He turned with a limp to the door. ‘Isabella, would you mind helping me with something?’ She followed him into the corridor. ‘You must be relieved to see your little friend?’
‘Of course. Bea means everything to Raffy.’
‘And they mean everything to you.’
There was something in his words that made it feel more like a threat. Isabella didn’t answer.
‘Like your father, you have a strong sense of justice, which is very admirable in a child.’
‘I don’t think you can call me a child after all we’ve been through.’
‘Perhaps,’ he said, ‘but as with all children, you still have a lot to learn.’ He let the words hang in the air between them. ‘My acquaintances say I am a very loyal and devoted friend. Someone who will ensure they are looked after in times of trouble.’
He removed a flower from a vase that had begun to wilt. ‘You would do well to make sure we stay friends.’
He crushed the flower in his hands and it fell to the floor in a shower of broken petals. His cane struck against the tiles and echoed off the walls as he strode away.
Two nurses fussed over Bea and helped her into bed while Raffy and Fly fluffed pillows and kept asking if she was comfortable.
Griffin stood back with Isabella. ‘What else did he say?’
‘That I needed to make sure we stayed friends,’ she answered quietly.
Xavier frowned. ‘What does that mean?’
Griffin’s face paled. ‘He knows something.’
Bea’s temperature was checked one final time. The nurse held up the thermometer and squinted over her glasses. ‘All wonderfully normal.’
‘Is there anything we should do to look after her?’ Fly asked.
‘Keep her warm and give her as many hot chocolates as she likes.’
When the nurses left they all piled around Bea and climbed on the end of her bed.
‘I still don’t understand why it happened,’ Fly said.
‘Do you remember anything?’ Isabella asked.
‘I remember driving the go-kart, and turning a corner when someone crashed into me.’ She frowned. ‘I don’t remember anything after that.’
‘The Major General thinks that you may have been taken by kids,’ Isabella said.
‘Why would kids do this?’ Raffy asked.
‘Because the camp on the edge of town only has kids, and the Major General thinks the kidnappers were from there!’
‘The camp’s full of kids.’ Bea frowned. ‘But that’s wrong.’
‘Do you think that’s what happened?’ Fly asked.
Isabella shook her head. ‘No, I don’t. I …’
‘The main thing is that we have you back.’ Griffin was keen to end talk of the kidnapping. ‘How would you like me to read to you?’
Bea nodded. ‘Yes, please.’ The smallest of smiles rose into her lips. It was enough to keep Griffin reading for as long as she liked.
After the three young ones had fallen asleep, Isabella and Griffin settled at the foot of their beds on mattresses beside a sleeping Xavier.
‘He did this,’ Isabella whispered.
‘The Major General?’ Griffin asked. ‘Why?’
‘As a warning to stay away from the camp and to stop asking any more questions.’
‘But Bea’s just a kid, she’s done nothing wrong.’
‘Exactly. Just like the kids in the camp. I think he faked the ransom note.’
‘Why?’
Isabella softened her voice even further. ‘To smear the kids in the camp and to make it clear that anyone who disobeys him will be punished.’
‘So from now on we stay away from the camp.’
‘No, it’s more important than ever that we stand up for what’s right.’
‘Even if it means these kids might be in danger?’
‘There are lots of kids in danger.’
‘Yes, and I’m sorry for that, but if helping them means risking the safety of these three, then we stay away.’
‘But Griffin –’
‘No!’ He tried to keep his voice low so he wouldn’t wake the others. ‘We almost lost Bea, Isabella. What if she’d never made it back, what if it happens again, only next time it’s worse? You and these kids are all I have, and I can’t let you do anything to risk that.’
Griffin rolled over, yanking the blankets up to his chin. It was the first time in twelve years they’d fought. His heart slammed against his chest, thudding like drumbeats in his ears.
