Time Catcher

by Cheree Peters

  I glance at his patched clothes, several rolled cigarettes peeking from the top pocket of his homespun, charcoal-coloured shirt, his cap set on a rakish slant.

  Erwin notices my look. ‘You think we were involved?’

  ‘You two do look suspicious,’ Jay says.

  Erwin pulls out a cigerrette and lights it with a match he strikes on a charred, exposed beam. ‘We can’t all have crisp haircuts like you, mate.’

  ‘I reported the fire to the boss men,’ Kayto says over his shoulder. ‘Told ’em I saw a guy with a spiderweb tattoo on his neck leavin’ just as I peeped smoke, but they just laughed at me. Cacking sentinels don’t care about the west.’

  Jay scoffs. ‘I’m sure living in the kingdom is really hard.’

  Erwin turns to him, taking out the cigarette. ‘Just because I’m not a Manipulator doesn’t mean my life is easy. This was my mum’s shop.’

  ‘Sold good veggies, grown in her own backyard,’ Kayto says. ‘And some stuff we can’t get in this Quarter.’

  ‘Like what?’ Jay asks.

  ‘Bread that isn’t five days old, for one,’ Erwin says.

  ‘Yeah, this part of the city’s poor, but you should see the other side of the Rampart!’ Jay says heatedly. ‘At least no one’s trying to kill you!’

  I put my arm around Jay, ushering him back. ‘Ignore him, he’s always grumpy. We really appreciate your help.’

  ‘We ain’t here to help you, we just ain’t gonna help them cackers,’ Kayto says.

  ‘Thank you, either way. We should get going though. I hope you can rebuild this place.’

  Erwin smiles, the cigarette stuck to his lower lip. ‘Thanks, love.’

  ‘You’re all clear out here,’ Kayto chimes in.

  Jay drags me out of the shop. I offer Kayto a smile while Jay keeps his head down.

  It isn’t until we are halfway down the next street that Jay lets go of me. ‘What’s wrong, Jay?’

  ‘What’s wrong, Thea? What’s wrong? How about the fact that you don’t trust me? Or the fact that you think I’m just some grumpy stranger?’

  I’m no longer upset by his anger. I am so used to his outbursts that I retaliate. ‘I’m just an annoying damsel to you!’ I walk off, heading towards Tahan’s place.

  As I scan the street, empty but for a few pedestrians, I feel anger boiling inside me. I’m exhausted. I feel so weighed down by all the lies, by so many revelations, that I can’t continue. In front of a row of small, unkempt workers’ cottages, my legs refuse to move. Jay catches up to me, but doesn’t say anything. I am grateful for his silence.

  I take deep breaths to calm myself. ‘I’m sorry.’ Jay is watching me with concern. ‘It’s just . . . Being here, in the kingdom, is a constant reminder of what happened to me. I thought this was my home. I grew up here, at least for a few years. I walked these streets thinking I would one day rule the people who live here, that I would have a chance to help and guide them. Most of all . . .’ I choke back a sob. ‘Most of all I loved a father who wasn’t really my father, who had been pretending to love me for five years.’ I look at Jay, tears streaming down my face. ‘My stupid dreams remind me. Finn and Tahan remind me. You remind me.’

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Jay says softly. ‘Sometimes I cause trouble without meaning to.’

  I manage a small smile. ‘You were always a troublemaker.’

  He laughs and pulls me into a hug. For a moment I feel calm in his arms. I don’t think of anything.

  ‘We haven’t got much of a hope, the two of us.’

  ‘Probably,’ he says in my ear. I grip him tighter. ‘At least we still have the maserlocks.’

  I can’t help but laugh. I pull away from him, smiling.

  He takes me around the corner into a small alley and hands me a maserlock. I slip it into one of the pockets of the smock dress. I’ve never fired one before. I can only hope that if the time comes, I don’t shoot myself. Or Jay.

  We’re only a couple of streets away from Tahan’s when we see a large group on the other side of the street heading towards us. Thankfully they are not sentinels. I no longer have the hat to cover my face and I try to hide myself behind Jay. He wraps his arm around me, pulling me close.

  My panic increases as the group of laughing friends cross the street. I slow my pace, as if that will somehow make me unnoticeable. Jay is calmer than me and he sets the pace. The only sign of panic he shows is a firmer grasp on my shoulder as we approach the chattering group. Once we pass them, I glance back and a young woman locks eyes with me. My legs shake and I do the only thing I can think of, I reach my hand out and freeze them.

