Dani clears her throat nervously. She’s sitting on the other side of me, her hands folded tightly in her lap, her dark eyes staring out toward the windshield.
“Aren’t there checkpoints in London?” I ask.
She nods, pressing her full lips tightly together. “Always. Yes. All over the city. I’m not sure why we haven’t come across one yet.”
I follow her gaze out the window. Rows of large white houses give way to shops, cafes, and restaurants. All are closed now due to the curfew. Some are even boarded up.
“It seems so empty,” Lily says from the front seat. “Not just of people — so much of it is closed down. Stores and stuff.”
Dani shrugs. “Yeah, a lot of places closed down forever coz there’s no tourism anymore. Loads of the shops and restaurants around here closed up over the last five or so years. We’re near Oxford Circus and Piccadilly now. You know, where Madame Tussauds was and stuff. Not that our family ever came here much. We stayed pretty much in and around Hackney. You had to have serious pounds to come here to do anything. Things must be the same in Toronto, yeah?”
There’s no time to even respond to Dani, because our car is suddenly bathed in blood-red light. Lily sucks in her breath sharply. I glance around to see what’s going on.
There are two heavily armed police officers waving our cars to the side of the road. Several cruisers, their lights flashing, block us from continuing any further. I hold my breath, my heart beating double time. Surely Clarence and the other Protectors anticipated that something like this might happen to us and had a plan.
As we slow to a halt, Lily turns from her seat at the front of the car.
“What do we say?” she asks, her eyes wide with fear.
I feel cold from my toes to the top of my head, and I clutch the satchel closer to my side.
“I have no idea,” I answer as the first police officer raps on the car window with the butt of his automatic rifle.
JASMINE
The automatic window slides down and the officer peers in. His face clouds with concern as soon as he sees us.
“What are you young ladies doing out after curfew on your own?” he asks, flashing his light at each of our faces and then throughout the interior of the car. I notice how his other hand slides down to the handle of his gun as he does so, and my heart leaps into my mouth.
None of us makes a sound. I’m holding my breath.
“I asked you a question,” he says. This time his voice is harder, even a bit menacing. He turns his head toward his partner, a petite female who is checking the other car. “Sam, I’m going to need the chip reader for this lot. Apparently, they don’t know you can’t plead the Fifth in England. Or they’re foreigners.”
Lily turns to me, her eyes wide. We’re thinking the same thing: we don’t have microchips.
“Let us go,” Jade says suddenly. “We’re fine. Don’t worry.”
The officer frowns, his bushy brows furrowing as though he’s concentrating deeply.
“You need to let us go,” Jade repeats, her voice low. There’s a roughness to her voice that makes the command sound like a growl.
On impulse, I move a bit closer to Dani, away from Jade. There’s something else in her voice that’s making my skin crawl.
The female officer approaches our car, stands beside her partner, and peers in at us. “Bloody hell, they’re just kids in this car as well. What are all of you doing out here after curfew?”
Before any of us can answer, both of the officers’ radios burst to life with a fury of loud beeps and flashing yellow lights.
“This is a Code Severe. Repeat, Code Severe throughout the Greater Metropolitan London area. All officers on duty must return to headquarters for further instructions. All off-duty officers will be called in as well.”
“Balls,” the male officer says with a grimace. “Only two hours left in our shift …”
The female officer’s video watch buzzes loudly. She glances down at it. “Well, you can kiss getting off anytime soon goodbye,” she says. “You won’t believe this. It’s the Thames reservoirs. They’ve been compromised. The BBC is reporting on it already. And calling it terrorism. What are they thinking?” Her face contorts in frustration, her thin lips drawing downward.
The male officer’s eyes shift to us and then back to his partner. I read his thoughts. He figures since everything is already being splashed across the news, he doesn’t need to be too careful around a bunch of teenaged girls. If only he knew.
