Escape from Harrizel

by C. G. Coppola

  Any questions?

  Thank you, Rox.

  Thank you, Rox.

  The room empties of all movement except for one pair of feet which pause at the bedside. The mattress dips again as he climbs in behind me, his lips brushing the nape of my neck. He takes my elbow in his hand and brings my wrist to his lips. “Hey,” his word vibrates into my skin.

  “What’s the plan?”

  “For now?” he moves his mouth around my wrist, touching every part with his lips. “This.”

  “For later,” I laugh. “The first set up.”

  “Don’t worry about that now…” he moves in to kiss me when a knock sounds on the door. Reid drops his head. Jumping off the bed, he makes his way for the crimson arch. “In.”

  Tucker and Able emerge, both acknowledging me with a slight nod before quickly shifting focus to Reid.

  “They’re good,” Tucker advises. “Just waiting on the pull.”

  “Signal?” Reid wants to know.

  “Using a second Scout.”

  “Who and who?”

  “A new recruit to one of Jace’s. He’ll give us the go-ahead.”

  “Okay,” Reid sits on the bed next to me. “This is the part where you have to pay attention.”

  Sitting up, I rub my left eye with my knuckles. Someone whispers, “Shit, Fallon.”

  “What?” I look around.

  “Nothing,” Reid forces a grin, kissing my right cheek tenderly. “We’re going to try for one of the set-ups today. Tonight. Once we have confirmation, we’re going to move you to the Bathing Bubble right after Leisure Time starts.”

  “Okay…”

  “Able will walk you to it. Pretend you’re going to use it like normal.”

  “They’ll be in there?” I ask.

  “That, or right behind you.”

  “Where will you be?”

  Reid chooses his answer carefully. “Around.”

  “So when I come and get you,” Able says, “I’ll walk you to the Bathing Bubble. Don’t worry about anything.”

  “Do you know how many are going?” I glance between all three of them. “Kings?”

  The three boys exchange glances, Reid clearing his voice. “Around four.”

  “Or more…” Able mumbles as Tucker shoots him a look. “Don’t worry. You’ll be fine.”

  “I’m not worried. I’m ready.”

  “Of course you are,” Reid laughs.

  “What if Able doesn’t come?” I ask.

  “Then it’s a no-go. And you’ll sit tight,” Reid’s brows arch high into his forehead. “That cool?”

  “Okay.”

  “We got to go before the bell hits,” Reid kisses me. “Your Safeties will be escorting you everywhere plus you’ve got additional security. And I won’t be far from you ever. Right now, you’re the most protected person on Harrizel.”

  All three rise and head for the door.

  “Jace and Chief will pick you up in a little while. Remember,” Reid turns to me with a wink. “I won’t be far.”

  ***

  The bell to start Leisure Time rang fifteen minutes ago. Able isn’t here. The Kings must not be coming. Pacing, I nearly bite my fingernails raw, wondering what might have happened. Are the Kings onto us already? Did a new recruit falter? Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all. Maybe if I—

  A fast-paced knock sounds on the door.

  This is it.

  Running to the crimson arch, I pause. How do I know it’s really Able? We should’ve come up with some secret signal. It’s too late for that now. Another knock sounds and I finally open it, inhaling.

  Able stands before me, his posture relaxed but his eyes serious. “Ready?”

  It takes everything I have to simply nod, my chest pounding like a bomb. Once I leave the room there’s no turning back, not if a sudden rush of fear creeps up my back and I change my mind. Not that I would. If I can contribute anything, at least it’s this.

  “Let’s go,” he says as we leave my bunker, taking the corridor to the closest Bathing Bubble on the right. Matching his pace, we move quickly, quietly, his arm tucked tightly in mine, locking me close to him. After a minute and without turning to look at me, Able murmurs through grinded teeth. “They’re watching us right now.”

  “Us?”

  “You. Making sure the info’s legit. Just keep walking.”

  As if I had any other plans. It’s only a short distance to the Bathing Bubble but suddenly it feels miles away. And with each step, it’s as if thousands of eyes pierce into me, ripping apart every move I make.

