The Dark Materials

by Amanda Churi

  Griffin threw his arms out beside him. “And if I hadn’t, what would I have done? Huh? I couldn’t just be a vagrant like Mabel; I didn’t have her wit and charm! I had to find a way to support myself when my mother couldn’t! Don’t you dare try to bend the truth!”

  “Boy who would have died getting caught stealing say what?” Laelia chuckled darkly.

  “Girl who ended up being raped to death by the Senate say what?!” he shot back.

  Laelia’s eyes exploded. Her brain hit a flatline, destroying all activity in the depths of her mind, leaving her standing there as nothing more than a shell. Her body stiffened, the sight in her eyes ripped away from her as she fell into the arms of nightmares. Her already flushed skin became sickly pale, her face twisting in angst and revealing the bountiful scars beneath the surface that I had never known were there.

  So… That was the full story of Laelia’s original death… I remembered the day I was chained behind the eyes of the Devil, watching her body writhe on the stone as she was forced to endure both the pain and sight of her original demise. It was one of the few times I had ever seen Laelia be anything but strong, and as I stared at her drifting mind, I overlapped her current being with that of her old self. The war broke her very soul in such terrible ways, and now, all that she had left was pain, fury, and grief.

  Aponi to the settlers. Laelia to the Senate. Mable to the Bubonic Plague. Ryze to the Holocaust. Tah to the hands of some sort of murder…

  And yet the question had never been answered for me. What was my death…?

  “Mommy?” Sybil peeped gently, nuzzling Laelia’s cheek. “Are you ok?”

  Laelia did not react. Screams were blaring in her head, the walls of her skull crashing around her. Blood washed over her eyes, and the ends of her nerves stung, causing her fingers to cringe and limbs to tremble.

  Concerned, Sybil scampered across the back of Laelia’s neck and onto her other shoulder, whimpering with fright. “Laelia…?” she tried again, tapping her face with a claw.

  The cold touch of the nail startled Laelia. Her body jolted in place, her neck snapping to the creature with her body on high alert. Sybil gave her a reassuring smile for comfort, but Laelia’s scattered attention did not settle on her; it decided to full-out attack Griffin.

  Griffin said nothing in his defense, knowing just how uncalled for his words had been. He openly took the silent bashing she vented his way, his only reaction being a defeated fall of the head.

  “You know,” she rasped, swallowing as she tried to dismiss all terrors plaguing her body, “I originally never liked you because of how free you were—how you could do whatever you wanted, and how you never had to watch your tongue. When I was taken to Phantome and was finally allowed to express the deep fires festering in my heart without being punished, I certainly let all of the anger I had out. After a while, I had enough of hating you once I was able to touch freedom myself and see that you did not have it all good either. I… I felt something… A connection…”

  She scoffed heatedly, grinding her teeth. “I don’t know what I was thinking—falling in what I thought was love, binding my heart to someone… Practically allowing myself to be chained to those unworthy! I don’t need more oppression in my life; I won’t have it in any form! I don’t need love, and I certainly don’t need you!”

  Her words struck him where it hurt. “Laelia…”

  “Just shut up!” she screamed, tears cascading down her cheeks. “You’re dead to me, you hear that? DEAD.”

  She spun on her heels and proceeded to storm towards the door, Sybil obediently remaining on her shoulder and shooting Griffin a glare that accurately mirrored Laelia’s emotions.

  “Open the door, Pinion!” Laelia demanded, refusing to look back. “I want to start the training now!”

  Pinion sighed, Laelia’s rain of emotions seeming to actually get to her. Accepting her decision, she made her way over to the fragments of what was once a person, pressing her hand against the metal and waiting for the doors to grant her passage. The moment her identification was cleared and the barriers vanished, Laelia shot forward out of the workshop as fast as she could and bolted down the hallway, her tears flying behind her.

