The Song of the Keepers

Chapter 17 Plots and Schemes

I paced up and down my bedroom floor, wearing a track through the shag rug.

"What if-no that wouldn't work."
I mumbled.

"Or maybe? No, that's not any better."

I scratched my chin, running through hundreds of possibilities for how I might smuggle Kyle out of Itova. At the moment, each idea seemed more ridiculous than the last.

"There isn't going to be a carpet left if you don't stop pacing."
A deep voice commented.

I jumped, startled by the interruption to my thoughts.

"Ghost! Don't sneak up on me like that!"
I chided him.

The half mechanical creature leaned casually against the wall opposite from me, arms crossed across his broad chest.

"Where have you been anyways? I haven't seen you in quite a while now."

"Here and there."
He replied cryptically.

"Are you here to help me or stare a hole through my head?"
I huffed after a long moment of silence.

"I'd advise you to let the situation run its course, you don't know half of the sins that stain Kyle's past. However, I've observed you long enough to know you'll ignore this wisdom. So, how exactly can I help?"

"Got any brilliant ideas on how to get Kyle out of the country?"
I asked, his assessment of my reaction to the advice accurate.

"There is a major hindrance to that thought, you know."

"Just one?"
I replied back sarcastically.

"How are you going to convince Kyle to leave?"
Ghost questioned.

"It's the only way to save his life."

"You know him, he's nearly as unstable as you are. Do you think that's really going to be enough motivation for him to leave behind everything he's ever known and start a new life somewhere?"

I opened and closed my mouth. It had never occurred to me that Kyle might not want to leave, even if it was the only way to save his life. I flopped down on the bed, staring intently at the empty wall across from me.

"Would you go with him?"
Ghost suggested.

"What? No. I'm not looking to run away from Itova just yet. My family is here and I hope to one day see them again. If I'm lucky, I'll make a better world for them."
I answered immediately.

"Good. Just confirming."
Ghost nodded, seeming relieved.

I chewed my lower lip, deep in thought.

"Wait. Family. That's it!"
I leapt to my feet, half a plan in mind.

Ghost raised an eyebrow at me.

"That's the motivation he needs. I'll track down his family, Tanya, and Kyla! Smuggle the three of them out to start a new life!"

I couldn't believe I hadn't thought of it before!

"You do realize trying to find two people out of the whole of Itova is basically the definition of looking for a needle in a haystack, right?"
Ghost pointed out.

"That's what the Brainiac is for."
I responded with a sly smile.

"Don't go anywhere."
I ordered Ghost before rushing out the door.

I darted down the hall, hardly paying attention to where my feet landed.

"Woah! Where are you off to in such a hurry?"
Daaow exclaimed, as we narrowly avoided colliding.