  ‘Thea, what are you doing?’

  ‘I have no idea.’ I take his hand and drag him along the street, flicking my wrist as we turn a corner. I look back and it’s worked, the flick of my wrist unfroze the group.

  We resume walking and Jay says, ‘Thea, you can’t just do that in the middle of the street! What if someone else walks by, or looks out the window?’

  My heart is racing with excitement and my fingers tingle with energy. I’m learning to control my Ability.

  ‘Do what, exactly?’

  ‘Freeze people, Thea, or whatever you call it!’

  I don’t say anything for a while, thinking. ‘What do I call it?’

  Jay’s anger subsides. ‘How should I know? I’ve never seen anyone with Time Stopping.’

  ‘Time Stopping? I don’t like the sound of that. Eli called it Time Freezing.’

  ‘What would you like to call it?’

  ‘I . . . I don’t know,’ I say.

  ‘Why don’t you think about it, Princess?’

  I mirror his smirk. ‘I will.’

  I guide us down Tahan’s street to her home, a tiny house squeezed in amongst other tiny houses. A large crack in the brick façade next to the only window jags up to the roof. The last time I was here, Tahan was frantic and worried, rushing to the markets to pay off her aunty’s debt. I hope she’s home.

  ‘Thea, are you sure about this?’

  ‘Yes. Let’s go.’

  With Jay behind me, I walk to her door. My hand hesitates, unable to knock. Jay reaches over my shoulder and thumps on the door, blocking the peephole with his other hand.

  What if Jay is right? What if I can’t trust Tahan? I swallow my anxiety as the door opens.

  Tahan’s habitual bright smile disappears as she sees us. ‘Althea! What are you doing here?’

  ‘I was hoping you could help us. May we come in?’

  She hesitates before saying, ‘Um, sure, why not? Come in.’

  She glances both ways along the quiet street before closing the door.

  My anxiety drops. For now, we are safe inside, hidden from prying eyes. The only doubt I have is that Duncan will know to check Tahan’s place. However, Tahan’s a good liar.

  I lead Jay down the narrow hallway to the living and kitchen area at the rear of the house. A two-seater settee is squished into a corner and the kitchen stretches across the two corners on the other side. The only natural light comes from a small window beside the back door.

  ‘Two things: what is going on?’ Tahan says as she joins us. ‘And what are you wearing?’

  I look down at the frumpy black dress. At least I know Tahan is calm. She wouldn’t comment on my fashion sense if she were panicking. ‘Oh, this old thing? I’m experimenting with a new style.’

  ‘Knock it off, A!’ she says angrily.

  It turns out she’s not as calm as I thought. ‘Sorry. I don’t know what you’ve heard, but I’m in trouble.’

  ‘No cack you’re in trouble.’ She points at Jay. ‘Why are the sentinels handing out flyers saying he’s kidnapped you?’

  ‘It’s a long story but you can’t believe anything released by the sentinels – by Duncan. Trust me.’

  ‘I do trust you, but that doesn’t explain what’s happening. Who is he?’

  Jay and I look at each other. How to explain this to Tahan? ‘This is, ah, this is J
–’

  ‘Wait, this isn’t the John you’ve been seeing, is it?’ She looks Jay up and down, nodding approval.

  My eyes grow wide. I look at Jay who looks back at me with surprise and annoyance. Technically Jay is the John I was talking about. ‘Ah, no.’ Tahan looks disappointed. ‘No, that’s someone else. This is just Jay.’

  Jay looks slightly offended. ‘I’m more than “just Jay”.’

  I roll my eyes at him and Tahan ignores him completely. ‘Indeed. Explain to me precisely what is happening. Tell me everything.’

  I start from the beginning. Jay chips in with extra information while Tahan leans on the back of the settee. It takes her a full five minutes to believe that I’m a Variant. Her mouth opens in shock so many times I want to reach over and shut it for her. I finish by asking for sanctuary until nightfall, and by now her mouth seems permanently fixed in the open position.

  ‘But . . . Why would the king keep you for so long?’

  ‘All we can surmise is that he wanted to run tests on me, but that in no way explains why he raised me as his daughter.’

