Two of a kind YA Novella
Chapter 1 – A Change
Faith curled up in bed and shut her eyes tightly against the darkness. She had dreamed of them again. But she never saw their faces. Silent creatures shrouded in shadows. Fear overwhelmed her. At twelve years old, Faith was still afraid of the dark and, after a nightmare, it was almost unbearable. It was like the blackness had a physical weight and was pressing down against her. But she dared not rise or make a sound, for the consequences of that would be much worse.
So she cried out for help in her mind, as she often had before. Please help me! Please save me! Please help me! Please save me! After a time, she felt her fears fading, and she felt a pinging in her heart. Faith liked to fancy that someone heard her pleas. Finally, sleep found her. And she dreamed no more of them that night.
When Faith awoke, she felt something different. There was a tension in the air. A change was coming. Silently, she rose and ate the prescribed gruel that had been deposited by her bedside. Then she showered quickly and donned a clean, gray smock, which was her usual uniform.
Her handler entered her small chamber.
“Here,” she said, tossing a pink, frilly frock onto the bed. “You will wear this today.”
Faith gazed at the pretty thing. She had never before been given anything so lovely.
Her handler turned on her heel and left the room without another word.
Faith touched the dress. All lace and silk. Quickly, she took off the smock and pulled the frilly thing down over her head. The dress was snug. Faith moved to see herself in the mirror. Her golden curls were almost dry and startling blue eyes stared back at her. Pink was a good color on her, she decided. She looked so…grown up.
Faith heard the door sliding open. Her handler was back.
“Let’s go,” the woman snapped.
Faith followed her. They did not go to the classrooms or other training areas as Faith had expected. Instead she was led outside, on to the grounds. There, standing in a row on the grass near the parking lot, were four other girls. They were also dressed in beautiful gowns. She was made to join them. Faith felt that they, too, were confused. The director of the home was there, too. Faith looked at him. He seemed…pleased. What is happening?, she cried in her mind. Then Faith saw a group of about forty people approaching from the parking lot. There was excitement among them.
When the people got close, they stood and watched the girls.
“The highest offer takes the prize,” said the director. “And please, don’t ruffle the merchandise.”
So, that was it. They were now to be sold.
Faith looked into the crowd of faces and was afraid of what she felt there. Then her eyes locked onto stunning, blue eyes in the face of a lanky teen. He was staring at her. His too-long blond hair hung down past his ears in clumps. She felt a rush of something as he slowly approached her. The other people seemed not to notice him.
He was close to her now, looking at her intensely. Then he drew an iScan from his pocket and directed the beam towards her. It chirped and the girl beside her startled and looked around.
“I didn’t really need a scan to tell me,” he said. “It’s you!” He shoved the device back into his pocket. “I’m Fisher.” He grabbed her hand. “Let’s go.”
Faith thrilled at his touch. Fisher was very tall and strong. He wanted her and…he was saving her!
She felt confusion from those around them.
“Hey!” shouted the director. “What’s going on here?”
The crowd was agitated and looking around. Fisher led her past the people. No one tried to stop them. They ran full out through the parking lot. He was pulling her so fast. Faith stumbled, her long dress hampering her stride. Fisher never slowed, only yanked on her arm to keep her from falling.
Faith was wheezing now and had a cramp in her side. She had never run so far before in her whole life. Fisher slowed to a walk as they entered a stand of trees but he kept hold of her hand.
“What just happened?” Faith gasped.
“You’ve been calling to me for months now,” he said. “I just had to save you.”
Her blue eyes widened. She realized that, since she had first seen him, she had been feeling that same pinging feeling in her heart. Their walking slowed, yet still he held her.
“You’re wondering how I heard you, when you were alone in the dark, aren’t you?”
He glanced down at her and saw her regarding him with wide-eyed astonishment.
“It’s okay,” he said. “You’re safe with me. You can speak freely.”
All her years growing up, Faith had been carefully disciplined for any breaches in protocol. They were constantly reminded that orphans must be obedient and strive to become of worth to society.
“You’re worth far more than you know,” he told her quietly.
The trees were thinning now. Fisher stopped. He released her hand and sat down on the cool, damp grass, with his back against a large oak trunk.
“Sit down,” he said.
Faith complied instantly, tucking her pink ruffled skirt beneath her. She sat facing him, gazing into his face.
He smiled shyly, then blushed. “I’m not used to girls looking at me,” he explained. “I’m not really used to girls at all.”
Faith nodded. She had grown up in an all-girls home for orphans. The only men she had ever seen where the teachers and the director…and those who were in the crowd that they had just left behind.
“Why did they not stop us?” she asked him, finally.
“Oh, that! I was in stealth mode,” he explained.
Faith said nothing, only raised her eyebrows.
“Here,” he said, “look.” He took a green apple out of his pocket and set it on the ground between them.
She looked at the apple. Then suddenly it sprang up and jumped towards her. Faith gasped and caught it in her hands. She looked at Fisher.
“I did that,” he said, smiling. “You can learn it, too.”
Faith felt the pinging in her heart stronger than ever. It was almost a thrumming now. She felt safe with Fisher.
“Eat the apple,” he told her, “and then rest. You’ll need your strength. We’ll wait here until dark. Then we will run again.”
She bit into the apple. It was sweet and crisp.
“How do you know I can learn to do that?” she asked him, after she swallowed.
He looked deep into her eyes. “We are two of a kind.”