  “Where?” the soft word escapes my lips.

  “Not sure. Probably the Courtyard. Maybe a room.”

  “How many? Do you know?”

  Able shakes his head. We’re at the Bathing Bubble’s entrance and he motions me inside, a blank expression marring his face. It’s not encouraging, worried or anxious. It’s flat, like he’s unwilling to give anything away, even to me.

  Stepping in, I hold my breath. It’s black. The few babeebs have been removed, keeping it in utter darkness. A chill races down my spine, my heart thumping away. Are the Kings already here? Are the Rogues? And where’s Reid? My eyes are slow to adjust, the shapes of the giant glass balls gradually taking form. I take another cautious step, my pulse racing as I glance around the blackness. Everything’s quiet. Eerily still. Slowly heading for the closest Bubble, I pause when a silhouette steps out.

  It lunges for me.

  Bracing myself for the impact, it never comes. A darkened figure flies out from the right, knocking the King to the ground with swift, sharp blows. The King is down but the figure is already taking on another, offering the same lethal jabs. I back up, just as a third body emerges from the left, taking off for me in a dead run.

  My arm is yanked back, Tucker’s voice at my ear. “It’s me.”

  Before I’m able to respond, he pushes me behind him as the King collides with him, the two throwing swings. The King is desperately trying to get at me. He hurls all his weight into charging Tucker but the Rogue leader keeps his body a solid, impenetrable wall that blocks mine.

  I’m not sure which way to go. Stay by Tucker or get as far away as possible since the King seems to be slipping from him? Bolting, I run into the darkness, wishing there was more of a plan, wishing we’d discussed it a little further.

  Which way to go?

  I can’t see straight. Shadows suddenly start to come alive, moving along the glass balls. How many people are in here? And are they all Kings… or Rogues? Running forward, I jolt to a halt as a figure moves ahead, blocking the path.

  He’s snatched back, thrown into the glass wall of the nearest Bathing Bubble, face first by another silhouetted figure. The King’s arms are cranked behind him and he yelps loudly as if it’s just been broken. The figure holding him disappears again, darting back into the shadows, behind the Bathing Bubble.

  That’s four. Is it done? It can’t be. There are still more shadows moving. Someone yelps behind me, then a curse. Footsteps shuffle in the distance, followed by more grunting and another howl. My heart races. How many people are in here? A few yells and quick shouts around the hall.

  “She’s over here!” someone calls and I flip toward the voice.

  But he’s taken down already, his throat strained under steel fingers. The figure has him on the ground, twisting his arm until he cries out. The shadow disappears again once the King remains incapacitated. I step forward but then stop, still unsure which way to go. Who’s who? And where’s safe?

  “There!” another voice announces behind me. I spin to find three ferocious silhouettes just two Bathing Bubbles down, making for me at a dead run.

  My heart stops, my legs stiffening at their impending attack but before I have time to panic, the same dark figure races past me. He slides across the floor with the familiar long rod and slams it into the knee caps of both the outer Kings. Instantly they fumble as the figure knocks the rod high into the groin of the mid
dle one, sliding beneath his legs. He’s on his feet, bringing the rod back down on all three just as two more come up behind him. Now more players start, adding to the small riot ahead.

  My hand is jerked back.

  “It’s me,” Able yanks me behind him. “There’re more than we thought. Come on,” he leads our way through the rows of Bubbles. He stops a couple times, waits, looks and then jerks me behind him, halting again.

  “They sent twelve.”

  “Twelve?”

  “That I’ve counted. So far. More may be sneaking in.”

  “How many Rogues?”

  “A few. Shit!” Able’s thrown back, into the wall of the nearest Bathing Bubble, with a loud clang. He dodges a blow to the face, the hard fist of a King slamming into the Bubble’s glass instead. He cries out, just as Able slips from his hold, knocking him back with his elbow. He looks at me, his eyes wide with terror. “Behind you!”

  Spinning, I find one of the largest silhouettes coming for me, his hand outstretched to grab my throat. Seconds before he can, the dark figure dashes in front of me, knocking the blow to the side. He’s still only a shadow and it takes me a second to realize why.

