"What do you mean?"
"Well, the one thing I remember clearly from Grandy's stories is this phrase: The Core lives. Now, what on earth do you think that could mean?"
"I have no idea, ma'am." Rosie finally said. The old woman soon started speaking about all kinds of things, to which Rosie seemed to pay rapt attention. It was all a blur for Lys since she was stuck on the words of the elder's deceased Grandy. 'So the Core lives, huh?' she thought to herself. 'I think I understand now.'
Chapter 13
The rebels returned sooner than Lys expected. However, she was not quite as surprised as the rest of the families, thanks to Rosie. She did wince when she saw the condition of the group. Most of them were in pain, and/or scorched to some degree. Polly had some burns on her knees, and Watts had some on his calf. Mason seemed to have gotten the brunt of it on his back.
"What happened?" she asked worriedly, as soon as she made her way through the crowd.
"They set a trap for us. We should have known better. As self-absorbed and frivolous they may be, even the Haven dwellers know better than to just leave their important buildings unguarded after an assault. We might not have made it, if this guy hadn't been alert." Polly says this as she looks towards her brother. "I hear you gave him the heads up."
"But he still got burned."
"That was my fault. I was shielding someone." Mason says with some difficulty.
"... So, when you're feeling better, do you want to spend the day with me?"
"The whole day? Sweetness, we got important things to do, Mason doesn't have time for a playdate."
"You're 'important things' almost got him killed, I think he can have one day off."
"Okay, you need to ..."
"Polly!" Mason rasped. "Just one day, what harm can it do?"
"Mason, it's only a matter of time before they retaliate. Every second we waste is ..."
"Is Rosie here?" He interrupts.
Lys nods. "She should be here soon." Sure enough, the girl in question joins them in that second.
"I would have been here sooner, but I went with ... a friend, to pick up some sleep drought and an ointment for your burns. My friend and her siblings are handing the ointment out to your comrades as we speak." As the three of them looked around they saw Raye, Ty, and Mia handing out little jars to the various rebels. Raye and Ty exchanged some small talk with them as they handed out their gifts. Mia just dropped the jars in their hands and moved to the next person.
"Thanks for this, Rosie. Hey settle a debate for us, if I take a day off, will I doom our rebellion?"
"You're putting your faith in a child?"
"A clairvoyant child." Lys corrects. "Now do you want to hear what she has to say or not?"
Polly just puts her hands up in exasperation. "Okay, I'll bite. What's going to happen if I let him have his break?"
"Well, I can't tell you in so many words ..." Polly scoffs. "But nobody suffers from this decision."
"Really? That's the best you can give me?"
"I get the feeling you doubt my abilities. You've seen people move things with their minds, and yet you don't believe in clairvoyance?"
"Well the difference is, I've actually seen what these people can do. I've just heard you say things that could go either way."
"And yet, I'm never wrong."
Polly is about to retort when Mason speaks up again. "Will you stop picking fights with 12-year old girls, and just give me the day off?"
"To be fair, I won't be turning 12 for another 3 weeks."
"If you're so concerned about me wasting time, you can come with us and ensure that I don't gravely offend you with my relaxing." Polly growls in annoyance but doesn't refuse his request either. After insisting on transporting them home, the Keid siblings turned in to rest. Lys and Rosie walked back home silently.
"What do you want for your birthday?"
"You don't need to worry about that."
"I see."
"... Are you going to tell him?"
"What happens if I do?"
"He'll slow you down."
"But you still want me to tell him?"
"Didn't you want him to talk to you?"
"Maybe I'm still a bit angry about that."
"You know that makes you very childish?"
"Well, I am a child." Rosie smiles as she nods in response. "Is there something you want to do before ... you know."
"... Can we leave?"
"Hmm?"
"Not forever, I just want to be above water again. For a little bit."
"... I'm not sure I can do that. I'm not strong enough."
"I think you are, or I wouldn't ask you."
