The Runaway

Chapter 6

The week passed much the same, full of a chaos that most of the kids were accustomed to.  Valerie went around doing what she did best- avoiding anyone who wasn't her friend, training, taking lookout shifts and pleasing Preacher. She hadn't brought up the little incident with Callum and Preacher hadn't seemed to remember so it was soon forgotten. Everyone was too busy preparing for the monthly feast that Preacher had called earlier than usual.

Tanner came and went - often not staying long. His shifts at Security were growing longer and more frequent, leaving Valerie in a bad mood. To make matters worse her shifts at the nursery were starting in a few days. Robyn had taken to dragging Valerie and Mabel along to the nursery- showing her the children (fleetingly) before pressing her hands against the glass and cooing over the toddlers.

Valerie didn't understand the fascination that her friends seemed to have with the children. All Valerie thought about when she saw them were sticky hands, screaming and drool. Just to think that in a few days sleep she would be on the other side of the glass and handling them made her shudder.  Why couldn't she have just been chosen for Security like most people that applied? She hadn't heard of many people being turned away - just a handful.

Because you're special, Val. You know that, even if you try to deny it.

"Robyn trade places with me?" She said.

Robyn laughed. "In a heartbeat. You are so lucky, Val. You have no idea."

Valerie rolled her eyes with a sigh. "I wish that wasn't the case."

A younger kid ran up to them, panting. "Preacher. Requested you. Office. Important." He wheezed, hands on his knees. He looked as if he was about to throw up.

Robyn noticed her friend's concern.

"Go ahead. We'll look after him. I'll see you tonight, yeah? Don't forget about the feast."

Valerie promised that she wouldn't and took off at a sprint. Preacher was usually very blasé so anything of this much importance must have been an urgent matter.

I'm not feeling it. Something's off. Whispered the mischievous spirit in her head.  Her gut also agreed and anxiety made her feet drive into the ground harder, speeding up the journey.