A/n: had to type this on my phone so there will probably be a bunch of autocorrect typos LOL.
Chapter 47 – Aftermath, Run. Skip. Hop. Jump. Fly. (Faith Ashlynn POV) Pt.3
There was a lot of about hindsight that I was starting to not only understand but accept as well. Dmitri never once tried to set me straight and for that, I had many questions. And with him gone, I felt as though I would never get some of those answers.
If he knew the Conrad's were in Bend, he must have known where Cynthia was. His actions were not right, but I was starting to consider that his reasons were good, just the execution of keeping me safe was wrong.
Good intentions and all that.
The minute Cynthia got a good look at me, I'm fairly sure the first thought she had was to play nice. The second, or maybe she had one of those moments where you get a burst of ideas. The second was turning me over to the Elders. How was she going to use my life to cushion her own?
I gather it was all about getting what she felt was owed to her, but I also guess that while Ansel, Kalenah, and even Jonah had spoken to her, Ansel and Kalenah had not given her information of my financial status.
Or, maybe she did know but realized after I hit her that there was no chance she'd get a dime from me.
I could not quite wrap my mind around either one of her possible choices. Then again, Cynthia was nothing like what I experienced with Kalenah.
But hindsight, it was a tricky thing.
I never questioned Dmitri's actions. Living in the home, he had created for me feel as though I was one of the lucky ones. It was not a prison to me until I was off the mountains and looking at the world from the outside.
There was just something about the home thinking of it now, with new information that distorted the view I had but was changed. Suddenly, instead of going where Wyatt told me to, the urge to run back to that house was great.
It was not just me seeking familiarity. No, it was more like I had just received a message that validated previous beliefs. Even after all the new elements I discovered being out in the world, there was this heart sinking feeling.
Suddenly Loyalists and Independents did not seem like such a far off creed. Samson said that some supernatural come with gifts, what if mine was one that made me see what was coming?
Playing my devils advocate, I tell myself that maybe... Maybe those living conditions I held close to my heart, the poisonous air, the rules, what if that was all in Zedwood?
Of course, that only led to a tennis match show off in my head.
I had to meet the Chosen One.
Chelsea.
Except, she was dead.
Closing my eyes, another thought hits me as the trees blur together. Wyatt apparently – "Tell me about Wyatt?" I turn slightly in my seat addressing Imogen.
Imogen licks her lip, "He's – well first it's been years since we've seen him Faith," I nod, of course. "I hope that kids in Zedwood aren't told about Seraphima and Rhys and the others as some heroes," I shake my head.
"They'd probably be as disappointed to learn that you've failed," I add, "as I was."
Luca's eyes widen before he frowns.
When he opens his mouth to say something, Imogen just places one hand on his thigh. "Wyatt is the best Seer in Zedwood," I narrow my eyes.
He cannot be that great of a Seer. "Why didn't he see Jaxun escaping then?"
"Wyatt is the best not because he sees all, but for what he has seen." Turning back to face the front I pick apart Luca's words. Wyatt told me to run when I remembered what he had told me, but does that mean he saw what my life would look like? Or did he see when I would remember his words?
"Can he take away memories?" I ask just looking over my shoulder. Imogen nods, "by a spell? Yes... but depending on the Spellmaker they used, it can be forever, or tied to life. It can also be linked to a particular event which might be what you're experiencing right now. If Wyatt saw that Lydia would try to steal your power Faith, he could have a Spellmaker tie that event to a flashback spell," I nod slowly.
"Like cause and effect?"
"Exactly."
I held the belief that the air was poisonous for so long that in retrospect, a part of me thought my house was a comfort. "As far as Seraphima-"
"Okay, will someone tell me what the hell you're talking about? Seraphima and Rhys? Wyatt?" Samson finally bursts out, glancing at me from the side but quickly returning his eyes to the road. Just five minutes from the school I note when I take in our surroundings.
"It's complicated, but I promise I'll explain," I murmur. Using our time wisely I pull out my notebook. With myself months ago as a mental image, I take the pen and go to the last page in my book.
Dear Kalenah,
Dmitri would leave me for months at a time and after awhile I became accustomed to him being gone or that is what I told myself.
You've shown me so much kindness, welcomed me into your home and attempted to be all the things I've never received.
This is why I'm writing you this letter. I would never want to put you through the turmoil that I endured.
When Dmitri would leave me without any insight into his travels. I cannot tell you where we are going; however, Samson has taken a satellite phone so we will be able to contact you soon.
The next reason for this letter is to warn you.
GET EVERYONE SUPERNATURAL THAT YOU AND ANSEL CARE FOR AND GET OUT OF BEND.
I pause after writing the last sentence in all capital letters.
IT IS NOT SAFE.
Why would they listen? I had no proof or truth to show what Wyatt spoke of, hell my memories were still so raw and chaotic, but it was what I remembered now that was pushing me to trust the broken pieces of my memory.