"Well, if you say so."
She closes her eyes briefly trying to make a construct. She tries to emulate the shapes she saw the volunteers make as they left Gentry, but something keeps on tripping her up.
"Don't try to make it like them, think of something you're used to."
Something she's used to. All she usually made was platforms, or walls for 'Ghost Maze'. She decides to focus on past games, how she would sometimes get a little competitive, make the mazes a tad too difficult. On cue, inspiration hits.
"Stand beside me." She says as she forms a platform. Once Rosie has joined her, she forms three walls. Then, ever so slightly, she makes one more wall and a top platform to boot. Once her construct is completed, the two girls take to the air. If anyone notices them pass through the barrier, no one stops them. Another few minutes, and they break the surface of the lake. Lys dissolves the roof, before taking them to dry land. She looks around for something that could alert the Haven to their presence, but is relieved to find nothing.
"Did you know this is the first time I've stood on real land. At least land that isn't submerged." Rosie informs her.
"What about the day we escaped?"
"I was still in the cage, remember?"
"Right."
"This might be the only moment I'm not confined somewhere."
"How do you mean?"
"I was stuck in a cage for most of my life. Then I was trapped underwater, and soon I'll be locked up with the other clairvoyants."
"You know, living underwater is not so bad."
"I know, it just seems like my life has a pattern."
"I suppose ... Hey, do you ever wonder what our parents are doing?"
"Not really. From what I hear, shore children are mostly orphans."
"Mostly means some of us aren't."
"Yes, that would be true. But I don't want to think about being abandoned. I'm a bit touchy about that right now."
"I know." They pause to watch a bird fly across the sky. "If you ever run into my mother or someone, can you tell them I'm okay? That I'm happy?"
"I will."
"... And the others can you ...?"
"I've got it covered."
"Thank you. I'm sorry I can't get you anything for your birthday."
"I didn't get you anything either." They laugh about this briefly, then settle to just looking around. After about an hour they return.
___
The ointment works wonders. It's not two weeks before Mason and the other burnt rebels have recovered. Lys delivers sleep drought for him every day, during this time. Polly receives her reluctantly, but acts civil. Once Mason can move without wincing, Lys comes with the usual drought to pick him up. She also brings along Raye and Ty, who insisted on coming since they knew all the fun things to do around town. Rosie was invited as well, but she declined.
"I'll catch up with you later." she whispered at Lys as they left the house. She tried not to dwell on it. For now, her focus was on having a fun day with her friends, and Polly if she decided to come. Apparently, she did agree to joining them, which Lys wasn't sure if she was happy about. Either way, she was determined to not let this dampen her mood.
"So, how are we going to throw perfectly good time for strategizing down the drain?" Polly opened with. Remaining optimistic was going to be challenging.
"Just follow us. My brother and I, know all the best food places. We promise you will have the best time ever."
"I won't hold my breath."
Mason shook his head in exhaustion. "Don't let her get to you. Polly has never known how to relax. Just pretend you don't know her." He whispered to Lys.
"I heard that!" Polly yelled.
The first ten minutes was indeed tense. Yet after they visited their fourth food stall, Polly had considerably decreased her unpleasantness. She was all but eager to hit the next food stall.
"I'm glad you've come around, Polly. But, don't you guys want to do something other than eat all day?" Mason suggested.
"What else would we do?" Ty asked.
"You could always find your girlfriend." Raye said teasingly.
"Shut up!"
"No but seriously, we've got the whole day to do anything we want. Now I know that's pretty much everyday for you two ..."
"Hey!" Ty protests.
"Like your day is completely busy!" Raye counters.
"...But there must be something we could do." Mason finishes.
"Idea!" Raye yelled. Then she held up a finger as a way to ask for patience. Suddenly, a girl popped into being. Mason, Lys, and Polly were startled.
"Where ... How ... What is ...?" Polly sputtered before gathering herself. "How did she just get here?!"
