Outsider Read online

  Get on with it, Dane. I glance around. About half the gang is here tonight. They’re mostly guys. The Snakes aren’t renowned for letting girls be proper gang members, although there are lots of hangers on. Like me, I suppose. There’s only one person I don’t recognise. A tall, gangly man of about twenty, who stands slightly off to one side at the edge of the platform. He’s glancing around nervously and his body looks tense, as if he’s ready to run. Doesn’t look like he’d be much good in a fight. Wonder where he’s come from?

  “We’re going to strike right at the heart of the gov’ment. Tomorrow, after dark, once the guards have got off to their New Year fun“—Dane sneers the words—“we’re gonna raid the Area Four depot. They resupplied last week, with food and weapons.”

  For a moment, there’s complete silence. Then a voice calls out, “Are y’crazy man?”

  Dane’s head whips round. “D’ya think I’m crazy, Bubai?” The boy shrinks under his gaze and the guys around him step away, waiting for the blow to fall. But Dane is in a good mood. “Na, I’m not crazy. We’ve been watchin’ the depot. We know a lot of the guards are off tomorrow. And we have a secret weapon.”

  His eyes flick to the side when he mentions a secret weapon. I follow the line of his gaze and see the stranger, looking down at his feet, apparently uninterested in Dane’s news.

  “I can’t tell you more now, otherwise it wouldn’t be secret, right?” There are a few nervous laughs. “Trust me. T’morrow night we’ll have a party like no other!” He turns serious. “Usual secrecy rules apply. One word to anyone who isn’t a Snake and—” He slices his hand through the air at head height to indicate the outcome.

  Jay shifts beside me. The muscles on his cheek are tense; a sign that he’s nervous. I stand on my toes to whisper in his ear. “What’s this all about?”

  Jay shakes his head. “Later,” he mouths.

  What is Dane playing at? The supply depots all have barriers similar to the Wall. Designed to keep Outsiders out. You touch it, you die. Simple but effective. There’s no way through apart from the main entrance gate. And that’s solid metal, six inches thick.

  “I’m going to head home, ok?” I pull back from Jay’s chest, looking up at him.

  “Sure, I won’t be long.” He’s distracted, glancing over to where Dane and the stranger are talking.

  “Who is he?”

  “New guy. Peder,” he answers shortly.

  I turn his head towards me and give him a long, slow kiss. “Don’t stay too long.”

  “I won’t,” he murmurs, his eyes shining in anticipation.

  A narrow passageway links the back entrance of the building to the street. The streetlights are mostly out and the few that remain flicker ominously. Water must have got into the solar panels again. My stomach lurches as I see a familiar figure lurking in the shadows.

  “I thought I’d told you to stay away.” I draw my knife, keeping a few paces away from him. Far enough that I can throw it if need be. I’m damn sure I wasn’t followed, which means he knows even more about me than I thought.

  “No need to be so threatening. I was wondering if you’ve had time to consider my offer.” His lilting voice is starting to get on my nerves. Where is his accent from? Then it comes to me. He’s Irish. Like the O’Donnells on Spelman Street. I narrow my eyes. He looks way too cocksure. Like he knows I’m going to agree. Which is all the more reason not to.

  “I’m not interested.”

  “You sure? Because the success of that raid you’re planning depends on your decision.”

  “What d’ya mean?” My heart begins to race. Did he hear Dane’s speech? Or is there a leak in the gang? I think of the stranger and hazard a guess. “That man – the new guy. He works for you?”

  Irish just smiles.

  Dammit. A plant. Why didn’t Dane see through this? Though I already know the answer. He probably just saw the opportunity. Who wouldn’t want to get access to the depot? A successful raid on a depot would be the ultimate prize. No one would question his authority after that and the Snakes would unquestionably be the most powerful gang in Area Four.

  “But why do you want to help us?” It doesn’t make sense.

  He shrugs. “There are advantages to having one of the biggest gangs in this area on your side. We may want the favour returning at some point.”

  I snort. “If you know anything about Dane, you’ll know that’s hardly likely. He doesn’t work with other gangs. Ever.”

