Wraith

Simple Beginnings Chapter Five

Chapter Five

Olive spent the next day in a daze, wondering if being a User was really worth the time and effort it took. When night fell however, she found herself once more slipping into Wraith's costume. It seemed that she had unavoidable responsibilities and her subconscious wouldn't let her give up. As she made the last few adjustments to the tightfitting mask, Wraith sensed someone behind her softly drawing a deep breath. "Don't." She spoke with calm authority and the silence rang with fierce thought. Wraith adjusted the mask once more and made sure that she could see.

Behind her a child-like voice at last asked. "Don't what?"

Wraith smiled under the mask as she turned around. "Don't do whatever it was that you were planning to do; or at least, not until I've had a chance to explain." Facing her was a young woman dressed in violently clashing oranges, reds, pinks, purples, blues, greens and yellows. It was almost as if a neon rainbow had thrown up on her. Wraith blinked hard, but the bright image was still burned on her retinas. "I remember you from the last meeting. The Captain said that you're called Siren and you're one of our younger Users. I'm Wraith, but what are you doing here?"

Siren sniffed. "I don't think I remember you, but if you know the Captain we can talk. As for what I'm doing here, I should be asking you that. I patrol this district and I know for a fact that there are only three Users living here. And they've all left." She looked around in sudden worry. "Hey! Where's Olive? This is her room."

Wraith nodded, the instinct for secrecy already forming a plan in her head. "I know, but she's started sleeping downstairs. I'm one of her friends from school and when I discovered that I was a User I asked if she could help since her Mom sews. She lets me take bits and pieces from these old costumes every evening, so long as I return them, and I keep her family secret." She smiled and held out a hand. "Pleased to meet the User keeping her safe, and don't worry about me. I was just leaving." She shook the bemused User's hand, stepped out of the window, swung onto the roof and was loping away before Siren could do more than follow her outside.

For a moment, the brightly clad User thought about going to check on Olive. But Wraith knew the Captain and what she had described matched what the young User knew of Olive. So instead she floated down to the ground. She had her own work to do.

That night Wraith was due to help Donner in Quack Street. She briefly considered going to Memory Lane instead to continue the previous night's discussion with the Captain; but she decided against it. She had seen Donner on her way to the North Warehouse district yesterday and stopped to tell him to expect her. If she now didn't show, he might worry and be distracted from his own work.

Donner adopted the same method as Adamant and Volcano did in their districts. From a flat roof, the highest point in his district, he gazed down at Quack Street and tried to identify potential problems before they could get started. Even so he didn't see Wraith as she first entered his district. By the time she had reached his roof, however, he was ready to give her an unnecessary heads-up to his own position. The Captain, Flayme, and Tuttle were also gathered. When she saw them waiting Wraith almost missed her footing. Flayme smiled and Donner chuckled as the Captain explained.

"The North Warehouse district, the Sewers and Memory Lane can manage themselves for a short while. Wraith, I've told Donner what happened last night and he agrees that we need a council of war about our Abuser problems. I hate to say it, but other than Volcano we five are the only ones that I am absolutely certain are Users."

Wraith was startled and glanced around again. "How come Volcano isn't here, then?"

The Captain sighed. "I've never known him to go anywhere without Adamant and I don't know her well enough to include her on the list. We'll leave Volcano out of this for now." His tone became firmer. "Now, Wraith, can you tell us again what happened last night - starting with where you were when you heard Harris."