Chapter 5

People dashed past me in a hurry, as they scurried through the narrow streets and stalls. The markets, unfortunately were not what one would think off when they thought of the word market. It was nothing more than a glorified waste site. The stalls, were all filled with rotten, decaying food.  This was where the poorest of my people were expected to buy their food. It was disgusting. Fortunately for me, my job paid enough that I could avoid the worse from the markets. Many did not have that kind of luxury. Many were just happy if they managed to afford any kind of food, regardless if it was rotten. I was on the lookout for the cheapest and worst food I could find here. I needed foods with seeds, I had been saving up so I could get a decent variety of items. To begin my growing experiment. I needed to find out if it was possible for me to grow my own food. Growing food would open up a lot of possibilities.

I rolled my eyes at the sight of all the guards, how dare we steal spoiled food. Mindful to hide my sass, I was feeling decent today. I did not want a beating. I browse and grab a few tomato’s, potato’s, an apple, an orange, some wheat, pumpkin, carrots, mushrooms and beans. I filled my bag, paid and rushed out the door. I wanted to get out of there, and begin trying to grow my plants as quickly as possible. I had made a small green house; out of old pieces of glass I has found lying around. I needed this to be successful. Growing food was the only way I could think of to get ahead, without threatening the city. The lives this could save. If people didn’t need to work every day to afford food, they would not starve when they were too sick to work. I prayed this would work, so I could begin to help people.

My cottage stood out, sitting neatly in the middle of the block. I was very proud of it. But I had to admit it standing out was not exactly a good thing. Luckily the small forest at the front hid the house, until you were up close. I made my way to my very dodgy home-made green house, behind the front forest. I took my time gently planting each seed, putting as much love into the process as I could. These seeds were like gold to be right now. I could not put a price on their worth. I was still living at home for the time being. I was scared to bring any attention to myself yet. I wasn’t set up enough to stand confidently on my own. I needed more time. But having to head back to that place, was soul destroying. I had to do what I had to do though, to succeed. I was strong and I could do this, I knew I could. I didn’t survive this long for nothing. Having a purpose had really help changed my mind set.

With my seeds planted, I felt an unfamiliar sense of hope. But I had a really long way to go yet. The search for the match maker girl was extremely daunting. I didn’t have any leads, when I left the port. Which forced me to think outside of the box. I had taken an old map from the library. I was looking for places which would be abandoned, similar to the port. If they moved them around for security, I imagined they had multiple sites in which they moved around. I just had to pin point locations which fit the bill. If I scouted them out for long enough, I was sure I would find one again. If not her, then another match maker. Scouting each site, was going to take ages. I had to admit it was not the most time friendly approach. But it was the only approach I had at this stage.

I sat the two maps on the table, and began to search. A few areas stood out, another abandoned port, A small what looked to be a town on the out skirts of the city and an underground market. I marked the areas on the map and began to get my bearings. I was limited to what days I could scout. I had to keep a low profile, disrupting my schedule would only bring attention to myself. For the moment, I had to head back to my parents. Life there had begun to escalate. I had become numb to it to a degree. Their words didn’t sting the same way it used to. That however worked like fuel to a fire. I stepped inside to a cold house, not a single scrap of food to be found. My father spread out on the couch, clearly intoxicated from some sort of homemade liquor. Nothing new.

“And why have you come empty handed”

“The market was loaded with guards; I didn’t want to draw attention” I cursed under my breath. How had I not remembered I told them I would be at the market.

For being drunk, he moved with unexpected speed and accuracy. As he lunged at me, grabbing my shirt. Slamming my body into the wall. I let out a groan, as the air was forced out my lunges from the impact. His weight making it almost impossible for me to breath. I tried my best to manage small shallow breaths. My main focus just getting enough oxygen in my lunges to keep myself from passing out. Time slowed as I looked past his shoulder to the other side of the room. My eyes watering, I could practically feel the redness of my eyes becoming visible.  You would think fear would plague my mind, but it did not. Nothing did, there was a sort of calmness that came with dissociation. These moments which almost felt like an out of body experience. I could swear if I paid enough attention, I would be able to look on. Watching myself, fighting to keep sane in a far from sane environment.

Air begun to rush into my lungs as his grip softened. His anger however never left his face. I could not wait to rid of them. I did not deserve the life gifted to me. I moved out of his grip, and out the door. I could hear his screams of rage, as I left him there. I wasn’t staying there tonight; I was not entertaining their raft. I was never going to entertain them, more than I was forced to. I was no longer their scapegoat. They could hate their life, they could hate themselves, they could hate anything their heart desired for all I cared. But I, was not their scapegoat not anymore. Soon enough they and they alone, would have to sit with their feelings. A part of me while sad for them, was also relieved. Everything comes at a price, and I was getting ready to cash mine in.