  A flash of annoyance crosses his face. “I told you, we’re not a gang.”

  “Whatever.” There’s a pause. “So, you’re going to sabotage the raid?”

  “That depends. If you agree to help us, the raid will succeed. If you don’t, the raid will fail. It’s up to you.”

  Anger begins to build inside me; churning my insides and heating my blood. Keep it down. Stay in control. “We’ll call off the raid then,” I reply evenly. “I’ll tell Jay you’re blackmailing me and he’ll get Dane to call it off. But I doubt you’ll get your spy back.”

  Irish shrugs. “Well, that depends now. Do you really want Jay to find out about your illegal status? I know you’re pretty cosy with him, but do you think he really loves you enough to risk his life sheltering you?”

  “I doubt he’d care.” But I sound more confident than I feel. Would he hand me in? Normally, he’d avoid the Metz like the plague, but it’s a big reward …

  “We’ll see. Anyway, it’s your decision. You have twenty-two hours to decide.”

  He pushes himself off the wall. “Enjoy the rest of your night, Aleesha. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Then he turns and, without looking back, walks down the street.

  * * *

  I punch in the keypad code and kick open the door to Jay’s apartment. It slams back into its frame as I stomp across the wooden floor to the table and slam my fist on the stained, plastic surface. Who the hell does he think he is? Damn blackmailing son of a … It makes me want to scream, but I’d wake up the baby next door and he has lungs enough to wake the whole street. I settle for pummelling the table until the pain cuts through my anger, then slump into the solitary chair.

  The apartment is two small rooms above an old kebab shop; a luxurious amount of space for two people. The crumbling brick building was built before the days of cooling systems, so the only ventilation is from the large windows that face onto the street. It’s warm and muggy in winter and stifling hot in summer, but it’s by far the nicest place I’ve lived in.

  I shake my hair loose from its braid, untangling the knots with my fingers. Jay prefers it down, but it’s not very practical. It’s like my mother’s hair; dead straight and black. She used to say I had her eyes too. But that was when I was six. Who knows if I look like her now.

  Setting my boots to one side, I rest my feet on the table. They twitch restlessly, causing the green stone of the amulet around my ankle to sparkle and glow in the soft yellow light.

  The amulet is the most precious thing I own, which is why it’s on my ankle. No one can see it to steal it. It’s not worth much, but it’s the only clue I have to my father’s identity. He gave it to my mother as a token of his love. As a sign that he’d come back for her. My mother gave it to me on the day she disappeared, just before leaving the small single room we’d called home. She said she’d be gone an hour, two at most. But she never came back. As for my father, I don’t think he even knows I exist.

  The amulet is a strange kind of three-leaved knot made out of a bronze-coloured metal, set on a ring of green stone. A bronze circle weaves in between the three leaves to complete the piece. When I’m feeling sentimental, I like to imagine that the three leaves represent the three of us: mother, father and me.

  “He’s the most intelligent person I’ve ever met,” she used to say on the few occasions she talked about my father. “And he cares so much, about everything and everyone. Someday, he’ll change the world. Make it a better place.” Then she’d hug me and stroke my hair. �
��One day he’ll find us. Then we’ll have all the food we can eat. He promised.” But she always looked away for that last bit, as if she didn’t quite believe it herself.

  Despite my begging, she would never tell me his name or where he was from. But she used to work Inside, before she had me, so I’ve always wondered if he’s in there somewhere. Inside the Wall. Perhaps if I can find him somehow and show him the amulet, he’d help get me out of this place. Adoption is too much to hope for, but maybe he could find some way of making me a legal citizen.

  I’ve spent hours trying to work out what the amulet may represent and how it can help me find him. But it seems I’m not going to figure out the puzzle tonight. There’s a clatter of boots on the stairs. Jay is home.

  3

  I wake early the next morning, and lie with my head on Jay’s chest, tracing a finger over the black tattoos that wind around his neck and body. My hand is pale and cold against his warm, copper skin. It kind of reflects our natures. Him warm. Me cold.

