London Eye: 1 (Toxic City)(54)

“Do I look like a monster to you?” he asked.

“Of course not. You look like my friend Olivia's dad.”

Jack laughed, and Ruben honoured him with a smile as well.

“And is Olivia's father a monster?”

“No,” Emily said. “Though he's a bit gruff sometimes. And he smells of smoke.” She frowned. “I've always known they were lying, because Jack made sure I did. But they still tell everyone else that anyone left alive in London is a mutant. Dangerous.”

“Some are,” Ruben said, smiling ruefully. “Some are.”

“They met some Superiors back at the hotel,” Rosemary said.

“But they helped us,” Jack protested. “If it weren't for them…” He thought of Lucy-Anne, and the guilt cut in again, harsh and sharp. Is there someone that can heal me of this? he wondered, and he thought there probably was. But some things needed to be suffered.

“And if the Choppers hadn't turned up,” Rosemary said, “there's no saying what Puppeteer and Scryer would have done to us.”

“Maybe Lucy-Anne is with them!” Emily said. “Maybe they rescued her, and—”

“If they had, they'd have let her go again,” Ruben said. “Even we're looked down upon by them, but you…”

“We're normal,” Emily said.

“My girl,” Ruben said, “I'll tell you something, and whether or not your brother or friends agree, you listen to me because I know: there's no such thing as normal.”

“So maybe she went north to look for her brother?” she said.

“She's dead,” Sparky said. “She was mad, grief-stricken, no way she'd have come to her senses quick enough to hide or get out. No way.”

“We can't know that for sure,” Jack muttered, but a voice inside was whispering we can, we know, we're sure. He turned to Rosemary. “How safe are we here?”

“As safe as anywhere,” Rosemary said. “We use a house a couple of times, then abandon it. I hid here for a week a few months ago when the Choppers did a sweep through this part of town.”

Ruben grunted. “They took Horace, Pat, and Bethany, that time.”

“So, yes, it's safe,” Rosemary said, sighing sadly. “I think we should stay here tonight, give Jenna a chance to get her strength back.”

“But you've cured her,” Emily said. “Why can't we just go and find Lucy-Anne, then look for my mum and dad.”

Rosemary and Ruben swapped glances, and Jack saw their loaded look.

“What?” he asked.

“I've cured her, but she's tired from what she's been through,” Ruben said. “She needs a rest.”

“Not that,” Jack said. “There's something else, isn't there?”

“Your parents,” Ruben said. “Rosemary told me who you are, though I wasn't aware she'd gone out to get you.”

“Do you really want her to hear this?” Rosemary said, nodding at Emily.

Jack went to say something, but Emily beat him to it. “I'm older than I look.” She stood, left the sofa, and sat beside Jack on the floor.

“Okay then,” the healer said. “But you're not going to like it.”

“Tell me something new,” Jack said.

Sparky laughed softly. “The world's gone to shit.”

Rosemary started talking.

She told them all about Reaper. Emily glared at Jack.

“She only mentioned it just before she went,” he said. “I'd have told you.”

Her glare softened. “He's alive. Anything else doesn't really matter right now.”

“I'm afraid it does matter,” Ruben said. “Reaper is like those Superiors you met at the hotel, only much worse. He barely acknowledges that we exist, and as for outsiders…I've no idea how he'll react. He might just kill you, I suppose.”

“But he's our father,” Jack said.

Rosemary shook her head slowly. “Jack, Emily, his time as your father ended two years ago. The virus Evolve altered his mind, just as it altered the minds of everyone else in London it didn't kill. But with him and the Superiors, it changed so much more. He's a different man now. He'll know you, perhaps, but that might not mean anything. Although we hope…” She trailed off and looked across at Jenna, lying peacefully asleep with her head resting on Sparky's thigh.