by Sharon Sant
Xavier and Francois were sitting together on the bench under the trees. Elijah started towards them but, as he drew closer, he could see that they, too, seemed to be involved in a heated discussion. He stopped, unsure whether to disturb them, though now his decision had been made, he wanted to leave as quickly as possible. Xavier noticed him hanging around uncertainly on the lawn and beckoned him forward with a warning look at Francois, who seemed to abandon the argument. Elijah dropped his bag to the floor as he reached them.
‘I see you’re ready to go then?’ Francois inclined his head at the bag.
‘Yeah.’
‘What about the others?’ Xavier asked.
‘I don’t know. Sky wants to.’ Elijah glanced quickly at Francois, feeling an uncomfortable mix of guilt and blazing triumph. His gaze returned to Xavier. ‘They told me you were staying.’
‘How…’ Xavier began. He noticed Francois fidget uncomfortably. ‘Oh.’
‘So, you are staying?’ Elijah pressed.
Xavier nodded.
‘Look,’ Elijah wasn’t quite sure how to begin saying what he wanted to, ‘I know we didn’t always get on, but, well, thanks. For everything.’ Elijah found the words stuck in his throat. Xavier shrugged. ‘I’ll see you later… before we go.’ Elijah swung the bag onto his shoulder and walked slowly across the lawn.
At the summer house, the litter of previous weeks had disappeared and the group’s bags stood neatly in a row, just inside the doors.
‘We’re all going with you!’ Sky said brightly.
‘Well,’ added Jimmy, ‘we looked at our busy schedule and we reckoned we could fit you in.’
Elijah couldn’t help beaming. He didn’t have the words to tell them how much it meant to him. Rosa spared him the trouble of finding them.
‘No point in hanging around. We should go and say our goodbyes.’ She seemed to be forcing a casual air. ‘Did you see Xavier?’
Elijah nodded.
‘And?’
‘He’s staying.’
Rosa strapped on her rucksack and swept out of the doors without another word.
By the time the group had reached the kitchen, Isobel was preparing vegetables with a savage efficiency, slamming down knives and hurling carrots into a colander. Her mutinous expression softened as they filed in.
‘We wanted to say thank you,’ Rosa began, ‘as you can see, we’re all ready to go. I’m sure you’ll be glad to get your house back.’
‘I’ll tell Pierre later.’ Isobel was ushering them out anxiously when Pierre appeared at the door
‘Dr Bettencourt,’ Elijah said as he noticed him enter, ‘we wanted to let you know we were going and to thank –’
Elijah’s sentence was cut short. ‘Sit down for a minute,’ Pierre ordered. Elijah sat obediently at the table, and the others either sat or leaned against the wall when the seats were all taken.
‘If it wasn’t for you and Mrs Bettencourt –’ Sky began earnestly, half wondering if they were being ordered to offer a more formal expression of gratitude.
‘I fulfilled my professional obligation as a doctor. That was all,’ he interrupted, addressing them all pompously, ‘that’s not to say I approved of you. And I haven’t been idle while you have been here.’ There was puzzled silence which allowed him to continue unhindered. ‘Whilst I am honour bound, as a medical professional, to heal the sick, which, in Elijah’s case, I have done, I am not obliged to harbour criminals or to let them back out into the community.’ Elijah had a sinking feeling that he might know what was coming. ‘It seems that young Elijah here has been quite busy. I did a bit of investigation… after all, I have a right to know what sort of company my son has been keeping.’ He looked squarely at Elijah. ‘A boy of your description has been reported fighting, stealing, and is also wanted by the police for questioning in connection with a suspicious death… as is,’ he fixed Rosa with a cold stare, ‘a girl who looks like you.’
Elijah’s mouth gaped. Whatever he had expected to hear it wasn’t this. ‘A death?’ he croaked. ‘Where…’ The words got lost somewhere in his throat.
‘That’s impossible,’ Rosa insisted, shaking her head. ‘That can’t be right.’
‘The boy was tracked as far as the cottage of a local hermit after he was caught attacking another boy in Lower Hunterbourne and managed to escape the authorities. He was seen, before the incident, with a girl.’ Pierre paused for dramatic effect. ‘The body of the old man was discovered after the house had been abandoned. It was buried in the ground behind.’
