To call the landing strip and one small aeroplane an airport is a stretch. I take the piece of paper that Denmar had written for me and hand it to the man behind the desk. He seems sceptical as he looks down at the note, and me.
I don't know what it says but I know there are the words cherished and daughter in there. He must know Denmar because he gives a once-over and frowns. I don't carry any of their traits. Without the airy clothing and the headwrap, I stick out like a sore thumb.
I'm not hiding anymore, so no point wearing their customary attires. It is only a matter of time before Micah sends more of his dogs after me.
Eventually, the man nods and I hand him a wad of kemmar notes. I had been saving for a year to afford a flight out of Helej Norun.
The man points towards the hangar doors, and I see the small rundown plane. It was my turn to be sceptical at the sight of the aircraft. It was one flight away from falling apart.
Resigned, I climb the steps and take a seat on one of the worn-down chairs. It has seen better days. It looks like the plane is a relic from the old world.
I know there have been efforts to advance flight technology but it is slow. Compared to the old world, ours is in its infancy. We are still in a swaddle, sucking on our thumbs.
The turmoil following the insolvency of the Greater Council has left all sixteen Districts in the northern hemisphere in complete chaos. It took a while for everyone to reach an agreement. They squabbled for a century before things fell into place.
The same man that was at the desk climbs inside the plane and looks over his shoulder and asks me if I'm ready.
I nod curtly and he turns his attention to turning on the plane.
The engine sputters a few times before purring to life. The torque pushes me back into my seat and I settle to watch the passing by scenery. I have nothing else to do, other than have another argument with myself.
My thoughts take a back seat when we rise above the landscape and I get a full view of Helej Norun and the one hundred seventy-five colonies residing within.
It is absolutely magnificent. The spice fields are, and crop fields are what take my breath away. It is something worthy of immortalising in a painting.
One day I will try to do just that.
As we draw closer to the northern hemisphere, the red sands fade into yellow, and then into a lush green landscape, and then onto the blue of the South Sea. Luckily, the plane is still in one piece.
I know we will be landing in the northernmost part of the district. From there it will be easy to get into Morston.
As we draw closer to home, my thoughts go to him and I know it will be hard to live in the same place as he does. This time, it was on me.
Hours pass by and the waging war inside me gets fiercer. For once, I'm not making an effort to quiet it down. It's a losing battle.
When we finally land, the man says his goodbyes and picks up his next passengers. I have nothing of my own, but it doesn't matter.
I still have to see him again to discuss my inheritance and finalise the paperwork.
And decide whether I should make an effort to speak with Aldo to see if I can return to the academy. That thought frightens me but it has to be done. It will be my third try.
Somehow, that amuses me. Soon enough, I'll be the one giving Aldo headaches as well.
I jump onto the next bus that goes into Morston and give the man the last kemmar I have in my pocket.
" It's three kemmars to Morston, " The driver says and I look at the note in his hand. He gives me a once-over with a pitying eye and tilts his head towards the back of the bus to take a seat.
I know I look exactly how I feel. Like I've been run over by bus, and then thrown out of an aeroplane at cruising altitude.
I'm battered, bruised and have homellesly air clinging to me, with an edge of desperation.
" Thank you. Your kindness is appreciated," I'm grateful to the man, but he waves me off dismissively. He probably thinks I'm a loser. Not entirely off-mark.
" Whatever," He grumbles as I move towards the back of the bus. I'm well aware that I'm not exactly a sight for sore eyes. The people seated look at me as if I've killed their favourite pet, and tend to sway away in their seats, repulsed. I probably stink. I haven't washed in what feels like a week.
Settling in the chair, once more I settle for watching the passing scenery. I missed the simplicity and the duality of Morston. The clash between the red and white brickwork might disturb some but for me, it represents order in its simplest form.
The baroque buildings were a fragment of the old world. A small detail that has been preserved after it fell.
I hop off the bus in the town centre and look around. From there the only way to reach the academy is either on foot or by car. I don't have a car, so I begin on foot.
A hand wraps around my wrist, and my instincts kick in and I turn around and punch the person behind me straight in the face.
Lissete stumbles back a few steps holding a hand over her nose. Slightly surprised by my immediate reaction. I should've known that she would survive. She is like a cockroach.
People move out of the way, some gasp and begin to frantically shout.
Lissette throws off that stupid duster she is wearing to the floor to reveal her whole selection of weaponry. She is prepared. Attacking me in public was a sly move because she knew I wouldn't risk sending her flying through the air with so many people around.
" Welcome back," Her voice is nazal and I smirk. I broke her nose. It's the most damage I've inflicted on her since I've known her. At this point, I believe that Micah has scattered V'asay all over the District just to apprehend me. Because he still wants me alive. It's all good and dandy until the day he won't.
She wipes the blood off her chin, pulls out two of her daggers and lunges towards me and I stop her mid-flight with a kick in her stomach that sends her flying into the crowd.
People scream and begin running around like mad. I have every intention of finishing this off quickly but I know she will run if she thinks she is on the losing end of the battle.
Pushing through the manic crowd she appears again, gives me her signature crazed bitch smile and once again launches an attack.
Her strike falls flat just as she does, when I punch her in the throat, she chokes and I send her rolling on the floor with another kick to her stomach.
The sound of sirens permeating through the screaming crowd is a sign that the police have been alerted. Grunting, Lissete pushes herself off the ground and disappears into the crowd. I do the same. When I'm at a safe distance, I look over my shoulder and I see police officers interrogating the people present. Some point in the direction I went but I'm too far for them to see me and not many will recognise me.
I have to put an end to the madness. If Micah wants me that bad then I will go to him. And I will make sure he will regret the day the thought of me ever crossed his mind.