Chapter 15: Taran

The moment he closes the door I'm on my feet. He's seriously underestimated me if he thinks I'll stay here like a good little pet and obey his commands. Even before coming to the Tucson Sanctuary I wasn't exactly good at following rules. I would wander off when my grandparents begged me to stay close. I've always been inquisitive, with a deep-seated need to explore my environment and make it my own.

And then, as I grew, so did my convictions and my disdain for rules that felt arbitrary and unnecessarily cruel. Losing my grandparents was the final nail in the coffin of my willingness to listen and obey without trust. I'd lost faith in any kind of authority. I was a complete hellion by the time I was placed with Xavier.

I search through the chest of drawers, looking for something more to wear. I can't wear a single shirt and nothing else during my escape. I at least need shoes. I nearly whoop out loud when I find them tucked into a bottom drawer. It looks like he's gotten rid of my other clothes, but he left my shoes. I suppose it makes sense, there's no chance I'll fit in his shoes and new shoes aren't easy to come by.

There's also no way I'm going to fit into any of his pants, I decide as I hold a pair up to my body with a grimace. While his hips are narrow, his entire frame is much larger and more muscular than mine. I'm definitely several sizes smaller. Even with a belt his pants will fall right off and trip me up. I'm going to have to go naked under the shirt. I do manage to find a good quality coat with a leather exterior and some kind of soft woolly interior. I hold it against my face for a moment, enjoying the luxury of such cloth against my skin. I pull it on and roll the sleeves back as much as I can with the stiff leather. It swamps me, but it'll protect my skin.

I rush to the window, taking silent steps on bare feet. It opens under my hands. I was fairly certain he would insist on a window that opens. While I understand his choice of the largest tower in the city for his residence, I also can't imagine the man being cooped up all the time, without escape. He looked completely at home in the desert this morning, waiting for his prey, the open country surrounding him and the dusty air swirling around his large body. If I hadn't known he was Diogo Fuentes, Warlord of New Tucson Sanctuary, I would've taken him for an Outsider; a person capable of living and surviving without Sanctuary. They often reject cities in favour of making their own way in the world. A dangerous prospect. But in some ways, with my thirst for exploration and freedom, I find it an incredibly appealing idea. If I was bigger, stronger, more skilled, I may have considered taking the Outsider path.

If there was ever a screen in the window it's now long gone. I push the window open as far as it'll go and then lean up on my toes to look out and down. We're very high up. Even higher than the wall. But there are small ledges on the windowsills all the way down. And several floors down from where I'm standing the building has a platform where I can rest.

The drop is sheer and the climb will be dangerous. I'm going to have to be incredibly careful. But I'm good at climbing, good at making my way through, up, over, and down all sorts of buildings. I've been finding shortcuts in and around the city since moving in. I'm an expert on all things structural in Sanctuary.

I take a deep breath and throw a leg through the windowsill, pulling myself out onto the ledge. I begin my descent. The climb is going to be long and I don't want to rush. My anxiety is high. I'm positive Diogo will notice me missing at any moment and come looking. The only way out of that bedroom is through the window or the door. I'm not sure if he was on the other side of the door when I left, but I'm certain he would've taken security measures before leaving me alone. This is my only escape route.

I luck out, about 10 floors down I discover a section of broken windows that I can easily reach. I drag myself toward them and carefully balance on the window ledge before dropping into the remains of what used to be an office. As I sink into a crouch to catch my breath I look around. There's a pile of old rusting chairs and rotting desks in the corner. Otherwise the place has been kept in good order and swept clean. My muscles are screaming and my hair and clothes are damp with sweat. When I stand again my legs are shaking and I have to take a few careful steps before I can go faster. I'm glad I don't have to complete the climb, it would've been torture to an already exhausted body.

I quickly find my way to the stairwell and run down as fast as I can, hoping I won't run into anyone. Once more I luck out. I push the bottom door open and burst out into the street. There are only a few people around and they glance at me curiously as I leave the residence of the Warlord. The need to leave this area is pressing. I don't look like I belong. A single comment about a woman wearing nothing but a coat, a shirt and running shoes would have me arrested again.

