The Lost Ones

26 - Adrian

We've only been at sea for five minutes but I feel at home, with the breeze in my hair and the clear blue waves beneath me. Will looks as comfortable as I've ever seen him at the helm of the catamaran, steering us safely away from all our troubles. 

"We're in safe hands, it seems," Gemma tells me as we watch the harbour fade into the horizon. "Besides, Will grew up with boats. There's a map on the ship which we can use to guide us."

"Do we actually know where we're going?" I ask her doubtfully. "We've literally just set off for an unknown place in the hopes of finding a home for a load of homeless kids."

She raises an eyebrow but smiles nonetheless. "Adrian, we've literally just ran halfway across the country whilst running from an evil doctor. I think we can manage this. Or rather, I like to remain positive."

I think about the conversation Lela and I had an hour ago, and pluck up the courage to ask Gemma - the fearless leader that everyone looks up to - the question that's been burning away at my mind.

"Uh, Gemma.... how do you feel about leaving Josephine? I mean, that was were you guys grew up, right?" I stammer out nervously. Her smile fades and I immediately regret asking. "Oh god, I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"

She interrupts me by placing a hand on my shoulder. "No, don't worry. It's a valid question. It's just... she was all I had for such a long time. When our parents died, it was just us and my grandmother, but then she went too and we were all alone. As the oldest, it was up to me to care for her; we pretty much raised each other. She wasn't just my younger sister, she was my best friend. I didn't want to leave her, but at least I know she'll rest in peace where no one will find her grave. Who knows, maybe I'll get to come back someday when all of this is over and visit her again. I'll bring some flowers and give my Josephine a proper send off."

"What were her favourite flowers?" I say, trying to think of something to respond with.

"Roses. I don't know what it was but she always had to stop and stare at them." Gemma's smile returns; I decide to leave her be and look around. 

There's no denying it's a beautiful boat - not that I've seen many in my time, obviously. But what's even more beautiful is the way we're gliding effortlessly across the waters, heading straight for the rolling pastel clouds, far, far away from all the troubles of the past. Frankly, it feels liberating to be at sea; I wish I could feel like this all the time.

Lela's fast asleep on some cushions, curled up like a cat as she usually does. No one's making themselves busy; I think everyone's adapted to their new surroundings pretty well actually. I watch the coast gradually fall over the tangerine horizon and I observe the light and pleasant colours of the sea, the clouds and the sunset. It's weird to think that I've barely seen anything other than the greying hospital walls when the world outside was almost a few steps away; Lela and I haven't even been on the run for two weeks yet here we are, ready to find new lives somewhere else. 

I look around and see the people I can now call my closest friends with no hesitation: Maisie and Will, busy playing a game of cards and sitting closer together than they were five minutes ago; little Peri, who seems to have grown up a lot since we first met; Drew, still causing a group of kids to subside into helpless giggles.... we lost people too. But if this is the start of a new life for us - for all of us - then we can respect their memory by living as best we can. Because in the end, that's what we were all fighting for. That's what they died fighting for and now we're just a few steps closer to our goal, finally. 

The lost ones have been found.