I opened my mouth. The hallway door opened to admit Ryker, of all people. Drew whipped around at the sound behind him, but he immediately relaxed again.
“You’re both free to go.” Ryker’s unexpected announcement didn’t seem real.
Drew folded his arms across his chest. “What?”
“How?” Could today get any weirder? I swear I’m still caught in a strange dream. How can I keep up with all these unusual occurrences?
Not put off by our differing questions, Ryker answered both of us with one response. “When I found out about your detention, I came straight over here to get to the bottom of it. Once I explained why you both went to the slave quarters, on my authority, they couldn’t charge you with trespass or assault. Please try to stay out of trouble for the next little bit. I’m not sure how convinced Silas was with my explanation.”
“But, we didn’t…” Clara’s hand clasped my knee and squeezed her warning. I noticed her eyes shift over to the still-open door where the guards stood with rapt attention.
“Thank you, Ryker. Unfortunately, I’m not sure if Kat is ready to go yet. She sustained quite a head injury while in the peace keepers’ custody. I’d like to monitor her for a bit longer if you don’t mind.”
Ryker’s warning had more urgency than even Clara knew. I cleared my throat. “I’m much better now that you’ve given me that injection. I’ll call you if I feel anything wrong. Will that be okay?” I scooted off the table, holding onto the edge as I found my equilibrium once again. I’d be less convincing if I lost my balance and fell on the floor at Clara’s feet.
Clara clearly doubted my statement. “Only if you’re sure. I’ll call you tonight to check up on you before my shift is over.”
Did I detect expectation in her tone? Maybe. “Okay. Thanks again for everything, Clara.” Carefully concealing the signet in my closed fist, I made sure none of the chain showed. Just to be safe, I shoved my hand into my pocket. I swear an electric pulse emanated from the strange little object. I could hardly wait to investigate it in the privacy of my bedroom.
Raising her eyebrows, Clara shifted herself a little closer to me. “Keep me posted on any updates. Okay?”
Of course, she’d want to know what I discovered. It had been her family heirloom, after all. I nodded, hiding my cringe as the world began to shift because of that ill-advised movement. I stepped over to where Drew stood next to Ryker and grabbed his arm to steady myself. I hoped I didn’t look like a drunk as my stride seemed a little less than straight.
My movement ended Drew’s hushed conversation with Ryker. What were they plotting? Still, I wanted to get out of here and away from whatever Silas had in mind for us. “Are you ready?”
“I’ve been ready for over an hour.” Drew’s teasing response seemed rather forced.
Wow, I’d been out that long? That wasn’t good. No wonder Clara wants to keep tabs on me. Old health class lessons taught us about the seriousness of head injuries, especially those which caused extended periods of unconsciousness. My little incident fell right into the dangerous category.
Before we exited the room, Clara moved beside my ear to whisper. “Not everyone here is pleased about what you’re planning with the tourney. Watch your step, and don’t trust anyone new.”
I had no time to react before Drew pulled me away and out of the room. Clara had risked a lot just to have a few minutes alone with me. Hopefully, I could make it count.
All I had to do was figure out how the signet worked and then save the world. No problem, right? A chuckle escaped my lips before I could stop it.
“You find the strangest things funny, Kat. What is it now?” Ryker whispered to me.
“Nothing. I’m just nervous, I guess.”
“Clara ordered strict bedrest for you for the rest of the weekend. Do I need to let your parents know, or will you be adult enough to take care of yourself?” Ryker’s eyes narrowed as he stared at me when we reached the exit to the research building.
I hesitated too long.
Drew stepped in to assure Ryker. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she gets plenty of rest. In fact, I think Kat’s having a sleepover with my sister tonight.”
“Good thinking. She shouldn’t be alone for the next twenty-four hours. If I didn’t know better, I’d say someone planned that little mob a little too conveniently.”
“Hmm.” Drew nodded.
Ryker looked uncomfortable about my prognosis. After another moment, he sighed. “I’ve got to head back and placate Silas for a little longer. Have a good evening.”
Ryker turned to leave, passing the troop of peace keepers who had brought us in for questioning. He nodded curtly at them, but never paused on his way by them.
“I’m going to keep my eye on her,” a man’s voice spoke behind us just before the door closed.
My whole body stiffened with the implied threat. “Did you hear that?” I whispered to Drew.
“Just keep walking. We can talk about this later.”
The prospect of walking all the way home seemed terribly daunting. All I wanted was to take a really long nap and forget all about the troubles of this world. Yet the object in my pocket seemed to tingle with an urgent need to be discovered. Sleep would have to wait.
“You can lean on me, Kat.” Drew put his arm around my waist until I felt lighter on my feet.
I wished I could enjoy this moment. Having Drew’s arms around me had always been a fantasy of mine, but not under these circumstances. Even with Clara’s fancy drugs, so many parts of my body either hurt or felt like they didn’t belong to me.
Chapter 11
A HAZE SURROUNDED my thoughts until one thing came into fast focus—the unmistakable slapping sound of someone running behind us. Drew stiffened into a defensive posture and tightened his hold on me. Several seconds passed before I even registered the possible threat coming at us.
