Inhaling deeply, I drew in the rich, intoxicating scents of the motorhome's fresh new leather interior, a luxury that tingled my senses with its novel allure. "Idiot," I murmured with a smirk, my voice laced with a mix of amusement and disdain, watching the waving dealership owner shrink in the motorhome's side mirror. His oblivious cheerfulness contrasted sharply with my covert intentions. Perched smugly in the driver's seat, I felt the faux-leather beneath me, its plushness a reminder of the façade I had to maintain. The indicator clicked rhythmically, a metronome to my escalating excitement, as I turned the large vehicle onto the main road, the vehicle that I was apparently only taking for a test drive. "You're never going to see us again," I chuckled softly, the sound a blend of thrill and guilt, my face glowing with the triumph of my deceit.
The plan had taken shape rapidly, spurred by necessity and a touch of desperation. I'd given myself an early start, fully aware that the day ahead was a labyrinthine quest – finding Paul's dog and delivering her to Clivilius was no minor errand. The impromptu flight from Hobart to Adelaide last night was a testament to my resolve, a whirlwind decision that set the stage for today's caper. This morning, fresh off the plane, I had zeroed in on my target: a motorhome dealership in the bustling heart of Adelaide. Initially, I had considered sourcing a caravan or two, a logical and less conspicuous choice. But impatience gnawed at me, urging me toward a bolder, more audacious move.
Seated in the back of a taxi, the city's early light casting shadows and highlights across my path, I revisited my plans. A motorhome, luxurious and unmistakably conspicuous, was far more extravagant than the humble caravans I had first considered. Yet, as the taxi weaved through the awakening streets, my resolve hardened. I had no intention of parting with a single cent for the vehicle. The motorhome wasn't just a means of transport; it was a statement, a bold stroke in the grand scheme I was weaving. Besides, I rationalised, the new inhabitant of this motorhome would surely relish the upgrade from a simple tent. This thought, a blend of justification and self-assurance, cemented my resolve as I stepped out of the taxi, ready to play my part.
The dealership was a canvas of possibilities, the vehicles lined up like chess pieces, awaiting their role in my plan. As I manipulated the old dealership owner, a sweet concoction of charm and guile, I couldn't help but marvel at the ease of it all. The keys in my hand were not just metal and plastic; they were the keys to the next phase of my mission, a mission that was as much about liberation as it was about deception.
With every kilometre that stretched behind me, the excitement mingled with a twinge of guilt, a reminder of the thin line I was treading. But in the grand tapestry of my endeavours, these moments of doubt were mere threads, overshadowed by the vivid hues of determination and purpose. As the motorhome hummed along, a steel beast under my control, I couldn't shake off the exhilaration of the chase, the rush of bending rules to craft my own narrative. In this mobile fortress, I wasn't just Beatrix; I was a maestro orchestrating a symphony of moves, each one leading closer to my elusive goal.
And then, as if the universe itself conspired to temper my daring escapade, the adrenaline rush that had fuelled my audacity dissipated abruptly. I found myself ensnared in a tedious crawl through roadworks, the kind that stretches like an endless ribbon of inconvenience across the asphalt. The orange cones and warning signs seemed to mock my urgency, creating a glaring contrast to the freedom I had just tasted. Glancing at the digital display on the dashboard, the time stared back at me, a silent reminder of the ticking clock in this high-stakes game of deception I was playing.
The reality of my situation began to gnaw at the edges of my confidence. How long would it be before the dealer, with his unsuspecting smile and trusting eyes, reached for the phone to dial the fake number I had left in his hands? A shiver of anxiety rippled through me at the thought, an unsettling reminder of the fragility of my plan.
For a fleeting moment, doubt crept in, whispering questions of morality and consequence. "The guy did take a copy of your license," I mumbled to the empty air around me, my voice a mix of worry and frustration. My fingers began a restless dance on the edge of the steering wheel, tapping out a rhythm of growing impatience and uncertainty.
But then, as if flicking a switch, I shifted my mindset, invoking a personal pep talk to quell the rising tide of apprehension. "But I'm not in Tasmania now," I reasoned, trying to inject a dose of reassurance into my wavering resolve. The geographical distance felt like a thin veil of safety, a fragile barrier between me and the potential fallout of my actions.
With each kilometre that rolled under the motorhome's tires, I fortified my resolve, reminding myself of the ultimate goal. "Once I've taken the motorhome to Clivilius, there will be absolutely no evidence." The words were a mantra, a beacon of hope in the murky waters of my ethical dilemma. I clung to the idea that the ends would justify the means, that my actions, however questionable, were in service of a greater good.
