Eleven

Before leaving the cottage that morning, I had found the spell needed to travel to the different worlds with ease. Jamie had left it in the kitchen on the side before coming in to the bedroom to see me. I shivered as I thought of the memories from last night. The way he touched me, the way he kissed me, the way our bodies became one as we let everything else fade into nothingness.

He told me that he had fallen in love with me. I told him the same. Yet now, here I was....walking away from him, from our future, to go into a place where they tortured good people. It was my only choice. It was the right thing to do. I knew without a shadow of a doubt that if one of us had been taken, Popkins would have stopped at nothing to get us back. Everyone I met so far had been willing to risk their lives for me, so I had to do the same. And the only way I could do that with a clear head was to put Jamie and the wonderful memories of last night to the back of my mind.

The Emerald Generation entrance was only a twenty minute walk away from the cottage, so I found myself ready to do the spell quicker than anticipated. I knew that the spell worked for the other generations, but technically, once we left Pearl Eds at graduation, we were never allowed to go back to that world. I hoped with all my heart that I would get there OK.

I grabbed my wand from my pocket.

"The generations lay in wait for me, With so much to do and so much to see. Oh lovely wand, I will take care. Pearl Education...please take me there."

I gasped as my body suddenly and rapidly floated into the air. An unknown force pushed me so that I were laying down and with a loud whoosh, I started speeding through the sky. I closed my eyes, feeling distinctly nauseated. I could feel the wind whipping my long brown hair back, it almost felt as if my face were about to be pulled off from the force. And then, just as quickly as it started, I was dropped into the dome building where I had graduated. A day that now felt like a lifetime ago.

The dome was empty and vast. I hadn't realised just how big it was that day because there were so many of us crowded into it. As far as I could see, there was nobody here. The dome never got used for anything besides graduation. All I knew is that I had walked for what seemed like miles through this building so I would have to do the same again to get out.

As I made my way through, I held my wand at the ready in case any of the Pearl Eds authorities came for me before I could get to Popkins. I didn't know what spell I would do if that happened, but I wanted to be prepared. I was on high alert and every little noise I heard made me stop dead in my tracks in case it was an enemy. It took me a good two hours to finally see the exit of the building. I pushed the huge brown door open with great difficulty and peered out onto the street. This happened to be the place where the authorities would buy all general needs supplies for the students. Food, toileteries, basic stationary. Everything growing up had been severely rationed because there were so many of us. Millions of students of all different ages would be either at school right now or in their tiny solitary tents that we had to call home while under Pearl Eds.

The street so far looked pretty empty. Every shop doorway had a beige sign that stated the name. 'Pearlies' was the massive grocery store. It was down the street some way and although there were people flitting in and out of the place, I had so far been undetected. The street was completely clear in the other direction, so I decided to go that way. I closed the door behind me and took a deep breath. I felt sick to my stomach. I knew that Popkins was so close yet so far away and I didn't even know how I could rescue him when I eventually found him. But first, I had to get through this. I stepped out, trying to remember invisibility spells or anything that could help me if someone came for me. I breathed a sigh of relief as I managed to make it all the way past the dome without anyone noticing. But my relief didn't last for long.

I gasped as I felt a hand clasp around my mouth and a strong arm pull me back into an alleyway. I struggled against whoever had me, to no avail. I couldn't believe that I hadn't even made it half an hour in the Pearl Eds streets without getting caught. I tried to scream against the hand, but no sound came out.

Just as I was about to stomp on the person's foot, I felt their arms release me. I took a gulp of air and spun around to see who my attacker was. I clutched my wand, ready to cast a spell if I got the chance before they truly hurt me...or worse.

In front of me stood a tall, rather awkward blonde boy. His hair fell over his forehead, he pushed it back so I could get a better look at him. He had blue eyes and dimples even though he wasn't smiling. But it was his clothes that stood out to me. He was wearing a beige jumpsuit. His number stamped on the belt. The same exact one I had worn for eighteen years before I chose my generation. Or at least what I thought was my generation.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

His voice was low and angry. He looked at me as though I were a small child being reprimanded.

"Are you trying to kill me?"

It was the only thing I could think of to say. He raised an eyebrow, suddenly looking confused.

"What? Of course I'm not. You seem to be doing a pretty good job of it all on your own."

He carried on giving me that look, the one that suggested he thought I was crazy. I didn't answer him. I had no clue who he was and I didn't have time for this. I started for the road again, groaning out loud as he pulled me back once more, this time positively growling.

"Do you have a death wish or something?"

"Look, whatever your name is...." I suddenly remembered that he only had a number. He wouldn't have a name yet if he was still a student here and it made me feel sad for him.

"Miles."

He grinned at me as he said it, like this was a friendly meeting.

"OK...Miles....how do you have a name if you haven't graduated yet? And unless you are going to kill me right now, I need to go. The only person who has the potential to kill me at this moment is you, nobody else has seen me."

"I gave myself a name. I refuse to be a number. And they will see you. You are an Emerald. You've snuck into Pearl Eds in your fancy green clothes and you are walking our streets. You don't exactly blend in. They will grab you as soon as they see you and throw you in The Coal Jailhouse for a couple of years of torture."

I had only just remembered I was wearing green. He definitely had a point.

"Why should I listen to you? You're still at school. And I'm not an Emerald."

His eyes narrowed. He looked me up and down, like he was taking me in for the first time. His eyes fell on my neck.

