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Jaidie

Rain followed the small group of rabbits out of the house and through the broken part of Newcity and into town. It was quiet, not many rabbits were about. It made him uncomfortable at first but once he got to smell fresh air again his worry went away. It felt like it had been so long since he’d smelled the fresh air of Newcity. It felt good to smell something besides alcohol and rotten food.

He heard Jed speak in a quiet voice, “It’s quiet. Too quiet, I don’t like this, Rain, stay close.”

Rain stepped closer though he wasn’t worried, if they got caught by the guards it would be better than going back to wicked Master Nick. At least the King wouldn’t beat them, just lock them up and give them real food. It didn’t sound so bad to him, but he knew the others had done bad things in their lives and they were scared. Afraid of what the King would do to them if they were caught.

They walked through the streets for a while and Rain wondered where they were going. As if in answer Carter grabbed his arm and pointed towards a large house, it looked like someone important lived there.

“That’s where we're going, no one's home so it should be an easy pick.”

Rain nodded and said under his breath, “I hate this.”

Carter sighed. “We all do, but we don’t have a choice.”

Rain nodded again. “I know.”

Carter smiled weakly at him, then walked off. Rain sighed. As Rain walked he looked around at all the houses. He felt a knot form in his stomach, he wanted to go home, back to Momma, Jana, and Hazel. He missed them, he missed Momma’s sweet words and gentle touch. When he was sad, she always knew what to do to cheer him up. He missed Jana teasing him and calling each other names and laughing when Momma told them to stop. He missed Hazel’s laughter as they ran across the fields playing tag. He felt warm tears run down his face and he wiped them away. He couldn’t cry, not now.

He wondered where Bobbe was? He was supposed to save them, or maybe that had just been a foolish dream.

They came to a halt so suddenly that he nearly fell, catching himself on Wyle. Wyle turned and sneered as he pushed Rain off. “Watch where yer going four-eyes.”

Rain found his balance and winced. “Sorry.”

Wyle rolled his eyes. “Ye’d think with four-eyes ye’d see the ground in front of ye own face.”

Rain looked down old memories of being called four-eyes in school came back and that made him think of the argument he’d had with his Momma. Then he had run away and now he might never see her again. He swallowed the lump in his throat. “Sorry,” he repeated.

Wyle curled his lip up and shook his head as he turned to talk to Jed. After a moment Jed came over.

“Rain stay here and keep a lookout for guards. We’ll be back.”

Rain waited for a while, then he felt something grab his arm. He jumped a little then relaxed when he saw Noah. Noah smiled at him.

“Hey Noah, did you want something?”

Noah nodded then signed something. Rain bit his lip. “I’m sorry Noah, I don’t know what you’re saying.”

Noah’s eyes widened and he signed again, this time more urgent. Rain didn’t know what to do. He didn’t know what Noah was trying to say. “Noah, I don’t understand, what is it?”

Noah stomped his feet and opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He tried again, but still nothing. He pulled his ears and Rain saw tears rolling down his face. Rain’s heart quickened. “Noah, please, what’s wrong?”

Noah put a hand on his throat and tried to talk again, nothing came out, not even a squeak.

“He’s trying to warn ye, but it’s too late. Let’s go.” It was Wyle’s voice. Rain looked past Noah to Wyle holding Carter, a dagger pressed against his throat, blood trickled down Carter’s neck.

“What’s going on? Where’s Jed?”

Wyle laughed. “I did what Master Nick told me to, I got rid of him. Now, let’s go.”

Rain felt dizzy. No, no, no, no, no. Jed couldn’t be gone. No, no, no, no.

Wyle sneered. “Noah, grab him.”

Noah didn’t move. Wyle pressed the knife deeper into Carter’s flesh. Carter made a choking sound then gasped out. “Noah, d-d-don’t listen t-t-to him I’ll be…eh…f-f-f-ine j-j-just g-g-g-o!”

Wyle smiled. “Come on Noah, do ye really want me to kill him.” Wyle pressed harder, deeper, drawing more blood.

Rain sighed. “Listen to me Noah, just take me. I don’t want any more bloodshed.”

Noah looked down then put his fist over his heart and moved it in a circle. He grabbed Rain by the arm.

“That’s more like it. Good boy, Noah,” Wyle said, then they all, except Jed, walked back to Master Nick where torture awaited Rain, though he didn’t know it.

Jed heard voices somewhere nearby, he tried to move but Wyle’s knife was still buried deep in his chest, making it impossible to move. He groaned in pain, the voices stopped and he heard footsteps. Then he felt someone touch his arm and say in a gentle voice, “Lad, lad, can you hear me? It’s alright. Are you there lad, lad, lad?”

Jed groaned again, then gasped out the only word he felt like he could say, “Rain.”

There was silence before another voice spoke, “Ye know Rain? Where is he?”

Jed tried to open his eyes, but they felt so heavy. He tried to speak clearly, but his mind was a blur. “Rain, Rain, Rain. Broken bottles. Abandoned homes. Rain, Rain, Rain. Trouble, trouble, must save.”

There was silence again, then the first voice spoke. “Lad, do you mean Rain’s in the broken part of the city?”

“Rain save. Abandoned homes.”

“Someone get us a doctor now; we have a wounded buck over here. Hurry, we need one NOW!”

Jed heard a new voice speak. “Captain Shanks, where are you going?”

“I have a kid in the broken part of the city to save, I have no time. I have to go now. Make sure that he gets a doctor and some True Blue, right away.”

Then the voices faded away, but Jed no longer cared. Someone was going to save Rain and that was all that mattered to him. Thank you, thank you, Maker!

Sorry, it was a little long.