  He murmurs something in his sleep and his arm tightens around me. Do you think he really loves you enough to risk his life sheltering you? I’m pretty sure he cares about me. But love? That’s not a word we use out here.

  When Jay wakes I quiz him on Dane’s plan. What he tells me isn’t reassuring.

  “You know we’ve had our eye on the depot for ages. Just needed to find the right time. Then Peder turns up. Did you meet him last night?” Jay doesn’t wait for my reply. “He’s got some brains on him. Came down from Area Six so he’s had proper schooling and stuff. Reckons we can take down the barrier around the depot with a bang.”

  He grins and my heart sinks still further. “He’s not planning on using those explosives Rich has been messing around with, is he?” Rich is one of Jay’s main rivals for Dane’s favour. A few weeks ago, he found some explosive powder and has been playing with it ever since. The stuff explodes for sure, but Rich is still working on controlling it. So far one house has been destroyed and two gang members injured.

  Jay’s smile wavers slightly. “Kind of, but Peder knows a way to contain them, so they go off when we want them to.”

  And I’ll bet Rich is pretty pissed about that. “Who is this Peder? And why’s he helping us? What’s in it for him?”

  Jay frowns. He doesn’t like being challenged. But this time it’s necessary. If I can get him to call off the raid – make him think it’s his idea – then we can question this Peder properly. And get Irish off my back.

  “He’s on the run. Committed some crime there that the Metz want him for. He wants our protection.”

  “From the Metz?” The disbelief is clear in my voice. Nobody is safe from them.

  Jay pushes himself up in bed. “What are you saying, Aleesha?”

  I sigh. “Don’t you think it’s a bit suspicious that this guy – a guy from Six – just appears and wants to help us? Are you sure he isn’t a plant?”

  “A plant?” Jay’s brow furrows and I realise my mistake.

  “Not that kind of plant. Like a spy. Someone from one of the other gangs perhaps who they’ve sent to us. This could all be a trap.” I sit and stare at him, hoping he can read the concern in my expression. Come on Jay, cancel the raid.

  He seems to consider this for a minute. “But if it’s a trap, then we kill him?”

  “If there’s anyone left alive to kill him.” I don’t add that if this guy is as clever as Jay seems to think, then he’ll probably make himself scarce as soon as the trap is set. But subtlety doesn’t appear to be getting me anywhere. “Look, I’m worried. This doesn’t feel right. Perhaps you should persuade Dane to call off the raid.”

  “We can’t.” He knocks my hand away.

  “Why?” I sit up straighter, curling my legs under me so I’m at the same height as him. “I know it would make Dane look bad, but he could figure out some excuse about them having increased security or something.”

  “We’re not calling off the damn raid, Aleesha.” He pulls off the bed sheet and stands, yanking the faded rag back from the window. Outside it’s raining. For a change.

  Why’s he so angry about this? Then it hits me. “This plan. It’s not Dane’s idea at all, is it?” I say slowly. “It’s yours.”

  For a moment he stands there, staring at the street below. Then he turns to look at me and for the first time since I’ve known him, there’s fear in his eyes. Real fear.

  “Yes. I was the one who recruited Peder. I made a deal with Dane. If the raid’s a success, I’m his second in command. Official.” He pauses, then adds, “If it fails, I’m screwed.”

  Which means I’m screwed too. My position in the gang and my lifeline of food and chits is all because of Jay. Without him, I’m a nobody. Dammit, Irish, you’ve screwed me up good and proper. Just at the point when I thought I’d got control over my life. Where I’m not simply a tool to be used and thrown away. Heat flushes through me and it’s all I can do to not punch the wall in frustration. I settle for pacing the small room instead.

  “So, are you in?” Jay’s expression tells me that it’s not really a question.

  My heart sinks further. “Do you really need me?” I’m pretty good at defending myself, but I try and stay away from big fights. They’re so chaotic that surviving is as much about luck as skill. And luck does not appear to be on my side at the moment.

