Braving the Beasts

by Aleera Anaya Ceres

When the train came to a halt, almost immediately we heard noises and shouts of the doors being opened. There was a flutter of activity and every sound and footstep threatened to startle me. I kept my cool. Tense but ready for any scenario.

  Then the door to our car opened and I held my breath. Footsteps pounded into it and I had the urge to crane my neck and sneak a peek. I couldn't. I couldn't risk us getting noticed.

  "This one's empty." A gruff, lazy voice called out.

  Another voice followed. "We have to check for strays."

  The first voice grumbled. "There's nothing here." And then the voices faded away as they left.

  I sighed my relief, dropping my head against a crate. Lex patted my knee. "We have to wait for them to unload." He whispered. "When they're done, we leave."

  I nodded, biting at my bottom lip. The whole situation was nerve wracking. We didn't really have a plan. I had no idea how I was going to find my mom or where to begin looking for her. I was in the Ruined City, in the heart of the place that had the power to ruin my life completely. Myfiancée was here. Waiting for news of our wedding.

  We waited for what felt like hours until the last of the boxes were hauled away and the voices disappeared completely. Daylight was still strong, the sun still scorching.

  "We are going to need disguises," Lex said after a while. He looked us all over. "We will be too noticeable. Especially you, Kael."

  Kael looked down in offense at his harem pants, loose shirt and comfortable looking cotton shoes. "This is all I have."

  "Don't worry. I'll fix you all up to look more suited for the fashion of the Ruined City." He looked me over. "So, what's your plan, little red? How are we going to find your mom?"

  I had no idea.

  "Think it'd be easiest to just waltz up to King Murtaugh and ask him nicely?" River asked sarcastically.

  I snorted at that bit of humor. If the king had been the one to get my mother kidnapped, he couldn't be trusted, no matter what whispers of our alliance. I'd never be caught dead trusting a Murtaugh anyway.

  "We need to find anyone who has a motorcycle and torture the information out of them." I decided with finality.

  "Right," Lex breathed. "Because that's a perfectly good idea. Do you know how many people in this city have motorcycles? Half of the population! It's sin city out here."

  I looked Lex dead in the eye. It may not have been much of a plan but, honestly, it was the only one we had. "Then I suggest we not waste any more time."

  That being said, I crept out from behind the crates cautiously, putting my sword away and pulling my bow and an arrow out. I was better with it anyway. The car door was opened, the harsh sunlight shining through. I risked a glance outside. There was no one.

  The guys were right behind me, following me as I jumped from the car and to the ground. We stood at attention immediately, keeping our weapons poised. My heart beat all too quickly within me. I glanced around.

  We were at a train station of some sort. There were dozens of them, all old and rusted. If I had the time, I would have stopped to stare. But I couldn't. We had to leave. Had to find clothes that would help us blend in with the locals. Had to find my mom.

  "Alright, Lex. Get us out of here."

  Lex, after making sure everything was safe, turned to look at us. More specifically, at our outfits.

  He pointed to Kael first and demanded, "Take your shirt off."

  Kael's eyes widened. "Excuse you?"

  Lex sighed. "Take it off. You want to blend in with these people, don't you? Their style is insanely frivolous. Just trust me."

  Kael wanted to argue but I sent him a pleading look and he sighed and complied. Dropping his bag to the ground, he gripped the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his shoulders.

  I didn't have time to look at the scenery but surely I had time enough to look at him.

  If I thought he was beautiful with his clothes on, it was nothing compared to him with his clothes off. His dark skin was smooth all over. From his shoulders, to his chest and down lower to the muscles covering his abdomen. His body was chiseled perfection.

  I took my eyes away from him long enough to see Lex go towards River and take his dagger from his hand. He bent low and began cutting at River's jeans in all directions until it looked like nothing but a piece of material in tatters.

  "Take off that jacket. I'd also suggest you all leave your bags hidden here somewhere." River did as he was told and as soon as he did, Lex was on him, ripping the sleeves from his shirt. "Tie your hair back, River." Then he turned to me. "Take off the jacket, red."

