I saddled up a horse and tied my bag to it. And then I put Abigail's cloak on and mounted the horse. Her cloak still smells of her. Sadness rippled through me. Abigail died because of me. Her two young children will be so heartbroken. I wished I could take them with me but I can't. Tears stinging my eyes as I headed into the direction of my tree, where John hopefully awaits me.
With every step the horse took away from that home, the more and more I felt relief. Like I could breathe for the first time. I felt… happy and hopeful. Hopeful that maybe, just maybe, I'll see my brother again. John stood by my tree, and though it was nighttime, I could still see his beautiful smile glistening in the moonlight, and those dimples. Those dimples that melted me from the inside out each time they made an appearance.
I couldn't stop the smile that spread across my face. I haven't felt like this in… well, ever. I was so happy that the fear I felt for what was to come hardly bothered me at that moment. Sector Five may not be ideal for me, but it's not here. And I'll take anywhere over this place.
"You did it," John said, as he helped me down from the horse. My bad arm hung up on the horse's saddle and I winced from the pain, but I didn't care. I wrapped my arm around John for the first time ever. He was stiff at first but then he relaxed, and hugged me back. We stood that way for a moment, neither of us saying anything.
And then he said, "I am sorry I could not help you earlier." I pulled back from our embrace a little to look at his face. Sadness etched across his beautiful features. John was fairly handsome. His shoulder length blonde hair, and his bright blue eyes. And, of course, his dimples. He was tall, taller than the average human man. At least six-foot-one. With broad shoulders, and defined muscles.
His family's trade required little heavy lifting, but John was an avid swimmer. A large pond rests on their property and the temperature is never too cold to swim. Aeryn told me that he swims lap after lap in that pond when I asked how in the realm did he obtain such a physique.
I placed a hand on his cheek, "Forget it. It's over now. All I care about is getting away from here." John nodded, but sadness still lingered on his face. He helped me back on the horse, and together, we rode through the night to Sector Five. Dawn was just approaching when we arrived. Both of us were so exhausted that we found the first inn and tied our horses to a post outside.
"Wait here, I'll go and get us a room." John said. I nodded and he turned on his heel and walked up the steps and into the inn's door. Realization hit me that we would likely be sharing a room. Butterflies erupted in my stomach and my face warmed. The only man I had ever shared a room with was my brother. Not even William stayed long after his harassments.
The inn is located just before you make it into the heart of the Metropolis. So no big city noises so far. Besides the inn, there's a goods store and a stable for horses. And what looks like a small church. We passed few homes on our journey between Sector Three and here. John had said those people had chosen no Sector to serve. I was appalled. I had thought it was law to serve a Sector. But John said it isn't illegal, though it is rare.
I wondered if any of those homes attended this small church on the Holy Day. Lost in thought, I jumped when John walked up behind me and touched my shoulder. "Come," he held his hand out to me and I took it with a smile. Those butterflies returned to my stomach once more with the nerves I had forgotten all about.
Hello, girl. The voice said, or rather whispered, as soon as I stepped into the inn. The place was rather charming for an old inn on the outskirts of the Metropolis. I was admiring the knick knacks that adorned the wall to my right when the voice whispered to me again and said, Are you ignoring me, my dear?
I was. But I didn't mean to. I'm so used to these whispers I hardly pay them any mind these days. I used to speak back to them until my brother told me I needed to pretend that I didn't hear them anymore so I wouldn't have to endure any more lashings on account of them.
"Not intentionally," I whispered, as I looked around to make sure no one was listening to me.
Be mindful of this place, child. I will leave you be now.
"Oh no, not so fast." I whispered again, "Be mindful of what?" But the voice didn't respond, and John began to walk inside with our bags. I decided I was too tired for this and would worry with it later.
But I will heed the voice's advice. As we shut the door to our room, I made sure to lock it. And then, I plopped down onto the bed, shucked my shoes off and, not even caring that John and I would also share the bed here, I passed out. I didn't move an inch while I slept. And if I did dream, I have no memories of it. When I awoke again, I was still on my stomach. John was snoring lightly beside me.
The sun had gone down and my stomach was rumbling. I hadn't eaten since last night and the smell of food cooking drifting into the opened window wasn't helping. I lightly tapped John's shoulder and spoke lightly, "John?"
"Hmm?" he sleepily replied. "Have you gotten enough sleep?" I asked, still speaking lightly. When my brother was still around, he didn't take kindly to abrupt awakenings. Then again, who does?
John stretched his limbs and then turned over in the bed to face me.
"Good morning," he said. His voice gruff from sleep. I smiled at him, and then he reached out his hand and placed it on my cheek.
"You are somehow even more beautiful. Like you are glowing."
I laughed. Perhaps I was glowing. It's the first time I have ever awoken someplace other than the Thomas family home. And the first night's sleep I've had in a bed since I was a child.
"Well, it's no basement sleep. So I'd say I've caught up on some much needed beauty sleep."
John laughed at my sort of dark humor, and said, "I'm glad for it, then. I like to see my girl like this."
My stomach erupted with those butterflies again at the sound of him calling me his girl. I could feel my cheeks begin to flush, so I turned my head quickly and then stood up to stretch my limbs as well.
We made small talk while we dressed for the day, or rather the night, and then we set about finding where that mouth watering smell was coming from.