  She takes a seat at her small dining table, tucked into the corner behind the settee, twisting her necklace between her fingers. ‘Who’s he then? Apart from being a Manipulator – or a Variant, or whatever you call yourselves – and “just Jay”.’

  ‘He’s one of the boys I grew up with before I was taken.’ I twiddle my new silver ring, embarrassed.

  ‘Were you one of the guys who took her during the parade?’

  Jay looks sheepishly at her. ‘That was me. And her brother.’

  Tahan again sits up straighter. ‘Where’s he?’

  ‘We don’t know. We think he’s made it over the Rampart,’ I say. ‘Hopefully.’

  ‘Are you hungry? Help yourself to food.’

  The mention of food sets my stomach rumbling. I hadn’t realised how hungry I was. I dash to the pantry and pull out some homemade raspberry biscuits. Three are devoured before I pass them to Jay. I place the bread and ingredients to make sandwiches on the counter and Jay sits on a counter stool.

  With a mouthful of biscuits, he says, ‘You two have known each other for a while?’

  ‘As long as I can remember,’ I reply.

  ‘Thea, I don’t think your memory is something we can count on.’

  I stop cutting chicken and look up at him. ‘You do realise I’m holding a knife? It’s unwise to mock me.’

  ‘I wouldn’t dream of mocking you.’ His trademark smirk is compromised by the crumbs falling from his mouth.

  ‘Disgusting, Jay.’ I finish making the sandwiches and hand him one. ‘Try to keep this in your mouth.’

  ‘Yes, Your Highness.’

  Tahan looks at me, darts her eyes to Jay, then back to me, moving her eyebrows up and down. Ignoring her, I take a bite of my sandwich.

  There is a knock at the door. I pause mid-bite. Jay is already standing, maserlock in hand. I quickly pull mine from my pocket and we hide, Jay on the living room side, me on the kitchen side.

  I risk a quick look. I can’t see whoever it is; Tahan blocks them.

  Jay’s frantic hand gestures make me step back. I hear Tahan close the door.

  A man’s voice speaks and this time, I hear it clearly. ‘Tahan, be honest with me, have you seen her?’

  Unthinkingly, I drop the maserlock and run down the hallway.

  ‘Thea, stop!’ Jay calls after me.

  I throw my arms around Finn and he hugs me back. The familiar smell of him calms me, lime and musk. I release him and stand back to look at him, just to make sure he is really here.

  Jay strides up the hallway, his maserlock pointing at Finn. ‘Who are you?’

  Finn raises his hands and I jump in front of him.

  ‘Jay, put the maserlock down! It’s all right!’

  ‘Not until you tell me who he is!’

  ‘His name is Finn. He’s my swain so put the gun down!’

  Jay’s aim falters. ‘Your swain?’

  ‘Ex-swain. It doesn’t matter, just put the maserlock down.’

  He lowers the maserlock, still wary.

  ‘What are you doing here?’ I ask Finn.

  ‘Looking for you, naturally.’

  Tahan jumps in. ‘If you thought she’d been kidnapped, why did you come looking for her here?’

  She makes a valid point. I take a step back towards Jay.

  ‘I overheard my mother talking with the king. I know she was not really kidnapped. I know you ran away.’

  I speak up. ‘Your mother knows the truth?’

  ‘It would seem so.’ Finn starts shrugging out of his long grey coat. It is similar to Jay’s borrowed one but the material is of a higher quality, with a tailored cut and shiny silver buttons.

  Tahan, as always, steps in to fight my battle. ‘You expect us to believe that you never knew? That your mother never told you A was kidnapped from her family and raised by a monster to be constantly monitored and tested?’

  If Delegate Donoghue knew, she must have told Finn something. Along with being her son, Finn has been her assistant all summer, helping her run her Quarter, party to all her meetings and secrets. Doubt starts festering in my mind.

  ‘No, Tahan, I do not expect you to believe me. I expect Althea to.’

  I look at him doubtfully. ‘Is that why you courted me? So you could get close to me and spy on me for Duncan?’

  He looks hurt. ‘No, definitely not, Althea! How could you possibly even think that?’

  Perhaps I should believe him, trust him – I have no proof. ‘I’m sorry, but I can’t trust anyone anymore.’

  ‘Althea, I did not know!’

  I take a step towards him; he looks so sincere, so hurt. Jay holds my arm. I look into Finn’s brown eyes. They are full of concern and sadness. ‘I believe you.’

