Whoa. That was a lot of money. Realization suddenly came crashing down, making my heart sink. If a powerful Talent went for that much…what about a Created? Had one ever been captured?
“So…Jaylen Monroe…he’s a Poacher?” I asked, certain that I already knew the answer.
Comprehension slammed me in the gut. I’d been alone with a Poacher. A repulsive, vile Poacher. Who was probably scouting me out. Wondering how much he could sell me for. Sell me. To another person.
I shoved my chair back so hard it toppled to the floor, and ran for the small hallway next to the bar. Elbowing open the door to the ladies’ room, I barely made it to the toilet before getting sick. Heave after aching heave wracked my body. Since I hadn’t eaten all day, only acid seared my throat. Even after I’d expelled the bile, my body continued to lurch. My head spun like an out of control top.
Death. Containment. These were what I’d been terrified of, should UNITED find me. I’d thought those were the most horrifying fates that might befall me. But being sold, actually sold to another human being? Being owned? Made to do God only knew what? That was immeasurably worse.
Breathe, Kenly. Breathe. You’re going to be okay.
Realizing how stupid I’d been was a serious reality check. I’d been so sure I’d lost him, so sure he wouldn’t find me. So sure I could take him that I’d actually allowed Jaylen Monroe to get close, and chat, and…I’d been so cocky that I didn’t even consider the guy a threat. I hadn’t doubted for a moment that my Created powers made me superior to everyone.
After a minute of deep breathing, I walked over to the sink and rinsed my mouth out. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the framed mirror above the countertop. Faint patches of darkness obscured the glass, the effects of being hung there for decades. Through the spots, I saw an exceedingly thin girl with wide, fearful eyes and a pale face tinged with gray undertones.
Good, I thought. You should be scared, Kenly. You’re not invincible, you’re not invulnerable. Keep it up, and your ego will be your downfall.
As my mind ran through thoughts reminiscent of fortune cookie fortunes, I emerged back out into the bar area. When I got to our table, my chair had been righted and pushed back in. Gratefully, I slid back into it and took a sip from a glass of water that someone had also placed there.
“Are you okay?” Willa asked. Concern was apparent in her eyes, yet I couldn’t help but feel slightly annoyed with her. She’s known I was Talented for weeks now. Had even been worried enough to keep tabs on me since we’d met. Yet she hadn’t bothered warning me about the Poachers. Not even when she’d thrown me out earlier—was it really possible that had happened earlier today?—apparently because of the Monroe twins.
“Yeah, fine,” I muttered. Turning to Honora, I asked, “So, you were saying?”
The group traded glances. I wasn’t sure what they were trying to gauge, but I needed to know everything.
“Seriously guys, I’m okay. I just want to know what you do about these Poachers.”
Riley gave a barely perceptible nod to Honora, who took a deep breath before continuing.
“The Monroes are the worst sort, even of the Poachers,” she said. “Half the family and most of the people in their employ are Chromes. The whole lot of them, they’re traitors to our kind. Instead of banding together with the rest of the Chromes to fight for independence, they use their gifts against us. It’s…it’s….” Honora trailed off, at loss for words.
“Fecking revolting? Barbaric? Vicious and cruel and bloody unimaginable?” James supplied. “They ought to be drawn and quartered for their crimes.”
“Dude, it’s been like three or four centuries since that last happened,” Riley muttered.
James shot him an icy glare. “Maybe we should bring it back.”
Tug sidled up to the table, followed by the waiter. They set bowls of steaming stew in front of each of us.
“Mighty glad you’re safe, my girl,” Tug said, voice thick with emotion. He laid a gnarled hand on my shoulders and bent to place a kiss on my wet hair. The gesture was so fatherly that it nearly brought tears to my eyes. “You’ll come stay with me and Willa. Too dodgy for you to be on your own now, they’ve got you on their radar.”
I was about to protest, but Honora spoke up before I could.
