In the Name of Order

Chapter 13: Debt

I wake up to the buzzing sound of an alarm. There's a large one attached to the wall near the door. Seeing as it did not wake us up yesterday, someone must have only set it for the day of our departure. I'm not sure who set the alarm, but I'm glad to be leaving this place.

I watch as my mother gets up to switch the alarm off. It's five in the morning. "We have fifteen minutes before the car arrives for us," she informs everyone in the room.

I look around the room for Aunt Ankah and notice she isn't here. She must have not slept here either, because the remaining bed is still tidy. Well, she could have woken up earlier than the rest of us and tidied the bed before she left. Either way, she's surely with who seems to be her good friend; Isiah.

"Isiah said there's water now. I saw a bar of soap and some cloths by the sink for those of you who'd like to freshen up. Ankah assured me the doctor's place is much better so we'll get to clean up there as well."

My mum then walks up the stairs, probably looking for her sister. Thea is the first to walk to the sink. She looks at an old grey cloth placed near the bar of soap and pulls a disgusted face before deciding it is best to only splash her face with water. I decide I'll wait for the doctor's house.

I jump off of my bed, remembering how I lazily climbed down to it before I slept. My mother was happy to see that. Everyone seems to be using these fifteen minutes to organise the room.

"I'll see if we can grab something to eat," I address everyone in the room.

"I'm coming with," my cousin states before walking over to me, and we both climb the stairs to the main floor of this hardware store.

We reach the top of the stairs and stop as soon as we see the scene in front of us. Isiah has his arms wrapped around a sobbing Ankah, although it looks as if she doesn't want his comfort; attempting to wiggle out of his arms and shifting her body away from him.

My mum's eyes shift from her sister crying on the floor to the man trying to comfort Ankah. I move closer to my mother and rest my arm on her shoulder. When trying to gently move her face towards my direction, she pushes me away and shakes her head while moving further away from me.

"Your aunt has led as to the slaughter."

I look down at Ankah who's now looking up at my mother.

"Zarah, I had no idea. I didn't know."

"Now she asks me to give my child away for the second time."

Kane and Mathea have joined us, both looking as equally confused as Topaz and I. We all look at the adults and wait for an explanation. Ankah musters up the strength to push Isiah off her and unsteadily gets up from the floor, sniffing for every second it takes for her to stand up. It's Ankah that provides the explanation. She does this quickly and avoids eye contact with everyone.

"Isiah works for the black market. He's a Spotter; one of the people that find Gifted for the market to sell. His last delivery was insufficient, and he owes them."

We all know of the black market; kidnapping Gifted people or those simply showing abilities and selling them to neighbouring countries. They've been a problem for the FC government for some time now. Of course, not only Gifted people are illegally sold here, but the market gained even more attention when the Gifted were added to the list.

"We're the debt," I say what Ankah couldn't.

"He only needs one of us," she whispers, and I know she's thinking that person can be anyone but Topaz.

"Why bring us here?" I ask.

There aren't many times I feel a calm sort of anger; the type of anger that's ready to cause havoc with one wrong move on another's part. However, I feel it now.