The Knife Thrower

Chapter 7

I wake up early the next morning, gasping for air as I try to calm myself. It was just a dream, it was just a dream. I repeat to myself over and over, the vibrant images still in my head. I've had the same dream countless times before, each time more vivid than the last. I was trapped in a room filled with fluorescent light and metal equipment. The brightness was everywhere, dancing in front of my eyes. No matter where I ran I couldn't escape it.

I get to my feet and get dressed in the dark, using my night-vision to guide me. I try to shake the dream from my head but it won't go away. This dream has haunted me for as long as I can remember, which isn't very long, I guess. Every memory from my childhood, I don't have. I can't remember anything under the age of ten. Or the three memories I have are blurry and make no sense. The lighted room in my dreams; a boy with electric-blue eyes, and a pink, velvet teddie-bear.

They constantly recure, but in my dreams. I remember a boy, of about seven years old, who would pull me after him. I don't know where the three images come from, but I know they are memories of a past I can't access. I try to remember, but the more I focous on them the blurrier and more disoriented they become. I give out a frustrated sigh and put my sneakers on. I'm wearing all black agian, as I always do. The camaflague calms me down, clears my thoughts and makes me feel safe.

The clock on the wall reads 8:00am. The two wierdest things about this morning have to be the fact that I woke up early and on my own. I have never woken up at this time before and, hopefully, won't ever again! I walk out of my room and into Izzy's and Jay's. Of coarse, Izzy is already dressed and is helping Jay. I take over, tying his shoelaces so Izzy can brush his hair. I have pulled my own hair back into a pony-tail, to keep the hair out of my face.

"I'm surprised your up so early, I thought I would have to wake you soon," Izzy says amazed and I laugh. There is no way Izzy would have been able to wake me even if she tried, only mother ever dares. Everyone has seen my t-shirt, and seen me sleep. Mother.

"She's not back yet is she," I ask softly, so Jay doesn't hear. She shakes her head. I finish tying Jays shoes and he gets up to give me a hug. I hold him tight, taking in his scent of soap and wool.

"Are we going to die," he whispers into my hair. He is the smartest six year old I have ever met, sometimes that's a bad thing. I pull away just enough so he can see my eyes.

"No. I will never, ever, let anyone hurt you or Izzy."

"Promise?" He says in a trembling voice, eyes brimming with tears.

"I promise." I say back and I know, that whatever I do, Izzy and Jay will not be here to see it. I have to get them to England if it's the last thing I do.

*****

We walk out of the house to go to the bus stop. I wonder how school is going to be now, with having to be careful about the government. The wind pulls at my hair and I shiver, pulling my jacket tighter around myself. I tuck my knife into my sock, positioning it so that he handle is first, but you can't see it.

The bus pulls up to the curb and we clamber in. I don't even bother to be polite to the driver today, I just show him our passes and walk right past him. The ride into town usually takes forever but today it seems to go faster. The town is the main part of Relang, a small desolated area in West Australia.

In the town is the school, grocery store, hard wear shop, clothing store and a small hospital. In the suburban area, where myself and the other poor family's live, is a drug store and black market. The suburb area is on the edges of the town. The houses surround the the front, back and right side of the town. On the left side of the town is a small mountain with a cliff overlooking the entire Relang country. On the mountain itself are thick woods, but no one dares climb the mountain. We call it 'The Divider' because it separates us and whatever is on the over side. Also, it's to steep to climb.