The Inventor of Oz

5: Somewhere Over The Rainbow

He shoved me in a closet very abruptly, glancing out into the street before closing and locking the door, "I'm Newt by the way." He turned back to me and seemed to remember that he had shoved us in a closet with very little wiggle room. His dark cheeks tinted red.

"How old are you?" The question came out of my mouth without meaning it to.

"Eighteen as of last month. I'm a year out of the Academy." Newt seemed to answer out of reflex, then his face lit with wonder, "The rumors are true! Your words, its as if they're warped metal!"

I was doubtful, West Coast accents were the ones they used in movies so the actors could be understood. He must've seen my expression because he quickly amended his statement.

"Maybe not warped metal, maybe more like a bell ringing in the middle of a busy street. It's almost as if the timbre of your voice was made for a different tongue."

"It was. I was raised on much different pronunciation rules." I said, trying to push against the wall directly behind me. I couldn't help but notice that the cleaning supplies even had gears and mechanisms on them that seemed unnecessary.

Newt gazed at me for another moment before replying, "Fascinating."

I was going to ask why exactly we were in a broom closet before he grabbed my hand once more and said, "The coast is clear. We have to get to your friend before we're found out."

"Why do you care? You seemed to know the men back there." I said, shaking free of his grip.

He gave me an odd look as if he had never been resisted before. The expression quickly faded as his voice started forming words faster than I could understand them.

"I am a member of the Flying Monkeys, but not by choice. I had nowhere to go, no one to be. So I came here straight out of the Academy. To the heart of the beast with no real intent to do any ill will. My higher-ups had other ideas. They used me as if I were an animal and not a person. I've been resisting since last year, but this is the first time I've been able to do anything real. So please, I beg of you, let me help get you to safety."

I couldn't beat him in a fight, not if what he implied was true. I couldn't run, I knew he could run faster. His intentions seemed noble, and he did save me from the rest of the gang. Although I must remember it was his gang.

I didn't have another choice. I nodded hesitantly.

"Now. May I please lead you through the streets?" He asked this time, holding out his hand in invitation.

I nodded again, taking his hand.

As soon as he had a good grip, we were off, running through the streets at speeds that could rival his speaking.

We slowed our flight as we entered what seemed to be a wealthier area. We completely skidded to a stop at the largest building of them all.

"Where are we?" I asked, realizing I hadn't been paying attention to the ground we had covered and had no way of knowing how to get back to the orphanage.

"A friend's house." He didn't look at me, only admiring the glory of the house, not actually going in.

"And Zeke is here?" I turned to him.

"That's her name? Probably." He looked at me. I couldn't help but notice the height difference between us now. He had several inches on me and it made me feel like a child even though I was four years his senior.

"Probably?"

"Well, I handed her off to my friend, who hopefully brought her here. She's the Scarecrow, isn't she?"