The Fox & The Crow

Chapter Twenty - Five (Part 1)

Hot summer air softly blows past the open windows of The Last Standing Home. The old radio static scratches out a song, which Violet hums along to, now and then singing along with it.

"In a dream the strangest and the oddest things appear and what insane and silly things we do. Here is what I see before me, vividly and clear, as I recall it, you were in it, too."

I stand at the edge of the door for a moment to enjoy her singing before stepping into the room, the floorboards creaking under my feet. She stops and leans her head against the window, her cheeks flushed from the warmth of the May breeze.

"I already know. We're going to leave London for the countryside in a month." She continues staring out the window. From her little spot, she can see the tops of church steeples, the chimney smoke rising into the sky, the Palace of Westminster. The sounds of London's bustle float atop the streets and make their way to her, and I suddenly understand why the thought of parting with it upsets her so much.

"I overheard you and Mrs. Rufis talking about it in the kitchen," She sniffles a little from her allergies. No matter how many times I've told her to keep the windows shut over the summer because of her pollen allergies, she'll never listen to me.

"Yes, we're leaving." I push her curly hair behind her ear. "I didn't know you were eavesdropping, little snoop."

"Do we have to leave?" She sighs. "The countryside will be so boring. And quiet. And there will be more pollen!"

I laugh.

"When has your pollen allergy ever been a concern to you?" She pouts and rests her head against the window again, playing with the ends of her hair.

"I promise you'll never be bored in the countryside." I lie on her bed and she dramatically falls next to me, her head upside down by mine. "We'll walk everywhere, Violet. Across the professor's property and past it. And this old guy is definitely rich, so he'll have plenty of little rooms to explore, books to read, and more snacks to get fat on in one sitting than we do in one year."

She hums at the thought of it.

"And whoever said the countryside is quiet lied. There's crickets and loud squabbling birds and thunderstorms that shake the ground."

"But what if I still don't like it?"

"Then we'll escape. We'll run away to America and become stage performers."

"We'll wear pearls and red lipstick!" Violet bounds up, getting louder as she grows more excited.

"And you'll sing for the crowds of people who will travel the world just to hear your voice."

"And you'll overcharge them!"

"Yes! And we'll make millions and millions until we finally retire in a beautiful penthouse at the top of a glittering city. How does that sound?"

"Perfect," Violet says, closing her eyes and falling back down onto the bed as if she's in a Hollywood film. "When can we leave for the country?"

I wake with a start, gasping with each breath as my sore lungs expand inside my chest. Shivering uncontrollably, my eyes dart around what looks to be a dimly lit cell. Confused and shaky, I attempt to lift myself from the ground, but my arms are fastened to the wall with iron bands that dig into my wrists. Groaning, I slide myself back using my feet to alleviate some of the bruisings I can already feel developing. My stomach aches with hunger and my tongue feels heavy with thirst. Blinking away tears of exhaustion, I silently curse myself for being in way over my head.