"You're not wearing a necklace. So come on then, spill. What are you? And I'm not still at school. Well... technically I am, but only because I got held back. I was supposed to graduate last year."

Now it was my time to eye him. I didn't know people could be held back.

"I'm a Ruby. I...I misplaced my necklace. How come you didn't graduate?"

He scoffed and leant against the wall breezily.

"You aren't a Ruby. You are a terrible liar." He shrugged. "And I didn't graduate because I refused to pick a generation. And I wouldn't let them pick for me. So they held me back. They said if I don't pick by next graduation, I'll be thrown in The Coal Jailhouse for life."

I saw a fleeting look of panic cross his eyes. It actually made me feel sorry for him. I held out my hand for him to shake.

"I'm Cassie. And I'm sorry you are going through that. It sucks."

He shook my hand back, surprised that I had eased up on the hostility.

"I know who you are. Are you going to admit you are a Sapphire yet?"

I gulped, suddenly not sure of what his next moves would be.

"How.. how do you know who I am? And yes, I am a Sapphire and proud to be one. I'm here to save my friend. Then I'm going to go back to my generation and live in peace. It's not a maybe. It's a fact."

"I was just trying to get you to own up before when I called you an Emerald. I wanted to see how far I could push you. Your face has been up on posters in our streets. You, Mel and Jamie are our Most Wanted. Everyone knows who you are. That's why I'm trying to keep you from making a huge mistake by walking confidently down the street in front of the authorities who want to murder you."

My cheeks flushed pink. I hadn't stopped to think that we would be known to other people during all this. It was easy to get so caught up in your troubles that you forgot about everything else around you.

"I'm perfectly safe now. My friend, Wizard Popkins..." Just saying his name brought tears to my eyes." ...He gave himself up for us in return for our freedom. So nobody is going to try and kill me."

He actually chuckled. He ran a hand through his blonde hair, moving it from his face.

"You may be pretty but wow are you naive. You really think that because they have one of your friends you're going to be safe now? Cassie, these people are ruthless. The only thing they care about is that we fit into their mould. That we have to willingly conform to one standard. And you...you are breaking those rules along with the rest of the Sapphires. Besides, even if they really were going to leave you alone because they have your friend.. which they won't...but even if they did, I think you trespassing and illegally travelling back to Pearl Eds to rescue a prisoner would give them grounds to kill you on the spot."

He let his words sink in. He was right. I didn't know how to do this.

"If you have all the answers, what do you suggest I do?"

He snatched my wand from my hand that I still held at the ready, muttered a quick spell under his breath and swished it. I looked down at my clothes, seeing that I was now clad in the same beige jumpsuit as Miles. The same suit that I had wished to be out of for so many years. I frowned and took my wand back.

"I don't have all of the answers. But this should be a start. You blend in now. At least it gives you a little head start."

"I can show you how to get to The Coal Jailhouse but it is going to be a bumpy ride. There will be people trying to catch us at every turn and obstacles in our way. You will need to keep your head down, follow my directions and leave that fiery Sapphire attitude here in this alleyway until we are safe, OK?"

He was looking at me earnestly now. His blue eyes hiding something that I couldn't quite put my finger on.

"Wait a minute... I don't know anything about you. Why should I trust you?"

He yawned, then peeked out into the street, checking if the coast was clear.

"I'm not saying you should trust me, Miss Sapphire. But I don't see anyone else out here getting involved, do you?"

He had a point. I couldn't deny it.

"Right. But what's in it for you exactly? Why do you want to show me how to get to The Coal Jailhouse?"

He looked back at me. I couldn't fail to notice the haunted expression that washed over him.

"You aren't the only one in the world with people you want to save."

His answer shocked me. I wasn't expecting that. He shuddered then signalled for me to go over to him.

"I'm going to go out first. You wait a minute, then follow me. Remember, the authorities hate the thought of any students getting close so they will instantly suspect if we walk along together. If anyone asks you anything, just say that your tutor has sent you out for supplies. They won't question it. They've been short staffed lately, sending out all their best staff to look for you and your misfit friends."

"Wait a minute, don't go insulting..."

He rolled his eyes and cut me off.

"Listen princess, this is the worst time to get offended over the small things. Just follow me after a minute or two. I'm going to my tent. You can sneak in when you are certain that nobody is looking and from there, we can make our way through the Pearl Gen, probably starting on the Pearl Express. It's the train that will take us three hundred miles west. Then it should just be a matter of casting the location spell with your wand and finding our way from there. I think it's still a good few hundred miles once we are off the Pearl Express and that's when it becomes tricky. The authorities live in the vast lands outside of Pearl Education so we really have to outsmart them. But we will talk about all that when it's time. Right, I'm setting off. Follow me and do not lose sight."

I nodded, biting my lip in concern at everything we would have to do over the next few days. It was going to be harder than I thought to rescue Popkins. But I knew I had to.

Miles stepped out of the alleyway confidently. His body language made me think he knew what he was doing. The worry on his face was another story.

"Miles." I whispered, making him glance at me. "Good luck."

He smiled, flashing his dimples. He nodded.

"You too Miss Sapphire. See you soon."

With that, he strolled off, making the whole thing look easy. I took a deep breath and waited until he was almost out of sight.

Then, without giving myself another chance to think about how crazy this all was, I stepped out onto the grey streets of the Pearl Generation once more.