And besides, the police are already investigating Luke. This thought offered a twisted comfort, a reminder that my misdeeds were but a drop in an ocean of larger schemes and darker deeds. "If we are going to keep the settlement alive and supported—”.
My foot slammed the brake in a sudden, instinctive jolt, my hand sounding the horn in a burst of warning. The sharp, blaring sound cut through the air, a clear signal to the audacious driver attempting to usurp my space. "My vehicle's bigger than yours!" I bellowed, the words muffled by the closed windows, my voice a mix of anger and indignation. The audacity of some people, I thought, feeling a surge of irritation at the cheeky attempt to undermine my command of the road.
But the moment of disruption passed, and I refocused, returning to the pressing concerns that gnawed at my mind. "It's only a matter of time before the police come after both of us," I muttered, voicing the looming threat that shadowed our every move. My gaze drifted to the Portal Key, its innocuous appearance belying the immense power it harboured. Positioned between my legs, it was a constant reminder of the fine line I walked between audacity and recklessness.
It's our ultimate escape, I reassured myself, the thought offering a flicker of confidence in the swirling uncertainty. With this amount of power, it would be near impossible for us to get caught. The logic was sound, the strategy clear, but the assurance was fleeting, dissolving as quickly as it had formed.
Memories of Luke's recent ordeal intruded, a jarring reminder of the precariousness of our situation. The drama unfolded vividly in my mind's eye – the tense moments with the Portal activated too long, the near-miss with Detective Jenkins. Luke had been lucky, far too lucky, and the reality of our vulnerability settled heavily upon me.
That final thought, the image of Luke's narrow escape, sent a nervous shudder skittering across my shoulders. Despite the power at our fingertips, despite the careful calculations and bold manoeuvres, the risks we faced were starkly real, tangibly close.
I needed a hideaway, a secluded nook far from prying eyes, to hand over this motorhome to Paul. Time seemed to sprint, each glance at the clock amplifying the urgency of my mission. The tranquility of my solitude was shattered by the shrill ring of my mobile phone, an unwelcome intrusion that jerked my focus away from the winding road ahead.
My eyes flickered to the passenger seat, where the phone vibrated with persistence. The screen flashed an ominous "Unknown Number," a harbinger of potential complications I was not in the mood to confront. With a sigh bordering on resentment, I picked up the phone.
Reluctantly, I answered, the speakerphone filling the cabin with the clarity of the incoming voice. I perched the phone precariously on my thigh, a balancing act that mirrored the tightrope I was walking in my current endeavour.
"Beatrix?" The voice was familiar, yet it took a moment for the fog of recognition to clear. I responded with a guarded "Yeah," my mind racing to place the voice, to anticipate the angle of the conversation.
"It's Sergeant Charlie Claiborne," the voice identified itself, sending a jolt of alarm through me. My response was visceral, a whispered curse slipping through my lips as the phone nearly slipped from its precarious perch.
"Shit!" The word was a hiss of frustration, a release of the tension that tightened around my chest. Claiborne's voice, now tinny and distant, filtered through the speaker, urging me not to disconnect. "Beatrix, don't hang up!" he called, a note of urgency in his tone.
Slowly, with a deliberate lack of urgency, I retrieved the mobile, bringing it closer, my ear bracing for what I perceived as inevitable bad news. The world outside became a blur, the bustling road ahead a mere backdrop to the unfolding drama in my hand. "What do you want?" I asked, my tone dripping with reluctance.
"Your sister is in trouble," Charlie's voice came through, weighted with a seriousness that instantly tightened my stomach.
"Gladys?"
"Yes."
A long sigh was my only immediate response, a brief respite as I attempted to corral my spiralling thoughts. My focus shifted momentarily to the road, a futile attempt to anchor myself in the present.
Charlie's voice cut through the tense silence, "There's been an incident at the Owens' property in Collinsvale." His words felt like a cold splash of reality, jolting me.
"What do you know about that?" I snapped, irritation and fear intermingling, creating a cocktail of emotions that threatened to overwhelm my composure.
"Not a lot. Forensics are there now.” The mention of forensics sent a shiver down my spine, a chilling indication of the complexity of the situation.
"Forensics?" My voice rose in pitch, a clear sign of the panic that was starting to claw at my insides. "Where's Gladys?" The urgency in my question was palpable, a mix of sisterly concern and a deep-seated fear of losing one of the few constants in my tumultuous life.
"Apparently she's involved in an ongoing pursuit." The words were like a punch to the gut, each one amplifying the dread building within me.