I do not have all the answers, but whatever Lydia did to me, it jogged my memory some, and I recall events in my life before Cynthia.
I finish that sentence as Samson stops the car abruptly, my pen carrying the 'tail' of the letter a. Looking away from the paper and out the window, I see we've arrived at the school, and Samson is parked next to Imogen's car.
"This car won't make it far," Luca says as we get out of Samson's. Shuffling into the back seat, Imogen quickly enters the drivers' side pulling out of her spot in seconds. "I need to stop at Walsh's place to pick up a few things," I say concentrating on the letter I was writing Kalenah.
BEND IS NO LONGER SAFE.
I hold the pen in my hand with nothing left to write, no information that could help Kalenah or Ansel. I had nothing that could convince them of the danger looming. "Where are we going after?" Luca asks.
"Uhm, I only have the coordinates," I answer absentmindedly. Outside of giving them the coordinates where Samson, Imogen, Luca and I were going, I had nothing. Holding the pen, just an inch over the notebook, when I've been that way for a few minutes, Samson taps my hand, asking for the pen, taking the notebook from me as well.
Though I try to give Samson a moment to add to my message, my gaze is drawn to the paper.
Mom, dad, it's me, Samson now.
I know you're going to worry about us, but I'll do anything to keep Fatima safe, and she takes care of me too in her own way. Like she said above, I have the satellite phones, so I will keep in contact, but mom, dad – do not let anyone know when we reach out.
Mom I told you that Fatima is unique months ago, there are many unanswered questions when it comes to her I know, but please do not stay in Bend. Fatima cannot explain what is happening, but mom; so many things in life cannot be explained.
That is what you told me when Silas died. You said that sometimes there just aren't explanations for events in life. This is one of those times.
Keep the family safe, leave Bend,
Samson and Fatima
Ripping out that page, he hands me the notebook and pen, sighing. "How much of your memory have you gotten back?"
I shrug, "not much Samson, it's like I have one minute from the middle of a two-hour movie. What comes before and after that one minute is a complete mystery." The frustration in my voice grows, but Samson only nods, taking my right hand in his, massaging the top part of my palm.
All too soon we're at Walsh's small home, all lights off, and I'm back at the first home I went to after being found. Waiting for Luca to exit the front seat, I slowly follow his lead, but as I step out, I reach back for Samson.
"You – you want me to come along?" he asks though he's my hand and is on his way out of the tight backseat.
I only just glance back, waiting. "I want you with me always," I whisper once he's standing beside me. Grabbing my bag, I go with knowledge.
With the keys I've had since Walsh found me in North Carolina and brought me to Bend, I open the front door. Quickly rushing over to the alarm, I enter the key that Walsh and Patricia had given me, the three beeps that follow sound louder than ever now.
"What are we hear for?" Samson whispers, following behind me. Passing the living room, going straight for the room that was my own, I push the door open, walking to the closet. Scooting down, I reveal my safe that I bought for my secret things when Walsh told me it would keep my belongings safe.
I couldn't – at first – understand how one would choose what was the most important thing to put in a container so small with six shelves, just about six inches in between them, I start from the bottom, stuffing the stacks of banded money together. Looking for another bag to fit the rest as Samson just stands behind me, eyes broad and mouth was gaping.
"Is – this is yours?" he waves at the safe, while I spy a left over bag under the bed. "I mean the keys? The money?" I nod.
"Uhm, Dmitri left everything to me, some things we sold, others I never opened," I point to the top shelf of documents I had that had been left unopened, too furious at Dmitri to see the material things he left me as worthy.
Once my satchel bag is filled, I move to the second shelf, emptying everything into the small suitcase I pulled from under my bed.
"This is – he left you a Conquest Knight?" I stop stuffing my bag with documents, just to turn and face Samson. Frowning I try to follow his eyes, but they're on the keys hanging from the safe doors, lined up next to one another where I placed them. "It's a car?" he nods.
Shrugging, I shake my head, "I'm not sure why he left them for me, it's not like I can drive-"
"I can teach you," he offers, and not the first time either but I shake my head, "It's too much," the words whispered.
There were many things I could do and pick up, but driving was not my strong suit. Maybe once I was a bit more desensitized and able to focus, but when Walsh had attempted to teach me, I was not ready.
And learning, when we were on the run, was not the best time to try that out. When I'm emptying out the top shelf, Samson goes to my bed, sitting his stare on me is hard to ignore.
"Do you know where the coordinates you've mentioned lead? I mean... you've yet to check them Fatima," that slows me down. My hands still for a second, before I continue, "I'm – I don't want anyone to follow us, but um," I shuffle aside the envelopes, pulling out a rubbery computer and the extra batteries behind it, giving them to Samson directly.
Taking them, he still frowns at me, "And have you thought about how easy it'll be for my parents to track Imogen's car? It's not like we can just rent another car, or buy one without attracting attention."
