Chapter XI - Part II

Andy was having trouble concentrating her thoughts. It was still raining but the sencurium shower seemed to have stopped. There were more emotions on the streets than she ever remembered seeing. And the safe house had exploded. She could still hear the echo of the shuttering windows in her mind. How many were hurt? How many had died because of it? She tried to push those thoughts away and focus on getting... Where am I going? she thought. It was only then, she realized she wasn't alone - the spy was with her. He was holding his hand and leading the way. Andy stopped abruptly and pulled her hand free.

"You can't catch me this easy," she said quietly. The spy didn't try to stop her. He just stood there with a cut on his face looking worried and disappointed. He wasn't wearing his uniform but he still didn't look like a prisoner. He seemed to proud to be one.

Something about him stopped Andy from moving. She was confused but there was no time to stand in the middle of the chaos that was roaming the streets. For some reason, she didn't understand, she grabbed his hand and started leading him instead. They crossed the streets and passed at least a few dozen houses before they came to a halt. They were standing close to the Darq gate, now unmanned due to the explosion. It would have been so easy to escape and leave everything behind. She doubted the guards would have come looking for her. She wasn't that important.

"What are you going to do?" Andy was startled by the spy. She looked at his gray watery eyes that seemed too innocent. He is no spy, she thought. He's just a child... like me.

"I don't know," Andy answered. "Don't really have a plan."

The boy nodded. "Do you want to leave?" he asked.

"Maybe. But I can't leave my family," Andy replied.

"You should go and check on them."

"Will you come with me?" Andy was as surprised as the boy to hear her question but she just didn't feel like being alone. Especially not knowing what would wait for her at home.

"Okay," he replied and Andy started walking. This time neither of them was dragging the other by the arm. They were walking side by side.

Her home was standing right where she had left it. The windows were dark but she could sense movement inside. Andy pushed the door open and her eyes met Andrew's.

"Andy!" he uttered and wrapped his arms around her.

"Is everyone okay?" she asked looking around. Her mother was sitting on her bed stirring something in a little bowl. Margaret, Madden, and Rhyn were playing dominos and Grandpa was already tucked in. It was just like a normal night.

"We're okay," Andrew answered. "Grandpa's been feeling a little weak lately. We wanted to stay in with him and skip the shower. Kalbott came and tried to force us outside but then everyone started screaming." He looked for words but then gave up. His eyes found the boy hiding partly behind Andy and partly behind the open door.

"And who is your friend?" Andrew asked.

Andy looked at the boy not knowing what to say about him.

"I am Samuel," the boy answered.

"I'm Andy's brother, Andrew."

"Nice to meet you!"

Andy stepped closer to the window. The safe house explosion had grown into a full heads-on fire. Some prisoners were trying to extinguish it but guards were already fleeing.

"We have to go!" Andy shouted.

She rushed to Grandpa and shook him. "Grandpa, get up! There's a fire, we have to go now!"

Grandpa opened his tired eyes. Their gold had seemed to tarnish over the past few days. Andrew came over and helped him up while Andy looked at them confused. This wasn't simply feeling a bit weak. This was something much more serious. Her Grandpa was dying.

"Don't you worry about me," Grandpa said and smiled. He was always trying to see the good in everything. "Let's go on a trip. It's about time we got a vacation!" he chuckled.

Rhyn took the other side helping Grandpa while Margaret and Madden started packing the essentials. Andy looked at them and realized she had left all of her things behind - her book, Grandpa's box, the sencurium. Sencurium could buy them a new life. It could save Grandpa.

"Let's meet at the gate!" she shouted and stormed outside. The city looked even worse than it had during the Great Fire. There was a body lying on the ground an enormous piece of glass sticking out of its head.

"Has anyone ever told you, you can be a bit spontaneous?" Samuel asked gasping for air. He had followed her of course. "And crazy," he added.

"Once or twice," Andy answered seriously and spurted off. The house wasn't far but navigating in the hot conditions was more difficult than she had expected.

"Can you at least tell me, where are we going? I assume you know this time?" Samuel didn't seem to have any trouble keeping up with her so she quickened her pace.

"I need to get my things!" she yelled.

"You're risking your life for some stuff?"

"They're all I have."

The fire had spread violently though the houses weren't wooden. Some of the constructions had caught fire and the Eternit roofs were already cracking. A part of her begged her to leave the things behind, calling her stupid and reckless. Dragging Samuel into the mess made her risk two lives for a piece of metal. But it wasn't actually about the sencurium. She would've gone back for the box even if it was empty. For the sake of her Grandpa and his story about the magic bird who would come and save them all.

"Stop!" was the last thing she heard before a burning log fell right on top of her and darkness wrapped its soft warm hands around her and dropped her on the ground.