Crimson Rising

by Nick James

  Madame wore a loose white blouse and tan pants. Casual for her. He assumed she wanted to blend in. Beside her was the boy, Theo Rayne, trotting along like an obedient puppy. Cassius didn’t know why she’d insisted on bringing him. As usual, she’d offered no explanation.

  Cassius surveyed the buildings on either side of them. Gutted, dusty storefronts bordered the vacant street. This was a ghost town—brown and lifeless. There were thousands like it scattered throughout the country, each as dead as the last. He hoped all the Fringers had scattered to different parts of the state.

  Keep walking.

  Madame wrapped her arm around his shoulder and pulled him closer. “Lovely morning, isn’t it?”

  He wanted to push away, summon fire, and fight, but the harnessing kept him at bay. It was an odd half-life, hazy and unfocused like a dream. He could move. He could talk. But he couldn’t break through.

  Madame released him and steered Theo to the right. She pointed to a building on the nearest corner. “That’s a fine example of turn-of-the-century architecture.” Cassius glanced up. The windows had been blown out on all three stories. “Things were quaint back then. I would love to crawl inside a time machine, take an excursion back before it all changed.”

  Theo tensed his shoulders. “Do I have to wear this jacket?”

  “I know it’s hot, dear, but you don’t want to walk back into the Lodge with a Surface Tan. Besides, the material’s designed to help regulate your body temperature. You’d be less comfortable without it.”

  Cassius dragged his feet beside them. “Isn’t it dangerous for someone like you to be out here?”

  “It’s a dangerous world, Cassius.” She led them down an alley. “The trick is not caring.”

  Theo’s head poked around her back. He grinned. “The great Cassius Stevenson’s not scared, is he?”

  Cassius ignored him. The truth was, he didn’t think he could be scared if he tried. He couldn’t seem to summon any emotion at all.

  “Now Theo,” Madame chuckled. “Play nice. I don’t want the incident in Cassius’s cell to repeat itself. It’s important to me that the two of you get along.” She paused. “Come. We’re nearly there.”

  She led them halfway down another street, identical to the last and stopped before a wide, boarded-up building. Cassius thought he recognized it from his last venture out, but it was tough to be sure. Everything looked familiar.

  Madame gripped the cracked door handle. “Cassius, you know I care about you. Everything, even what happened back in Seattle, I did for you. I dream of the day we can walk like this without the use of devices.” She pulled open the door without waiting for a response. A cloud of dust dislodged from the opening.

  Keep walking.

  They stepped into the foyer. It was identical to the ones he’d explored as a boy when he found it necessary to escape the pristine cleanliness of the Lodge. They ascended a short flight of stairs and turned the corner, heading for a room on the second floor.

  Theo stopped in his tracks and blocked the way forward as Madame disappeared into the room. He turned around, eyes slit. “I don’t know why she brought you here, but I’m watching you.”

  Cassius pushed past him. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  He followed Madame into the small room. It was empty except for a disheveled bed in one corner and a table in another. She stood at the foot of the bed, hugging a girl. Avery Wicksen.

  Without the Unified Party suit she’d worn in Providence, she seemed much more like the girl Cassius remembered. Her straw-colored hair was tied behind her face, revealing soft features. A hint of freckles. She looked common, in loose jeans and a dirty T-shirt. Like a Fringer.

  Avery’s eyes met his own. Any glimmer of recognition was fleeting. Dulled. Madame released her embrace and Avery perched at the edge of the bed, oblivious to him.

  “My dear girl.” Madame backed up two steps to admire her. “Forgive me for these dreary surroundings. I hate to think of you out here in this heat.”

  Avery opened her mouth. For a moment, Cassius expected to hear anger—brash confidence like she’d possessed months ago. Instead, her voice was quiet. “I’m comfortable. I have water.”

  “Still.” Madame smiled. “A place like this, a town filled with rousers and thugs, is hardly what I want for my daughter.”

