The Premortals (The Premortals Series Book 1)

by Jacqueline Wrenley

Curtis sighed then shook his head, “I can’t seem to hide anything from you can I?” he stated, “I can’t tell you so that’s that,” he added firmly.

  “Why do you always do this? Always hiding everything from me?” I asked as I was starting to get annoyed.

  “Because you’re too stubborn sometimes!” he declared a bit louder than what I was used to then he looked frustrated. Was this our first fight together? I didn’t say another word, and then he rubbed his face against his palm as he bent over his chair but then sat up straight as he composed himself and then I noticed his distress.

  “I’m sorry Ellie I shouldn’t have shouted like that,” he sincerely apologized, “I just think it will be better if you didn’t know,” he continued.

  I paused trying to figure this out then I asked in a whisper, “This is about the Defiers isn’t?”

  He stared at me refusing to answer.

  “I thought we were in this together?”

  “It’s too dangerous,” he finally answered in a calm voice.

  “Then I’m coming with you and you can’t stop me,” I insisted firmly while I saw the frown on Curtis’ defeated face.

  CHAPTER 14: Gelhem

  CURTIS

  It was difficult to be conspicuous in the Fisherman’s town of Gelhem. A busy town that strangers would blend in easily and the clothes we wore were almost identical to theirs. Loose plain pants and shirts in dull colors with no special design whatsoever that we wore underneath our long brown cloak. I was not happy that Ellie had to come along, she was safer back at Coastal City but then she kept insisting and our argument grew more intense that I had to concede defeat. I was furious at her but I knew I couldn’t stay mad. I saw her fearlessness as we walk through the town market, and she was always eager to visit a place where she had not been to. Gelhem’s main source of income was fishes. People everywhere would come here to buy or sell all types of it of all sizes freshly caught from the ocean. The air would smell of salt and fish, and the ground was muddy and wet, but the skies showed that it was clear and sunny, and the structures were all made of out wood of dull dark colors, nothing was pleasant but Ellie didn’t seem to care. The market was crowded and noisy as the people were trying to sell their fish while a buyer bargains the price. There were some who would clean the fish for you and threw its guts on the ground where stray dogs and cats would gather along with the flies.

  We reached what looked like the town’s inn and there was a sign that said they were serving food so we decided to go in to eat and stay away from the market. The place was crowded but we found an empty table near the window then we took off our cloaks and sat down. I scanned the room and there was nobody there that I recognized. Most of the people were talking loudly among themselves and not caring for those around them. Then a plump woman finally approached us wearing her plain dress, an apron which was clearly had not been washed, and her expression showed that she was more annoyed that we even bother coming inside.

  “What are you having?” she snapped while she placed a strand of curly brown unkempt hair behind her ear as it tried to escape her head piece made out of white cloth to hold her hair.

  “What are you serving?” I asked grinning trying to be charming.

  “Fish!,” she blurted angrily.

  I hesitated then asked in a most respectful way, “Do you have anything besides fish?” then I smiled widely.

  It only made her temper worst but before she could say something Ellie quickly interrupted her, “We’ll take the fish,” then she smiled.

  The woman glared at Ellie then finally said, “I’ll be back with it,” she muttered.

  Ellie waited for the woman to leave then she asked me, “Who are we looking for?”

  “You’ll see,” I replied.

  After a while, we finished our meal then left some money on the table and as we stood up and were about to leave the grumpy woman came back and whispered subtly something to us while she took our plates.

  “Go to the docks, there’s a small fishing storage there at the end. He will be waiting.” After that she took the money on the table then left.

  We headed to the docks and it was a relief that it was less crowded. Some fishermen stored their cleaned gears as they prepared to leave while some folded their fishing nets. We reached the storage at the end of the dock and nobody was around. I held the door handle but before I opened I glanced at Ellie and she gave me a silent nod telling me that she was ready for whatever was behind it. I pushed the door open and it made a creaking sound. It was full of fishing nets and gears then we slowly went inside the dark room only lit by the sun passing between the wooden planks on the wall. Nobody was inside.