When they left Grimsdon, he swore to himself he’d do all he could to protect Bea, Fly and Raffy and keep them out of harm. He knew what he’d said to Isabella was right, but his stomach churned and his head ached and he lay awake until dawn.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
A Long-Awaited Reunion
Griffin stood at the door of Fly’s bedroom. She’d unloaded her entire wardrobe onto her bed and was trying to match tops with skirts and dresses with scarves.
She threw down a dress and stared at the jumbled mess.
‘Are you okay?’ Griffin asked.
Fly shook her head. ‘I’m trying to decide what to wear.’ Her voice cracked. ‘I want to look nice for my parents, but I don’t know what’s good enough.’
‘Come here.’ Griffin folded her into a hug. ‘When they see you, they’re not going to notice your clothes or hair or shoes, all they’re going to see is this talented, beautiful girl … who is one of the best friends I’ve ever had.’
Griffin tried hard not to cry.
‘You’ll always be my hero, Griffin.’
‘All right, but just until you get yourself a real one.’
Fly laughed through a loud sob.
‘What’s wrong?’ Isabella hurried into the room with Xavier behind. ‘What’s happened?’
‘Nothing,’ Griffin said. ‘I was just saying how …’ But it was no good, he couldn’t finish.
‘Is everything okay?’ Bea appeared behind them.
‘We heard crying,’ Raffy said.
Fly pulled her tear-streaked face away from Griffin. ‘Yes.’ She laughed. ‘I don’t know what to wear for my parents.’
‘We can fix that!’ Bea and Raffy raced to the bed and in seconds they had chosen a lavender dress, silver shoes and a long, fluffy cardigan.
‘That’s it.’ Fly nodded. ‘That’s exactly what I want to wear.’ She began to cry again.
‘Now what’s wrong?’ Raffy said.
Fly slumped onto the lounge. ‘You’re the only family I’ve known for three years. You’re the best brothers and sisters anyone could ever have. If you’d never found me, I wouldn’t have made it.’
‘But we did find you,’ Bea said proudly. ‘And now your parents have too.’
‘But that’s just it,’ she said. ‘I’ve wanted to see them for so long. I’ve imagined it over and over again. Dad lifts me into his arms and Mum can’t stop crying, because she always used to cry at happy things, and everything’s perfect. But what if it’s not?’
‘It will be,’ Bea said. ‘How could it not?’
‘Where will we live? We can’t stay with Jeremiah – there’s not enough room.’
‘You’ll live nearby,’ Raffy decided. ‘We’ll buy Armavans and learn to drive and visit each other every day.’
Griffin sat down beside her. ‘This is what we’ve all been hoping for. To see our parents again.’
‘I’m sorry they haven’t found anyone else’s yet.’
‘It’s okay,’ Isabella said. ‘For now, we are going to celebrate finding yours.’ Corporal Smith knocked at the door. ‘It’s time to go. They’ll be arriving any minute.’ They quickly finished getting ready and were soon walking to a special room where a table had been laid with cupcakes, chocolate eclairs and a freshly baked apple pie beside jugs of cream and steaming custard.
‘Ready?’ Corporal Smith asked. Fly nodded. ‘I’ll bring them up the second they arrive.’
The room fell into an uneasy silence.
Fly twisted the ends of her cardigan and looked around nervously, not sure whether to sit or stand. Finally, she decided to sit on the lounge. The others gathered on either side, all of them squeezing in.
‘Is it too crowded with all of us?’ Bea asked.
‘I’d prefer you to stay close,’ Fly said.
‘Can I get you something to eat or drink?’ Raffy asked. ‘It might make you feel better.’
Fly smiled. ‘I think I’ll wait.’
The seconds dragged by until they heard footsteps and distant voices in the corridor. Fly sprang to her feet. Her chest rose and fell as she struggled to slow her breathing.
The others stood with her, and Isabella and Griffin took her hands.
‘We’re here for you, Fly,’ Isabella whispered. ‘Never forget that.’
Corporal Smith entered first. ‘I have our special visitors.’
Fly felt her stomach tighten. She stared at the door.
And there they were.
