by W. J. May
Her mother had hidden this for a reason, knowing Rae would inherit it one day. Could her family tree of secrets get any more complicated? No amount of shaking was ever going to reveal everything.
Rae moved to her desk, taking out a blank piece of paper. She couldn’t remember all the markings but made lines on the paper and began trying to fill in what she did know.
An address began to take shape. She figured that out by the numbers. She opened her laptop and tried to see if the postal code would give her a location or something… anything.
An hour later she had managed to decipher only a tiny bit. There was a disc or something hidden in Stoke-on-Trent. Something the Privy Council needed to see. The one line she had sorted had Jennifer’s name in it. Rae thought it said to bring the hidden item to Jennifer, or for Jennifer’s eyes only.
This code was something her mother had made up for Rae only. The Privy Council wouldn’t have a clue. Should she ask Jennifer? As soon as she asked herself the question, her gut told her the answer. Not yet.
Rae googled the postal code again with one different letter and her heart nearly stopped when an address showed up on the screen.
The Wade Factory. In Stoke-on-Trent.
Or rather, by the images Google showed, it must be the old factory. Closed down quite a few years ago.
Somewhere inside, there was a message from her mother.
She intended to find out what it was.
Tomorrow.
Chapter 20
No Tomorrows
Rae spent most of the night decoding the message, using memories of her mother to help her remember how, talking to her mother as if she sat right beside her, trying to help her figure it out.
“Mom, what’s the round symbol with Pi inside of it mean again?”
As if in answer, Rae flashed to a memory of a day when she had been on a beach with her mother, drawing symbols in the sand and playing until the tide came in and washed it all away. She didn’t realize she was crying until a wet drop landed on the scribbled and scratched sheet of paper she had been working on. She’d nearly gone through an entire pad of paper brainstorming on it.
She couldn’t go to Stoke in the morning. She needed a bit more planning and organizing. Where in the factory was the hidden clue? She had figured out it was a disc or some kind of data but beyond that, she knew next to nothing.
Googling the word Wade and its factory, she learned that the company was still in business making porcelain collectables, but had built a new factory and closed the old ones. The land had been sold for housing development. The factory Rae wanted hadn’t been torn down yet. It was closed, windows boarded up and fenced off, but it was still standing.
A few hours before dawn, Rae tossed her pencil on the desk and rubbed her eyes. She needed to sleep. Slipping her father’s journal and the sheets of scribbled paper from her mom’s hidden message into the bottom of her backpack, she tossed her school books on top. In the morning she would try again with a clear head. Maybe tomorrow she could go and talk to Devon. Scratch that. Just more complications. Julian would be better. She would need to borrow his car one more time.
Rae rubbed her eyes. Everything seemed to be coming at her all at once. Devon, the ancient portrait drawing, Kraigan, her father’s journal, her mother’s clues. It felt overwhelming. She yawned, a big, long one. Enough, girl! Go to sleep!
She crawled into bed, too tired to even bother changing or brushing her teeth. She dreamed of her mother, her father, weird drawings, old factories, talking porcelain animals, Kraigan chasing her down and laughing at the hidden messages she painted on the walls.
Crazy dreams, all with a hint of truth to them.
A pounding on her door brought her back to reality. She sat with a start and checked her watch. Nearly eight o’clock. She glanced around the room. Luckily she had hid everything. She winced when another round of hammering on the door started.
Her heart leapt into her throat. Kraigan! Could he be free already? Surely the Privy Council wouldn’t let him come straight here for her. They probably didn’t realize how much he wanted her dead.
“Rae! Are you in there?” Molly’s loud voice actually calmed her thundering heart.
Rae jumped out of bed and unlocked the door. She absorbed a shock of electricity when she turned the doorknob. She jumped back, swinging the door open at the same time.
Molly flicked her wrist and laughed. “Was that you or me?”
Rae shook her hand. “Not sure.” She smiled, remembering now that the Privy Council wanted to hire Molly. She was glad. She wanted her best friend beside her next year. “Hey Moll? We still moving in together when school’s done?”
