The Lumis War

by Lisa Jade

  I frown. I had hoped to leave this place on good terms, perhaps create some kind of friendship between our groups. But ever since they announced I was leaving, everything’s changed.

  The door to the hospital slams open, so hard it bounces off the wall. Minni barges in, a triumphant look on her face, and strides over to me. She puts her hands on her hips and smirks.

  “Come with me.”

  Her attitude and demeanour is so radically different from earlier that I’m taken aback – but I don’t have time to be. She reaches down and grabs at my wrist, pulling me to my feet and leading me to the door. I resist a little, unsure, but she holds fast and simply tugs harder.

  As we venture down the stairs, I notice it’s darker than I thought. We both stumble a little on the shadowed steps, but she doesn’t say a word. Finally we reach the door into Street, and she pushes me through it.

  The world erupts around me. Cheers and music and laughter suddenly surround me, so deafeningly loud that I leap back in surprise. Clearly this is funny, because people start to laugh. Minni hooks an arm around my shoulder and grins.

  “Surprise!”

  Street is beautiful. Those multicoloured scraps of cloth are out now, red and blue and orange. They hang from windows, from makeshift bunting, from every available surface. The orange-gold glow of the setting sun illuminates the area, lighting everything up. I can hear music, people singing, and though I can’t quite hear the words I understand the meaning behind them.

  Max walks over to us, looks at me, chuckles.

  “You look terrified. Come on, it’s a party!”

  I stare. The world is falling to dust around us, and they’ve thrown yet another party. He pushes his hair back from his face and smiles his lopsided smile.

  “I know it’s a little out of the blue, but we needed to do something proper to see you off. You’re one of us now – we can’t just let you leave without having a real goodbye.”

  I meet his eyes, and for a moment something fills up my own. I move to brush it away and both he and Minni frown.

  “Uh oh,” says Minni, “Max, I told you this was a bad idea.”

  “I’m sorry,” he tells me, “I thought you’d like it. I can shut it down…?”

  I shake my head hard, touch his hand and smile brightly. How nice. How very nice for them to do so much for me. Especially when I’m about to leave them.

  Max’s face fills with relief, and he bows a little, taking my hand gently in his.

  “Well then… come dance.”

  Chapter Twenty

  The dancing itself is abysmal – as someone who’s never been the most graceful or delicate, or even remotely feminine in my movements, dancing isn’t something that comes naturally to me. I fall more than once trying to mimic Minni’s moves, and quickly decide such energetic actions aren’t for me.

  Someone passes me a drink, and I go to lift it to my mouth, but suddenly something stops me. I lower the bottle, give a wide smile and pass it along. In the chaos, nobody even notices.

  It’s hours until everyone finally stops, too exhausted to stay awake any longer. I stare up at the sky; it’s pitch black and I can see what could possibly be the echoes of stars overhead, their glow lessened by the dome. Minni yawns next to me, her mouth stretching open so wide I hear a tiny crack.

  “Yeah, I’m exhausted,” she says, “I’m heading up. You coming?”

  I give a dismissive wave and shake my head. Though everyone is parting now, returning to their stations, cocking their guns and pointing them back towards the horizon, I just can’t bring myself to go. Max stands behind me, and I hear a small chuckle as he rests his arm on my shoulder.

  “Don’t worry about it. I’ll stay up with her.”

  Minni laughs softly, and I wonder how much she knows.

  “Look after her,” she says, and with a small wave she darts into the building.

  For a moment we stand in silence, the two of us looking at one another. His eyes meet mine and blood rushes to my cheeks; I look away, an odd, anxious feeling stirring in my stomach, but he doesn’t move away. I realise with a start that everyone else is gone now. Aside from those on the wall, it’s just Max and I.

  He lets out a small sigh and my chest pounds. What do I do? I remember what happened the last time we were together like this. I look up at him and suddenly the memory is vivid, flashing past my eyes. Warm hands, soft lips, a gentle touch…

  “I hope you liked it tonight.”

