NOAH
Dad pulled up to the commune and Scarlett froze. For thirty minutes, she’d said nothing to either of us and stared out of the window in a daze. I was worried that she was in shock—of course she was in shock. Before she turned into stone, she’d cried nonstop from the second she found out. Every sob was like a deep cut to my skin. I felt her pain like we were one person.
I wanted to ask if she was okay, but I knew I was the last person in the world she wanted to talk to. Her eyes that were usually so full of light and happiness were cold and empty. She hadn’t looked at me much, but when she had, it was with hate and contempt. That wasn’t the girl I knew and loved. But it was nothing I didn’t deserve.
“Here we are,” Dad said. “Are you ready to be reunited with your parents, Scarlett?”
She glared at him. Her skin was pale, but around her eyes was red and blotchy. She looked like she was going to be sick. I wanted to take her and run again.
“Scarlett,” I said softly, “it’s going to be all right.”
“How?” she spat, finally looking at me. I was momentarily stunned by how much darker her eyes looked. It was like a punch to the gut. She may well be the Light, but it’d definitely gone from her eyes.
I felt as sick as she looked.
People started to gather and walk toward the car, led by Donald and Fiona. They all looked so excited; our savior was here. Only I wasn’t sure she was—not for Eternal Light anyway, but perhaps she was mine.
Scarlett saw everyone walking, and her eyes widened in alarm. “Please take me back. Please. I swear I won’t say anything, just take me back to town, and I’ll find my own way home. Shaun, please.”
“Shh, it’s all right now. You are home,” Dad said.
She shook her head, eyes filling with more tears that took my breath away. I wasn’t at all ready for how I felt seeing her upset.
Turning to me, she whispered, “Noah, please.”
I’d never felt so low in all my life. Even after everything I’d done, she still turned to me. I knew it was only out of desperation, but she still relied on me.
“I promise you, it’ll be fine,” I said. I didn’t know how yet, but there had to be a way. She didn’t believe my words. I wasn’t sure if I believed them either.
“Don’t do this. You told me you love me, and I loved you. Please don’t let them hurt me.”
That was out of my control entirely. I didn’t get to make decisions for the community. We did that as a whole and there was no way I’d be able to convince them to postpone. They’d wanted this for years. It would be like asking a child to wait a week after Christmas to open his presents.
Her door was opened by Donald, and she shouted no and leaped into the middle of the backseat, wedging me against my door.
“Scarlett, it’s okay,” Donald said, staring at her in amazement. No one could quite believe she was finally with us again.
“Hey,” I said. “I’m going to get out my side, and I want you to follow me. It’s going to be all right, just come with me.”
She laughed without humor. “Why would I trust you ever again? Get away from me. All of you freaks, just leave me alone!”
“Scarlett.” Donald’s tone was sterner. “You have nothing to fear. We are not going to hurt you. Please do as Noah asked or take my hand.”
She pressed back against my side, and I opened the door, grabbing her hand and taking her with me. Malcolm and Drew grabbed her, so she wouldn’t get the chance to run. We were out in the middle of nowhere, and she didn’t even know which way was north; there was no way running would do her any good.
“Get off,” she yelled, thrashing in their grip. “Noah! Get them off. Let me go. Get off! Get off!”
I couldn’t stand there and watch her like that. I took off, going back to my house, leaving her to be carried into Donald and Fiona’s kicking and screaming. I hated myself and had never felt lower.
Flopping down on my bed, I growled into the pillow, pulling my hair. Everything felt hopeless now. What was I going to do when Scarlett wasn’t walking around on this planet anymore? Her happiness was my happiness.
It took me ten minutes to compose myself. I knew I didn’t have long. I was supposed to be over the moon about her being back. When I stepped outside the house having changed, I was greeted like a king. Friends came up and hugged me. My community thanked me and told me how incredible I was for pulling it off and getting her home.
I had a hero’s welcome but I didn’t feel like a hero.
I felt like the devil.
Scarlett had struggled in Donald and Fiona’s grip, but they’d managed to get her in their house. I knew they took her inside straightaway to prevent her running and so that they could explain. They’d want to do that alone, but I didn’t like being separated. As much as she hated me right now, I was one of the only people she knew here.
“Noah, well done. Didn’t I tell you you’re the best man for the job?” Zeke said, slapping me on the shoulder. Zeke was a year older than me and it had either been me or him going to England to get Scarlett. I was closest to Scarlett’s age though, and Zeke did look older than he was. I had a better chance at blending in with fifteen- and sixteen-year-olds.
Smiling, I nodded and replied, “You did. At least she’s here now.” I half wished it had been him that did it, so I wouldn’t have to carry around as much guilt as I was. She deserved better than how I’d treated her.
