by Jon Robinson
Perhaps Nowhere was the best thing that could have happened to him – the first time he had actually ever been free. He straightened up, captivated by the swaying punchbag as if it were a pendulum. And some of the cold anger that had been carved into him over sixteen years finally began to thaw.
17
Luthan and Julian approached the skyscraper together, shielding their eyes from the low winter sun that was glinting off the surrounding glass buildings.
‘This is your last chance, Julian,’ said Luthan. ‘Another stunt like last time and we’re through. You’re through.’
Julian smirked. ‘Charming. Considering I’m the one who got you his swipe card. So, what’s the plan?’
‘The plan is you wait outside,’ said Luthan.
‘Where are you going?’
‘To get Stephen’s key, so we can put an end to everything.’ Before he left, Luthan put a consoling hand on Julian’s shoulder. ‘It wasn’t your fault, Julian.’
Julian looked away. ‘I don’t want to talk about it. I –’
Luthan held him. ‘No running away, Julian. Just look at me. And listen. The Ability doesn’t usually develop until eight or nine. You were too young to have caused your parents’ accident. It wasn’t your fault.’
Julian lifted his head, studying Luthan’s eyes for their truth.
‘Henry would tell you the same. And he discovered it after all, so he should know, shouldn’t he?’
‘You swear to me you’re –’
‘Telling the truth? Yes, Julian.’ He patted the boy’s shoulder. ‘You didn’t cause the accident that killed your parents.’
Julian watched him with some suspicion, which eventually eased. ‘Thank you,’ he said quietly. He gave a strained smile.
‘Wait for me by the fountain. I’ll be back soon.’
Julian watched him leave and put his hands in his pockets. A peculiar numb sensation washed over him.
It wasn’t my fault.
18
Alyn had been waiting near Stephen’s skyscraper all morning. He was starting to think Emmanuel might be mistaken about Luthan making an appearance, but a quarter of an hour later, the Guild’s leader appeared, walking briskly towards the entrance to the skyscraper.
Alyn pulled a scarf across the lower half of his face and hurried after him. The wind was icy, roaring at his ears and making his eyes water.
He thought of his father tied up on the floor of Emmanuel’s warehouse. Alyn had called him shortly after arriving in London and asked him for help. But what had he done? Nothing at all. He hadn’t believed a word Alyn had said. And, even if he had believed it, chances are he wouldn’t have cared. He’d been out of Alyn’s life long enough.
Luthan went inside the skyscraper. Alyn waited a couple of minutes before following him through the revolving doors. A security guard looked up, but Alyn shut his eyes and gave a gesture with his hand. At that moment, two decorators hauling a large piece of panelling abruptly changed direction, blocking him from view. He hurried across the marble floor in pursuit of Luthan.
If Alyn did what Emmanuel asked of him, Luthan was as good as dead. But, if he disobeyed, there was a chance Alyn would never see his father alive again.
The lift opened and Alyn followed Luthan inside, merging with a crowd of office workers. He pulled his scarf across his face and leant against the handrail at the back. His palm was damp against the cold metal.
Luthan stepped out of the lift when it reached the top, followed by Alyn some moments later.
19
‘So,’ Stephen giggled, putting his feet up on the desk. ‘I think we have lots to talk about, don’t we?’
Emmanuel looked at the enormous portrait of Stephen on the wall and then back at Stephen.
‘I understand you were Felix’s adviser,’ Stephen sneered. ‘Presumably you advised him about this Ability … and it was you who made him have a heart attack. Like that!’ Stephen said gleefully, clicking his fingers.
‘He was threatening to expose us. I couldn’t allow the project to be compromised.’
Stephen watched him carefully for a few moments. ‘What exactly are you getting out of all of this?’
‘I’m a philanthropist,’ Emmanuel said. ‘Just like the rest of you.’
Stephen looked unconvinced. ‘My concern, Mr Emmanuel, or whatever your real name is, is what’s stopping you doing the same to me?’