  His voice is soft, so quiet that for a moment I wonder if I imagined it. When I look at him, his expression is unusual. Gentle and kind and sensible, but with a hint of something else. For a brief moment, I imagine myself, hair tied back, leaning out of the infirmary’s tiny window and watching the Scouts. I remember the longing in my chest, the burning desire to belong…

  “For what it’s worth – and I know it’s not worth much – I really enjoyed having you here. Not just me. Minni and the others too, they like you. You seem so different but you just kind of… fit right in.”

  My throat aches.

  “And I know it won’t change anything to say this,” he pushes on, “and that your mind is already made up. But I just want you to know that I –we’ll - miss you.”

  My body moves of its own accord. I reach out, taking his wrist in one hand and pulling myself toward him. I stretch onto my toes, lean forward, and kiss him on the cheek. My face burns, and a part of me fights to do more, but I can’t. If I knew I was staying, then I might. If I thought this was my home, I don’t doubt that I’d give it a try. But I can’t. The longing in my chest for him is drowned out by the longing for my home. As much as I wish I could stay, I can’t. I don’t belong here.

  He stares at me for a few seconds, and I respond with what I hope is a sweet smile. He returns it, but the motion is hollow. He doesn’t want it. I wait only a moment more before turning away and heading toward the building.

  “And you’re sure you’re leaving?”

  His voice calls after me and I half-turn, giving a small nod. Yes. I have to go. Though my eyes fill with tears and something tightens in my throat, I have no choice. Without Fairground, I’m only half of who I am.

  I crawl under my blanket, taking a moment to look around the hospital. Everyone is asleep now, sound and warm, sleeping quietly after a night of fun. I lay my head back and close my eyes.

  It’s not just being home that faces me. I also have to get there. While the city doesn’t scare me like it used to, and I’m no longer panicked by the thought of facing a bot, I can still feel the nerves. They tighten and ache all over my body, an early warning that something’s going to happen.

  It’s going to be hard to face Fairground again. I can feel it pressing against my temples. Dread. Excitement and fear and upset mixed into a tight knot in my gut. I let out a deep, growling sigh, push the feeling as far down as I can, and try to sleep.

  After all, I’ve only got one more day.

  I wake in a haze.

  The room is grey and dull, and as I push the blanket off myself I can feel something cold and wet against my skin. I look around, unnerved; but nobody else seems to have noticed the strange colour in the air. Fog, so thick I can barely see my own hand. Through it, I can hear Minni. She sings, softly this time, lower pitched, like the air around her isn’t as sweet as it normally is.

  She hears me moving and turns around.

  “Morning.”

  Her face is peculiar; delicate and feminine. So unlike her – usually she’d laugh or scowl or beat me over the head in the morning. I’ve grown so used to her high-pitched laughter piercing the silence of a sunny morning or bursting through my peaceful dreams. This soft spoken and polite Minni is nothing short of strange to me.

  “Thomas came by earlier,” she says, “with a message from Max. He asked if you and the others can go out today.”

  I cock my head. Out? Out where? I’ve only got one day left. But she simply shrugs.

  “Don’t ask me. I don’t think you
’ll be going far. Just tracing the perimeter.”

  As I get ready and pack a bag, I feel her eyes on me. They linger, tracing the lines of my body, examining my face. I glance back, but her expression is unreadable. For a brief moment I wonder if I should try to talk to her, if I should find some silent way of letting her know what I’m thinking – but then she looks away and I have no choice but to go.

  “Be careful out there.”

  The city is foggy. Thick grey musk fills the air, making it hard to see more than a few feet ahead. I walk towards the wall, one hand up over my eyes as though it could help me to see better. It doesn’t; I can barely see the vague shadow of the wall in the distance.

  Suddenly, a strong arm snakes around my neck. I fling it off immediately, whipping round and pushing the figure away. They stumble to the ground, and after a moment I hear stifled laughter.

  “Poor guy,” laughs Thomas, “Barely woken up and already being attacked.”