“Well, they’re likely right. About it being a CCT attack. Has all the hallmarks of the other water attacks, like Toronto,” he says.
My heart leaps into my throat again. For sure one of them is going to be triggered by this and recognize us. And then we’ll end up like Ms. Samson. Or worse. I think about what Vashti told us concerning that woman on the high street who saw Atika’s body and recognized me. We’re at war. If it comes to it, we have to take down these two officers to get away.
The thing is, the male officer is not even paying attention to us anymore. He’s checking his own video watch now.
“Christ. They’ve even told the public that the North London Aquifer is nearly dried out due to drought.” He shakes his head. “Well done, Beebs. We’re going to have bloody chaos on the streets in a few hours; it’ll look like a civil war out here.”
“Let us go,” Jade says to him. She’s narrowed her eyes so much that they’re practically just dark slits in her face. She’s shooting the officer a super-venomous look, but he seems oblivious. And she’s completely ignoring Lily, Dani, and me.
The male officer suddenly looks up from his watch and back at us, then slaps the top of the car twice in a gesture that comes across as almost jovial. “Girls, you need to get to where you’re going straight away. This is not the time to be out; the city is going to be on lockdown soon. Do me and all first responders a favour: get indoors and stay there unless you hear otherwise.” He flashes us a smile. “And fill up as many containers and bottles you can find with water as soon as you get in. We’re in for a bit of a difficult time where London’s water supply is concerned.”
The window slides up and our car begins moving again. I look over at Jade. She’s smiling, staring straight ahead.
“What happened there?” I ask her, trying to keep my voice steady though every cell in my body is on high alert.
Jade turns to me, her smile widening. “What do you mean?” she asks.
“With the police back there,” Dani says, turning toward Jade. “How did you do that? It’s like you were using mind control or something.” She stops speaking for a moment. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but as far as I know, that’s not a Seer thing.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Jade insists, flashing Dani a smile so sweet, it might as well be honey-infused. “I just gave him a suggestion to help us out. You’re joking about mind control, right?”
Dani throws a quick glance in my direction. “I guess it was just coincidence,” she says, her voice ripe with uncertainty.
Jade throws her head back and laughs, teeth gleaming. For some reason, this gesture strikes me as almost shark-like. I shake my head. I need to stop. This is my sister. I’m letting my imagination get the better of me. Maybe because of the tension I’ve felt between Jade and me recently, along with the fact that our connection has seemed to be severed.
“Of course it’s a coincidence,” she says.
But as hard as I try, I just don’t believe her.
JASMINE
We arrive at the flat about fifteen minutes later. Luckily, the car was programmed to take a route using less-travelled roads, allowing us to avoid any more police checkpoints as well as the rioting crowds that we glimpse once or twice when crossing main roads. Some of the streets are already filling with people, the growing crowds illuminated by intermittent fires set in the scattered trash, recycling, and compost bins.
“Your destination will be on the right in approximately five hundred m
etres,” the smooth female voice of the car’s AI informs us. I look ahead to where we’re going. It’s pretty clear right away that this area isn’t nearly as nice as the last one. The street is narrow and dimly lit by only one or two sodium streetlights. Graffiti-covered, metal-shuttered doors are the norm for at least half of the houses that stretch along it. Several skeletal dogs run past us as the car begins to slow. Though less foot traffic here means less attention drawn to us, I’m still nervous. This is the kind of place we were always taught to avoid when we were younger. I instinctively clutch the leather satchel tightly to me, reminding myself that the ring is in there. For now it guarantees us safety — if demons are involved.
Dani’s video watch beeps. She taps it. “It’s Kiki. They’re right behind us. Clarence just sent her the security codes for the building keypad and for the flat.” She bites at her bottom lip as she finishes reading. “That’s weird,” she says. “No Protector is meeting us here. Apparently, it’s too dangerous to try to reach us. Clarence says there’re already reports of rioting and looting south of the river.”