  “Yeah, we do.” He sees my frown. “C’mon, Aleesha, you know you’ve got some of the quickest reflexes of all of us. And you can think on your feet. Sometimes I wonder if you’ve got Insider blood in you.” He casts me a sideways glance. “Dane was asking about you on the way back last night. He reckons you’re way too smart to be from Area Four. Wants to talk to you at some point.”

  My feet stop pacing. Does Dane know I’m unchipped? Was it a test for Jay – to see if he knows? I swallow, trying to get some moisture into my mouth. “Oh yeah, and what did you say?” My voice comes out harsh. Accusing.

  Fortunately, Jay misinterprets my tone. “Don’t worry; he’s not interested in you in that way. He knows you’re my girl.” He leers at me as he drops back onto the bed.

  “What did you say to him, Jay?” I take a deep breath and tighten the iron cage around my anger.

  He shrugs. “Just that you’re Area Four born and bred. That your mother disappeared when you were a kid and you’ve no idea who your father is.”

  That’s about the sum total of what I’ve told Jay about my past, and I wonder now if even that was too much.

  “You know, maybe your father is an Insider …” Jay’s voice trails off as he looks at me enquiringly. He looks pleased with himself as if he’s helped me discover a revelation. I sigh inwardly. Sometimes he tries my patience.

  “Maybe. But I doubt it. You think if he was an Insider, I’d be stuck here with you?” I punch his arm playfully and grin. It has the desired effect. Jay leans towards me, all thoughts of my past clearly gone from his mind.

  “Oh yeah? So bad with me here, is it?” His voice is husky.

  I lean into him, so our lips are almost touching. “Really bad,” I whisper.

  He runs a finger down my bare chest making me shiver in anticipation. “What time do you need to go out today?” I murmur.

  “Not quite yet.” He smiles wickedly as I let him push me back down onto the bed.

  * * *

  We leave for the raid as the light’s fading but haven’t got a hundred metres before I spot Irish lurking in the shadows. He catches my eye. My twenty-four hours are up. We walk another fifty metres or so before I pause and put a hand on Jay’s arm.

  “I left something at home. Be five minutes. I’ll catch you up.”

  He grabs my hand, pulling me back. “You will be there, Aleesha.”

  I nod and kiss him lightly on the lips. “Sure. Just left a knife behind.”

  “Okay, be quick.” He turns and walks off.

  I wait until he’s rounded the corner, then walk back down the street. “Follow me,” I murmur to Irish as I draw level
with him. There are too many people around. Beggars mostly, but they all know Jay and would be sure to mention that they’d seen me talking to another guy if they thought they could get a chit out of it.

  Turning into a narrow alleyway, I wait for him to join me. Food wrappers, rotten fabric and other rubbish are piled against one wall. It smells like something’s died in here. I try not to think what.

  Irish joins me a minute later. “So, have you made your decision?” he asks without preamble. He says it like there’s only one answer.

  “Look, you know if I betray the gang they’ll kill me,” I say in a low voice. “I don’t even know what I’m agreeing to! You can’t expect me to make a decision without having more information.”

  He considers this for a minute. “I can’t give you any details until you’ve agreed to help us. But we’re not working against the Snakes or any of the other gangs for that matter. Not at the moment, at least. Our aims are rather bigger than petty gang squabbles.”

  I look at him incredulously. What kind of people are they?

  He lets out a sigh. “Look, we’re trying to help you people. Outsiders. By helping us, you’d be helping your gang, not betraying them. I give you my word on that.”

  “You just expect me to trust you based on your word?”

  A crooked smile twists his face. “Yep.”

  “You need to give me more time to think about this.”

  “You have—” he checks his wrist device “—two minutes. I need an answer, Aleesha. The raid is about to begin.”

  I’m trapped and he knows it. This was how he planned it from the beginning. I never had a choice. “Fine,” I snap.

  “Good.” He pulls a thin black device from inside his jacket and dabs a finger on the screen. In an instant I’ve been scanned from head to toe. A tiny replica of me appears above the screen, rotating in the air to show off every side. It’s incredibly detailed. I never realised I looked that skinny. He holds the device out to me. “I’ll need your fingerprint here.”

  I stare at him. “What?”