The fifteen minute novel continues as Anna leaves the city behind…
Day 25: Anna realized as she walked that she should have left months ago.
Anna realized as she walked that she should have left months ago. She knew she was done with the research and needed to seek out the lost archives but was putting it off because she was finally comfortable. In fact when she finished packing her bags the night before she realized most of her run items were geared towards the trip already. Even if she hadn’t admitted it to herself, she knew she was leaving.
‘But I can return.’
She thought of the pardon she had in the bottom of her bag. It was still sealed so any trackers could not become active, but the pardon was genuine. She had been forgiven of wrongdoing.
‘Even though I did nothing wrong,’ Anna reminded herself. ‘It just took them this long to realize it.’ She continued on the path, her course was due east so for now she was walking towards the sun. She knew if she continued due east she would intersect the old road. As she walked, Anna wondered if they realized they were wrong or just now found herself in a position where they needed her.
She didn’t think she was a necessary part of society, but from the overheard conversation others seemed to need her.
‘For information I don’t have,’ she reminded herself. Even though her family had been involved with the Devra for centuries, she was never initiated. She never learned the rites and rituals. In fact she had very little clue about what was actually involved or what it really was. She thought it was some secret society that had meetings. She thought it a way to claim exclusivity to certain clubs and locations. Places they could go while excluding others. She somehow suspected that if people were looking for her because of it then it was more than a social club.
‘And I doubt anyone is going to believe that I was raised around the members but still know nothing.’
Anna shook her head. It was yet another reason to leave. ‘As if I really needed more,’
She shook off thoughts of what she was running from and who might be charging after her with practiced ease. Thus far she was quite successful at staying ahead of those chasing her and was always able to spot when they grew too close. The incident the day before was closer than they ever got before.
‘Which shows I have been too complacent,’ Anna told herself. ‘And that I overstayed.’
She was careful leaving and at the moment they might still think she was just late to the archives today. Anna wondered if they would still try and meet her after her working hours or if they would automatically think she ran and resume the search.
Anna didn’t know. The pardon might change things, at least in their minds. She looked at the sun. It was still low in the sky. Perhaps seeking them out when the day was a little longer would not go amiss. ‘By lunchtime I will be far enough from the city to feel comfortable stopping.’
Ten til Midnight 