“I reckon it’d be better if she stays with us.” She turned her attention from Tug to me. “Riley, James, and I have a flat nearby. It’s not much, but there’s a spare bed, and we keep an eye for each other’s backs. We protect our own, we do.” She smiled up at Tug. “It’ll be safer for everyone this way. Should they get any funny ideas, there’ll be the three of us there with her.”
Tug nodded. “That’s very generous of you, dear. That arrangement should work right nicely.”
“Um, hold up. Don’t I have a say in this?” I asked, annoyed they were making plans for me without consulting me.
“No,” Willa and James, of all people, said in unison.
After a final pat on my shoulder, Tug headed back for the bar. And with that, they’d decided the matter was settled.
Everyone picked up their spoons as if to tuck in to their stew, but no one seemed to have much of an appetite. I barely touched mine, merely pushed the carrots from one side of the gravy pond to the other. Only James made a dent in his dinner, yet I suspected that he barely tasted the food. He stared out the window as he ate, platinum eyes unfocused. Willa and Riley were quietly chatting, but the rest of us were silent, each lost in our own thoughts.
Mine were on overdrive, trying to process all of this new information. It was obvious that I should make excuses and leave. I needed to get my meager belongings from the Hideaway, and find a new place to lay low. Somewhere I could regroup and figure out how best to move forward. The knowledge that Tug had pegged me as Talented from our first meeting was beyond disconcerting. I’d thought I was being so discreet, blending in. How did he know? And having Willa keep tabs on me? That didn’t sit well with me.
But worse than all of that, I felt stupid for not realizing that someone was watching me, even by Viewing. I was better than that. I’d been trained better than that. How would I keep eluding UNITED if some girl, without any formal training, had been following me for three weeks? Especially since I hadn’t had a clue. I thought I was being so stealthy. It was almost laughable, except nothing about the situation was funny.
Talia wouldn’t have been so blind, the thought popped into my head unbidden. I quickly dismissed the idea. Don’t think about her. She isn’t important. Then another thought occurred to me, something I’d forgotten about.
“What about the people we saw on our way here?” I asked. “Are they Poachers, too?”
Riley looked up from his conversation with Willa. Their heads were conspicuously close, so their words couldn’t be overheard. I wondered what they were discussing.
“No, just bloody gang thugs. Out looking for a fight, most likely. Pinching Chromes is a common initiation ritual,” Riley answered. Though I knew he meant taking them, I couldn’t help but picture the thugs chasing after Talents, their fingers poised to pinch a patch of skin. I almost smiled, until I realized this meant I had another threat to worry about.
“That’s why we travel together, always. Most aren’t brave enough to take a group of us on,” Honora added.
“We don’t have to worry about them, as long as we stay together,” Willa assured me. “Now, how bout I get some carryout boxes and we get out of here?” It’d become obvious that no one was really interested in eating.
“Sounds good. I just need to go get my things from the hostel,” I said to no one in particular.
This was my chance to get away from them. Where I would go from there, well, that I didn’t know. But I didn’t know these people well enough to know their intentions. For all I knew, they themselves could be Poachers or gang members, or a cult, or…. It didn’t really matter. Sure, they’d seemed genuinely upset when talking about the Poach
ers, and genuinely angry, but I had other problems to deal with, too.
An image of Alana being dragged away by UNITED agents filled my mind. That will never be you, I vowed. All that mattered was remaining free. For all I knew, UNITED was already watching this group. Joining them might be the same as serving myself up to my worst enemy on a silver platter.
I stood, a plethora of excuses for going to the hostel alone on the tip of my tongue.
“Willa and James can do that,” Riley replied. “Honora, and I will take you to the Barracks.”
“Why don’t I go get my things, and then I’ll meet you? Just give me the address,” I said. By the time they realized I wasn’t coming, I’d be long gone. Willa probably wouldn’t be able to track me if I kept my emotions neutral. Possibly. Hopefully.
A small hand gently wrap around my fingers.
“Kenly,” Willa said softly. “Please. Let us help you. We rally round to keep everyone safe. Just like Honora said, we protect our own. You’re one of our own, aren’t you?”
