into the main area. Jan stopped again, his mouth falling open as he stared at the huge room.

  “You live here?” he asked.

  “For now,” Ana said. “It came with my admittance to the Academy.”

  Jan looked startled at the admission. Ana smiled, then held one finger to her lips. Tugging gently, she led him into the kitchen. Ana’s father was rooting around in the fridge, so she pulled one of the counter seats out, gesturing for Jan to sit. Joining her father, she helped him choose an assortment of meats and cheeses, along with some fresh bread. Her father grabbed the butter, leaning close to Ana as he did so.

  “Why didn’t you tell me it was Jan?” he asked quietly.

  “I was afraid you would say no,” she responded, lowering her head slightly. “But Daddy, he had nowhere to go. If he didn’t come with me, he would have had to stay at the Academy all by himself.”

  “He’s at the Academy?” Ana’s father asked, startled. “With you? How did that happen?”

  “It’s a long story,” she replied. “A really long story. And one we can’t talk about here.”

  Ana noticed Jan signing with Jax and stopped him immediately, pointing to the corner of the room while covering the action with her other hand. Jan got the hint and handed Jax a piece of fruit, bowing his head apologetically.

  “Please help yourself,” her father said, pointing to the food.

  “Yes, sir,” Jan said, nodding.

  “Oh, quit the sir business,” Ana’s father said. “Call me Piero.”

  Jan nodded again, still overwhelmed. Ana giggled, finding it funny that Jan was so ill at ease. Jan shot her a dirty look, causing her to giggle again. Ana’s father watched, slightly dismayed. He could see she was crazy about Jan and hoped it wasn’t blinding her to everything else.

  “So, my belated birthday girl,” he finally said. “What would you like to do to celebrate?”

  “Rosita’s,” Ana answered promptly.

  “Why Rosita’s?” her father asked, even though he thought he knew. “Don’t you want to try someplace new?”

  “I want Jan to try cappuccino,” Ana said, smiling. Jan looked at her, confused.

  “But you can get cappuccino in other places,” her father said, teasing her.

  “Not like Rosita’s,” Ana answered promptly. “I was told it’s the best in Atlantica.”

  “Let me see what I can do,” her father replied, laughing. “Although it might be a tight fit to get there.”

  “I’m sure we can manage.”

  Ana’s father smiled and pulled out his tab. Opening it, he sent a message, then closed it back down.

  “Happy Seventeenth, my little hawk,” he said. “May you have nothing but happine
ss in the coming year.”

  Ana flinched, knowing her life was not destined to be a happy one. But she knew her father meant well, so she reached over and kissed his cheek.

  The three lingered, the conversation genial and high-spirited. Jan began to relax and his good humor returned. Ana’s father found himself liking the boy, although he still had reservations. After finishing, they moved into the living room and Jan offered to start a fire. Ana flinched, sinking back and pulling the blanket tightly around her shoulders.

  “We don’t make fires in this house,” her father said gently. “Neither Ana nor I care for them very much.”

  Ana shot her father a grateful look. Jan knew they were lying. He could see the remains of a recent fire in the fireplace but seeing Ana huddled in the corner of the sofa, he realized she was the one who was scared and let it go.

  The three of them spent the afternoon in pleasant conversation. Ana asked about the visitation with Niall, and her father told her little had changed and he might have to give it up completely. Ana was horrified and asked why.

  “Your mother threatened shared visitation with you if I push for the same with Niall. I wanted to talk to you about it first.”

  “They can’t make me stay with her,” Ana cried defiantly. “I won’t go.”

  “Unfortunately, they can,” her father responded. “You’re still considered underage. If your mother insists, you’ll be forced to spend half your time with her.”

  “Daddy, how do you feel about this?” she asked, wanting to hear his honest opinion.

  Ana’s father shifted his glance away from her and stared out the window.

  “Honestly, hon,” he said softly. “I’d give up Niall if it kept you safe. Unless you want to spend half your time with your mother, in which case I’ll agree to the split. But if you don’t want to go, I’ll give up Niall.”

  Ana gazed out the window as well, watching the light flurries that slowly drifted past. The mountains had disappeared behind low-lying clouds, but the evergreens stood out in stark contrast to the white background. Ana thought it looked soft and dreamy. Taking her time, she chose her words carefully.

  “Please don’t think me a bad person, Daddy,” she said. “I don’t want to split my time between you two. Mom and I were never close and after everything that’s happened, we’re even further apart. In addition, any time I spend with her will include Jax, which will make things even worse. When I try to picture living with her, all I see is fights and me fleeing the house. But if you want to see Niall, I’ll do it.”

  “Niall treats me no different now than he did before you left. Whatever is happening with Jax, it’s not spilling over into his relationship with me. Or his mother, so Elva says. I honestly don’t think he’d even notice if he no longer saw me in the mornings.

  “I talked to Elva about it, and she may be able to work something out with the court, should it end up there. But I just want to let your mother go. Our marriage died a long, long time ago, if we ever really had one, and drawing it out is just going to cause bitter feelings all around.

  “Don’t sacrifice yourself for me, my little hawk. You’ve made too many already. This is one I can make for you. And Ana, I would never think you a bad person.”

  Ana was silently crying, hating the entire situation. Jan sat still as a stone, feeling ill at ease. He had the impression Ana and her father had forgotten he was there and wanted to leave but was afraid to move. Jax crawled into his lap, and he softly stroked the creature, wishing he could disappear.

  Ana and her father sat quietly, both staring out the window. Her father broke the silence first, looking back at his daughter’s sad face.