My eyes bulged. "What the hell does that mean?" The demand for clarity was desperate, a plea for something solid to grasp onto in the maelstrom of uncertainty.
"I don't have any further details." Charlie's admission, meant to be informational, felt like an abandonment, leaving me to navigate the turbulent waters of speculation and worry alone.
"What the fuck are you doing, Gladys," I whispered under my breath, the motorhome decelerating as I veered off the main road, steering toward an avenue that promised the seclusion I desperately needed. The trees seemed to lean in closer, their shadows enveloping the vehicle, mirroring the growing unease in my heart.
"I know I shouldn't be so direct on this type of line, but I need to know, Beatrix. Is Gladys a Guardian?" Charlie's question pierced through the growing tension, his words laden with a significance that sent a jolt of surprise coursing through me.
His unexpected insight into our world caught me off guard, and for a moment, I grappled with the extent of trust I could afford to place in him. "Not that I know of," I replied, my voice a careful blend of caution and candour. There was a dance of truths and half-truths we were performing, and I wasn't ready to reveal all my cards just yet.
"If Gladys isn't going to go to Clivilius, she needs to be careful. She needs to get the cops off her tail. And don't ever return to that Collinsvale property." His words, a blend of warning and advice, weighed heavily on me.
"You're the sergeant," I countered, my confusion and frustration bubbling to the surface. "Can't you call off the chase?"
"There's only so much more I can do to protect you all. They're onto me, Beatrix." The gravity in Charlie's voice was unmistakable.
"What do you mean they?" I pressed, seeking clarity, but his next words sidestepped my inquiry, adding layers to the mystery.
"Don't try and make any contact with me, Beatrix," he instructed, a note of finality in his tone that signalled the closing of a door, the narrowing of our options.
My mouth opened, but no words emerged, just a silent echo of my racing thoughts. "Be careful, Beatrix," he added, a parting gesture of concern that hung in the air as the line went dead, leaving me enveloped in silence, save for the soft hum of the motorhome and the whisper of leaves brushing against its sides.
Pulling the motorhome over to the side of the road, I allowed the engine's gentle purr to fall into silence, mirroring the stillness of the phone in my hand. My fingers hovered over the device, torn between the urge to reconnect with Charlie or to seek out Gladys. After a moment teetering on the edge of indecision, I dialled Gladys.
"Beatrix," her voice crackled through the speaker, a lifeline in the swirling uncertainty.
"Gladys, listen to me," I started, urgency threading through my words as my hands began to betray a tremble, the onset of panic creeping in. "The police know it's you in one of those cars, and they're at the Owens' property now."
"How do you know that?" Her question, simple yet loaded, punctured the bubble of my constructed calm.
How much do I tell her? The internal debate was swift, a rapid assessment of risks and necessities. Opting for caution, I chose a veiled truth over full disclosure. "I have a contact that has an informant in the Hobart Police, and they've just called to warn me." The words flowed with a practiced ease, a testament to the necessity of such half-truths in our precarious existence.
A heavy pause followed, laden with unsaid fears and unasked questions.
"I'm at the property now. Don't come here," I instructed, weaving a lie with the ease of a seasoned fabricator. The words were a strategic manoeuvre, a play to keep her safe, or at least safer than she would be heading into a known danger zone.
As I ended the call, a part of me recoiled at the ease of the deception. Yet, I rationalised, the lie was a necessary shield, a protective measure in a game where the stakes were perilously high. I knew my next steps would lead me to the Collinsvale property, not as a harbinger of doom but as a seeker of truths and a protector of kin.
With a determined turn of the key, the motorhome's engine hummed back to life, its steady thrum a backdrop to my erratic thoughts. My mission now was twofold: find a secluded spot to activate the Portal and transport the motorhome to Clivilius, all while mulling over the newfound ally in Sergeant Charlie Claiborne. The idea that our inside help might extend beyond him flickered through my mind, a glimmer of hope in a sea of uncertainty. It's definitely a possibility, I mused, acknowledging the silent network of Guardians whose reach and influence were perhaps more extensive than even Leigh knew.
As I drove the large vehicle, a newfound sense of purpose straightened my posture, my eyes scanning the environment with a mix of caution and newfound confidence. The ease with which I'd taken the motorhome now seemed like a minor feat compared to the broader canvas of our endeavours. Maybe Charlie can help erase any trace of my involvement from the police records, I pondered, allowing the notion to fuel a sense of optimism, manifesting in a broad grin that spread across my face.
