The Girl of Colours (Book TWO)

Empty White

I heard Clyde and Rani come in when I woke up, my little device running out of battery during the night so I got up, still in the unicorn onesie and followed silently. "Sarah Jane, tell Rani she's." He cut off as he realised Sarah was gone. "Oh, sorry, Rubes. Where's Sarah Jane? Morning Cal, loving the bed head." Oh, shut up. 

"Play."

And then there was Sarah Jane on the screen, and I took Clyde's hand tight, the closest I had to Luke left now. Oh, Sarah... "I want you to listen. Please don't start shouting. Most important, don't take it out on Ruby, especially you, Calliope.""

Clyde stared at it. "What's this?"

"I nearly got you killed." She was telling us. "You aren't safe with me any longer."

"What? No."

[Cellar]

"This life is exciting and wonderful. But it changes you, and it's hard. We have a responsibility, all of us. The biggest responsibility is knowing when to stop. So I'm stopping. I've gone."

No, no, no... "What? Gone where?" Clyde demanded, holding onto my hand like he wouldn't let go.

"Ruby is talking my place, so Callie has a chance to have a life with Luke. She needs your full trust and support, and I know you'll be mature enough to give that to her. Please don't try and find me. You've been incredible. Calliope, Clyde, Rani, and Ruby defending the Earth from an attic in Ealing. What could be better? Goodbye."

"You knew about this and you didn't tell us?" Clyde demanded.

Rani shook her head. "No, Clyde, no. You heard what Sarah Jane said."

Didn't you get it? There was a reason that I didn't trust Ruby, and this had to be it. "She wouldn't go and not tell us. Without telling me, because I was crying downstairs!"

"I tried to talk to her, but she wouldn't listen. I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault, Ruby." Rani told her, and I backed away.

"Luke'll know where she's gone."

Ruby shook her head, and I clenched my fist, feeling it light up dark purple as I lost control of my emotions. "No, she even didn't tell him. She knew he would talk her out of it, just like you, Callie."

Rani stared now. "What, Luke doesn't know?"

"I don't know what to say."

No, no, you don't say anything! "Just shut up." I shouted at her, and the mirror on the wall smashed before Clyde and I left, and I grabbed a change of clothes for when I got to his with him. I didn't care about wearing my onesie outside, Luke and I wore matching dino ones to the shops all the time when he was here. We tried to call him as we paused outside. "You've got to get this message. You've got to help."

"Clyde? Callie? Are you okay?"

"You and your stupid holiday." He snapped at her as I tried to stop myself crying again, my glasses steaming up. "You put this in her head and now she's gone, just like my dad's gone, and Callie's dad is gone, and everyone else in her life, and it's all your fault."

"But-"

He wouldn't let her speak. "Just stay away from us. Come on, Callie."

Clyde lead me away, and I changed quickly at his, realising that even though I'd been feeling like shit, I'd gone for my bitch with attitude outfit. My leather jacket, a grey top and a short skirt with leggings and my dark blue stiletto's. Oh, and the Roxxia crystal, because that was going to come in handy.

"You ready?" I asked Clyde, putting my contacts in after doing my make up. "Because I am ready to hit first, take names and no prisoners. Oh, and I'm also waiting for Luke to realise that I'm scared, because most of the time strong emotions stand the distance."