Chapter 6

The next morning, Lucy woke to find Cut making breakfast. He seemed uncomfortable when she came in.

Lucy set the table. They had a quiet breakfast. Afterward Cut went out to get some more snow to melt for the washing.

"Lucy!"

Lucy came running out.

"Look," Cut said pointing, "Footsteps in the snow. Someone came and looked in our window. They saw me."

Lucy stooped closer and dug in the snow a little bit while Cut kept talking.

"I'll bet it was the Lords. They've come back. You're not safe Lucy."

"We're not safe, and it wasn't the Lords. It was Father Pierce," she said holding up a small crucifix. Cut gritted his teeth. "I'll take care of him."

"NO! He might not have seen anything. I'll go talk to him."

Cut grabbed Lucy's shoulders. "We can't risk it. I won't let anything hurt you. If he hadn't seen anything, he would have come in to talk to you."

"How can you so quickly forget everything he's done for us?"

"He did them for Cutler a burn victim, not Cut a lunatic!"

"You can't hurt him Cut."

"Then we'll run away, before he can go for the Lord. We'll leave right now."

Lucy hung back.

"Lucy?"

"Did you kill someone the night you escaped?"

"What?!"

"IF I run with you, there's no escaping."

"Escaping what? Escaping me? Do you not want to be with me?" Cut looked at Lucy's crumbling face. "Are you scared? You think I did hurt someone."

"You threaten all the time. Cut, I'm afraid of having to depend on you. Of not being able to stand on my own."

Cut looked angry. "Is that why you pulled back last night? You don't trust me? Would it be so bad to rely on me? I rely on you!"

"Did you kill someone?!"

"And if I did," he whispered as he stepped closer.

Lucy shook her head, the tears already gathering. "I can't believe it. I know you Cut. You didn't hurt me because I was defenseless. Not because I was deformed. What really happened?"

"I don't know Lucy. I don't know what happened, but someone did die that night. Someone close to the Lords. I don't know what she was like. I never saw her before that night."

"I care about you Cut, I just don't know if I'm willing to stay with you. To run forever."

"You won't be safe here Lucy."

"You don't know that."

Cut turned towards the door. "I think I love you," he said.

"Oh Cut."

Cut slammed the door shut. Lucy turned and walked toward the village.

"Ah, my daughter. I was hoping to see you before the Sabbath. We need to talk."

"Father, I-"

"I saw you kiss last night. You can hand me the little crucifix back. Cut is not your brother, nor is he a fire victim. My child, can you condemn your soul by living in sin with a man who has committed murder?"

"He didn't! I'm not!"

Father Pierce looked taken back. "Explain."

"He says someone was hurt that night, but he didn't do it. I know it. He wouldn't harm anyone innocent. The lords pushed them to it."

"He is the man they are looking for, isn't he?"

"Did you see his cuts? When you were spying, did you see his arms? They did that to him. Lord Bryan particularly. He's done more. They were all being killed slowly. Is it so wrong that they tried to get free?"

Father Pierce sat silently for a moment before speaking:

"What will he do now?"

"He wants us to run, but I can't do it."

"So you do doubt his word?"

"No. I could never turn back. The Lords would chase us forever."

"I don't trust Lord Bryan, but that does not mean I trust this Cut either. You must stay here and let what happens happen."

"I can't leave him to be caught. He needs me. He'd never hurt me."

Father Pierce looked at Lucy. "I don't understand child. If you believe that then why are you here? You told me you can't run with him, and you are right. But you also tell me you can't leave him. My child..."

"I just can't do it. I can't make a choice like that forever. What should I do Father, we have to help him. The lords will kill him!"

Father Pierce paused for a moment longer. "Lucy my child, how do you feel about this Cut?"

"He's innocent!"

"Yes, you've made that quite clear, but that is not what I was asking. What do you feel for Cut?"

"I…he's my friend. I want to help him."

"Why my child?"

"Because he should be helped. Because he is kind and makes me feel..." Lucy trailed off and stared down at her stick.

Father Pierce follwed her gaze and nodded slowly.

"Aye," he said. "He makes you feel like that."

Lucy looked up. "Father Pierce, he's innocent. I know it. Can't we...the lords don't know he's here. You're the only one. Can't things just continue as they are?"

"Can they child? Can they really? Were things this morning between you and Cut the same as they were before last night?"

Lucy blushed and looked down. "Nothing happened."

"Oh, I believe you my child, but Cut wants to run did you not say? And he wants you to go with him. And Lucy my child, deny it as you might, a part of you desires it as well."

Lucy looked up again. "So what do I do?"

"I already told you, I don't trust the Lord Bryan. I haven't met this Cut, but..." Father Pierce paused and looked at Lucy, in her warm coat and with her polished walking stick. "But, he is perhaps nothing more than a lost soul. Bring him here Lucy. You're right that running will only trap the two of you in something twisted and dangerous forever. Bring him here, I'll not send for the lords. But child, God only knows what may happen. It may be safest if we got you away from here."

"Cut will come after me, won't he?"

"Do you want him to."

Lucy just stared off at the pulpit Cut had been carving. "Forget me nots," she whispered.

"My child, you may not need to run from the Lords today, but you may tomorrow. What is it you want?"

Lucy thought. Cut would never hurt her. He never tried to force her. Sure he would beg her to stay, but he really would let her go. He was innocent. She knew it. Not just cause she loved him, but because she knew him. She did love him. She thought of staying in the village without him, in any village, and knew she would go insane with worry about what he was facing alone.

"I'll stand by him to the death."

Father Pierce smiled tiredly. "Then child, Tell me everything you know about him."

Lucy told it all. "I promise to protect you both," swore the Father. "Bring him here tonight. I'll speak with him and we'll see what needs to be done and make arrangements, about everything."

Lucy stepped closer. "How can I trust you?"

"Trust God."

Lucy ran the whole way back to the cabin laughing and crying." She loved Cut. She loved him. She didn't have to leave him. She didn't want to. They'd go somewhere safe where he could heal. Maybe she'd grow stronger too. Maybe they'd grow wings and fly away. There was the Cabin. The sun was just setting behind it. Lucy threw open the door.

"Cut, I love you!"

-BANG!