  Then there was a sound of heavy footsteps on the dock approaching us. Ellie immediately went behind me as we waited to see who was coming. Then a huge figure stood outside the doorway

  “Glad you’re here,” Olfren’s deep voice greeted us, “Is she coming?” he asked referring to Ellie.

  “Yes, is that going to be a problem?” I responded.

  Olfren shrugged, “No problem with me. Come on then.”

  He led us to a small fishing boat and there was a man already on board making preparations. Olfren stood beside the boat then said, “Hop on.” I got on first then assisted Ellie and then Olfren followed. The man loosened up the rope that was holding the boat to the docks then went over to the helm and turned on the engine. It made a choking sound at first then slowly roared to life. The boat was rusty and old but it didn’t have any problem floating as it slowly left the dock.

  “By the way, I need you two to go below deck. It’s cramp but you’d be comfortable enough. We don’t want to catch anybody’s attention,” Olfren stated and we obliged silently.

  Below deck was a small space that could barely fit four people. There were fishing gears and a dirty white hammock hanging above the nets, and farther inside it was full of clutter and a small wooden table and a bench on each side. We took a seat across from each other as the boat slowly rocked while we sailed on what seemed to be almost half an hour.

  I looked at Ellie and asked, “Are you okay?” sounding concerned.

  “I’m fine,” she replied softly.

  I gently took her hands and held them. “I don’t know if we’ll be safe where we are going but if you see something suspicious or anything wrong, I want you to run, just run don’t worry about me,” I spoke stressing the importance of my words.

  She smiled warmly and responded, “Nothing is going to happen.”

  Footsteps came down the stairs and as we looked to see who it was, Olfren appeared.

  “How’s our Lord and Lady?” he asked cheerfully.

  “How far are we?” I anxiously asked.

  “Oh we’re almost there,” he answered placing his right foot on top of a wooden box that was on the floor and held a rope that was dangling from the ceiling to support himself while the boat swayed. He leaned towards us and continued, “Once we arrived just do what I say. The journey isn’t that long but it’s not going to be comfortable.”

  “Alright,” I agreed and Ellie silently nodded.

  “Good!” he said contented.

  There was a sudden loud foot stomp that came from above and what sounded like the man on the wheel shouted, “We’re here.”

  Olfren then straightened himself up and he was about to go above deck when he turned back to us and said solemnly, “I’m sorry about James Conolly, he was a good man.”

  “He was,” I agreed nodding.

  The boat was nearing what looked like a small abandoned wooden dock almost hidden amongst heavy bushes growing freely on the rocks. The boat’s engine died down as we slowly drifted towards it. Olfren jumped off first holding a rope then quickly tied it to the dock and the boat slowly rocked when we completely stopped. I quickly took a look around but I saw no one but the sight of thick bushes made me anxious knowing that somebody might be behind those. I held my hand out for Ellie to help her off the boat. We were on the ground when Olfr
en told us, “We’re not going to be taking any breaks so keep up.” He led the way and we followed slowly with me on the rear making our way through the large rocks and bushes. The sun was upon us as we moved forward through the thick bushes and trees while I moved branches that were on my way. Sounds from unfamiliar birds and insects were the only noise I could hear and my breath as the heat began to worsen but Ellie’s pace did not falter as she effortlessly kept up with Olfren. It felt like time stood still here as everything looked the same, the trees and bushes and even the path. After a while of walking, Ellie was beside me and without taking her eyes off Olfren she asked in a whisper, “How do you know him?”

  I glanced at Olfren then responded in a hushed tone, “He found me back in Pinewood then he gave me a choice.” I recalled to her the day I first met Olfren and ever since then my life was never the same.

  “It was a good choice though,” she grinned.

  “I hope so,” I grinned back

  “We’re getting close,” Olfren suddenly declared.

