Chapter One

Lex leaned against the balcony, staring at the leaf-cluttered garden floor. Wind blew through the trees, ruffling his long black hair. His thoughts turned to the past few weeks, wondering why he decided to stay in this wretched place that was once home. While it contained all the luxuries anyone could ever dream of, it was oppressive and cold. He didn’t want that. He wanted freedom, which was why he ran away all those years ago. Now he was back and why?

He shook his head, unable to hide his amusement. He knew why. Those kids who randomly showed up in his city without knowing a thing were the reason. Twins without any knowledge of the outside world and how messed up it was. He pushed away from the white rail and walked back into his room. He moved to the door and opened it to peer outside. Two guards stood on the other side, watching the door stoically. One nodded to him but did nothing else. Lex frowned and pulled his head back in. He moved to the couch and sat down.

He was glad that the two managed to escape. He didn’t want them here anymore than he wanted to stay. He stared out the window from his seat on the couch, watching as a light breeze blew the branches back and forth. He lifted his hand and spread his fingers, looking at the pale digits. To think, just a week ago, he had been slowly dying from an epidemic the likes of which this country, the United States of America, had never seen, and now it was like he had never been sick. He let his hand drop as he leaned his head back and followed the patterns dotting the ceiling.

He stopped in his thoughts as he sat up and turned to the doorway. The handle clicked, and his brother stepped in. Lex furrowed his brow but stayed silent. His brother closed the door behind him and sat across from Lex, his expression nonchalant. His blond hair curved over his cheeks, emphasizing his chiseled features and intelligent grey eyes. They sat in silence, his brother looking him up and down little flickers of emotion flashing across his face, to be hidden just as quickly.

Lex felt a hint of sadness to think that the one person who had seen him as a person was now so cold. He wondered what would have happened if he stayed, if he never left this place to begin with. The idea frightened him.

“So, little Leo, what are you going to do now? Because of that little stunt you pulled with the fire alarm, they’re watching you more carefully. They’re still trying to salvage the pantry, by the way.” Caym paused as he looked out the window. “Oh, and Dad is coming home.”

Well, he wanted that, but still. He shivered at the thought. “I don’t see why you are asking me,” Lex said after a moment. “It shouldn’t matter to you.”

Caym shifted his gaze to Lex, sizing him up before he responded, “Of course it does, you’re my little brother. I’m only making sure you are all right.”

Lex quietly scoffed before he stood, stepping away from his brother and toward the window. He leaned against the opened glass doors, crossing his hands over his chest. “Caym, what’s your real reason for being here?”

Caym gazed after him, his expression indecipherable, before he stood and let out a sigh. “Well, I wanted to let you know that Dad just called, he should be home in a few hours. I also came to salute you. It was fascinating how simply you executed the escape plan to get those two away from here. However, I don’t understand why you did it. There was no reason to go through with something like that.”

Lex growled softly.

Caym stepped toward the doorway before he paused. He looked like he was debating about something. He shook his head and continued out the door.

Lex walked back to the couch and slumped into his seat. He let his head rest in his hands. After a few moments, he stood and shuffled over to the balcony once more. He stared at the tree Karina used. The branch lay there, invitingly. He knew he wasn’t as good a climber as the forest-grown female, but he was decent enough.

However, he also knew he wouldn’t be able to get anywhere that way. He knew it would be a challenge to leave if he focused on the twins, but he couldn’t let his father meet them. He needed to see his father and confirm something. He peered over the edge to the ground a floor or so below. He could see people working in the gardens as his thoughts wandered.

How was he going to get out of here?

~ * ~

Karina looked up, peering around the fairly empty train station. It was small, with only a wooden structure near a set of tracks and a ticket booth, being manned by a bored older man. Black hair dangled into her eyes as she shifted on the bench to look down at her twin, Maxwell. He was sleeping soundly, resting his head on her shoulder as brown hair fell into his face. He wore the new outfit, ah, sorry, she mentally chuckled, clothes she got him. It was a pair of faded jeans, a black zip hoodie, left undone, and a white undershirt.