We protect our own.
It was similar to TOXIC’s manifesto. TOXIC and The McDonough School had been formed to give Talents a place where they belonged. A place to call home. A place to feel normal at a time when being different meant being shunned. A place to not only feel safe, but to be safe. Even as the feelings in the U.S. changed, and Talents were no longer ostracized, those original ideals had remained. From the founding of TOXIC and the School, through the years when the objective was keeping the Coalition at bay, right up until the day TOXIC fell. Those principles had bonded operatives together for decades, right up until the end. I longed to feel that bond again.
I still wasn’t convinced that going with them was a good idea. And I wasn’t overly pleased with Willa. But I was tired of being alone. I missed my friends from school. I missed being around other Talents. I missed belonging.
With all eight eyes on me, I finally agreed, albeit reluctantly. “Okay,” I said. “I guess you know where my hostel is?”
“That I do.” Willa’s wide grin at my acquiescence turned sheepish. But she was still obviously delighted I’d agreed.
OUTSIDE THE GIRAFFE, our group parted ways. Despite the arrangement being Riley’s idea, he was apprehensive about Willa and James going off alone. Reminding them of the dangers we’d already encountered that night, he made them promise to hurry.
It seemed a tad dramatic, considering both the run-in with Jaylen Monroe and the thugs on the street had turned out just fine. Then again, who was I to lecture people about being paranoid? If Talents really were being hunted here in London, by both Poachers and street gangs, then being paranoid might be all that had kept my new friends alive so far.
The Barracks turned out to be the name of the apartment building where Riley, James, and Honora lived. On the walk over, Honora explained that the apartment building had housed the troops brought to keep order in the city after The Great Contamination. When the soldiers left, a slumlord bought the place. After a minimal facelift, he’d rented out the flats to people that other landlords wouldn’t rent to. It wasn’t cheap, but between the three of them they were able to make ends meet by working odd jobs. I wondered where their families were in all of this, but asking when we’d only just met felt intrusive.
The Barracks weren’t far from the Giraffe, but we took a long, roundabout way just in case we were being watched. By the time we finally arrived, Willa and James were already back. James had my duffle bag slung over one shoulder, my meager wardrobe, bootleg communicator, and rain boots stuffed inside. Seeing the large, angry guy carrying the paisley bag almost made me laugh.
My humor was tempered by the visible relief that filled Riley’s face when he saw them both. He’d clearly been even more worried than he let on. If he was that scared for the two of them to be out, even together and covering such a short distance…I’d been in grave danger every single night I ventured out alone. The thought was sobering.
The flat was, as promised, not much. The sole bathroom was immediately to the right of the front door. A quick peek as we passed by revealed a toilet and sink in an outer room, and a shower stall tucked behind a second, partially open, door.
Beyond the bathroom was a galley-style kitchen with a two-burner hot plate instead of a real stove. The refrigerator was the same size we’d had in our dorm room at school—tiny. It sat atop a cracked marble countertop that had probably once been beautiful.
Next to the kitchen was a small space that served as the trio’s main living area, dominated by a lumpy futon. Against the opposite wall sat two chairs, which looked suspiciously like car seats from the front of a road vehicle. Two thin windows broke up the far left wall. Both were covered with dark blue curtains that seemed too heavy next to the flimsy furniture.
“Welcome to our humble home,” Riley said, sweeping into a ridiculous bow in front of me.
“It’s, um…homey,” I muttered.
“Homey? Is that American for blindingly brilliant?” asked Riley.
“It means homely,” supplied James.
“Well yes, it’s right homely. Plus, the other tenants in the block of flats don’t ask questions, making it right perfect for laying low,” Riley continued, undeterred by my underwhelmed response. “You’ll be sharing Honora’s room.” He pointed to one of two doors off the living room. “James and I are in the other.” His next question was directed towards Willa. “Staying the night, love?”