  Tahan and Jay say in unison, ‘What?’

  ‘Finn would never hurt me. He didn’t know.’

  It is the most awkward room of people I can imagine as we all sit around the small square table. Tahan is beside a person she doesn’t like, Finn, who sits opposite the accusing eyes of Jay. And then there’s me, next to Jay, finishing my sandwich – the connection between all three. It’s my old life meeting my new one and it feels strange.

  ‘What is your plan, Althea?’ Finn asks.

  ‘We don’t know. We have to find a way out of the kingdom.’

  ‘Perhaps I could steal my mother’s carriage and horses to transport you from the kingdom.’

  ‘Aren’t you quite the bad boy, stealing Mummy’s carriage?’

  ‘I am attempting to help, Tahan.’

  ‘I’m going to the bathroom.’ Tahan gets up and leaves.

  I didn’t think it was possible, but with Tahan gone, the room is even more awkward. I don’t look at Jay or Finn, instead staring at the cracks in the wall’s grey render.

  ‘Althea, you need a plan.’

  Jay snaps. ‘Thea. Her name is Thea! And we know we need a plan.’

  Finn, a diplomat like his mother, merely inclines his head.

  Thankfully, Tahan returns. Sliding into her seat, she smiles brightly at Jay. ‘Are you single?’

  I immediately regret my relief at her return.

  ‘Excuse me?’

  ‘Single? Not courting anyone? Don’t have a sweetheart?’ She regards him narrowly. ‘Or a wife?’

  ‘Ah, no. No sweetheart, or wife.’

  ‘Interesting.’ She turns her gaze on me. ‘There was no new man you were interested in, no “John”, was there? You made him up!’

  ‘Ah, yes.’ I don’t dare look at Finn.

  ‘Excuse me,’ he murmurs, heading for the bathroom.

  Jay perks up now that Finn isn’t in the room. ‘Who is this “John” you mentioned?’

  I close my eyes, gulping. Why me?

  ‘He was a lie, a boy she pretended to like. I helped sneak her out to see him but she never explained properly.’ She looks Jay up and down. ‘I do wonder where
she got the idea for him.’

  Jay looks at me curiously and I look down at my ring, twirling and twirling it. I did not think this day could get worse.

  Finn returns, looking sour.

  ‘It’s probably best that you wait here and leave after dark,’ Tahan says.

  ‘I was hoping we could stay with you for a couple of days,’ I say. ‘Lay low while the search is intense.’

  ‘That’s a good idea, too. Consider my humble abode yours. I’ll make sure Aunty J doesn’t say anything.’ She winks. ‘You two can have my room.’

  ‘Althea, you should consider leaving tonight,’ Finn says and I wonder if Tahan’s comment has made him jealous. ‘It is not safe here. When I overheard my mother and your father speaking, the king said he will have sentinels search every home by tomorrow if you are not apprehended. Tahan’s will be first, I have no doubt.’

  ‘Finn, I don’t have anywhere to go. Even dressed as I am, I have been recognised.’

  ‘Well, that’s a good enough reason to change out of that hideous dress!’ Tahan takes my hand and pulls me out of my seat.

  ‘Tahan!’ I say, annoyed, as she drags me to her room. Her bed, pushed in the corner underneath the small window, is unmade, matching the chaos of the rest of the room. Tahan said she had to clean the entire house because her aunt insisted – perhaps that applied to every other area of the house. The door to the bathroom she shares with her aunt is open, showing a sparkling contrast to Tahan’s space.

  She flings open her wardrobe door. ‘Here, pick anything you like, just take off that ugly frock!’ She waits, tapping her foot, arms crossed.

  I hesitate. I’m no longer Princess Althea; I can wear what I want. I take her olive leather pants, a sleeveless white blouse and a navy jacket with buttons arranged in a diagonal pattern.

  Tahan leaves as I take off the black sack dress. Pulling on the leather pants is a struggle and I wiggle and jump around. I finally get them up, but catch my finger on the waistband and my silver ring flies off, rolling underneath the bed.

  I fold the trailing covers over the bed and sigh at the mess of stuff I will have to sort through. I push aside dirty clothes, her trusted rounders bat, bits of paper. Light glints off an object nestled on a torn stocking: my ring. I cough from the dust as I pull the ring toward me. Then I see something that doesn’t belong – a sentinel’s transceiver.