“It doesn’t matter,” Ardin said, offering a strict look to Avienne, who simply shrugged him off. “Without you, Lumpy and I wouldn’t have gotten out, so we’ll consider it a trade-off.”
Layela nodded and smiled gratefully. Still, as she leaned back against her seat and closed her eyes for a moment, she wondered how safe she would be. Even if she was inclined to trust Ardin, how far could he take her? She would still need money and identification. She sighed and listened to Ardin and Avienne bicker softly up front as Lang moaned pathetically. She would stick with them for now, she would get off this planet, she would find Yoma and make sure she was all right...and then she would strangle her.
She allowed herself a slight smile as she opened her eyes again, the familiar landscape of the streets of Collar stretching everywhere around them. Maybe the Three Fates were smiling on her today, after all.
She focused on the city, bidding farewell again to its dark and dirty streets, when the nearby building and landmarks turned her blood cold. She felt the Three Fates turn their backs on her.
“We have to make one quick stop first,” Ardin said. The shuttle whined and landed before an all-too familiar shop, blooms sparkling and dancing in the window.
Layela felt her empty stomach lurch in dread and forced herself not to echo Lang’s moans.
“All right,” Ardin exhaled loudly. “Let’s try our luck one more time.”
Avienne grinned and turned around. “My brother doesn’t take rejection lightly.” She winked at Layela, who forced herself to smile back. So, the two were siblings. Good to know, but it didn’t explain why they had landed in front of Sunrise Flowers.
“How will we convince her?” Avienne asked her brother as she put a jacket on.
“I’ll do the convincing, you do the shopping,” he said, indicating with a slight motion of his chin to the AtmoShop on the other side of the street.
“Oh no!” exclaimed Avienne. “You had all the fun at the prison. My turn to play! Besides, I think the Berganda and I could be friends!”
Layela fidgeted in her seat and fought the urge to shout questions. She couldn’t reveal that she knew the Berganda. What could they possibly want with Josmere? Visions of the Three Fates blocking Josmere’s airways in a small windowless gassing room invaded her mind.
“Don’t tell me,” retorted Ardin, “that you’re bored enough to think that a jailbreak involving gunfire is fun!”
Avienne smiled broadly, Ardin groaned, and Lang moaned and lurched, thankfully turning the other way before gagging. Putrid smells invaded the shuttle.
“All right, fine,” Avienne said. “You have fun with the Berganda, but be careful. I’ll do the shopping so we can escape quickly afterwards. As a trade-off for my generosity, you get to clean Lang’s mess later.”
She was out of the shuttle and into the AtmoShop before Ardin could utter a syllable of protest, so he opted for a few choice curses instead.
“Sorry,” he mumbled, realizing Layela was still there. He winced as he looked back at Lang, who had fallen asleep and seemed quite content.
“I’ll be right back, possibly with an extra passenger,” he said, locking the shuttle controls before stepping out.
So much for stealing the shuttle, she thought, watching him enter her well-lit and colourful shop. Her heart lurched once for Josmere, and once for the dream that stood right before her, impossibly out of reach.
Concentrate on what you can change, she scolded herself as she pushed the release latch, relieved when the side door opened.
I guess they don’t care if I leave, so long as I don’t steal the shuttle.
She wasn’t sure what the siblings wanted with Josmere, but she seriously doubted it was a social call, and she certainly didn’t intend on leaving her friend without help. Josmere had her faults, but lack of loyalty was not among them.
Careful to make sure Avienne would not see her from across the street, Layela followed the familiar pavement, ignoring her weary legs and her aching ribs. She avoided the front door, opting instead to head down the small alley by the shop that led to the back. If she could gain some measure of surprise, it would be to her advantage. She hoped Ardin wasn’t the enemy, but should he be, she was well aware after seeing him in action at the jail that he would not easily be taken down.
The back door was unlocked, a bad habit of Josmere’s, who insisted locked doors only encouraged thieves to try their luck. If Layela had not been so worried about the welfare of her friend, this blatant disregard would have angered her.
Layela crouched and snuck in, barely registering the smell of the blooms as she crossed the threshold. The old floor was wood, but solidly built. When Layela had first visited the building she remembered being disappointed that the floors didn’t creak, imagining an old home with no fear of speaking its secrets. Now, she was grateful for the blessing as she measured her breaths, crossing the small storage area, automatically noting which flowers would need re-ordering and which ones needed watering. Despite practically being a plant herself, Josmere certainly didn’t seem to know much about tending to them when they weren’t in fields.
Voices rang up front and she recognized Josmere as one of them and the second as Ardin’s. Layela crept forward. The door leading to the counter of the shop was partially opened, and she didn’t want to be spotted before she was armed. She was glad that Yoma had insisted a gun be kept in the growing room for safety reasons.
You can’t erase your past and you shouldn’t forget the lessons you’ve learned, Layela! Yoma’s anger still rang in her mind, so rare an anger that Layela had quickly conceded to keeping the weapon.
I don’t want to be afraid anymore, Yoma.
She reached behind the largest Booknot