‘If I wanted to harm you, I’d have already done so. Felix was a fool. His heart was no longer in it and I suspect that’s why it gave out so … unexpectedly.’
‘Ha!’ Stephen shrieked. ‘Yes!’ He threw his head back, laughing.
‘I’ve come here to discuss your plans, Stephen,’ Emmanuel said to the hysterical young man sitting opposite him. ‘To reaffirm my dedication to you, and to the rest of the Pledge.’
Stephen stopped laughing. ‘What if you don’t like my plans?’
Emmanuel watched him carefully. ‘Then I might suggest an alternative. I am an adviser after all.’
Stephen released a thoughtful sigh and turned on his chair, looking out of the window at the city below.
‘One idea I’ve been toying with is turning the children in the prison – the project – into a business,’ Stephen pondered aloud. ‘I’m sure the Vatican would pay for us to engineer a miracle or two on their behalf. Might convince a few more people to start believing in the old man in the sky, and it’s not like they’re short of the money, is it?’
Before Stephen could share the rest of his ideas, there was a knock on the door.
‘Excuse me,’ he said, and got up, stroking his silk tie. He walked over to the door and opened it.
‘You,’ he hissed, backing away. ‘How did you get in here?’
‘How do you think?’ Luthan raised his hands. ‘I’m not going to hurt you. I want to make you an offer.’
‘What kind of offer?’
‘An exchange. I give you one of the escaped inmates in return for the prisoner you have in Nowhere. His name is Henry.’
Stephen narrowed his eyes, as if sensing Luthan’s desperation. ‘I have an important guest. Now leave before I have my security escort you out.’
‘I have one of the children with me now.’
Stephen’s eyes seemed to sparkle with excitement. ‘Where?’
Luthan slumped with shame. He lowered his eyes.
‘He’s waiting outside by the fountain, wearing a green coat. But I must have your word, Stephen. You must promise to give me Henry.’
Alyn had caught the end of Luthan and Stephen’s conversation from round the corridor and recoiled in disbelief.
One of his friends was in trouble; Luthan was a traitor to the Guild. He had to tell them.
He dashed into the lift. As soon as it reached the ground floor, he got out and sprinted past the reception, almost slipping on the marble.
He pushed his way through the revolving doors, nearly knocking the security guard off his feet and running through crowds of office workers.
‘Alyn?’
Alyn turned. Julian was sitting on the stone fountain.
‘Julian!’ Alyn panted. ‘Get out of here!’
Julian raised a contemptuous eyebrow. ‘Hmm. Nice to see you too.’
As he said this, three large men in suits came rushing out of the revolving doors.
‘There he is!’ one of them shouted, pointing at Julian. ‘The kid in the green coat.’
Alyn grabbed Julian and shoved him. ‘None of you are safe! You have to run … I’ll try to hold them off.’
Julian saw the approaching men and darted into the crowd. Alyn shut his eyes. Just seconds later, a pram slipped out of a woman’s hands and rolled towards Julian’s pursuers. The man at the front stopped, skidded on a patch of ice and landed on his back. The pair behind him struggled to keep their balance and tripped, collapsing in a pile on the ground.
By the time they got to their feet, Julian had gone. Alyn gave them a final look and hurried away through
the crowds.
20
‘I need the toilet,’ Elsa said, pressing her face against the car window. She, Pyra, Charlie and Harlan had set off at noon in search of Antonia.
‘Again?’ Pyra said. ‘We were only just at a service station …’
‘I know. It’s because I get nervous!’
‘Can you wait?’
‘Um.’
‘Um what, Elsa?’ said Pyra.
‘I think so.’
‘Think so? Not good enough. This is an expensive car …’
Elsa flopped against the seat and crossed her arms grumpily. ‘Never have kids!’
‘Never gonna.’ Pyra looked at Elsa and allowed a brief smile to fall across her lips. She fiddled with the radio.