I found myself drifting through the paddocks, listening to the horses grazing. I spotted the old bay mare next to an old fallen tree. She was my favourite, Birdy I called her. As free as a bird she looked to me, when I was a child. As a matured, I noticed her battle scars. The harness marks, the cuts on her legs. She was free now, but her life had been hard. Even through all the abuse I was sure she had uncounted. She remained soft and gentle. I taught myself to ride on her. She gave me the knowledge I needed to secure my job. I owed the old girl a lot. She lent me wings and freedom. Something that many never experienced here, for that I was forever grateful. I swung my leg over her back and just breathed her in. The smell so soothing. I laid on her back for what felt like hours, before heading towards the woods beyond.

The woods were still. I walked along the moss paths carved by wildlife. It was safe and calm out here. The woods were normally viewed as an area of concern, but not out here. I let the paths lead me in the direction of my house. Voices echoed around me, stopping me in my tracks. I could hear lady Melissa’s voice. What would she be doing out here? Very odd, if you ask me. I put all of my attention into listening to the voices surrounding me. Other than Melissa’s I couldn’t make out the other voices, they were the voices of men I could tell that much. Must be guard men. I couldn’t see why she would drag any of the men out here. I couldn’t make out what they were saying at this distance. If I wanted to hear, I was going to have to sneak closer.

I hopped from tree to tree, as I worked at sneaking closer. Ever step forward made me cringe, as I heard the sticks cracking under my feet. The sound was being taken by the wind, causing the sound to travel around me in multiple directions. It was hard to track, where they actually were. I had no idea, where the sound from my feet was being taken. It could be right to them for all I knew. I tread carefully, trying to catch a glimpse of some sign of people. It felt like the world had stopped as the suspense was eating me alive. Finally, I caught a glimpse of colour between the trees. I edged closer and closer. The voices became clearer and clearer as I closed the distance between us.

“Look I can’t help it, when there is none. You can’t have the best of both worlds all the time”

“Careful, remember who you are talking to, we put you where you are”

“You can’t kill the gifted as a law then also expect to trade them easily illegally. Life doesn’t work like that. I am grateful for my growth; I owe you a lot boys. But I have to be real with you to. We are running a business after all” 

‘Fine, but I expect another match maker child by next week. The one I have is becoming too rowdy. She will need to be killed off soon”

I cover my mouth to mask my gasp. The time line had just been brought forward, and the urgency upgraded. I didn’t know how I felt. I was filled with so much anxiety and worry, but also, I was filled with so much rage. That was an innocent child, she had done nothing wrong. She was being prosecuted for merely existing. How could you look into the face of a child and plan to take their life? The rest of the conversation was a blur to me, I couldn’t focus. My mind was racing, I never planned to have to become a hero. That child’s life was resting on my shoulders. Just some random girl. I had no skills for a rescue mission. I knew this was kinda the plan already, but I never had death on my conscious before. Maybe I needed to try and find, the mystery lady. Maybe we could help each other.

I crouched down, listening and watching carefully. I wouldn’t dare to move, until they were gone. I could not risk being caught. I would be killed right here, right now if I was found out. Not to mention what I had heard. This was incriminating to them all. Even the queens court would frown upon this kind of behaviour. Melissa as a town resident, would be killed for breaking the law in such a way. The guards would likely be banished to live among us. Which would be awful for all involved. Dusk was beginning to set in, it was becoming pretty cold out here. I forced my lips together, to stop my teeth from chattering. I guess being caught out here, wasn’t an option for anyone. Sneaking out in the dark while suspicious, it was unlikely for anyone to actually notice. 

I could hear every sound of the forest, as I walked back. I had never been out here at night. Finding my way was not going to be easy. I stumbled my way through the forest, heading in the direction back to town. Street lights began to beam through the gaps in the forest. Letting me know, I was getting close. A brick chimney stood alone, inside an empty clearing. Odd I had never seen this before. It was a natural clearing, which obviously used to be someone’s home. The rest of the house was long gone. Must have been a small wooden house. I couldn’t make out much in the dark. While I wanted to look around, there was a high chance I would end up tripping and cutting myself if I looked around in the dark. I would have to come back, and see if there were any more houses hiding on the Forrest edge on this side of town. Maybe try to find the history out.

I wandered along the edge until I made it to my house. I breathed in a sigh of relief as I got inside. Safety. I started the old wood stove, I needed to get some warmth in here, and a cup of tea was in order for sure. I took a sip, letting the liquid warm my throat and in turn warming my very soul. The sweet smell of honey travelling to my nose. It felt good to be here, to be home. This would be my first night. I could feel my eyes getting heavy, as the exhaustion of the day finally began to set in. Things were beginning to change and shift, I could feel it. Things were going to get interesting and I was going to be at the forefront.