Elevatia

8. The "kissing in the rain" shot for the trailer

Galbrathian was not impressed with my little excursion the next day.

"For Pete's sake, you risked discovery for the sake of smooching with your High Class traitor?"

"He's not a traitor," I yelled indignantly, "And we weren't smooching! And I didn't do it for Pete!"

"Ah poor Pete," Jayla reminisced sadly, "Though he probably would have like you smooching in his memory to be honest."

Galbrathian turned to look at Chip, Munk, Sky, and Jayla who were all standing patiently at the side.

"Who are you lot then?" he asked confused.

"We're her rag-tag bunch of misfits and we're going to help her overthrow Miles Vyle." Munk said proudly, puffing her chest out.

"You're getting too far ahead of yourself Kit, with your rag-tag misfits. You need to finish your training!" Galbrathian fumed.

"I'm trying, but you're teaching me so slowly. I mean how long has it been now?"

"Probably at least a week." Chip offered.

"We've not got anywhere in that time!" I yelled at Galbrathian. "Where's your plan? Ace actually told me things. He thinks Vyle is hiding something. I think we should break in to the palace. For Pete's sake."

"No Kit! Pete would want you to be safe! No one can travel outside the Districts. The Upright are everywhere. And Vyle is dangerous. There's so much you don't know."

"Then tell me!" I shouted.

Galbrathian turned away. "You're too young. I can't. Not yet."

"Then I'm done."

"What?"

"You heard me. You started me on this journey but I can do the rest myself. I'd want to do something not sit around in this library practicing. Elevatia needs me."

And with that I spun around and headed out of the library.

The rest of my gang shuffled out past Galbrathian too.

"Nice to meet you finally."

"Goodbye Mr hooded man sir."

"Have a nice day."

"Cheerio."

I barely spoke to the others the rest of the day, lost in my thoughts and my anger at Galbrathian. The air seemed heavy with an oncoming storm.

I had the dream again that night. I started barefoot in the middle of the Medium District. I walked through the empty streets and the buildings around me crumbled. Once again, I reached the edge of the High seas and carried on walking straight across the surface of the water. The journey took an age and, at the same time, it took no time at all. I reached the edge of the water and carried on walking along the High road towards the palace – white towers reaching up to the sky. A newly constructed vanity project for High Highness. I reached out my hand as I came nearer to touch the sheer white walls. But, before I could, everything dissolved into white with a clap of a thunderbolt and a flash of lightning.

"Very very frightening me!" Jayla yelled.

I sat bolt upright, awake and sweating. "What are you doing in my room, Jayla?"

"Sorry Kit, storm's freak me out."

I took a deep breath trying to regain my composure. I swung my legs out of the bed and headed for the door.

"You can hang out here for a bit, Jayla. I'm going for a walk."

I headed out into the rain, feeling the cool of the water on my hair and clothes. I spotted a figure on a bench under a tree in the courtyard and made my way over. It was Chip.

"Kit! What are you doing out here? You're soaked!"

"I'm f-f-f-fine." I said through violently chattering teeth.

"Come here," he beckoned.

I sat down next to him and curled up against his warm chest. We sat together, not speaking, for a little while under the shelter of the tree, watching the midnight rain together.

"I was thinking about the night my mother died-" Chip began.

"Did I do the right thing, Chip?" I said loudly at the same time. "Walking away from Galbrathian today?"

"When you refused the help of the one man who knew Vyle and your parents, and has taught you everything you know about your powers so far?"

"Yeah."

"Absolutely Kit. You're the chosen one. You can trust your instincts."

Sometimes Chip was so right. We smooched for a few minutes in the rain. I can't believe Galbrathian thought I kissed Ace. Honestly as if. Though he had looked very smoochable as we talked in the stadium.

"Ace said Vyle is hiding something!" I said suddenly, breaking off from... oh yeah from kissing Chip.

"Uhuh?" Said the rather dazed boy at my side.

"I think that's the key to overthrowing him, Chip." I continued. "We need to work out how to get into his palace but it will be impossible without the plans to the building."

I looked forlornly at the four lawns in the courtyard where Professor Granton had been so tragically caught short. It looked beautiful in the middle of the night; one could almost forget the terrors of Elevatia. Then I remembered that look I'd seen from Flynn the Lowlie cleaner resigned to his lot in life.

"The Lowlies!" I gasped. "They would have been the ones to do all the labour, building Vyle's new palace. They must have a copy of the plans. We have to go to the Low Lands!"

"Ugh do we have to?" groaned Sky from behind us.

"Woah, where did you come from!" I yelped turning to see Sky peeking out from one of the pots the Upright used.

"What?" She said indignantly. "I'm cunning. Sometimes I just indulge in a little sneaking around. The secret police can't have all the fun. Nice snogging by the way."

Chip blushed deeply.

"So, I guess you heard my idea to steal the plans to Vyle's palace from the Lowlies?" I asked Sky.

"Yeah. It's going to be tricky with no permits, vehicles, directions or disguises plus Uprights at every step of the way. Count me in! But I'll be formulating the plan. No wigs Kit" she said sternly.

I sulked.