Chapter 4

Greer didn't sleep that night. Nor the ones that followed. The knowledge she carried weighed heavily on her. If she didn't succeed, thousands would be robbed of life as they know it. Just like she had been. She couldn't let that happen.

"Let me ask you a question." Greer said on their third day in the forest. She ducked under a brown vine that hung from a thick tall tree with scratchy bark.

Eli glanced back at her, eyebrow quirked, "About?"

"You." She said matter of factly.

He grinned, "Have you finally come to your senses, darling? What would you like to ask the great Eli Gamble? He is known to have knowledge that knows no limit." He winked an eye.

"Why did you agree to help me?"

Eli stumbled over nothing. "What?"

She didn't repeat herself. There was no need

Eli stopped and turned to her. Greer was acutely aware of how little Loki stood awkwardly looking back and forth between the two. Eli's shoulders were tense, reminding her of when he first found her in the alley.

Greer, is that you? It was the first time she realized he'd never used her name before. Just a mock 'darling', or 'snow white', or 'snowflake'.

He opened his mouth several times, each time seeming to change his words. Greer waited patiently for him to get it right

Finally, he said, "You're so... good."

Loki choked and Eli shot him a warning look.

"I'm... good?" Greer questioned. "You helped me because I'm-"

Eli clapped his hands once. "We're running out of time! Let's get you to the palace, shall we?" He spun on his heel and charged forward with the confidence of a mountain lion.

Greer looked at Loki questioningly and he quickly jogged to catch up with Eli. Greer followed, but now with a confused expression on her face. Eli had always picked on her ever since the first day of school, but it had only worsened when her paint had accidentally been scraped off and they learned she was albino. He made no sense.

By midday they reached the small city of Epoh. It was smaller than Nozup, more compact and less bustly. Everyone knew everyone, that type of thing. Greer didn't like it. Everyone took notice of the three strangers purchasing supplies. But mainly her. She tried to keep her head down and her arms behind her cloak, but unless she wore a scarf, they still saw the bottom half of her face. White; stark white; snow white. She was sure, to them, she looked like a vampire.

A group of small children gathered at the market front where Eli and Loki bought several pouches of water and food rations. A small girl with bright red hair and orange freckles gawked up at Greer with deep, brown eyes that seemed to want to know the answer to every question ever asked.

"What are you?" She whispered, and Greer noticed a tooth missing front and center.

Greer smiled with slight discomfort, "I'm a person, like you."

The little girl smiled brightly, but the other children didn't look believing.

"Come on." A little boy with matching hair and freckles to the girl whispered. "Let's go tell ma 'bout her. See if she's telling the truth."

The group of children quickly dispersed and ran off, disappearing into the shop just as Eli and Loki finished.

"Ready?" Eli asked, readjusting his satchel.

Greer nodded distantly and wondered why everyone couldn't be like that little girl. She was so bright and cheery, ready to devour knowledge. She would become someone to hate Greer as she grew older. She hoped, beneath all the lies and deceit, the girl would remember that though their skin was different, Greer was a person too.

Eli shrieked, making Greer jump. She turned to find him rushing to a booth. He quickly made an exchange and ran back over with a book. His eyes were wide with the excitement of a child. "It's a book." He grinned.

"I... know?" Greer said, confused.

Loki gave her a sympathetic smile as if he understood her confussion.

"Ah, come on!" Eli groaned, "you don't like to read either?"

Greer looked down, embarrassment tightening her throat. "I can't, actually. I never got the chance before... I was expelled."

"Oh." Eli grew quiet. "I'm sorry, Greer. Truly."

Suddenly, not just Eli and Loki were quiet. The whole area did. Then, "It's the Albino Girl." The words were whispered amongst the people and Greer tensed.

"The albino girl."

"She's got a bounty on her head."

"Thief."

"Outcast."

Eli grabbed hold of Greer's arm, making her tense tighter. "We need to go. Now." He hissed.

They made their way out of the city without trouble, but waves of harsh judgment could be felt. It clawed at Greer's heart and squeezed her chest so tight it felt ready to burst

Eli wanted to go back and slap each and everyone of those people in the face. While he was at it, he should slap his own. This must've been what it was like everytime he'd belittled her. He'd been an absolute monster.

She was nearly shaking she was so tense. He wanted to say an encouraging word or two, but honestly he had no idea what an encouraging word would be

'It's okay, everyone is unique.' No, that wouldn't work. How 'bout, 'We all have our quirks that make us special.' She probably didn't want to hear that...

"I understand."

Eli blinked in surprise, looking back at Loki who'd spoken. He was standing awkwardly by Greer, looking like he wanted to hug her, but not wanting to because he didn't like people.

Loki swallowed and licked his lips. His eyes were so full of sorrow Eli had to go back in memory to make sure he hadn't belittled Loki like he had Greer.

"People look at me funny because I'm different." Loki said quietly, "and it hurts. So... so bad. And it makes me angry."

Greer sniffled. "When will they ever understand that we're people just like them? We're still human." Her voice quivered and a tear dripped down her chin and hit the ground.

Finally, Eli knew what to say. "Greer," he waited until she looked up at him, "you're both more human than we'll ever be."

She swallowed and he wiped the tear off her cheek and placed his hand on Loki's shoulder. "I am so sorry I never saw that."

Loki shifted on his feet. "You was just going along with society, Eli. It wasn't your fault."

Eli smiled sadly. "I should've been a better person. I'm ashamed of myself."

Loki pushed forward and hugged Eli. "Don't be." He mumbled into his shirt. "You're the brother I never had, and you were there for me despite the way you sometimes treated me."

"He's right." Greer said, wiping her face. "You might be a jerk, but you're there when it matters. You're here right now helping me." She squared her shoulders, "you're a jerk, but a good one, Eli Gamble."

Eli grinned, his heart flooding with the joy of their forgiveness. "This jerk is going to teach you how to read to make up for all the times I mistreated you."