She wore cargo pants and a long-sleeved t-shirt. She needed to find time to get more clothes, especially since the weather was still chilly as noon approached.

She turned and examined the station. She could see the train tracks curving into the distance to either side. Houses sat across the street, blocked off with a tall crisscrossing metal fence. The sun shone down, but following their long night she wasn’t surprised her brother was still sleeping even now. Still, it had been two days since they escaped from Lex’s house.

Lex promised he would meet them here a few days later. She was starting to get worried. She turned her head toward the sky as her brother shifted in his sleep. She couldn’t believe that it was only a little over a month ago when she had been forced to leave her home with Maxwell, running from the very government itself. To think that she and her brother could be…her thoughts trailed off as she heard shuffling. She looked down to see Maxwell slowly blink his eyes open and let out a little yawn. Green eyes blearily looked up at her before a mumbled “morning” sounded from his lips.

Karina chuckled. “I was wondering when you would wake up. Come on, let’s get something to eat.”

Maxwell nodded and pushed himself off her shoulder. He stood and stretched, reaching toward the sky. Karina grinned and stood. Maxwell dropped his hands to his sides and gazed sidelong at his twin. “So where are we eating this time? I’m getting sick of fast food. I mean, it’s not bad but I miss home-cooked food.”

Karina had to agree. The place they frequented reminded her a bit too much of the nasty sandwiches Lex first gave them when they met the older teen. Unfortunately, fast food was the cheapest and one of the few things available close to the station. Plus, with so many people going in and out, they weren’t really noticed, a good thing in her opinion. She probably wouldn’t have minded the place, if she ate it as a treat or something but to eat it every day made her feel a little sick. Unfortunately, they had to save on money. They took turns sleeping in different places, either the wooded areas nearby or the church that Karina found the second day.

She walked down the platform, followed by Maxwell, who yawned loudly and trailed after her. They stepped off the platform and walked a little way down a short stretch of road before arriving in a quaint little shopping area. They were grateful it was right next to the train station. They peered into the different places, trying to figure out prices and such. Karina felt her stomach growl and pursed her lips in distaste. She needed to find something to eat soon.

“How about there?”

Karina turned to her brother, then followed where he was pointing to see a little pizzeria. She felt her mouth water. She hadn’t had pizza in a long time, and it sounded good, especially with all the spices. “Sure,” she said.

She peered up and down the street. Cars meandered to and fro as pedestrians crossed back and forth. She was glad that the epidemic wasn’t too bad here. What had Lex called it? The SS Phenomenon, that’s what it was. It was amazing to think that such a devastating disease dwelled in the country. On top of that, the country was blocked off from the rest of the world, so they couldn’t even get help from outside. Isolationism really wasn’t helpful sometimes.

She examined herself before looking at Maxwell. To think that the two of them could be the cure to the disease itself, was it a fluke? Either way, she didn’t want to think of it. If it was, then they were the reason their mother was taken from them, as well as their father. She felt sick at the thought. She didn’t want to think about it. Her brother wasn’t too fond of talking about it either, or so it seemed.

They stepped into the pizzeria, and Karina barely managed to stop herself from salivating at all the smells. Maxwell didn’t look to be doing much better.

“What can I do for you?”

Karina turned to a young woman.

She had on an apron stained with flour and wore the white doctor’s mask that most citizens desperately sought after. She seemed kindly, smiling behind the mask. “Uh, yeah, how much for a pizza?”

“What size?” she asked as she moved behind a counter.

Karina stepped toward it, alongside Maxwell, who was looking around the small place in curiosity. They went a little farther out today, and now she was grateful. This place smelled good, and she was hungry.

Maxwell seemed to pull himself from his observation to answer her question. Karina let him, deciding to let herself examine the restaurant. It was a small diner-style location with an older man next to a large oven. There was glass in front of it allowing people to watch, yet still being separated, away from the heat. It was cute. She turned back in time to see her sibling smile and hand over some money. The young girl nodded and moved to the back to place the order.

“Come on. Let’s sit down. It’ll take about ten minutes.”