  Dropping my weapons, I pulled it off. Lex approached me with the knife, putting his hands to my stomach carefully. In a sudden, quick movement, he tore away at the material of my shirt, exposing both my belly and a hint of the jagged fleshy scar down my back as well.

  I stared at it with wide eyes. Lex chuckled. "I told you the people are full of sin. You have to look the part." Putting the blade between his teeth, he tugged off both gloves and pressed them into my palms. "Put these on," he instructed, voice muffled behind the steel.

  I did as I was told. The gloves were slightly big on me but they wouldn't fall off. I looked up when I was finished, watching as Lex gave the dagger back to River and began stripping himself until he was down to nothing but a tattered T-shirt. He didn't look fashionable at all. None of us did. We all looked homeless.

  Lex must have read the judgment in my eyes because he shrugged and said, "It's the closest we can get to blending in. We will have to stay close to shadows and travel through back alleyways so we aren't seen."

  We nodded our agreement and then began readjusting our weapons before hiding our bags in tall, cylindrical metal tubes.

  Lex looked us all over one last time before we were off.

  The Ruined City, despite my eagerness to despise it with every fiber, was beautiful. It was everything the whisperings claimed to be and more. Evidence of ancient grandeur was all around. Buildings clustered together. Once, they would have been tall and proud, glinting beneath the sunlight. Now, they were nothing but crumbling structures with broken windows. The leftovers of a chaotic retreat.

  Thick metal wires stuck out from stone. Stone protruded from the ground like it'd been born there and would die there as well. Ancient bricks still crumbled in piles beside the structures.

  There was a certain beauty to the destruction.

  I could have stared at it for hours.

  But Lex ushered us through the streets, through back alleyways. The sun was too high in the sky, so there were no shadows to hide in. There were few people about but I'd barely gotten a good look at any of them, keeping my head down as of that could make me invisible.

  "Where do we begin?" River asked, looking to Lex for guidance. Our guide was pressed up against a wall, looking around a corner.

  "We find a place with a motorcycle, I guess. Little red demands it."

  His mocking was making me edgy. I clutched my bow and arrow tightly, contemplating shooting him the leg with one. The fantasy was short lived when he ushered us out of the cramped alley and onto a seemingly deserted street.

  He was taking us past houses. The homes were within crumbling buildings, their roofs merely sheets of metal held down by blocks at the top. Windows were opened to let in the warm breeze.

  "No one seems to be about. I guess it's better to travel here during the day." Lex said, suddenly cheerful. He definitely was not whispering. "Everyone seems to go out into hiding. Nights are when you have to worry. They party like savages." He began whistling, walking down the middle of the crumbling road and kicking rocks as he passed.

  "Is it bad that I want to kill him?" I asked River and Kael. The men were on either side of me.

  Kael chuckled. "I have felt that way every day since I've met him."

  "We can abandon him to his own devices." River suggested. "Make
a run for it."

  "Ugh," I tugged at the ends of my hair. "Is it wise to walk so openly like this? We could be found out by officials...or worse…"

  Kael patted my good shoulder sympathetically. "Don't worry, princess. You've braved a beast worse than those in this city. You can handle anything."

  I smiled warmly at him. His words comforted me, had me relaxing, if slightly. His voice had a hypnotizing way about it, had me believing his every word. I wanted to believe it was his voice not his massively wide naked chest I kept glancing at through peripheral vision.

  Visions of him on his back, me straddling him, assaulted me. I gulped and focused ahead. Lex was moving his feet along to the tune he whistled. I sighed.

  We reached the end of the street and made a right turn. I had just started feeling a bit more relaxed but that all faded away when we came face to face with about a dozen city officials.

  Chapter Nine

  We screeched to a halt and stared. I started to backtrack, to turn around but it was too late. They'd seen us already.

  And they were all, every last one of them, armed with guns.

