text: Madeline watched the emotions flit across Liam’s face as he considered her question, small hands turning white as they gripped the kitchen table. Without meaning to, she soon found her leg was bouncing up and down. The tapping sound from her heel knocking against the cupboard filled the silence. In an attempt to alleviate the nervous energy, she hopped down off the counter and paced back and forth. Eventually, the wait became too much for her. “Come on, you had all night to think about it. Am I taking you back to the store? Or are you staying with me?” “I- I think I’d like to stay with you,” he said before hurriedly adding, “If that’s okay, that is.” Now it was Madeline’s turn to leave him waiting. Her mouth slowly opened and closed as she processed his answer. While she thought it was the right thing for him to do, she had somehow never really believed he’d be happy to leave the store - and any hope of seeing his father again - for good. It was part of what had made it easier to offer to keep looking after him. But now... Now she had to actually follow through. The thought made her chest tighten and sucked the saliva from her mouth. “Madeline? *Is* that okay?” His plaintive voice snapped her out of the rising panic. “Yes, yes of course. It just... surprised me. That’s all.” “Yeah,” Liam sighed, looking down at the table. “Don’t get me wrong, I want to go back. But everything you said last night made me realise it isn’t what my Dad would want. He left me there to be safe. But it isn’t safe there anymore.” Madeline nodded to herself, glad he’d taken her words to heart. “Well then,” she said, clapping her hands together. “We should get moving. I’ve packed as many of the supplies here as I can carry. Is there anything you can think of that you want to take?” Liam looked around and shook his head. “Okay. Let’s go.” After heaving her full bag onto her back and tucking her copy of *Emma* back under her arm, Madeline headed out the back door. Liam seemed keen to hang back again, keeping at least a few metres away, as he always did. By the time he was outside, she was already hauling herself over the fence. Together, they made their way across the gardens. When they reached the end of the row of houses, Madeline peered out into the street. Confident enough that it was clear, she stepped out and began her careful path along the road, clinging to the edge of the buildings as best she could. Now and then, she paused to consult her map, unsure whether sticking to the shortest route was best, or getting back to roads she knew as soon as possible. The comfort of familiarity won out over speed, and soon they were once again surrounded by the grey concrete of the city centre. As noon approached, she noticed Liam lagging further and further behind. Given that there was still plenty of daylight left, a short stop probably wouldn’t do much harm. She waited for Liam to catch up a bit, before beckoning him towards an old clothes shop. When she was sure he’d seen her, she stepped inside, broken glass crunching underfoot as she walked through the empty doorway. Inside, most of the stock lay untouched, covered in a thin layer of dust. Madeline picked her way through, stopping at the far side of the room to sling her bag off her back and sit cross-legged on the floor, book nestled on her lap. Liam's face poked through the clothes, and she gestured for him to join her. “I thought a break for some food and water would do us both some good.” “Yeah,” Liam replied as he lowered himself to the ground. “Thanks.” She threw him a pack of nuts and tore another open for herself. “Are you doing okay?” she asked before tossing a handful into her mouth. “I’m good.” “Really? We’ve got around the same distance to cover again. Perhaps a bit less. If you’re going to struggle I’d rather know now so I can find us somewhere safe to stay for the night.” “Really,” he confirmed. “But...” “Yes?” “I *would* like to know where we’re going.” Madeline paused in her chewing. While she fully understood his desire to not be kept in the dark, sharing any information about where she lived felt like a risk. If they came across a Poiloog on the way - if he got captured and she didn’t - she wanted to minimise what they could find out. “It’s... You’ll see when we get there, okay? For now, just know that it’s somewhere I’ve found to be safe and comfortable. And we’ll be there in a couple of hours.” He regarded her closely. “Okay then. But is there anything else you can tell me? Is it big, with plenty of space for both of us? Is there anyone else there?” “It’s pretty big, much bigger than the house we just came from. And no, it’s just me.” “For how long?” he asked. “A while,” she said, smiling at the look of frustration that crossed his face. “What? That’s all the detail you gave me at first?” “Yeah... but I did tell you more in the end.” “Alright. Like you, I’m not sure exactly. But definitely over a year.” Liam went back to eating his nuts, but his gaze kept flicking over to her. “Is there anything else you’d like to know?” “Yes...” “Go on then,” she said before tipping the last remnants of her packet into her mouth. “Why are you helping me?” The question caught her off-guard. She gave herself time to formulate an answer by chewing slowly, only swallowing when ready. “At first, you were right. I felt guilty that I might have put you in danger.” “And what about now?” “Now? I suppose I’ve just become used to having someone else around.” She scrunched up her empty packet and tucked it into her pocket as she stood. “Are you ready to go?” “Yeah,” Liam said, hurrying to finish up his food before scrambling to his feet. “Make sure to take that with you,” Madeline said, gesturing to his empty packet. “It’s best to avoid leaving traces where you’ve been. Just in case.” Nodding, he stuffed it into a pocket before backing up against the wall to maintain the distance between them as she walked past. Then they were back on their way. It was good to be in more familiar territory once again. While she had tried to avoid forming a sentimental attachment to any one place, she had to admit she had missed her library - and the streets around it. She could try and pretend it was all tactical. The home advantage gained from knowing the area like the back of her hand. But there was something more to it. It was her home. A home that she was about to share with someone else. The thought sent a rush of emotion through her. The cold flood of dread. The tingling of nervous excitement. The warm glow of hope. They made good time and soon the roof of the library could be seen peeking out of the city skyline. The sight set Madeline’s heart racing, hands trembling. It was difficult to control her pace - the surge of energy had to go somewhere - but Liam seemed able to keep up. When they finally reached it she wanted nothing more than to charge inside. But, excited as she was, she could not throw caution to the wind. She had been gone longer than planned - longer than ever before. The Poiloogs could have found it. Other people could have found it. Before she went inside, she needed to be as sure as possible that it was safe. Especially if she was taking Liam with her. A quick circuit of the building revealed nothing out of the ordinary. Windows were still either intact or boarded up. The front door was sealed. The only entrance left to check was the one she used. She made her way around to the wall that separated the library garden from the street. It was only then that a thought occurred. She beckoned Liam closer, and he edged forwards a fraction of an inch at a time. When he was a little over two metres away she gave up and whispered, “Do you think you can climb that wall?” He considered it carefully, doubt written across his face. “I didn’t think so,” she muttered. “That leaves us with a bit of a problem. I can help you over, but that requires letting me near you which you don’t seem keen on doing. Or I can leave you here while I go let you in another entrance. But that could take a while. And you’d be vulnerable. Alone.” “I- Errr... Maybe I could...” He took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment. “Okay. Can you help me over? But as quickly as possible, please?” “Okay.” Madeline strode over to the wall and jumped, seizing the top with both hands. Forcing her boots into the cracks between the bricks for extra support, she hauled herself up. Rather than swinging herself over fully, she paused with a leg on either side and held out a hand for Liam. He hurried forwards and grabbed it. With a heave, Madeline pulled him up and over, depositing him in the garden. He immediately hurried over to the far side, leaving her plenty of room to jump down herself. After some fumbling in her bag for the key, Madeline opened the bike lock that sealed the door and stepped inside. A familiar smell greeted her. One she hadn’t realised she’d missed, but that she could never quite put her finger on. It wrapped her in the comfort of home.