Xavier burst into the room from the outside door. ‘There’s a CMO van coming up the lane!’
Pierre pushed past him, through the open door and out onto the lawn.
‘Your father called for it.’ Isobel stood up and moved towards her son.
Xavier backed away. ‘What? You knew?’
‘He only did what he thought was best. Not only for you, but for Francois.’
Isobel glanced at Sky as she spoke. ‘You’ve been keeping bad company, both of you. I mean, for goodness sakes, two of them are wanted for criminal activities.’ She faltered, clearly not convinced of her own argument.
‘And you agree with him, do you? If he was so bothered, why didn’t he get the police? At least they wouldn’t have taken all of us… I thought you of all people would be on our side.’ Isobel looked away, unable to meet Xavier’s furious stare. ‘Well, the deal is off,’ Xavier hissed. ‘They’re leaving right now and I’m going with them.’
‘But, Xavier,’ Isobel pleaded, ‘they’re not coming for you. Your father did this to help you.’
‘Don’t make me laugh. The only reason he helped any of us was to bribe me. He’s power crazy. He doesn’t care about anyone.’
‘That’s not true,’ Isobel cried. ‘Your father does care. That’s why he’s done this!’
Xavier turned to the others. ‘Let’s go.’
Xavier darted into the hallway and yanked a grey parka from the coat rack. Without a word, the others grabbed their bags. Isobel stared miserably but made no move to stop her son, she merely sat twisting her fingers together at the table.
Meanwhile, Pierre had returned with four suited officers, who filled the doorway. ‘Xavier, go to your room.’
Xavier didn’t move; he fixed his father with a defiant stare.
There was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. Elijah could hear the rush of blood in his ears, could see his own fear reflected on every one of his companion’s faces. After all they had done for him, he had brought them this.
The following events happened at breathtaking speed. Two deafening cracks rang out across the grounds. Isobel let out a squeal and the men at the door spun to look outside. Through the window, Elijah could see Francois brandishing his father’s shotgun, re-loading as he strode towards the house. The CMO men ran outside onto the lawn with Pierre. Elijah and the others crammed at the frame of the open back door.
‘Come on Xav,’ Francois shouted. ‘Get them out.’
Unsure how to react, nobody moved.
‘Xavier, come on!’
Still they stalled. Then everyone watched as Pierre suddenly charged towards his oldest son. Francois was ready. He pointed the gun straight ahead and Pierre was stopped a few feet short.
‘Don’t be stupid, Francois. This is nothing to do with you.’
‘It has everything to do with me.’
Pierre stepped forward and reached out for the gun. Francois thrust it towards him. ‘I mean it, Dad, don’t come any closer.’
Isobel appeared at the door, squeezing past Elijah who moved to let her through. ‘Francois, this is all because of that silly girl….’
‘No, Mum. It has nothing to do with Sky and if you think that then you really don’t know me.’
The four CMO men, seemingly pumped with excitement for a new and altogether more dangerous situation, now snaked towards Francois in formation, taking advantage of the dialogue with his parents to attempt to disarm him. Francois immedia
tely turned to the nearest one.
‘Don’t even think about it.’
‘Come on, son.’ The man held his hands out in a gesture of trust. ‘We both know you wouldn’t use it on anyone.’
‘Maybe. You want to find out?’ Francois cocked the gun in a deliberate movement. The man stopped and motioned to his colleagues to do the same.
Xavier could see that it wouldn’t be long before his brother was overpowered. ‘Grab stuff out of the kitchen,’ he whispered.
‘What sort of stuff?’
‘Anything that’s going to hurt when we throw it.’
Suddenly, the CMO men were assailed by missiles. Pots and jars rained down on them. Most fell short, but it was the diversion they needed. Isobel screamed and ran for cover. Pierre wavered idiotically between the two problems, unable to decide which to tackle first. The CMO, now reminded of their allotted task, roared towards the group, who scattered from the doorway, backpacks slapping as they ran.
‘This way!’ Francois shouted.
