Somewhere (Nowhere Book 3)

by Jon Robinson

  Anton crouched by the lock and began wiggling a piece of metal inside. Then he took another piece and began shifting it around. The whole scene made Ryan think of a dentist poking around in someone’s mouth.

  ‘It’s open,’ Anton hissed as the lock eventually clicked. He pushed the door gently, revealing the chequered floor of Blythe’s hall. The sound of violins drifted through the air from a room above.

  ‘You have to show me how to do that sometime,’ Ryan said, impressed, and stepped inside.

  32

  It was evening when Alyn, Jes and Julian returned to the Guild’s headquarters. A solemn mood had fallen upon the group as they ambled through pools of misty orange light from the streetlamps.

  ‘And you all wonder why I’m so cynical …’ Julian said.

  Alyn tapped in the code for the security gate. ‘Never thought I’d hear that coming from you, Julian. Let’s forget about Luthan for now. And no word of this to anyone, right?’

  Jes and Julian both nodded and passed through the gate behind him. At that moment a car arrived with Elsa, Harlan and the others.

  Elsa was first out. ‘Alyn?!’ she exclaimed, then paused, hesitant to approach him.

  ‘Hey, Elsa,’ he said with a smile, throwing her a friendly wave.

  Elsa looked to Jes, then back at Alyn. ‘I – I thought you’d switched sides … I mean, I saw you, with Felix –’

  ‘Never,’ Alyn said. ‘I’m with you guys. I always have been.’

  Elsa rushed over and wrapped her arms round him.

  Pyra patted Alyn on the shoulder. ‘What made you come here?’

  ‘You’re going to need as much help as you can get,’ Alyn said, then looked over at the car as Charlie lifted Harlan out of the back and hoisted him up in his arms. ‘Harlan? Is he OK?’

  ‘He’s sick,’ Pyra said, avoiding his eyes. ‘He passed out on the way back.’

  Alyn noticed the blood around Harlan’s nose and unconsciously brushed a finger against his own.

  ‘Is there something we should know about?’ he said, turning to Pyra. ‘Has this got something to do with us?’

  Pyra shook her head. ‘He’ll be fine. He just needs to rest.’

  The others sat at the dining table and talked among themselves, but Elsa went to her room, unable to concentrate. Saul, the man in the locked room, and Harlan were both sick. Even Alyn seemed worried that something strange was going on.

  Elsa left her room and went down the corridor. When she was sure no one was coming, she removed the key from the skirting-board and went inside the bare room.

  ‘Hello again,’ she said, as her eyes began to adjust to the darkness and to the figure buckled to the mattress.

  Saul’s eyelids flickered. ‘Ah. Child,’ he answered. ‘How good to see you.’

  Elsa made sure the door was closed behind her and pulled over a chair.

  ‘Look at you,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘You look a real mess, if I’m being honest.’

  Saul smiled. His eyelids flickered.

  ‘I haven’t seen myself in months. They won’t trust me with a mirror, you see. The sharp pieces. They think I might …’ He trailed off, noticing the brush in Elsa’s hand.

  Elsa smiled and began brushing the tangles out of his long curly hair.

  ‘Thank you, little one,’ he said. ‘Now, have you kept it a secret, like you promised?’

  ‘Promise,’ Elsa said. ‘I want to ask you about this sickness you have. I think the same thing is happening to my friend, Harlan.’

  ‘He’s been overusing the Ability, hasn’t he?’

  ‘Yeah, actually. How did you know?’

  ‘Because the Ability causes it, little one. Even you are in danger. We all are.’

  Elsa stopped brushing his hair.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘Perhaps I should’ve said nothing.’

  Saul’s breathing became suddenly shallow and his shoulders rose and fell.

  ‘Saul? Saul, are you OK?’

  ‘It’s happening again,’ he groaned.

  ‘What’s happening?’

  ‘The pain,’ he groaned. ‘My mind … it feels like it’s falling apart …’

  A stream of blood trickled out of his nose, as his eyes rolled back.

  Elsa’s eyes filled with tears. ‘I want to help,’ she said. ‘I just want to help you!’

  ‘Kill me,’ he whispered. ‘Please, child, just kill me.’

  33

  Alyn sat beside Jes. ‘Cheer up,’ he said, touching her arm. ‘We’ve still got time, right? We’ll stop the Pledge.’

