Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction: The Missing Ones: A Dystopian Adventure

by Stephen Kelik

  “The spirits wish that we bring justice upon Ulead. That it will come to pass some day soon. Running from the rot here will only see ourselves and others suffer. Whether we go into the desert tomorrow or not, one day… we will have to return and punish those that do. The spirits have willed it. And they ask for each of you to take a tooth, to remind you of the monster above us that must be slain.”

  Sirius looked down at his, yellow white and pink from the gum lining. He rolled it over and over in his palm.

  “Trust me, I know,” he murmured, prompting Celeste to turn and face him. “But first, we’re going to get my sister back. Then we’re going to find the deserters. We’re going to tell them that nothing is changed, that Ulead is still the same poisonous place that they left behind, and then…” A stirring in his gut that had nothing to do with hunger became a swelling in his aching chest. He set aside his bowl and stood. “Then if they won’t help us, then we’ll have them give us arms. Maybe even vehicles. We’ll grow strong and grow up and when we come back…” his green eyes flashed with determination. “They’ll wish they never put their boots in our backs!”

  ***

  Superstition.

  That was what had halted any venturing into the underground tunnels and caverns that lay beneath the city for as long as Ulead had been an established community. There was much talk of monsters and mutants lurking down in the depths, and nobody knew for sure exactly how far down they went. As a result, all known surface entryways to those depths had been long blocked off with iron and rubble. Superstition… it was usually better than any barrier.

  It was a quality that the head of the Airborn guard, Jon Praxis, had never shared with the rest of his community. He was a man of logic, of cold, hard fact. He had dealt with many things in his life in this manner, including the disappearance of his daughters, Tyna and Celeste. When they went missing, he searched the city, and when he did not find them, he stopped. People disappear. It was a fact of life.

  What people did not do, however, was disappear when they were only seen five minutes beforehand, going into a place where there was one entrance, one exit. He had been called out to investigate what had happened to one of his boys in Greenhouse Six, the only signs of a struggle being a few knocked over plants, some missing crops, missing water. There'd seemed to have been a theft, which, again, was not unusual. But a man dissipating into thin air?

  He walked around the greenhouse, back straight, hands clasped behind it. The brown tunic he wore was more akin to something an Earthborn peasant might walk around wearing, but he was an individual that was rarely swayed by material things. His wife, spirits rest her malevolent soul, had been even less so. The loss of their daughters had brought him much internal grief. Sensible, reliable, strong, hardworking, both of them- even Celeste who had been reserved for a life of contemplation and quiet at the temple. Tyna, the light of his eyes, was to follow him to the head of the guard. But it was not to be.

  Something caught his eye as he scanned the area, looking for clues. The concrete floor near to a long-forgotten manhole cover was splattered with the tiniest marking of black. On closer inspection, having seen a lot of blood both fresh and not in his lifetime, he figured it to be just that.

  “Get one of the laborers we mustered in here,” he ordered. The guard he’d addressed gave a stiff salute and did as he was bid, tugging some poor, frightened woman in by the bicep. Jon smiled at her in a way that he hoped was reassuring, making a mental note of the fact that this particular woman was the mother of that boy that had been exiled. The one who his guards had come back reporting that he’d been eaten by monsters. Monsters, Jon mentally rolled his eyes. More likely they got too vigorous with the fun they were having with their captive and accidentally killed him. He’d had them all whipped, anyway. No harm done.

  “You do your labor here every day, correct?”

  She nodded, keeping her eyes fixed to the floor. A flash of irritation stirred in his gut. Earthborn were so… meek. Until they weren’t, of course. Really, couldn’t they hit the midway of having some self-respect AND being obedient to their betters? “So you would notice, for example, if this-” he pointed to the manhole cover, “had been moved?”

  She nodded again. Jon waited for a handful of seconds, before sighing audibly tapping his booted foot on the floor in impatience. “And has it?!”

  “Yes!” she squeaked, speaking for the first time. “It’s turned.”

  “Thank you.” He waved a hand, the other massaging the bridge of his nose. “You are free to go. Get some more men in here!”

  With the grunting of just one soldier the cover was removed, the depths below revealed. No rush of stale air greeted them. Jon knew with a sick satisfaction that they were on to something. Not since he joined as head of the guard had they had a desertion, but if one wanted to do so, then this sure would be the way to do it. Stealing food straight from the source and then down, down into the tunnels where no-one would find you. But I will find you, that’s for sure.

  The long descent was fraught with claustrophobia, but once at the bottom, the mystery only went deeper. The crumpled body of the Airborn guard was found, head, arms and legs akimbo in ways that nothing should be. Several cat-sized rats scattered from where they’d been gnawing at his face and eyes. It wasn’t a pretty sight, that was for sure, but Jon Praxis did not shy away from ugliness.

  “What could have done this?” one of the younger guards asked in a trembling tone after he’d finished almost being sick against the wall. Jon’s mouth hardened into a thin line.

  “I don’t know. But I believe I might know how to find out…” he murmured, raising his lantern so that it shone into the gloom and lit up the tunnel beyond. A smirk graced his square face. “Gather twenty to thirty men. Arm them to the teeth and give them each a lantern… it will make them feel better. Whoever did this is still down here. I can feel it.” He stared into the darkness, eyes sharp and glinting. “And I’ll find them.”

