Sapience (14 page)

Four kids were running around on the jungle gym when I got there. I half wondered if Adrian and Lillie had picked this location simply because the others would be less likely to start a fight knowing little children could be involved. They were quiet enough to let me sit on a nearby bench and not be bothered. I settled back on the bench and took a deep breath to calm my nerves.

“Do you want to come play with us?” One of them asked. They had all climbed off of the jungle gym to stand before me. Three boys and one little girl, the one talking was a brown haired boy standing a few feet closer than the others.

“I’m ok.” I put on my best smile. “You guys have fun.”

“You look sad.” The little girl said as the others turned to go play.

“I’m fine.” I couldn’t believe I was explaining myself to a little girl.

With an off handed shrug, she turned to go join her friends on the jungle gym.

The sky was clear and blue except for one cloud that was shaped peculiarly like a whale.
 Now that I was by the playground I could see that the ground was covered in wood-chips. I watched the kids having fun, it made me wonder what it would be like to be a kid without any worries. For the first time since I can remember I felt sad that the Kingdom had robbed me of this part of my life. There was no time for fun and games growing up under the Kingdom, only hard work and combat training. I never got to find out what it was like to be a kid.

No, they hadn’t stolen anything from me. I was free now and I had everything I ever needed to make sure it stayed that way. Never again will I sit on the sidelines and let the Kingdom run my life. Death will take me before I let that happen.

A soft wind picked up, sending a cool chill through my body. I should have brought my coat.

I laid my head back against the bench and closed my eyes letting the sun dull the cold breeze. It shouldn’t take much longer for Josh to give in to Adrian’s demands.

“Are you going to sleep?” I heard one of the little boys ask. It almost made me smile...almost.

I idly wondered where their parents were. I remember passing a few houses a little ways down the road, they must have walked.

“He can’t sleep.” I heard the little girl say. “It’s still the day time.”

I felt one of their fingers poke my knee to see if I was awake.

“I’m not going to sleep. I’m just resting my eyes.” I said without looking up.

“But why are you doing that, mister?" The little boy asked.

This time their innocent charm did bring a smile to my face. I couldn’t figure out what would compel these kids to walk up and start trying to get a stranger to join them on the jungle gym. It was mildly funny.

I could hear another kid stepping on wood chips as he walked up to join his friends. He stopped next to the others.

“Do you think I could have a minute with this boy alone?” Brianna’s soft sweet voice asked.

My eyes flashed open as I straightened in the bench. Brianna was kneeling so that she was eye to eye with the children. The boys all blushed and ran away to go hide in the jungle gym. The little girl stood with her hands on her hips and a questioning scowl on her face.

“Is he your boyfriend?” She asked in her innocent voice.

Brianna glanced in my direction before turning back to the girl. “Go play, ok?”

It was comical watching the girl glance back and forth between us before running away to the jungle gym. I would have laughed if I didn’t think Brianna was about to let me have it.

She walked up and sat on the bench to my right. I was very aware of every place our bodies touched as we both stared straight forward.

“This is crazy.” I said, surprised at how quiet the words came out.

“I know.” She said in the same quiet voice.

I sat there, trying to think of the words that wouldn’t come and watching the kids playing on the jungle gym.

“Is this why you missed school?” She asked. “Because of this threat?”

“Yes”

“And you agree that you have to force us to move in with you?” She still looked straight forward.

“Yes.” I said, trying to sound as resolute as I could.

“I don’t believe you.” She said.

“You don’t? Why not?”

She glanced at me for the first time.

“Because, Adrian is a mental user, he can make you think anything he wants.” She said.

“You think that?” It felt too good to be true. “But I really do think it’s the right thing.”

“Why?”

“Because the physical user is going to be dangerous and if anything ever happened to you I could never forgive myself.” I blurted out.

“You thought I was going to be mad at you, didn’t you?” She asked with a smile.

“Yea.” I said in surprise. “I’m still waiting for you to punch me.”

Brianna made a fist and hit me in the shoulder.

“Hey!”

“Happy now?”

I held my shoulder in mock pain. “Ah I think you broke it.”

Her response was to hit me again. This time I pulled away laughing.

“Ok, ok, I give up.”

She watched me for a moment, the smile on her face fading. “I told the others that moving in sounded like a good idea.”

I was taken off guard.
 “You did, what did they say?”

“They weren’t happy. Just before I came over here they were refusing to talk to me.” She looked troubled. “I don’t trust Lillie or Adrian but if what they say is true… It would be foolish to pass up protection under a mental user.”

“What do you think the others are going to do?” I asked.

“Let’s go see.” Brianna said as she grabbed my hand and started to pull me towards the field.

We approached slowly, not sure on the mood of the crowd as we got near. Nobody seemed happy but nobody seemed to want to fight, so we figured it was safe to walk up.

“We’re moving in today.” Josh said to Brianna. “These people have left us with no other choice. We’re leaving to go get our things.”

“I understand.” Brianna said. The entire group stood silently with ashen faces. Adrian seemed to be the only one enjoying himself.

“Let’s go.” Josh said and started walking toward the parking lot.

Brianna stayed by my side. “I’m going to go with them.” She said surprising us all.

“Brianna.” Rachel, the girl with white, spiky hair, said.

“It’s fine Rachel. I can take care of myself.” Brianna said.

“And you’re just going to leave your things?” Josh asked.