  He’s in black.

  As in, his scrubs are black, covered with some sort of ash or soot. Even his face, neck and hands are covered in it. Only his eyes stand out, the white nearly glowing in contrast to his shadowy camouflage. He’s matching hit for hit with the massive King, the spar evenly fought in front of me and I’m paralyzed, helpless to watch.

  They keep it to hand-to-hand combat before the King whips out a small blade, thrusting it in front of him. The dark figure retrieves his own assistance—the familiar glass rod that he swirls in his hand, enticing the King to charge.

  He finally does.

  Using four hits—to the chest, neck, back and knee—the figure takes the massive King to the ground where he lays incapacitated like the others. He kicks away the blade, hands on his hips, breathing heavy.

  “You okay?” Able asks at my side.

  “Me?” I blink. “Are you? Are…” and just as I’m about to ask the dark hero, he vanishes.

  “He’s securing the room—come on,” Able guides me back to the entrance.

  In the front, Tucker and all Rogue Commanders group around their loot, a center pile of mostly motionless Kings. Several lay unconscious, mouths open but some—only a few—aren’t fully gone, left with one eye open and still cursing through busted lips. Piled on top of each other, all have been tied up. Twine keeps their hands at their backs and close to their ankles which have been bound as well. Sixteen total.

  Against seven Rogues.

  The dark figure rounds behind me, his chest exhaling as he glances down at the collection. He throws the last King into the pot, topping it off with the largest Clansman. The few still awake let out a groan, the others merely sagging beneath the weight. Reid keeps his hands to his hips, speaking through a heavy pant. “Count off.”

  “Tucker.”

  “Kelly.”

  “Able.”

  “Chief.”

  “Jace.”

  “Harrison.”

  “Door?” Reid asks next to me, smearing soot from his cheek.

  “Secure,” Tucker says. “Sixteen Kings. Mantis and Grisham are a negative.”

  “Sixteen,” Reid exhales, his body still slowing from dragging and binding the last King, “first round. Not bad. Tucker, Chief, Jace and Harrison with me to relocate the Kings. Able, Kelly—please take Fallon to my room. Afterward, grab a few—Booker, Merritt… the Carpenters—catch up with us when we loop back for the rest.”

  Both nod as Able hooks his arm in mine, Kelly moving ahead toward the exit. Reid’s already busy discussing the best way to transfer the Kings. Able pulls me along, nearly out of the darkness but I turn in time to see the Rogues each throwing a limp King over their shoulders.

  We’re back at Reid’s room in minutes, both escorts leaving me inside to pace. I didn’t realize I was spending another night here… but I guess it’s fine after that. Besides, I feel better not being alone anyway. Pacing the small bit of room, I go over everything. If we can just do that a few more times, quickly, we’ll be rid of the Kings in no time. They’ve already eliminated twenty Clansmen in total—nearly half! And it’s only been a day!

  It’s takes longer than I expect for Reid to return. Minutes turn into hours and after the first two, I decide not to wait up for him and just go to sleep. I climb into his bed and the second I hit the pillow, I’m gone. After some time, I’m awoken by murmured whispers at the door.

  They’ll be screaming all night.

  They deserve it.

  Thanks for your help. Tomorrow.

  The door closes and he’s moving around behind me, the sound of fabric hitting the floor. Rolling over, I prop myself on my right elbow, drinking in the delicious sight. He’s clad in black boxers and freshly showered. His damp brown hair clings to him, beads of remaining water sprinkled over his muscular chest and washboard abs.

  “Hi.”

  His eyes fly to me, excited. “Hey,” he smiles, suddenly wiping the humor from his face. “What’re you still doing up?”

  “What time is it?”

  “Late.”

  I shrug. “You’re up.”

  “I was taking care of things.”

  Images from earlier race through my mind. I nod, unable to help biting my lip. “You look good in black.”

  “You saw me?”

  “Every time,” I smile. He doesn’t return it, but nods to himself as if disappointed he wasn’t more covert in his movements. “So they’re out there now?”

  “Yeah,” he looks to the window. “Worked out better than we thought, actually.”

  “So another go for tomorrow?”

