Page 32 of Saviour
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
* * *
We approachthe lake where I first saw her a few days ago and she turns to look at me, confusion etched on her face.
“I wanted to talk to you and I knew out here there would be nobody eavesdropping.”
She nods at my explanation and heads towards the bank of the lake, the swan still floating here even after these few days have passed.
“When I first saw you here, you absolutely mesmerised me. You were so beautiful and elegant. Like this swan. That’s why I call you Birdie.”
She looks at me as I stand next to her, concern and confusion written on her face.
“You called me Birdie the first time we met. You found me at the lake after I ran off...”
I nod at her, realising how creepy this is going to sound.
“I saw you that day. When you were swimming here by yourself. I was walking around and came across you. There was something about you. I just couldn’t look away.”
She steps away and anger flashes across her face.
“You mean because there was a naked girl swimming, you just had to perve.”
“No, Rori, it wasn’t that. It wasyou. You had this calmness around you. I’ve been in turmoil for a while now and it was the first bit of respite I’d found. You gave me a purpose in a way.”
I sit on the bank and she stands over me, listening.
“I followed you. I know I shouldn’t have. I know that’s creepy, but I just couldn’t help it. I watched you all day at Sophie’s and you didn’t notice me once. It wasn’t until I was leaving that I knew I’d caught your attention. I was ready to give up, but then you looked at me, and I don’t think I’m ever going to be able to let you go.”
Rori is deadly silent and I realise I’ve just bared my entire soul to her. She’ll probably run again in the next second. She has a habit of that.
“That’s a hell of a confession for someone you met a few days ago, Dax.”
I nod and watch the swan looking over at us, probably annoyed that for the third time, its waters have been interrupted.
“I have a cousin called King. He’s Carlo’s son. I’ve been living with them since I can remember. My parents passed away, like I told you, but it’s always been just me and King against the world.”
She comes to sit down next to me, tentative, but listening to my every word.
“King has a sister a year younger than us called Bonnie. That’s how I learnt to plait hair. She’s a bright and fiercely strong girl and has nobody but us. And Puck. He lives at the mansion too as his mother is a maid. He’s our best friend. He’s the love of Bonnie’s life, albeit they’re still young. But it’s always just been us four, living in that mansion. We only had each other we could rely on.”
I rest my head in my hands and let out a huge sigh.
“Well, where are they?” she questions, like I knew she would.
“I have absolutely no idea. Five months ago, they just disappeared. Carlo did something to King and Puck. I heard him talking on the phone to Kennedy, saying he’s locked them away.”
“Who’s Kennedy?” she asks quietly and I turn to look at her and realise she has no idea.
“Kennedy is the leader of the Second District,” I say, but the confused expression still remains on her face, the mention of the Districts meaning nothing to her. “Where are you from, Rori?”
She shrugs her shoulders and lifts her hands in the air.
“I honestly have no idea. I left home a couple years ago and I’ve been in between since then.”
I can tell she doesn’t want to say any more, so I don’t push just yet.
