by Al K. Line
It was easy to read Leel's thoughts sometimes, as their connection went way beyond mere friendship. It was something much deeper, more than love even, like they were the embodiment of the other. Optimistic about life even in the face of such malice. Mischievous, adventurous, at peace with themselves for the most part, and just happy to be alive and given the chance to be a part of such a wonderful world.
Not that they never got a little depressed at times, like now, but their spirits wanted to soar and nothing could keep them down, not permanently.
Progress wasn't as fast as Arcene would like. She wanted out of the city, at least get on the other side of the fence. Much as it was unexpected, she knew that what Vorce had done, in full view of the cameras, and thus his people, would have the desired effect.
Change would be inevitable now. There would be no turning back. It wasn't over, far from it — she still had plenty to deal with — but the cameras were no longer necessary. They had served their purpose, and now her attention moved to ensuring The Hunt never happened again.
Vorce, and maybe Janean to go, then The Island, although she was in two minds about returning to that place. But with Talia and Erato, and hopefully what the inhabitants had seen, she thought maybe it was worth the risk.
Ugh, is it though? It's a lot to ask. But I can at least show these two where it is, how to get there, and then me and Leel can leave, deal with Vorce if we haven't by then.
That was a much better plan. Yes, she would get Talia and Erato back there, but not go herself. What if the people weren't convinced and they turned on her? That was a huge risk to take.
Arcene put it out of her mind and returned to the now. She immersed herself in the present.
They kept on walking, ducking down alleys, almost losing their way, and then they were out in the open, stood next to the fence.
It looked the same as the other sections, but as Arcene stared at the ground she knew it was different. She looked past the grass, the worms, the beetles and the grubs, and watched as binary information was relayed close to the speed of light through a cable buried only a few feet underground. She followed the trail, expanded her awareness as it reached the fence, stepped up to it and kicked an innocuous looking piece of metal wedged close to the base.
It creaked to the right and a half section of fence slowly opened with a squeal.
This was Vorce's access point, how he came and went from the city.
They peered cautiously through, Talia seemingly having come back to her senses, even if she looked terrible. All Arcene saw was more city, but it wasn't like the arena. This was cleaner, less full of junk. In fact, mostly empty of anything on the main thoroughfare that continued after being cut off.
How far could it be to the coast? Not far, surely? Vorce had to get them here, so that would mean either above ground transport or the tunnel must be close.
"Come on, let's go take a look. We need to get you home before Vorce, and you have to tell your people what happened. They will have seen some of it on the cameras, but I don't know exactly what. You have to tell them." Arcene nodded through the open fence, indicating Talia and Erato should go first.
"What about you?" asked Talia, unmoving.
"Oh, we'll be fine. We'll go home, won't we, Leel?"
Woof. Woof, woof.
"See. We will deal with Vorce and then we will go home. But you owe us, you owe yourselves, so you have to put an end to this. Will you? Because if you won't I will. I will come and I will—"
"You'll what?"
Arcene turned, sword moving in front of her two-handed, left leg sliding forward automatically, bending at the knee, ready for any number of moves.
Elder Janean was not looking her best. She looked pale even though it was warm, and her breathing was ragged. Arcene wasn't fooled by the obvious signs of exhaustion though.
She took in the woman with a single glance. Noted the way she held her sword, the steadiness of her hands, the way her limbs were positioned. She saw the stance she had taken that seemed so casual, but was in fact an advanced fighting position that gave you plenty of room to maneuver and either attack or defend as was needed.
This was no middle-aged woman in sore need of exercise, well, it was, but there was a whole lot more going on too.
"What do you think you are doing? Talia? Erato? Why are you helping this... this girl? You Judged her, she is Guilty. You must deliver the death blow."
"It's over, Elder Janean," said Talia, her voice infinitely sad. "It's wrong, all of this. And you knew!"
"Knew? Knew what?"
