by Natasha Ngan
Mika’s eyes were so wide now they could have been seen from the moon. ‘Oooooh!’ she breathed gleefully.
Seven gulped.
Loe’s face drained to a cold, expressionless mask. ‘I’d chuck you out for that,’ she hissed, ‘but I know you don’t have anywhere else to go. It’s not like your precious North girlfriend and her family will welcome you with open arms into their house, is it?’ Throwing one final look of contempt his way, she strode past to the front of the bus. ‘Come on, Mika,’ she called over her shoulder. ‘Let’s go see what we can scrounge up from the rubbish fields at Greenwich. At least there’ll be less of a stink than there is in here with him around.’
‘That was so cool!’ Mika whispered as she edged past Seven.
He didn’t return her smile. When they were gone, he climbed up the stairs to the upper deck, muttering angrily under his breath. Dolly had been clear enough the other night about him being no good for Alba. He didn’t need bloody Loe telling him too.
As Seven got to the top of the stairs, he caught sight of a gold package lying on the floor under the front seat. His breath hitched in his throat. Alba’s present.
He crouched down to pick it up. The embossed pattern swirled across the wrapping paper was velvety under his fingertips. He turned it over in his hands. There was something hard-edged inside.
‘Well, it’d be rude not to open it,’ he mumbled to himself, and before he could change his mind, Seven tore the package open.
Something small and plastic fell out. His heart skipped a beat as he saw what it was: a toothbrush.
60
ALBA
Dolly and Alba walked in silence through Hyde Park Estate. It was a clear morning, bright and cold, though clouds were banking on the horizon. Their feet crunched on the gravel path. Pulled from their trees by the growing wind, golden-brown leaves curled through the air around them, a whirl of winter colours.
‘What lessons do you have at school today, then?’
Alba glanced sideways at Dolly, who was watching her with that same tentative look she’d had ever since their argument the night she’d been to visit Seven. Scowling, Alba burrowed deeper into the warmth of her fur cowl that was slung round her neck over her school coat and uniform, and continued on in silence. Their breath billowed out in front of them in soft white clouds.
‘You can’t ignore me forever, you know,’ Dolly pressed.
Want to bet? Alba thought.
‘I know you’re not happy with what I did,’ Dolly went on, ‘but I hope you’ll realise it was the best thing to do.’
No, I won’t.
‘Now you can focus on studying to get the grades you need to go to university.’
What’s the point? I’m not going, am I?
‘Maybe your parents will reconsider your marriage to Thierry if they see how well you’re doing at school.’
My parents reconsider something? Hah.
‘Soon you’ll forget all about Seven –’
‘No, I won’t!’
Alba’s shout rolled through the sleepy morning silence of the grounds, shocking Dolly into stillness. Alba hadn’t meant to speak, but she couldn’t carry on listening to her handmaid’s pointless words.
‘He was my friend,’ Alba said. ‘The only one I’ve ever had besides you. And you drove him away.’
Dolly’s face tightened. ‘It wasn’t safe for you –’
‘That’s all everyone seems to care about! Keeping me safe. Well, what’s the point of being safe when you’re not free?’
Dolly opened her mouth to say something, but then her gaze was snagged away from Alba. Surprise flashed in her eyes.
‘Seven,’ she breathed.
Alba rolled her eyes. ‘Oh, what now?’
‘Seven,’ Dolly said again, shaking her head. ‘He’s here.’
Alba spun around. She let out a gasp as she recognised the tall, gangly figure stumbling across the grounds towards them. He was wearing the same maroon jumper and faded black jeans she’d last seen him in, the wind lifting his messy hair into his eyes. A cap was pulled down low over his head. The long shadows cast by the dawn sun half hid him as he slunk from tree to tree.
As Alba watched him approach, Seven lifted his head and his gaze caught hers, and just like that her heart was racing.
‘What on earth … ?’ she breathed.
Dolly strode to meet him. She grabbed his arm and yanked him over to a hedge of blackthorns to one side of the path.