  ‘It’s not that,’ she said. ‘I just hope Ryan’s OK. Pyra said she hasn’t heard a thing from him and Anton.’

  Alyn looked at her for a few moments. ‘I’m sure he’s fine.’

  Jes tried to smile and got to her feet. ‘I’ll be back soon.’

  ‘Where you going?’ Alyn said.

  ‘Outside. Just want to get some fresh air. It’s been a long day.’ She gave him a look that compelled him to stay.

  He sighed to himself. ‘Can’t work you out any more. You’re a mystery.’

  He watched her leave and ran his fingers through his hair. Ryan had been the last inmate taken to the prison, and he and Alyn had never clicked. Alyn was a dreamer, Ryan driven by his temper. Too reckless, Alyn thought, but perhaps the real problem was that he saw too much of himself in Ryan. More than he would’ve liked.

  ‘She’ll be back,’ Pyra said. Alyn turned round, not aware that she’d been watching.

  Alyn managed a faint smile. ‘How’s Harlan doing?’

  ‘He’s resting,’ she said vaguely.

  ‘Not surprised he’s ill with everything we’ve been through …’

  ‘He’s fine. He’s just tired.’ Pyra said nothing more and wandered to a noticeboard, looking at the pinned photographs of the Pledge. The photograph of Felix now had a black cross drawn over his face.

  Deceased.

  Alyn looked away, unable to shake the image of Felix lying on the ballroom floor, his blue eyes glazed and lifeless.

  ‘So what was he like?’ Pyra asked, plucking the photograph from the board. ‘Felix, I mean. As evil as they say or just … ?’

  ‘Misguided,’ Alyn answered quietly.

  ‘Misguided.’ Pyra frowned. ‘Sure I could think of a few other words to describe him. They wouldn’t be repeatable.’ She put the photograph back on the board and lifted the marker pen, and drew an X across Antonia’s face.

  ‘Two down.’ She took a small blank piece of paper, drew a large question mark on it, and pinned it below the photograph of Stephen.

  ‘That supposed to represent Emmanuel?’ Alyn asked.

  Pyra nodded. ‘Guessing he doesn’t have many pictures on the internet.’

  Alyn got up, unpinned the question mark and placed it above Stephen.

  As he walked past the window, Alyn saw a swarm of masked people climbing out of two trucks. A chill spread through his veins. ‘Hang on,’ he said. ‘This doesn’t look good.’

  Pyra looked up.

  Alyn shielded his eyes from the reflection in the window as Pyra came over. The figures had gathered and were standing in a semi-circle, just fifty metres or so from the building. A man wearing a dark overcoat stepped to the front and began to speak to the crowd.

  Emmanuel, Alyn realized. He’s here. He’s found us.

  34

  Emmanuel examined his amassed followers as they stood opposite the Guild’s building in the drizzling rain.

  ‘As soon as the blackouts hit London, everything will descend into chaos!’ he called to the crowd. ‘But chaos is good. Chaos is change. Chaos is life. It is stillness that is death. And our society has been still for far too long.’

  He walked slowly along the length of his followers. ‘Our enemies want the old order kept. Our enemies are the enemies of progress,’ Emmanuel went on. ‘They must be crushed!’

  The horde cheered, thrusting their fists into the air.

  ‘We
’ll crush them!’ yelled a man at the back of the group, raising his hand.

  ‘Yes. We will,’ Emmanuel declared. ‘And we shall begin with a group of people who have been trying to stop us in secret like the cowards they are. They call themselves the Guild.’

  He turned and pointed to the block of flats behind him.

  ‘We will destroy them first, to send a message, a warning, to the others – to the men and women who rule this country. A message that we are coming for them!’

  The gang roared, throwing hands and fists into the air.

  ‘Take no prisoners,’ Emmanuel ordered. ‘Kill them all.’

  ‘Who are they?’ said an alarmed Pyra as she stood beside Alyn, looking at the jeering horde below. ‘Are they Stephen’s men?’

  ‘Emmanuel’s,’ Alyn answered. ‘He thinks you guys are going to stop the project at the prison before he can use it.’ He pulled away from the window. ‘I’ll go down there. He knows me after all; I might be able to reason with him …’

  Pyra grabbed his arm. ‘Don’t be stupid, Alyn. They’re in a frenzy. They’ll tear you to pieces.’

