Page 49 of A Brighter Yellow
“I can make it,” said Ochre. “Stop up here by the trees after you turn the corner. We’ll get out.”
The police siren in the distance was getting louder.
“People for the Trees is relying on you,” said Ochre. “We’re going to need you to not be in prison. Anna and I will be all right. You got us out of there, and that was the mission. I’m not going to leave Sue trying to organize an entire movement on her own.”
Steve smiled wryly.
“We’re going to need your help again,” said Ochre. “And you can’t help from a jail cell. Let us out. It will keep everyone safe.”
Steve took a deep breath and seemed to reach a conclusion. “Yeah, OK. Jim, stop up here on the right.”
The SUV pulled over, and Ochre opened the door. Moving was getting harder, but he knew this was the right decision. He had to protect Steve and People for the Trees. His family had led them down this path, and he they couldn’t get punished for that. He walked to the trees, letting Anna carry Charlie.
“Charlie,” said Anna, smiling at her friend. “Things are about to get a little weird.”
“About to,” gasped Charlie. “They haven’t been weird already?”
“Um…”
Anna paused, her head cocking to one side, and Ochre wanted to laugh. She looked like she was actually thinking about the answer to that.
“I mean, a little bit. But given the parameters, I’m not sure what else was supposed to happen,” Anna said.
“You are so sexy when you use words likeparameter,” said Ochre and then realized he’d said it out loud. Now really wasn’t the time, and he knew it, but he also couldn’t help thinking it.
“I promise to read your paper on climate resilience later,” said Anna. “But maybe we can focus on getting the fuck out of here?”
“I’m so confused right now,” said Charlie.
“Ochre wrote some paper on climate resilience which I will be reading while naked later. It seems very popular at your office, and with protestors and you know, everyone science-y.”
Ochre wanted to reassure Anna that he really didn’t need her to read his paper, but on the other hand, he also really wanted her to read it while naked. And also, his side hurt.
“I haven’t published anything in over a year,” said Charlie, in a tone that said she wasn’t entirely with the conversation.
“I don’t really think that publishing should be used as a way to judge an individual’s worth,” said Ochre and stepped into the in-between woods with a feeling of relief.
“Oh,” said Charlie, her head rocking around as she tried to take in the woods. “Here’s the weird. Guys, I hope you know what you’re doing because I don’t feel very good.”
Ochre felt the wound in his side split a little wider. The feeling of relief was seeping away from him.
“Ochre,” said Anna. “We’re going to need to hurry.”
“Yeah,” said Ochre, keeping his arm clamped tight against his side. “I know.”
Anna
“Anna,” said Ochre, “Anna, I’m sorry, but I’m losing focus, and I’m going to need your help.”
She wasn’t sure how long they had been in the woods, but once they had, it was as if Ochre’s injury had gotten worse, and Charlie seemed on the verge of passing out.
“I need you to concentrate. I need you to pick out a place for us to go.” Ochre’s body was curving in over the cut on his side as if he was struggling to stay upright.
The trees around them seemed to vibrate angrily, and sparkles appeared at the edge of her vision. Ochre grabbed onto her shoulder, and Anna staggered a little under the weight of both him and Charlie.
“I need you to concentrate,” he said again.
He was sweating profusely, and he seemed even more pale than he had previously. He needed help. If Anna took him home, there wasn’t anyone who would know what to do. She needed to get him someplace safe. Someplace that understood Fae and wouldn’t freak out if a shifter with a bloody human showed up on their doorstep. There was only one place she could think of that fit those criteria. Ordinarily, she would have shied away from it, but now she just felt relieved that she knew where to go.