‘What are you doing here?’ she demanded. ‘I told you not to come here again.’
Seven’s lips twisted in a grin as he shrugged her off. ‘Yeah, well, I’ve always had a tough time following orders.’ He looked past Dolly to Alba, who was frozen to the spot, his eyes travelling down her blue coat and the silk of her school-issue tights. He cocked an eyebrow. ‘Hey, Princess. Looking good.’
Alba flushed. Though she wrapped her arms tightly around herself, she couldn’t help but smile, a warm rush of pleasure shooting through her. She moved closer, but Dolly held out an arm.
‘Seven, this is stupidly dangerous, being here in broad daylight. Anyone could see you.’
He grimaced. ‘Trust me, I know. Look, I heard what you said, but something’s happened and I need Alba’s help.’
Something about the way he said it, so matter of factly, made Alba’s stomach spin.
‘I told you, Seven. She can’t help you any more.’
‘Yes, I can,’ Alba said quickly. She knew whatever had happened was serious if it had made Seven cross into North in the daytime. She frowned at him. ‘What’s happened?’
Digging in his trouser pocket, Seven pulled something out. She recognised it as one of the DSCs he stored his memories on. She reached out and took it, her eyes scanning the label.
‘It was the only skid left after the London Guard raided my memorium,’ Seven said, voice urgent. ‘Kola gave it to me last night. And I didn’t think anything of it at first, but then I saw the date and thought –’
‘That it’s a message,’ Alba finished in a whisper.
‘What’s a message?’ Dolly asked.
Alba showed her the label, then turned back to Seven. ‘Maybe there’s a spy in the London Guard,’ she said breathlessly. ‘Someone working for the people who are trying to uncover The Memory Keepers’ secrets!’
Seven gaped at her. ‘The Memory what?’
‘Oh.’ Alba glanced sideways at Dolly. ‘That’s what TMK stands for, Seven. The Memory Keepers. And this memory … someone planted it at your flat somehow.’ She gasped. ‘Kola could even be in on it! The date and location on the label are telling us to meet them today!’
He nodded. ‘That’s what I thought. So I came to see if you would come with me.’
‘Absolutely not,’ Dolly said sternly before Alba could answer. ‘This is far too dangerous. Your reckless behaviour has gone on long enough. It’s not safe, the two of you probing into The Memory Keepers. Have you even considered that this message could be a trap?’
Alba felt a flicker of nerves at her words. It did all seem rather too convenient. But she pushed the thought away. What other choice did they have but to trust the person who’d sent them the message if they wanted to find out more about TMK?
‘Dolly,’ she said urgently, ‘please. Seven’s here now. We can help him.’ She bit her lip, voice lowering. ‘This isn’t some game, or because we’re curious. This is about finding out the truth about Seven’s life – and mine. I’m fed up of all these secrets. We have to know what’s really going on.’
Dolly hesitated. Though she still looked worried, she paused, seeming to consider Alba’s words. After a while she said with a sigh, ‘All right. We’ll go.’
Alba threw her arms round her neck. ‘Thank you!’ she cried.
‘Don’t thank me just yet,’ Dolly said sternly, untangling herself from Alba. ‘Because after today, that’s it. No more night-time meet-ups or trips into South. I mean it, Alba, Seven.’ Her eyes flashed hard. �
�After this, the two of you will be saying goodbye for good and going your separate ways.’
61
SEVEN
They snuck back into the house through the servants’ entrance and crossed the empty dormitories to the handmaids’ private rooms. Luckily the servants were busy with their morning chores and they didn’t run into anyone.
Dolly’s room was small but beautifully finished. Draped silk curtains hung either side of the windows. The bed was covered in patterned sheets and blankets. A fluffy fur rug lay across bleached wooden floorboards and strings of lights encased in rose-shaped fabric petals were strung down the wall behind the bed.
‘Wait here a minute,’ Dolly said after letting them in and shutting the curtains to stop anyone looking through. ‘I’ll call the school and tell them you’re too ill to attend today, Alba. And I need to find Seven something to wear before we go.’ A touch of kindness entered her voice as she looked over at him. ‘I’ll get some food from the kitchen as well. You must be hungry.’