  The men were uniformed in military style outfits in black. They all had weapons ranging from handguns to rifles to machine guns. Heavy artillery for patrolling the streets.

  They froze at the sight of us, eyes taking in our weapons. They were a terrifying bunch with face tattoos and piercings. My hand tightened on my weapon and then I felt Kael's hand covering my own, a warning not to make sudden movements.

  Lex, in front of us, stilled. I couldn't see his face but I imagined the wide smile he now wore. "Evening, officers," he started to walk past them casually but they stepped in front of him.

  "Sorry, sir, but I don't recognize you." One of the officer's said. He had an accent I couldn't quite place.

  Lex pretended to check his pockets. "I seem to have misplaced my identification."

  Another officer stepped forward. "Name and sector number. Now." This officer was less polite and he pulled out his gun without preamble, aiming it straight for Lex's head.

  My hands tightened again, despite Kael's warmth.

  Lex put his hands up as if in defeat. "Calm down, officers. The name's Alexander O'Riley. Sector three."

  I relaxed. That sounded convincing enough. Surely the officers didn't haveeveryone in the city memorized? Perhaps we could pull this off. Perhaps we could get away without incident.

  But the officer still looked at him suspiciously. He wasn't convinced and he wasn't lowering his gun. He took in Lex's attire and then he looked to us, to our clothing.

  My knees trembled under his scrutiny but I stood firm. My eyes didn't waver as I looked at him straight on. I wouldn't back down. I wouldn't show fear. Not to Murtaugh following scum. They may have had guns but bullets ran out.

  "If that'll be all, gents," Lex tried side stepping but the officers, all of them, formed an adamant wall with their bodies, blocking us from getting past.

  "You," the officer pointed his gun at River. "Name and sector."

  River's face paled. We knew nothing about sectors or the Ruined City.

  "Now, now gents, I've already given you my sector-"

  The officer cocked his gun and stepped forward to press the barrel against Lex's forehead. "I wasn't talking to you." He said menacingly. "Now, all of you, tell me your names and numbers or I'll kill your friend."

  I tore my hand from Kael's and started to raise my bow and arrow but he gripped me by the waist and pulled me back against his hard chest. "Don't," he whispered in my ear.

  I didn't want to listen to him. I wanted to let an arrow fly straight at the man's forehead for threatening Lex. For holding that gun to his head.

  But Kael was right. I had to play it smart. And safe. Then an idea began forming in the back of my mind and I smiled. I lowered my weapons and stepped forward.

  "Officers, please," I said. Kael's harsh whisper of 'princess' echoed behind me but I ignored him, stepping up beside Lex.

  The officer aimed his gun at me then. "Drop your weapons." He ordered.

  I did as I was told, hating it but knowing it was necessary. I pulled my sword from my sheath and dropped it too and then kicked them forward.

  "Officers, please, there's no need to be so hasty." I moved slowly, so slowly they couldn't see me reach a hand behind Lex and stick it in his back pocket. I prayed he wouldn't so much as move, lest he give me away.

  My hand wrapped around something small and metallic. I grabbed it and slowly eased it out, bringing it behind my back.

  "Names. Sector numbers."

  "My name is Keanna Ferguson." I confessed. Because none of them were going to make it out alive. "And I am not from this filthy city." And before they could blink, I brought the bomb down with all of my strength. It exploded just as Lex pulled me away from the melee.

  The ground exploded into fire, light and smoke. The force of it blew us off our feet. I flew through the air and came crashing down to the pavement, the gravel and rocks digging into my skin.

  My ears rang, deafening me to my surroundings. I tried standing up but the world around me was a spinning vortex. The distant sound of shouting tried piercing past me but I couldn't grasp anything. My feet wobbled. I had to run. I knew I had to get out of here. But I was disoriented.

  The gunshot snapped me out of it.

  The pain had me screaming.

