Outcast Villiage

"No, no you can't go!"
________

"Until then we keep moving."

"I'm gonna bring your friends back, it'll be fine." Ranger stepped back from the bed. "I'm a Number. You don't need to worry."

---

"Don't wanna be around when Hayley finds out you've lost her toy."

"Ok."
________

"Why didn't you tell Mrs Moira everything?"

Clockwork fell silent, rubbing the inside of her elbow again gently.

---

Ranger paused. "What do you mean?"

She told them what Clockwork had told Evelyn. "What are contracts?"
______

Evelyn stopped near a lake when the others did. "We should wait here and wait for the others."

"That's if Anjuli got back."

"She will havem she is a strong little kid."

"Little'uns shouldn't be so nosy about matters that don't concern them." Ranger ruffled her hair, but his smile was tight and without humour. "Don't go asking those sorts of questions. I don't know where you heard about the contracts, but just forget about them."

---

"Seven is late because of the one you sent back. He's conversing with her, but should be hear shortly." Clockwork closed her eyes as she sat down, hand moving to press against her chest.

Evelyn sat against a tree. "That kid is probably traumatized."

"I would think so, she nearly screamed the place down and deafened the rest of us." Moira put Alex at the base of a rock, sighing when he hit the floor because of his unconsciousness.

"How bad is he?" Evelyn asked her.

"Broken ribs, fractured skull, he has internal bleeding but I can't stop it, and his power it going haywire."
________

"Clockwork."

"I can still slow him down if you need me to," Clockwork murmured, hand fisting tighter by her chest. "While I'm still capable, however." She coughed shortly, blood dripping down her chin.

---

"Well, she's a little bit talkative, isn't she. Just forget you ever heard about contracts." Ranger gently ruffled her hair. "I'll be back shortly." He disappeared afterwards.

"It's ok, his power still has a few hours."
______

Anjuli watched him go, before she curld up and started crying.

Clockwork suddenly moved to stand, almost stumbling when a hand steadied her and she mumbled, "You're late, Seven."

"You're always so bitter Clockwork." Ranger steadied her and then walked towards Moira and Evelyn. "Is this everyone and are you all okay?"

---

After a few moments, Disaster stuck his head around the doorway, looking almost uncomfortable and nervous. "H-Hi...Seven asked me to sit in with you. I'm Number Six, so you can call me by my number or Disaster, I guess..."

"Let me put it this way, Moira close to passing out, Alex is nearly dead, Clockwork is well Clockwork and I'm as ok as I can get." She told him as she stood and helped Moira get Alex up.
______

Anjuli looked at him and she nodded. "Ok."

Clockwork walked over towards them and rest her hand on Ranger's forearm. Ranger briefly glanced at her before holding his hands out. "Make sure everyone has contact now."

---

"The youngest person I've ever seen was Death, Number Four, so I don't know what little girls like..." Disaster rubbed his head gently. He himself was at least in his early twenties. "What's your name?" he moved to lean against the doorframe in case she didn't want him any closer.

"I'm staying put for a bit." Evelyn told them.
______

"Anjuli."

"You're coming back," Ranger said firmly. "Whatever you want to do can be done after you've come back and had your wounds treated."

---

"That's a pretty name." Disaster smiled and knelt in the doorway. "How old are you?"

"Nine....I think...." She seemed slightly confused.
_______

"Fine." She made sure she could touch him and she waited for him to disappear.

"I..." Disaster looked to the ceiling. "I was twenty two when they made my contract. That was over fifteen years ago, though...I don't know what you'd class my age as. Ranger told me not to talk about the contracts...sorry." He shrugged awkwardly.

---

A few moments later, Ranger had them all in the foyer of the mansion, though he collapsed instantly afterwards to his knees, hand over his mouth as he tried to catch his breath.

Clockwork silently made her way upstairs, stumbling a little.

"Evelyn isn't going to be happy with Ephraim...He broke a promise to her."
________

Moira knealt by Ranger and she gently rubbed his back as Evelyn took Alex to the hospital wing.

"What sort of promise would that be?"

---

"Never tried it with so many before. Probably won't again. Do we need to find a healer for the boy?" Ranger's voice was quiet.

"Alex will be fine." She stood up, she had heard what Clockwork had told Evelyn and she wasn't exactly planning on speaking to Ranger.
__________________

"He promised her no secrets...He kept a lot of secrets." She looked at Evelyn in the doorway behind him. "Evie."

"Hey angel." She slid round Disaster and she picked Anjuli up. "Careful of the bump Anjuli."

"I will." She hugged her.

"Are you sure?" Ranger wiped his mouth and pressed a hand to his chest, grimacing in pain. "Where are you going?"

---

"Ephraim - Number Five - he doesn't know. Four. Three. Six. Seven, we know. One, Two, Five and Eight now, I suppose, don't. We're Numbered, not based on order, or age, or even contract, no matter what you think." Disaster watched quietly. "Five doesn't need to know."

She shrugged and she headed to the stairs, but nearly collapsed, despite her grip on the banister, she slid to her knees.
______

"Come on Anjuli, do you want to see Alex?"

Anjuli nodded.

Evelyn walked to the stairs with her and she looked at Disaster. "Thank you for keeping an eye on her."

Ranger stood slowly and walked towards her, bracing a hand gently on her lower back. "Perhaps you should go to the infirmary yourself."

---

"I-I think I once had a younger sister," Disaster murmured, eyes on the floor. "Before...this." He gestured to himself. "You're welcome, though."

"I'll be fine." She pulled herself to stand up and she managed to get up the stairs and she walked to their room.
________

She smiled at him and as she walked to the Infirmary, Anjuli waved to him.

Ranger followed her quietly, asking, "Have I done something wrong?"

---

Disaster waved back slowly in return before dropping his eyes. He stayed where he was, just silently knelt in the bedroom.

"Anjuli's probably already told you." She told him and she looked at him. "Why didn't you tell me? You promised me that we would have no secrets Ranger, and you broke that."
____

Evelyn brought her to the infirmiry where Alex was.