  No one moved for several seconds. The first to break the tense ambiance was Flye, who turned her hypnotic black eyes to Griffin, scoffing in hatred. “Just so you know… Sticks and stones may break her bones… But words will always destroy her.” On that note, she escaped the claustrophobic room, running after Laelia.

  Griffin exhaled in defeat, burying his hands into his face and sitting down on the cold floor, openly letting the chill flow into his body and encase his heart.

  All of our morals were being tested here, and as time dragged on, the strings keeping us attached to one another were only stretched further and further. Now, one had finally broken and let itself freely fall, not caring where it landed, so long as it was nowhere near those it once stood by.

  And I was getting close to doing the same.

  ***

  “The microphones are located at your chin and embedded into the armor; likewise, the earpieces are located at the ear. The front and back cameras are attached to the helmet, so anything within your range of sight we will be able to stream directly back to base. We will be with you every second as you embark on this dangerous mission.”

  Pinion took a step back from Laelia. They stood in an isolated, dark cavern, far below the surface of the Earth—a passageway that was so vital to the survival of the rebellion that nearly none besides the most trusted members of the Encryption knew where it was located; if they didn’t know, then the Proxez could never extract such an important piece of information from their brains in the event that they were captured.

  The tunnel traveled everywhere that it could extend its reach—to all four districts of the Proxez Empire: Esther, district one; Lacousa, district two; Velhm, district three; and Aphrite, district four. They were the districts that surrounded the heart of the Empire, the Palace of Revere, so that with one turn of the neck, the overlord could stare out at the terrible creation he and his ancestors built throughout hundreds of years. No district was looked at as to be greater than the next; they were simply separated blocks of slavery so that the population could be watched over with a closer eye.

  The only light around was the white electricity coursing through Laelia’s activated armor. Her visor was open, allowing one to see her face—a face that had never been more determined to prove those around her wrong. She looked identical to the unmerciful Haxors; one would never be able to tell the difference so long as her face never disclosed itself to the enemy.

  Laelia gave her head a stern nod in reply to Pinion’s statement. She shifted her gray eyes to her stomach that was protected in a cast of semi-translucent armor, the black glaze hiding yet another secret that the rebels held in the palm of their hand. “You alright down there, Sybil?”

  “Of course!” Sybil answered, her voice echoing.

  “Can you see well?” Pinion urged.

  “Yup! I like this special glass Justus put in! Are you sure they can’t see me, though?”

  “No, they can’t,” Pinion answered. “It is a one-way looking glass. You can see out, but they cannot see in. The electricity coursing across that particular section is a mere illusion as well; there is no actual power so that your extraordinary vision has no interference.”

  “Awesome!”

  “Now, I would like to remind you that you are no longer Laelia,” she pressed sternly. “You are Haxor 89031. We managed to override and switch the identification numbers of you and a living soldier to further ensure your chance of success. Speak not unless absolutely required, and even then, say very little. Talk in a deeper voice; females are not allowed in the army. Keep watch for anything suspicious, and if you suspect that they are catching on, get out of there. Still, your I.D. is at the higher end of the Haxors, so you shouldn’t be bothered much; those with lower numbers are the ones you have to be wa
ry of, for a number equals their current rank in the system. You—”

  “What happens if I’m attacked?” Laelia interrupted.

  Pinion pursed her black lips. “You have a gun that draws power from your gloves and surrounding energy.”

  Laelia looked over her shoulder, staring at the artillery strapped onto her back. “That I have a day’s experience with…”

  “…Then don’t let it come to that,” Pinion said. “If anything doesn’t feel right, and I do mean anything, leave.” She grabbed Laelia’s shoulders, making sure that the young fighter took in every word that was said. “You are brave, Laelia, but do not confuse bravery with pride. You are no coward; you have proved your worth again and again throughout your life. Do not be ashamed to retreat or back down; sometimes, it is necessary.” She broke their close connection, her blue eyes flickering briefly in the dark. “Had your father known this, your path in life would have been much different.”

  Laelia blinked. “And had you never been Queen of the Encryption, where do you think your path would have taken you?”