Karina nodded and sat on one of the plastic chairs across from Maxwell. He tossed her a water bottle and Karina took it gratefully. Maybe she should have paid more attention, when did he even grab one? She peered toward the counter, only to roll her eyes. Of course, there was a fridge right there. He probably just grabbed it. She opened it and gulped the drink down with a pleased sigh.

“Kari?”

Karina peered toward her sibling as he swished his bottle back and forth. He hesitated for a moment before he looked up at her. He opened his mouth, and then closed it.

“Yeah?”

“What should we do if Lex doesn’t show up?”

Karina stared at her brother, then looked toward the back. She watched as the man prepared the pizza. She stayed silent for a little while before she turned back to Maxwell. “What do you think?” She was curious as she respected her brother’s opinion. She knew her own, but she just wanted to see what he had to say.

He obviously was thinking the same thing. He sighed and leaned back, taking a sip before he responded, “We’re going to have to leave. We can’t stay around here much longer, the locals are getting suspicious, and the more we linger around the station, the more likely someone will say something and I don’t think either of us want that.”

He really didn’t need to say more. Karina understood and agreed whole-heartedly, yet she waited for him to continue.

“We’ll give him one more day, but after that, we have to take the train to Collern. We need to get to Mom before…”

“Before anything else happens?” Karina finished for him as he seemed to hesitate.

Maxwell nodded.

Karina let out a long sigh and took another sip of water. “That’s basically what I’m thinking as well. The sooner we leave, the better.”

She stopped as she heard footsteps. She looked over to see the young girl return, pizza in hand. She placed it down before walking away. Karina stared at it, before digging in. The cheese melted in her mouth as she chowed down on the meal. It definitely was better than that fast food crap they had been eating up until now. Why Lex liked it, she had no idea. So what if they paid a little extra? She wanted to feel somewhat satisfied for once. She watched her brother who was stuffing the pizza in his mouth with the same fervor and chuckled before taking another bite and looking out the window toward the street.

They would wait one more day, but after that they had to leave, with or without Lex.

She realized, with a hint of surprise, she did actually want to meet and have Lex journey with them again. She hoped he made it in time.

~ * ~

Lex looked up as the door opened to reveal Machael, his butler, step inside and bow. “Sir, your father requested your attendance at dinner.”

Lex nodded and stood. He followed Machael as they headed toward the dining room. He felt nervous, annoyed and unsure. Had he made the right decision?

It didn’t take long, much to Lex’s consternation. Machael stepped to the side and bowed. Lex nodded toward him with a weak smile before stepping through the doorway. He hesitantly took the last available seat.

Next to him, on his right, sat his mother who had her hands placed gently in her lap as she peered at the group, her usually smiling face rather stoic. Caym sat across from him. His expression was a mixture of cold and professional, much like his own, Lex thought. Finally, he turned his gaze on the last member of the table who arrived only an hour earlier, or so he could assume. His father wore an impassive expression; his blue eyes were cold. He was still in uniform, Lex noted. The black uniform sat taut on his rough frame, and a silver medallion hung on the breast pocket. Black hair fell over a stoic face. “Leonard.”

Lex for once didn’t argue the name. He gulped but didn’t say a word as the man peered at him.

“I wondered where you were. A child like you…” he paused and leaned back in his chair as he crossed one leg over the other. “No, I can see you are no longer a child. A pity.”

Lex saw Caym’s expression flicker for a second. Was that worry?

“Father, I don’t think—” Caym began, only to be cut off by Father’s look.

“Silence.”

Lex looked over to see Caym wince slightly. It was barely noticeable, but it was enough. Their father turned his gaze from Caym to Lex’s once more.

Lex mentally prepared himself. “Father,” Lex managed to say, his voice surprisingly level.

He waited as his father stared at him before gesturing. “Well? Go on, I don’t have all day.”

Lex mentally winced, yet continued, “I wish to ask you a question, a small one, if I may?”

“You have already, but yes, you may.”

Lex took in a breath before he leaned forward, hands in his lap. “Father, where were you four years ago? I remember you came home all flustered and, well, some incidents as of late have reminded me of that occasion. Do you recall? I believe you said you were on a business trip?”