"That it's all a lie. That it's fixed. It's not a Hunt, it's entertainment. And this whole place, it's fake. We never knew about fences, that you could track Prey with cameras, and that Vorce was such an evil man."
"I can explain. It's for the health of The Island. People want this, need it. We did what we had to do to ensure The Hunt continued. Without it we would be lost, unable to continue as we do." Janean paused for a moment, thinking. She never once relaxed her position though. Arcene had to admire her for that if not a lot else. "Where's Cashae?" She knew, Arcene could tell. She just hoped for a different answer.
"Dead. She's dead. Vorce killed her. He stabbed her and ran away like a coward. We're going. We're going home and we will change things, tell everyone what you both did, what this is all really about."
"Don't try to stop us," said Erato, giving himself some space, ready to fight if need be.
"You can't! It will have all been for nothing if you ruin this. Do you know how long we have fought to keep the community together? No, of course not. Look, I am centuries old, and I remember what the world was like before. Trust me, you do not want to go back to such a life. People need hope, they need Justice, they need something to look forward to and they crave entertainment. You think this is bad? You have no idea. The things people did long ago, what they did for sport, for fun, you could never imagine."
"Enough!" Arcene was in no mood for such nonsense. "So you think it's fine Vorce killed their friend? A woman you are supposed to protect?"
"No, of course not! I will speak with him. Where is he?"
"I would imagine he's coming to try to stop us, so we have to go. Now." Arcene watched for a reaction, but Janean remained as she was — body primed, face neutral, her next move unknown.
Janean sighed. "I'm getting too old for this."
Grrr. Woof!
"Leel, you stay. Good girl." Leel looked to Arcene, rather astonished, but Arcene knew Janean was ready, and after Leel's recent defeat she didn't want to risk her ego getting dented further.
"Let go!" screamed Talia.
A moment's distraction while she spoke to Leel and Janean had acted. She was fast, very fast, and now Talia was clutched close to Janean, the older woman's sword pressed tight into Talia's throat, her other arm pulling hard at her hair, exposing the neck.
"Release her. Now!" warned Erato in a deep, menacing growl that came as a real surprise to Arcene.
"Or what, Erato? You are a child, a mere babe compared to me, compared to Vorce. Do you really think you can get the upper hand? Do you know who we are?"
Arcene spoke softly, calmly, as if talking to a young child. "Elder Janean, do you know who you are?"
"Wh... What!" She spluttered, pulling Talia tighter, the blade pushing against flushed skin, nicking the surface. A bead of blood slowly trickled down Talia's throat. "Of course I do."
"I don't think so," said Arcene. "I see you, I see Vorce. I know."
Janean was confused, and that was good. Arcene wanted her confused. She also wanted her to know the truth. It was so obvious, how had she not seen it before?
"You're manipulated. Vorce is in your head, probably always has been. That's his power, his secret. He can warp your minds. Not a lot, and it's not like he is doing it constantly in The Noise, but I see it. I see it in all of you. This is why hardly anyone involved in The Hunt ever stops to think about it being wrong. It's because he's changed you, changed you
all."
"Don't be ridiculous," spat Janean, pulling Talia tighter still, the blood flowing as the cut deepened.
"If you hurt her any more I will—"
Arcene cut Erato off. "Let me finish," she warned. "You need to hear this, but Janean definitely needs to." Would what she was about to say make things better or worse? It didn't matter. Arcene wasn't one for keeping her mouth shut if she felt the truth had to be heard, and it might just sway Janean, or give Arcene the opportunity she needed.
"Just... Kill... Her," croaked Talia, her words interrupting Arcene once more.
"I said let me finish! Jeez. Your thoughts are not your own, Janean, I see it. You have been duped, made to trust Vorce more than you should. He has insinuated himself into your mind over the years, subdued any part of you that would dare to think about what your "Island" has become. Do you think this is right? Look at yourself, look what you are doing. Is this you?"