  Pinion’s shoulders drooped as she released an uncomfortable breath. She turned to the darkness in the distance, the light whir of a motor sneaking its way into the tunnel. Laelia turned to look in the direction that had captured her queen’s attention, confused when she saw a harsh and powerful beam of white light gradually reaching through the void of space, illuminating what looked like the skeleton of a track.

  “I would be in Hell,” Pinion answered quietly.

  Before Laelia could look back at Pinion, the light decided to fully reveal itself. The frequency of the pitch from the motor quickly rose, and in a flash of neon blue light, a mechanized transportation unit came to an immediate halt a few meters in front of them, going from hundreds of miles an hour to zero with the snap of a finger.

  A headlight birthing a large mass of white light rested front and center. The entity itself swarmed with a gentle blue essence that rippled beneath the surface of the thick glass that made up the frame of the strange contraption. A curved sheet of dense, black glass rested on top of the vehicle—a futuristic pod that had the shape of a slick and deadly bullet. It levitated slightly above a track that was nothing more than a single rail—a rail that twisted and curved any which way it desired, leading off into the endless pit of shadows.

  A light whoosh came from the odd unit as the windshield shot back, a pool of ominous blue mist trickling down the sides of the car and gently floating down into the endless drop that loomed on each side of the rail. One false move, and that would be it.

  A girl was sitting in the front of the pod, smiling when Laelia caught sight of her.

  “Flye?” Laelia asked through an airy breath, shuffling forward a centimeter or so.

  “Careful!” she warned, standing up in the car and stretching her back. “The land falls off only a foot or so from there unless you are on the bridge.”

  “Why are you here?”

  Flye chuckled, lifting one leg and stepping over the edge of the coaster, making sure her foot found solid ground before she completely got out. “Well, I’m not gonna let you go alone.”

  “She isn’t alone!” Sybil corrected promptly. “She has me!”

  “Rebel will not be entering the stronghold with you,” Pinion told Laelia, keeping her eyes straight ahead on her follower, who cautiously approached them on a strip of land that was no wider than a single foot. “But she did volunteer to escort you there and make sure you get in.”

  “It’s the least I can do,” Flye said as she stopped in front of Laelia. “You made it through Typo’s attempt at taking your life, and I surely won’t let you die before you even step through those gates.”

  Laelia forced herself to smile, even though, on the inside, she could hardly keep herself steady—from falling to pieces at the thought of what she was about to do. She knew she was strong; she always knew that. She had snickered in the face of Death many times before, but this was an unknown opponent—one she had little information on while being in an environment that was also foreign.

  She could do it… She knew that she could. But whether she could get away unharmed… That was another question that she did not want to answer, especially when she saw what a single enemy had done to Kaitlyn.

  And he had been holding back.

  “Well, let’s get going,” Laelia said casually, keeping her true emotions buried. She looked at Pinion. “Thank you for everything. I promise I will make you proud.”

  Pinion patted her shoulder, though her face remained straight. “You already have.”

  “Let’s go,” Flye pressed, loosely hooking their arms together and leading Laelia towards the pod, watching her every step.

  “Bye, Pinion!” Sybil called.

  The queen simply raised her hand, dipping her head. Flye climbed into the cart, taking her place in the first seat as Laelia cautiously followed her. She squirmed a bit in the small enclosure as she sat down behind Flye with a thud, the bulky suit that she resided in making her take up almost every inch of space.

  The glass zoomed overhead, locking them in the high-class transportation unit. Laelia leaned forward with much effort, looking over Flye’s shoulder.

  The control panel of this contraption was unlike anything Laelia had ever seen. The wall was smothered by flashing buttons of all shapes and sizes; identical switches that lined the perimeter of the shell; and screens that projected ever-changing data about the car. A large, shimmering white yoke was nested square between Flye’s knees. She grabbed the two handles, staring through the windshield and into the unknown darkness ahead.

