Shattered Read Free Page B

front room, and a blanket. He and Aiden are murmuring at the door.
    For all my insisting it has to be done, that I have to find out who I was, I’m afraid. What will I find?
    ‘Few choices?’ I say, Aiden’s earlier words filtering through. ‘What other choice is there?’
    Aiden steps back into the room, kneels next to me. Smooths my hair away from my face.
    ‘You know, Kyla. You could tell your story for MIA, be one of our witnesses.’
    ‘Then run away again.’
    ‘I wouldn’t put it that way. We’d hide you someplace safe, or you could leave completely, while the evidence is being gathered. Until we are ready.’
    ‘To expose the Lorders to the world. To make the people bring the government crashing down.’
    ‘Yes.’
    He’s a dreamer: the Lorders will never go quietly. If at all. But it is a good dream. I smile back at Aiden, and his lips quirk.
    ‘You’re nice on painkillers.’
    ‘Shut up.’
    ‘And your new hair is gorgeous.’
    ‘It hurts.’
    ‘Take another painkiller?’
    I shake my head. ‘Best not. Aiden, there are things I haven’t told you.’
    ‘I know. Tell me when you’re ready.’
    Aiden’s eyes are warm, gentle. If he knew everything about me, all I’ve done, would they still smile at me this way? He is too trusting for this world; he has to know. I have to tell him.
    I sigh. ‘There is one thing I have to tell you now, ready or not.’
    ‘What is that?’
    ‘Your driver. The one who came when we saw Ben running at that track. Don’t trust him.’
    Aiden’s face goes serious, withdrawn: thinking. ‘That would explain a few things,’ he says, finally. ‘We’ll look into it. But the curious thing is, how would you know anything about it?’
    How nice it would be to tell Aiden everything . To not carry the burden alone. But before I can form a sentence, he shakes his head. ‘No; don’t answer that question. Not while you’re silly on painkillers. Tell me your secrets when you are sure you want to.’ He starts to stand, but my mind is drifting back to what he said before.
    ‘Wait. What did you mean by I could leave completely ?’
    ‘You could leave the country.’
    ‘I could?’
    ‘You know MIA helps people leave when it is too dangerous to stay. To slip out of the country, over the sea. To United Ireland, or beyond.’
    United Ireland: a free place of whisper, not reality. Since they left the UK decades ago their existence is never officially acknowledged. Would it be any better there than here?
    Could I do that: just leave it all behind? My eyes close. There is so much Aiden doesn’t know. Things I didn’t tell him. I told myself it was because knowledge is dangerous, that he is better off not knowing. But is that really all the reason? An uncomfortable twist of my guts says there is more to it: more not wanting him to know the things I’ve done. To look at me without that warmth in his eyes. I have so few friends; I can’t risk losing another.
    Willing or not to begin with, I really was in the AGT. I really was a terrorist. Even though I chose to turn my back on them and their methods in the end, how could I be a witness for MIA against the Lorders? I’m the poster child for why Slating is a good thing.
    Over the sea…
    To what and to where? To the unknown.
    To run away.
    I trudge up the path. Up and up, as fast as short legs can go. Soon all the streets and buildings are gone from sight. All is still, quiet. Alone at last.
    I’m nervous but remember the way, though I haven’t come by myself before. The walk seems longer alone, and I’m relieved when I get to the gate.
    There is an eerie low mist hugging the stones. They lumber, asleep, half-hidden in white. There is sunshine above; the mountains are bright sentries all around their sleeping babies. I walk across the field, into the mist, and press my hands against a stone. The sun doesn’t make it through the mist; they are cold and huge close up. But
when you stand back and look at the mountains, the