The Shade Law

Chapter 14: Out of Character

"You're awfully angry," notes Marlin, staring at Vesta's hand, which she just slammed onto the table.

"You better believe I am!" Vesta says, huffing angrily. "That crook's after my precious vegetables!"

We all nod and head out the door. Celia seems a bit off-put by the whole situation. Biting her lip, she looks around and suggests, "Maybe we need a strategy, since this farm's so huge."

I glance around. She's kinda right. When did the farm get so big? Guess I never really noticed, since I come around so often. Never really thought it'd matter, anyways.

Marlin nods, all business. "Yeah, you're right." He thinks for a moment, and then says, "Why don't we split up in pairs, hide in different areas and ambush him?"

"That makes sense," Vesta says, looking around the large farm. "So, Celia and Marlin, I want you two to take that field." She points towards the back field next to the two greenhouses.

"What about me?" I ask, watching the two making their way over to the field.

"You and I'll take the opposite one, Jill."

It takes only a few minutes for Skye to show up. At first glance, I can't even tell it's him. The black and hoodie and shadows hide the easily recognizable colors. But I don't think it can be anyone besides him when Vesta shouts, "Stop, thief! You ain't gettin' your grimy paws on my veggies!" I watch the shadows where Skye's face would be, if I could just see it!

Skye opens his mouth, undoubtedly about to say something that would make Vesta even angrier. A flood of some odd feeling makes me say, "Please, stop stealing!" My voice comes out strained and, as much as I hate to admit it, shaky.

Skye stops short, visibly taken aback and I can practically feel the waves of rage coming off of Vesta. She doesn't even question my outburst. There's a red glimmer as the ring catches the faint light as Skye tightens his fist.

A tremor shakes his voice. "Are you worried about me?" A weary sigh, but I can hear a tiny hint of a smile. A very tiny one. "Well, don't be. It's not my time to be caught." Skye brandishes the ring, a larger than normal glint cutting through the dark like a lighthouse's beam, and he practically sways on his feet, as if he doesn't have the energy to keep himself upright.

The odd feeling of being frozen seems like something I'll never get used to. Vesta's obviously agreeing when she says, "What's happening? I can't move!" I'm not facing her, but I can almost feel the steam coming out of her ears. Ooh, boy.

"My work here's done," Skye says, and I hear the tiredness in his voice. He turns around. "Time to jet."

I follow his path with my eyes as far as I can. But that's only so far. I take in the exhausted way he trudges up the path. The irritation of being frozen comes back. I grit my teeth. Damn it, Skye! Is it really necessary to freeze me? The crunching of gravel stops just out of my peripheral vision. So close.

"H-Hey! Hold it, you thief!" Celia stutters, and I can imagine her face. She must be scared out of her wits.

A fake laugh. At least, I think it's fake, because it doesn't sound too happy. More ironic. "Being cornered by pretty ladies seems to be a curse of mine."

Why is Skye so tired all of a sudden? He sounds almost annoyed.

Marlin takes the chance to put in his two cent's worth. "Hey, back off, Pretty Boy!" He must be shooting in the dark with the insults, then, because I doubt Marlin can see Skye's face without recognizing it. But by the way that Skye talks, you could sort of guess what type of person he is. Probably. Hopefully, anyways. It's better than him actually seeing what Skye's looks are like. Wait, what?

I hear an almost inaudible groan of annoyance. "I don't want to be caught by a man! Where's the mystique in that?"

My eyes widen slightly at his tone. Skye must be acting, because he's not really himself right now, sounding pretty fed up with the whole situation. He's saying what he would usually say, but it's almost like he's only doing it to 'stay in character', as it were. What the hell? It only started after he used the ring, too...

The next thing someone says belongs to Marlin. "Uh, Celia...?"

"I can't," Celia wails, "I can't move!"

So he used the ring on her, then? Oh, Goddess...

"What?"

Echoing the lines he fed me the first time he froze me, Skye assures, "You'll be able to move soon." Footsteps on the gravel road, sluggish but soft, signal his departure. Just as quickly, feeling starts to seep back into my body.

Once I have complete control over myself again, I rush to Celia, jumping over the fence in my hurry. She's staring off down the path leading to the bridge, probably the way Skye left. Forget my concern. I feel like throttling him!

Marlin is looking from between Celia and the path, as if he's unsure whether to help Celia or run after the criminal. If he chooses the latter, I'll gladly join him! It's be fun to finally get back at him—but then again, my conscious will probably make me apologize, however bad I am at doing that.