"You can look up the coordinates on that computer, I'm not sure how it's different, but Walsh said it's a secured laptop," I avoid his comments, but they play in my head as I look at the car keys I had hung up in a row.
"If," I start slowly, "if we want to use one of these cars," I flick my hand at the keys, "they're in Fossil, Oregon."
His adorable scowl deepens, "that's over two hours from Bend," I shrug. "Yeah, Walsh said so, but they're all paid for, up to date according to the papers I have. Untraceable, and Walsh doesn't know the extent of exactly what is there either. There are no copies of anything besides these," I point down to everything I had stacked in my bag between the safe and my body.
"And I never felt the need when he was here to check out what is in the storage container."
Nodding, dropping the extra batteries in the suitcase, Samson switches on the laptop, "Does this thing have-" whatever he was going to ask he stops, and I finish emptying the safe, grabbing the line of car keys, the house keys below I immediately lock the safe.
"What are the coordinates?" Samson asks as we back out of the room Walsh and Patricia gave me in Bend, the bag I filled dragging behind me. At the alarm base near the door, Samson takes the suitcase and rushing outside while I lock up the house.
These people care for me; I tell myself just as I'm going to enter the alarm code.
The truth keeps me in place, and the same worry I did not want or intend to place on Ansel and Kalenah, I also did not want to place on Patricia or Walsh.
Spotting the notepad on the entrance table, I sigh, walking over to it, picking up the pencil right beside it.
Thank you for coming to find me, Walsh. If you hadn't, come... I know that I would have died on that mountain. I'm getting my memory back in pieces
One of the pieces is pointing me in the direction I'm going, I'll keep in contacts like I promised Ansel and Kalenah, but do not search for me. Do not call any attention to me.
I think Dmitri was trying to protect me all along, but he just did not do it the right way. Or maybe... maybe he did, I don't know.
Please keep the Conrad's and yourselves safe... trouble is near.
Satisfied with what I've written, I drop the pencil, and scurry out of the house, alarm set and climb into the backseat of Imogen's car.
"Coordinates?" Samson asks as he slides the laptop on my thighs, Imogen already driving before I press the first key.
Four.
Two.
Dot.
Seven.
One.
One.
Nine.
Four.
Stopping mid counting with Wyatt, I pouted, not saying the number that was next. "What do da numb-ers mwean Wyatt?" I ask my face long. Wyatt never said what the numbers meant, I could recall us going over them daily, and two or three times throughout the day.
Now as I stop in the middle of the memorized digits, a new question plagues me, "Hey, um, Luca, when people are asked to leave Zedwood, what are they given when they leave?"
Turning in his seat, "Asked to leave?" he says as though I've stated the wrong thing. "No one is asked to leave, forced to leave, Faith."
"Why?" I ask.
He glances at Imogen; lips pursed before he answers. "Zedwood was created when death was all this world knew. High Fae's created the Fae domain, and the colony leaders decided that only true full Faes would be allowed in Zedwood. They believe that we are more advanced, and therefore the superior race-transcending the humans and lesser supernatural." I stare at him blankly.
Was he serious? The superior race? What?
Luca nods, "exactly, not all high Oracles agreed with that assessment, but Zedwood is run by the greater vote," he dips his head, "but I have not been there for many years now."
"You didn't answer my question," I chirp. "It has been many years since I was in that world, but when Fae's are sent to this world, they are shipped with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Anyone seen trying to help a banished Fae is shunned themselves."
"Women, children and males are searched before they are sent through the portal-"
"Every portal? Could there be portals that aren't monitored?"
Luca nods, "to bring in contraband?"
"Yes, how else would I have been born there?"
At this Luca shakes his head, "No, Wyatt is a higher rank, with greater connections. He could have a portal opened that only he knew of."
Pursed lips, I return my gaze to the computer screen, entering the rest of the retained numbers.
Four.
Dash.
Seven.
Three.
Dot.
Two.
Zero.
Four.
One.
Six.
Seven.
42.711944, -73.204167
Once I've hit the enter key, I watch the screen. Leaning in, Samson, looks as well, "huh," he murmurs, "where are we heading?" Luca asks turning to face us again.
Frowning, I glance up at him, "Williamstown, Massachusetts?"
"Massachusetts?" Imogen asks looking at me in the mirror, "Like Boston, Massachusetts? On the East Coast, Massachusetts?" I nod, going back to the computer and entering our just outside of Bend location to Williamstown, Massachusetts, hitting the enter key.
"That's across the country," she says worriedly. Nodding, I look up after a quick glance at the screen, "apparently just over forty hours away."
Samson huffs next to me, "Yeah, we need a plan... this is hell we have to pass through Colorado," he points to the screen, turning it towards Luca when he peers over his seat.
While Samson, Imogen, and Luca worried over the distance, we were traveling. Samson informed them of the cars I had access to in Fossil, but I just continued gazing at the end dot over Williamstown.
Why on earth would Wyatt want me to go to this place? What was there?
.
.
.
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