▸ A Temporary Haven: Chapter 7

The familiar ding-a-ling of the corner shop bell greeted Ivy and Violet. They stepped in, the sudden warmth was a welcome change from the miserable drizzle. The shopkeeper, engrossed in his magazine, looked up momentarily and gave them a friendly nod. Ivy returned the gesture, her hands tucked into the pockets of her worn school blazer. 

Violet, however, had already darted off, her enthusiasm palpable as she began scanning the shelves. Ivy followed at a more leisurely pace, her sharp green eyes taking in the colourful display of crisps, drinks, and sweets. She wasn't in a rush—Violet's energy was almost contagious, and for the moment, Ivy didn't mind indulging her.

Suddenly, Violet whirled around, a huge smile lighting up her face. "Look! Look!" she exclaimed, holding up a packet of chocolate biscuits and a bag of crisps like they were trophies. "I found some cheap snacks for us!"

Ivy's soft chuckle bubbled up as a playful grin tugged at her lips. "Alright, hand 'em over," she said, her voice light, "time to pay the piper." 

Violet, practically bouncing with excitement, presented the snacks with a dramatic flourish that made Ivy laugh. Together, they walked to the till, where Ivy retrieved a fiver and arranged the goodies neatly on the counter. The clerk quickly scanned everything, packed it all up, and with a brief nod, sent them on their way. 

The clerk, all smiles, called out, "Cheers! Have a good 'un!

"Ivy responded with a simple, "You too," her voice a quiet murmur. Violet, on the other hand, practically vibrated with enthusiasm, waving goodbye with a huge grin that practically illuminated the shop. Once outside, Ivy fished into the bag and pulled out a can of strawberry lemonade, passing it to Violet. 

"Here. Drink this for now until we find somewhere to sit."

Violet's eyes lit up as she popped the tab, the can fizzing softly before she took a long, eager sip. "Mmm! This is so good!" she exclaimed, practically bouncing on her toes.

Ivy couldn't help but laugh. "What, never had lemonade before?"

"Not like this," Violet admitted, scratching the back of her head. "I mostly just drink water. It's easier to come by." 

Ivy raised an eyebrow. "Easier to come by?"

Violet nodded with a faint smile. "Yeah, y'know. Water fountains, rain… stuff like that. Especially around here, it feels like it's always raining." Her tone was light, almost breezy, but you could also catch a hint of something else, something a little bit heavier beneath the surface.

Ivy nodded slowly, her brow furrowing slightly. "Yeah, rain's... well, it's something, I guess." she said, a hint of reluctance in her voice. "But honestly, on days like this, I'd much rather be curled up somewhere inside."

"Yeah, tell me about it," Violet said, her tone casual but with a hint of weariness. "Rain's not exactly my favourite thing either, but what can you do? The real problem is finding a decent place to get out of it. So many shelters seem promising, but then you find out they're connected to the Clan somehow. You just can't trust them anymore."

Ivy popped the top off her cherry cola, the snap echoing in the awkward silence. She took a good swig, letting the fizz tingle on her tongue, before turning to Violet. "So," she said, her voice a little tentative, "I'm guessing things haven't exactly been easy for you lately."

Violet shrugged, her smile wavering a little. "Yeah, not exactly living the dream," she admitted, her tone a touch flat. "But it's not forever, you know? Just until I'm eighteen." 

"That's what, two or three years?" Ivy asked, her voice sharper than she'd intended.

"Yep..." Violet admitted, looking down at her feet. "Not ideal, but way better than getting caught in a Clan's trap, that's for sure." She paused, taking another swig of lemonade. "I've… already lost two lives to those bastards."

Ivy stopped walking, her eyes narrowing. "Two?"

Violet nodded, her expression unreadable. "The first time, I didn't even see 'em coming. They cornered me in an alley. The second… well, I got cocky. Thought I could slip past one of their checkpoints without being noticed. Didn't work out."

Ivy's jaw tightened as she processed Violet's words. The girl spoke with an air of resignation, like she'd already accepted her situation. But the thought of someone so young—so vulnerable—living under constant threat made Ivy's blood boil.