Her mum had a long dark ponytail and her dad had wild hair, just like she remembered, only both were greyer and her dad wore little round glasses perched on the end of his nose.
For whole seconds, nobody moved.
But then Fly’s mum flew across the room and swept her daughter into a hug, lifting her off the ground and twirling her through the air.
‘My little girl! It’s really you!’
Fly snuggled into her neck and instantly remembered her smell. ‘Mum!’
Her mother laughed and kissed her daughter’s face until it was flush with lipstick.
Her father stood back for a few minutes and let them hug before he couldn’t wait any longer. ‘Any room for me in there?’
Fly opened her arms and clung to her dad. ‘You came for me.’
‘Of course we did. The second we knew where you were.’
‘We never stopped looking for you,’ Fly’s mum said. ‘Not even for a day. We always knew we’d find you.’
Raffy reached for his sister’s hand. Isabella offered Griffin her hanky as his cheeks dripped with tears. Even Xavier’s lip trembled.
‘You are just as beautiful as I remember,’ her dad said.
‘And you have the same crazy hair.’ Fly laughed.
‘There’s a little less of it, but yes, it’s still crazy.’
He brushed her fringe from her eyes. ‘We were worried we wouldn’t recognise you.’
‘Me too.’
‘But you have the same sparkling eyes.’
‘And the same beautiful smile,’ her mother admired. ‘Just like we remembered.’
‘How are Pa and Grandma?’
‘They’re at home,’ her mother answered before adding, ‘looking after your new baby sister.’
‘I have a sister! Is she cute? How old is she? What’s her name?’
Her dad answered. ‘She is very cute, almost one and her name is April.’
‘Oh, my sweet Audrey,’ her mother kissed her again. ‘It’s really you.’
‘Audrey?’ Raffy whispered to Bea.
‘Oh.’ Fly wriggled out of her dad’s arms. ‘These are my friends. They found me after the Floods and have taken care of me ever since. This is Bea and Raffy, Griffin, Isabella and Xavier.’
Fly’s dad looked each of them in the eye. ‘Thank you for bringing our little girl home to us. There are not enough words –’ He was overwhelmed with emotion and Fly’s mum gently laid her hand on his shoulder. ‘There are not enough words to describe what you’ve done for us.’
‘Fly’s like our sister,’ Bea said.
‘Fly?’
‘That’s what we call her,’ Raffy explained. ‘It was because of the label on her suitcase when we found her.’
Griffin tried to speak but his throat ached with all he wanted to say.
‘How about we sit and have tea.’ Corporal Smith invited them all to the table and waiters served the cakes, pastry and slices of pie with cream and custard.
They scrambled to explain everything that had happened to Fly since her parents last saw her, but when Raffy mentioned Herman the sea monster, the expression on her parents’ faces told them they should stick to the less frightening parts.
‘We really were fine,’ Fly explained. ‘Isabella and Griffin made sure of it. Xavier even taught Griffin judo to protect us.’
Griffin shook his head. ‘I’m no expert, but it did come in handy during one especially annoying visit.’
Fly’s dad held his glass in the air. ‘I’d like to propose a toast. We heard many stories of bravery and courage after the Floods, but I would like to toast the bravest of them all.’ They clinked glasses and cheered. ‘I’m only sorry we won’t get to know all of you better.’
Fly put down her cupcake. ‘What do you mean?’
Her parents exchanged a nervous look before her mother spoke. ‘Well, we need to take you home, Audrey.’
‘Why can’t we live here?’
‘Because we already have a home. It’s high in the hills, far from the sea and rivers. We’ve had a room ready for you ever since we moved there.’
‘When do we leave?’
‘As soon as you pack your bags.’
‘Today?’
‘Yes, sweetie,’ her dad said. ‘We thought you’d be excited to go home and meet your new little sister.’
‘I am excited, really, but …’ She looked at the others. ‘I guess I just thought …’
‘I know it will be sad to leave your friends,’ her mum said, ‘but they can come and visit whenever you like. We lost you once and we’re not going to let it happen again.’
