“We’re clear,” I said.
Mira continued up the stairs to the exit. Her colonels followed close behind and smirked as they passed. I looked back at the podium as I sat waiting for them to leave. The door shuddered and closed behind them. There was a whoosh of air as Sula rematerialised by my side.
She took her seat again. “Why didn’t you tell me about this?” she asked.
“Like you would have helped … or believed me for that matter.”
“At any point, did you stop and think that I, someone with age and experience, might have something relevant to say?”
“Why would I trust someone like you, who has probably killed hundreds of my people?”
“Who? The Nomads? You’re back to that again? Sacet, there are … bigger things going on here.” She looked down and sighed. “I’m looking out for your best interests. I would hate to see you get killed before your time for another emotional outburst like that.”
I stood up. “Why would you care?”
I tried squeezing past Sula but she put out her arm to stop me. “I know it’s hard for you, but don’t do anything stupid. I want you to put all of this behind you. You have training every day until the tournament, so don’t be late.”
“I don’t want to participate in that. Why would I want to kill innocent people?”
“You don’t have a choice; you’ll be killed if you refuse.”
I made my way past her and up the stairs. I made my way to the exit and the door opened on my approach.
I turned back to Sula. “I’m no one’s executioner.”
27. Adorn
Eno
Somewhere under the Commercial Quad
The dark underground chamber was filled with hundreds of men. Some were standing, others sitting on the musty ground and against the corroded metal walls. Some had putrid wounds and swollen limbs. These were unwanted men, men who couldn’t work anymore. They all glanced over at us when Korin and I entered. She threw my wrist forward and I tumbled onto the dust-covered floor.
Korin grimaced. “Tell them all if you want, it isn’t going to make any difference. You’re all dead anyway.” She turned and left through the chamber’s only door.
The guards on the outside slammed the door closed, the noise echoing in the otherwise silent room. I looked back to the men, who all turned away.
“No, no. Please, don’t tell me it’s him. Is that you, Eno?”
It was Pilgrim, who was making his way through the crowd of sad faces. Turen followed with an equally unhappy expression. Pilgrim looked as if he was about to burst into tears.
He knelt down by my side and placed a hand on my shoulder. “You shouldn’t be here. You’re young, you could have lived. What did you do?”
“I was nosy. I overheard something I wasn’t supposed to,” I said.
“Why didn’t you keep your head down, like I asked?” Pilgrim said.
“I’m sorry,” I said as Pilgrim pulled me closer and hugged me.
“Don’t worry. Someone’s going to think of a way out of here,” he said, letting go and standing back up.
Turen stepped forward. “How’s Toroi? How’s my son?”
“He’s angry, but he’s following orders.”
“What exactly were you not supposed to hear?” Pilgrim asked.
I shook my head, trying to make sense of it all. “There was a man being taken to a special part of the prison. The guards were talking about breaking him out … and they were talking about my sister.”
“Do you remember who they were?” Turen said.
“That woman who brought me here and that little Acolyte, Iya.”
Pilgrim brought a hand to his chin and nodded. “We should talk to the guards …”
“Are you stupid?” a nearby man said, standing up from the floor. “It doesn’t matter what you say to them, they’re still going to kill us.”
“Easy, friend,” Pilgrim said, stepping towards him.
“And what do you know about it?” Turen asked.
“I’m ex-Male Dominion, and we’re all going to be executed in a tournament. It’ll be in front thousands of people, and their Acolytes will be the ones killing us. Both Dominions broadcast their executions to each other all the time, to demoralise their enemy. Open your eyes, we’re cattle to them. Their entertainment.”
Pilgrim looked furious with the man, but he didn’t argue. I guess deep down we all knew he was right. The man sat back down and looked away, like all the others.
The door behind us swung open and in stepped three guards. The one in the middle had solid blue streaks in her hair and a solemn expression on her face. It was Tau!
“Eno? What are you doing here?”
I ran towards her. “Tau!”
The two guards to her sides stepped forward and blocked my path. They raised their guns. “Get back, prisoner!”
I stopped in my tracks and gave Tau a pleading look. “They’re going to kill us, you have to help!”
One of the guards thrust her gun forward. “Get back!”
“No!” Tau said, reaching out and pushing the rifles down. “You two wait outside, I’ll be fine in here alone.”
The soldier looked Tau up and down. “You can’t order us around. Your streaks aren’t high enough.”
Tau pulled a pistol from her waist and she started to glow light-blue. Small silvery lines started to grow all around her body and wavered from side to side like fire. All of her hair turned white and flicked around as if there was a draught.
“Get … out,” she said, staring the guard down with the finger on the trigger.
Both guards backed away, leaving and closing the door behind them. The commotion had drawn the attention of all of the men in the chamber. Many at the back stood and moved closer. I ran forward to hug Tau, and she holstered her pistol, leant down and embraced me back. Her hair turned back to normal and the silvery fire disappeared.
“You’re an Acolyte now? Wow!” I said.