"That's no way to live," Ivy said finally, her voice low and steady. "Sleeping rough, dodging those bastards. It's bloody ridiculous."

"It's not forever," Violet replied, trying to sound upbeat. "I'll make it through. I just need to keep my head down."

Ivy's brow furrowed, her thoughts churning. She'd found herself in plenty of rough situations lately, that was for sure, but at least she always had some kind of haven to retreat to, a place that felt somewhat secure. Violet, though... her situation was on a whole other level. It wasn't just hard times Violet was facing; it was outright dangerous. What really got to Ivy, however, was how Violet seemed to shrug it all off, as though the only way to overcome the risk was to accept it. 

They walked in silence for a while, the city's noise filling the gaps in their conversation. Ivy couldn't help but sneak a glance at Violet. She looked so slight, almost delicate, in her dirtied clothes, clutching her lemonade like it was a priceless gem. 

"You can't keep living like this," Ivy said eventually. "It's not safe."

"What's the alternative?" Violet asked, her voice light but tinged with bitterness. "Go to some 'shelter' and hope it's not run by Clan informants? No thanks. I'd rather take my chances out here."

Ivy let out a sigh, her fingers combing through her damp hair. She knew Violet wasn't wrong. The Clan had their fingers in too many pies, and trusting the wrong person could be fatal. Yet, the idea of just walking away, leaving Violet to handle things alone, just felt…off. It sat in her gut like a cold stone.

⋯

They stumbled upon a quaint little park, featuring a handful of mismatched benches and a lawn that had seen better days. Ivy gestured to one of the benches, and they both plopped down. Violet finished her drink, the can clinking softly as she set it on the ground beside her, then leaned back with a long sigh. Ivy, meanwhile, was staring at the ground. Her thoughts a jumbled mess. How was she supposed to help anyone else when she couldn't even sort out her own life? And yet, the thought of walking away, of leaving Violet to face the streets and the Clan alone… it wasn't an option. 

The silence hung thick between them until Ivy finally spoke, her voice a low rumble. "Hey," she started, a little hesitant. "So, I know this probably isn't ideal, but I do have a place. It's nothing fancy, but it's... well, it's safe enough. You could crash with me for a while? Just until you get your bearings, you know, figure out what you want to do."

Violet's head shot up, her eyes widening as she stared at Ivy. "Wait, seriously? You mean that?" Her tone was one of genuine shock, with both disbelief and hope fighting for control. 

Ivy shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Yeah. Why not? Better than you sleeping out here, isn't it?"

Violet let out a shaky laugh, her hands fidgeting in her lap. "Why would you do that? You don't even know me."

"Don't need to," Ivy replied simply. "You're in a crap situation, and I can help. That's all there is to it."

For a moment, Violet didn't say anything. Then, to Ivy's surprise, tears welled up in the girl's eyes. She quickly wiped them away with the sleeve of her jacket, but the emotion in her voice was unmistakable.

Violet's voice cracked, the words "No one's ever..." hanging in the air, unfinished. She inhaled sharply, a shaky breath that did little to calm the tremor in her voice. Then, she looked up, a genuine mix of gratitude and surprise in her eyes. "Thank you," she managed, the words a little breathless. "Seriously, thank you. I'm... I'm kind of speechless." 

Ivy reached into the bag of snacks, pulling out the chocolate biscuits Violet had picked earlier. She handed them over with a small smirk. "Here. Eat something before you start bawling. You'll embarrass us both."

Violet let out a teary laugh, taking the biscuits with a trembling hand. She opened the packet and offered one to Ivy, who shook her head. "Suit yourself," Violet said, biting into one with a hum of satisfaction. "You're not as scary as you look, y'know."

"Don't get used to it," Ivy replied, leaning back on the bench. But there was a faint warmth in her voice that hadn't been there before.

They sat there for a while longer, sharing snacks and stories, the weight of their earlier conversation temporarily lifted. For the first time in a long time, both girls felt a flicker of hope.