Chapter 62: The Town

When he's made himself presentable, he snatches me by my elbow and pulls me from the room. Moderators are everywhere, lining the halls, clenching rifles in their hands. As we close in on the stairs, I peer over the bannister and see more moderators. They watch the uneasy house Unfortunates as they go about their jobs.

“Kade,” I whisper, terrified.

“Don't say a word,” he murmurs. He escorts me through the manor like a prisoner. His grip is tight and punishing, his demeanour different to what it was moments ago when we were enjoying a morning coffee. He rushes me out the front doors and into the bright morning sun. I squint and struggle to keep up with his long, purposeful strides as he ushers us into a breathtaking horse-drawn carriage. From its golden frame to its black woodwork, from its large wheels to the two sleek, black Dutch Draft horses with bright blue binary codes in their eyes, it's perfect. Like the carriage in every princess story I’ve ever read.