Resting my weary head atop two pillows, I lay in bed, finding a modicum of comfort in Snowflake's rhythmic purring. My hand moved almost instinctively, stroking her soft fur, the gentle motion soothing in its monotony. After the turmoil of the past few days, this small act of normalcy was a balm to my frayed nerves.
There had been no further knocks on the door by the police since the early hours of this morning. That brief moment of forgetfulness, when I had carelessly turned on the kitchen light, still played in my mind, a reminder of how close I had come to being discovered. Since then, aside from getting up to feed Snowflake, I had quietly remained in bed for most of the morning. The need to remain unnoticed, to avoid drawing any attention to myself, was paramount.
Not long ago, driven by a nagging curiosity and a need to assess the situation, I had cautiously peeked through the living room window. My heart had sunk at the sight of the unmarked police car still parked in the same spot, with a single officer seated in the front seat. It was a stark reminder that, despite the current calm, the threat loomed just outside, a constant presence waiting to upend my world again.
Now, as I lay in bed, watching Snowflake, I realised she had taken to snuggling with a bottle of shiraz. It seemed to be her apparent substitute for missing Chloe. The thought was both amusing and poignant, a testament to the creature comforts we all sought in times of distress.
As I watched her, my eyes began to sting with the familiar sensation of salty tears. The emotions I had managed to keep at bay were resurfacing, the reality of my situation pressing in on me once again.
My mobile vibrated on the bed beside me, its sudden buzz a jarring intrusion into the room's heavy silence. Dabbing the last of my tears away, I reached for the phone and read the incoming text message from Luke.
11:37AM Luke: Check out the website I'm about to send you. Use Paul's credit card details that I gave you before. I need you to order as much as you can, several thousand dollars. Critical.
My eyes widened as I stared at the screen, a mix of confusion and anticipation swirling within me. What could Luke possibly need that was so urgent and expensive? My curiosity piqued, I waited for the web address to come through.
11:39AM Luke: Deliver it to my parents' address in Adelaide and forward me the order confirmation and expected delivery date.
I continued to stare at the small, quiet screen, my mind racing with possibilities. What was Luke planning? The urgency and secrecy of his message only added to the growing tension.
Dropping the phone onto the pillow, I gave Snowflake a final pat before rolling to the other side of the bed and getting up. My movements were deliberate and cautious, trying not to make too much noise. The wardrobe door grumbled open along its tracks as I rummaged for my laptop, buried beneath a pile of sweaters that I had meant to wash but hadn’t gotten around to doing.
As I retrieved the laptop, the phone vibrated again. "Finally," I mumbled to myself, assuming it was Luke sending the website link and his parents' address in Adelaide.
I settled back onto the bed, my curiosity piqued by Luke's message. Confirming my assumption, I navigated to the site Luke had provided. "That's interesting," I murmured to Snowflake, who only lifted her furry head from the duvet long enough to give me a brief, unimpressed glance before snuggling back into her cozy position. I'm guessing Luke wants me to order plants, I thought, scrolling through the garden website that specialised in seeds, seedlings, and particularly tube stock.
11:46AM Gladys: What exactly am I getting?
I wasn't expecting a swift reply from Luke, considering his unpredictable communication habits and the possibility that he might be in Clivilius. His request for plant orders was unexpected and slightly baffling. From what little I understood about Bixbus, it seemed an unlikely place for a garden. Nevertheless, I dutifully added a mixture of small maple, oak, and birch trees to the shopping cart.
12:11PM Luke: Anything. Everything. Surprise me.
"Figures," I grumbled under my breath, accepting the vague nature of Luke's guidance. This was as much information as I was likely to get from him. I continued browsing the website, images of colourful flowers and green leaves filling the screen. A sense of calm serenity began to wash over me.
I found myself imagining a peaceful scene where Chloe, Snowflake, and I were relaxing in a beautiful park, surrounded by the very flowers and trees I was now ordering. In that mental oasis, we were safe, happy, shielded from the danger and uncertainty of the world around us. It was a momentary escape, a mental retreat into a serene world far removed from the turmoil of reality.
The vibrating phone jolted me back to my room, breaking the spell of my daydream. The reality that lay beyond the walls of my room and the screen of my laptop came crashing back, a reminder that the idyllic scene I had conjured was just that – a figment of my imagination. With a deep breath, I opened my eyes and returned my focus to the task at hand.
12:43PM Luke: I'll send you Adrian's credit card details. He has two of them, so max one out. We may as well use it before the accounts get frozen.
