Someone knocked on the door. From the way the others instantly raised their heads, they’d been lying awake too. Max, Artan, Matilda, William, Olga, Hawk, and Dianna had all chosen to share a room despite being offered separate accommodation. They didn’t know this place, and until they did, they were better together.
Olga spoke in a croaky voice. “Come in.”
But the door remained closed, and the person knocked again.
Olga called louder this time. “Come in!”
Gracie replied, the closed door muffling her response, “You have to let me in.”
Artan groaned as he got out of bed. The boy had stamina and strength, but he hid it in his slim frame. Wiry, every bone in his body visible, he’d yet to reach the age where he’d changed from boy to man. Their sparse diet over the past few weeks hadn’t helped.
Crack! Artan slammed his palm against the panel in the wall. The door slid open.
A slight flush to her pale skin, Gracie looked down before looking into Artan’s eyes. She then focused anywhere but on the boy. William smiled and raised his eyebrows at Matilda.
“Uh …” Gracie said, “breakfast’s ready.” She turned her back on the room. “I’ll wait outside for you to get changed.”
Olga laughed. “You sure you don’t want more of an eyeful?”
Gracie walked away.
The dining hall was a functional space. The same daylight bulbs lit the room, which had rows of benches and tables throughout to accommodate what appeared to be a large community. There were already at least two hundred people in the room. Every one of them watched William and the others enter the hall.
Olga spoke from the side of her mouth, loud enough for everyone to hear. “Well, this is awkward.”
Gracie led them to one corner of the room. As he walked behind her, weaving through the tables, William’s stomach rumbled and his mouth watered.
There were seven plates laden with food. William sat down and lifted a bread roll. Still warm, he tore it open, releasing a waft of steam. They each had a small bowl on their plate filled with strawberry jam. He spread a chunk on his roll and shoved the entire thing into his mouth.
Gracie smiled. “For a small community, we eat well.”
“I can see that.”
“Now enjoy.” Smiling again, Gracie left them to eat.
For about ten minutes, they ate without talking to one another. Partly because of their hunger, partly because of their lack of privacy. They were still the most exciting thing to walk into the dining hall that morning. However, each of them tried to talk to the children who approached them. Wordless in their curiosity at the new people to enter their community, not a single one replied, and it didn’t take long for a parent or guardian to come over, wince a silent apology, and drag their child back to their seat.
William smiled at Matilda. “It’s nice to see some normal families again. To see kids being kids. I didn’t realise just how much I’ve missed that.”
Silence swept through the room. A monster of a man entered. Much like the guard on the gate the previous evening, but older. He also stood about six feet five inches tall. Broad shouldered, his dark black hair had flecks of grey running through it. He had large features and wore a deep scowl. The guard from the previous evening followed him in. They must have been father and son.
Militant in his approach, his son a carbon copy, the large man stopped in front of William and thrust out his hand. “Pleased to meet you. I’m Jan, Gracie’s father.”
William’s throat dried.
“I want to thank you for getting Gracie back to me.”
Despite his words, his expression remained unchanged. Stoic.
After nodding several times, seeing none of his friends would talk for him, William said, “It’s fine.”
“This is Gracie’s brother, Austin.”
Unlike his father, Austin didn’t offer William or any of the others his hand.
“We owe you a great debt and would like to extend our hospitality to you for as long as you’d like it.”
William looked at Austin. Maybe he imagined the slight raising of his lip. The faintest snarl. “Thank you?” He said. More a question than a show of gratitude.
“Dad, Austin.” Gracie came into the room, her voice echoing in the otherwise silent hall. Every person in there seemed to hold their breath. “I thought you were going to wait for me?”
The slightest softening of her dad, he said, “We couldn’t find you, sweetheart.”
Gracie made her way through the tables to the group. “Sorry, I was hoping to introduce you formally. And to tell you to ignore Austin. He always looks miserable.”
Clearly her older brother, Austin’s expression remained unchanged.
“He’s a sweetheart when you get to know him.”
Hawk raised an eyebrow. “I’ll take your word for that.”
Olga snorted a laugh.
“Anyway.” Jan clapped his hands, the connection whipping around the room like a thunder crack. “Please treat this place like your own for as long as you see fit. I’ll look forward to getting to know you all better.”
As Gracie’s brother and dad left the hall, Gracie sat down at the table.
“I know he just welcomed us,” Artan said, “but nothing else about your dad or brother looked pleased to see us here.”
Gracie batted the air with her hand. “He lightens up when you get to know him better.”
“And Austin?” Olga said.
“He doesn’t. He’s always serious. Always angry.”
Olga raised an eyebrow. “Sounds like a sweetheart.”
“He’s loyal,” Gracie said. “He’ll have your back whenever you need it.”
“Our back, or your back?” Olga said.
William cut in. “Should we be moving on, Gracie?”
She shook her head. “No. Not at all. Dad meant what he said. You’re welcome here and you’re our guests. Please stay as long as you’d like. We want you here.”
“But we’re closer to the wall. We’ve had a rest. I think we should move on.” Even as William said it, the aches in his body throbbed as if in protest.
“Look, just