‘… sightings of a missing boy, Harlan Jahari, who disappeared twelve months ago. The boy was reportedly seen in an amusement arcade in south London, where he was recognized and quickly fled …’
‘You idiot,’ Pyra growled to Harlan who was dozing on the back seat.
‘Hmm? What did I do?’
‘You were seen!’ Elsa exclaimed. ‘You’ll end up bringing everyone to our doorstep!’
‘Gambling too,’ Pyra muttered. ‘This is a breach of our code.’
Harlan crossed his arms. ‘But it’s not like I was wasting it. I was going to send the money I won to my parents –’
‘How much have you been using the Ability?’ asked Charlie.
Harlan shrugged. ‘I don’t know. Haven’t been keeping count …’
Elsa pressed her head against the window, thinking of Saul, the man in the locked room. She desperately wanted to let her secret out, but remembered the promise she had made.
‘Antonia’s estate is over forty acres of land. We’re gonna have to park up and hike the rest of the way.’
‘Great,’ Elsa grumbled. After her escape from the prison, another trek was the last thing she wanted to do.
Having left the car on a deserted road just off the motorway, the group checked a compass and set off into the woodland. Before too long, the sound of the streaming traffic disappeared altogether.
Elsa walked alongside Harlan, some way behind the others. ‘Can I tell you something, Harlan?’
‘Sure,’ he said.
‘I don’t think you should keep using the Ability.’
Harlan snorted under his breath. ‘You don’t understand how important it is …’
‘But it’s not everything, right? I mean, you might be able to make a coin land on its edge or a bulb get a bit dim, if you think about it hard enough …’ She paused. ‘But I can cartwheel. I can do somersaults on trampolines and I can run faster than most boys in my year.’ She shook her head at him and hurried to catch up with the others.
After walking for an hour the sky started to darken to winter-blue. A few solitary raindrops started to fall, looking almost silvery in the subdued light.
‘We should camp here for the night,’ Pyra said, once they were sheltered by trees. ‘Then we’ll head to Antonia’s mansion first thing in the morning.’ She took off her rucksack.
Elsa hadn’t quite decided if the surrounding trees were intimidating or comforting. She watched Harlan and Charlie struggling to put up the tents.
‘You coming to help me find some firewood, Elsa?’ asked Pyra.
Elsa nodded. They went a little way from the campsite, Elsa skipping alongside Pyra. It was growing increasingly difficult to see much ahead of them.
‘So what happens if we don’t find these keys?’
‘We will find them,’ Pyra said. She leant over and grabbed a branch, checking it with her fingertips for dampness. ‘We’ll find them and the project will be stopped. All of the other kids who are prisoners will be free.’
Elsa muttered something under her breath.
‘What did you say?’
Elsa shook her head.
‘You can tell me, Elsa. I don’t bite. Not much anyway.’
‘I was just –’ Elsa paused – ‘I was just wondering what happens next. What’s gonna stop the Pledge from doing it again? What’s gonna stop people like us being used?’
Pyra reached down for another branch but stopped. ‘Luthan wants the Pledge wiped out,’ she said.
‘Wiped out?’
‘Finished. Destroyed. Dead. Want me to keep going, or do you get the picture yet?’
Elsa shook her head again. ‘What do you want?’
‘I agree with him.’
Elsa grabbed her arm. ‘We aren’t just doing this to get the keys, are we? You’re going to harm them, aren’t you?’
‘We’re going to do whatever we have to do to keep us safe, kid.’
‘But I thought we were supposed to be the good guys, Pyra! We’ll be just as bad as they are! I did something, when we were on the streets. I tried stealing. I know what I did was wrong, but …’ She looked distressed. ‘In prison they told us we were bad people so we’d believe it but I never did, I promise. I just want to do what’s right now, that’s all.’
Pyra narrowed her eyes at Elsa. ‘Doing what’s right means destroying the Pledge.’
Elsa wanted to change Pyra’s mind, but it was already made up; she had seen too much wrong in the world to ever see what was right with it. Elsa carried the wood back to camp with a bitter taste in her mouth.