  Cassius crossed his arms and leaned against the doorway. Avery was as much Madame’s daughter as he was her son. It didn’t count. It wasn’t real.

  Straighten up.

  He arched his back, standing tall without even realizing it.

  Madame strode to a wide window at the opposite end of the room. It had been covered with wood planks, but lines of sunlight poked through. “It won’t be for much longer, I assure you. You’ll have Jesse Fisher back in good time.” She looked over her shoulder. “And when he sees you like this … well, he’ll be concerned. And rightfully so.”

  Cassius watched Avery tense up. Her fingers gripped the bedspread. Her heel tapped against the ground. “Do you know where he is now?”

  “No,” Madame responded. “That’s why I’ve come here. I have a surprise for you.”

  She motioned Theo to her side. The boy pulled the pack from his shoulder and handed it to her, backing away without a sound. Madame unbuttoned the top flap and pulled a communicator from inside. Cassius recognized it instantly. Badly worn, unrealistically large. It had belonged to him only a few short days ago. Fisher’s communicator.

  She tossed it across the room to Avery’s waiting hands. “Old Unified Party technology. Cassius was using it to speak with Jesse Fisher. We’ve switched it off until now. Go ahead and turn it back on.”

  Avery ran her fingers down the side of the device, searching for the switch. Cassius knew exactly what to press, but he remained silent.

  Madame threw the pack back to Theo. “It’s only a matter of time before Fisher tries to contact his brother. When he does, he’ll find you instead. And that’s when we’ll construct our story. The two of you will be reunited.” Her brows raised. “See? I do keep my promises.” Avery examined the communicator. Her hands shook. Her face remained blank.

  Madame crouched on the ground beside the bed. “I know about love. It may seem disingenuous, coming from me. The two of us have been strangers for some time now, but I remember it. At times it seems there’s nothing more important.”

  Avery switched on the communicator.

  “That’s a good girl.” Madame patted her knee. “You remember the plan. Everything hinges on timing and trust.”

  Cassius stepped forward. “What are you going to do to Fisher?”

  Quiet.

  Madame stood, a half smile on her face. “I’m not going to do anything to him, Cassius. Calm down.”

  “You’re bringing him here,” he continued. “And obviously it isn’t so he can see her.”

  “What exactly are you accusing me of?”

  Theo laughed from the window. “Maybe the great Cassius Stevenson needs another dosage.”

  Cassius glared at the kid. “I am so sick of you.” He bolted toward the window and shoved Theo into the slats. His fingers tightened around the boy’s neck, eager to snap it.

  “Stop!” Madame shouted.

  Cassius’s grip loosened, half under his command, half from the sound of her voice.

  A shot punctured the silence, coming from the street beyond the window. Theo ducked. So did Cassius. Madame froze before striding to the window. She bent to peer between the slats, then gave a great sigh. “Fringers,” she said. “And their guns. Always bullets. So unrefined.”

  Avery stood, still clutching the communicator. “They don’t know about me. I expected them to scavenge the building, even just for shelter, but it’s been safe.”

  “They’ve probably seen the cruiser.” Madame turned. “That ought to have set them off.” She pulled Theo to his feet and dusted off the corner of his jacket. “Go outside and make yourself useful.”

  The boy swallowed. He hesita
ted a moment before nodding. As he went for the door, he made a point of bumping into Cassius’s shoulder. Cassius eyed the kid in disbelief before turning back to Madame. “You’re sending him out by himself? You don’t even know how many Fringers are out there!”

  “I saw three. There may be more.” She held out a hand to stop the boy. “Names. I’d like names, if at all possible, Theo.”

  Theo nodded before sprinting out the door.

  Cassius scoffed. “They’re gonna kill him.”

  “They won’t.”

  “Trust me. If they’ve got guns—”

  “They won’t kill him,” she repeated. “You and Theo have a lot in common. Don’t underestimate him.”

  Cassius stared at her, searching for the truth. Her face was impossible to read.

  “Why do you want names?”