  “Probably. Though,” he makes his way to his mirror, “you may not be involved this time. Which I like.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Sampson and Jothkore gather during the day. Maybe you can go with them tomorrow.”

  “Really?” I sit up. “And the Dofinikes wouldn’t know?”

  “They don’t have the manpower to supervise everyone, remember? They just want us to think they do.”

  “So I can gather tomorrow?”

  Reid nods, “Plus it’ll get you away from the Kings, which I also like. And you’ll be with someone who can keep you safe.”

  “Can he?”

  Reid scoffs, “Better than me.”

  “I don’t believe it,” I think of the way he moved earlier. Could anybody be better than that? Even Sampson?

  “Believe it,” he sighs. “If anyone can keep you safer than me, it’s Sampson.”

  “And Jothkore?”

  “Sampson trusts him. I trust Sampson,” he offers as if the logic was irrefutable. “Gathering during the day is probably the safest place for you. And that,” he climbs into the bed, “is the best thing to do.”

  ***

  “Fallon, wake up.”

  “Hmm…”

  Reid’s over me, wiping a curl from my face. He leans in and softly presses his lips to my right eye, mumbling into my skin. “Jothkore and Sampson are outside.”

  “Okay...”

  “I wish you could stay here… in my bed,” he trails his lips down my cheek, toward my lips. “What’s the point of being Rox if I can’t order it?”

  “But…” I laugh, almost succumbing to the fire he’s lighting, “…I’m not a Rogue.”

  He moves his mouth lower, onto my neck. “I could still make you stay…”

  “Oh, no you don’t,” I slip out of the bed before he’s able to make good on the threat. I glance in his mirror and pull my hair back in a ponytail of messy brown curls. I turn to Reid for approval but he merely watches.

  “All right,” he climbs out of the bed, gesturing to the door with a sigh, “go if you must.”

  I kiss him goodbye and once outside, I find Sampson and a tall stranger waiting in the darkened corridor. The newcomer
is lighter-skinned, almost albino, and has bright green eyes and short blonde, nearly white hair. His hands are cupped behind his back, his mouth wide with a grin.

  “Fallon,” Sampson turns to his friend. “This is Jothkore.”

  “Good morning Fallon,” Jothkore extends his right palm. “It’s so very nice to meet you.”

  “Same,” I take his hand but he captures mine in both of his. After a long moment he releases me.

  “Should we be off then?”

  We head for the hidden door in the wall and down into the tunnels below. After a while, we emerge into the dense greenery of Harrizel’s jungle. It’s dusted in a soft white morning mist that settles just above the damp ground. Sampson and Jothkore take languid steps in the same direction, deep into the shadowed silhouettes of oversized bushes and hanging, crisscrossing vines. They walk almost the same path, step for step, gliding through the broken city with natural ease.

  “Fallon,” Sampson gestures toward a small group of Marowine bushes. He hands me the same foldable bamboo basket, “if you could collect some Marowines…”

  I pass the first few hours filling baskets with the food, continually returning them to Sampson who hands me another empty container, requesting I gather more.

  The sun is fully in the sky, nearly hanging in the center when Sampson strides over. “Hungry?”

  “A little…” I didn’t eat earlier and my stomach started growling about half an hour ago so yeah, I could eat.

  “Let’s take a break,” Sampson leads me to a small clearing beyond Ellae’s edge, just in sight of the Rinzal Tree. He pauses, gazing at it for only a second before gesturing to a wide, low stump. Jothkore’s seated himself on one across from mine and Sampson leans against a tree, a Gupple in hand. He brings it up to his mouth and takes a bite.

  “You come out here every day?” I pluck a Rublie from a nearby bush as I make for the stump.“Every day,” Jothkore nods, biting into his Gupple.

  “And you make deliveries to Tucker?”

  He finishes chewing and shakes his head, “To Able.”

  “How often?” I pick a couple red Rublie beads and toss them into my mouth.

  “Every day. Every morning before first bell and again after your return back from second meal,” Jothkore pauses with his Gupple, surprise emanating from his emerald eyes. “Has Reid not told you any of this?”