  The shadow stands, and even before he comes into view I can tell it’s Marcus. I blush madly and wave my hands in what I hope is an apologetic manner; but he simply chortles.

  “Looks like someone’s ready for the city today.”

  His hands find me again, and the two of them come up either side of me, frogmarching me to the wall. As we approach, Max hops down and begins to speak – but he’s swept up too, gathered in Marcus’ big arms and dragged along with us. He struggles for a minute, then goes limp and allows himself to be practically carried. I try to resist the urge to laugh.

  We head through the gate, and finally the group begins to pull apart – though Marcus and Thomas still keep a loose grip on one another and me. Someone runs up behind us, and I hear Minni’s voice float through the mist.

  “Hey, you weirdos. You forgot this.”

  I don’t see what it is, but she pokes her head through the gate and passes something to Max. He gives a grateful nod, and the two spend a moment chuckling at the sight of me, trapped between the two men. I briefly consider fighting them off – I could probably do it – but think better of it. This feels like a rite of passage, the mimickery and teasing and pushing about. I reach up and pull my way free, bursting out of their grasp with a loud gasp and a wide grin. Marcus stumbles and we all laugh, the sound echoing even in the close space. For one brief moment I feel so light, so excellent.

  Then, something stops me. I pause and swing on the spot, my eyes focussed elsewhere. I can’t be sure where I’m looking, and I can’t see a thing, but something tells me to stare at that one spot. The others laugh for a moment longer before Max hushes them.

  Then, I see them.

  Four shadows, tall and strong, coming towards us. They walk with purpose, and each of them hold something so large they don’t look like they should be able to be lifted. One is bigger than the rest, and one has a mess of curls, and yet another has long, sweeping hair and a certain grace.

  The Scouts burst into view in front of me, and everything changes.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  It’s wonderful. I stare at their clothes, their launchers, the cut-up leather gloves with the embroidered ferris wheel on them. I spy their chunky boots and various concealed weapons, so different from what I’ve lived with for so long. Their faces are so familiar to me; Brick’s stoic but kind expression, Kicker’s ever-so-slightly cocky smirk, Sparrow’s easy smile. Even Adam is a sight for sore eyes.

  They spot me and stop, and even from here I can see Sparrow step forward. I mimic her, taking one step, and suddenly everything makes sense.

  I throw aside my pack and start running, as fast as I can, sprinting full speed towards the Scouts. I ignore the extra power in my legs and the speed with which I vault over debris; none of that matters.

  Sparrow raises her arms, expectant. I leap over the rusted remains of a bot and throw myself hard into her arms. She pulls me close, and I bury my face in her shoulder. So long. It’s been so long and I’ve missed them so much.

  After a moment or two, I feel more hands on me. The others circle us, silently wrapping themselves around me. The embrace is so tight and warm that for a brief moment I don’t know who’s who – but I don’t care. The warmth and softness of their skin, the scent of their bodies… everything is so perfect, so reminiscent of home.

  The others loosen their grips, but I can’t move. My arms are locked around Sparrow’s shoulders, my face deep against her collarbone. My body is racked with silent sobs, the release of weeks’ worth of tears I’ve been too scared to cry. How could I have been so stupid? There was never any question. I’m going home.

  The others fall silent, then move back in, their arms finding me again. This time, I’m the one to break the embrace. I step back, sniffing deeply and rubbing the dirt from my face. I plaster on a smile, but the sobs are still threatening to break through. I can’t believe how much I missed them.

  Max and the others step up behind me, and I feel his hand on my shoulder. It’s strong and big, the knuckles gnawed away, and for the first time I realise the difference between them.

  The Scouts carry weapons, wear armour. They’re surprisingly clean and well-kept. But those from Street are covered in a thin layer of dirt, their hair sticking up and unwashed, their clothes tattered. Compared to them, the Scouts look divine.