His father leaned his head back, confusion flashing across his face for the barest of seconds before his eyes narrowed and he responded, “This came out of nowhere. Why do you ask?”

“Curiosity.”

The man stayed silent for a while, as if debating what to say, or thinking over what the answer might be before he continued, “That is none of your concern. However, I do believe I know of what trip you speak. If it is, then it was to do with my corporation, nothing more, nothing less. Now, is that all?”

“Dear, surely you can explain more thoroughly. I think even I recall that time. You’re usually so cheerful after your trips.” Mother spoke up, leaning forward the slightest bit.

Cheerful wasn’t the word Lex would have used, and Caym’s split-second expression indicated that Caym thought that was a misnomer as well. At least it was Lex’s assumption, as his brother turned to the window, facing Mother and away from Father’s gaze.

“My dear, you know I must keep some secrets. Imagine if the outer community learned of some of these things? No, it’s best if our son doesn’t get involved any more then he already is.”

“If you believe so…” Mother trailed off before clapping her hands, a little smile on her face. “Enough of this, though. I believe this is the first time in years the four of us have been together. Let’s enjoy this time and eat. Oh, and Leonard dear, please make sure to sit properly. You are starting to slouch.”

Lex found himself quickly sitting ramrod straight, Caym eyeing him quietly with an unreadable expression. “My apologies, Mother,” Lex spoke up, keeping his voice even.

Father looked at him for a moment before turning to his food.

“Well, she is right. Come boys, let’s dig in.”

Lex hesitated before he nodded. The man picked up his silverware once more and cut into the chicken fricassee as silver clinked and servants moved. The servant’s footsteps were soft over the wood floor, barely heard over Mother and Father’s pleasant, if shallow-sounding conversation.

Lex tentatively went to pick up his own fork, trying to remember what he could.

“It’s the second one.”

Lex peered up toward Caym, making sure to keep his head bowed. Caym barely gave him a glance as he picked his fork off the table. He picked up the middle one of the silverware.

Lex was reaching for the first. He nodded subtly and picked up the appropriate one.

He heard a sound and looked up. His father looked at him, eyes narrowed and silverware suspended. “Pathetic. I thought you would remember your manners, but it seems not and Caym, it is none of your concern whether your brother knows his manners or not.”

Lex grimaced as his father resumed eating. He heard a soft sigh from his mother and saw Caym’s brow furrow. Caym caught his gaze and mouthed a quick sorry before continuing his food.

Lex looked down, feeling his stomach churn. He didn’t have much of an appetite anymore, but if he didn’t eat, it would look even worse.

After he finally settled into the rhythm of eating, being much more careful of what he did by following Caym, he let his mind analyze what he just learned. While it wasn’t much, it was enough to confirm for him. He knew well enough his father worked for the government. The kids explained how the one who took their dad was a man in uniform with a cold expression and black hair. Usually that description wouldn’t be enough, but if he calculated where his father would have been during that time combined with his father’s affirmation that he was working for the corporation, it seemed all too certain that he was in fact one and the same. So, I was right to help the twins, he thought. I have to get out of here. If Dad’s leading the investigation, I need to get them gone before he realizes.

After dinner, Lex stood from the table. His father gave him a passing glance before he continued in his conversation with one of the servants, demanding a cup of coffee. His mother sent him a worried look. He gave her a quick smile, then turned. He heard the scrape of a chair and peered back to see Caym also stood.

“Caym, where are you going?”

“Father, if I may, I wish to attend to something. I will be back in a moment.”

Lex walked out the door, followed by Caym. Caym stepped up beside him as they walked down the hallway. “Caym, what do you want?”

“Why did you ask that question?”

Lex peered sidelong at Caym who was looking at him with a complex expression, one he couldn’t quite name. He faced forward once more. “I was thinking back to around the time I left and happened to remember that was one of his longest absences and, as Mother said, he actually came back frustrated. Why?”