  In front of us was a mountain covered mostly in rocks and it was not that high. I scanned the area and no one was around, and I didn’t see any camp or any signs that the Defiers were even here.

  “Should we climb up?” Ellie asked.

  “That’s far enough,” a stranger’s voice suddenly spoke. Four armed men came out of nowhere and pointed their firearms at us.

  “Hey no need for that, they’re with me,” Olfren explained while he positioned himself between us and the armed men. The man in front studied us then he finally commanded, “Weapons down,” and the others obeyed. “Search them,” he then added.

  Two men came forward, one searched me for any concealed weapons then one approached Ellie but she gave him a stern look and then Olfren intervene saying, “She’s clean.”

  “You know the protocol Olfren,” the man said.

  “But I still outrank you here Thomas,” Olfren stated grinning.

  Thomas gave him a grave look then seemed to calm down and finally said, “Follow me.”

  We went around the mountain then when we reached the other side the men suddenly stopped. Thomas motioned his head at one of his men who hurriedly obeyed and knelt one knee on the ground and was searching under the leaves and grass for something. He stopped when I saw his hand was on a small metal plate that was covered with dirt then he flipped it open and a black button was inside. He pressed it and the ground slowly shook. In front of us the ground split opened revealing a path going down below which looked like a dark cave. The man who opened it went down first then I heard a click and there were lights inside revealing another path. The men started descending one at a time. Olfren went first then Ellie, and I glanced at Thomas and he gestured his head for me to go down. When I was inside, I heard another click from behind me then I saw the ground shook again and the wide exit was shut tight. We moved forward and as we went farther, the more we descended. The path eventually led us to a huge cave; some parts of the walls and ceilings were covered in iron sheets. The place was well lighted with white lights hanging on the ceiling and tube lights ran along the walls. The unusual part in the cave was that there were people. They were working and some were carrying small boxes while instructed by someone holding a clipboard, and others were fixing something that looked like an engine.

  “Wait here,” Olfren suddenly instructed and so we stood our ground. He left us with Thomas as we disappeared farther beyond the boxes. He returned shortly after and with him was a tall woman with long blonde curly hair, and she was smiling cheerfully when she approached.

  “Finally you’re here!” she excitedly stated.

  “Lord Curtis, Lady Elaine, this is Allison,” Olfren introduced.

  Allison smiled brightly, “Nice meeting you!”

  “Nice to meet you too Allison,” Ellie greeted and smiled in return.

  I just glanced at her while feeling suspicious of everything.

  “I know you two have a lot of questions but you must be tired. How about a rest first,” Allison happily offered.

  I might feel tired but I didn’t come here to take a rest. I felt impatient especially in a place where I did not trust the people, and time was not our ally at this moment.

  “I would rather meet the person in charge of all this,” I admitted trying not to sound that it was a suggestion.

  Allison’s mood slightly changed but maintained her smile and said, “Oh okay, I’ll take you to see Ryder then.”

  We followed Allison and Olfren farther into the cave and came upon a hallway where we passed more people. We stopped in front of a metal door then Allison knocked and I heard from inside a voice who asked, “What?” Allison then opened the door and we entered following her, there was a long metal table at the middle and sitting across from each other was a man and a woman, and it seemed that we interrupted them. The man with short balding blonde hair and a stern look spoke first scowling, “I told you not now.”

  “They asked to see Ryder now,” Allison explained who suddenly lost her cheerfulness.

  They were silent then the man finally said, “Fine let them in.”

  Allison ushered us inside and then she left. We took a seat at the long table with Olfren joining us on the other side. The woman who had a very short silver hair, and a hint of wrinkles under her eyes continued to stare at us. She had an intimidating aura around her by the hardened expression, and straight posture she possessed.

  “Lord Curtis, I would like to say thank you for coming and we appreciate your assistance at Pinewood, it helped us a great deal,” the man spoke after we took our seats.

  I didn’t say anything and continued to look at him and the woman from across.