As if answering her, his stomach let out a growl.
Her eyes softened. ‘That’s a yes, then.’ Dolly moved to the door. When she looked back, the tiniest hint of colour pinked her cheeks. ‘I hope I don’t need to say this, but I expect you both to still be fully clothed by the time I get back.’
‘Dolly!’
Letting out a little laugh at Alba’s horrified expression, she went out and shut the door.
Now they were alone, the room fell into a silence tenser than Seven had ever felt before. There was something electric in the air.
He sat down on the edge of the bed. Rubbing the back of his neck, he looked everywhere but at Alba. Why was he only realising now how pretty she looked today, with her hair tumbling round her shoulders in dark red waves, and the silk of her school-dress clinging to her body?
‘I’m glad you came,’ Alba said, avoiding his eyes.
Seven coughed. ‘Yeah, well, we’ve discovered all of this TMK stuff together so far … ’ He took a deep breath, then let it out in a puff. ‘I – I got your present.’
Her eyes widened. ‘I hope you weren’t offended,’ she said quickly. ‘It’s just, you know, you told me you didn’t have one, so –’
‘It’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me,’ Seven interrupted her quietly.
Smiling, Alba moved closer. She perched on the edge of the bed, so close to him he could feel the soft heat unfurling from her, smell the floral scent of her skin.
‘That girl – the one you were staying with.’ Her eyes grazed his before she blushed and looked away, twisting a strand of hair round her fingers. ‘Were you two, um … more than friends?’
‘Loe and me?’ Seven snorted. ‘No way! Even saying we’re friends is weird. We’re just tied together by being skid-thieves, you know?’
‘What was it like?’ Alba asked after a pause. ‘Living like that, I mean.’
He shrugged. ‘Pretty crap. Though the stealing part isn’t half bad. It’s fun. Sneaking into houses in North, getting to see into their lives … it’s just a different world.’
‘I’m not sure I want to be a part of that world any more.’
Alba’s voice was a whisper now, skimming across his skin. She moved closer. Her fingertips – pink and polished – were just a breath away from his, and he wondered if she was waiting for him to touch them, wrap his hand round hers.
She looked down. ‘Do you think – do you think we could … ?’
Heart racing, Seven dipped his head towards her. ‘What?’ he croaked.
Her eyes flicked up to meet his. It was like a shock of electricity, or fire, or like a thousand stars had suddenly fallen and were burning in her eyes.
Their faces moved closer.
Effing hell, she was beautiful, Seven thought. And she smelled like summer and autumn all at once. The way she was looking at him … it felt like a beginning, like the start of something unimaginable.
Biting his lip, he lifted a trembling hand towards her cheek –
The door opened.
‘I managed to get one of the male servant’s spare uniforms and brought you some – oh.’
They jumped apart as Dolly walked into the room carrying a tray loaded with rolls of bread, jams and butter, and a steaming mug of tea. Clothes were tucked under the crook of one arm.
‘Oh,’ she repeated, eyes narrowing.
Alba sprang up. ‘Thank you!’ she said quickly, brushing down her clothes and rushing to the door. ‘Um, I’ll just – I’ll just go wait in my room now.Come for me when you’re ready to go.’
She was blushing a deep, beautiful purple. Seven could feel himself blushing too (though he was pretty sure he wasn’t doing it nearly as elegantly). He rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding Dolly’s accusatory glare.
When no one said anything, Alba sang, ‘Well, bye!’ Glancing once more at Seven with that look that made his insides feel like they were being kicked in the best possible way, she backed out of the door and pulled it shut behind her.
Dolly walked over and handed Seven the tray of food. ‘I thought you were hungry,’ she said coolly.
‘Er, yeah. I am.’
‘Yes,’ she said under her breath as she turned away. ‘Hungry for something, anyway.’
