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She looks at me expectantly, but there’s no surprise in her expression. I knew that she could tell I was off at the dinner yesterday.
I take a deep breath in preparation and begin to tell her everything. “There’s a reason I’ve been acting…strangely since the dinner.” I slowly walk over to take a seat on her bed, fidgeting with the bottom of my shirt nervously. “When I went out to get some air, that’s not all that happened. Someone…someone was out there with me. I don’t even know how to explain this, I mean I was tipsy, and I almost slipped off the balcony—"
“Oh my Elders, Amelia!”
I raise a hand to calm her. “I know, I know. But that’s not what’s important, it’s what happenedafter. Olivia, I…I met a Dark Elder.”
Her look turns flabbergast with a hint of mirth. Okay, not what I was expecting.
“Damn Amelia, how much did you have to drink?” she asks with an amused lilt in her tone.
I roll my eyes in annoyance, not because I’m upset at the accusation but because it’s a fair question. “It wasn’t the alcohol, Olivia. I almost fell and it was a Dark Elder who saved me. Iswear.” I take a deep, calming breath before continuing. “But that’s not all. This Dark Elderknew my name.” I stare at her pointedly, trying to gauge her reaction.
She looks like she wants to believe me but there is still question in her gaze. “Again, you had a lot to drink. Are you sure it wasn’t just an official or something?”
I shake my head, lips pursed. “Absolutely not. I don’t know how to explain it, but it was his eyes. They weren’t human…they weren’t even like the Elders’. They were so…deep.” I huff, feeling like that’s the most inadequate description I could’ve come up with. “I don’t know how to convince you other than to ask you to trust me. I’m not crazy, I wasn’t too drunk. I know what I saw.”
We stare at each other for a moment, and then Olivia sighs, giving in. “Okay, let’s say it was a Dark Elder. How could he possibly know your name? Are you sure he wasn’t just…I dunno, reading your mind or something? You know what the Elders say, they manipulate.”
I’m in over my head, I know it. I swallow and look down. “I don’t know what to say other than I don’t think that’s it. It’s just afeeling, y’know?” I glance back up at her, eyes practically begging her to believe me.
She rubs her eyes, clearly still confused and not sure if she should believe me, but sighs and looks back in my direction with resolve. “Okay. I believe you. What do we do?”
I grab her hands in mine, relief flooding through me. “This is where it gets a bit complicated. I have an idea, but I’ll need your help.” I can see a twinge of fear in her eyes, which makes me feel bad for dragging her into this. “If you don’t want to be a part of this, no hard feelings. Seriously. I know it’s a big ask.”
She stares at our hands silently before speaking. “I can’t really make that decision without knowing the plan, now, can I?”
A smile begins to form on my lips, and I squeeze her hands once before letting go. I can’t even begin to explain how much I love this girl. “I read this book. It explains how officials are able to leave the Society and find the Dark Elders. Obviously, I can’t just take the path they describe, but I have another idea. Thepath is almost parallel to the hunting trail, so what if I take that instead?”
She looks away in thought, before turning back. “Okay, but how are you going to leave? Even if you make it to the edge, there’s a barrier.”
This is where the plan starts to get more dangerous. “There’s a spell. It opens up the barrier. I found it in the book, too. It doesn’t seem too complicated, all things considered.”
She startles and looks at me like I’m mad. “Amelia, spells are strictly forbidden for anyone other than officials. If you’re caught, you’ll be cast out!”
I shush her, glancing toward her closed door. “Sneaking out would get me cast out, too, so what’s the difference?”
She doesn’t respond to that, instead choosing to hug herself and look out the bedroom window above her bed. “This is dangerous. You could get into real trouble, Amelia. And for what?”
She’s right. I’m risking everything for this plan, but there’s something inside of me that’s pushing me to continue. I need answers, and I need them enough to take the risk. “For answers. Just once, Olivia, I promise. Once I have some answers, we’ll pretend like it never happened.”
We stare at each other silently, both of us mulling it over.
Eventually, Olivia sighs, letting her arms go limp at her sides. “Okay, fine. I’ll help you. But if I’m going to help you, this plan needs to besolid. Seriously, no holes whatsoever.”
I grin and throw my arms around her. “Thank you, Olivia, seriously.”
We spend the next few hours concocting our strategy to get me out of the Society and to the Dark Elders.
Despite the low hum of fear settled deep in my gut since I made the decision to break out, I can’t help but feel excited at what I will find.
Chapter 5
Isit in my bedroom, lights off and eyes on my bedside clock. Olivia and I decided to enact our plan in the middle of the night when nobody should be around but a few late-shift officials. Based on stories from my father, these officials are on night watch because they tend to slack, which is helpful.
When the clock strikes 3AM, I quietly tiptoe out of my bed. I’m already dressed in black pants and a black long-sleeved shirt, so all I need to do is sneak out of my bedroom window and down to where Olivia should be waiting for me. As I shimmy out the window, I am hit with memories of sneaking out to go drinking in the woods with friends when I was younger. The touch of nostalgia makes me smile and helps to calm my nerves.
“Amelia!” a voice whispers loudly.
