July 24, 1859

A Chapter by Havatara

July 24, 1859

Dear Lucy,

You’ve lost weight again? That’s not good. You had better ask Jaime’s mother for that cure quickly, before you lose any more weight.

Back to the story. He did too answer her question. Go look. Anyway, after Thomas told Julia, he withdrew from her yet again. She got so frustrated with him that after a while, even when he waved to her in the hallways, she just ignored him. Sara was delighted with this. She thought it was the funniest thing she had ever seen in her entire life.

One day the leaders of the group called everyone together into the council room. There were a few hundred people there. Julia hadn’t realized that so many people were hiding there. One of the leaders stood up at the podium and said in a crisp, clear voice, “We have been breached. There is a spy in our walls.”

Of course, everyone started murmuring at this. They had been safe for so long and were just starting to get comfortably, and now they were being told that they would have to move again soon? At the disturbance, the man raised his hand and said, “We will not have to leave here right away. When we find a new place to stay, we will have to check every single person here to make sure that the spy does not get past these walls again.” He smiled cheerfully. “On that note, have a pleasant afternoon.”

People rushed out of the council room. Julia was swept away in the crowd and almost lost her way when someone pulled her into an unlit corridor.

“Let me go!” she hissed quietly, trying to tug away.

There was a sigh. “Julia, it’s me. Thomas.”

She stopped struggling and asked accusingly, “What do you want?”

“To talk to you. I think the spy might be after you. You have to be careful. Promise me that you’ll be careful,” he pleaded.

“Maybe I don’t want to. Why would whoever it is be after me?” she demanded.

“Because you’re related to your uncle, that’s why. Just promise me, please.”

She huffed. “Fine, I promise. Now can you let me go? I promised Sara that I would come to her place for tea today.”

He let her go grudgingly, and she stalked away. Like she needed to be careful. He was just trying to make her scared. That’s what Julia kept telling herself all the way to Sara’s place.

I think that’s a good place to stop. How’s Jaime?

Truly, Safiya

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