I stand at the edge of Ring's territory. One more step and I can never go back. I take a deep breath and step into the next who-knows how many years of my life. I walk fast, pointedly not looking at the people I know are trailing me. I reach the building Ring stays in. I don't bother to knock, just walk in. Ring looks up from the wrestling square and smirks.
"Aca. A pleasure to see you."
"Where's Ellie?"
"Bring out the girl."
Ellie hasn't been injured. I check that first. Then I touch her shoulder.
"Ring, I want you to let Ellie go. She can't hurt you."
"Why should I care about her? I have you. You have five minutes to say goodbye."
I bend down to look into her eyes.
"You remember where you went yesterday?"
She nodded.
"It's a school for people like us. Go there. Don't tell them what happened to me. Just say I told you to go there."
Tears slid down her face.
"I don't want you to go…"
"Ell, I don't want to go either. But I have to."
Small arms are thrown around me and she's crying on my shoulder.
"Your two minutes are up."
I look at Ellie who nods then runs. As she does I feel the familiar tickling sensation that means she is wiping herself from the minds of everyone around her. I watch her go with mixed feelings. She is the closest I've ever had to a sister and I care about her but Ring's Pack is no place for a little girl. And neither are the streets. So I'm placing my faith in a boy I only met a few days ago.
Ring rounds on me.
"So Aca, are you ready to become a part of the Pack?"
I meet his gaze, knowing he hates my leaf-green eyes because he can't read them. And I can beat him on the staring front.
"I said I'd come to you. I never said anything about joining the Pack."
I'm hitting low. By Ring's own laws, no Pack-member could have a lasting relationship with a non-member. He snarls. I've trapped him and he knows it.
"I don't like your attitude Aca."
"Odd. I hate yours."
There's a collective intake of breath and then Ring's laughing.
"Now you see why I want her as my mate. She's the only person in this whole £$%&*$ city that dares stand up to me."
There's a nervous shifting. I know it's true, on the streets at least. I'm the only person, Pack or not, who dares sass Ring. Suddenly hands catch my arms.
"I was hoping you'd agree to come quietly Aca. But since you won't join the Pack, I'll just have to make you. Put her in the Room."
Despite my struggles, despite turning myself into every poisonous plant I can think of and even just a few that smell plain foul, I'm dragged into a small, windowless room. There's a light and a small sink and that's it. I immediately understand. By denying me access to my plant network, by only allowing me to photosynthesise, then Ring is hoping to bore me into joining his Pack. Well I have my plan. When I can't stand this place anymore, which I reckon I can stand for a month at least, then I'm going to turn myself into a mixture of about eighty poisonous plants, including three I synthesised for times like this. I'd like to see Ring survive all those poisons. Sighing I turn on the tap, settle into a cross-legged position and wait. The light never turns off and the humidity is always comfortable. So I have no notion of passing time.
