Page 52 of The Wonder of You

Anything.

How can he be expected to just sit here and wait?

Amending his jacket, he puts his trainers on and leaves the cabin.

The circus is on a break in their own world, so he’s not surprised that Henry comes running over to him almost instantly, as if he has had a constant watchful eye on the cabin, waiting for the moment Phoenix walks out and into potential danger.

“What’s going on?” he asks, frantically.

“Can I not leave my cabin, Henry?” Phoenix asks, his eyes straight ahead looking out onto the rolling fields.

“Of course, you can, but don’t try to convince me something isn’t going on in there.” Henry taps Phoenix’s forehead. He hopes the poor man will smile, but his sombre expression stays the same.

“I am going for a walk.” Phoenix strolls forward; his shoulders slumped as if he’s carrying the weight of the world.

“Alright, I’ll come with you.” Henry declares, quickening his pace to catch up with Phoenix who appears to be on a mission rather than on a gentle walk. However, he stops in his tracks and puts his hand out to Henry.

“I’d like to go alone.”

“No, Phoenix. No. I’m not stupid. You won’t go alone,” Henry sighs, but his posture straightens as he speaks again. “You will not go out of my sight. I am sorry to treat you as if you are a child, but after everything… I cannot possibly let you go off on your own.”

“I can handle myself,” Phoenix replies, but his weak voice betrays him. He runs his hand through his messy tangled hair and tries to count to five. He has a plan; he can’t lose his cool now.

“I’m worried about what you might do. Let me come with you. I won’t ask questions, just let me come.” Henry smiles sympathetically. Phoenix knows that although Henry is talking softer now, posing his words as a plea, he’ll still join him either way. It’s a hopeless battle. So, Phoenix shrugs and walks off into the woods with Henry hurrying after him. A quick glance back at the campsite and Henry sees the worried faces of Lukas and Toni as they watch the pair leaving. He nods at them.

He has no idea what Phoenix is planning on doing, but he will follow him. He will follow him wherever he goes.

Phoenix walks ahead.

Henry follows.

On and on.

He has no idea how much time has passed, but the walk feels as if it’s taking forever.

He doesn’t tire easily, but he’s starting to wish he brought some water. Maybe a blanket so he could take a nap. He can’t let Phoenix out of sight, though, and the man doesn’t appear to be slowing down.

They step over broken branches, skip over streams and stumble over rocky terrain.

Henry tries to get a tiny rock out of his shoe. He trips in the process, but to his surprise, he doesn’t hit the ground. He manages to steady himself as he bumps into Phoenix’s back.

Phoenix stands still, looking at the sight in front of him. His breathing is heavy. His fingers tap away on his leg to calm himself down.

“What’s going on?” Henry questions, but then he glances upwards. “Oh… Phoenix. This isnota good idea.”

Henry is not scared of anyone. He’s come up against all sorts of people in his time. Those much bigger than him. Those who come with armies behind them. Henry will fight; he will even kill if he has too.

But there is one person he knows he couldn’t take on if it came to it.

He doesn’t think he could even try. He’d probably be dead within seconds.

Henry puffs the air out of his cheeks as he anxiously stares at the mansion house ahead of them.

Chapter 38

Phoenix and Henry stand outside the mansion house as if they’ve shown up for a business meeting. The place is… well, extraordinary. Henry pictures the mansion hosting the circus in the extensive green gardens. How amazing would that look? The imposing building in the background, the tall trees hovering over them…Henry can only begin to imagine how spectacular it would be.

As the sky turns grey, a clash of thunder startles him. It sends a shock wave throughout his whole body, heightening his sense of fear, his sense of impending doom. A crack of thunder and lightning on a perfectly clear day could mean only one thing.

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