"Celia? You okay?"

At my question, Celia seems to come back to reality. She looks like she's about to ask me something, but thinks better of it. "Yeah, I'm fine. Did you see what he looked like? Not even his colors?"

I hesitate. Everyone holds their breath, probably eager to get info that'll help them catch Skye. For some reason, I only give them half the truth: "No, I couldn't see his face. His hood blocked my view." It's the truth, if not in its entirety; I couldn't see his colors tonight, but I know what they are.

Their faces fall, Marlin's more noticeably. He probably wanted to hunt him down. Celia, on the other hand, seems less violent.

Her eyebrows knit together. "You're sure," she says, and I nod, but it turns out she's not finished, because she continues, "That his hair's not an...unusual color?" She avoids my gaze, instead vying to suddenly get an interest in the ground.

I narrow my eyes. Why's Celia so suspicious all of a sudden? It's almost like she's trying to prove something, and not just to other people, but to herself. Almost to reassure herself. "Define 'unusual'."

She shakes her head, looks away. "Just pretend I never said anything."

Uh, okay. "Whatever you say, Celia. I guess."

Celia sighs, playing with the hem of her shirt. She looks up at Vesta. "We still didn't get the Phantom Thief, though..."

Marlin groans. "And it's all my fault." He puts his hands in his pockets, looking like he's kicking himself over the fact that he'd rather help his girlfriend than go after a crook. But who am I to blame him? I wasn't much help.

After a pregnant pause, Vesta says, "What's with the long faces?"

Everyone reluctantly gives an answer, ranging from 'that Thief', to something, courtesy of Marlin, I rather would not repeat.

"Nobody got hurt, so there's nothing to be so sad about. He didn't foul up our crops too badly, anyways."

I look up in surprise. "He got something?"

Vesta sighs. "Unfortunately, yes. Must've swiped it when we weren't lookin'." She claps her hands together, and says, "But tomorrow's another day. Just gotta keep workin'!"

Both Marlin and Celia smile.

"That's right," Celia says, laughing a bit, "Let's do our best!" As if on a last minute thought, she adds, "Thanks so much for the help, Jill!" she sends a semi-forced smile in my direction before her eyes drop back to the ground.

Vesta chuckles. "Come back to the farm anytime!"

I smile back. "I'll just have to take you up on that offer." As I'm leaving, I wave to them and call, "See you tomorrow!" And I start down the path.

The path to the bridge is short, but within the span of a few meters, I hear a door slam, a strong night wind sends leaves into my hair, my thoughts threaten to eat me alive, and a sense of confusion makes the route seems a thousand times longer.

While I struggle to get the leaves out of my hair, I think. And think. And think some more.

I can worry about things after what I just went through, okay? Besides, I'll more than likely waste my time by trying to make sense of what's happening without trying to do the same to myself.

Why in the world would I care whether Skye continues stealing? It's not my life he's wasting.

But I don't want him to get caught.

Holy—

Did I just think that?

Denial's not good for you, Mom would say. Guess it's finally time to take her advice. Even if I'm very annoyed with him. Very.

I guess I care that he might get caught. But that doesn't mean that I like him or anything. Not in the slightest.

So that settles that. What about Celia? Why is she suddenly so different?

She's not usually this suspicious. I want to be someone who can hope for the best in others, as she put it. And I did tell her the truth, which means I avoided the annoying nervous tick. So she can have possibly guessed that didn't tell her the whole truth. Whatever.

Another sun-dried leaf breaks in my hands as I try to extract it from my hair, leaving bits and pieces in its wake. It's like the world doesn't hate me enough.

It's like 'hey, you don't have enough on your plate with an aggravating thief/friend that can't choose whether to be actually bearable or obnoxious, a long-time friend who's acting weird, or parents who are never home, so why don't I just throw some ridiculously hard to get rid of leaves in your hair, and why don't you have fun with that, instead of focusing on the festival tomorrow?'

Wait. Festival. Tomorrow. Moon Viewing Festival.

I stop in the middle of the path, uncurl my fingers, and watch as a passing breeze lifts the messed-up leaf and drifts it away. I sigh in defeat, staring decidedly at my shoes.

Damn it.

Tempest Bound: Hey, guys! Sorry it took so long; I was having trouble 'connecting' with my beta-reader, but now it's all fixed! Again, HersheyChocolate101, thank you so much for beta-reading! I can't tell you how thankful I am!

And how can I forget my lovely reviewers? You guys are great; I mean, 43 reviews? Oh, my God, thank you!