  She clasped her hands at her waist. “There’s been rumors of an uprising in these parts. It’s the closest Fringe Town to the Lodge. It would be fantastic news if any of the Fringe leaders were disposed of today.”

  “You mean—”

  “You felt the blade of Theo’s knife yesterday.” She glanced at his chest before meeting his eyes once more. “It’s his favorite. I gave it to him several years ago. You didn’t know about it, of course. You didn’t know about him.” She paused. “But you soon will.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Shut the door,” she said. “He’ll knock when he’s ready.”

  Cassius took a moment to peer into the hallway before closing the door. Theo had already disappeared.

  Madame moved to Avery’s side and placed one hand on her shoulder. “Let me show you how this communicator works.” She coaxed Avery into a sitting position. “This is all we had back in my day. Primitive, yes, but it does the trick.” She tapped the bed with her free hand. “Why don’t you come join us, Cassius?”

  He stood still, listening to the sounds outside. There were more shots. Two, then a third half a minute later. After that, nothing but silence.

  To the bed, Cassius.

  He moved to the side of the bed, positioning himself as far from Madame as possible. He wished he could do something. If he’d had his full senses, he could break free and warn Fisher.

  He stole quick glances at Madame. The way she hovered over Avery, the hint of lavender coming from her skin … it was all too familiar. He recalled nights when he was a boy and she would come to his room to read to him. The classics—never anything trivial or childish. She’d been like a mother, then. She looked like one now. No one had ever made him feel more important.

  A knock came at the door. Three equal thuds.

  Madame passed the communicator back to Avery. “That was quick.” She smiled, then raised her voice. “Come in.”

  The door opened and Theo entered the room, jacket torn at the shoulder and hair stuck to his face. He raised his knife, wet with blood, and dropped it to the floor. “Randy, Paul, and Joseph,” he panted.

  Cassius stared at his face, then down at the weapon, the dark-red splotch against the wood.

  Madame frowned. “Pity. Not an important name among the three of them.” She stared at the tear in his jacket. “You can take it off now if you want, darling. No risk of Surface Tan in here.”

  16

  There used to be more of Japan. That’s what they say, at least. There are still underwater ruins, proof that civilization once existed here. But above the water it’s just a string of small islands. Once mountains, now buried.

  Some are wide enough to land a shuttle or two. Most look more like oversized stepping stones. It’s a necessary pit stop for us—a chance to get our bearings. Away from the Academy, but not too far in case we have to turn back.

  It won’t be long before they start tracing us after what happened on the island. We have a limited window to talk—decide what to do—before we’ll need to get airborne.

  The shuttle sits behind us, empty and quiet. Waves lap upon the rocks at our feet. The Pacific stretches endlessly before us. This place is as silent as Russia, probably more. The grass that remains is eternally marshy. Sinkholes abound, but we’ve found a relatively stable piece of land.

  Eva chucks a pebble into the water. She’s got a handful of them ready to go. I think it makes her feel better to be doing something. “They’ll take him back to the Academy,” she says. “That’s the first thing they’ll do. And knowing Skandar, he won’t talk.”

  My leg shakes with nervous energy. “Alkine wouldn’t hurt him, right? I mean, it’s Skandar.”

  “I don’t know.” She shakes her head. “At the very least, they’ll get a story out of him. I’m going to have to see if I can disengage the trackers on our shuttle. That’ll mean sacrificing our radar, but I don’t see … ” she trails off.

  Ryel sits on the rock beside me, utterly still. His chin rests on his fingers. His eyes slit as he stares at the water.

  “We found you,” I whisper. “I did it. Finally.”

  He turns to look at me, his expression fragile. “I am … the only one?”

  I open my mouth to speak, but end up swallowing my words before I settle on the right thing to say. “I’ve been trying … I mean, I’ve been doing what I can.”

  His brows furrow. “I thought your leader was rational. I thought, if we gave him what he wanted—”

  “Captain Alkine doesn’t know what he’s doing,” I reply. “He didn’t hurt you, did he?”