  Alyn watched as the mob began moving towards the security gate. He noticed an array of weapons glinting in the lamp-post light, from bottles and clubs to metal bars and chains.

  ‘As long as that gate is locked, they won’t be getting in,’ Pyra announced. She walked away. ‘I’ll tell the others.’

  ‘I hope you’re right,’ Alyn said with some reservation, peering down.

  Pyra nodded. ‘Trust me, they’ll never make it. Unless you have the code, it can only be opened from the inside.’

  ‘We should call the police,’ Alyn said, looking for a telephone. He spotted one on the far table and was just making his way towards it when the doors to the dining room swung open.

  ‘I can’t believe you kept him in there like … like an animal!’ Elsa yelled at Pyra. Her face was red and covered in tears. ‘And the same thing’s going to happen to us!’ she exclaimed. ‘We’re all going to get sick. We’re all going mad!’

  ‘What are you talking about?’

  ‘Saul!’ Elsa sobbed. ‘He’s sick, just like Harlan is!’

  Pyra grabbed her by the shoulders. Alyn watched as the colour left her face; it was the first time he had ever seen her look truly scared.

  ‘Elsa, what did you –’

  Elsa pulled away from Pyra’s hands. ‘I let him go, you maniacs! I let him go!’

  Alyn turned back to the window and spotted a dishevelled-looking man in a white nightgown limping clumsily through the crowd.

  ‘It’s open!’ Alyn heard someone shout. He craned his neck and could just about see the security gate swinging gently on its hinge.

  The gang outside surged together towards the now-open entrance.

  Pyra set off towards the corridor, but Charlie grabbed her arm. ‘Too late. You’ll never get it closed in time.’

  ‘What did I do?’ Elsa said, looking at each of them in turn. ‘I didn’t mean to … I was just trying to help him.’

  Harlan entered the room from the far corridor, rubbing his eyes. ‘Alyn?’ he said, recognizing the face of his friend. He looked around the room at the others. ‘What’s going on?’

  ‘We’re under attack,’ Julian answered.

  Harlan looked to Alyn for confirmation. ‘How many?’

  ‘I don’t know, maybe thirty.’ Alyn panicked. He began looking around the room for something that could be used as a weapon.

  Pyra grabbed Elsa by the arm and marched her towards the fireplace. ‘Get up the chimney,’ she said. ‘The rest of you, who has ibises?’

  ‘I left Harlan’s in the car,’ Elsa called over, halfway inside the fireplace. ‘I’m sorry, I –’

  ‘Never mind. What about you, Julian?’

  ‘I have mine,’ he shrugged. Against so many, the weapon was more or less useless.

  ‘So just one.’ Pyra muttered something under her breath and helped Charlie drag a table across the large double doors. They positioned it so that it was wedged, locking the handles in place.

  Alyn raced back to the window. Outside Emmanuel and his assistant were standing together, looking up at the window in silence, while rain streamed across them.

  Alyn leant out of the window.

  ‘Hello again, Alyn!’ Emmanuel called up to him.

  ‘Call them off!’ Alyn shouted down. ‘Please! Call them off!’

  ‘You know I can’t do that.’

  ‘We won’t interfere with the project,’ Alyn begged. ‘I swear it!’

  Emmanuel shook his head. ‘We all know that if I let you leave, you’ll come after me. You’ll ruin everything.’

  While Alyn tried reasoning with Emmanuel, Pyra found herself a weapon: a brass candlestick holder. She turned, noticing a nervous-looking Julian standing beside her.

  ‘Thinking of switching sides, Julian?’

  ‘Bit too late for that,’ he answered. ‘I’m not going anywhere.’

  Wouldn’t blame you if you tried, Pyra thought. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them, the door began to thud with the barrage of charging bodies. There was a split second of silence and then a thunderous crash as the doors buckled and finally broke under their weight.

  35

  After leaving Alyn, Jes had walked by herself around a deserted car park a short way from the Guild’s building.

  It was bitterly cold. Swirls of silver curled from her lips and her face stung from the chilling winds, which seemed to be tearing in all directions. Moments later, the soft patter of rain fell on the pavement.