62
ALBA
Outside Dolly’s room, she stopped for breath, clutching a hand to her chest where her heart was beating so hard she worried it would burst through her and fly up and away.
Something had almost happened just then.
The thing –
The kissing thing.
Alba didn’t know if she was ready. Actually, no, she was quite sure she wasn’t ready (how on earth did you kiss someone? Whose lips moved, and when? And – she shuddered – what in god’s name did you do with your tongue?). But what she did know was that every time Seven looked at her, something just felt right inside her, like a piece of a puzzle was settling into place.
But that was surely just because they were friends … wasn’t it?
She hurried off to her room, thoughts spinning with her heart.
It didn’t help that the only other friend she had to compare her feelings with was Dolly, and even though she loved her very much, Alba knew for certain she didn’t want to kiss her.
63
SEVEN
He felt completely out of place in the suit. His usually scruffy hair was combed back, a peaked cap pressed low over his forehead. He wore the servants’ uniform of white shirt and trousers, both impeccably clean, the White family crest stitched to the breast pocket. There was another crest emblazoned on his long black overcoat.
All of it scratched. And the shirt buttoned up too high. And the blazer was too tight on his shoulders. And it was all white for crying out loud; how in the world was he not gonna get it dirty? But because it was keeping him safe, Seven forced himself to bear it.
They’d taken a cab from the house to Holborn Hill. It was a posh residential area near the Glass District, the city’s business centre. Modern buildings stood tall on either side of the steep, tree-lined streets.
‘We’re almost there,’ Dolly said as they walked down the sloping road.
Seven looked away quickly every time someone walked past, trying to hide his face. His whole body felt tense and alert, waiting for the second someone would stop him and he’d hear a shout, then the wail of the London Guard sirens.
‘It’s all right,’ Alba said beside him. She seemed to sense his nerves. Before they’d left, she’d changed out of her school clothes into a knitted grey jumper and maroon tights under a thick coat. ‘No one’s going to notice who you are in that uniform.’
‘Well, I guess it’s cheaper than plastic surgery,’ he said, and she laughed, making him smile.
‘Here it is.’
Dolly led them round the corner to a long street at the bottom of the hill. A quiet road ran between the backs of tall buildings. A rust-bitten street-sign read: GROVEWOOD CLOSE.
‘Last c
hance to turn back,’ Dolly said, in a voice that said, And I wish you would.
Alba rolled back her shoulders. Giving Dolly a defiant look, she stalked past, starting down the road. Dolly raised her eyebrows at Seven.
‘It’s best to let her get her own way,’ he muttered, shrugging apologetically. ‘That girl’s a terror when she’s angry.’ And he hurried off after Alba, who was already disappearing round a curve in the road.
As he followed her, a house came into view. It was large, set back deep in unkempt grounds, tangles of ivy crawling over worn bricks and cracked window-frames. A set of iron gates hung open as though waiting for them.
‘The Manor,’ said Alba as Seven stopped beside her outside the gates.
Dolly approached, frowning. ‘I don’t like this. Something doesn’t feel right.’
Even though he got that feeling too, Seven ignored her. They were here now; he didn’t want to turn back when they’d come so close. He led them through the gates.
The drive stopped short of the house. They stepped off onto the gravel path, stones crunching underfoot. The air was still. The business of the city felt a million miles away; it was like stepping into a bubble, a pocket of strange silence. Ahead, the house was dark. Curtains were drawn across most of the windows and the ones that weren’t covered looked into shadowy, unlit rooms.
Chills pricked across Seven’s skin, but he wasn’t actually scared until they reached the front doors.
They were open.
Alba froze beside him. They stared at the peeling wood of the doors, swung slightly ajar.
‘Something’s wrong,’ she whispered.
‘I know.’
Seven edged closer. Shadows hung in the grand hallway beyond. He pushed open the doors slowly and they gave way with a creak. The back of his neck prickled as he stepped into the hall, treading lightly on the worn wooden floors. Years of skid-thieving had taught him enough to know that his instincts were telling him to get the hell out, and fast.
