Chapter 22
TWENTY-TWO
I stared at the aircraft transporting my sick parents until it rounded a mountain corner and disappeared.
That was it. They were gone.
I had finally gotten them off this tiny, crowded islet and now they would, hopefully, receive the medical attention they needed to recover.
I felt relief watching them fly toward Beauchamp Hospital, but it was tainted by a nervousness I couldn’t shake. Not helped by the fact that the cause of said nervousness still stood right next to me.
“Well, all’s well that ends well, right?” Anna said, rubbing her large hands together and flashing me her signature broad grin. Her greenish, feline eyes sparkled with an enthusiasm I simply couldn’t share, despite what I’d just accomplished for my parents.
Because this wasn’t the end. It was just the beginning.
I turned away from Founders’ Isle to reluctantly face the burly woman. I wet my lower lip, trying to restore some of the moisture to my mouth.
“I guess so,” I said, my voice coming out croakier than intended.
She squeezed my shoulder. “Oh, come on, Tani. Give us a smile. You’ve just done a great thing for your parents.”
I grimaced internally but stretched my lips in an attempt to smile. It probably still came off as a grimace, though, because Anna shook her head and chuckled.
She brushed a finger against the small screen of her gold ring and brought up the time. “Hmm, 1:28 p.m.,” she mused, rolling her lips between her teeth. “The day’s still young.” She continued gazing at her ring for a moment longer, her expression thoughtful, and then her eyes returned to me.
“I suggest we take a break now for lunch. I’m happy to take you out for a meal, if you want, or perhaps you’d rather go back home to rest.”
My mind immediately latched onto the latter option. It felt like I’d spent one hour too many with Anna today.
“I’d rather go home now,” I replied. “I’ve got those waffles from earlier and I could do with some rest.”
“Alrighty then,” she replied. “I’ll fly you straight back to your island, in that case.
” She turned around and walked swiftly toward the sleek aircraft parked at the border of the islet’s platform.
It was the small, two-person jet she had used to bring us here.
Her own private plane, which she kept on a bay near the foot of Founders’ Fortress.
I followed and she pressed a button on the craft’s exterior to open the pilot’s transparent compartment. I slipped into one of the seats. It reminded me a little of the two-seater submarine pod I had been in with Hayden a week ago—except this was silver and had wings.
When the glass casing sealed us into the cockpit, Anna added, “And then, this evening, I’d like you to come to visit me up at Founders’ Fortress again.”
I gripped my seat harder. My palms suddenly felt sweatier. I knew that could only mean one thing. She wanted to begin following up on my end of the bargain.
We hadn’t talked about the induction course since we visited the bank.
After we’d dealt with the contract and set up the trust, we had immediately arranged for my parents’ transfer to Beauchamp Hospital.
I’d hoped her silence on the subject would continue until at least tomorrow.
But it seemed Anna was not going to give me that reprieve.
“The Course’s date is set for Tuesday, April the seventeenth,” Anna went on, lifting us into the air.
My stomach lurched, more from the fact that a date had already been set than from the movement of the aircraft. She had made no mention of that earlier. I didn’t even know what this induction course would entail yet.
“So, we have less than two weeks.” I tried to keep my voice calm, as if hoping it would help calm the rest of me.
“That’s right,” she replied.
“Is that enough time to prepare?”
“Absolutely,” Anna replied with a confident nod. “We managers aren’t allowed more than two weeks for training anyway—the time limit is part of the rules of our test. As I said, you called me at a good time.”
The aircraft lurched and nausea hit me. I looked straight ahead. The mountainside of Founders’ Isle sped past us. We soared over the waves toward Fraser Isle, the artificial island I inhabited but did not call home.
What Anna called a “good time” had been the worst time of my life.
“What do you want to do at the fortress this evening?” I asked, trying to keep my tone even.
“Oh, nothing strenuous,” she replied. “We need to officially register for the Course as a team. Try to be at Gate 14 by 8 p.m., and when you arrive at the reception, ask to be taken to Springs Turret.”
“Springs Turret?” I frowned.
Anna gave me an amused look. “Yes. It’s where my family lives.”
“Oh,” I said, taken aback. They had a whole “turret” to themselves? Those things looked to extend at least eight stories up into the air, surrounding the fortress’ upper heights like a massive, spiked crown.
“Yup. I guess it’s one of the perks of having a governor for a father. It’s also one of the reasons why I haven’t left home yet.” She chuckled.
A memory surfaced in my mind at the mention of her father.
I remembered, soon after we had arrived from the jungle on the islet, overhearing Anna on the phone with her father outside the crumbling outreach building.
I had only caught the tail end of their conversation, but I recalled now that she had seemed tense, and it had sounded like he was getting on her case about something work-related.
It gave the impression that he was her boss as well.
“I would come to collect you in the plane tonight,” Anna continued, “but my mechanic’s taking it in for maintenance later this afternoon, so I’m afraid you’ll have to take the shuttle.”
We both went quiet as Fraser Isle came into view. A few moments later, we landed on the dock. I stepped out into the salty wind. The dock was currently empty—just like the rest of the artificial island appeared. It was still the middle of the day and the residents would be at work.
My thoughts drifted to the rest of my family. I wasn’t sure how I would explain to my aunt and uncle what I’d just agreed to. I had signed a confidentiality agreement, so I couldn’t give them details even if I wanted to.
I would turn into Hayden, infuriatingly tight-lipped whenever they tried to press for details. Maybe now I could sympathize with how he felt every time I pushed for information about his quick achievement of bronze.
Hayden. I still didn’t know for certain what he’d actually gone through. And, even now, he likely couldn’t tell me. But I wanted to speak to him again, soon.
“Bye, Tani!” Anna called. “See you this evening!”
The glass casing sealed around her and she soared off.