21
Jes curled her hands round the mug of tea, as she sat in her parents’ new home. The pair watched her, not saying a word.
Jes’s mother finally spoke. ‘I think we need to talk properly. No more games, no stories. We’ll listen to you. To everything. And we won’t judge you. We won’t … we won’t say anything. I promise.’
‘But I’ve told you, Mum,’ Jes said. ‘I’ve told you everything.’
Her mother took her hand with a firm grip. ‘Please, Jes.’
Jes pulled away. ‘I’ve told you what happened to me.’ She put her hand to her eyes. ‘I did something terrible.’ Her parents remained silent. ‘I hurt someone … one of the guards … He was sick … cruel … I was just so frustrated and angry. I didn’t mean to do it … I was just so angry … I still am …’
She hoped one of her parents might say something to break the silence.
Eventually it was her father who spoke. ‘Jes, we know you’ve – how can I say this? – changed a little in the past year or so.’
Jes looked up at him. ‘I don’t understand what you mean.’
‘We found alcohol in your bedroom,’ he said.
‘Several bottles,’ her mother added.
Jes was taken aback. ‘Me and the girls had a drink one night when they came over ages ago … That’s not got anything to do with what happened to me.’ The frustration was beginning to swell in her throat. ‘If you’re trying to say I’ve gone off the rails or something, you’re wrong … What happened to me was real!’
Her mother got up and perched on the side of Jes’s chair, putting an arm round her shoulder. ‘I think something terrible has happened to you … and you’re trying to block it out … The mind does this, it makes stories out of things … and this is your way of dealing with it. I think it’d be a good idea if you got some help.’
Shaking her head, Jes got to her feet and ran upstairs to the bathroom. She retched into the toilet. Her face was hot, her head pounding. She wiped the hair from her face and pressed her brow against the porcelain tiles. Downstairs, her parents were talking. Jes crept on to the landing.
‘I think we should call them,’ she heard her father say. ‘Otherwise there’s a good chance she’s just going to run away again.’
Call who? Jes strained her ears and listened as her father picked up the phone and spoke quietly into the handset.
‘Jes?’ her mother called from below. ‘What are you doing?’
Jes ran into the nearest bedroom and slammed the door behind her. Piled around the room were boxes of her old belongings. Her eyes wandered over a couple of plastic bags, bursting with books, when she spotted the long neck of her s
tuffed giraffe. She’d had it since she was a baby.
She walked over, pulled the giraffe out of the bag and held it against her chest. Her throat tightened.
I should never have come back, she thought, panicking as she sat with her back against the door. I should’ve stayed with the others. Out of everything she had thought might happen to her, her parents not believing her was the last.
It wasn’t much later that Jes heard the sound of a car pulling up outside. She stood and crept over to the window. Two people got out: a man wearing a suit, with an identity badge attached to a blue lanyard, and a woman, who was speaking into a phone.
Jes watched out of the window as her mother opened the door and quickly brought the strangers inside.
‘Jes?’ said a man’s voice on the stairs. ‘I’m Doctor Burroughs. My colleague and I are here to speak with you …’
They want to take me away. They think I’m mad. Two pairs of footsteps travelled slowly up the stairs in time with each other.
Jes dragged a small table in front of the door. Then she ran to the window and levered it open. Cold air blew in.
‘Jes,’ the voice said. ‘We’re not going to hurt you. We just want to have a chat with you, if that’s OK?’
There was a tap at her door and the handle turned.
‘Can you please open it, Jes?’ said a woman’s voice.
Jes grabbed a coat from the nearest box. She scrambled on to her desk and slipped outside the window. She looked down at the hedge below that she hoped would break her fall and jumped.
The fall sent a jolt through her legs and for a few moments she felt like she might not be able to get back up. Her arms were covered in thin cuts and scratches from the misshapen hedge.
As soon as she could stand, she staggered to her feet and ran.
22