Silence enveloped the hallway as wind blew outside, limbs gently tapping on the glass windows. “That was stupid.” This time, Caym was looking ahead. “You know as well as I what could have happened. You were lucky he was in a good mood.” Frustration flickered across Caym’s face. A moment later, it was gone and Caym turned, smile once more in place. “Well, as I said, the prodigal son has returned.” Caym headed back to the dining room before pausing, staring toward the doorway. He looked back, expression level. “I hope you got your answer.” He turned and continued on his way.

Lex stared at Caym’s back. For a split second, he saw his brother as he had been. Those moments were so fleeting, he thought he missed them, but no, not this time. His brother wasn’t entirely lost, something was left. He wondered how so much of it was lost. He paused and looked around as a memory tickled at the back of his mind. Wasn’t there something missing?

“Hey, Caym.”

Caym stopped and glanced over his shoulder, silent and curious.

Lex turned fully toward him. “Where are Ariel and Kiera? You are usually always with your wife and daughter.”

Caym stiffened. “They’re… Don’t worry about them. You have other things to worry about anyway.”

Before Lex could get a word in edgewise Caym was gone, back through the dining room door.

Lex frowned. What did that mean? Yes, he felt a little bad that he’d forgotten about Caym’s wife and child, but in his defense, he had a lot on his mind up until now. Yet now, as he looked around the halls, he realized how empty they all seemed. That wasn’t right. Usually he would at least hear a hint of Kiera’s laughter or Ariel’s singing practice, however off-key it was.

He turned and peered out the window. Clouds hung low in the sky and his thoughts drifted away from the two missing people, since it wasn’t his concern, and toward the twins. Were they okay? Were they somewhere warm? Were they waiting for him? He knew Maxwell might, but with Karina he wasn’t sure. He saw something drip onto one of the window frames and watched as more and more drops of rain hit the glass pane. They trailed down, tracks merging with one another as the sky outside darkened. He was glad it was only raining, though he suspected it was probably cold. Was it cold enough yet for snow? He didn’t know. He peered up at the clouds for another moment, watching as they moved across the sky. He turned and walked toward his room, listening to the thrumming of the rain on the windows and roof. He could hear footsteps and looked back to see two guards, different from last time. They must have been following him and Caym. He shouldn’t have been surprised. Of course, they would have someone watching him, especially after setting the pantry on fire to distract everyone so the kids could escape.

He peered ahead, scanning the surroundings with a practiced eye. During the storm would be a good and bad time to leave. It would be good because it was harder to see someone when it was raining, but it would be bad because of the same problem. He knew where the exit was, and he didn’t particularly care if he got wet. No, he dealt with worse while in the cities, and those times, he was sick.

If anything, he hadn’t felt this healthy since before he left home, when he first met Allen. He grinned. Decision made. He changed direction and headed toward the servants’ quarters. He was grateful the guards didn’t say anything. He really wasn’t in the mood to deal with trying to convince them that, no, he didn’t need to go straight to his room. He opened the door and stepped into the servants’ quarters. It was a simple set-up with a hallway lined with doorways, all leading toward different rooms big enough for one person to sleep and change.

The problem was that the hallway was short and each room held two beds, thus two people.

They thought this was good, if not better, compared to outside? To be stuffed together like pigeons in a cage and treated worse than some of the poor outside the gated community? Who were the disillusioned ones? He was glad he could keep Karina and Maxwell with him for the few days they were here. He knew Karina would be positively pissed if she saw this. He stepped down the hallway as the rain thrummed on the ceiling and knocked on one of the doorways. After a moment, it opened to reveal Machael. He was still in his butler’s uniform. He must have just returned.

“Sir?”

“Machael, can I speak to you for a moment?” The man peered past Lex, toward the two guards before he nodded. Lex smiled before he looked back at the two. “It’ll only be a moment.” The guards gave him a narrowed gaze but stayed still as he walked in the door and closed it.

Lex turned to Machael, knowing he didn’t have much time. “Machael, I need your help.”