  Then, I see him. Adam steps up to me, and I realise I never noticed his face. A square jaw, and sharp eyes, piercing blue, like they’re looking straight into my soul; so unnerving, yet so incredibly familiar that I fill up the moment he meets my eyes. His hand finds my arm and my skin tingles – I pull away a little. I’m so relieved, so confused, so scared. This whole scene is a clash of opposites, and my stomach feels uneasy and sick.

  Finally, someone decides to break the silence.

  “Thank heavens you’re okay,” Sparrow sighs, “I know we got the messages, but a little bit of me was thinking it was a trap.”

  The Scouts nod their agreement, and I can feel Max’s fingers tighten on my shoulder. My stomach twists. I know there have been tensions between groups in the past, but I hadn’t thought there would be now. Then I see Adam, his eyes looking me up and down, narrowing as he traces the bags under my eyes, the bandage still wrapped around my arm.

  “Are you okay?” he asks, his voice low. I nod, reaching for the bandage to show him the mostly-healed cut, but before I can unwrap it Max speaks.

  “Of course she’s okay. I told you she was, didn’t I?”

  “Yes,” Adam replies, “but, and please don’t take offence, we had no evidence. I just want to make sure you didn’t do anything to her.”

  Max growls, and his fingers tighten again – but Adam tugs me away, out of his reach, and pushes my hair back from my face.

  “We should get you home,” he tells me, his voice soft, “are you packed and ready?”

  I give a slow nod – I have everything I need, all packed up back in the hospital. My launcher, the pulse mines, my empty firearm and what remains of my medical supplies. He watches me for a moment, and I feel slightly sick. He’s suspicious of them. He doesn’t know what happened to me and knows I can’t say – so I simply smile in an attempt to put him at ease. It doesn’t work.

  “Good,” he says, “we’ll wait out here. Go and get your things.”

  My heart sinks as I pack the remaining bits into my bag. I hadn’t expected them to get here so soon – I’d have thought it’d take two or three days, but they’ve arrived early. And to be told we’re leaving right away… something churns in my gut, and my lower lip threatens to tremble.

  Minni stands behind me, her arms crossed, her face twisted as though she’s just tasted something bitter. She watches me pack, and her eyes narrow.

  “They came a lot quicker than I thought.”

  I pause, then zip up the bag.

  “They must really like you there.”

  I shrug; not really. Nobody ever noticed me there. At Fairground, I was a nobody. Mute and quiet and harmless, I went undetected by most, a part of the furnit
ure. But in a way, I was so much a part of the background that I suppose it was noticeable when I wasn’t there. When I wasn’t silently fighting for my chance every time the Council met up, when I wasn’t lurking in the corner of the infirmary when they came to see Dr Newton. I may not have been important there, but I was a part of it – and people noticed when I left.

  She purses her lips and paces up and down the room. I drop my bag into the corner and stand, turning to Nicholas’ still form. He’s curled up under his blanket, his face buried in a pile of cloth. Though he’s pretending to be asleep, I can see his shoulders quaking, still shivering as though he’s on the verge of tears. He must have been told that they’re here, and he probably feels upset at being left behind again. I heave a sigh. I hope this works.

  Without warning, I crouch down and scoop Nicholas into my arms. He jerks away, but he’s lost so much weight and is so weak that I easily overpower him. I hook his arm around my neck and lift him high.

  “W-Wait!” he croaks, “what are you doing?”

  I ignore him – and behind me, I can feel Minni smirking.

  “Just shut up and do what you’re told, Nick. It’s easier that way.”

  He heaves a growling sigh but offers minimal resistance as I half-carry, half-drag him from the room. He tries to walk, but his legs quiver under him and I wonder how long it’s been since he took so many steps at once. His balance is off and more than once he falls against me; but my new, stronger body can handle it.

  “Where are you taking me?” he asks, his voice weak and pleading. I bite my lip. In my head, this has happened so easily. That I would bring him to them and they would recognise him instantly – that there would be a tearful reunion and he would accompany us home. But with his face so changed and his body so weak, I don’t know if that’s going to happen. Still, I’ve got to try.