Chapter 6.4

That day, Raven had someone visit the ward. She wasn't one of the whitelisted or even one of the militants, she was some sort of researcher. She just suddenly appeared and started talking to the children almost too kindly it was bordering on patronising.

I first noticed her try her luck with Tasmin, but the girl scowled at her and refused to speak. It didn't help that she'd unwittingly stepped on her Fox's tail. I watched her from a distance, go from child to child, asking them their names and about their shadow's. She didn't have much luck until she got to a chatty boy named Harry. I think he was the one who started the fantasy about chocolate cake. He was more than happy to talk to her, and she appeared quite happy about it.

"Hi my name is Lucy, what's yours?"

"Harry."

"And you shadow pet?"

"Jen" he grinned at his shadow which appeared to be a ferret-like animal. Harry picked him up from the stomach and he flopped either side of his hand, the wriggled so he was slipping out of his palm. Harry caught him with his other hand and Jen did it again; it appeared to be some sort of game they played, and finally, Jen was just too quick, and Harry failed to catch him. He flopped onto the bed and rolled onto his back, brushing his back against the covers. Harry stroked his belly and I wondered if it felt the same way as Shadow, or if he really was soft like a real ferret.

"I can't see him, can you tell me what he looks like? I bet he's awesome."

"He is awesome. Why can't you see him? He's right there." He pointed to Jen.

"I don't have a shadow so I can't see them."

"So, you're not a Shadow master? I did wonder where your shadow was. Don't worry neither is Theo, Bella or Anna."

"Shadow master? Is that what you call yourself?"

"Me and my friend decided that's what we should be called." He gestured to the boy next to him, who had his blanket up to his chin and trying his hardest to look like he was asleep. I chuckled to myself because it wasn't very convincing, and he clearly didn't want to talk to her.

"So what does Jen look like?"

I watched as his shadow ferret wormed his way up the sheets and rested across his neck like a scarf. Harry reached up to tickle his head but it must have looked like he was stroking the air to her.

"Well… He's a ferret and he's all black like the other shadows."

"What can he do?"

"Ferret stuff. He's a good climber and he really likes swimming."

"I see. And what do the other kid's shadows look like?"

He gazed around and listed them off on his fingers. "Jacey and Finley both have cats. Kate has a tiny horse, but she could probably ride on it because she's really small. Peta has a monkey… Ruka's is a bit like a squirrel but a bit different. Tazmin has a fox and Tyler has a tiny bat. Tommy has a dog and Ezra-" he noticed me watching him and he waved enthusiastically. I deemed that my queue to jump into the conversation and intervene before he gave her any more information that Raven could use.

"Hi Harry. What are you chatting about?"

She opened her mouth, but before she could say anything Harry jumped in with "she asked me about our shadows and how awesome Jen is."

"I was just curious." She added nervously. Sure you were.

"Ezra's shadow is the biggest. He's like…" he stretches above his head with his hand, "this tall." He catches himself before he topples over. "We were scared at first, but they helped us escape so we're not scared anymore."

"Why were you scared?" she asked.

He looked at her as if she was crazy, "we just were… I'm hungry." He interrupted.

"I can go and get you something nice to eat." She offers.

"I can take him. Should we go for a walk to the canteen?" I asked. I held out my hand and he gladly took it, climbing out of his bed.

It was the first time since arrival that he'd left the medical ward, so he hummed with excitement and pulled me along even though he didn't know the way. When I looked back, Lucy was still knelt at his bed, looking slightly dejected.

Outside the ward, hushed whispers followed us wherever we went. Some shot us suspicious looks, while others were outright hostile and glared at us from afar. I wondered what rumours had spread in such a short space of time. Thankfully Harry didn't seem to notice.

The canteen wasn't busy when we'd got there, it was mid-afternoon; too late for most people's lunch but too early for dinner.

"Hello, young man. What's it to be?" The cook asked, as it was off-peek, it was only the cook and one other on duty. I noticed her children sat in the kitchen playing in the corner. They didn't notice us.

"Do you have any chocolate cake?" Harry brazenly asked.

"Unfortunately, not-"

"I heard that you did a really nice raisin flapjack." I intervened.

"I have two slices left from lunch."

"Well, it's not chocolate cake, but it does sound good." He replied, and we both tried not to laugh at his blunt attitude. We sat at one of the empty tables to eat our dessert; Harry proceeded to try and eat off all the raisins he could see before eating the main cake.

"Disguising." A passing man muttered; despite there being many empty seats, and no reason for him and his colleague to barge past ours to get to a seat.

"Excuse me?" I blurted; I felt my blood rush to my cheeks in embarrassment as he turned to me.

"I won't excuse you." He hissed.

"What's that meant to mean?" I stood and I felt my hackles rise. It was one thing to mutter behind our backs, it was another to spit atrocities in a child's face. Harry timidly looked at us in confusion, his happiness vanished, and his flapjack was placed back on the plate, despite seconds ago devouring it.

"Are you even human? You shouldn't even be here." His friend tries to pull him away, but he shakes him off.

"And why shouldn't we be here? Do we not have the same rights as you?"

"God knows what Garlantia did to you, how do we know those monsters won't kill us in our sleep?"

I spluttered, unable to hold back and laughed in his face, "that's ridiculous!"

"Is it?" he glared, "I heard what you did to get those kids back." My heart plummeted as I finally understood what he was talking about. What Seargent saw that day must have gotten out and circulated amongst the compound. Now the rest of the kids will be held accountable for what I did. Now that story has circulated, the fact that most of them have domesticated animals as shadows wouldn't see the light of day. They'll fixate on the most extreme story and probably continue to blow it out of proportion.

"Is everything okay over there?" the cook called.

"Mummy monster is calling." He grinned.

"Let's go." The other man managed to pull him away just as the cook levelled with us.

"Did something happen?" she asked, watching them leave.

"I didn't realise the rumours had got this bad."

"What did they say?" she asked grimly.

"Are we monsters?" Harry asked timidly.

"Oh no, honey. You're not a monster." She pulled him into a hug, and he returned it, squeezing her tightly. "they've survived a terrible ordeal and now bigots can't keep their mouths shut." She tutted. "Just try and ignore them, dear." She patted his head and glared after the two men.

If it was just me, I would be inclined to agree, but it wasn't, and I couldn't. If rumours and prejudice had spread this far, this quickly, then it was only going to get worse. The men in the shower and now, here in the canteen- things weren't looking good.

"We should get back. Harry, do you want to take it with you?"

He nodded slightly, and gently picked it up.