Fly or Fall

Chapter Thirty

Andy yawned as he stretched out his limbs, his legs falling over one side of the couch. Toli's apartment was dark now; the sun had long set and the moons cast eerie shadows across the hard wood floors. He'd fallen asleep in a precarious angle and now the lower of his back ached with a dulled thrum. Rising to his feet he groaned as he arched his back like a giant's bow and surveyed the room. The apartment was empty and quiet; understandable for the late hour. Toli must have been in her room asleep. As for Arlin, it looked like he hadn't returned from the little errand he said he had to run.

After Andy had declared he was going to find his way back home, Arlin had asked, "So where exactly is home?"

"Bebet," Andy lied. Bebet wasn't home but it was where he needed to go. It was a kingdom in Zouye, where Dorian Von had begun his adventure that had led him to Dorian's isle. From Bebet he retrace Dorian's steps until he found his way back to the island.

"Bebet," Arlin repeated. "That's a ways away. How exactly where you planning on getting there?" He'd plopped down onto the couch, stretching his legs and leaving no room for Andy to sit. Andy stood.

"There has to be a way," he said, forcing the desperation in his voice to subside. "I was brought here on a jump ship. Maybe we could—"

"Get our hands on one," Arlin finished for him and laughed. "Not likely." He squared his expression, his brow furrowed and his lips drawn into a thin line; Andy noticed the slit over his right eyebrow for the first time. It was a small detail but it made Arlin's soft featured face somewhat sharper. "The jump ships are government issue only. Normally if someone wanted to leave the city they'd use the shuttles. They travel all across Omora, you could probably get one that goes directly to Zouye and be in Bebet in less than twenty-four hours." He paused and Andy knew a 'but' was coming. "But the problem is: the Valek has check points at every station, no one leaves or enters the city without going through them. Unless you have the proper documents there's no way for you to get out of New Emili. I'm assuming you don't have the proper documents, do you?" Andy shook his head and Arlin sighed. "Thought so. We could get you a forgery but it could take a few days—"

"I don't have a few days," Andy cut him off. "I have to leave tomorrow before..." his voice trailed but what he'd meant to say was: I have to leave tomorrow before my sister does something dumb like try and rescue me. It was exactly the kind of thing Anna would do. Something reckless, poorly thought through and certain to get her in trouble. "I can't wait a few days."

Arlin pursed his lips in thought, just for a second, before they quirked into a smile. It was the same mischievous grin he had when he made Andy jump into a garbage chute. It left Andy uneasy. "In that case," he jumped to his feet, "I guess we really have no other choice."

Andy frowned. Confused. "No other choice but to what?"

Arlin shrugged and walked to the window they'd come in through. "I'll be back in a bit."

"Back?" The unease was like a spasm contorting his gut into knots. "Where are you going?"

Arlin stopped with one leg swung through the window and pulled his hood back on. He turned to Andy and smiled. "Quick question: how badly do you want to get back home?" He spoke lightly but there was a hidden seriousness in his voice, it surprised Andy.

"Badly," he said, his voice steady but desperate.

Arlin nodded, his smile quirking into a smirk. "I'll be back in a bit," he repeated and before Andy could say another word he disappeared out the window.

Andy had fallen asleep waiting for him. It'd been hours now and he was getting worried. Worried that he'd been right about Arlin and he'd turned him into the Valek. Was it paranoia? Or was he right to doubt him? He thought of his aunt, how he'd never thought to doubt her but she'd betrayed him. He thought of the empress, how he'd knew he should have doubted her but had chosen not to because he wanted to trust her. He wanted every word she said to be real like a child believing in fairytales. Naïve. He'd been naïve. Never again.