  ***

  The darkness before dawn came too soon.

  Nobody managed to steal themselves much sleep, and when Tyna finally did rouse the company she did so to a sea of hooded eyes and down-turned mouths. Despite Sirius’ rousing words, everyone was in a state of such anxiety that several of the Missing Ones threw up their food the moment they woke up. The only one that seemed to be ready and raring was Sirius, though he had to be forced to at least sit down and put a meal in himself, for spirits” sake, or he’d be no good to anybody.

  “It’ll be light up there soon, why are we waiting?” he snapped at Tyna, but she simply rolled her eyes and shoved a makeshift fork into his hand.

  “I don’t care how you feel about it. Eat. We might not get another chance to do so until we’re halfway into the desert.”

  Sirius did as he was told, and really, was grateful for it once he got to shoveling the mystery concoction into his mouth. As eager as he was to save his sister, his limbs felt like four dead-weights attached to an even dead-er body.

  They were to keep all supplies necessary for the trek across the desert in the cavern here. They would take anyone that was willing down into the tunnels, before taking a route that Tyna swore would open out into the desert. Nobody would don their masks and claws today; just one warning scream from one of the Harvested and they would find themselves with a far bigger situation on their hands than they could deal with.

  They were prepared quickly, in an almost military-esque fashion, by a short and sharp briefing from Tyna.

  “Right. This is what we’ve talked about for years but have done nothing towards. This is what we have dreamed about but have continued to sleep down here, in the dirt and dark, like dogs.”

  “Nice pep talk, o mighty leader,” Ziggy called out, which lead to a spatter of giggling throughout the company. Tyna couldn’t help but smirk.

  “Shut up, Ziggy. It has taken a complete stranger looking to save his sister for us to make our move. Whether we live or die today, I want you to kno
w, Sirius, that you saved us from nothing more than a drawn-out fate. We would have gotten sick. We would have gotten caught. We would have grown too cautious to feed ourselves. It wouldn’t have gone on much longer… and we thank you for that.”

  Sirius felt his ears burning as several hands came through to slap him on the back, mumbled thanks coming from all around him. He wasn’t nearly used to this much attention. It was disconcerting. “Knowing that, and considering everything else, you’re taking the front with me. Ziggy, for your mouth, you can bring up the rear. Let’s do this.” She raised her spear over her head. “The Missing Ones will be Missing no longer!”

  A cheer went up, but it was short and purposeful. The convoy made it’s winding way down the darkness of the tunnels. Celeste watched them leave, her lips muttering indistinguishable prayers as the healers worked tirelessly over Doki’s mangled leg. They watched the glow of the Missing Ones” lamps disappear down the tunnels, but did not see for they did not turn to the tunnels behind them, where another flicker of light was beginning to grow stronger…

  Chapter Five

  The chamber was almost silent, save for the soft tinkling of music playing from a strange device in the corner. It was resplendent, bedecked in blue, purple and silver. Caged birds stood with their heads under their wings, cats lazed around swatting every so often at each other or one of the sleeping bodies, occasionally hopping up onto a table to gnaw at a platter of food. Meat- real meat- was something that these animals had been reared on, but the sleeping children around them had never experienced before in their lives.

  Crowns of real flowers, soft, ancient silks, perfumes and lotions- it was all so perfect. So why was she laying there, too full of rich food to sleep, with a frown pulling down the corners of her mouth as she stared up at the ornate ceiling?

  It wasn’t what she thought it would be. She’d imagined books, technology from the old world, great pools to swim in, but all that she’d received was as though someone had read a textbook on how to endear Earthborn people to oneself if one had never met an Earthborn. Tasty things to eat. Nice things to wear. Soft animals to pet.

  And then there was the growing fear, that churned like bile in her distended stomach, that it was coming closer. Just hours from now she would be dead. Not that she’d thought of it like that before, but now she was, and it terrified her. What if, when they pushed that needle into her arm and she drifted off to sleep forever, she would open her eyes on nothing but oblivion and darkness? No dancing with the spirits of the sky over the heads of her loved ones as she watched over them forevermore. She knew to even think such things was the worst of crimes, a blasphemy that would not be easily forgiven by the spirits, and that now would of course be the worst time to have such thoughts and feelings. No time to repent. No time to repay. She ran both hands through her long dark hair and knotted her fingers in it, breathing deeply to try and calm herself. She thought of her brother, had heard that he had been taken and eaten by monsters at the gates to the Sickening, and started to cry.

  “Kora.”

  The whisper came floating over the air as though conjured by her own mind. She sat straight up on the lounger that she had found to rest her head on, looking around. “Kora!”

  That was her brother’s voice. She was sure of it. She looked around the room, but she seemed to be the only person in the room of about fifty-the rest of the kids probably wandering the halls or enjoying themselves in one of the other rooms- that was awake. “The vents. Kora. Come on.”

  “Sirius?!”