Machael smiled softly before he took a seat. Lex stepped farther into the room. It was spartan with two beds, a desk, a chair, and that was it. He took the chair, sitting on it sideways. “You have been around the longest. You should remember—”

“Sir, I remember well. You have changed much in your time away. You seem much happier. You do realize what will happen though?”

Lex grimaced and looked down. He knew. He already got Machael in trouble once, when he was really little. He decided to try to climb one of the trees because he accidentally got something caught in the branches. He couldn’t remember what it was, but Machael was watching him at the time.

Either way, he fell and broke his arm. His father demoted Machael from personal servant to just regular. Only Lex’s insistence actually allowed Machael to continue working with the family. He didn’t want to imagine what would happen this time if they discovered Machael was one of the ones involved with his escape. Especially if Father realized who it was that Lex was watching. “I know. That’s why all I’m asking is for you to send a couple servants to my room with some things. Make sure they are in my mother’s good graces, then go to work with Mother or Caym. If you’re working with them during that time, they can’t accuse you of anything. Please?”

Machael chuckled softly and nodded. “Sir, you are as strange as usual. Now, what would you like me to tell the servants?”

Lex grinned.

~ * ~

Maxwell peered up at the sky, mentally cursing its existence as rain fell down. His sister stood next to him, huddled under the overhang of the station’s platform. Pedestrians moved on and off the train, opening and closing umbrellas or pulling up their jackets before walking out of the station.

“Why is it always raining?” Maxwell muttered, and Karina shrugged next to him, one arm massaging the other as she shivered.

“I want to know why it’s always cold.”

“Sis, it’s winter, of course it’s cold.”

“You know what I mean.”

Maxwell chuckled before he nodded and looked back at the clouds. It was getting late into the day and he was getting nervous. He grabbed his backpack and opened it before pulling out a photograph depicting his mother, father and twin. He stared for a moment, holding it carefully before pushing it back into the bag, buried as deep as it could go. He wished he still had the plastic bags from when his sister and he first left Claremore. He dug around and pulled out another bag. This one was one he found a couple hours after they arrived at Liberty Station. It held some money as well as goods. He wasn’t sure where it came from. When he asked Karina about it, she had no clue either.

He could only suspect that it was from the last house they were at before they were taken unknowingly to Lex’s home. There was no one else still living in that home besides the husband. Why did he do it, considering they caused his wife’s death? He wasn’t sure, but he mentally thanked him and felt bad, remembering the state the man was in. He wondered what would have happened if they just went up and knocked instead of sneaking in. Would he have turned them away? Would he have slammed the door in their faces, handed them their bags and pushed them away?

He didn’t like the idea that his sister had to actually break into a house. While it wasn’t technically stealing—they were just recovering their own stuff—it still felt like theft. He wondered what else they would have to do before they even got to Ma. What else his sister would have to do?

He didn’t want to think beyond getting to Ma. It already worried him. He didn’t want to imagine thinking of the cure, or the country. He would think of things one piece at a time. If not, he would be overwhelmed. He turned to his sister who puffed out her cheeks in annoyance.

“He better get here soon or else I’m hopping on the first train outta here. It’s too cold.”

Maxwell chuckled. In other words, his sister was worried about Lex as well. Karina sent him a glare, and he only smiled. It made him feel better, knowing his sister was no longer against having Lex’s help. She was finally beginning to trust the man again. He hoped it would work out. He munched on some leftover food in the bag before he stuffed it back in his backpack and slung it over his back. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a ticket and looked at it. They should have gotten a later ticket, but there wasn’t much he could do about that.

The ticket listed the six o’clock train. While that was admittedly in three hours, it felt worrying.

He knew it was already pushing it, but he wanted to give Lex as much time as possible. Who knew if they would meet again if they hopped on a train? There would be no way of knowing and Maxwell hadn’t thought of getting Lex’s number even though he had his cell phone on him. Whether it still worked or not, he wasn’t sure. He put the ticket back into his pocket and reached into his other and pulled out the phone. He threw it on the charger earlier, so now could actually turn it on. He powered it up and flicked it open, waiting for the screen to do something other than show black. A large part of him wished to see that there were missed calls or messages from his mother or anyone, for that matter. He waited, sighing in a mix of relief and resignation as the insignia appeared before the phone turned on to show it was empty of any calls.

