HERO

21 / A Walled Garden

The meanings of words can change over time to refer to something entirely different to their origins.

So it was with possible and impossible.

It used to be impossible for a person to fly. Now it was possible. It was once impossible for someone to run faster than a car. Or a train. Or a bullet. Now, those things were commonplace. When the words were flipped on their heads, and dropped out of use because no one really knew in what context to use them anymore, impossible became the new possible.

But, still, there were rules. Or possibilities.

It was not possible for a person to have more than one power. It just didn't happen. You had what you got and that was that. Cells were altered, abilities – or an ability - were gained. You couldn't change your power, so had to accept it. It was the only one you were going to get.

So how had Bren, who could alter her appearance to look like and become as thin as a wall, propel a child's broken body a dozen feet?

She hadn't. She couldn't.

But her eyes.

"We need to get out of here," she said. "I need to think."

"OK," Thomas agreed.

What else or where else could he go? She might not want him around after what had happened, but until she said so, he had no choices apart from following her wherever she went.

"Come on," she said.

Thomas swallowed down the feeling of relief. She'd invited him along. That meant she wasn't done with him yet. He'd get his chance to explain and to perhaps alter the prejudices she wouldn't be able to help feeling.

She turned to leave and he moved to follow her.

"Keep up," she said.

He didn't have the chance to respond. She was on the move.

Luckily, finally, Bren's ability wasn't one of strength or speed. She might have been older than him, but he found it easy to keep up. Running from abuse had honed his skills and, as a result, they ran together, neck and neck. It was only when Bren turned corners or suddenly scaled a fence that she edged ahead. He soon caught up.

When they'd reached the entrance to the alley, they peered out. Thomas knew he was being hunted. Bren was checking that Stan wasn't there and hadn't brought reinforcements. The street, apart from the usual amount of people going about their business, was clear. Without warning, the girl stepped out and started walking. He fell in with her, matching her brisk pace.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see," she answered. She wouldn't be pushed on the location any more than that, so he left it and concentrated on keeping up and keeping an eye out for them.

They came to a thin gap just before the entrance to a park. A high wall ran along the edge of the part, separating park and pub by a matter of inches. It was a tight fit to squeeze through, but that was exactly what Bren wanted them to do.

"This way," she said, saying the words at the same time as she stepped sideways.

Thomas had already walked a few steps on before he'd realised what she meant. She was easing herself into the gap and he could see her body adjusting its shape to allow her in. She flattened, becoming wider and thinner. She was moving into the space easily. He thought he'd have much less chance to get through it as smoothly as she was able to, but he followed nonetheless.

He was right. He wasn't a big child by any means, but he still found it difficult to push himself in. He found that, if he turned his head to the side and exhaled as fully as he could, he was just able to get himself in. While her movement was fast, his was slow and painful. He could feel sharp spurs of brick digging into his back and his chest. One caught his cheek and drew a long scratch across it. He cursed under his breath but continued. He had no choice, he was in there now. He couldn't stop and stay still and nor could he go back. He had no way of turning his head back to watch where he was going and, when he did attempt it, he found he kept catching himself and his clothes on the bumps and lumps of the bricks.