Journey of a Girl

A Proper Education: Chapter Twenty-Three

The guilt that clung to her heart for betraying Sally faded with each step, and Credence began to feel more like her old self.

Like the girl from the woods, fierce and in control of her destiny.

Destiny.

That word gave her pause. It was a word that haunted her, a reminder of Ma's promise, and the evil that threatened to take her.

How long would Credence be in the woods before she had to face it again?

What would she do now, when she knew everything about it, but nothing that might stop it?

These are worries for later, she told herself.

She would defeat the Collector when the time came, but now she had to focus on escaping the towns.

On her initial walk to the tavern, Credence had studied the entry gates. She'd watched the guards patrolling it, and saw them open and close the tall, wooden door by cranking a large mechanical wheel.

There would be no getting in or out without manipulating the wheel—unless there was a weakness somewhere in the great wall that surrounded the whole of the towns. She had yet to spy one, but Credence held hope that she would find a crack or hole in it, large enough to fit through.

How else did people like Rose run away?

If it was a common occurrence to leave the towns in secret, Credence was sure to find the way. She walked along the edge of the wall, keeping a fair enough distance so she wouldn't draw suspicion, putting on an air of taking in the sights of the towns. She wouldn't make the entire walk around the wall in a day, so she had to trust that luck would help her spot a weakness quickly.

What if she didn't? Her mind bloomed with worry and doubt.

Could magic open an escape for her?

How did the runaways leave?

Her eyes landed on the slow-moving cart of a merchant. Behind the old horses that pulled it, and the saddled rider, sat an assortment of crates and boxes.

Easy enough to hide inside of one, she thought. Is that how Rose did it? Had she found her way into one of those boxes and waited for the merchant to leave the towns?

Credence cursed herself for not questioning Rose when she had the chance, but then again, she reminded herself, how could she possibly have known?

What if she was caught climbing into the cart?

She looked at her tunic, the eye-catching white that signaled to everyone she was not allowed to leave. Credence regretted destroying the coat Sally had given her, for it would have been useful to disguise herself with. She could not risk being seen climbing into the merchant's cart, so Credence returned to her original plan of finding a hole in the wall.

Focused on her task, Credence didn't see the familiar face approaching—a boy who had spotted her a few paces ago and was now heading her way.

"Oi! Woodgirl! Hey!"

The boy began a jog towards her, but Credence hadn't heard him, and she yelped when hands grabbed her shoulders to stop her.

"Let go!" Credence yelled before turning to her assailant.

"What's wrong with you—got mud in your ears?" Gregory asked with a scowl. He lifted his hands from her shoulders, holding them up in a show of no offense meant. "I've only called you a dozen times!"

"Oh," Credence said, calming instantly. "I was distracted."

"By the wall? What, are you trying to find a way out?"