Haven

Chapter 6

*I've decided to continue at least for this chapter and see where it takes me...*

Down by the main campfire Red and I are introduced to the Outlanders. They greet us with smiles and handshakes, asking for our story. We sit up late into the night and possibly even the early hours of the morning telling the story of our escape and our lives in the Haven. The people are eager to know what is going on there and are brimming with questions for us. Our stories are greeted with tales of the Outlands and other people's sometimes rather humerous rebellions. It turns out there are far more rebels in the Haven than anyone inside knows about. Outlanders are always nipping in and out to get supplies without ever being noticed. There are plenty of holes in the Haven's security that allow easy access for the Outlanders. There are contacts and sympathisers inside the Haven who give information to the scouts and have inflitrated the government. Sometimes people like my mother manage to get back into the Haven and stay there gathering allies and spreading rebellious ideas.

By the time we have stopped talking the stars are sparkling overhead like miniature diamonds sewn into the deep blue/black fabric of the night sky. Along the horizon you can see the paler light of the sun starting to spread it's bright tendrils across the earth. I couldn't say what time it is but I imagine it's starting to creep towards dawn. All night the crowd has been illuminated by the dancing orange flames and soft blue-silver moonlight watching over us. The crackling of the fire that has serenaded us for hours on end is dying down and one by one throughout the night people have been crawling back to their tents. Now there is just me, Zane, Jamie and Red (asleep with her head on my lap) with a few of the other Outlanders. I don't remember their names but that doesn't matter at this point.

My mum only briefly joined the campfire to eat and then walked away with a strange man and never returned. They seemed deep in conversation so I imagine they were discussing politics or something.

Across the fire two people sit chatting quietly and Jamie and Zane are next to me. Silent as the whispers of the midnight winds, Jamie rises, saying he is going to bed now. Kissing the top of my head and uttering his goodnight, he disappears into the darkness beyond our circle of firelight. Now it's pretty much just me and Zane. Alone again.

I look over at him and he smiles faintly. Without even realising, I smile back. My eyes are growing increasingly heavy and it's getting harder to keep them open. But I don't want to sleep. I don't ever want this day to end; the day that started my new life.

Zane inches closer to me so that we are touching and puts his arm around me, pulling me into him. I don't even think as I lay my head on his shoulder and close my eyes, breathing in his warmth and his safety. I feel so secure wrapped in his arms that every worry in the world seems to slip away from me as his presence guides me into blissful sleep.

***

I wake up wrapped in blankets and shrouded in the warm glow of firelight. When I open my eyes I almost expect to see the sky above me but instead there is just a cream coloured material. It takes me a moment to realise that I am inside a tent but I have no idea how I got there. Then I remember how I fell asleep against Zane and feel the colour rising in my cheeks as it dawns on me that he probably carried me back here. I'm not alone in the tent and for a second I think it might be Zane and how incredibly inappropriate that would be but then I see the signature red hair of my best friend.

With a yawn I push back the blankets and crawl out of the tent. The Outlands have come alive, despite the early hour, and the paths between tents and make-shift buildings are bustling with people who all seem to know exactly where they're going as if they've gone through this routine a thousand times. They step around eachother without seeming to think about it, like they know exactly where everyone else is going to be at any moment. Watching how the Outlanders work together like a well-oiled machine makes me feel significantly out of place here. But then across the stream of people I see a familiar face.

My mother cuts through the racing river towards me.

"I was just coming to get you, actually." She smiles at me. "Wake up Red and then meet me outside the Shack - the big building in the middle - its time for you to meet our leader." Her smile changes into one of pride and excitement but I can tell she is also worried about something. "Sweetie..." She starts softly, "I need to tell you something and you have to promise to stay calm. I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier but.. well.. everyone was a little preoccupied and I  wanted you to enjoy your first night here." She's rambling like she always does when she's nervous and I know she'll go on forever if I don't interupt.

"Mum." I put a hand on her shoulder and her attention snaps back to me. "Just tell me."

"Yes, right," She sighs, "Well, you see. Our leader. He's... ummm... there's easy way to say this so I'm just going to say it. He's your dad."

It takes me a moment for the information to sink in and when it does it hits me like a bulldozer. I'm suddenly feeling very lightheaded and my mum has to put a hand on my arm to steady me.

"What do you  mean?" I gasp the words out. "He's dead. Isn't he? Why would you tell me he's dead if he isn't? Is he really here? I can see him? Why didn't he ever come for me? How could you not tell me? Does he know I'm here?" My thoughts pour out of me before I can stop them and then they're just hanging there in the space between us, all my conflicted emotions and unanswered questions. I'm so mad at her and so relieved and so shocked and terrified and unbelievably happy all in one moment that I don't quite know what to do with myself. So I just stare at her. At those brown eyes so unlike mine and I think how maybe I have his eyes. And maybe I am like him. And maybe this is real. And maybe...

Maybe we will be a family again.

"You know what?" My mum says, quiet as a whisper, "Let Red sleep. Leave her a note and follow me."

In a daze I wander back into the tent, wondering what I am meant to write on. There is no stationary in here. I end up scrawling a quick message in the dirt in the corner of the tents telling her where to find me and praying she sees it when she wakes up.

Outside the tent I fall into place beside my mum and let the stream of people carry me towards the Shack. Towards my dad.