Drew shifted himself between me and whoever was coming, effectively blocking my view. In the next second. Drew’s body relaxed. He must recognize the person. Then I heard her voice but had trouble understanding why she had come to us.
“Oh, my gosh. Thank goodness I found you in time. You can’t go home, either one of you. Quick, come with me!” Clara pulled Drew’s sleeve in an attempt to shift his direction and hurry him along.
“What’s going on? What’re you talking about?” Drew firmly planted his feet.
I stared between the two people next to me. I wanted to go to sleep. How come I couldn’t go home? Why would Clara come after us? Why was all of this have happening right now?
“Please, Drew. I promise I’ll answer all your questions, but we don’t have time right now. I’ll explain everything once we get to my house.”
I leaned around Drew’s side to make eye contact with Clara. “Is your house close?” I’d do just about anything if it meant I could sit down and relax.
“It’s closer than either of your houses, even though it’s in Dome 4.” Her head whipped around to check our surroundings.
The way she kept nervously looking behind her started to make me feel on edge as well. I touched Drew’s arm and said, “What could it hurt? Besides, I’ve got a few questions I’d like answered. This might be our only chance before the tournament.”
Drew hesitated, his body tensing and his expression looking like he wanted to refuse, but he must have seen something in my face which changed his mind. “Okay, but we’ll leave the moment you’re feeling better.”
Drawing me in closer to his side, Drew and I turned to follow Clara. No sooner had we left the street we were on than we heard a group of men shouting and carrying on, but their jeering didn’t sound happy, it sounded riotous.
Even though we couldn’t hear most of what they said, we did make out my name along with their tones. Clara had definitely rescued us. If only we could get to her house undiscovered, then I might have the opportunity to get some much-needed rest.
For the convenience of all the people, the research building sto
od nearest to the access routes to the other domes. Passing through the tunnel leading into Dome 4, I noticed a complete lack of any guards. I don’t think I could ever recall a time when the guards weren’t present. Were these guards heading to my house to cause trouble?
The streets of Dome 4 were abandoned, and I got my first look at how these people lived. Until recently, I don’t know why it never occurred to me that their living situations could be so drastically different. The warren of streets seemed so haphazard that I wondered at the planners and their ability to maximize the living space.
Once I got my first look at the housing, I understood where they’d saved space. Not only were the houses small, but also crammed together without the benefit of privacy fences. The houses on the ends of the streets had some measure of privacy, and even then only on the one side.
“Not too much farther.” Clara’s assurances came with her lengthening stride, which forced us to move faster.
Her words barely finished before a group rounded the corner in front of us. With only the briefest glimpse, I guessed their numbers to be around ten. By ducking down a different street, we managed to avoid detection, but it delayed our arrival. Clara had worry etched on her face, mirroring the tension in her body.
What if we couldn’t make it to Clara’s house? Was our presence going to endanger Clara as well? What did these people have in mind for Drew and me? I sure didn’t want to find out.
The warren of streets immediately became jumbled in my brain. If I got separated from either Drew or Clara, I knew I wouldn’t be able to navigate my way home easily. Already, I missed the orderliness of Dome 2.
Even as we hurried along, the men’s voices still echoed around us. Relief coursed through me when Clara guided us to the left and to a small house at the end of the street. The streetlamps barely illuminated the narrow sidewalk, and my toe caught in a small crack.
I stumbled, and Drew’s arm pulled me closer. A frightened squeal escaped my lips, quickly stopped as my hand covered my mouth. “I’m sorry,” I whispered to nobody in particular. I wasn’t usually this clumsy, which made me even more wary of my injury.
My head resumed pounding with the same tempo as my heartbeat. The darkened interior of the house kept my headache from getting worse, but it did nothing for my shins, which banged sharply into what must have been a coffee table. My muffled curse at the sudden pain was immediately followed by Drew’s.
He found the same table.
Drew pulled me beside him onto a low, soft couch. I wilted into his side, sighing with relief. I should have felt better after having an hour-long forced nap, but the nauseous feeling returned as I began to relax.
Thank goodness, I had Drew next to me. His presence always made me feel safe, and I wondered if he felt the same way toward me. Had he really kissed me in the alley? Or was I simply delusional from the knock to my head? Obviously, I couldn’t come right out and ask him about it without sounding desperate.
Clara shut the door behind us and moved around the room. Without any warning, Clara turned on a small table lamp. Pain lanced through my head at the unexpected, piercing shaft of light. Belatedly, I shielded my eyes from the onslaught and turned my face into Drew’s chest.
We sat in silence for a few seconds, all of us listening for any voices outside. The crowd on the street had been unrelated to the peace keepers. Fear and worry had clouded our judgment, making us suspect everyone.
My eyes slowly adjusted to the light, allowing me an opportunity to look around Clara’s house. Decorated in bright accent colors against the stark black and white of the furniture and walls, the room appeared as cheerful as Clara herself. Although, one oddity did stand out.
Across from me stood a bookshelf, which held a row of actual books. What subjects did they cover? Where did Clara find them? Clara finally began speaking, and I managed to drag my attention back to the present.
