Burned 8.1

The alarm turned off half an hour ago. The last bombs I heard dropped just before that. Our phones told us that it was safe to exit our shelters, that the threat had been taken out.

But we’re still here, curled up against the far wall like that’s going to be the thing to save us. I guess we’re all in shock. I know I am. One of the selling points of Vido’s is that it can’t be found on a map. No one outside of these walls knows it’s here. Not even our parents, our families. The fact that someone knew our location enough to send planes to attack is unsettling. We have enemies out there who are willing to put our lives at risk to take down Vido.

My phone buzzes, but I don’t take it out right away. I’m too tired from all the choas. I don’t want anyone bothering me. I just want a nap.

When my phone buzzes a third time, not even two minutes between buzzes, I know I can’t ignore it. It must be important. With the attack and my onslaught of memories I can't add any trouble on top of it.

When I unlock the screen, three messages appear. Two are from Caddarick while one is from Kellar. I should read the one from the headmaster first, but my curiosity takes over. I click on Kellar’s name and the message pops up.

You ok? I shouldn’t have let you leave.

I don’t know what it is, but there’s a warmth that rushes over me when I read his text. He was worrying about me.

Everything is fine. I was with Will and Merith.

It doesn’t take him long to respond.

Good. Friends are important. Keep them close you'll need them.

What does that mean?

I stare at my screen, waiting for his next message to come, explaining his last one, but it doesn’t. One minute goes by, then another. He’s not going to respond. I’ll have to ask him when I see him.

My phone buzzes once more, but it’s only Caddarick. The message is written in all capital letters. I guess I kept him waiting too long.

I turn to Will. “Caddarick wants us in his office.” Will nods once before standing and helping me up. My legs are a bit shaky from all of the chaos that happened around us, but I’m able to walk well enough.

“What about me?” Merith asks. Even without her terrified expression I would’ve noticed the fear in her voice. The attack shook her up pretty bad.

“I don’t know,” I admit. “Any messages on your phone?” She pulls hers out and taps it a few time, then shakes her head. Nothing. “Strange. I guess we’ll meet you back at the dorm?”

The suggestion doesn’t seem to help. “I’m not going back alone! One of you has to come with me.”

My phone buzzes again, a call this time rather than a text. I figure I should answer it.

“Hello?”

“Oh thank God you’re alright,” Caddarick says. He actually sounds relieved rather than upset I ignored him. “Where are you?”

“Comms hallway.”

There’s a pause. “Why there?”

“Don’t know,” I admit. “We were heading that way. Will found us a room without windows. We thought it would be safe.”

“I was worried when you didn’t show up in the dining hall.”

I knew that’s what protocol called for! “Well, we’re safe so no need to worry. Look, we’ll be at your office soon.”

“Right.” There’s a large pause this time and I almost hang up. But I hear murmurs from a man’s voice that I don’t recognize. Caddarick grunts in agreement and soon his voice returns.

“Bring Merith with you. He wants her here too.”

“Who wants her there?”

“Do hurry, Ms. Patterson.”

Before I can press Caddarick for more information, the line goes dead. That was it. All three of us were to meet him in his office and that was it. I’d get my questions in later.

I can see the curiosity in Merith’s gaze. She must’ve heard the conversation. “I don’t even know why he wants me there. I guess we’ll all find out together.”

Will doesn’t say a word. His lips are pressed in a tight line and his eyes are almost vacant. Something is spinning in his head. I could pry it out of him, but I decide against it. Now isn’t the time to create a scene; I know he will. We just need to get going.

The hallway is worse off than the room. We tread carefully, stepping between pieces of ceiling and fractured furniture. A few third levels are waling aimlessly in circles with brooms in their hands. Every so often one will stop to push something aside. At this rate our school will be back to normal the night of gradation.

I can feel my friends’ presence behind me, Will’s strong and Merith’s timid. Her footsteps barely whisper as we continue on. I make a mental note to stay close to her when we get to the office. She’ll need much more support than I will.

“Hey, Bryn!” Kellar is suddenly walking beside me. How did he get here? He wasn’t around before. “Good, you found your friends.”

“Yeah,” I reply tentatively. The strange text message is still fresh in my mind. I want to question him about it, but I don’t want to delay us any further. Caddarick is already annoyed with me.

I shoot Kellar a smile. “It’s nice to see you’re okay. Listen, Caddarick wants to meet with us. God knows what it’s all about.”

I expect a smile in return. Instead, Kellar’s eyes darken. “We were supposed to go out. I don't want you far away. You’re facing more danger than you know. There are things I can’t protect you from.”

“She’s not asking for your protection,” Will interjects. “Stop being dramatic. You’ll get your little date if Bryn damn well feels like going on one.”

Kellar’s eyes narrow and he smirks. “Jealousy is a dangerous game, William. I’d watch my back if I were you.”

With that, Kellar turns and walks off. I watch him go, not sure about anything that just happened. I do know that Kellar has warned me about dangers three times in the past day. Coincidence? I don’t know if I even want to find out.