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
A Sad Farewell
The bedroom was silent as they gathered Fly’s clothes and folded them into bags. ‘Should we call you Audrey now?’ Raffy asked. ‘No, I like it better when you call me Fly.’
‘Me too,’ Bea said. ‘Are you excited about your new sister?’
‘I’m still getting used to the idea, but I like it.’ They kept folding, slowly and carefully, dragging out every second so their time together would last. ‘What about Oliver?’ Raffy looked glum. ‘Oliver who?’ Fly asked. ‘Twist? If you leave now you won’t know what happens at the end.’
‘I can read it when I’m in my new home.’
‘It won’t be the same without Griffin doing all the voices,’ Bea said.
‘I know.’
Griffin couldn’t speak. He tried not to cry, blinking against tears that were threatening to fall. It was the right decision for Fly to leave them and be with her family, and he didn’t want to make it any harder.
He also couldn’t stop the burning ache in his chest at having to say goodbye.
When the packing was done, they didn’t know what to do next.
Bea handed her tiara to Fly. ‘I want you to have this.’
Fly shook her head. ‘But you love your tiara.’
‘I’ll feel better knowing you’re taking care of it.’
‘I will.’
Two Garrison soldiers carried the bags outside while Fly walked with her hands firmly clenched in Isabella’s and Griffin’s.
As they approached the front entrance, a column of sunlight spilled inside. It was a perfect day under a brilliant blue, cloudless sky. But all Griffin could focus on was the Dragonfly suitcase he was holding and the moment he’d have to hand it away.
In the courtyard, Fly’s mum and dad were waiting by the Armavan.
‘I always had this feeling that someday we would find our little girl,’ her mum said. ‘And now we have, because she met you all.’
Fly’s parents hugged each of them.
‘Please come and visit when you can. We’ll leave you to say goodbye.’ Her dad took Fly’s suitcase from Griffin and they climbed inside the Armavan that would take them to their home, far away from the others.
‘You’ll have to come and see Jeremiah’s house when it’s finished.’ Bea spoke through jolts of tears.
Raffy wiped his eyes. ‘We’ll make sure ther
e’s a special place just for you where you can sit and draw.’
‘I’d like that,’ Fly said. ‘I will miss you both so, so much.’
Xavier picked Fly up and lifted her into the air. ‘Promise me you’ll never change anything about you for the rest of your life.’
‘I might get taller.’ Fly laughed.
‘All right,’ Xavier allowed, ‘but that’s the only thing.’
He popped her on the ground and wiped his sleeve across his eyes.
It was Isabella’s turn to say goodbye. She held Fly tight and whispered, ‘I’m so glad we found you on that rooftop.’
‘Me too. You’re the best big sister anyone could have.’
Fly pulled herself away and faced Griffin. ‘I know you think you’re clumsy and not very brave, but that’s not what’s important. It’s being wise and kind and always standing up for what’s right.’ She reached into her bag. She handed Griffin a book. ‘This one has lots of drawings of our time together.’ A sob caught in her throat. ‘So you’ll never forget me.’
‘I won’t.’ Griffin hugged her. ‘I promise.’
In the sky above, Charlie swooped into a climbing arch. He landed on the battlements high above and let out a high-pitched cry.
‘Bye, Charlie,’ Fly said. ‘Take care of them all for me.’
She slipped into the van between her parents. She seemed so small behind the protective glass.
The engine started and the wheels began to move.
Fly waved through the window.
Raffy and Bea ran behind them, waving as the Armavan trundled across the yard and through the gatehouse. It turned onto the street and Fly was gone.
Corporal Smith and Xavier ushered Bea and Raffy inside.
Griffin was quiet for a long time. Isabella stood by his side and said nothing. He stared at the gates that were now closed against the streets.
‘I’ll do it,’ he said.
‘Do what?’ Isabella asked.
‘Get those kids out of the camp.’
‘But you were right, Griffin. It might be dangerous.’
‘How do we do it?’
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
New City Page 12