Elijah just dodged a hand. He looked up to see Francois had moved and was stationed by the boundaries of the gardens, under the trees. He ran for him.
Another shot sliced the air and everyone froze. This time, the recoil sent Francois flying backwards.
‘LET THEM GO!’ he bellowed as he got back onto his feet.
Pierre, Isobel and the CMO men stood with dumb expressions as the group made for the woods. Francois waited till his friends grew close. Then, with a jaunty salute to his father, he threw down the gun, smirking.
‘As if I would have shot anyone, Dad!’
The adults watched as all six kids were swallowed by the forest.
The group cut through the firs and joined a winding, waterlogged lane, the sounds of pursuit now ringing in their ears.
Francois suddenly began to howl with breathless, exhilarated laughter.
‘God, Xavier,’ he panted, ‘If I’d known you were this much fun, I’d have run away from home with you the first time!’
Sixteen: The Vanishing Woods
Whether the chase had been abandoned, or they had simply succeeded in losing their pursuers, they had no way of knowing. All they knew was that as they ran on, slipping and sliding on the sodden ground, the sounds of shouting and heavy footsteps subsided. Xavier and Francois, knowing the area around the evergreen forest, had led them away from the mired path and into the denser trees, where it would be more difficult to track them. Elijah’s heart fought against his ribs as he ran. Every breath burned, and yet, his numb legs kept pumping, as if of their own accord.
Under the thickest cover of trees they finally stopped, threw down their belongings, and collapsed. For a long time no one had the breath to speak. Then, slowly, it seemed to dawn on everyone just what Francois had done.
Sensing every eye fixed upon him, Francois acknowledged their silent thanks with a simple question: ‘What now?’
‘We keep going,’ Xavier asserted. ‘It’s the only thing we can do.’
Francois gave him an ironic sideways look. ‘Hail, our glorious leader!’
Xavier scowled at him, but it only made Francois grin.
They continued to work their way into the woods as the light began to fail, stumbling on tree roots and fallen branches and muttering curses. The sounds of snapping twigs and startled birds bursting in panic from the undergrowth sent shudders through them; other than that there was soft, wooded silence. The air was filled with clouds of gnats and the odours of damp vegetation and tangy pine filled their nostrils; the smells seemed to increase in intensity as dusk fell. Elijah’s ankle ached; he longed to rest but gritted his teeth and focussed on Sky’s golden hair, swinging like a talisman as she marched over the forest floor ahead of him. Eventually, as darkness began to devour the land, the trees thinned again and they realised they had reached the outer edge of the forest.
‘I don’t think we can go much further tonight.’ Rosa glanced at the others. They had reached the point where they could see, framed by the tree branches, wild, open heath beyond the cover of the wood.
‘I think we should keep moving,’ Xavier said.
‘Where to?’ Jimmy asked.
Francois nodded agreement. ‘We’ll be out in the open again if we go any further.’
‘I don’t know. I’m not convinced that the search has been called off, that’s all,’ Xavier insisted.
‘Francois is right – better here in the woods tonight,’ Rosa offered.
‘They won’t be that desperate to get hold of us anyway,’ Francois said emphatically, ‘they’ve got loads of kids to chase besides you lot.
‘What about you?’ Xavier frowned.
‘They won’t be bothered about me.’
‘Mum and Dad will want to find you. And Dad will really have it in for us now.’
Francois merely shrugged.
‘I think you, at least, should go back,’ Xavier pressed.
‘No way! I’m older than you anyway. Officially, I am allowed to leave home if I want to… and you need me.’
‘He does have a point,’ Jimmy agreed. ‘He could get food tokens, he’s entitled now.’
‘Well,’ Francois interrupted sheepishly, ‘I’m not sure about that… I don’t have anything with me… no ID, no birth certificate. I’m not sure how I’ll go on signing up for food tokens. And there’s that pesky matter of money…’
‘What good are you, then?’ Xavier scowled.
Francois scowled back. ‘You weren’t so quick to complain when I was waving Dad’s gun about.’