“I was planning on it.” Willa gave Riley a dazzling smile and it occurred to me that ‘love’ wasn’t just a term of endearment that he threw around lightly. I nearly kicked myself for being so blind. How did I missed it before? I tried to think back on the events of the evening. The two hadn’t been affectionate, no touching, no PDA. Now, though, Riley brushed the backs of his fingers down Willa’s cheeks and she kissed his knuckles. Did they purposely hide their relationship in public? Regardless, my powers of observation were clearly not as keen as I’d thought. I should’ve noticed something….
Honora’s hand on my arm startled me. She’d just been five feet away, then suddenly she was right next to me. Either I was distracted, or Honora was stealthier than I gave her credit for. Of the four, I’d assessed her as the weakest link. Though I still believed that, it spoke more to the strength of the other four than her being weak at all.
“You’re soaked, Kenly. Why don’t I show you our room and you can change clothes?” she offered.
“That would be great. Thanks, Honora,” I said, genuinely meaning my words.
I turned to James and held out my hand. “Thank you for getting my things, I appreciate it.”
He grunted a reply and handed over the bag. I was about to say goodnight to Willa, and thank her as well, but she was already heading to the door Riley had indicated as my new room.
The bedroom was barely large enough for the three of us. Bunk beds were pushed against the left wall. Four shelves jutted from the right one, all holding sloppily folded pants and shirts. The space between the edges of the shelves and the beds couldn’t have been more than three feet. There was no closet and no window.
Thank goodness I’m not claustrophobic, I thought.
“The bottom bunk is mine,” Honora said. “Top is all yours, unless you’d prefer the other. The sheets are freshly washed. We haven’t had a guest in a while.”
Willa ducked her head and took a seat on Honora’s bed.
At school, I’d shared a room with Alana, so changing in front of others was nothing new for me. Hoping they were as comfortable with my lack of modesty, I shed my wet jeans, dripping sweatshirt, and smelly tank. Taking care to spread out the items the best I could, I laid them on the small patch of worn carpet. While rifling in my bag for dry clothes, I discreetly checked the pockets of the jeans tucked in the bottom of the bag. I had to make sure the dwindling wad of Globes—the paltry sum was all I had left to my name—was still there. Thankfully, it was. Not that I didn’t trust Willa and James, but…I sort of didn’t. It wasn?
??t personal; it had nothing to do with them, even after learning that Willa had been less than forthcoming these last few weeks. Simply put: I didn’t trust anyone.
My Globes secure, I faced the wall and stripped the rest of the way down. I pulled on green and white polka-dot pajama bottoms and a matching tee, both purchased from a goodwill here in London. Though, initially, the thought of wearing someone else’s castoffs had grossed me out, I’d quickly come to realize that used clothing was much better than no clothing.
“Willa, why didn’t you tell me about the Monroes earlier today, when they came into the Giraffe?” I asked, trying to keep accusation out of my question. Slowly, I turned to face her.
Willa’s hazel eyes didn’t meet mine. They darted to find Honora, who was midway through exchanging her wet jeans for dry sleep shorts. Honora froze, dark eyes flashing from me to Willa. The two girls exchanged a look that I’d seen several times tonight. A look I was starting to despise.
“I didn’t want to give you a fright, is all.” Willa sighed. “I reckon they came by just to rile us up a bit. They do that sometimes, you know. Come into the Giraffe to remind Granddad and me that they’re out there. It’s not just them, either. Members of the other Poacher groups do it, too. Was right bad luck they came in when Riley, James, and Honora were there, too. James hates the twins more than any of the other Poachers.”
“Don’t you think warning me about who and what they were would have been better than, you know…not? Either when we met, or, I don’t know, maybe any time I’d been in the Giraffe between then and today? Hell, even earlier when they were there. I don’t scare easily,” I snapped.
The news about the Poachers had mostly numbed me, only disgust had crept its way into my thoughts. Since my new roommates had dropped the bombshell about the Poachers, the new threat had completely occupied my mind, leaving little room for emotion. Until now. Now, I was pissed. Extremely pissed. At Willa.
“No, I imagine you don’t,” Willa said softly. “I’m sorry, Kenly. I truly am.”