Chapter Nine

A week flew by before she knew it. Every day she went to work and every night she visited with Chad. He always seemed to have some story to entertain her with.

Finally, on one stormy afternoon, the moment that had been causing her stomach to twist arrived. To be more specific, Airin arrived. She had finished cleaning the store a while ago and was working on organizing the selections, which was a hassle since she didn’t even know what most of the books were about. Some were even in different languages. This put her in the front of the store, in the middle of a conversation with Chance, when the front door swung open. Wind gushed in and leaves followed suit. In the middle of it all was Airin. His blonde hair ruffled by the gusts and clothes flapping, he slammed the door shut behind him.

“Ah, Airin,” Chance greeted, “My father had your request finished today.”

Airin wiped his brow, his hands fighting fruitlessly with his hair, “Thank you Chance. It means a lot to me and my family.” He gave the teenager a slight bow of his head. Chance returned the gesture before heading into the hidden room.

She still had no idea what was behind it.

“Bramble,” He spoke attentively, as if he was afraid she might flee, “have you made up your mind?”

She nodded, fidgeting with her hands. She was desperately trying to avoid eye-contact with him. She didn’t need to make it any easier for him to figure her out, “Yes. I thought about it.”

“And?” He coaxed. She allowed herself a small peak at his face. It was filled with anxiety and hope.

“I’ll help-“ before she could even finish her statement Airin had swooped in and bundled her up in his arms. She felt a familiar heat licking up her neck.

“Thank you, Bramble. I don’t think we could have done this without you.”

“Wait. Hold on.” She thought about fighting her way out of his arms but decided just a moment later that it felt warm there. Safe. How odd.

He held her out at arm’s length and looked straight into the blue of her eyes. She adverted her gaze to the floor, “What. What it is.”

“I have some rules,” She started, “and who is we?”

“’We’ are a few individuals who have joined my cause over the past months,” He explained, “we’re dedicated to righting the immoral actions of the kingdoms. Kidnappings, murders, thefts – we seek to compensate and retrieve those that have been trespassed against.” “And Cress,” She was beginning to put together the pieces, “is just one of many missions you want my help in…” “Yes.”

Was such a thing even possible? A rag-tag group of individuals going up against the kingdoms? Not even just one, but multiple? It seemed foolish, unwise. Bramble knew it was dangerous. She also knew it was the only way to repent for all the wrongs she had committed.

“Okay,” She nodded, “but only as long as my rules are obeyed.”

Her rules were simple. She could leave at any time she wanted. She would not kill unless it was necessary. She would not take orders from him or anyone else; they would come to an arrangement on how to handle each and every mission. Airin agreed. It wasn’t long before Chance resurfaced. This time he was not empty handed. Instead a large bag was clutched in his arms and he pushed it out for Airin to take, “This should be everything you asked for.”

“Thank you,” Airin bowed his head again, “You and your father have been most helpful.”

Chance nodded and sat down in his usual lounge chair. He picked up a book and continued to read.

“Bramble, there is a meeting tonight.” Airin stated, turning his attention back to her. He did not lower his voice nor attempt to hide from Chance. Perhaps Chance was in on this as well, “I’d really like it if you could come…”

“Fine. Where do you want me to be?”

Airin shook his head, “I’ll meet you at the lake at nine. We’ll head there together from there.”

He thanked Chance one more time and said his farewells before exiting the shop.

“I’d advise you not to get too attached to any of the people you’ll meet tonight,” Chance warned, eyes never leaving the page, “not that it is any of my business.”

Bramble’s eyes widened, “Why, do you think they are bad people?”

“No, they mean well. But even people with the best intentions can go astray.”

“Sometimes,” Bramble said, “I wish my spark let me know the right course of action.”

Chance did not reply.

--------~*~-------

That night Bramble found herself at the edge of Buckshot Lake. It was peaceful – silent. Her fingers were dipped into the cool water, enjoying the reprieve from the muggy night air. The sky still churned with storms and every now and then she thought she felt a stray drop of water plop its way from the clouds onto her skin. She heard the footsteps of two individuals before she saw them. It was Chance making the ruckus – every step he took snapped a branch or crunched a leaf. Airin’s own steps were soundless, careful. The sight of the teenager surprised her. She had thought he might be part of this whole thing, however, she hadn’t expected him to be present that night.

“Bramble,” Airin’s smile was a beacon in the night, “are you ready?”

She nodded, only to take a step back from the duo when Airin took out a blindfold, “What’s that for?”

“Unfortunately my trust is not the only one you need to earn,” he shook out the dark fabric, “they refused to let you join today unless the location was kept a secret.”

Bramble continued to eye the fabric suspiciously, “and if I refuse?”

“Then you cannot come with us.” He frowned, “Bramble, please come with us.”

Chance reached forward, closing the gap between them, “I will not let them harm you, Bramble.”

This did little to calm her racing heart and mind. She trusted Chance more than Airin but that wasn’t saying much, “I do not see why I should trust people who do not trust me.”

“They do not know you. For all they know you could be a spy.” Airin tried to negotiate. Her frown deepened but slowly she nodded. It might have been suspicious but she understood the value behind it. If they were doing what Airin had told her they were doing – betraying many kingdoms and becoming rebels – than the possibility that spies would try to infiltrate was high. It was always better to be safe than sorry.

Airin stepped behind Bramble, every motion intentional and laced with purpose as to not frighten her. He raised the fabric over her head and covered her eyes. In the already wan light of the night it was impossible to see anything. She could feel Airin move around her, the weight of the air shifting as he glided to her front. Slowly, almost as if asking permission, he slipped his hands into hers. Electricity ran up her fingertips. Gradually she intertwined her fingers in his.

“Come, I’ll lead the way.”

Airin did just that. His pace was slow and purposeful. She assumed he was keeping such a light pace for her sake, though he didn’t need to. She was more than capable of navigating land without her sight.

Chance followed close behind them, making a ruckus and scaring off the wildlife. She could hear the howls and caws of the frightened animals. She would have to remember not to take him hunting with her - if she wanted to catch a meal, at least. She never once got caught in a tree root or stumbled upon an uneven terrain. She could not say the same for the poor teenager. She had heard him gasp in surprise at least three times during their journey. Chance had his secrets, she mused, but he surely wasn’t a threat to her physically. When Airin’s pace halted to a stop around an hour later, Bramble had no idea where she was. She knew that they had head in a western direction, yet that was as far as her insight gave her.

Soon after she heard voices waft softly from a distance. Airin’s hand slipped from her own and she found her appendage feeling oddly cold after being warmed for so long by his. She didn’t linger on the thought and instead focused on the voices. They were whispering. She could not make out what they were saying, only bits and pieces every once and a while. One was distinctly female. It was nasally, high-pitched and immediately grated on Bramble’s nerves. The second unfamiliar voice was deep, very much a man’s voice. It wasn’t long until Airin’s hands were on her shoulders and he was steering her through what she could only assume were corridors. She obeyed silently.

Finally, after being sat in a room, the blindfold was removed. The light, what little of it there was from candles and lanterns, blinded her momentarily. Slowly her vision filled with dark woods and three strange, albeit very different, individuals. While her eyes were busy drinking in the details of the room, her ears were filled with a the dreadful high-pitched voice, "I cannot believe we are just letting her stroll on in here! She's part of the reason we even formed this group!"

Oh, what a night this would be.