Bee and the Boy

Chapter 7

Marina

Ten years ago

"Daddy, don't go." I cry as I chase him down to the edge of the yard of our cottage. He stops and gets down on one knee in front of me.

"I will only be gone a little while. " He assures me as he wipes a tear from my cheek. I look up at my mother as she puts a hand on my shoulder. "Be a good girl for mommy now, Marina." He stands and embraces us both before stepping into his wagon. "I love you." He calls out to us as he disappears down the road. 

As I play with my dolls, the Sheriff comes knocking at our door.  I eavesdrop from the corner as she talks with my mommy. and then she is putting her in handcuffs. I run out yelling for her to stop. The Sheriff lady nods outside the door as a man enters the house and approaches me cautiously. He is dressed almost like the sheriff lady, so I let my guard down slightly.

Present

It's been 2 days since the three of us were banished from the circus. I cradle the shrew in my arms as we walk the abandoned road. Beatrix hasn't talked to either of us since. Until now.

"You were right," Beatrix mutters under her breath. "We should have made a plan. All those animals are doomed because of me."

Skater stops in his tracks. "We'll go back. We can..."

"No!" I interrupt him. He and Beatrix both look at me with surprise. I clear my throat. "What I mean is, we can't go back in alone. I have family just over there" I point them in the direction of rolling hills a mile away from us.

"Okay." Beatrix smiles at me. I know I won her over. Skater seems a bit warier of me since the day. I will have to try harder with him. And I notice that one of his wings is horribly ripped and that just won't do. So I take off my cloak and  toss it over his shoulders, buttoning it up

"My family might not be so happy to see you are part firefly," I assure him.

"Yeah, of course. "He looks to Beatrix with concern, who is still looking upset. I put an arm around her in hopes of comforting her. I can tell that Skater still needs time to warm up to me. As long as he stays with us until we reach the hills, everything will work out. And as long as Beatrix stays with me, I'm sure he will too.

~

As we reach the base of the hills, a man wielding a sword steps out from behind a bush. I wasn't expecting this, not now.

"We have no money," Skater says, subtly shielding Beatrix from harm. I wave him off as I walk towards the man."Marina, don't."

"I told you not until we reach the cabin." I grab the sword from the man. 

"Marina, what are you doing?" Beatrix says to me as she steps out from behind Skater. 

"I'm sorry about this, I really am," I answer her, nodding to the man standing behind Skater.

"You see, I was only at the circus to rob them. But when the two of you came along, I knew my plans had changed. Did you know half fireflies sell for a fortune on the black market?"

I snap my fingers and a man knocks Skater out and drags him away.

"I thought we were friends?" Beatrix cries out

I ignore her.

"Why are you doing this?" she pleads.

"Money of course." I work on trying her to a tree.

"No, WHY are you doing this?"

I put one hand on the trunk of the tree, just beside her head. "I don't need to tell you anything. Now that we have Skater, I don't have to pretend to be your friend." I hand the shrew to one of my crew to take care of. "Tie this one up too." 

"Why don't you just kill me?" Beatrix snaps at me.

"My dear Beatrix, I'm not a monster."

Beatrix struggles against her bonds. "I will find you

An hour later, my crew and I reach my ship, the Nandy. Named after my parents. I think back to that day.

You are hereby sentenced to death on account of crimes against the prince. The judge slams his gavel down. I watch as both my parents are lead out of the courtroom.

I cry out as I'm shoved into a carriage, and taken to the city orphanage.

~

I break out that very night, vowing never to care about anything for the rest of my life.