Will lets out a huff beside me. “Thinks he owns you. You don’t need protection; you’re not a kid anymore.”

Without warning, a memory crashes through my mind.

I’m walking through the streets of the city as buildings rise high around me. The sun bounces from each window to the next, creating a rainbow of colors that lift my spirits, even just a bit. There isn’t much to be happy about these days.

Someone laces their fingers through mine. I turn to see Ivan standing beside me, his face as strong as his grip. “We’re almost there. Remember the plan. If anything goes south…”

“I bolt,” I finish. I know the plan too well; Grams drilled it in my head a hundred times before we left. But one thing still tugs at the back of my mind. “Why can’t I stay and fight? Do you guys trust me?”

“Of course we do,” Ivan responds, although not very convincingly. His voice is as harsh as his face. “But you’re the target. If we lose you it’s all over.”

“Then why bring me in the first place? Just keep me locked up somewhere no one will find me.”

We suddenly stop walking. Rather, Ivan stops and I’m yanked back with him. “You want to be an agent, right?”

“More than anything.”

“Then stop thinking like a kid.” His words sting, but if he notices the pain on my face he doesn’t acknowledge it. “Think like your parents. When there’s a job to be done they do it, no matter the cost. Growing up isn’t easy, I know. But you have to do it fast if you want to make it with us.”

“You’re barely older than me,” I protest. “Who are you to tell me I’m a child?”

“Shut up,” he hisses before pulling me off the main road. I know that I should be keeping quiet, but at the moment it’s the last thing on my mind. Everything is building up inside me and I can’t stop it.

Ever since Grams starting sending me on jobs I’ve been treated like a prized jewel. I would never get the dangerous jobs, the ones with high stakes but even higher rewards. It would all be just enough to keep my blood pumping. Then I’d report to Grams my success and receive a pat on the back.

Ivan is the lead instigator behind it all. He cares for me, I can tell. It’s not just because of the touches he sneaks when no one is watching. He takes care of me, believes in me. Just not enough to enlist me in the right jobs. And if I ever get to choose, he gets the last say.

We’re in a shallow alleyway now and Ivan pulls me behind a stack of crates. “You’re going to ruin everything. Do you want Grams to get pissed?”

“No,” I reply, crossing my arms tight over my chest. Grams is best left alone. She’s come down hard on me before. Never again. “But I do want her to start treating me like an agent.”

“But you’re not one!” Now Ivan is yelling. He seems to realize his mistake and closes his eyes to compose himself. When he opens them again, they’re open and understanding. “We’re still young. They don’t trust us with anything more than the dirty work. You’re a legacy, I get it. Because of your parents you’re set. You’ll be in the industry for the rest of your life.

“The only thing is doesn’t get you is your spot. That you have to earn. I’ve been working my ass off since I was old enough to understand in order to be where I am. Whining doesn’t get you anywhere.”

“But I wasn’t—"

He cuts me off. “You are now. Look, start acting your age, relax and get the job done. We’ll be back in no time.”

His words give me a bit of ease, but I still don’t want to accept them. My parents promised me more than this. I was supposed to be at the top by now, not being babysat by a boy who thinks he owns me. I’m almost thirteen! That’s old enough to be on my own.

I’m going to show him. I’m going to show all of them.

“Glad to hear that,” I practically growl as I stand. “You want me to act my age? Fine. I’ll finish the job on my own. I don’t need you.”

When I turn and sprint out of the alleyway, Ivan calls after me. I can hear the desperation in his voice, the pleading for me to stay. He’ll come after me, I know it. But he won’t find me. Nobody will. I’ll be found when I’m damn ready to be.

“Bryn! Bryn, are you okay?” Merith is gently shaking my shoulder. My eyes refocus and grasp the area around me. The memory was short, coming to an end before I wanted it to. If only I could see what happened after I ran away.

“What happened?” Merith asks. There’s an uncertainty in her eyes and I catch a glimpse of fear. It makes me wonder what I actually look like when a memory takes over.

“She remembered something,” Will explains. “She gets like that.” Merith doesn’t seem to accept the explanation easily, but Will turns his attention to me. “Anything important?”

I shake my head. “They’re all out of place. But there’s a boy that always seems to show up. I’m almost always with him.”

“Who?”

I sigh. “His name is Ivan, that’s all I know. I recognize him whenever he shows up, but I don’t know why. Another freaking mystery. Do you think I mention it to Caddarick?”

Will seems to be considering it. There’s a silence that stretches longer than a few minutes before he responds. “If we’re alone, yes. Sounds like there’s someone he wants us to meet though.”

That set my mind spinning. Who could possibly be waiting for us that Caddarick couldn’t mention to me on the phone?

Merith seems to want to continue the conversation about the memories, but she doesn’t say anything. She keeps giving me sideways glances as we make our way through the hallways. There’ll be time to talk later and I’ll explain everything.