There was a moment's confusion on Janean's face, as if the words rang true, but it was fleeting. Arcene saw her resolve harden just as the sword pushed deeper into flesh. Arcene sighed. "Fine, I'm leaving then."
"What! You can't leave," protested Erato. "What about Talia?"
"What about her? She's your friend, you save her." Arcene was playing a dangerous game and she knew it. But she couldn't think of another way out. She'd tried the truth, now she was trying a lie. All she needed was a moment. Talia was no fool, and she hoped she understood what was going on, what Arcene planned.
Erato was a mess of confusion. He glared at Arcene as if in accusation — was this what they got for putting their lives on the line trying to save her? Then he stepped to Janean. The sword cut deeper.
"You, you and her, all of you, you put me in this position, Erato. Why should I risk my life for you when this is all your fault?"
"Because you just said we have been fooled, manipulated, and we... we thought it was right. That it was what people deserved."
"And now you don't, right?" Erato nodded. "So, save her." Arcene nodded at Talia, who didn't look good. The blade was ready to cut her throat, but Arcene knew Janean had her doubts. She knew as well as Arcene that the moment she sliced, Arcene would lash out and Janean would be unable to defend herself in time.
Stalemate.
Talia nodded almost imperceptibly to Arcene. She clearly had no idea what the plan was, but there was a trust, a link between them. Surprising what a chat in a damp cave can do to bond two women together.
Casually, like she was offering a bone, Arcene said, "Leel. Chew."
Leel glanced at Arcene and she nodded, giving the go-ahead. This better work.
Leel bunched her shoulders as if ready for a fight, then walked slowly, calmly, over to Janean. The three people watched, transfixed, as Leel sniffed at Janean's leg. Her jaws opened wide and her head lowered to Janean's thigh.
Janean stared at Leel, confused and bewildered by the change in tempo and the realization of the order given. "If she bites, I kill."
"Whatever." Arcene waved it away casually.
"I mean it."
"And so does she." Arcene nodded at Leel. "You kill, she eats you alive. Slowly."
Janean panicked. This wasn't how such confrontations happened. There were sword fights, grunts and fists, running and screams as blades sank in deep.
"Now, Leel. Now!" shouted Arcene.
Janean's eyes widened in fright, unable to decide what to do. Leel lunged, Janean stepped back, and as Arcene had hoped, Talia used the distraction to push out on Janean's sword arm. It moved away a fraction and Erato sliced out with his sword expertly. Janean's hand, still clutching the sword tightly, dropped to the ground.
Arcene, satisfied that she had made the right move, shuffled forward with her left leg still bent, and sure to hit her mark she thrust out fast and hard with her sword directly at Janean's midsection.
Clang.
Arcene felt the reverberation right up into her shoulder and the sword slid off and to the side.
Janean smiled and grabbed for Talia, seemingly unconcerned by the stump that was already cauterized by her Awoken power. Arcene had to give her credit for that — she was one brave woman.
Leel bit deep and shook hard, sending Janean off balance. Arcene caught a glint of protective metal exposed through Janean's jacket. Clever. And sneaky.
Talia picked up her fallen sword and sprang at Janean as Leel ravaged the leg, ripping and flinging gobbets of flesh and material away as she nosed back in for another bite. Janean kicked and screamed but Leel was unstoppable.
Talia swung fast and hard, face full of hate and anger. Not just anger, shame too, shame that this was what she was reduced to, that after all she had tried to do death was still being dealt by her hand.
The blade hit its mark. The screaming stopped.
Janean's head hit the ground with an almost inaudible thud. Her body toppled over.
"Let's go," ordered Arcene. "Leel, good girl. C'mon."
Arcene headed toward the gap in the fence and walked through. Leel, snout bloodied, eyes gleaming with menace and bloodlust, followed obediently.
Neither of them looked back.
"That's it?" shouted Erato.
"Well, yeah. Come on, this isn't over yet."
Talia and Erato exchanged glances then hurried after Arcene.
