"We were so far apart, yet so near and we didn't even know it..."
"And look how far we've come..."
And at that moment, as he slipped the ring onto my finger, I knew, it was him from the beginning. Just him and me.
"Forever?"
...
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Ivory's pov
The girls lunchtime bell rung way earlier than I expected it to, although after inspecting the clock I realised that the hour hand was well on 12 o'clock. A wide, mischievous grin spread on my face as I caught eyes with Hetty who raised her eyebrows reaching a hand into her apron and half pulling out a folded piece of paper addressed 'to whom it may concern' in pretty cursive writing.
My stomach flipped giddily. The plan was still in action. Hastily, I shoved the sheets I was folding into a nearby basket followed by an
"Oi!"
Mary pushed them off her. She was so tired since she was having nightmares about Hetty and I getting caught and the unimaginable consequences we would face. I'd be lying if I said they didn't scare me to but Mary needed reassurance. Plastering on my best brave face, I picked the small girl out of the basked and placing her on the floor.
"Come on! Time for lunch!" I said cheerily.
Mary's face turned pale, she was uneasy as she knew what was about to unfold. It was risky as anything but anywhere was better than this place.
We walked in a single file line into the dining hall, my heart pounding inside my ribs.
Was this really happening? We're we really going to escape tonight?
Mathias' pov
The trip and push scenario was one we often used, usually for simple tasks such as getting out of chores or marches. But this time it was different. The stakes were a lot higher.
We need that letter from Hetty. It was a chance of a new life for us. A life away from rules and Cramborne who was currently pointing his finger counting the boys as we walked in a single file line to the dining hall.
"Do we have to miss lunch, im really hungry," Walter whined from behind me, his eyebrows furrowing into a pathetic line and clutching his grumbling stomach.
"Don't be such an idiot!" Gideon hissed from in front of me, his eyes fixed to the front as we approached Cramborne, "don't you want to get away from here?"
My lips upturned slightly at the thought. I'd never been one to think ahead in time, when you're a foundling you're always on your toes. We were just like prey, helpless and desperate, constantly in fear of the wrath of an eagle to swoop down and catch us. Unless, of course, we could outrun them. Trouble was always present, no matter how hard the nurses tried to stamp out the flames of subtle rebellion, smoke would linger. That's what made disobeying so fun to us, the funny feeling in your brain when you know you have a chance for a life you want.
It was present everywhere you look in the hospital. In every wink I gave to my mates; in every adjust of Ned's glasses; grin Gideon would show across a classroom and Walter's whispers gave us something even more terrifying than rebellion.
Hope
So eventually when our plan worked, Gideon and I bolted down the corridor to Cramborne's empty office we desperately stared up at the ornamented grate in the ceiling, praying to see a glimpse of fiery red hair clutching a beautifully written piece of paper, I'd be able to see my future.
However that all changed when after what seemed like an hour of waiting someone tugged on the grate. I could see Gideon grin.
"She's here," he exclaimed happily but in a hushed tone.
But when the girl dropped into the room, it wasn't who we expected. My brows furrowed at the girl in front of me.
"Ivory?" I questioned, delicately taking a step towards her.
It was Ivory but something was wrong. Her usually shiny ringlets were tugged at and frizzy, she was white as if she'd seen a ghost. Her body was angled away from us but I could tell she was shaken. My mind wracked with thoughts but only settled on one. A selfish one.
"Ivory, where's Hetty?" I questioned, placing a gentle hand on the shoulder of her dress littered with cobwebs from running through the rafters. The girl inhaled as if to steady herself but when her eyes met my own, I felt uneasy. Her usually bright eyes looked sunken and reddish, glossed over with a mist of terror, a stark contrast to the girl I had admired only a day ago.
She swallowed but still said nothing. Reaching into her pocket, she took out a neatly folded piece of paper. The letter. Cautiously, I took it from the shell shocked girls fingers. Something was very wrong.
"Ivory," Gid repeated, "where is Hetty?" His tone more demanding making her flinch a little.
Just then, out of the darkness of the rafters came an agonising scream. The kind of scream that's sticks in your head like glue and bounces into every crevice of your brain. As soon as the noise reached our room, Ivory grabbed onto my shirt sleeve, her face contorting into one of pain. Just as we heard the scream again, seeing her breathing turn rapid, I gripped her hand and pulled the girl into my chest , wrapping my arms around her small frame and feeling fast breaths and small teardrops that dampened my shirt.
Looking to my left, I could see Gid, his face matching that of Ivory's. For one last time, the scream echoed. I recognised who it belong to. And that was when I finally understood. Why these two people were panicking when in front of me. Why Ivory had come here alone.
Though muffled sobs, the girl croaked out, "I tried to help her, I really did." She pulled away from my chest and I suddenly felt the absence of her warmth. "I took a beating for her but they took her anyway."
We had the letter of recommendation addressed to Mr. Grace, forged to perfectly emulate Matron's hand writing, the life I dreamt about was so close I could practically taste the salty sea water on my tongue. But there was now an even bigger issue. Now Hetty was back in Gideon's life, he would never leave without her. And knowing how friendships worked in the hospital, neither would Ivory and further more, Ned. This was bad, really bad.
Hetty Feather had been caught
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A/n: sorry this is just another filler chapter but I promise things will get better as we go along. Don't forget to comment and vote so we can reach more Hetty Feather fans <3 much love beautiful people