  “Does it matter? We weren’t sent to this planet to worry about our own well-being. He confined me.” His jaw hardens. “That was enough.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be sorry for me,” he says. “Or for any other Drifter. Be sorry for the time we’ve lost. Those hours...those pointless video conferences… I prayed that something was being accomplished. That I was an anomaly.” He turns back to the water. “But you have nothing.”

  “That’s not true.” I push my wrist in front of his face. The blackness of the bracelet reflects his worried features. “I have this.”

  He glances at it, frowning.

  “It’s been shaking,” I continue. “It won’t come off. Sometimes it’s strong enough to pull my entire arm. What is it?”

  He sighs. “That material is called Ridium. It’s the most powerful element on Haven.”

  “Haven?” Eva scoots forward.

  “The name of our home planet,” he responds. “Or, rather, a rough translation.”

  Haven. The word slots into the framework of ideas in my mind. Right now that’s all it is: a word.

  “What’s it doing around my wrist?”

  “Ridium can be controlled, but only by a chosen few. Shifters, they’re called. I am not a Shifter.” He meets my eyes. “Neither are you.”

  He grabs my wrist and pulls the bracelet closer to his face, running a finger along the surface. “There are forces inside. I don’t fully understand them, but they go beyond what exists here on Earth. All Ridium is controlled by the Authority. And the Authority, in turn, by Shifters.

  “In the end, it formed the very infrastructure of our civilization. Buildings, technology, weapons … they were all influenced by the endless powers of Ridium. It’s a synthesizing element, which means those with the power to Shift can bend it to their will. In addition to changing its physical shape, it can be imbued with programmed instructions. Like a computer. It can send signals, relay messages, store video or holographic information … the possibilities are limited only by its Shifter’s imagination.” He releases his grip on my wrist. “The Resistance risked great peril to create this for you. It must be important.” He sighs. “I was a simple pilot. I’m not qualified to be your guide.” I swallow. “You’re all we have. For now.”

  He runs a hand over his face, exhausted. “Your parents wanted you to have that bracelet. That’s all I can tell you.” “My parents … ”

  “Great leaders.” He shakes his head. “Strong.” My lips tremble. I can’t tell if he’s taking a dig at me or not.
“What … what were their names?

  He pauses in thought before answering. “Savon. That was your father. And Adaylla, your mother. Numbers 3,038 and 5,017. Founders of Haven’s Resistance.”

  Eva drops her pebbles. Somehow hearing the names changes things. They’re real. People knew them. Savon and Adaylla.

  Even with the string of numbers behind them, the words sit comfortably in my consciousness—missing puzzle pieces.

  The crashing of the waves takes over the silence. The ocean brightens with the rising sun.

  I choke back emotion. “What were they like?”

  “I never met them,” Ryel says. “Not in person. I only know what I’ve been told.”

  I pound the rock with my fist. “You can’t leave it at that.”

  “I can’t?” He turns to me. “Don’t let yourself be clouded by the thought of them. It won’t serve any of us well.”

  “Then tell me what they were fighting for. They started the Resistance, right? What were they resisting?”

  Ryel’s eyes widen in disbelief. “You’ve been kept in the dark. It’s worse than I thought. Your leader has told you nothing.”

  “Go on.” I grit my teeth.

  “I am not a school teacher.” He closes his eyes, grunting in frustration. “Very well. A history lesson.”

  He takes a deep breath. “Haven was approximately half the size of Earth.”

  My brows raise. “Was?”

  “Let me finish.”

  I rest my chin on my knees, determined not to interrupt him again.

  “Our climate was dry, but the resources bountiful. Ridium pits existed in the southern hemisphere, dark and endless before they were scavenged by the Authority. In the north, vast fields of gold-flecked grass. No oceans, but many lakes.” He pauses, as if recalling the scenery upsets him. “Your scientists would have never spotted us. Not with their… limited technology. The universe is constantly stretching. Mirroring itself. Haven existed more than fifty million of your light years away from Earth. But it’s gone now.”