“I didn’t even know you grabbed that.”

Maxwell peered back at Karina, who was gazing at the phone with a raised eyebrow, before he looked down at the phone once more. “I had forgotten, too. I hadn’t really thought of it. I mean, who could I call? I didn’t think of getting Lex’s number, even though he brought out his cell phone quite a few times.” He peered at the screen, noting the time to be three forty-eight.

“I guess you couldn’t really call anyone from home, could you?”

Maxwell shrugged, flipping through his limited contacts. He had his mother’s number, Karina’s and, not much else. He never really was one to exchange numbers. He preferred talking to people face to face and, if he needed to contact them, he would just send an email. He was starting to regret that decision now. He flicked out of the contacts and flipped it closed. He looked at Karina who stared out toward the train tracks as another train pulled away, sending a whistle into the air.

~ * ~

Lex tapped on the window of his balcony, feeling urgency bubble in the pit of his stomach. It was already day three: he needed to leave. He heard a knock on the door and turned. “Enter.”

The door opened to reveal two female servants. They curtseyed, holding their trays delicately with their free hands. They stepped inside and closed the door. They placed the trays on the table. “Sir, your tea and cookies.” Lex smiled as they exposed the things, it was exactly that, tea and cookies, artfully arranged in a pile. He walked over and sat down at the table. He turned to the servants as they moved about, tidying up his place. One woman stumbled, dropping clothing on the floor next to him. He purposely ignored it, even though part of him wanted to bend over and help her like he usually did. He saw her kneel down and watched as she dropped a bag to the floor, unseen by the camera due to the angle. He used his foot and pulled it under the table. The maid, once she saw, smiled softly and stood, things in hand. “Sir Lex, enjoy, we will return in an hour to collect your things.”

“Thank you. You are dismissed.” The two nodded and left.

He pulled the bag closer and started to munch on the cookies and pour himself some tea. He looked at the tea bags and pulled out a small white one. He looked at it, then reached for another, keeping it in the palm of his hand as he grabbed the second and put that in. Once done, he opened the first under the table.

It was a quick letter, written neatly in script. “Sir, everything you asked for is in the bag. As you know, it wasn’t much time, but everything should be there. We wish you luck and hope that one day, we can see you again.” It was signed by Machael and a few other servants that Lex knew well. He smiled softly and stuffed it into his pocket before he took a sip of tea and picked up another cookie. He dropped it and cursed before ducking down under the table. He smiled, grabbed the bag, as well as the fallen cookie. He pulled the bag up, out of view of the camera and placed the cookie back onto the table. He knew it wasn’t as discreet as he would have liked, but he was kind of limited in what he could do.

Now to wait.

Luckily, he didn’t need to wait long. The servants returned and collected the items. He stood and walked away to watch, slipping the bag onto his shoulder. The servants collected the tea and cookies and left out the door. He heard a sound, followed someone yelling. He felt bad, but he knew his mother was very forgiving, especially for the female servants. He did specifically ask for two in her good graces. Accidents happened, and that’s what he was using as he hurried to the tree. He slipped out and onto the balcony, over the commotion of the guards yelling, he doubted he was heard.

Now to get out of here.

He peered over the edge and at the tree. While it wasn’t nearly as safe as when Karina used it, he really didn’t have much choice. He grabbed the bag and dug out rope before wrapping it around the balcony tightly. He stepped over the edge and used the rope to slide to the ground. He left it there and ran, backpack firmly on his back. He wore a set of hefty new hiking boots he’d changed into earlier. He moved over the muddy ground, his clothes soaked through in seconds from the deluge. He could only imagine that this was what it was like for the twins when they left home. He suddenly felt empathy.

Luckily, he didn’t have a forest to run through like they did, and he noted the rain was already starting to let up, changing to ice, he did hate hail. He moved into the back garden and continued forward. He wondered if his brother noticed. He figured he would, but what he wasn’t sure of was how he would respond.