  He cleared his throat then continued to speak, “We asked you to come here because we need your help and it’s not just in Pinewood.”

  “I don’t know how I can help you outside of Pinewood,” I hesitantly admitted.

  The man studied me from where he sat then spoke, “The Defiers have been around since even you were born. We are all over silently working in the shadows, waiting for the right opportunity, and since its existence never have we had an Elite among our ranks. Someone of your station could give us information and access to what we lacked, and your connections and power could greatly help our cause and could save people’s lives.”

  I was confused then I asked, “I don’t understand, what are you planning after Pinewood?”

  “The Empire,” the woman suddenly spoke her voice stern.

  I looked at her, and when I knew what they wanted from me I became tense. They want me to help them destroy the Empire but that was too much. The Empire was too powerful with the vast of Corps serving under the Emperor; an attack would be futile. Ellie, who sat beside me, gently placed her hand on mine and I glanced at her and I saw her eyes gazing directly at me.

  “What if I refuse,” I asked turning back to them.

  The woman shifted her stare from me to Ellie then answered, “Then we’re hoping she would.”

  “No,” I objected shaking my head with my agitation starting to rise.

  “It’s not for you to decide,” the woman declared.

  Then I turned to Ellie and softly squeezed her hand and looking into her eyes hoping she would not accept. Ellie looked at me then finally answered, “I’ll only do it if Curtis is with me.”

  I turned to the man and said, “There, you got your answer. Now can we leave?” I demanded anxiously.

  “Not yet,” the woman spoke. Then I became confuse then frustrated staring at the woman then at the man and asked, “Who’s in charge in here anyway?”

  “I am,” the woman answered calmly and sterner, “I am Ryder and this is my second in command Quinlan.”

  Ryder sighed then she continued, “Pinewood is not the only one suffering. There are more places being oppressed under the rule of the Empire and will continue to do so unless we do something and the only way to create absolute change is to target our focus on the Empire itself th
at had placed unjust laws for generations.” She paused and glanced at me then Ellie then resumed solemnly, “I believe that when the time would come to fight back, it would be for equality, not for power or wealth. To be born entitled to the freedom to choose, to have the right to follow your dreams, and not to be destined to a path already written for you by unworthy hands. Soon our lives would not be defined by our stations but by our choices.”

  I sat there in silence contemplating then I gazed at Ellie. I could see in her eyes that she believed her words. Although Ryder spoke the truth, I just couldn’t help feel that this was impossible, I didn’t see the point in all of this, there would be a lot of casualties if we go against the Empire itself and if we did this, how could we win with just a few Defiers?

  “Perhaps….” Olfren suddenly spoke, “some further persuasion might help.”

  We returned to the hallway following Ryder and Olfren and I took my time looking around while we walked. “That’s the training room,” Olfren exclaimed nodding at the direction to an open room full of training equipment and weapons for physical assault.

  “And across from it is the shooting gallery,” he added.

  “This here is the mess hall,” he pointed at large place with no doors full of long wooden tables and benches with lights hanging from the high cave ceiling which was supported by huge metal beams. The floors and walls were covered with plain metal sheets and with no windows. The food counter was on the other side of a corner where I could see people busily preparing the next meal.

  The hallway started to descend some more as we continued. “And finally this is our living quarters,” he proudly declared. My eyes widened at the vastness of the cave that was before me. The cave on these parts went circular and we entered at the middle of it. You could see large spiral metal beams going around the cave from the top then down to the lowest level, it was built on the walls which became the floors as well on each level, which I counted there were ten, and it had metal railings in placed along the edge, and on each level were wooden doors but no windows; there were stairs that was carved on the cave walls that takes you up or down to the quarters. Small lights were on the walls but what astonished me was that the sun shone in here. When I looked up, I saw a thick clear glass, and big enough to let the sun shine through to the center on the lowest level of the living quarters where people were gathered talking and sitting around the tables and chairs enjoying each other’s company. We were descending to the lower levels while I kept on studying the glass above.