The Knife Thrower

Chapter 3

I lean against the cement building, and watch the doorway of the building. Students of all ages and shapes file out, but still no sign of Izzy or Jay. I sigh and glance around.

People mile around everywhere; gossiping mothers with prams, school kids running around and teenagers waiting for the bus. But still I don't see them.

"Kyra," I hear my brother call from behind me and I turn around. They walk towards me, dodging flying elbows and school bags dumped on the ground.

"Come on, we have to go," I tell them as they reach me and Jay gives me a hug. He chats about his day and his friends and his teacher and I carry his backpack.

I take Jays hand and together the three of us hop onto the bus. We have to get off a couple of blocks away from the dojo and walk the rest of the way because otherwise it might look suspicious.

We get out in front of the old broken down IGA and wait until the bus rounds the corner, out of sight. The IGA closed down years ago and is now used as an illegal drug store. I have to go in there every now and then to buy cheap medicine when we get really sick.

We start walking to the dojo, quietly even though there no one around. Only the occasional street tough-guy or random old ladies hauling shopping trolleys filled with junk. Rounding the last corner we approach the small building. Nothing fancy, just weathered red brick walls and a sagging tin roof.

"Kyra. So good to see you, how is it going?" Ryan greets us at the back door and ushers us in. His voice is tight and barely more than a whisper. I can't blame him; he would be executed if anyone found out he teaches me. Once we are inside Izzy and Jay go off to his living room but I stay back. He gestures for me to follow him into the dojo.

"It is safe here. I need to know: do you know about the governments decisions?" He says quietly and urgently. I nod my head, even now careful of what I say.

"Kyra," he says, almost sternly, "you have to trust someone and I tell you now you can trust me. I am guessing you are on the RSA side." I nod again and decide I can trust him. I tell him what I know but leave out my plan for saving Izzy and Jay. I need to think that over first, get all the details.

When I finish he nods and carries on. "Good, seems like you are up to date. All I can tell you that you don't already know is don't trust anyone. You have to be especially careful, if they get their hands on you to sell you as a slave, you know what will happen. And..."

His eyes gleam as he says, "...the next flight leaves at noon in seven days." I grin and give him a hug.

"How do you do that; read my mind?" I ask him, laughing. I didn't even need to tell him my plan and he knew exactly what I was planning to do. He knows me so well, like a second father. A real father.

"I know you Kyra," He replies mysteriously, green eyes gleaming. I grab my bag out of the wardrobe and pull out my black sparring gear and equipment.

Ryan has been father's best friend since before I was born and that is the reason he agreed to teach me self-defense in the first place. He says he owes my dad a favour or something. He won't say what for.

He is about thirty-nine with spiky brown hair, a muscled body and emerald-green eyes. I wonder how he found out about the government's plans. If word is spreading I need to book Izzy and Jay on that flight ASAP.

I look through the door into the room Izzy and Jay are in, to check they are okay. Izzy has changed into darker clothes and is reading a chemistry book. Jay has also changed and is playing a puzzle. We need to be in dark clothes so it is easier to get home later. I walk back into the dojo; drop my now-empty bag onto the floor. I am about to put on my sparring gear when Ryan stops me.

"We are going to focus more on exercise today so you can put your gear on later." I drop my stuff with my bag and he tells me to run fifty laps round the room. The room is about ten meters long and ten meters wide. I start to run, grateful to get today's events out of my mind. Just me and my training now.