The Markings

by Catherine Downen

  “We’ve got a serious problem, Leo,” I hear Mio whisper and continue, “Not only did Paylon see us come through the tunnel, but he used his gift and I’m sure the alarm they have this city under notified the officers. Now, we saw him run back into the forest, but there’s no telling what he’s going to do.”

  “We could all be in danger,” Leo whispers, fear creeping into his voice.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t mention it sooner, I didn’t want to worry the kids or Kimberly,” Mio apologizes and continues, “Cooper’s pretty confident he got him deep enough, but Paylon might have still gotten the word out about our arrival.”

  “They know don’t they?” Leo asks, and I’m confused by what he could mean. Who knows? What do they know?

  “They have to know. If it were anyone else they’d just let them go,” Mio says flatly.

  “All right. I’ll stay up and keep watch in case someone finds us,” Leo responds. “You should get some sleep. You have a long journey tomorrow.”

  “Leo, I think you and Kimberly need to come with us. We might make it through the night without them finding us, but they’ll track every inch of those tunnels until they find it leads to you,” Mio says desperation creeping in his voice.

  “You know I can’t possibly ask Kimberly to do that. You know she already has a hard enough time letting them stay here. She never wanted any of this,” Leo says in a small, weak voice.

  They are quiet for a second until Mio finally says, “You better hope they don’t connect this place to that tunnel.”

  “We’ll be fine Mio.” The brothers don’t say anything else, and after a second I hear their footsteps lead into separate directions, and that’s when my fatigue pulls me into a deep sleep.

  Chapter 22

  There’s a soft tap on my shoulder and my eyelids flicker open. A pair of dark green eyes are looking back at me in the dark of the room. Alexander. Right, I was supposed to stay awake and meet with him. Without exchanging any words I quietly get up and leave my bed. I wait until we are out in the hall to make any sound. Alexander starts to head toward the front of the house and I grab his arm, stopping him.

  “We can’t go up there,” I whisper, remembering what I had overheard between Mio and Leo before fatigue pulled me under. “Leo is staying up tonight to keep watch. Here,” I say and guide him back, deeper into the house. After I had showered I remember passing a room that looked like a sitting area. It takes me a minute to find my way back to it, but when I do I’m surprised to find it full of books. I see a small switch next to the door and when I flip it on the room ignites in a blinding white light. It’s a small and dark wooden room. Books line the shelves that circle the entire room. There are couches and tables spread throughout the room. On the far wall is a wooden door that leads to another room, but I’m not sure where. Alexander and I click the door behind us and make sure no one else is in the room before speaking.

  “How did you know to come here?” I ask him in a shocked whisper, finally getting out the words that I’ve been thinking since I saw him chained to the floor of Leo’s storage room.

  “That’s actually what I wanted to talk about,” Alexander says. He goes to a couch that is placed against the far wall and removes his backpack before taking a seat. I know Alexander may have been to Sard before when he worked for King Renon, but this is far too complicated for him to have just figured out. I cross the room and take a seat next to him. “I had some guidance,” he says vaguely while scanning my face. I’m sure my expression asks for an explanation so he asks, “Can I see your mother’s journal?”

  I’m confused by his request. I sit up a little straighter and say, “I destroyed it.”

  “You what?” Alexander asks shocked.

  “I didn’t like the pressure hanging over every decision I made. The second-guessing of my every move was too much,” I explain.

  Alexander nods his head, understanding. “Well, that’s how I got here,” he says and explains how he had read my mother’s journal while I slept the last night in the bunker. “I opened it and it started with ‘Alexander,’ like she knew I would read it,” he explains.

  “She did,” I say and shrug my shoulders.

  “Are you mad I read it?” he asks me gently.

  I shake my head no and say, “The idea of knowing the future is tempting. So my mother told you to come here?” I question.

  “It was more complicated than that,” Alexander says and he pulls a few tanned pages from the bag at his feet. “She told me to take them,” he adds defensively before handing them to me. I take the aged fabric and a feeling of dread washes over me. Her perfect handwriting scribbled across the page makes me nauseous, and I’m wishing I hadn’t destroyed the journal. I miss her so much, but I know it was the right decision. I couldn’t live with the pressure of knowing the future depends on my every move. While that may still be true, at least I don’t know what those moves have to be. I start reading my mother’s delicate handwriting and imagine Alexander reading this next to me while I slept in the bunker.

  Alexander,

  I have some important instructions for you, but you need to keep them a secret from Adaline. The fewer people who know the more likely this will work out. You and Adaline will be tested whether to save Zavy or travel safely to Libertas. For me, I beg that you just go to Libertas, but Adaline will never leave a friend behind. Go with her and protect her. You’ll need to split up and draw Paylon away from his camp. Here is a map of how to get to Sard.

  Below her handwriting a dashed out sketch is etched into the tan paper. It shows the river we followed with an X through it. Then, a rock path is marked out through the ink drawn trees.

  Follow the stone boulders. They will lead you to Sard. Do not return to the river. Paylon will be following you closely, and we can’t risk you bringing him to the path Adaline and Zavy will be taking.