I could tell that she was close to crying. “Oh, Eno. You shouldn’t be here.”
“That’s what I said,” Pilgrim said, coming closer.
“Is that you Pilgrim?” Tau asked as I let go of her. “I’m … really sorry about what happened. You must blame me for so much.”
Pilgrim folded his arms and contorted his face. “Very much so, yes. I’ll forgive you if you’ve come to help us escape?”
“I’m sorry, but no. If I could get you all out of here, I would …”
“Then why are you here?” Turen asked.
“I’m a healer. I can make you all healthy again,” she said.
Pilgrim looked confused. “You came to heal us? You do know we’re all about to be killed, right?”
She looked down at the ground. “I know that. That’s what the guards said when I came down here, too, but they let me through, thinking I wouldn’t cause a fuss. I came here because I couldn’t think of any other way to help.”
“You could fight them,” Pilgrim suggested.
Tau shook her head. “I’m sorry, I just can’t. I …”
“What about my sister?” I asked.
“Sacet? She’s fine,” Tau said, smiling. “But when she hears about you down here …”
“No, I mean, can’t she help us?” I suggested.
She looked at the others before looking back at me. “I … uh. I don’t know how to tell you this, Eno. Sacet has been forced to participate. She’ll have to execute someone here.”
There was a silence amongst us. I gritted my teeth in anger. “My sister would rather die before murdering one of us.”
Tau nodded. “You’re probably right. I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
“Tau, that girl called Iya,” I interrupted, “she and the others … there was one called Korin. I think they’re planning something.”
“I know, trust me, I know,” she replied, unsurprised. “I can’t do anything about it.”
“You could tell the Queen?” Pilgrim suggested.
“I don’t think that would help,” she said.
There was an air of silence in the room again.
I grabbed Tau’s wrist. “No matter what happens; could you please tell my sister that I love her?” I tried to smile, but couldn’t.
The smile faded from her face. “I will, Eno. I promise.”
“And tell her that I forgive her,” Pilgrim added.
“And tell my daughter that I forgive her, too,” Turen said.
Tau looked down at me confused.
“The Acolyte called Maya,” I said.
Tau looked up in shock at the old man. “You’re Maya’s father?”
“Yes, tell her that whatever she chooses to do in her life, I’ll support her.”
“Alright,” Tau said.
“And my beloved,” another man said, standing up. “Tell her I love her, too.”
“And mine.”
Soon the whole chamber was abuzz with final requests.
The door slammed open again and in walked the two guards, accompanied by the Overseer.
“What are you doing with my prisoners?” the ugly woman demanded, striding towards us and standing right in front of Tau.
“I’m giving them medical attention,” Tau replied, unafraid.
“You’re what?”
“The Queen has personally asked me to oversee the health and wellbeing of all the tournament’s participants.”
“They’re not the participants, the Acolytes are!”
Tau smiled. “Are you willing to go clarify it with the Queen herself, to ask her what she really meant?”
“Watch what you say, you little …”
“But I suppose I’ll just go back to the Queen now and explain to her why I wasn’t able to complete my duties. What was your name again?”
The Overseer’s gaze locked with Tau’s. Neither of them was backing down. The old woman’s sneer finally changed to a fake smile, ending the standoff.
“Very well,” she conceded, dipping her head. “How about we make your visit more worthwhile then, shall we?”
She pulled out her pistol and fired it randomly at the prisoners. The chamber was filled with screaming and the deafening fizzle of red hot projectiles. We were all horrified, unable to do anything but back away to the walls and corners.
I looked at Tau pleadingly, but she stood frozen, mouth agape. “Stop her!” I shouted. “Tau, please!”
The Overseer continued casually firing, not caring who she hit. Several men were already writhing on the ground.
I shoved Tau to snap her out of it. “Tau!”
“Enough!” Tau shouted as her light-blue flames ignited once more. She brought up her own pistol and aimed it at the Overseer.
The Overseer finally stopped firing to look at Tau with disdain. “You dare aim your weapon at a superior?”
The two guards aimed their rifles back at Tau. “Drop your weapon!”
Tau’s lip trembled. “Why did you do this?” She lowered her pistol now that the shooting had stopped. “They did nothing to you.”
The Overseer chuckled, gesturing at the five dead bodies and at least ten more gravely wounded throughout the chamber. “I can always get more. But now I’m more concerned about your loyalties.” She turned on the spot and made for the door. “You can stay and heal these lumps if you wish. Looks like you have your work cut out for you.”
She paused and looked back. “Oh, and don’t worry about checking with the Queen. I’m off to see her right now.” She turned once more and left, the guards closing the door behind them.
28. Compassion
Sacet
Two days later
The platform was too crowded. There were civilians everywhere. As soon as one hover vehicle left, it was replaced by another almost immediately, which unloaded its passengers and loaded new ones until it was full. Finally, one pulled up in our lane and opened its doors. Maya, Tau and I climbed on as another group of soldiers hopped off. I took the window seat.