  I bent over, clutching my arm. It came away stained red. I gasped, the shock of seeing the blood as well as the pain of it had me standing. I looked around. River was helping Kael stand and Lex was tugging on my arm. I hadn't noticed him before.

  "We have to go," Lex screamed. I could suddenly hear him. Hear the chaos. I nodded. When he realized I wasn't going to go toppling over, he let go of me and started forward.

  I went to follow but was pulled back by the shirt. I fell with surprise against a hard body and looked up to find myself staring into the face of a guard.

  His temple was bloody, his face covered in smoke and dirt. And he was looking at me with rage. I felt the cold press of the gun on my temple before I saw it. Panic gnawed at me.

  This was it.

  I would die here.

  "Keanna!" River screamed.

  I looked to the front. River was trying to rush to me, as if he meant to save me but Kael was gripping him by the waist, holding him back. I thanked the gods for Kael's level head. If River rushed at me now, the officer would kill him. Lex stood beside them, staring at me with wide and fearful eyes.

  "I want all of you to throw your weapons into a pile." The officer said. His voice was dangerously low. And I knew he meant to kill us.

  The guys obeyed without question, tossing everything they had into a pile far away from them.

  The guard smiled. "Good," I could feel him smiling behind me. "Now let's go."

  More officials showed up. They patted us down to check for any extra weapons. An officer reached into my pocket and pulled out my mother's necklace. I screamed at him and made a lunge but was quickly backhanded just before they pulled sacks over our heads and tied our hands behind our backs.

  The rope dug into my skin, rubbing them raw. I struggled against the bindings, feeling the knots out with my fingers. Rage boiled within me but I tried to keep it in check.

  The officers pushed me around roughly. My feet caught on stones and in holes, nearly tripping me up. They kept me upright, hands fisted around my shirt as they guided me around.

  I didn't know where we were going but I had a pretty good idea. I didn't want to think about that, though. Instead, I focused on Kael and River and Lex. I knew they were close to me because I could hear River shouting my name, could hear Lex muttering sarcastic retorts to the guards, earning himself a beating and Kael did nothing but grunt.

  I didn't call back to them. I wouldn't waste my energy. Instead I focused on a plan, focused on the
knots at my wrists.

  Voices, unrecognizable and harsh surrounded me. Hands roamed over my body in passing. I ignored the disgust it brought me. Focused on my footsteps instead.

  They took us inside of a building. I knew because I could no longer feel the heat of the sun. Instead I felt the coldness of metal sheets and stone and everything seemed to go darker, even beneath the mask. They marched me up a flight of stairs. I tried to memorize the turns, the number of steps.

  Then, they were shoving me harder into a room. A door opened and I was pulled through along with the guys and then the door closed. I was handled roughly and shoved unkindly into a chair.

  The wound on my back was throbbing, and the newly received one on my arm burned. The injuries hurt worse every time I fiddled with the knots at my wrists.

  Suddenly, they pulled the sack from my head and I was blinded by a harsh light. I looked up to the ceiling to find fluorescent bulbs shining down on me.

  So it was true. The Ruined City had technology. They had electricity.

  I tore my gaze from the light to look around the room. It was a massive structure, some type of apocalyptic throne room. There was a high backed, uncomfortable looking chair with black cushioning and jagged metal spikes sticking out from all around the top, as if they had been hammered in. It stood in the center of the room, atop a raised sort of dais. The room was covered in draperies in black and purple, keeping out the light from outside.

  If they'd wanted to give the place an ominous effect, it worked.

  I turned, seeing Kael, River and Lex on their knees behind me, faces now free of the sacks. And behind them, the guards had their weapons poised.

  Other than us, the room seemed to be empty. And I wondered how much longer it would be before we were to face our imminent doom. I tried not to let the sadness of the thought wash over me. I'd come to save my mother and instead had been captured.

  If I died today, there would be no saving her. And my father would have lost the both of us.

  I tugged at the knots again.

  And then the door to the room opened. I stopped my movements, tensing as a group of people walked in.