  I note how my mother specifically didn’t mention anything about Cooper or the search group in her plans. Only telling Alexander enough information for him to not ask any questions. It’s incredibly manipulative. I had no idea my mother had that side to her.

  If you hurry the journey will take you 48 hours. Take enough water and rations for the trip, because you don’t have time to hunt and you won’t find another water source on your route. When you get to Sard locate the abandoned building on the edge of the city. Inside you’ll find access to an underground tunnel system.

  My mother then proceeds to give Alexander step-by-step instructions to Leo’s home. “You went right past Molly and her friends,” I say softly.

  “I didn’t even see them,” Alexander admits. “I knew I had to get to you. I didn’t know you were behind me.”

  “Paylon said you killed Chadian,” I say, lowering the papers. I had forgotten until now. “He said you killed Chadian so Paylon killed you.” Alexander squints at me confused. “What happened after you left me?” I ask, handing Alexander my mother’s pages. “I don’t want to know what my mother has to say. I want to know what actually happened.”

  Alexander nods, taking the pages back. “I did what I told you I would do,” he begins to explain. “I traveled a mile or so south of Paylon’s camp and started a fire. I added as much green as I could to make the smoke visible. I picked a couple of trees and lit them on fire,” Alexander pauses as my eyes widen. “Isolated ones, so they would fall and catch Paylon’s attention.”

  “It worked,” I say. “We heard the tree crash and he left with Chadian.”

  “I waited until I heard his horse, and then I ran,” Alexander adds.

  “You let him get that close?” I ask, upset.

  “I had to be sure before I left. Then, I took off running. I never saw him or Chadian. I assumed they saw the destruction and figured it was a trap. They must have went back to their camp, but you had already rescued Zavy and left.”

  “And I killed Codian,” I admit. Alexander is silent and I make my eyes meet his.

  “He fought you outnumbered?” Alexan
der asks and I shake my head no. I wish he had fought because then I wouldn’t feel completely responsible for what had happened.

  “He threatened to kill Cooper if I didn’t kill him,” I say and my voice shakes. “He wanted to die.” I take a deep breath and say the words I’ve been fighting internally for the last two days. “And I know I could have tried harder to save them both, but at that moment I couldn’t think straight.”

  Alexander puts a gentle hand on my arm. “It’s okay Adaline.” I take in a deep shaky breath, knowing I can’t change it now.

  “So then you ran?” I ask.

  “Yes, and your mother was right. I didn’t find any water or food. That’s also why I was running so fast. I had run out of water after 30 or so hours. It was either run here and get water or die in the woods.” Alexander says flatly.

  “How bad was it?” I ask Alexander because he seems to be sparing me the details. I remember how hot the last couple of days have been. I know it couldn’t have been an easy trip.

  “Bad,” he lets out an exhausted breath. “I’ve never had to go a day without food or water. I wasn’t prepared for the effects.” I nod remembering the first days after my mother lost her job and we had nothing to eat. I know it’s only been a few days, but Alexander does look like he’s losing weight. Maybe it’s my imagination, but his face does seem thinner. “The dehydration was the worst part,” he admits. “I stopped feeling the hunger after a while, but my sandpaper tongue wouldn’t stop begging for water.”

  I imagine Alexander running through the scorching sun panting, but no water to refuel himself. “My mother sent you on a death mission,” I say irritated. “She knew you may not make it, but was willing to risk your life to save mine.” Disgust bubbles inside me, but Alexander’s gentle hand on my wrist calms me.

  “I would go back and do it all again.” His green eyes stare into mine.

  “All of it?” I ask softly, and he knows I mean more than just leaving me to help Zavy. I mean it all, helping me flee the castle, leaving his safe life, and becoming a traitor. Since the return of his memories, I’ve wondered if he does regret helping me.

  His grip on my wrist tightens and he says, “All of it.”

  I smile and try to make myself believe it so I don’t have to carry the guilt that my mother and I may have ruined his life. Now that Alexander has caught me up with what happened to him I share the major events of the last few days for my traveling group. There’s not much to share though. Most of the time was spent thinking about Alexander and wondering what we were going to do when we got to Libertas without him.

  I tell him about Paylon ambushing us, and I know he thinks it’s his fault. Paylon was following him and was probably waiting for us to get there. I tell him about finding Molly and her friends in the tunnels and he’s surprised that Mio was so quick to agree to them joining us. I tell him I was bringing them no matter what Mio had said and he had probably known that too. After Alexander is up to speed we walk back to our rooms. I leave Alexander at his and we stand in silence in the dark for a moment.

  “See you in the morning,” he finally says softly. Then, he sinks into his room and I make my way back to mine alone. When I get back in my bunk I’m reminded how little sleep I’ve gotten since this whole journey started. When I finally find sleep my last thought is of the red velvet cake and how I hope we get more tomorrow.

  My eyelids shoot open at the thunderous sound of someone banging on the front door. It sounds so unbelievably similar to the night when the guards came to my house seven years ago. I hear Leo’s faded voice welcome whoever is there. A stern voice responds and asks if he can come in. There’s a pause before I hear the door creak open and I sense Leo hesitate before allowing him in.