  “I’ll agree to your mother keeping Niall. But I’ll only do it on the condition I continue to drive him back and forth to the sessions and you be allowed to see him whenever you choose. I won’t fight her if she refuses, but maybe I can get her to compromise a little. And I’ll seek Elva’s help beforehand. Since your mother was forced to abide by the rules for the sessions, maybe Elva can get something more favorable without it getting ugly.”

  “Thank you, Daddy,” Ana said. “I’ll make more vids this weekend. If you give them to him, it might help.”

  “Your tab and the blank digi-drives are on your bureau. I’ll make sure Niall gets them as soon as possible.”

  Jan shifted to ease the pressure in his back. He tried to be silent, but the fabric rustled, causing both Ana and her father to turn. Flushing, he started to rise.

  “If you can show me where I’ll be staying, I’ll leave you two alone,” he said politely, placing Jax next to Ana.

  “No, Jan,” Ana pleaded. “Please stay. I’m sorry about that. But we’re done now. Promise.”

  “I also apologize, Jan,” Ana’s father said. “I forgot for a moment we had company. Please stay.”

  Jan sat back down, moving a little closer to Ana. He could tell she was upset, and wanted to take her in his arms, but didn’t dare. Instead, he placed his hand on the cushion alongside, hoping she would take it so he could give her a firm squeeze of reassurance.

  Ana’s father recognized what Jan was doing and smiled inwardly. The boy obviously cared for his daughter as much as she cared for him. But that didn’t change the fact the two barely knew each other. Ana said she harbored doubts and until Jan proved trustworthy, he would continue to watch the boy carefully.

  The conversation veered to more mundane subjects, Jan and Ana’s father getting into a heated debate over which sector was the better one to live in. Ana started to doze, exhaustion finally catching up with her. When she emitted a soft snore, both men looked at her and started laughing. Ana snuggled down further, sinking into a deeper sleep. Her father gently lifted her and carried her to her room, covering her with a blanket before leaving.

  “If you’ll show me to my room, sir,” Jan said when her father returned, “I’ll get settled also.”

  “In a minute, Jan,” Ana’s father replied. “And please call me Piero.”

  Jan nodded, nervousness creeping back in. He had heard stories about fathers who had a hard time letting their little girls go. He was afraid Ana’s father was going to order him not to see her anymore before turning him out.

  “Follow me,” Ana’s father said. “And grab your jacket. It’s cold outside.”

  Jan’s nervousness increased. Ana’s father was taking him outside. This couldn’t be good.

  Ana’s father retrieved his coat, sending Jax upstairs to keep Ana company. Escorting Jan to the lower level, he led him through the garage and out the little side door. They were now standing under the deck, looking at a small lawn that sloped away from the house. Ana’s father leaned against the wall and took a few minutes to gather his thoughts.

  “We can talk somewhat freely here, although we have to do so quietly. I had a friend install a digi-scrambler to block any audio monitoring equipment in a ten-foot radius, but I left the vid-recording alone. As far as anyone can see, we’re just having a chat about your relationship with my daughter.”

  Jan nodded, surprised at the confession. Feeling slightly better, he waited for Ana’s father to continue.

  “I will admit, your relationship with my daughter concerns me. But I know better than to forbid the two of you from seeing each other. Besides, it’s obvious you care about her a great deal. But before we go any further, I am only going to say one thing.

  “If you hurt her in any way, I will kill you. If you betray her, I will kill you. And if you put her in any more danger than she is in already, I will kill you. Do I make myself clear?”

  “Yes, sir, I mean Piero,” Jan said, bowing his head.

  “Good. My daughter has been forced to endure things most people cannot even fathom. If there were any way of extricating her from the present situation, I would give up everything to do so. Unfortunately, both our hands are tied, so I can only do my best to assist her.”

  “I mean no disrespect, Piero,” Jan said earnestly, “But your wishes align wit
h mine. I have no idea what your daughter has told you about me, but I can assure you I only want to protect her.”

  “Prove it,” Ana’s father said, giving Jan a hard look.

  “I followed her to the Academy,’ Jan said simply. “I was going to leave secretly the day after she left even though I was supposed to remain on the island another month. Instead, I opted to stay, hoping she would be okay until I could get to the Academy.”

  “And how did you manage that?” Ana’s father asked seriously.

  “It’s a bit of a story,” Jan sighed.

  “We have time.” Ana’s father said, waving one hand. “My daughter is obviously suffering from exhaustion. She’ll most likely sleep for a few hours.”

  Jan told him, leaving nothing out. He admitted he had attended already, so it was easy for him to be assigned to the upperclassmen courses. And he confessed he was required to report back periodically on her.

  “And what have you told them so far?”

  “Ana’s helped me with that. I’ve only had to submit two reports so far. The first one was relatively easy. I told the government she’s obeying most of the rules. She’s trying to keep our relationship as quiet as possible, even though we spend mealtimes and study time together. I’ve been helping her catch up with her classes.”

  “Catch up? What do you mean?”

  “I’m not sure I should be telling you this. Ana might not want you to know.”

  “I won’t let her know what I’ve learned.”

  “Ana was pushed ahead. All her classes are upperclassman courses. She’s struggling to keep up, especially in math. I’ve been helping her.”

  “Pushed ahead? Why?” her father asked, visibly upset.

  “She’s not sure. She claims when she arrived, her coordinator advised her orders had come from higher up saying she was to skip the lowerclassman courses.”

  Ana’s father started pacing, muttering under his breath. Jan watched him for a few minutes, then pushed away from the wall, lightly touching a shoulder to get the man’s attention.