“Because of the water situation?” Lily says, turning in her seat.
Dani nods. “Yeah, but …”
“But what?” I ask. Jade is staring out her window again, the back of her head facing me. How can she not be concerned about this?
Dani glances up at us, her dark eyes fearful. “Apparently, there’s been some sort of massive cyber attack as well in the last hour or so. At least that’s what the news is saying.”
There’s a sudden knock on the driver’s side door that is so loud, it makes my heart leap into my throat and Lily give a startled yelp.
“Hurry up,” Sara says, cupping her meaty hands around her eyes and peering in at us. “Get out so we can get inside.”
We rush out and over to one of the buildings. A misty drizzle is beginning to fall. Ordinarily, this would be a time to celebrate. Any kind of precipitation is such a rare event. But considering what’s happening right now, it feels more like a dark omen.
The front door is still intact, though it’s in desperate need of a paint job. Yellow spray paint scrawled across the pollution-darkened brick beside the door reads, The Haram Gang was here.
“Let’s hope they’re not here anymore,” Kiki says, eyeing the graffiti as she steps up to the security keypad. She puts her left arm around her sister’s waist. “Together. You and me. No matter what happens from here on in, I’m not leaving your side. We’ll be each other’s Protector.”
Dani rests her head briefly on Kiki’s shoulder, her dark curls gleaming with drops of misty rain. “You better believe it,” she replies.
As Kiki begins tapping the code into the keypad, I look over at Jade, my heart heavy. She’s watching Kiki intently and either doesn’t notice my gaze or is pretending not to. I desperately miss Mom and Mr. Khan and wish there were some way I could contact them, some means of finding out if they’re okay. And I wish I had Jade the way Kiki and Dani have each other. Even before our connection was severed, there was tension between us, a sort of resentment that seemed to stem from Jade.
The keypad flashes green and Kiki pushes the door. It doesn’t open easily. We find out why as soon as we step into the foyer: it’s packed with boxes of discarded clothing, toys, and small household items. I wrinkle my nose at an overpowering stench of mildew mixed with at least a few rodents that have died and rotted in this space.
“Bloody hell,” Sara says, covering her mouth. “What a shithole.”
The stairwell leading to the flat isn’t much better. It’s poorly lit, and the carpet covering the steps is full of holes and dark, blotchy stains. I’m kind of glad for the dim lighting, as I don’t want to know what those stains are from.
Fingers of dread creep along the inside of my abdomen as Kiki opens the door to the flat. We’re on the top floor of the house. None of the flats we’ve passed on the way to this one betrayed any signs of life behind their doors — no voices, no music, no footsteps, no dogs barking. Only silence.
A ripple of relief moves through us as soon as we step inside the flat. I make sure I’m last so I can take one final glance behind us. The shadowy stairwell is making me nervous for some reason. Maybe it’s just the eerie silence, or the way the dim light seems to play tricks on my eyes. I’m also beyond exhausted and know that must be playing a part in the jittery feelings I’m having. In the distance, I can hear sirens. Things are likely getting really bad out there, if the reports Clarence gave Kiki are true.
“Well, at least this place isn’t as gross as I thought it would be,” Lily murmurs as I close the door behind me.
She’s right. If ever there were a lesson on not judging a book by its cover, this is it. A large living room with a gas fireplace that’s already burning greets us. The wooden floor gleams up at us, its pale surface broken up by several colourful carpets.
Wait.
The fireplace is burning.
I grab Lily by the elbow. “Did Kiki turn on the lights? Did anyone else? How did the fireplace get turned on?” I ask her.
Lily shrugs. “I don’t know.” She opens her mouth to say something else, but her words are cut short.
“Hey, Jazz,” says a familiar voice from the kitchen area. “I was told you’d be here.”
My heart stops. For a moment, I wonder if I’m hallucinating after so much loss, so much uncertainty … after the horrible execution of Ms. Samson.