Reading Luke's message, my heart sank. The stark reality of his words contrasted sharply with the peaceful vision I had just conjured. The weight of our situation hit me anew, pulling me back from the imagined safety of a serene nature into the harsh truth of our predicament. Glancing at Snowflake, curled up next to the wine bottle, a sombre thought crossed my mind: there'll be no safety for you here. The realisation was a soft whisper in my mind, a painful acknowledgment of the danger we were all in.
With a renewed focus, I moved onto ordering tube stock. These seemed like the best products for their needs. Unlike seeds, tube stock plants already had a head start in growth. They could be purchased in bulk, offering an instant touch of nature for the small group of settlers in Bixbus. With Luke’s instructions in mind, I filled the shopping cart with an incredible assortment of wattles, flax plants, and grasses, clicking through the website with a sense of purpose.
Once satisfied with the selection, I placed the order, my fingers hovering over the touchpad as I nervously watched the screen. I held my breath as the system processed Adrian's credit card details.
Your order has been successful!
A sigh of relief escaped my lips as I whispered to Snowflake, "What a relief." A fresh wave of adrenaline surged through me, a mix of excitement and apprehension. Forwarding the order confirmation email to Luke, I couldn't help but smirk at the thought that ran through my mind: You really are a fugitive now!
With the unrelenting presence of the police outside, their watchful eyes waiting for any sign of movement, a sinking realisation hit me: I couldn't stay in the house any longer. The risk was too great. The thought that the police would soon be alerted to the use of Adrian's credit card, and that they could easily trace the transaction back to my laptop, my house, and ultimately to me, sent a shiver of fear down my spine. I knew that telling my parents about the recent events would only drag them into danger as well. The only viable option was to join my sister in Clivilius.
"Or Cody," I whispered to myself, twirling the small Portal Key Cody had given me between my fingers. The decision was complicated by his presence in my life. "If Cody hadn't stolen your sister, the decision would have been a heck of a lot easier," I said aloud to Snowflake, as I placed the device on the bedside table. "I'm sorry, but I can't leave my sister either." The weight of my words felt heavy in the room.
With my mind made up to head to Luke's house and await his return so he could take me to Clivilius, I quickly began packing a suitcase. However, as I grunted, struggling to lift the heavy bag, I realised my mistake. "This was a stupid idea," I grumbled, heaving the suitcase onto the bed. It was impractical, too cumbersome for a quick escape.
Deciding to opt for pragmatism, I abandoned the overbearing suitcase and switched to a more manageable backpack. It meant that I wouldn't be able to take as much with me, but I consoled myself with the thought that Luke or Beatrix could come back for my things later. Packing the backpack with essentials, I was acutely aware of every passing second.
As I zipped up the backpack, the reality of leaving my home, possibly for the last time, began to truly sink in. I glanced around the room, at the familiar walls and objects that had been part of my daily life. Each item seemed to hold a memory, a reminder of a life that was slipping away from me. With Snowflake at my side, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what lay ahead. Leaving the house meant stepping into the unknown, leaving behind the familiar for a future shrouded in uncertainty. But it was a step I knew I had to take, a necessary move in this high-stakes game that was my life now.
Changing into attire more suitable for the long walk to Luke's house, I paused for a moment, double-checking through the window that the officer remained steadfast in his surveillance, seated in the vehicle several doors down across the street. Satisfied that he was still preoccupied, I quietly left the house via the glass sliding door that opened onto the back deck.
As I made my way across the deck, I felt a strange mix of fear and determination. The back fence was my escape route, and I was grateful that the house on the adjoining property was still under construction. It made for a relatively easy escape, a small favour in a situation where I felt I had little to no control.
Reaching for the top of the fence, I stopped suddenly, an unexpected wave of sadness gripping my chest. Turning back toward my house, my heart felt like it was being torn in two as I saw Snowflake sitting at the glass door, watching me with her big, expressive eyes. The sight of her there, alone and confused, was almost more than I could bear. Thoughts of Chloe, whom I was unlikely to see again, flooded my mind, and hot tears rolled down my cheeks.
"I'll send Luke back for you," I promised Snowflake, blowing her a gentle kiss. My voice was barely a whisper, choked with emotion. The thought of separating Snowflake from her sister, after they had spent almost their entire lives together, was agonising. Yet, there was a small sense of peace in knowing that taking her to Bixbus with me was the right decision. We'll be safe in Bixbus, I told myself, trying to muster enough conviction in those words to give me the courage to continue.
With one last, lingering look at Snowflake’s sullen, furry face through the glass, I turned back to face the wooden paling fence. I reached up, and with a jump that required all the strength I had left, I hoisted myself up and over the fence.
As I landed on the other side, a firm resolve set in. There's no turning back now, Gladys, a voice in my head spoke sternly.
