Mayne

5. Ardor & Rime

                               Mayne woke up from the unusual dream panting and exhausted. She sat there for a moment assessing what she just learned. If the events of that day are confusing then she will have the upper hand, she will be safe. Mayne got out of bed and headed down to the kitchen, she completed her chores and prepped a few things to make the chores easier for others then left. It was still bright and early, she had the whole day ahead of her.

                                Mayne headed to a neighborhood she saw in a vision; the vision was blurry at best, but she was able to see that she needed to be there today. There was one street she saw very clearly, Mayne got off the transport on one end of the street and looked around curious as to what the vision was saying. She made her way up and down the nearby avenues looking for anyone that needed any odd jobs done around their properties. After the third street she had a full schedule for the next two weeks. Visions had told her exactly how to get paid without Kura being able to touch any of it and the bonus it would help others too. Mayne turned to go down the next street, it was where she had seen in that vision of a dream. She was hoping to find somewhere she could rest when she came upon two familiar faces. "Ardor and Rime Whittle, wasn't it?" She smiled as they both went limp at the sight of her.

                              A woman just behind them came up to greet her "hi, I'm their mom and you would be who, my dear?"

                             "Mayne Alyssa Duncan," she shook her hand "just call me Mayne, your boys and I met at the facility where they found Elissa."

                             "Oh," she smiled "you must be that lovely girl that helped them."

                             Mayne noticed how her demeanor changed completely; she went from protective to flexible and welcoming, but Mayne was not sure what this meant. "Yes, I was just out looking for odd jobs, I have a full schedule now for the next two weeks."

                              She tried to remain welcoming but the twinge in her cheek said she doubted what Mayne had said "That's surprising, people in this area usually don't have the extra funds to be able to hire anyone." She folded her arms across her chest and gazed upward processing Mayne's words.

                              "Oh no," Mayne laughed "I am alive and well, I have my basic needs being met" she smiled watching the twins circle her suspiciously. "See there are a lot of kids that have abilities that get sold off world. There is a government agency called Respite that seeks out these kids and buys their freedom, returning them home if they so choose or if they are old enough they are given the option of being set up in their own place so they can start fresh."

                               "I know of Respite I just don't know how that plays into what you are doing here." She pushed back the frown before it crept out on her face and embarrassed her sons.

                             Mayne noticed she had the attention of everyone on the block and thought that now might be a good time to spread a little confusion. She tried to think of how to do that while she finished answering her question "Everyone who pays taxes gets so many credits to use towards anything Elite," she took a breath "your every day average person doesn't use the credits even though they can be donated to the Respite agency. People just don't do it and by not using the credits they get dumped into a government funding program that funds organizations like VARE." She fought back the anger and annoyance that surfaced and continued "I barter, work for those credits. I ask for them to be donated in my name to the Respite agency."