to me and we stand toe to toe. She cranes her neck to look me in the eye. I feel bulky and cumbersome standing close to her tiny, sinewy body, but I also feel powerful. Short of tying a mean rope, what can Gretchen possibly do to me? And to tie me up, she has to be able to catch me.
“Don’t even think about it, Veronica.”
I’m not sure if she’s telling me to stay mum or to stay put. It doesn’t matter anyway, because I’m not going to do either one. I hesitate for a moment, and then decide I can go and leave the last two girls with Gretchen. No matter what, Gretchen would never hurt these girls, even if it’s only because they are too valuable. That thought makes my stomach ache, but I decide to push past it and concentrate on the good things I know about Gretchen, whatever those may be.
I look at her again. After all these years, do I really know her? Well, if my instinct is right about her feelings for Phoenix, she would never harm his sister. Even a sister he doesn’t know exists.
“You should stand back.” I quickly grab a canteen of water and make my way to the doorway.
“Why?” Gretchen asks, not moving and standing her ground.
“Because I’m leaving. And I’m taking this one with me,” I grab Raven by the arm. It doesn’t take anything to convince her to come with me. Her body falls naturally in step with mine.
“You’re not leaving,” Gretchen commands. “And you’re certainly not taking that one.”
“Yes, I’m doing both. I’m leaving and taking Raven with me. That leaves two girls for each of us. At this point, they are safer if they’re separated. Who knows how many more rebel factions have found us and are just biding their time?”
I can tell by the way she narrows her eyes the idea of competition from a rebel group annoys Gretchen. “Girls…” I turn to address Violet and Lilly. “You two stay with Gretchen. She will protect you for now, and I will be back for the Letting tomorrow. I will not leave you alone.”
The girls nod.
“You’re insane,” Gretchen warns me. “He will kill you the second he lays eyes on you.”
“Maybe so, but he didn’t the last time. And he won’t kill this one,” I say, moving Raven in front of me. I place my hands protectively on her shoulders. “Look at her, Gretchen. She’s the spitting image of him.”
Gretchen carefully assesses Raven’s long dark hair and piercing blue eyes. But the look on Gretchen’s face is not the look I’m expecting. There’s no longing in her gaze, no softness. If Gretchen is in love with Phoenix, I would have thought there would be at least a small spot in her heart for his sister. Maybe I’m wrong about them. Maybe Gretchen doesn’t have those feelings. They’re illegal anyway. But I would have thought she, a literal rebel, would not have cared about a law. Not like me, the rule follower.
I’m wasting too much time. I stuff the canteen into an old green canvas backpack. I toss the bag over my shoulder and walk to the door. Raven is right beside me. I open the door and Gretchen speaks. “If I had a gun, I’d shoot you.”
“No you wouldn’t,” I challenge, turning back to her. “My blood is too expensive to let it spill out all over a cabin floor. And besides, you know he has a plan. And that plan gets me to the Letting.”
“If anyone else finds you, you’ll suffer a fate worse than death.” Somehow, she seems almost happy about it.
“Better me than her.” I point to Raven. “Better me than any of you.”
“Oh spare me the Saint Veronica spiel,” Gretchen whines. “I have lived with it for way too long and it’s nauseating.”
I stare at her for a moment, wondering if deep inside there is any glimmer of the friend I once thought was mine. Her eyes are cold and unyielding. Sadly, they tell me what I need to know. I take Raven’s hand tightly in mine, and together, we storm out of the cabin.
Halfway to the waterfront, I stop for some mushrooms. Suddenly, and like always
“Don’t even think about it, Veronica.”
I’m not sure if she’s telling me to stay mum or to stay put. It doesn’t matter anyway, because I’m not going to do either one. I hesitate for a moment, and then decide I can go and leave the last two girls with Gretchen. No matter what, Gretchen would never hurt these girls, even if it’s only because they are too valuable. That thought makes my stomach ache, but I decide to push past it and concentrate on the good things I know about Gretchen, whatever those may be.
I look at her again. After all these years, do I really know her? Well, if my instinct is right about her feelings for Phoenix, she would never harm his sister. Even a sister he doesn’t know exists.
“You should stand back.” I quickly grab a canteen of water and make my way to the doorway.
“Why?” Gretchen asks, not moving and standing her ground.
“Because I’m leaving. And I’m taking this one with me,” I grab Raven by the arm. It doesn’t take anything to convince her to come with me. Her body falls naturally in step with mine.
“You’re not leaving,” Gretchen commands. “And you’re certainly not taking that one.”
“Yes, I’m doing both. I’m leaving and taking Raven with me. That leaves two girls for each of us. At this point, they are safer if they’re separated. Who knows how many more rebel factions have found us and are just biding their time?”
I can tell by the way she narrows her eyes the idea of competition from a rebel group annoys Gretchen. “Girls…” I turn to address Violet and Lilly. “You two stay with Gretchen. She will protect you for now, and I will be back for the Letting tomorrow. I will not leave you alone.”
The girls nod.
“You’re insane,” Gretchen warns me. “He will kill you the second he lays eyes on you.”
“Maybe so, but he didn’t the last time. And he won’t kill this one,” I say, moving Raven in front of me. I place my hands protectively on her shoulders. “Look at her, Gretchen. She’s the spitting image of him.”
Gretchen carefully assesses Raven’s long dark hair and piercing blue eyes. But the look on Gretchen’s face is not the look I’m expecting. There’s no longing in her gaze, no softness. If Gretchen is in love with Phoenix, I would have thought there would be at least a small spot in her heart for his sister. Maybe I’m wrong about them. Maybe Gretchen doesn’t have those feelings. They’re illegal anyway. But I would have thought she, a literal rebel, would not have cared about a law. Not like me, the rule follower.
I’m wasting too much time. I stuff the canteen into an old green canvas backpack. I toss the bag over my shoulder and walk to the door. Raven is right beside me. I open the door and Gretchen speaks. “If I had a gun, I’d shoot you.”
“No you wouldn’t,” I challenge, turning back to her. “My blood is too expensive to let it spill out all over a cabin floor. And besides, you know he has a plan. And that plan gets me to the Letting.”
“If anyone else finds you, you’ll suffer a fate worse than death.” Somehow, she seems almost happy about it.
“Better me than her.” I point to Raven. “Better me than any of you.”
“Oh spare me the Saint Veronica spiel,” Gretchen whines. “I have lived with it for way too long and it’s nauseating.”
I stare at her for a moment, wondering if deep inside there is any glimmer of the friend I once thought was mine. Her eyes are cold and unyielding. Sadly, they tell me what I need to know. I take Raven’s hand tightly in mine, and together, we storm out of the cabin.
Halfway to the waterfront, I stop for some mushrooms. Suddenly, and like always
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