Before the Ever Green (BTEG #1) ✔️

Chapter 23

Ever time I start to open my mouth to talk, I am greeted by Tobi's hand a few feet away from my face, telling me to shut up. I've tried to walk behind her, so I can get the first word out a sentence out before she can stop me from speaking, but she always just slows so I can catch up to her. I guess I have to take a rein check on this little think called the bathroom. Being as she won't let me tell her 'Hey, my bladder is about to explode'.

"Whoa," is what I manage to get out when we reach a castle like figure. It's magnificent, but looks centuries old, and falling apart. I can tell people live there, because there are small lights around and the cement wall surrounding it looks brand new. "Is this the fort?"

Tobi smiles a little, "Yep. It's home. Now, shush, they're not used to guests, and might not like you at first. She be confident, but not regal in the way you present yourself, okay?"

I nod, though in reality, I am just wondering who is on the other side of that wall. The wall that has to be at least 10 feet tall, with the forming of small vines crawling up the side about every 7 feet. They view is really wonderful, but is snooker when the twins run right into me, knocking me on my stomach. I can hear one laugh and then the other, so I just stand up and brush off my pants. I turn and glare at them, "So...not...cool," I say each word really slow so it seeps into their minds, in hopes of them seeing their fault.

"Sorry," they say in unison, "It was an accident!"

"Do you not know the meaning of quiet?" Tobi asks, strong.

The two of them seem to concede to her words, but don't speak a sorry, they don't make a peep and neither do I. Tobi symbols for us to follow her, which I believe to be wise, since she is much more informed in what is going on that I, but I really don't like not knowing. For all I know, I am walking into a trap. A trap to kill me, or take my unknown powers. Who ever is on the other side of that wall probably knows of my powers, they probably know about them more than I do.

"Come on," Tobi says. When I look at her, she is walking towards the large wooden door at the front of the wall. It's so empty, there is no one but us. Tobi knocks on the door with a pattern. 1...2....2...3.

It swings wide open. I can't see anything on the inside, but there is a large gasp, like it came from a crowd. Tobi nods at who ever I can't see. "Get him," Tobi says to a man at the front of the crowd.

The man sighs, "Tobi, he won't come out,you know this, you have to go in."

She lets out an exasperated sigh, "Fine, Maxwell, this is Addilyn Ember. Can you watch her and the boys, please?"

"I guess," the man, Maxwell, says looking towards me. He looks me up and down a few times, before turning back to Tobi, "What do you want me to do with her?"

She stares at him, like he's stupid.

"Oh," he says, "Right, I don't know what I was thinking, Tobi."

"That's for sure," she says, turning to me, "You'll be fine?"

I nod, "Yeah." Why wouldn't I be fine? I am in an odd place with people I don't know telling me what to do. Everett is unconscious, and I am pretty sure Maxwell hates me. "I'll be perfectly fine,"

Tobi nods before trudging into the 'castle'. She doesn't look scared at all, though this is her home. Why would she be scared? Honestly, I think way too much, but I can't help but wonder why she didn't want to go inside. She seemed so determined to have him come out. Question number 2, why won't he come out?

"Listen," Maxwell says bringing me out of thought, "I really don't want you here, but Tobi does, so just do as I say and I might not skin you, though Tobi would wring my neck,"

"You like her," I blurt out.

"Excuse me?" He laughs a fake laugh.

"You, Maxwell, you like Tobi."

"No." He says, turning away, "No, I don't like Tobi. Not in the way you are referring." His voice gets a lot softer as he says the second part.

"I'm sorry." I say, "I'll behave, though. Promise." I really meant it. I've never really been misbehaved, but I wanted him to think I would change my personality to help him out. I'm not sure if it worked.

"Thank you, now follow me." We take a long few steps to the other side of the wall, where he opens a small door connecting to a little cottage home. There are 3 rows of at least 20 cottage houses. I guess it makes sense. "This is my house, and I would be most happy if you wouldn't touch anything,"

"Okay," I say moving out of the way so the 3 men can walk in. They put Everett on a couch, walking over to the one parallel to it. I just stay standing. Maxwell walks over to the small open kitchen, opening a cupboard and pullin out a red wooden box.

"What's his name?" Maxwell asks, pointing at Everett.

"Everett,"I say

"Everett what?"

"I don't know his last name. He says he doesn't like to share it with people. I'm not really sure why."

"Oh, he's one of them. Well, tell me about yourself, then."

"There's not to tell. I'm not even really sure who I am."

He stops what he's doing, and looks at me funny, "Oh, I see. You've never been able to show yourself to the world because of your power. So, you're so introverted that it's taken over your life. It's taken over so much, that you know nothing about yourself. I bet you never leave your house."

"No," I say "I do everything to be outside. I-I live so outside of town that my mom never let me go more than 20 feet from the house when I was little. I would always go to the meadow, but never the forest because it was forbidden. I never realized how amazing it was until a few weeks ago, when Mom finally let me go."

Maxwell is smiling, and he sits back in a small leather recliner, getting snug. He's still smiling when he says, "You know more about yourself than I thought. So why don't you tell us more?"

I didn't realize the twins were listening in, too. I guess I should have, being as it's a pretty small house. I clear my throat, "I hate dresses, but wear them so my mom will let me sleep outside. I have a pet turtle named turtl- " I gasp, pulling the straps of my bag over my shoulder, at opening it to reveal turtle. "Turtle," I say, with a small laugh. I hand him to the twins, "Turtle likes strawberries. And my mom doesn't know I am on this trip."

"You went on this trip without telling your mom?" Maxwell asks

"She didn't want to go, and when I asked her if I could go, she said no,"

"I am liking you more and more. And here I thought you'd be a stuck up bitch who needed attention because of her gift."

"I guess that's not me, but I can think of a couple people who it sounds like."

He laughs.

"Tell me about you," I say

"No." His voice gets serious, "You don't need to know about me, ever." His jaw is tight, when Tobi walks in. "Hi," she says, looking at Maxwell. She turns her attention to me, "Addilyn, Mr O'Riley would like to meet you. Now."

I walk over to the door, and out. Tobi follows me, closing the door behind her. Neither of us say a word as we walk across the sandy ground. I am realizing there are only a few patches of grass here and there. When we make it to the front of the castle, Tobi knocks on the door same as before,1...2...2...3.

The door opens, and a soldiers greets us with a nod. Tobi nods back, before walking on.

I can't go back now...they closed the door.