  “What is this?” Laelia asked.

  “There’s so many sparkles!” Sybil screeched in excitement, leaning forward and smushing her nose against the armor.

  “Much like the Proxez have trackers, this is our own unique design. It’s almost like a rollercoaster, but…” She paused. “Ha! The speed this baby can travel at, and its mechanics, can’t even compare!”

  “What’s a rollercoaster?” Laelia pressed, her question practically unanswered.

  A light bulb went off in Flye’s head. “Oh, yeah… Uh, think of it as a super-duper-fast chariot without horses.”

  Laelia’s jaw dropped. “Whoa…”

  “What’s a chariot?” Sybil squeaked.

  Flye lightly chuckled under her breath. “Never mind…” She stretched her fingers, wiggling her shoulders to loosen her muscles. “Sit back, Laelia. Put on the buckle and close your visor. You’re in for quite the ride.”

  Laelia stared at Flye for a second more before cautiously nodding. She lowered herself into her seat, making herself as comfortable as she could before reaching over to her side and grabbing a thick piece of fabric, pulling it over her shoulders and across her hips as the metal tip flew into the wall, locking her in place. She raised a finger to the side of her helmet, tapping an almost invisible button and causing her black visor to swoop in from the walls of her helmet.

  Flye flicked a few switches, her fingers running across multiple buttons at the speed of light. The touch of her skin caused the hue of each afflicted button to change to a scorching white. The pod began to tremble as it prepared for takeoff, Laelia’s neck tensing as she leaned back, slightly rotating her head to the side and looking at Pinion.

  She had not yet moved; she almost seemed to be nothing but a ghoul as she stood there, waiting anxiously for her soldiers to depart. Plagued, unknown thoughts closed in on her, the strong queen dipping her head and tenderly crossing her arms, hardly allowing her fingers to touch the corners of her shoulders. Her eyes fell shut, her very being nearly disintegrating the longer she was forced to wait.

  Laelia twisted her lips in dissatisfaction. It wasn’t only her; there were many people who took up the identity of a ruthless human in order to protect themselves from the harm they had once been exposed to. A hard outside was the only way to protect an injured heart…

  Her head was suddenly slammed back against t
he wall, Sybil thrown into Laelia’s stomach when, without any warning, the coaster shot forward.

  Laelia and Sybil screamed, the g-force on their body so overwhelming that it refrained them from moving; even something as simple as trying to turn their neck was impossible. Their surroundings became a blur, the rays of luminance from the headlight streaking past them as they outran its presence.

  Flye strained herself to keep a hold on the yoke. Her arms convulsed under the immense strain brought upon them, her teeth crushing one another as she tried to keep control of the car. A strenuous grunt fled her mouth, along with something that Laelia didn’t understand.

  “One. Two. Three…” Flye counted in a strained voice. “Four. Five. SIX.”

  Immediately, she yanked the yoke to the right, the entire pod swinging in the same direction and slamming Laelia’s head into the wall.

  “One. Two. Three. FOUR.”

  She snapped the yoke back, the coaster shooting up at an almost vertical angle. Laelia could hardly catch her breath, her heart struggling to keep a steady beat.

  “W-what are you doing?!” Laelia shrieked, Flye only counting to three this time before throwing the entire pod right once more.

  “The tracks are very unreliable!” Flye screamed. “They were designed so that if anyone who was not an Encryptor got a hold of one of our trackers and tried to use them, they would fall into the chasm beneath us!”

  Another yank, this time to the left.

  “We have to memorize these tracks!” she went on. “The speed is so ridiculous that you can’t even see where you’re going as it is! The tracker is held to the rail by the simple science of magnets, and if we hesitate even a second—!”

  She threw the yoke forward, Laelia’s head slamming against the back of Flye’s seat.

  “We’ll be fucking dead!”

  “Why do you guys have to make everything so complicated?!” Sybil exclaimed horrifically.

  “If we didn’t, we wouldn’t have lasted this long!”