  With a sigh, Jes decided to return to the others. She jogged across the road and started back through the park towards the tower block. Upon seeing dozens of masked men streaming towards the building, she halted.

  Something wasn’t right.

  Jes lowered into a crouch, hurrying from one car to the next to avoid being seen. She edged closer, her heart thudding.

  Up ahead, she saw a man in a white nightgown cowering on her side of the road, shivering and distressed.

  Using the parked vehicles to shield her from view, she hurried towards him. ‘Hey,’ Jes hissed, trying to grab his attention. The man looked up with wild eyes, startling her.

  ‘Who are you?’ she said. ‘What’s going on over there?’

  ‘She freed me,’ he whispered, tears running down his dirty face. ‘The little girl, she freed me. It was all I wanted.’

  ‘What little girl?’ Jes asked in a whisper. ‘Are you OK? You look –’

  ‘No. No.’ He gripped his head and flopped into a sitting position on the ice-covered pavement. ‘I’m not OK. It’s the Ability, you see … you must be careful … if only I’d known …’

  ‘I don’t understand,’ Jes said. ‘But I can try to get help. Just wait here and I’ll be back –’

  The man’s breath rattled in his throat. ‘It’s too late. It’s too late.’

  His eyes rolled back and he fell forward, as blood trickled out of his nose.

  ‘Hey,’ Jes said, tapping his face. ‘Wake up, please wake up.’

  ‘I’m free,’ he repeated softly. ‘It doesn’t hurt any more. Please tell that little girl Saul said thank you …’

  He gave a final murmur and fell still. Jes opened her mouth to shout for help, but it was too late; he was already dead. She whimpered and backed away, looking up just in time to see the group rushing towards the open tower-block entrance.

  My friends, the Guild, they’re all inside …

  A man in a black overcoat was standing outside the building, watching the ensuing chaos. Emmanuel.

  She looked around for a weapon. There was nothing except a squashed cigarette packet and a rotting banana peel.

  Maybe if she had the Ability she might have been able to make something happen. But she didn’t. She wasn’t one of them. Instead, she would have to rely on less subtle methods to get things done.

  ‘Guys, help us!’ shouted Charlie. He and Pyra
were leaning against the table in front of the door, struggling to keep it closed from their invaders. Julian ran to help, followed by Harlan and Alyn.

  ‘What’s going on out there?’ Elsa yelled from the fireplace.

  ‘Stay put!’ Pyra shouted back. She turned to Charlie. ‘Where are all the others? It can’t just be us here …’

  Charlie shook his head.

  The door thudded again. The mob were breaking through.

  ‘It’s going to give!’ Harlan cried. The doors burst open and a mass of bodies charged into the room. Charlie was knocked over by a swinging plank and staggered backwards.

  Harlan tried to pull him out of the path of the swarming herd, but was grabbed and thrown towards the fireplace.

  Quickly the room became a mass of brawling bodies. Alyn charged at a man and wrestled him to the floor, just as Harlan was climbing back to his feet.

  When Julian’s ibis was knocked from his hands, he backed against the wall, watching the violence with a look of terror across his face. A large man wearing a gorilla mask approached him and threw a punch. Panicking, Julian ducked as the man’s fist landed against the wall.

  The man yelled, crumpling at the waist and clutching his fist. Julian launched a kick between his legs and hopped over his body.

  Pyra jumped up and drove an elbow into a man’s skull, then aimed a kick at a woman who was about to slam a steel bar over Harlan’s head. She looked up as more people flooded into the room.

  Even if the rest of the Guild somehow managed a last-minute appearance, they were completely outnumbered.

  Jes moved silently towards Emmanuel. Her fingers twitched in anticipation, remembering the self-defence classes her parents had forced her to take last term. She took a breath, quickened her pace and threw herself at his back.

  Emmanuel lurched forward suddenly, giving her greater momentum. She fastened her right arm beneath his throat and the other arm applied pressure to his head, choking him.

  Emmanuel spluttered, trying desperately to throw her from his back.

  ‘Call them off!’ she snarled. ‘Call them off or I swear I’ll …’

  She applied more pressure to his throat.

  Emmanuel reached up, grabbing for her hair. His fingers found a chunk and he pulled, tearing a handful of hair from her scalp.