"Oh, sorry. Should have warned you. This is Brina. She can teleport. Brina, these are Mason, Lys, and Polly."
"Hey." Brina said casually.
"How did you know to come here, Brina?" Mason asked.
"Telepath Grapevine." She responded.
"Ahh." most of them said, nodding in understanding. Polly was still a bit perplexed.
"This place is so weird." She muttered.
"So, not that it isn't nice to meet your friends, but why did you ask for me, Raye?"
"Oh, I wanted to set up a game of Seeking."
"Ah, I see. Do you have your items?"
"Not yet, just give me second." She then faced the others. "Are there any stuff you guys would be willing to part with for a short time?" the group looked at each other uncertainly. "It's for a game!"
"What kind of game?" Lys asked.
"Seeking! Weren't you listening? Oh right, you weren't there when we learned how to play this game. Okay, this is how the game goes. The competitors, that's us, ask a teleporter ..."
"That's me!" Brina adds helpfully.
"To hide a few items within walking distance of us. Then we each go searching for the items. Now there is usually one less item than competitors, this way we have a clear loser. The winner is the first one to find an item, who also gets to determine the punishment for the loser."
"I suppose I could go for that." Polly said. Raye smiled excitedly.
"And while we're at it, why don't we play for keeps?"
"No! Screw you, I'm not playing for keeps!" Ty protested.
"Okay, now I kinda want to play for keeps." Mason said bemusedly.
"I'd just like to know what it means." Lys said.
"It means, that at the end of the game, instead of returning the items to their owners, the competitor who found the item can keep it."
"Ooo, now I want to play for keeps too." Polly said.
"And we've got a majority! Now hand over your stuff."
"Why don't you hand in anything?"
" 1. It was my idea. 2. We need one less items than participants, otherwise it defeats the purpose of the game. And finally, I'm older than you, and you're a dumb-ass."
"Well you're a ..."
As they two bickered, the other three contemplated what to give up. In about five minutes the group had their items. A hunting knife from Polly. "I've got plenty lying around at home." She said with a shrug.
Lys eagerly submitted her shoes. "I don't really need them, when you think about it." Mason took off an old locket and threw it into the pile. Lys had never noticed him wear it before that day, but was puzzled to see a brief look of dismay on his sister's face. Ty begrudgingly gave over his shirt.
"I better get this back."
"Then you better not suck. Okay, Brina! We're ready!" She said as she handed the items to the teleporter.
"Wait for me to return. Then you can start your search." The group nodded before she disappeared. They waited quietly, Ty with his arms protectively around his chest, for about a minute. "And I'm back. All items will be in an open space, and asking non-players for help or teaming up is forbidden. Once you've gotten a hold of your item, think of my name and I'll bring you here. Happy Hunting!" And off they went. Lys more or less floated to avoid the gravelly soil. Sometimes she would see one of her friends, and back into the opposite direction to avoid breaking any rules. At first the game was exciting, but soon she grew frustrated. A walking distance was still a lot of ground to cover—At least to her. When she was about to reach the peak of her tedium, she spotted something shining on a rooftop. She lifted herself to have a closer look, and found it to be Mason's locket, precariously hung on the edge of the roof.
'I wonder if Brina put this here for me purposely?' she pondered as she took a hold of the locket. She then found herself back at the games starting point.
"To answer your question, I didn't have you in mind when I put it there. It's not the hardest house to climb. But I do admit you had the advantage." And then she was gone.
"So you got the locket." Polly suddenly said. "Figures."
"What do you mean, 'Figures'?" Lys asked once she faced the older girl, who carried her shoes in her hand.
"I just mean, the way you moon after my brother, it's natural that you would wind up with his belonging."
"Why do you make things weird all the time?"
"Sorry, I promised him I'd be nice ... So, wanna hear about that locket?"
"I guess,” she shrugged. “I've never seen it before."