“Chica! Come on. I’m not a ghost,” Eva says, reading my thoughts, though the shock on my face would likely be enough to discern my feelings. She smiles widely as she walks over, throws her arms around me, and kisses me on both cheeks. A brightly coloured head wrap covers the zigzagging map of scars on the side of her head — remnants of her battle with the men who killed her sister. New burn scars, courtesy of the Toronto Police, run the length of the left side of her face. “Turns out I can transition on my own, you know? Not as easy with three fingers missing and no other Seers, but I managed.”
“Who told you we’d be here? How long have you been in London?” I ask, hugging her back. I’m so happy to see someone from home, from Toronto. It gives me hope that more of my loved ones will survive.
A wave of dizziness washes over me as I pull away from Eva. It’s a feeling I’ve unfortunately become familiar with. Dehydration. My mouth is so dry that my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth as I speak. “Is there still water?” I ask.
Eva nods. “Kind of. I filled up as many containers as I could find when I first got here, so we’ve got some stored for sure. Nothing but a trickle is coming out of the taps now, though. Conservation will be key.” She gives Lily and Jade quick hugs, then waves at everyone else. “I’m Eva.”
After quick introductions, we each pour ourselves half a glass of water. Though I know it’s not enough to sustain the eight of us for long, Eva’s managed to fill an upright water cooler that she discovered in the kitchen. Impressive.
Once we’re settled in the living room, taking small sips of water to make it last longer, Eva tells us what happened: Ms. Samson arranged through Clarence’s brother, Frederick, to visit Eva in custody. Of course, she didn’t visit under her own identity, but rather, as Eva’s grandmother. Frederick gave Eva the message that she was to transition with Ms. Samson’s help during the visit; she was needed for the Final Battle. Ms. Samson would be left behind in the cell.
Knowing what she does about the Seers, Smith has been fully aware of Ms. Samson’s importance to us. After all, she was the world’s oldest living Protector. So Smith’s anger over Eva’s disappearance was tempered by her opportunity to execute Ms. Samson.
An elaborate story was broadcast to the media by Smith’s government: Eva was the one behind the switch, having forced her grandmother at knifepoint, to trade places with Eva in order for her to escape. It made the narrative of Eva’s being a cold-blooded terrorist and murderer even more chilling in the eyes of the public. Not only had she killed police officers with her bare hands, she als
o effectively murdered her own granny to obtain freedom.
A heavy blanket of silence fills the room for a few moments. We all take a moment to remember Ms. Samson. The collective sadness is obvious.
“That’s a story filled with plot holes, if I’ve ever heard one,” Lily says. “Smith’s followers will believe anything, won’t they?”
Eva nods. “Yeah, they will. But because everyone in Toronto is terrified due to the water attack, it doesn’t take much at this point to sway even those who hated Smith before. For instance, she kept reminding everyone I was an illegal from Cuba to scare people about CCT refugees, and at the same time she was claiming my abuelita was Ms. Samson. A Jamaican woman.” She rolls her eyes. “Of course, it goes against all common sense, but water is our life force. When that’s threatened, people get desperate. Common sense: gone.” She snaps her fingers above her head to emphasize her point.
“And now it’s happening here as well. A water crisis in a city of ten million plus,” I say with a nod toward the window. I notice it’s covered by a thick black opaque blind — the type that doesn’t allow any light in or out. Whoever designed these Seer safe houses thought them out well.
“Clarence said there were raids throughout London today and Seers were getting arrested, yeah?” Susie says. “I wonder if we’re being scapegoated for the reservoirs being contaminated.”
My fingers touch the soft leather of the satchel. I wonder if the ring is pulsating away in the pocket I zipped it into. Just the thought makes me shudder. There’s something about its power, about its energy, that makes me realize how possessing this ring can corrupt a person. Just like it did to Solomon. Though I am not looking forward to touching it again, I am eager to get it back into the wall.
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