He stood outside a half-size door and gestured for us to step inside. It was a laundry – not the room I expected to be staging an escape from.
Brace faced us, his white teeth flashing. “Well, Abby – and Lucy – since we’re friends now, I’m about to trust you with a protected childhood secret.”
He moved to the back wall and with little effort shifted a large white machine to the side. Bending over, he flicked a latch and lifted a trap door.
“This is an old laundry chute; it drops out into the forest.” His grin was a little evil. “I used this to sneak out when I was young. The only problem was figuring out how to get back inside.”
Judging by that smirk, Brace had been a terror of a child.
I peered into the wide space of the chute opening. “How long since you’ve used it?”
He laughed quietly, a sparkle lighting his deep brown eyes. “Quite a few years. My father pretty much lets me come and go as I please now.”
Lucy pushed me aside to carry out her own inspection. “It’s still safe, right? What if it’s rusted away in places?” Her voice echoed down the length.
Brace shook his head. “Rusted? It’s made from Destruck, and isn’t even through a third of its thousand-year guarantee – it’s safe.”
Lucy snorted. “A thousand years ... I guess that’s good enough for me.”
Brace squinted at her as if he didn’t quite understand the source of her sarcasm, though his lips did quirk into a half-smile.
“I’ll go through first and see you at the bottom.” He pulled himself into the opening, long legs hanging down. “Don’t worry about the alarm and fields. I’ll disable them.” Then he pushed off and was gone.
“You’re next, Luce.” I pushed her toward the chute. “I’ll be right behind, so get out of the way.”
Lucy took a deep breath and climbed in. Then she too was gone.
I waited till last, I didn’t want them to see me freak out. I was a little claustrophobic.
It’s this or prison, Abby.
I shut my eyes tightly. No way could I get in with my eyes open. Hands out in front, I felt for the opening. Misjudging the distance, I found myself tumbling forward before plunging headfirst down the chute, my heavy pack powering me even faster. I screamed the entire way. Bracing myself, I managed to force a hand over the top of my head as the slide tapered off and I plunged out. Tumbling a few times, I ended up face down, my pack thrown to the side.
I stayed like that for a moment of reflection – and to determine what was broken – something sure felt broken. My pride, I think.
Strong hands gripped my arms and pulled me up effortlessly.
“Are you okay?” Brace asked, his eyes wrinkled in concern and amusement.
Lucy, on the other hand, had collapsed in laughter. “That was hands down the funniest thing I’ve ever seen,” she managed to gasp out.
Brace set me back on my feet before handing me my pack. His lips twitched, but he saved himself an ass-handing by changing the subject.
“Since we are trying to avoid the guard, I suggest we move from here.”
I scraped Lucy up off the ground as she continued to let out snorts of laughter.
“Stop replaying it or I will kill you and hide the body somewhere in the forest.” I gestured to the masses of greenery around us. “No one will find you.”
The laughter subsided for a moment, before she lost it again. I shook my head. Brace was already moving along the path, so, dragging Lucy with me, I hauled it to catch up.
Chapter 7
We walked in silence for a while. Except for the occasional chuckle from Lucy that made it clear – I was never living that entrance down.
Even with my bumpy start, I was relieved to be free. And back in nature. This area of the forest was different: less dense and more traveled.
And whilst we had a little more information, there were still so many questions.
Why was Grandier’s nickname First World? I couldn’t help but wonder. Was this an old world, much older than Earth?
Lucy broke the silence.
“What are those hugely round trees everywhere?” She pointed to the bulbous tree trunks surrounding us. She was a little breathless, her shorter legs struggling with our pace.
Brace flicked his eyes toward to the tree-line. “The sycaim tree?” He shrugged. “Don’t tell me there are no ‘thud trees’ where you’re from?”
I wondered what he would think if he knew that, before yesterday, I’d seen about five trees, and not one was healthy or green.
We shook our heads.
He gave me a half-smile, before he answered drily, “They’re First World’s native trees.”
Whoops.
He stopped suddenly and I almost collided with his bulk, but managed to avoid him at the last moment.
“They’ve been around First World since the beginning.” Reaching down, he gathered a few loose stones.