The road curves through dense forest, a mix of evergreens and bare branches on either side of us. In some places they meet overhead, like we’re in a tunnel. The wind whips through my hair and I scrape it off my face.
‘This was all farmland once,’ says my driver, shouting over the noise of the road.
‘Really?’ I blink, peering through the tangle of trees. There are darker shapes back there, humped buildings, a flash of red brick. I wonder whether anyone ever goes back to them.
‘Yes, so my father told me. There are houses in there, too, you know. Whole villages swallowed up. And other things. You’d know that, I guess, if you are who you are.’
But I don’t know. The Rising is a proud part of my people’s history. I’d never considered how much had been lost.
‘You still don’t believe me?’
My driver glances at me. ‘About who you are?’ He shakes his head, half-smiling. ‘Well, you seem pretty convinced.’
‘My parents really haven’t alerted the guards that I’m missing?’ I find this hard to believe.
His smile slides away. ‘They could have. But not us.’
Realisation dawns. Another shitty, shitty realisation. ‘B-because you’re…’
‘Human.’
This is crazy – why the hell would my parents not have told all the Raven guards to look out for me?Because their world is a world of night.Another thing I want to change.
There’s a bottle in the centre console, dark green with a narrow top, liquid sloshing in it. My mouth prickles with thirst.
‘Please, can I have some of your drink?’
‘What’s that?’ He leans closer to me and I notice a small red pin on his collar, a flower.
I shout louder. ‘Your drink. Can I have some?’
‘Help yourself,’ he says, with a nod.
I do, relieved to find it’s water. I drink too much at first, coughing so hard he takes a hand off the steering wheel and bangs me on the back. My bread is gone, lost at the guard hut, but the water is like cool heaven trickling down my throat.
‘Thanks.’ I pop the lid back on, replacing the bottle in the console.
We drive for a while longer, neither of us saying anything. I relax, everything blurring slightly. The trees give way to houses, shuttered against the day, then businesses, shops and bars and cafés, all of them closed, the face of the town covered as though with a veil.
My rescuer pulls the vehicle to a halt next to the kerb, the engine grinding, gravel crunching. We’re outside the Dome. Strange to be back here, where it all began.
‘This is your stop,’ he says.
There’s so much I want to ask him. But all I say is, ‘Thank you. So much. For everything.’
He smiles. ‘You make sure you wait here. Ira, who owns this place—’ he jabs a thumb towards the Dome ‘—well, he’s pretty sympathetic to humans. Raven are often here. Don’t go anywhere else, though – after nightfall it’ll be suicide.’
I don’t want to wait. I want to go home. By nightfall I’m sure the place will be crawling with Raven guards, but there’s no guarantee they’ll find me first.
I open the door and climb out. ‘How far is it?’
‘How far is what?’ He’s about to drive away.
‘The estate. Raven.’
‘Oh, not too far. Ten miles or so up the road.’ He points. ‘Just stay here, though.’
‘Can you take me?’