"She's one dangerous woman," whispered Erato, as he wiped the blood off Talia's neck, checking she was all right.
"I heard that," said Arcene from the other side of the fence.
"Come on, time to go." Talia kissed Erato. They held hands and stepped over the corpse and caught up with Arcene. And Leel.
A Moralty Question
"Would you have let us die?" Talia wiped at her neck as she spoke to Arcene.
"Um, maybe. Not sure."
"What do you mean you aren't sure?" asked Erato in surprise.
"I mean that I had hoped it would happen as it did, that you would both take the lead and deal with Janean as you felt best. And you did."
"But what if we hadn't? She could have killed Talia." Erato was getting angry, but it wasn't surprising — both of them looked terrible. Losing their friend was hard to accept, and now everything they believed was true was gone, washed away in blood and tears.
Arcene stopped and addressed them both. "Look, this is your fault. Yes, yes, I know you have been misled, and probably even manipulated to some degree, but it's your responsibility, not mine."
"We saved you," said Talia.
"Yeah, and how's that going so far? I would do much better on my own. You may have 'saved' me, but let's face it, you have saved yourselves. I would have killed you all, well, maybe not you, Talia, even though this is more your fault than Erato's, but be in no doubt that I would have done better on my own. I can deal with things, just as I will deal with Vorce."
"Okay, maybe it is as much about us saving ourselves, but we came back, for you."
"No! You came back because you were scared. Maybe you wanted to help me, and that's great, but you came back because you knew what you were doing was wrong, and there are consequences for actions. You decided to face up to them. You want to do the right thing, but you want to clear your consciences. You are doing this for yourselves, not for me. You decided to help me because you knew The Hunt was wrong, terrible. So, as I said, this is for you, not me."
"Maybe you're right. But we do want to help. He killed Cashae, I can't believe it." Talia wiped at her face, trying to stop the tears before they fell too freely.
"Believe it. He will do anything to stop you getting home. If you tell what he has done then your little community is over. It will be anyway."
"What do you mean? We'll tell them what happened, what Vorce did. About The Hunt and how it's all a lie."
"They have seen what he did, I told you that. The cameras are live again. Don't you get it? It's over. You think everyone will be happy to remain on The Island now? Of course not. You don't want to and neither will they."
"Which is w
hy we have to find the way Vorce brings us back and forth, so we can use it," said Talia.
"Exactly."
"But then what?"
Arcene shrugged. "That's up to you. I'm not in charge, but maybe you will be, Talia. Maybe you can convince everyone, tell them what it's like out of the city, in the countryside where there is fresh air and you could live anywhere you choose. Maybe they will want to stay. I don't know. I just want to go home. I have a life, a son. I have friends and I want to be left alone. I want peace."
Arcene was losing it. She felt it all bubbling up inside. The tiredness, the hunger, the sorrow, the loneliness she never knew she had. Most of all, what threatened to overwhelm her, was love. How she loved her little boy, how she wanted him by her side. There was too much death, there was always death. She'd had enough and wanted done with it all.
To go home.
"Okay. Come on," said Erato, "we have to find how we got here so we can get back. But it could be anywhere."
"It's a tunnel and it will be close."
"How do you know?" asked Talia.
"Because when I followed the data cable it went underwater, so my guess is it flows through a tunnel. It makes sense. How else would he get back? The currents won't let you leave so it must go under the water. I can see the cable, the information flowing to your Island. Trust me."
Arcene turned and walked, Leel by her side, manically trying to lick the blood off her muzzle. Leel did like to be clean, sometimes.
They spread out, Leel on the left, Arcene beside her, and Talia and Erato next to her. Arcene followed the trail down the empty street where grass was longer and the asphalt chewed through completely, now nothing but dust.
Ruined buildings creaked and groaned, slowly settling back into the earth, to their constituent parts. It would take many hundreds more years before all signs of the city were gone, but there was no hurry, the planet had plenty of time to heal itself now there were insufficient people to cover it over again.