Elijah found himself troubled. Xavier was right – he was a jinx, and he had dragged more and more people in to share the misfortune that seemed to hound him. He couldn’t face company, earnest discussions, the voicing of fears. Without a word, he slipped away in the gathering gloom as the others busied themselves setting up a makeshift camp. Where he was going, why he was going, he really didn’t know or care. He just needed to be somewhere by himself.
Sky watched him go. As always, she seemed to be tuned in to his feelings. She followed quietly. In the gloom, she watched his figure move away from her, keeping to a discreet distance, waiting for the right moment to speak. He clambered over fallen trunks and protruding roots, feeling his way cautiously in the failing light, and she mirrored him as he plunged back into the twilight depths of the forest. Elijah finally stopped and turned to face her, as if he had sensed she was there. He peered through the gloom and could dimly see her outline.
‘Sky?’
She stepped forward. ‘Sorry. I just wondered if you were ok.’
‘You should leave me here. All of you, just go.’
Sky drew near. ‘Why would we do that?’
‘Because, this is all my fault.’
‘Don’t be stupid, Elijah. We’re all running. Whether you were here or not, something like this would happen to us sooner or later. We all knew that.’
‘What about Francois? He’s only here because of me.’
‘No. He’s here because of what his dad did.’
‘Because of me, though.’
‘Are you coming back or not?’ she paused. ‘That’s if we can get back without another broken ankle.’
Elijah sighed. ‘I don’t know. After everything that’s happened…’
Sky put a hand on his arm. ‘You saved my life.’
‘But – ’
‘I know what you’re going to say. It doesn’t matter how I got in that water, you went in after me and that’s all I care about. You’ve more than made up for your mistakes.’ She squeezed his arm gently. ‘Jimmy’s got a lovely tin of beans with your name on. Come on.’
Elijah relented, against his better judgement but succumbing to the pull of his heart. Whatever he told himself, he wanted companionship.
As they turned to make their way back, a roll of distant screams and shouts echoed through the blackness. They halted. Then, through the black fingers of branches they saw pinpoints of light, winking and dancing like rogue sho
oting stars. None of their friends had torches; it could only mean one thing.
‘We have to hide,’ Elijah breathed in Sky’s ear.
‘No –’ she began, but he cut her off.
‘Don’t argue. We’re not leaving them, we’re helping them.’ Elijah tugged at her sleeve.
They stumbled over roots and fallen branches, biting back cries of pain. Twigs clawed at their faces and snagged their hair. They had no idea where they were. The sounds of capture gradually faded and the woods shrouded them in quiet darkness.
‘Sky.’ Elijah held out his hand for her. ‘Where are you?’
‘Here,’ she whispered.
He followed her voice and found her hand.
‘What now?’ she asked.
‘I don’t know. I suppose we’ll have to stop here tonight. I think we put a bit of distance between us, at least, I can’t hear anything now.’
Elijah stumbled and his hand lost hers. Something was not right. She couldn’t hear him now. ‘Elijah?’ she whispered. Then, the flashback came. She had once seen Elijah’s shadowy figure convulse and flicker and disappear. He had gone.
Elijah had Sky’s hand, and then lost it. After that, everything was chaotic and disordered. He shook his head to clear it, trying to make sense of his memory. There had been a strange sensation for a split second, like his every atom had been compressed to nothing and then instantly expanded again. He screwed his eyes up tight. It wasn’t painful, but deeply unpleasant, like he had been rubbed out and redrawn. Then he had
been thrown, hard onto his back. Winded and jarred, he opened his eyes. Dazed, he struggled to understand what had just happened. All around him was mile upon mile of neat fields, a bewildering chequered display of vibrant greens and dazzling gold. The forest was gone and, in its place, a few proud oaks, stood silently, implacable in a loose gathering on a distant scar. The dusk had been replaced by an orange afternoon sun which hung low in the sky above him. Not burning with deadly ferocity, but with warmth that gently diffused over his tired body. In the shimmering distance he could see neat countryside criss-crossed by thin black ribbons, upon which tiny coloured dots beetled up and down. The air was still and calm, heavy with the fresh scent of lush meadow grass and wildflowers. It didn’t feel like he was here, in this place, it felt like he was watching someone else be here.