  “We’ve been notified of escaping prisoners from Garth,” the stern voice says to Leo. “We are supposed to investigate all homes.”

  “No,” I whisper into the night air. Tears brim my eyes and my heart quickens. Images of the guard ripping me from my bed start flashing before me, and I can’t help but feel like that helpless nine-year-old girl again. I can’t believe I’m about to be taken in as a prisoner again. This can’t be happening. I look around the room and see the other girls have woken up and are looking at each other frantically.

  “They must be important prisoners for King Renon to make such a big deal about getting them back,” I hear Leo say as their voices grow down the hall. Everyone’s eyes seem to land on mine, all of them looking to me for what we should do. I lift a shaky finger to my lips and remind them to stay quiet. It’s the only thought my terrified mind can process. My eyes lock with Molly’s and tears roll down her cheeks.

  “Yes, if they get away it is feared that they have the power to destroy Garth,” the officer says in a flat voice

  “Well that’s kind of extreme,” I hear Leo say, his voice right outside our door.

  “We aren’t taking any chances,” I hear the officer respond and suddenly the room is washed in bright light from the hallway. I close my eyes and hold my breath, hoping somehow he can’t see me.

  “Why do you have so many empty beds?” I hear the guard question and I’m confused about what he means by empty.

  “My wife wanted lots of kids, but she isn’t able to have any. It’s been hard on us. I’ve been meaning to get rid of them, but she doesn’t want to let them go,” I hear Leo’s voice grow distant as he leads the officer out of the room and farther down the hall. The room falls eerily silent once Leo and the officer have made their way further into the house. Even though it sounds like the officer has moved away from our room we stay completely silent and frozen in our beds. After a couple of minutes, I hear their voices surface again when they make it back to the front of the house.

  “We’ll be making rounds hourly, so expect another officer here soon,” he says in a more sensitive voice.

  “That’s fine, the house will look the same,” Leo says in a light voice.

  “I know it’s annoying for people like you who would never bring in prisoners, but it’s routine,” he adds sympathetically.

  “Like I said, I understand. Take it easy,” Leo says and I hear the door creek open and click shut again. The house falls back into being silent, and then Mio bursts through our bedroom door.

  “Up,” he hisses to us. “Don’t speak and don’t turn on any lights. We’re leaving. Now.” He turns and pushes through the door into the other girls’ room. I get out of bed skipping every other step on the ladder.

  I throw my boots on and lace them up, and everyone else is doing the same. Zavy helps Molly and her friends get up, their small bodies shaking with fear. I sling my backpack over my shoulder, place my sword back at my hip, and file out into the hallway.

  The guys are coming out of their rooms and making their way down the hallway. I fall in step with Alexander and feel him take my hand in his. We both look at each other and know, without speaking, that we aren’t losing the other again. I notice his bag and sword have been returned to him since Leo freed him this afternoon.

  Everyone walks and huddles in the center of the living room where we came up when we arrived. I look around the room and count to make sure everyone is here. Zavy is at my side with Toby tightly holding her hand, tears rolling down his cheeks. His eyes are wide with fear. I turn and see the other girls from the tunnel have made it out of their room and are huddled together. Molly locks her eyes with mine and I try to calm down and show her I’m not scared, but I’m not very good at it. Our heavy breathing fills the room, but we don’t dare say a word.

  Mio surfaces in the center of the group and says, “We’re sailing out tonight. It’s too dangerous for us to stay here now that they have the word out of our arrival.”

  “Kimberly and Cinder are packing up the boats now,” Leo says, joining Mio in the center. “We’re going to file through the back door and onto the docks. Leave the flashlights off and stay silent.”

  Mio and Leo push through the group and slide open the glass doors I’d
looked through earlier. The cool night air rushes in and sends a chill creeping up my neck. We fall into line behind Mio and Leo and follow them down the deck and onto the soft sand, but when we hit the sand we are completely exposed in the moonlight. Mio and Leo break out into a sprint to the dock and we all quickly follow. When we hit the wooden dock we stop running, partially hidden under the canopy and posts around us. I take in deep breaths of the salty air from the sea and count to make sure all of my group made it here too. I won’t lose anyone. I can’t, not when we are this close.

  “Everything’s ready to go,” Kimberly says as she comes out of the boat to my left, and then Cinder climbs out of the boat to my right.

  “Everything’s set over here too,” Cinder adds. I look down at the boats and see that they aren’t much. Each has an upper level on the backs of the boat where a tall black sail is flipping in the wind. The rest of the boat is a simple wooden frame, and I can make out something that resembles a propeller and motor at the rear of the boat. Wooden benches line the edge of the boat with the food being stored inside them.

  Mio turns to us and says, “Cinder and I will each run a boat. I want Cooper, Adaline, Alexander, Zavy, Toby, Molly, Lilly, and Sam on my boat. Cassandra, Essie, Sarah, James, Bren, Albert, Andy, May, and April on Cinder’s boat.”

  We all start to file into our assigned boats when Mio steps in front of Alexander and stops him. “Have you been on a boat before? With the castle’s army?” Mio asks.