Molly raised an eyebrow and tossed her loose hair over her shoulder. “Of course. I’m not staying here another year like Julian and Devon did. They’re idiots.” Her eyes ran up and down Rae. “You plan on going to breakfast like that?”
“Give me three minutes. I’ll meet you downstairs.” Using a speed tatù Rae was ready in less than two. She raced down the stairs and met up with Molly.
For once, the sun was shining. Bright and hot. The sense of dread that had been dogging Rae for days now seemed to burn away in the bright, happy sunlight. It filled her with a sense that maybe the day would be alright.
They had breakfast, and Rae didn’t even mind Molly’s constant chatter throughout. Somehow, Rae agreed to go through papers to see available places. Molly had gabbed on and on and talked Rae into at least looking to see what was out there so they would know what they wanted when school finished. Molly figured even finding a place near school grounds would be good for the summer.
The morning blurred slowly into the afternoon as Rae went through classes trying to focus on what the instructors were saying. Exams were around the corner. Ironically, Rae didn’t care. She had secured a job, and at the moment, had no intention of even thinking about university.
During lunch, Jennifer sent several texts to ask how she was doing. When she suggested taking the afternoon off of training, Rae agreed. Jennifer made her promise to check in with her throughout the rest of the afternoon and evening. She would be in a meeting with Carter but would keep her phone on.
Perfect. Rae could skip the rest of classes and drive to Stoke. She could be there before it got dark.
She stuffed her phone into her back pocket and used the speed tatù to race over to Julian’s dorm. She sort of hoped he wouldn’t be in. She could just tape a note to his door. Then he couldn’t stop her from going.
At the top of the stairs in Joist Hall, just before the fireproof doors, Rae stopped and tried to tame her unruly hair using the glass reflection. She hadn’t bothered to check it that morning. Tucking a loose strand behind her ear, she gave up and shoved it in a ponytail. She pushed through the heavy metal doors.
How she hadn’t heard the shouting while playing with her hair surprised her. The fire doors must have muffled the sound of the two male voices, which were clearly coming from Julian’s dorm room. Using the cheetah tatù, Rae raced down the hall.
As she ran, she nearly stumbled when she realized it was Julian and Devon who were hollering at each other.
“You back-stabbing scum!” Devon shouted.
“Me?” Julian scoffed. “I wasn’t the one who screwed up! You did that all by yourself.”
Rae paused behind the half opened door. Maybe she shouldn’t be here listening. Then again, they couldn’t see her.
“Yeah, I screwed up.” The disgust in Devon’s voice couldn’t be missed. “I thought I was doing what was best for me and her. She deserves a chance to figure things out on her own.”
Rae blinked. Did Devon mean her?
“By dumping her basically minutes after she joined the PC?” Julian must have pounded a fist against a chair or table or something. “I always thought you were a decent guy, Dev. Whatever your intentions were, you sure did a lousy job. I’m just glad I’m not the selfish prick who’s pretending to try and please everyone.”
Devon snorted. “I’m not selfish! Rae needs to focus. On training. Her dad, her mom…” He paused and Rae imagined him running his fingers through his hair. “She doesn’t need me as a distraction.”
Rae clenched her hands into fists. He was an idiot. She had needed him the most. He was supposed to be the one person who she could go to, spill everything and never be judged. He’d simply dropped her when he realized she had crazy complications in her life to deal with. Just two months ago, with no combat training or PC training, she’d risked her life to save him. Julian was right; Devon was being a selfish prick. She slipped through the half opened door, ready to confront him. Neither Julian nor Devon noticed her. They were too busy staring each other down from across the desk.
Julian stood straight, his arms crossed and frowning. He had bags under his eyes and he looked exhausted. “Whatever helps you sleep at night, dude.”
Devon leaned forward, his hands spread across the wood top. “You wouldn’t know about sleep, would you? You now spend your nights plotting, drawing and obsessing over my girlfriend.”
