The Changed

Chapter 14- Tess

Caleb lead me into his mother's bedroom and then through to his own room. "Look, I know that my clothes are boys clothes but I don't think it matters so much as we are only going riding," he was saying. I only nodded and smiled. "You know, you don't talk a lot."

"I don't really feel like talking when I just left my brother behind in hell," I mumbled, not meaning for him to hear it.

"No, I understand. From what mother told me, you have every reason not to talk. I was just trying to be nice," Caleb said as he shuffled through his gigantic wardrobe. He looked slightly crestfallen.

"I'm sorry Caleb. You are being so kind to me...its just...well, I've had a rough couple of days. But I would love to go out riding with you," I apologised. Caleb brightened up immediately. He chucked across to me some brown riding trousers, a white top and a warm jacket with some boots. "You can get changed in my bathroom," Caleb said. "I'll wait out here then we can head down to the stables."

I quickly got changed. The clothes fitted me quite well actually and felt comfortable. "Ready?" Caleb asked. He led me through the main room again where the Commander and Nick sat talking in hushed whispers. I strained to hear what they were saying but I couldn't hear.

"Don't go too far, Caleb. Only up to the end of the valley," the Commander called after us as we reached the door.

"We won't, mother. I'll see you after dinner," Caleb shouted back and bounded out of the door. I had to sprint to catch up with him, my long black hair flowing behind me. When I caught up with him I was out of breath and shaking. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry. I forgot you are still weak from those horrible experiments they did on you. Please forgive me," Caleb cried. I looked into his sapphire blue eyes and realised he really did care for me even though he had known me for a matter of minutes.

"No, its fine," I gasped. "I got a bit over excited too."

"Well, we'll go a bit slower from now on." We walk down the corridors of the Changed headquarters. It seemed so much more friendlier than the government's. Every corridor was a different colour from the last one; rose red, sea green, royal purple and a bunch of others. The floor was metal grating and you could see people walking on the hundreds of floors going downwards. The grating didn't really go with the colours but I guess it was easier than concrete and plus they had to build this base quickly.

We stumbled down some stairs and arrived at a door with a man leaning on it. "Hey Caleb, you going out again?" He grumbled. "Who's the girl?"

"This is Tess, we rescued her today from the Government," Caleb replied. The man nodded gruffly and opened the door. "Be back soon. I don't think you wanna miss tonight's announcements," he said.

The first thing that hit me was the smell of the stables. The hay was all over the floor along with...well, use your imagination. There were ten horses in all with about two stable hands looking after them. The horses coats were all magnificently groomed and gleaming and I could feel waves of happiness rolling off them.

Caleb walked straight up to a white mare. "This is Flake. She is my favourite out of all the horses here but I'll let you ride her today," Caleb said as he stoked Flake's neck. I wanted to stroke her but I held myself back, a tiny bit nervous.  "It's OK." Caleb took my hand and placed it on Flake's neck. She pressed her head against me. "She likes you," Caleb said, smiling.

He set up the saddle and reigns for me, handed me a helmet and helped me up onto the horse. "Don't worry, she is very gentle and I promise you won't fall off," Caleb soothed my fears. "Now, take the reigns like this...yep good...and use your boots to tell her when to go. Don't worry about steering, you never have to with Flake. You're in good hands."