She’d awakened the day after Amanda vanished surprised to see strange men lining the Hovel, putting up a kind of perimeter around the entire institute. She, like many, had never known about the Guard. It was hard for a girl of her age to adjust to the fact that the life she’d known was over, but she knew it would forever be different. Nell sighed and started doodling on her notepad.
Frey continued his speech. “Brothers and sisters, I was there when she fled. I plead with her to stay, telling her the Ancients wouldn’t rest until she was safe. ‘Amanda,’ I said, ‘perhaps death isn’t the right way.’ We might yet find an answer, if only she would have stayed. I told her we all cared for her, and what does she do?”
Attack you. Yeah-yeah.
“Attacks us. She began a fierce battle using dark magic I’d never before seen, and then she just vanished! But not before murdering my good friend and mentor Danimir,” he said in a pained voice. “Amanda was cold, calculating, and deadly. She showed no mercy to him. The Ancients were right when they ordered death upon her. I only wish I had seen that sooner. Foolishly, I thought we could find another way, but she’s too far gone. I cannot be silent about the things I’ve witnessed. They have affected me too much and are still affecting me. My friend Carter is still missing,” he announced, choking up.
Frey looked down at the podium for a long moment, apparently fighting back tears. His golden ringlets and round face made him look like a suffering angel, but only to those who didn’t know him.
“He was so brave, and he is probably dead now. I’ll never question the Ancients again. It’s obvious to me now that they know of things we cannot grasp,” he said firmly. “So take comfort in them. They have only ever wanted what is best for you. That’s why the Guard is here with us. In every room that you tread, they will be there.” His voice sharpened a miniscule amount, making those questioning his speech and the Guards’ presence aware of the threat. “For your protection. Feel their love, and your troubled hearts and minds will be calmed.” He finished to some applause.
It looked to Nell like the Guard members were making note of who did and didn’t applaud. And she guessed she wasn’t the only one who noticed as the applause grew suspiciously louder.
Nell was one of the last to leave the dining hall, not wanting to take the long trek back to her room. She decided she’d procrastinated long enough when the room was emptied of all but the eerie Guard. She shuffled down one of the many hallways of the Hovel, careful to keep her eyes on the floor. She’d never seen her home so bare of Healers. The hallways were scarce of familiar faces and filled with ones she’d never met. Having the Guard members lined up around every corner, including the girl’s dormitories, was so unsettling to her.
She’d met Healers who were snobby, self-righteous, deluded, and sometimes downright rude. However, never Healers full of such darkness.
She took her eyes off the floor long enough to sneak a peek at the men lining the hall. Her eyes quickly glanced above her lashes, and she stopped dead in her tracks. All of the Guard members were looking at her. Not even one pair of eyes was otherwise occupied. She looked down the hall in front of her and then behind. She was the only Healer in sight. Nell was alone. Panic overwhelmed her, and she couldn’t explain why. She started again doubling her pace.
“Where do you think she’s off to in such a hurry?” one of the men asked loudly.
“I don’t know, but it seems awfully suspicious. Maybe you should question her, Chet.” A fellow Guard member laughed.
Nell kept her face down, not wanting to invite any more unwanted attention, but it didn’t help. A meaty hand clamped down on her shoulder and having not seen it coming, she screamed in surprise.
“Ha-ha, how do you like that? This one squeals!” Chet said to his comrades. Their deep chorus of laughter echoed strangely down the hall.
Nell spun away from his grasp and started walking again, hoping that he had had his fun and would leave her alone. He grabbed her by the wrist and spun her around, but she didn’t scream again, not wanting to show fear.
“You do not turn your back on your superiors. It’s rude.
Don’t you agree?” he asked, still holding onto her wrist.
“I do agree,” she said quickly, trying to dissolve the situation.
“There you go, pup. That’s how I like it.” He squeezed her wrist until her bones cried out. He obviously wasn’t done playing. So she tried a different approach. Maybe he’d leave her alone if she stood up for herself. That’s what people said about bullies, right?
“Luckily, there aren’t any superiors around. So I don’t need to worry about turning my back on one,” she said, attempting to free her hand.
Chet was silenced, but his friends started laughing at him.
“She told you!” one cried out.
“Wow, smart-mouthed by a little girl.”
Chet’s face was red with anger, and he pulled her nearer him. “Aw, she ain’t so little.”
“Stop!” Nell screamed as he pulled her hair tie out.
He combed his fingers through her long blonde strands. She struggled against him, but he was too strong. She couldn’t move an inch. He began to run his hands down to her hips when a voice rang out.
“Get your hands off of her!” one of the Guard members shouted while stepping out of his place in line.
Nell looked up, her wide eyes streaming salty tears, and saw that he was one of the younger members of the Guard, although he was taller than most of them. His face was smooth and void of any imperfection, making him look younger than he probably was. The overhead lights shone off his golden hair, and Nell imagined a halo around his head.
“What did you say?” Chet asked, letting go of Nell and turning to face him.
“You heard me. Leave her alone. She is no business of ours,” he said in a strong authoritative voice.
Chet took a step closer to the young man, squaring his shoulders. “Listen, blondie, I don’t take orders from anyone. If you’re going to try and start something here you better be able to back it up because, I’m not afraid of a fight, especially if that fight is with some little baby-face teenager who hasn’t even gone through puberty.” Chet took another step toward him. “You feel me?”
Nell’s hopes deflated as she saw the wind go out of her would-be rescuers sails. His shoulders dropped, and his face looked unsure, even frightened. “Yeah, yeah. I feel you,” he said quietly. “Sorry, man. Dang, I don’t know what I was thinking,” he apologized as a smile spread across Chet’s face. “Here, man, no hard feelings, okay?” He offered his hand.
Chet shrugged and took it. As soon as Chet’s meaty hand was in his, the stranger spun him around, pulling his hand between his shoulder blades elbow high in the air.
That can’t be comfortable. Nell thought happily.
The young man’s face was tight in anger as he kicked him in the back of the leg bringing him to his knees. He pulled Chet’s arm down further, throwing his shoulder out of its socket with a loud pop. Chet cried out in agony.
“How do you like being touched?” the angry stranger yelled.
Chet sobbed and the baby-faced boy threw him to the ground. “I don’t want to see you get up. You stay there!” he ordered. The fair-haired boy looked up to Nell, sky-blue eyes full of concern. “Are you all right?” he asked as he walked over to her.