Chapter 27

Once inside the cabin seemed much smaller than it had the first time she was in it. There were so many people milling around that it was like walking through a dense forest. Amaris followed Anna’s parents to their assigned room. They were all staying in the same room. The room contained two sets of bunk beds. Anna grinned as they walked in the door, and ran to the side of the bunk bed and yelled “top” as she clambered up onto the top bunk. Amaris and her parents laughed as Amaris threw her backpack on the floor next to the lower bunk and laid down. She reached up and poked the top bunk mattress in between the slats “But don’t forget I have the best position all night. Anna giggled and rolled to hang over the side and threw her pillow at Amaris. “Anna Bomb!”

“I think that’s an Atom bomb.” Everyone looked up to see Adam standing in the doorway with a grin. “I came to check and see that your getting settled in. Lyle is not here yet. He is still out with his team looking for Gran. When I last spoke to him he said he would be back late tonight. Put your stuff away and come down for dinner.” With a nod to Anna’s Dad, he turned and walked away.

“Who was that? He seemed to know you Mari.” Anna asked as she jumped down from her bunk. “That is Adam, he is Lyle’s younger brother.” Anna’s father answered before Amaris could. Anna’s eyebrows went up. “Oh really? You did not tell me how handsome his little brother was.” Anna’s father just shook his head and walked out of the room. Her mother however gave her the mother hawk look as she said “Let’s head down for dinner with this many people there will not be much left.”

The women went back down stairs where everyone had made an orderly line going in one door of the kitchen and exiting the other door. Amaris, Anna and her parents all got in line. Amaris noticed the woman in front of her staring at her. Amaris gave her a brief unsure smile. The woman turned toward them with curious eyes, “Your Cressida’s daughter aren’t you?” She did not know how to respond to the woman. “I’m sorry. I did not know my parents.” Amaris answered the woman. The woman reached out and put her hand on Amaris’ shoulder. She looked in Amaris’ eyes and said “With those eyes there is no way that you are not her daughter. I am Blethyn. I was once your mother’s best friend. I had heard rumors that you had survived the crash, but until this moment I did not believe them.” The woman’s smile looked somehow sad. The line had moved forward and into the kitchen now so Blethyn dropped her hand from Amaris’ shoulder and moved forward following the line. When they reached the kitchen door some one walked up to Blethyn and asked her a question so the conversation was over.

Anna, who was standing behind Amaris and heard the whole exchange, leaned over and whispered in Amaris’ ear “Boy you certainly know a whole lot of people up here. Why didn’t you tell me you knew all these people?” Amaris whispered back over her shoulder “Before the last couple of days I did not know any of them. The only person that is from here that I knew before was Mr. Bruce and I did not even know that he was from here.”

“Yes, but Mari, they are saying that YOU are from here.” Anna gave Amaris a knowing look. Amaris gave Anna the high sign and the two girls finished going through the line in silence and brought their food back to their room instead of staying downstairs like everyone else.

Once they were seated, Amaris told Anna everything that Gran had told her about her parents and her birthday. Both girls were so engrossed in the story that they both forgot to eat. “So you mean that your real birthday is today? Mari why did they tell you it was a different day all these years? And Happy Actual birthday by the way!” Anna said with a sincere smile. “Gran said that it was because she needed to prepare me, but I don’t know what for. When she and Lyle were talking to me they both seemed to know what was going on, but when I asked him questions he was very evasive. I felt like I was not really getting all the information, or that he was holding out waiting for something.” Amaris was shaking her head. “I honestly don’t know very much.”

Anna suddenly got a very serious look on her face, “Mari, is that all they told you? They did not tell you anything else? You had mentioned before that Gran and Mr. Bruce had told you somethings that sounded fantastical and you thought that they were in a cult. What did they tell you?” Anna leaned forward and spoke quietly almost leaning into her untouched plate. “Not much, it’s just like I said, they told me that the people in this village and many others like it on the mountain all had a belief and that one of the stories they all believed in said that there was a child from one of the ruling families, born under the full moon, that would unite all the villages on the mountain and would have gifts from the moon goddess. I don’t know what all that is supposed to mean, but Gran said that these people who were trying to kill me thought that I was that child.”

Hearing the door open, Anna and Amaris turned to look in that direction. Anna’s parents had returned from dinner to look for them. “Why did you girls come back up here? I figured you two would like to meet some of the kids your own age here. The kids from this village go to school here and not to the schools down the mountain. All though that may change for next year, as I am told that The school buildings all burned in the fires.” Anna’s Dad looked at the girls with knowing in his gaze. He looked as if he was about to say something more when Anna’s mom, who had been looking at him, chimed in “Most of the younger folks are going outside to light a bonfire and make S’mores. Would you girls like to go out to the bonfire? Also Amaris, I think Adam was looking for you. He is down in the Kitchen.”

Before either girl could make up their mind as to whether they wanted to join in on the bonfire festivities, Amaris got up and walked out of the room and went down stairs.

Heading to the kitchen, Amaris found Adam who was all by himself.

“Hey Adam. Did you want to see me?” Amaris stepped into the kitchen and let the door shut behind her. Adam turned around and had his phone in his hand. He was clearly reading something. He lifted his head “Have you seen my brother today?” Amaris shook her head. “I haven’t seen him in a few days. Why? Is there some news on Gran? He was supposed to be trying to find her right?” Amaris took a few steps closer to Adam. Adam rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. He looked Amaris in the eye again a little more eager this time. “You are sure that you have not seen him at all in the last 24 hours?”

“No. Why is he missing?” Amaris was now getting worried. First Gran and now Lyle. Besides Anna and her parents, they are really the only people that she knows and certainly the ones who seem to the know the most about what is going on.

“No. Not exactly. He had said that he was going to find you and talk to you today. I wanted to see if he had been able to do that. Clearly he has been too busy to find you.” Adam suddenly had a boyish grin on his face. He walked over to Amaris and put his arm around her shoulder. “Don’t worry, I will take care of you.”