"That's because I had it up till now. Well, back when we were younger it belonged to him too, I've just carried it with me these past couple of years. It comforted me." Polly sighs at the old memory. Lys waits for her to continue. "Mason doesn't remember our parents. He was very young when they passed away. Don't worry, it wasn't anything terrible. They just got sick. A lot of people got sick, but that's not the point. The point is, he grew up being very skittish. Me, I'm not an easy person to be around. And I'm sure being raised by me was anything but fun. But back then, he was prone to nightmares. Would wake up screaming, sometimes blowing our cover. I tried to get him to stop. Begged him, yelled at him, tried to bargain with him. Nothing seemed to work. One day I got so angry, I told him I wished he had died instead of our parents. As soon as I said it, I wanted to take it back, but it was too late. Ironically, that finally did the trick. He stopped screaming in the night. However, he had started crying. Softly, of course, as if he was afraid of me hating him more if he was heard. At that time he was still too young to go foraging with me, so I would leave him in a secure spot and go on my own. That's where I found the locket. Usually, I wouldn't look at stuff like that, focusing on finding something to eat and maybe some old bandages. But that night, for whatever reason, I couldn't keep my eyes of that thing. So I took it with me. I gave it to him as a peace offering. 'I know I'm not doing a good job, but I do like you.' I remember saying. 'So, next time you have a bad dream, or you think the dogs are coming to get you, when you wake up and see this locket, remember that I'm here to protect you, and that I don't want you dead.' He never screamed or cried after that. He was six then, and I was ten. He wouldn't take that damn thing off until he was thirteen. Then he would only wear it in his sleep. I carried it during the day, which is why I still had it with me when we were separated." She pauses to breathe out. "It was the only gift I ever gave him." She says wistfully.
"... Do you want to trade?"
Polly contemplates the offer briefly, then shakes her head. "I believe that would break the spirit of playing for keeps. Besides, I'm sure I'll find something to do with these tiny shoes."
She responds jovially. "... By the way, thank you for allowing me to tag along. I know you probably didn't want to."
"It's okay. You're important to Mason, so I had to try to make peace with you somehow. I'm glad it worked out like this."
"Me too. If you had gotten my knife, now that would be a different story." For the first time since they met each other, the two shared a laugh. While they were still laughing, Mason was delivered, carrying Polly's knife.
"Well, look at you two, being left to yourselves and not killing each other. I'm so proud of you."
"Why Mason! The way you talk, this young girl could be lead into believing I'm ... difficult!"
"At least she wouldn't be lead astray." Polly gasped in mock indignation, and smacked him on the back, causing him to hiss. Although his burns had been mostly healed, it still smarted slightly when touched. Polly muttered a sorry, as Raye was brought into the mix, waving her brother's shirt triumphantly.
"Aw, man! You got the knife? I was hoping to get that. I'd ask for a trade, but even I don't want this dumb shirt, so I don't see why you'd give up a perfectly good knife for it."
"It's not that the shirt is terrible, it's just not my size."
"Hah, yeah. My brother is tiny."
As if on cue, Ty was delivered. "Dammit, why do you have my shirt?"
"Hey, I'm disappointed too. This is probably the worst keepsake in the history of the game."
"So will you give it back to me?"
"No, it's mine now."
Ty groaned. "Does it ever get better?" He asks Mason.
"No, but you learn to lower your expectations."
"Hey, who is the one who's been tirelessly searching for me for the past 3 years? Face it, guys. We older sister's may annoy you, but you would be helpless without us."
"Yeah, you loooooovvve me!" Raye said as she squeezed her brother.
"For goodness sake, please tell me she wasn't the first to return."
"No, that would be me."
"Oh goody! Now you get to think of a punishment for my brotha!"
"Oh geez, I forgot about this part. I don't know, pass?"
"Boo! You must think of a penalty. It must be funny, it must be embarrassing! Unfortunately, it also must be safe. And he has to do it today! Or else!"
Sleep (Portraits of Gentry Book 1) Page 10