I take off at a run, sticking to back roads and areas I'm fairly certain the elites would avoid. Though sector one is cleaner than the others, not piled high with debris like every other section of the city, there's still the occasional dilapidated building and scrap pile. The debris grows thicker once I leave the main square surrounding the Tower. I use these heaps to cover my escape. I've never been in this sector so I don't know a way through the checkpoints that isn't direct. I have no papers and nothing for bribery.

As I approach a checkpoint I sink back into the shadows against a building. There are two security officers covering a big metal gate with razor wire all across the top. This is going to be the most watched, most secure sector in the city, housing most of the Authority, judges and elite. I'll have to figure out a way of contacting the rebels to see if they can create a distraction for me.

I'm about to turn and make my way back along the wall through the shadows when someone grabs me and yanks me into an alley. I let out a quick shriek before I'm pushed up against the wall, a hand over my mouth. I beat at the arms pinning me and try to throw an elbow into his head, but he's faster. Anticipating each move I make, almost as if he taught me how to fight back if I'm ever grabbed.

Xavier.

I collapse back against the wall and squint into the shadows. His familiar blond hair glints in the sun and his teeth flash a quick grin, turning his already handsome face downright beautiful. As soon as he feels the fight drain away from me he lifts his hand and drags me into a hug.

"Taran," he says into my neck.

"Xavier," I mumble against his shoulder. He's holding me too tight, my ribs feel like they'll crack. But I don't mind. After the day I've had, I need the security of this kind of squeeze.

He holds me away from him and grabs my face, tipping it up to his as he scans me from head to toe. He frowns at my bare legs but doesn't comment. Instead he grabs my hand and starts down the alley at a jog. "We have to get out of here. They'll be all over the checkpoints once you're discovered missing."

I try my best to not fall behind. While not as tall as Diogo, Xavier is still taller than me. His legs outpace mine by a long shot and I have to run to keep up with him. Fatigue is hitting me hard though and my head spins with dizziness as short puffs of breath burst from my mouth. I feel like I'll sleep for a week as soon as my head hits a pillow.

"How did you know where to find me?" I ask, gasping for air and clutching my side with my free hand.

"The guy I have at headquarters said they had the Wren in custody. Said you were taken out with Fuentes and that the Judge was sent to his place."

I gape at his back. The Judge left Diogo's place just over an hour ago. I'd known Xavier had people inside the Authority, but he must've moved incredibly quick to get into Sector One and watch for me to make a move toward escape. But that's Xavier. Always planning, always ready for every scenario. "Thank you for coming for me."

He glances over his shoulder and laughs, his brown eyes sparkling with mischief. This is something I'd always loved about Xavier. His ability to find humour in the most grim situations. "I wasn't about to leave my best people smuggler in the hands of the Authority without checking in. You could've been sentenced to death."

"I was sentenced to death. Fuentes had the sentence commuted. But how did you know to get over here so quickly? Who's your inside guy?" Xavier's always held his information close, never sharing, not even with me, his closest associate and wife. He believes that information has power; the power to do good and the power to harm. He would tell me that he didn't want me getting hurt. I wondered though, was he protecting me or himself. Information can be extracted under torture.

He slows to a walk, his hand still holding mine in a tight grip. He caresses the back of mine with his thumb. "I can't tell you, especially now."

"Why especially now? What's happening now?" I look around and realize that we've made our way back around to Diogo's building. "What are we doing here?" I ask, tugging at my hand. I should be running as fast as I can in the opposite direction. Once Diogo discovers I'm missing he'll send people out right away to look for me.

Xavier stops walking and turns to me, pushing me back into the shadows. His face looks anguished, but his eyes have a manic spark to them. A spark I've seen many times while he was in the pursuit of a goal, letting nothing and no one get in his way. My stomach sinks. I'm not going to like his reason for bringing me here.

"I want you to go back."