In a moment of whimsy and longing for connection, I rolled down the window, letting the world in. The breeze greeted me like an old friend, playful and invigorating, carrying with it the scent of the outside world. It danced through my silver hair, the strands brushing against my skin in a ticklish caress that I chose to endure, a small price for the momentary freedom it offered.
My eyes caught sight of an ideal location – the back wall of a supermarket, inconspicuous enough for my purposes. With a careful turn of the steering wheel, I guided the motorhome toward it, the vehicle's bulk handling the curb with a noticeable jolt. The unexpected bounce triggered a sneeze, an abrupt, humanising interruption to my stream of strategic thoughts.
As I realigned my focus, the mundane grey of Adelaide's sky transitioned into the vibrant, almost surreal azure of Clivilius. The abrupt shift was disorienting, the familiar yet always startling transition jolting me back to the immediacy of my actions.
"Shit!" The expletive tore from my lips as instinct took over, my foot crashing down on the brake with all the force of my burgeoning panic. The motorhome lurched, a beast of metal and momentum protesting as it ground to a halt. Dust clouds mushroomed around us, a gritty, choking veil that obscured the figure lying ominously still before the vehicle. The harsh screech of the brakes was a physical assault, a discordant symphony with the frantic hammering of my heart.
Frozen in a moment of dread, I inched forward in my seat, my knuckles white from their death grip on the steering wheel, a tangible expression of my shock and fear. Leaning over, I peered out through the windscreen, the barrier between me and the potential catastrophe outside. "Is he dead?" The question slipped out in a whisper, a fragile thread of sound barely piercing the heavy silence that enveloped me. My eyes stung, not just from the biting dust but from the acute, pressing fear of what this could mean, of what I might have done.
Then, like apparitions in this chaos, Luke and Paul materialised, their sudden presence snapping me out of my paralysing horror. They moved with a purpose I couldn't muster, reaching for the man with a practiced urgency. As they dragged him from beneath the motorhome's imposing frame, I remained transfixed, the scene unfolding with a surreal clarity.
The door of the motorhome creaked ominously as I nudged it open, the sound slicing through the tense silence. My foot, trembling slightly, found the small instep, serving as a temporary anchor before I jumped down from the cab, my movements jerky with a blend of adrenaline and remorse.
"I'm so sorry," the words tumbled out as I rounded the vehicle, my voice laced with genuine concern. "Are you okay?" I inquired, though the question felt woefully inadequate given the circumstances.
Luke was already there, his gaze analytical as he surveyed the man's condition. "I don't see any blood," he remarked, a statement that offered a sliver of relief amidst the swirling worry.
Paul's attempt at a rudimentary medical check was almost comical under different circumstances. "How many fingers am I holding up?" he asked, his fingers wobbling slightly, an unintentional testament to our collective unease.
The man's response was a mute one, his eyes cloudy and unfocused, offering no recognition or understanding of Paul's inquiry.
"He's high," Luke deduced, his voice carrying a note of certainty. "And most likely dehydrated. You'd better take him back to camp." His diagnosis was clinical, a brief respite from the emotional turmoil that gripped me.
The arrival of Nial and Kain added new layers to the unfolding drama. "Everything okay?" Nial's question, though well-intentioned, felt almost rhetorical amidst the obvious disarray.
Paul's voice broke through the tense air, practical yet tinged with concern. "Can you two take him back to camp?"
Nial's exclamation cut sharply into the moment, his recognition of Adrian injecting a personal, jarring note into the proceedings. "Shit! Adrian. What the hell are you doing here?" His words, laced with incredulity and frustration, echoed my own startled confusion. Watching him step forward, the repeated slaps to Adrian's face seemed both an attempt to elicit clarity and a release of pent-up exasperation.
Paul's query, "You know him?" seemed almost rhetorical in the context of our tightly-knit community, where personal connections were as intertwined as the paths that crisscrossed our landscape.
Luke's comment, "Not surprising. Hobart's a small place," offered a dry slice of reality, a reminder of our interconnected existences, where personal histories often collided with the present with unpredictable force.
I observed, my heart heavy, as Nial's firm grip on Adrian's shoulders conveyed a mixture of determination and concern. "Let's get you to camp," he said, his voice steady.
Kain's agreement, "We'll come back," was a quiet vow, his assistance in helping Adrian to stand a testament to their collective responsibility for one another.
Paul's silent nod was a sombre seal on the exchange, a mutual understanding that resonated among them. As they departed, a reflective mood settled, a collective contemplation of the unpredictable dance of fate and choice, and the unspoken acknowledgment of the fragile thread that connected each moment, each decision, in the intricate weave of our lives in Clivilius.