“William will take me to get my stuff when we get back to his house.” She looked up at me for confirmation. “Is that ok?” she asked.

“That’s fine.”

I could see from everyone’s confused expressions that this was something they hadn’t expected, everyone except Lillie and Adrian.

“Then you are not welcome to come with us anyways. Come on guys.” Josh finally said and turned back to the parking lot.

Adrian started to laugh and Brianna scowled as the others all squeezed into the old station wagon before driving away.

“Oh Brianna.” Out of nowhere Lillie came up and wrapped me and Brianna in a hug.

“What are you doing?” I asked as we both ducked out. I could tell by the look on her face that Brianna wasn’t comfortable with Lillie or Adrian. Lillie must have realized the same thing because she backed up and smoothed out her black dress.

“Well” She said “We’d better get going then.”

Adrian stood up and led the way across the field to the parking lot. I held the back door of the black suburban open for Brianna. Once everybody was inside Lillie started the engine and drove out of the parking lot.

“Did you hear Josh? I should have gone with them.” Brianna whispered in my ear. Her warm breath so close felt exhilarating.

“My whole weekend has been like this.” I said, trying to gain back my composure. Lillie and Adrian pretended to focus on the road but I could tell they were listening.

“Do they always act like a mom and dad?” I could tell by the smile on Brianna’s lips that she thought she was being sneaky. And from the way that Lillie tilted her head that she wasn’t.

I wanted to make sure only she could hear me so I leaned in so close my lips were skimming her ear. “Lillie is great, but you have to watch out for Adrian. You saw what he did.” When I pulled back to see her reaction, she was holding her breath.

“Yea, that was a little bit out of hand.” She said.

“What about the others?” I asked. “I remember them in the government buildings but what are they like as free people?”

She sat there for a moment, considering my question. “Well, you have already seen Spencer a little bit at school, he gets a little hyper sometimes. Rachel, she follows Josh everywhere, I swear I have never seen them apart one time. She likes getting into mischief I have noticed. And Josh, well he is just stubborn. He appointed himself leader when we first broke out and laid down the ground rules of what we could and couldn’t do. He started fixing things up around the neighborhood in exchange for hand outs, it kept food on the table and the bills were always paid.” She glanced toward the front of the car.

Lillie instantly flipped on the radio so she and Adrian couldn’t eavesdrop anymore. I would have to thank her for that later.

“I guess you are going to find out soon enough.”

I nodded “Might be a little rocky for a while.”

She turned back with a look of concern. “I’m afraid they might try and revolt.”

And then Adrian turned in his seat to look back. He eyed us for a moment, his gaze locking on Brianna “They wouldn’t dare, I will make sure of it.”

Brianna looked like she wanted to retort but bit her tongue. Her face grew red and yet she still didn’t respond.

“We are not going to be like that Adrian.” I said before she threw a bolt of ice through the seat or something.

Adrian sat straighter in his seat looking slightly bemused. “Oh yea, and when did you start making the rules?”

“He is right.” Lillie cut in.

He looked at her in disgust before turning back to the front. “Not if they step out of line.”

I glanced over at Brianna, she looked to have cooled down a little. Adrian and Lillie on the other hand looked almost ready to go to blows.

After a while Adrian turned back to face us again. “You two better not step out of line either.”

Brianna wrapped her arm around my shoulder and smiled with the fakest smile she could muster. “William and I would never do anything to make you mad like that, would we William?”

“No. I mean yea.” It was getting very hard to think straight.

Adrian wasn’t amused. “I wouldn’t test me if I were you.” He warned then turned back to the front.

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Brianna said.

Nobody talked as we drove through town. Adrian and Lillie wouldn’t even look at each other. I sat there trying to think of anything I could say to Brianna that would break the silence. My weak mind kept getting distracted by the singer screaming on the radio. Finally I just decided anything would do and said the first thing that came to my mind.

“Your hair looks great in a ponytail.” I said. I immediately regretted it, what an embarrassing thing to say.

“You say my hair looks great no matter what I do with it.” She said.

“That’s because it does.”

“What did you end up doing Friday after I didn’t show up?” I asked Brianna once Lillie and Adrian had started speaking again.

She stared at me for a moment then took a deep breath. “When you didn’t show up.” She said as she exhaled. “I decided that I didn’t want to go to school anymore. So I skipped and walked to town.”

“Because of me?”

“I just wasn’t feeling good.”

“I hope you feel better today.” I said.

“A little.” The dimples on her cheek sank as she smiled.

Adrian turned in his chair to look back at us. He looked less stern than earlier. “What room will you be taking?” He asked Brianna.

“I would prefer a room that was a little secluded.” She said, thinking it over. “But I have never been inside your house so I couldn’t say for sure.”

“You will be satisfied with a basement room.” Adrian said before facing forward again.

“I saw Blake in the parking lot before I ditched on Friday.” She said when Adrian was gone again.

“He didn’t do anything did he?” I said in alarm.

“When he saw me he looked down at his feet and scurried away.” There was mild humor in her voice.

“I think I was a little hard on him.”

“He deserved everything he got.”

We swayed in our seats as Lillie took a sharp turn.

“Can you believe he did that?” She continued.

I thought about it for a moment and then the words came out before I could stop myself “Kind of but in a way I think he was trying to fight for you.”

“He did it for the wrong reasons.”

“He did?” I asked.