The Infernal Devices Rewritten

Chapter 6 - In Silence Sealed

Chapter 6

In Silence Sealed

Will was a sickly gray when he stood up to get a better look at her, his face tormented. "Cecily," He said again.

"Who on earth is Cecily?" Tessa asked, not demanded, as she stood up with the help of Evan's hand. "Will -"

Jem was already next to his brother, hand on his shoulder. "Will, you must speak to us. You look as if you've seen a ghost."

"Cecily -" Will started to say again.

"Yes, you've said that already." Evan said before Tessa could. Only, Evan's voice was soft.

"Cecily. She was - Christ, she was nine years old when I left."

"Your sister." Jem realized. Will started down the hill, Jem caught him on the rocky terrain. "Will don't -"

"If Cecily's there, then the rest of them - my family - they must be there as well." Will said. It was the first time, Evan noticed sense she'd been with them, that Will completely disregarded Jem.

"But it doesn't make any sense that your family would be here, Will. This was Mortmain's house. Starkweather said so. It was in the papers -"

"I know that!" Will almost shouted. He whirled on Evan. "What was the family's name? The family that lived here?" He grabbed her shoulders, shaking her almost violently.

"I-I don't know!" Evan gasped out, her voice shaking along with her. "I never found out!" Jem pried Will off of the girl, stepping between them. Tesa put her hand on Evan's shoulder, pulling her away from Jem and Will, her arm around Evan's shoulders.

"Cecily could be visiting someone here -" Tessa tried.

But Will was unmoved. "In the middle of Yorkshire, by herself? And that was our carriage. I recognized it. There's no other carriage in the carriage house. No, my family's in this somehow. They've been dragged into this bloody business and I - I have to warn them." He took off down the hill again.

"Will!" Jem shouted, running after him. Evan couldn't hear what they were saying except that Will was swearing profusely. There was a blur and Tessa's arm around her shoulders tightened.

"Get off of me." Will shoved at Jem. "You don't understand. Your family's dead -"

Evan couldn't help but feel her chest tightened. There was a reason as to why she didn't have friends - and it wasn't always like that. In fact, it was recent.

"Will." Jem grabbed his shirt and shook him forcefully. "I do understand. And unless you want your family dead too, you'll listen to me."

Suddenly very still, Will's voice was choked; "James, you can't possibly - I've never -"

"Guys." Evan heard herself say just in time. "I - uh - I've never seen one before but... look."

Their eyes followed to where Evan was pointing. It was the automaton, tall and spindly, with long legs and saws for arms. It was still, and Evan felt Tessa stiffen from fear. It was strange, seeing them in real life - almost like walking into the spoils room at the Yorkshire Institute. The same bubbling fear took hold of Evan and she felt herself shake. Tessa held onto her more tightly.

"By the Angel -" Will started, propped up on his elbow.

"That thing's been following us; I'm sure of it," Jem's voice was low and urgent. "I saw a flash of metal earlier, from the carriage, but I wasn't sure. Now I am. If you go tearing off down the hill, you risk leading that thing right to your family's door."