As the trio receded into the distance, ensuring they were far enough away not to overhear, I couldn't contain the whirlwind of questions and emotions churning inside me. The need for answers, for some semblance of understanding, was overwhelming.
"What's going on, Luke? Why the hell is Gladys in a bloody car chase with the police?" The words spilled out, my voice laced with a rising tension that mirrored the turmoil within. The situation felt surreal, a narrative unfolding with us at its core, yet spiralling unpredictably.
Luke's response was infuriatingly calm, almost detached. "Things didn't go quite according to plan with Adrian," he said, initiating an explanation that seemed painfully obvious.
No shit! The thought blared in my mind, a silent scream of frustration. My irritation wasn't just with the situation but with Luke's nonchalant demeanour. The realisation that Adrian's life had hung in the balance, that my actions could have ended tragically, was a heavy weight, a confrontation with the potential consequences of our intertwined lives.
"Clearly," Paul interjected, his casual tone striking a dissonant chord within me. The undercurrent of tension was palpable, the gravity of our predicament hanging over us like a dark cloud.
Luke's account continued, outlining a series of decisions and actions that seemed increasingly reckless. "We chased after him when he took off," he explained, as if the choice was a mere footnote in their day.
"You couldn't just let him go?" My question was tinged with incredulity, a reflection of my struggle to reconcile their actions with what they expected to achieve.
Our attention was abruptly drawn to a commotion near Adrian's ute, the scene unfolding like a tableau of discord. Adrian's voice, firm and laced with a hint of defiance, cut through the air. "I'm just getting the rest of my gear," he declared, pushing Nial away with a force that spoke volumes of his agitation and desperation.
"He'd already seen the Portal," Luke interjected, redirecting our focus to the pressing concern—my sister's precarious situation. "I know he's high, but I didn't think it was wise to let him go. Who knows—"
My response was instinctive, a sharp glare aimed at Luke. "Wise?" The word escaped my lips soaked in incredulity and tinged with anger. I couldn't wrap my head around his logic, or lack thereof. "You didn't think it was wise to let him go, yet you had no qualms with racing through the streets and attracting the attention of the police?" My voice climbed, a crescendo of frustration and disbelief. Each word I uttered was a pointed barb, aiming to puncture the bubble of his flawed reasoning.
Luke's reaction was telling—eyes narrowing, lips parting, but no sound emerging. It was as if my words had struck a chord, or perhaps, he was grappling with the weight of his own decisions.
Paul cut through the mounting tension with a question aimed at unravelling the sequence of events. "And how did you finally get him here?"
Luke's answer, while straightforward, unveiled the extent of their desperate measures. "We came through a wall of the toilet block at Myrtle Forest," he confessed.
"And my sister?" The urgency in my question couldn't be masked, my patience fraying at the edges as the seconds ticked away, each one a potential harbinger of worsening scenarios for Gladys. The tension knotted within me, a silent acknowledgment of the looming crisis. This is going to get worse, isn't it, I chastised myself internally, a bitter taste of apprehension settling in as I awaited Luke's response.
His expression, a mix of concern and discomfort, did little to quell the rising storm within me. His brows knitted together, his face flushing a deep shade of red, a visual testament to the severity of his next words.
"I told her to run," Luke admitted, his voice laced with a mix of defensiveness and regret.
"Fuck's sake, Luke!" The expletive burst from me, a spontaneous release of pent-up frustration and disbelief. How could he think running was a viable solution? The anger and worry twisted inside me, coalescing into a throbbing pulse that echoed the frantic beat of my heart.
Driven by a cocktail of emotions, my actions became automatic. Huffing in exasperation, I powered up the Portal's screen, the glow casting a surreal light on the scene. My steps were quick, propelled by a mix of determination and fear as I moved towards the swirling colours of the Portal.
"Where are you going?" Luke's voice trailed after me, tinged with a blend of concern and caution. "It's too dangerous, Beatrix. The police were right behind us."
His warning barely registered. My focus was laser-sharp, my resolve unshakeable. Without breaking my stride or turning to face him, I offered a silent, defiant gesture—the middle finger. It was a succinct, powerful message of my intent and feelings towards his advice.
Then, with a final step, I embraced the vibrant whirlwind of the Portal, allowing it to envelop me, to whisk me away from the escalating tension. It was a leap, not just through space but through the fragile boundaries of our realities, driven by the unyielding force of sisterly bonds and the turbulent undercurrents of our shared plight.