I looked back at the platform and the others in line. As usual, they avoided glancing at us for too long. Except for a small child, who wouldn’t stop staring at me. As the doors closed, I felt a familiar lurch in the pit of my stomach as the vehicle propelled down the tracks.
“How was your training today?” Maya asked.
I shrugged. “It was fine. I practised getting quicker again. How about you?”
“Same as you. Did some basic forms in the lead-up to tomorrow. How about you, Tau, was there anyone you couldn’t heal?”
“No, I finished with the hospital. I healed everyone in there. I was even let into the Prison Quadrant today so I could heal some of the prisoners. They were very grateful.”
Maya smiled. “That’s really nice of you … but unnecessary.”
“Did you see my brother?” I asked. “Is he okay?”
“I saw him. He told me to tell you that he loves you very much,” Tau said.
“How about mine?” Maya asked.
“I didn’t see your brother, but I’m sure he’s okay. Though, I did meet your father. He said to tell you that he … approved of any life choices you make. That he supports you. There was one other thing, but … uh …”
“What is it?” Maya said.
Tau sighed and looked out the train window. “Nothing, I’ll tell you about it later.”
Maya was choked up. “Okay, I guess the tournament is our main concern right now anyway,” Maya suggested, changing the topic.
“What are they going to make us do exactly?” I asked.
Maya turned to me. “Every Acolyte with offensive abilities will be given a single person to execute. Tau doesn’t have to, obviously. She’s been made the stadium medic instead for any emergencies. There are other events later in the day, too, but only the higher ranks participate in those.”
“So, is everyone we saw in that meeting … we all have to kill someone?” I said.
“Yeah, pretty much,” Maya replied. “Most of them enjoy it. Iya for example.”
I shook my head. “She is seriously messed up. What is wrong with her?”
“You didn’t hear this from me … but I heard that she used to live in the desert like you and I. Then, one day, she snapped and killed her whole family, or at least that’s what she told people. Apparently saying something about how boring they were, and then she came to the city, voluntarily.”
“I heard something different,” Tau said. “She’s secretly the Queen’s only daughter, but because the Queen doesn’t want an heir, she’s been forced to deny the link.”
Maya scoffed. “That’s clearly fake. I doubt the Queen would dirty herself by having children of her own.”
I could feel the vehicle beginning to slow, it was about to reach our station. As it came to a stop and opened its doors, we climbed out of our seats and left. We parted through the crowd and out towards the platform’s exit.
“Is there anything else Tau and I need to know about your family before we meet them?” I asked as we made our way down some steps and into the street.
“I would appreciate it if you didn’t mention my father or brother, as you should already know it’s a sensitive issue.”
We deviated from the rest of the crowd, crossed the street and made our way to an alleyway.
“No problem,” Tau said quietly.
“Okay, we won’t talk about them. Anything else?” I asked as we rounded a corner. A large apartment complex stood before us.
“Hmm, well now that you mention it, I think my kid sister likes you, Sacet … or wants to be you. I’m not sure. So be nice to her.”
I nodded back to her as we walked to the entrance of the high-rise and proceeded through the lobby.
Maya stepped towards the elevator and pressed a button. “And don’t talk about the military, or the war. My mother hates me for becoming a soldier,” she said as the elevator floor panel lowered to our level.
We stepped onto it. “Level 12,” Maya said.
The panel
lurched as we hurtled upwards through the elevator tube to the upper floors. Each floor we passed had numerous corridors leading in three directions, with doors interspaced along the walls of each floor. The elevator panel slowed as it reached the 12th floor.
A small girl was standing in front of the tube, waiting for us. She looked like a miniature version of Maya, except her hair was curlier and past her shoulders. She was similar to Eno’s age.
“Maya!” the girl screamed with delight as the panel came to a stop and the doors parted. “And you’re Sacet!”
“Sacet, Tau, I’d like you to meet my sister Kowi.”
“Ooooh! I knew it was you! Can you show me your powers? Please?” Kowi pleaded as she pulled me out of the elevator by the hand. “I know! You can teleport us into our place.”
“Kowi, she can’t do that … she doesn’t even know which one it is. She’s never been here before.”
“It’s alright, Maya. Which one is yours, Kowi? Point to it.”
“That one over there down the hallway on the left, number 12-03.”
I looked down the corridor to where she was pointing and saw the door. My second perception drifted through the walls. Just behind the front door there was a living room filled with furniture, similar to Maya’s apartment.
An older woman, most likely Maya’s mother, was standing in the kitchen, preparing a meal on the bench. I opened a portal to their living room in front of us.
“After you,” I instructed to Kowi, who wore a look of amazement.
“Awesome! Is it safe?” she said as she examined through and behind the portal.
“Very.”
“Kowi?” the mother’s voice called out from the other side. “Is that you?”
“Mum?” Kowi said in surprise as she poked her head through and walked in. “Mum, you’ve got to try this.”
We followed the girl into the living room and I closed the portal behind us.
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