“I know you were nervous, but I never had any doubt. This is it, Noah. This is what we have been waiting for.”
He was absolutely correct; this was everything we’d worked for, everything we believed. But it didn’t feel right anymore.
“I know. Hard to believe it’s finally happening after years and years of planning.”
I remembered it all. The planning and discussions. When was the best time to get her? Some thought right away, but Donald and Fiona wanted her to understand what was going on. But we couldn’t leave it another four years for the next cycle to be complete. It was easier to get her away from her parents, but if we’d have waited until she was twenty, she could’ve had a boyfriend.
Logically, I knew I wasn’t her boyfriend anymore; she hadn’t said anything but I knew the second she found out she’d ended our relationship, but I still felt like it. The whole thing was only supposed to be for show, but I couldn’t fool myself. It was much, much more than that.
Ironic how she started out being the only one really into us as a couple and now that was me.
“You all right?” he asked. “You don’t look very pleased.”
I wasn’t rejoicing like they were, that’s what he was questioning. I couldn’t let anyone know I was having doubts. Well, I could—everyone would be there for me and help me through it, but I didn’t feel like Eternal Light lessons right now.
“Yes, I’m fine. Sorry, it’s just been a very long day. I’ve missed home, and honestly, lying to so many people, even strangers, didn’t feel great.”
He winced. “Sorry. I should have thought. It couldn’t have been easy being away and everything else you had to do. You weren’t lying for selfish reasons though, Noah. You were doing good.”
“I was. It feels good to have her here, be home, and not have to lie anymore.” So why was I still lying?
“Do you want to grab a drink? My dad made another batch of pear cider yesterday and it’s his best yet.”
No, I wanted to go and check on Scarlett, but I knew I couldn’t do that yet. I smiled, making it as genuine as I could. “You have no idea how good that sounds. The mass-produced stuff is nothing like Kian’s.”
“I’ll bet.”
Kian and his wife, Marley, were over on their porch, handing out the cider. Zeke strolled up and grabbed two that his mum handed him.
“We’re so proud of you, Noah,” Marley said. Her sentiments were echoed again by everyone who was around us.
“Thank you,” I replied, taking a sip. “Do you know when my mum and Finn will arrive?”
“We spoke to them about half an hour ago and their ferry had just arrived. They’re going a different route though, to make it look like they’re headed for Shannon airport.”
My dad was doing that as well. After dropping us off, he was going to head to Cork airport in the hope that the car would be spotted on a security camera and lead police to think we’d left Ireland.
We weren’t stupid. Once Jonathan and Marissa discovered Scarlett wasn’t at Imogen’s, they would call the police. Eventually the police would find out where we’d taken her. I had no doubt that they’d call the police, despite what it would do to them. They loved Scarlett and put her life before theirs. They were nothing like Eternal Light.
An hour later, Fiona came out of her house looking as calm and composed as ever. Scarlett’s clear distress hadn’t bothered her at all. For me, it felt like taking a knife.
I held my hand up, leaped to my feet, and jogged over to her.
“How is she?” I asked.
“She is doing well, Noah.”
“Can I see her?”
I hoped she didn’t pick up on how desperate I was. Scarlett had every right to hate me, and when we met again, I knew it wouldn’t go how I wanted it to, but I had to see her.
“I don’t think that is a good idea,” Donald said, shutting his front door behind him. My parents had stopped beside me too. Why did I get the feeling that I was being kept away from her?
“Why not?”
“Noah,” Dad said, “I know you’ve formed a friendship with her, but it’s unlikely that she will want to see you until Donald and Fiona have had a chance to explain and educate her.”
Well, how long would that take? Once the rituals started, she had just seven days. Would I get the chance to talk to her at all before she was gone? The thought filled me with dread. I hated that I might not get to hear her voice again.
“I understand that she’s angry with me, but she really doesn’t know anyone here. She knows me and surely we don’t want her to feel alone?”
“Absolutely,” Donald said, smiling. “We all want exactly that, Noah, but she’s not even been here three hours yet. It is too soon. Give us today to talk to her, and tomorrow we will bring her out in the community before the rituals start. All right?”
I didn’t like it. Donald’s words used to be gospel. I believed everything he said, but now he didn’t satisfy the questions I had. And there were a lot of questions.
“All right, I respect that. I just want this to be as easy on her as possible. She’s a good person.”
Fiona touched my arm. “We understand how you feel and know your intentions are good. You will get to see her and spend time together before the ceremony. We promise.”
Now I was confused. In my community, you never made a promise you couldn’t keep. Never. Even though I was questioning Eternal Light, I knew that Fiona would not break that promise. Were they telling the truth when they said no for now?