“I’m sorry to scare you both. I just didn’t know what else to do.” Clara shifted her body forward and stared intently at me.
Was she attempting to diagnose my symptoms based on my expressions? Hopefully, I merely looked tired and confused. “What happened after we left you?”
Drew’s hand rubbed up and down my arm, unknowingly helping me to stay focused. My palm rested on his thigh, where I noticed how tensely he sat. His edginess started registering in my scrambled brain, causing me to withdraw my hand so I could attempt to remain focused on Clara’s response.
Affirming something to herself, Clara nodded. “I overheard some of the peace keepers talking. At first, I believed it to be idle chatter until Silas’ name came into it.”
Drew growled. “I knew he’d be behind this.”
“Yes, I believe he is. He’s been pretty vocal about his displeasure in Kat’s interference with this year’s games. Yet I don’t have any concrete evidence that Silas told the men to go after you. Anyway, the men were just getting off work, and they planned to head over to your house.”
“But what did they expect to do? I mean, my parents would keep me safe. They’d never allow a mob to remove me from our house forcibly.”
Clara shook her head sadly. “They wanted to make sure you stayed out of commission until the tourney ended. Besides, how could your parents defend you against the peace keepers? They were still in uniform, and I’m sure they’d say they were acting on orders from their superiors.”
“What? Why would they even care? How do they even know anything about my plan?” My brain could not put together all of the disjointed thoughts.
“As I was trying to tell you before, Kat, word travels fast, especially when someone wants to make changes. Silas has made his opinions on it pretty clear in the research center.”
“So these guys just got it in their heads that they should arrest Kat and me?”
“Not exactly. Not everyone thinks you should be upsetting the balance of the five domes. A portion of them oppose the dragon prophecy, but most of them are just bullies from other domes who want to put you in your place.”
“But they’re peace keepers. They’re supposed to uphold the peace. Why would they be starting a fight with me?” I crossed my arms, trying to hold myself together a little longer. Pulling away from Drew’s grasp, I leaned back on the small couch so I could rest my head and try to ease the incessant pounding.
“It’s because they’re peace keepers that make them believe they have the authority to stop you from causing trouble. Plus, if they thought Silas approved of neutralizing you, then it would make you worth their trouble.”
I rubbed my forehead and groaned in frustration. What was wrong with these people? Did they like living like this? Didn’t they have any dreams for a better future? I’d never understand how people would prefer to live depressed, controlled lives when they could be free.
“So, what’re we supposed to do now?” Drew reached over to grasp my hand.
I kept my eyes closed and my head as still as possible. “I’m not giving up. Just knowing that so many people are against this tells me that I’m doing the right thing. I’m not about to let a bunch of bullies stop me. Besides, the prophecy said it would be a perilous journey.”
“Would anyone like to explain that to me? What is with this prophecy? How come you haven’t said anything about it until today?” Drew moved to turn far enough so he could see my face.
“I didn’t want you to react like this. It’s too important for everyone–”
A fist smacked against the front door. We jumped in fear, instantly silent and looking at one another with wide eyes.
“Open up, Clara!” a man shouted. More pounding immediately followed his order. The whole doorframe shifted with the force of the blows, and we watched in horror.
“Quick, out the back door!” Clara shot up from her chair and pointed toward the kitchen. “Take a right, go past two houses and knock on the back door of the third house. It’s my mom’s. Her name’s Gwen. Just tell her who you are, and she’ll hide you until I can get rid of the
se people.”
Adrenaline gave me enough energy to follow Clara’s terse instructions. Keeping Drew’s hand firmly within my grasp, I led the way through the house. Flashes of light appeared in front of me, causing me to look ahead to the doorway. No sooner had we entered the kitchen than two men appeared at the back door.
Too bad we couldn’t create some sort of diversion to keep everyone safe. Something must have happened outside because both men suddenly turned around to investigate. We had to move now.
Another flash of light appeared, shifting my attention to a possible escape route. We ducked into the hallway, barely avoiding detection from the splintered front door, immediately followed by Clara’s fearful scream.
“We should go back to make sure she’s okay.” I stopped in my tracks and twisted around to go back.
“No!” Drew pulled me back toward the dark hall. “She knew what she was doing when she told us to go. Don’t jeopardize her by being found in her house.”
Glancing over my shoulder one last time, I had to agree with Drew’s reasoning. I saw another door in the hallway. I pulled Drew into a bedroom and over to the window beside the bed. “We can shimmy out the window and sneak around the house.” I slid the window, wincing at the protesting squeal as it inched open. “Give me a lift.”
Drew kneeled and laced his fingers together. I painfully made my way through the window, catching my hip bone on the window sill before awkwardly rolling forward and falling outside onto my feet. Inside, the yelling made me more than nervous. What was taking Drew so long?
I almost stood up to investigate. Then Drew flew over me headfirst before curling into a ball and rotating until he landed on his feet in a puff of dust and a muffled grunt. Where did he learn that move?
I stood up to carefully pull the plasglass closed as quietly as possible. This time I lifted the heavy pane while I pulled to make it almost whisper quiet. Better not to leave an obvious sign of our departure.
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