“What’s wrong?” I think of Granddad being left behind and prepare for the worst.
Her breathing is fast. “Crevan is here. Downstairs. He’s threatening Mom and Dad. He says Dad will lose his job and they will be imprisoned if they don’t hand you over right now.”
My mouth falls open.
“He’s going to call the Whistleblowers to take you away if they don’t bring you downstairs themselves, but I don’t believe him. He would have called them by now himself. He’s up to something. I think he just wants to take you somewhere himself. What does he want to do with you, Celestine? Do you know? Is it about Art? He asked them where the video is. They don’t know what he’s talking about. Do you? He says you have it and he needs it.”
I look at her, feeling dizzy, confused. He knows about Mr. Berry’s video. How? He thinks I have it. I need to speak with Pia. She’s the only person who knew about it other than Mr. Berry and Carrick. She was the one searching for it. Suddenly I’m worried for her. I haven’t heard from her in days. Then I remember my phone call with Mr. Berry’s husband. Crevan must have been listening in. My phone was bugged.
“Mom and Dad are trying to talk him out of taking you. He says you were at a Flawed rally this evening. And then caused a riot at the supermarket. Two people died. The police fired tear gas. It’s all over the news. There are riots on the streets. The media are blaming you. Somebody filmed it, but Celestine, my God, Celestine.” Her eyes fill up, and she starts crying. “I watched it, and I am so proud of you. I could never have said what you said, could never have done what you’ve done. The court, the chamber, the supermarket … I don’t know how you’ve done it, but you’re amazing, and I’m so proud of you. He says he’ll drop the charges if you give him the video.”
I shake my head, confused by all this, still dizzy, head pounding.
Juniper tries to compose herself, realizing now is not a time for her emotions, the urgency back. “I’ve packed you a bag. Crevan is in the library with Mom and Dad. You can slip out the back door. The man who carried you home left this for you.” She pushes a note into my hand. “Don’t lose it, Celestine. He wanted to help you. He knows people who can help you. Find him, okay? Promise me you’ll find him. Then I know you’ll be okay.” She runs her hand over my face and cries again. “My brave little sister, I’ve missed you. I will miss you.”
My mind is racing with all that she has said. I have to go away? I have to leave my family to protect them. Crevan knows about the video of the sixth branding in the chamber. He thinks that I have it—he knows that I have it—only I have no idea where it is, but he will never believe that. He will not give up until he finds it, and I must move to safety until I can figure out my next move.
“The curfew,” I say.
“Mary May has been already. It’s after eleven. If Mom and Dad can keep Crevan at bay, you have until morning before anyone realizes. Celestine, I love you.” Juniper is crying. “I’m so sorry for how everything has turned out between us.”
I make a move to walk away. I can’t hear this now.
She reaches out and holds my arm tight. “Please listen to me. I need to explain. I need you to know what’s been going on.”
I slowly turn around, ready to hear the worst, prepared to hear about her and Art. My worse fears realized.
“Nothing happened with Art,” she says, tears rolling down her face. “He contacted me for help. He needed someone to help him hide out in the sheds, bring him food. He didn’t want you knowing because he didn’t want you to get into any trouble. He knew his dad would hurt you to find out where he was, and he knew you were being watched. He made me promise not to tell you, but some days, I swear, Celestine, I was so close to telling you. I should have. He was locked up most days, hiding in the Tinders’ shed, and so at night we met to talk about you. About how we both felt we’d let you down. Neither of us could live with it. He was the only person who could understand how I felt. That’s all it was, honestly. I was trying to help him, keep him safe for you.” She sniffs. “I’m so sorry.”
I breathe a sigh of relief that there was nothing more between them, that they were genuinely trying to protect me, even if it still feels like a betrayal. We hug tightly, as if we never will again.