“She’s not your girlfriend. You dumped her!”
“You’ve been in love with her since the day she arrived at Guilder!”
Rae’s mouth dropped and she could feel her eyebrows raise so high her ponytail shifted. A noise escaped her lips. Both boys’ heads swung at the sound. It couldn’t be true. Devon was spitting accusations in anger. Besides Molly, Julian was her next best friend. He had been acting strange the past few days but that didn’t mean… it couldn’t.
Julian seemed to recover first. He stepped toward her, his hands open, palms up. “Rae. It’s not what it sounds like. Dev–”
“It’s exactly what it sounds like!” Devon shouted. “You’re fascinated by Rae. Don’t freakin’ lie!”
“I’m not lying!” Julian glared at his PC partner.
“What the heck’s going on?” Rae’s heart pounded hard against her ribs. She shifted and set her feet shoulder width apart, feeling an extreme need to find solid ground.
Devon leaned down and grabbed something from behind the desk and then stomped toward her. He tossed Julian’s drawing portfolio at Rae, which she caught. “Open it,” he demanded.
“Please don’t.” Julian’s face went from anger to horror.
Devon swiped a notebook off the top of the desk. He held it up like a teacher reading a story to her class. “Trying to hide something, Julian?” He began flipping through the pages showing Rae.
Hand drawings covered the pages, in charcoal, pencil, pen, marker or apparently anything Julian had handy. On every page were images of Rae. Every single page was covered with a picture of her face, her silhouette, fighting, reading or something.
Julian groaned. “Rae, it’s not what you think…”
Rae blinked several times. Her gaze trailed back and forth between both boys then down to the large leather portfolio in her hands. She set it level on top of her left hand and unzipped the case, trying to balance it and look at the drawings inside at the same time. There had to be at least a hundred drawings. All of her.
Julian moved toward her at the same time Devon leapt over a chair to try to get to her faster. Rae stepped back and pressed herself against the wall. Julian tried to grab the portfolio but Devon was quicker. His hands swept underneath the case, knocking it out of Rae’s unbalanced hand. Drawings fluttered everywhere across the room.
Julian’s arm drew back and he landed a solid punch on Devon’s jaw. “You bastard! You don’t know anything!”
Devon’s upper body twisted from the impact of Julian’s fist. He stumbled but managed to catch himself before falling. Wiping his cut lip he shook his wrist as fresh blood sprayed over the drawings. “Cat’s out of the bag, Julian.” Then lunged at his best friend. With that, the fight was on in earnest.
Chapter 21
Run, Rae, Run!
Julian’s tatù give him the heads up to move out of the way, but Devon must have expected it and shifted as well. The two fell back, knocking over a chair that protested with a loud crack.
Rae watched in horror. She had seen them fight against each other in training, but never like this.
They rolled on the floor, grunting and grabbing at each other. A small table toppled over as Devon threw Julian off of him and lunged immediately after him. Devon’s fist landed with Julian’s side.
Rae swore she heard a rib break. They were going to kill each other. “Stop fighting!” she screamed.
Neither guy paid any attention to her. Using Jennifer’s tatù, Rae raced over to them, and not one hundred percent sure it would work, she switched to Molly’s ability, forcing herself between them. She had to duck to miss a punch that landed on Devon’s shoulder. She spread her hands on both their chests.
It took more concentration than she anticipated, but she only had a millisecond before they would push her out of the way, or end up nailing her. With eyes shut tight she pushed as hard as she could. Using her strength and electricity, she sent both of them flying in opposite directions. Both of them released an “Omph!” as their bodies crashed into opposite walls.
“Enough!” she hissed, glaring at both of them. “What is the matter with you guys?”
Devon stood, panting, and swiped his lip. Julian leaned forward with his hands on his knees, heaving for air.
“Are you finished?” she spat at Devon.
He crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m not, but Julian is.”
