Alnwick Chronicles

Twelve

Michael

I rush to pick up the knife that has fallen from the window of the house Aerith is supposed to be in. I knew I shouldn't have sent her alone. Things are clearly going wrong.

The blade confirms it. I recognise it to be hers.

I move closer to the entrance of the building. Just then, someone exiting it brushes past me in a rush. I try to catch their face under the helmet sort of thing they're wearing, but their hand catches my attention first. They're trying to hide it, but I can see blood dripping from it.

I hurry after them, grab hold of their arm and turn them around to face me. It's a mustached man in his late 30s, I'd guess.

Before I can react, he wiggles free from my grip and sprints towards where he was headed. Without thinking, I run after him. He's unexpectedly fast for someone his age. I'm starting to lose him, he's getting further and further away.

At one point, I just stop. I'm slightly out of breath, which is embarrassing because I'm supposed to be a highly trained and physically fit secret agent.

I decide to head back to the building and find Aerith.

***

"I should've come sooner," I whisper under my breath as I take in the condition of the room. And Aerith on the floor.

I kneel down on the ground and check her breathing first. It's not as steady as would be healthy, but at least she's alive. A knot in my chest unties, which I hadn't realised had formed. I start assessing the rest of her condition.

The side of her head is bleeding, as if it were struck with something heavy. How does she manage to keep injuring herself specifically on the head? When she first came to us with her brother and best friend, even then she had a bandaged head.

As my first aid training kicks in, I get up and look for a clean cloth, which I find inside a cabinet in the bathroom. I bring it back to the bedroom and press it to her head, applying only the minimum amount of pressure. It stops the blood flow, but her breathing is still bad.

I might have to administer CPR.

She'll kill me later, I know, but I'm not letting her get killed right now.

Adalyn

The book lies open in front of me, but my eyes scan the pages without reading a single word.

I'm worried about Aerith, but a little excited for her too. This is what she has been wanting since almost as soon as we joined The Aberrants: some proper action.

Speaking of The Aberrants, joining them was one thing I'm glad Aerith and Skyla dragged me into. I wasn't sure of it at first, but we wouldn't have survived otherwise. Besides, it gives me something to think about other than mom and dad, whose whereabouts are still unknown. Even after two whole months of searching.

I just hope they're okay.

I got even more worried when Aerith and I had that little encounter with a Cold Hollow spy a couple weeks ago...

We were walking through a Metropolan street, not on a mission but on our way to a meeting with some of the higher Aberrant officials, who met in a different place every time to reduce the risk of being discovered. As we walked, we noticed someone following us, wearing large sunglasses and a hat that covered the top half of their face, and a turtleneck sweater that was pulled up enough to cover the bottom half.

They were probably waiting for us to split, otherwise they would've been outnumbered. But we weren't sure if they were after us in the first place. Aerith somehow convinced me to go a separate way for just a minute, to confirm what the shady figure was actually upto. We were right. They tried to assault Aerith.

Bad for them, though. They might have had better luck with me. Aerith just beat them up before they were forced to run away.

But neither of us got a look at their face. Aerith insists they were just a purse-snatcher or something, even though I'm convinced they were from Cold Hollow.

And if they could find us, they could also have found our parents.

I try to shake that thought and memory away.

I shut the book and get up. Maybe a walk would clear my mind better.

The Aberrants don't have as big a hideout as Cold Hollow, but it's still quite something.

It's based just outside Vlidron, in Woodvale, closer to Marlow than the Wintercreek peaks. In fact, you can even see the high stone walls of the Royal Palace (in Marlow) if you stray in that direction.

The Aberrants essentially live in treehouses and tents in a clearing sealed off with camouflaging cloth. I make my way down the rickety ladder of the treehouse I was in. There are a few people milling about here and there, but nobody stops to say hello.

I was actually pretty surprised by how many of them there were, when we first joined. Nathaniel had said they were initially just five people, but their numbers grew faster than any of them had expected. I've only met four of the original five- a 21 year old boy named Ralph, a 30-something year old man called Blythe, a girl of 24 named Idella, and Derwin, a boy of 17. The fifth, a girl named Zora of about my age, is a bit of a mystery.

The day Aerith had gotten attacked, we were going to meet Ralph, Derwin and some others. The original five are the heads, and below them is an intricate system of ranks, which placed Aerith, Skyla and I under Michael, who we've become good friends with.

Speaking of Skyla, I don't know where she's been today. I wonder why she didn't tell me. Maybe she's worried about Aerith too. After all, they're practically like Meira and Meridia. Which is ironic, because I'm Aerith's twin.

I wander around aimlessly for a bit. I don't really know where to go, so I-

"You're Adalyn right?" asks a boy who has come up to me. From where, I didn't notice.

"What-"

"Just answer my question." He seems to be in a rush.

"Yes, but-"

"Come with me."

Without letting me speak, he takes me by arm, just below the shoulder, and pulls me towards one of the non-residential tents.

Inside is a group of about eight people, only three of whom I recognise- Idella, Daphne and Ford. I'm still not familiar with everybody around here.

Without any ado, Idella addresses me. "Adalyn. We have located Heath, and Michael will bring back your sister soon."

That's why they called me. This is personal, otherwise new recruits are rarely allowed in any meetings. And yes, I'm still considered a new recruit.

"Also," continues Idella, "your friend Skyla just left with a few others in search of your parents."

Wait, what?!