In the Name of Order

Chapter 11: A shelter

We stand in front of a hardware store. Ankah slowly pushes down the handle of the unlocked door, and we enter the store slowly. As soon as Kane closes the door behind us, the lights in the store are switched on.

"Your friends got here a while ago," a dark-skinned man holding a cigarette in his hand leans against the cashier's desk as he speaks. He looks fragile; as if harsh winds could blow him over. "What took you so long?" He asks.

"Isiah," Ankah says, sighing at the scrawny man before moving away from Kane and me to hug the stranger.

"I met that boy of yours. Is he sick too?"

"He's fine." Aunt Ankah rolls her eyes at the man.

"I know the two behind you are sick." Isiah, using the hand that holds his cigarette, points in my direction and continues speaking, "I see a lot of cuts on them, and they aren't even flinching."

"Isiah!" Ankah looks to Kane and me, knowing we now understand Isiah's version of sick.

Isiah's eyes move between the three of us, confusion leaving them when he realises what is going on.

"You never told them?" I see laughter in Isiah's eyes, but he controls himself. "You never told them they were heading to a Purus safe house?"

"Isiah, stop." Ankah moves towards Kane and me, but we back away from her and both move towards the door of the hardware store.

I've heard stories about the Purus safe houses. This is where they keep those that will be purified before they can safely take them to the purification destinations. I stop moving backwards when I remember my mum and Mathea are here.

"Where are they?"

"They're downstairs. Willow, I sent my son here. You need to trust me."

"Why here? You know what they do to us."

"Isiah is an old friend, Willow. He won't hurt us."

"Why here?"

"Isiah knows a doctor that will help you. Your condition is...sensitive. I only trust him to help you."

"Where else can you go, kid." Isiah huffs, now seeming unbothered at my distrust for him and the group he's chooses to work for. "You see that door saying staff only? There's a keypad on it. Punch in three, zero, zero, five. It isn't much, but you won't be staying long."

I don't move towards the door Isiah just motioned to. Instead, I continue staring at him, attempting to take in every detail of him I can. It may prove helpful if I ever need to remember how he looks in the nearby future and Mathea isn't around to help me. I won't trust a Purus, but for today, I must trust Aunt Ankah.

"Willow, come on." Kane holds the 'staff only' door open for me. I look to Ankah and raise my eyebrows, wondering if she'll join the rest of us downstairs.

"Ankah will be joining me for a drink," Isiah answers my non-verbal question and looks to Ankah for confirmation.

He then walks through a door titled 'manager', switching off the store lights and switching on the lights of his office. Ankah follows him, leaving the door open behind her.

I walk past Kane as he closes the door behind us and quickly make my way down the stairs. It hasn't been long, but I'm anxious to see Thea. When I get to the bottom of the stairs, Thea is waiting for me. She wraps her arms around my shoulder and collapses her weight onto me.

"I missed you too, Pumpkin," I say. My sister laughs as I bombard her with kisses until she pushes me away from her and tells me to stop.

Mother walks over to me and removes the so-called dog collar. Kane then removes his, and I notice Thea no longer has hers on. I place a kiss on my mother's forehead before moving away. Topaz doesn't get up to greet Kane and me, but he acknowledges our presence with a nod.