“Freeze!” She waved a finger of warning at the approaching Julian. He hesitated a second. Rae looked at both of them and suddenly felt tears well up in the back of her eyes. “You guys are idiots. I thought you were my friends.” She turned and fled out of the room not bothering to look back. She switched her tatù back to Jennifer’s knowing Devon could try to run after her, but would have no chance of catching up.
Outside she raced to Julian’s car, pulling the keys out of her backpack as she ran. She glanced once behind her, but didn’t see Devon. It didn’t mean he wouldn’t follow, she just had a massive head start. The moment her feet hit the parking lot, she hit the unlock button to Julian’s car and swung the door open as soon as she reached it. The car revved to life as she shoved it into first gear and lurched forward. She peeled out of the parking lot.
She sped down the country roads, not sure at first, where she was going; partially blinded by tears, anger and confusion. There had to be a reason Julian had drawn all those pictures. How long had he been drawing them? Why had Devon freaked out? They weren’t dating anymore. What right did he have to get pissed over anything involving her? When the motorway came into view, Rae pulled onto it and headed toward Stoke-on-Trent. She never bothered to look back.
Mentally calculating the miles, she figured if she drove fast, she would have around two hours to try to forget the scene she had witnessed. The muffled sound of her phone vibrated from inside her school bag. She ignored it. She had no intention of talking to either Julian or Devon at the moment. Instead she flipped on the radio and cranked up the volume.
An hour and a half later, with no answers, and no rest from the thoughts pushing through her mind, she turned the music down and switched Julian’s touch screen radio to his built in GPS. She pulled over at a rest station and found the address for the old Wade Factory in her backpack. Westport Road.
She didn’t want to, but couldn’t resist checking her phone. Devon had called three times, and Julian had called and sent a text. Molly had sent a text too. Rae ignored them all. The only message she wrote was to Jennifer. Rae knew she was in a meeting with Carter and might be with him for hours, so she just let her know everything was fine. Hopefully Jennifer wouldn’t reply for quite a while. Rae also doubted Julian or Devon would be eager to let the Privy Council know what had just happened – if they were even worried about her.
Rae didn’t have her mother’s original coded message, just the scrap pages she had been working on. She closed her eyes to see if she could picture it. She pulle
d a blank sheet of paper out of a binder and frantically scribbled down what she saw behind her eyelids.
As she worked, she realized a picture was also forming in her head. A large room filled with rows and rows of porcelain teapots and things on shelves. If it was an old, forgotten memory, she didn’t know. It just appeared in her head. The large planks of wood on the floor and high, unique patterned windows would be her map. She just had to get inside the factory. Her gut told her she would know the room when she saw it. How to find what was in there was another matter.
Her stomach rumbled, reminding her that she had not eaten lunch. She ran inside the rest stop, and bought a sandwich to eat on the road. Checking the GPS, she grinned when she realized she had made unbelievable time. I’m probably about twenty minutes away from Stoke-on-Trent!
Her phone sounded again. Rae grabbed it and switched it to vibrate. She glanced at the ID, Jennifer had replied ‘OK’ from Rae’s previous text. Rae didn’t bother reading the rest of it, she would check it later.
As she maneuvered Julian’s car back onto the motorway she tried not to think. Of course, that was impossible. She wanted to rewind and erase Devon and Julian fighting, erase all the drawings of her, the ancient drawing of her. Could she go back even further? Erase her mother dying? What would things be like now? How different would her life be?
Rae shook her head and focused on the exits and GPS.
What had her uncle told her once? Things fall apart so things can fall together. One of his silly proverbs of truth. “Whatever that means,” she grumbled.
She switched lanes, flipped on the turn signal and exited off the motorway. A sign welcomed her to the City of Potteries. She went through the roundabout, and continued on as the streets narrowed. It took a while to find the correct way, but she slowed the car to a crawl when she saw the fence, and realized the closed factory lay behind it.
Parking the car up the road near a supermarket, she grabbed her backpack, locked the car doors and tucked the keys in her pocket.
