Chapter 279: Michael
The quiet was unsettling. I hated being in the dark about anything, but this was the worst I could ever remember feeling. A part of me truly regretted agreeing to stay with kids and other citizens, but it had really been the only choice. The kids who were already here from the program, and the new ones would need a face they recognized, and it would have to be me. Maizie had always been better at that stuff than me, but she was on the Mission, and if Rhys was potentially entrusting me with his Kingdom, I would have to get good at this stuff, fast.
The door opened, and in rushed both a ‘runner’ and two kids I didn’t recognize, but it was obvious they were from the Program.
“Carly!” I called out to the other girl. She might not have ‘rank’ like Maizie and I did, but she had always stepped up to help when she could, especially once we had moved here. I knew she could help me set the kids up safely.
Iris began to stand up to, but I gestured for her to sit. I didn’t know exactly where she stood these days, but she looked a little hurt that I didn’t want her to greet the kids with me. I mean, we had talked at length about how we had been used and tormented and how we didn’t have to live like that. She seemed to understand that Rhys and Grace were good people, who would never hurt us like that, but still... I worried that if she was given the opportunity, she’d place doubts in the other kids’ heads or even lead a rebellion or something. We had come so far recently, but I was afraid all it would take was the fear of some new kids to set her back.
The next couple hours went on fairly rhythmically. Every 15 minutes or so, two to four new kids were brought in. Carly and I rotated who stayed with the new kids, and who went to greet the newer kids. I couldn’t lie; it was lowkey exhausting.
I was sitting on the lower bunk of one of the younger kids’ beds, when I started doing a head count, and worry began to settle in my chest. Nearly everyone was accounted for now, but I hadn’t seen either of my brothers or Claire or Blaire for that matter. Every time the door opened, I waited with bated breath to see who was coming in, but every time I was disappointed.
The door opened again, and I nodded for Carly to go this time. The kiddo I was comforting was hugging my waist tightly. I had met him a couple years ago when he was 5, and now he was 7. He was like me too. Brought in as human, turned into something more. His father hadn’t betrayed him for money and power like mine had. He had just had the awful misfortune of being an orphan. Not that we were ever really allowed to talk about our past lives before. But we had managed, at least a little bit. And as soon as he had seen me, he had reached out and not let go.
I heard Iris gasp, and I turned around to see what had her so surprised. To my amazement both Aaron and Mark with Blaire, standing awkwardly in the doorway as Carly talked to them. I didn’t want to leave Devin, but I paired him with Sammy for a moment and went to meet my brothers.
I couldn’t believe it. Grace had done it. She had reunited my family.
Iris raced over to them, and I was hot on her heels, forcing myself not to run. To stay in control, but as soon as I was in arms reach, I lost all my resolve. I pulled my siblings into a group hug, and Iris let out a big sob. I didn’t blame her either. A few months ago, I would have never believed that I would be reunited with them and have our freedom. At least, I hoped our freedom. I wasn’t sure what was going on out there, but both of them wore grim expressions when we finally pulled away.
I ushered them into the bunks that Iris and I had picked out earlier, away from some of the prying ears of adults and kids alike and waited for whatever information they were going to bring.
“Claire?” Iris asked hopefully.
“I didn’t see her.” Mark answered solemnly.
“Me either.” Aaron answered uneasily. “But they were still searching. We were a couple of the last kids. Anyone else that comes through was probably pretty hidden.”
I nodded and swallowed hard. It wasn’t bad news. It just wasn’t good either. Iris leaned into her twin, and I struggled to find the right words. I was sure that they had made sure to tell them that Claire was in their custody as soon as they had gotten her. Or maybe they had always had her, and just used her as leverage from the very beginning. Either way, I didn’t like it, but they were here, and they were safe. Grace had been right. Everything had been out of my hands for so long, I never stood a chance at protecting them out there, but here, here I could.
Carly took over greeting the newer kids completely, and after a while, I started to work again. As much as I wanted to stay huddled in a corner with my siblings, Rhys had trusted me to be a part of a greater plan.
Hours passed, and they door hadn’t opened in a while. I didn’t know what to think of that. I hoped it meant that things were going well, but I worried. We could survive down here if we had to, Grace and Rhys had made sure of that. But was that really a life? I wasn’t sure how that truly compared to the Program.
Carly and I fed and got most of the kids into bed without any trouble. It was only adults and older kids up still. I sat on my brother’s bunk and stared longingly at the door. I didn’t know what I was really feeling. I was grateful that my brothers and sister were here, but I worried about Claire. And Maizie. And Grace. And even Rhys. The people who had taken me in and called me family without a thing to gain. Who knew my abilities could be useful but didn’t force me to fight.
At long last, the door opened, and Maizie walked in with a little girl clinging to her like the world was ending.