  She gently picked her way through the room to avoid the sleepers and any jugs, platters and plates laying around, finally reaching the dust-lined vents that were set into the marble floor. She peered down, and saw her brother’s face, instantly recoiling and placing both hands over her mouth. “How are you here?” she hissed. “I heard you were dead!”

  “Listen to me. You have to give me one more chance to save you from this.”

  “I don’t want to be saved, Siri!” she snarled at him, though it wasn’t nearly as convincing as their last meeting about it had been.

  “You sure about that?” Sirius looked at her sadly.

  “Kora, what’s going on?” a boy from across the room sat up, rubbing his eyes. Others joined him.

  “N-nothing!”

  “It’s alright Kora. We’re here for them too. We’re here for anyone that wants to be.”

  “Who’s that? Why are you talking through the floor?”

  After much cajoling, they finally managed to slip a knife between the slats of the vent. One of the children had the screws off the vent and to one side, despite several of the others hissing at them to stop. Sirius popped his head out and pulled himself up, followed by Tyna and Ziggy. The rest of the Missing Ones stayed put.

  “Alright, listen to us, all of you. We are the Missing Ones. We are here to tell you…” Sirius found himself lost for words. Exhaustion and adrenaline were warring inside them, and he had no idea what to say to these frightened, expectant faces. “Look. If there’s anyone here who just doesn’t want to die tomorrow, then come with us. We know of a place outside of the city- and I know it sounds crazy, like a story or something, but listen up. We can get you there and we will.” The reality was that uncertainty gnawed his gut even as he said those words, but no sooner had he said it than four or five people stepped forward. Tyna rested her hand on each of their shoulders and lead them down through the vent. A few more came forward.

  “This is… blasphemy…” Kora mumbled, hands shaking. Sirius stepped forward and placed his hands on each arm, but she shook him off. “Don’t touch me!” it came through her lips too loud, too fast, and a commotion could be heard down the corridor. Everyone in the room froze.

  “Go. Come. Now!” Sirius barked at the room. More and more children seemed to make their decision, diving down the hole to be deftly caught by the stronger members of the party and lead down the narrow corridors that would take them to the tunnels. “Kora… Kora, please…”

  His sister shook her head, backing away. Under the heavy, ancient wood doors, light started to filter through, as someone wielding a lantern stepped closer and closer. “Kora!”

  In a split-second, he made a decision. Clamping his hand over her mouth and grabbing her around the middle, he wrestled her down the hole and had her carried away, kicking and muffled screaming. He pulled the vent back over the hole as he went. “Move! Move! GO! GO! GO!”

  They ran. The complicated criss-crossed network of tunnels almost got them lost, and Tyna pushed them to backtrack back several times, dark eyes wide and panicked in the dark when Sirius saw her.

  “They’ll be after us. You know they will,” he said, trying not to hear the grunting of the Missing Ones struggling to drag Kora down the darkened routes.

  “I know. Shut up. Just keep moving. We need to get back to the cavern and get my sister out of there. I have a bad feeling.” Her strong brow was deeply furrowed as they stomped through puddles of stagnant water and leaped across great crevasses where time or earthquakes had caused walkways to collapse. Great rusting pipes laid open like slashed veins slowly drip-dripped the same pungent sludge that Sirius edged his way around, but he was already so thirsty that the sound of it was torture.

  It took them at least half an hour of sunlight to get out of the tunnels and finally be nearing the entrance to the cavern. The Missing Ones were now relaxed enough that they were talking, laughing even, of their great victory from literally right under the Skyborn’s noses. Everyone but Sirius, Kora and Tyna seemed to be in high spirits… until they came to the mouth of the cavern and saw what awaited them there.

  About thirty armed Airborn guards stood in a ring around the now smoldering fire, Celeste and the other Missing Ones on their knees before them, hands on their heads. The mountain of filled water canteens, bags of food, and weapons were piled to one side, as they should have been awaiting their return. Celeste looked up as they came around the corner, her eyes growing wide.
/>
  “Tyna, run!” she screamed out. Her sister did nothing of the sort-couldn’t. She stood at the head of the convoy, as still and straight as the guards, spear clutched in hand, face a mask of shock and horror.

  “Tyna what do we do?” Sirius asked hurriedly. “Tyna-”

  “And so, my other daughter deigns to show her face.” The clipped and controlled voice of a man rung out through the chamber. That man stepped forward, sporting the same dark, strong features as his daughters.

  “Daughter? Tyna, your father is the head of the city guard?”

  Sirius had been forced to attend the man’s title-giving ceremony. The boy had thought how grand and disciplined the man had seemed taking the bronze badge that was pinned to his tunic. Back then there wasn’t nearly as much silver streaking his dark hair, but he stood as tall and imposing as ever.

  “Tyna, put your weapon down,” her father called out, striding over to where Doki lay in the makeshift sick bed, her condition having already worsened tenfold. She was sweating, thrashing slightly, shivering as though deadly cold. “Look at what you’ve done, how far things have already been taken. This girl will die unless we get her to the city’s healers. Is that what you want, Tyna?” He stopped when he saw Sirius. “You’re the boy that tried to stop his sister from Ascending. You’re supposed to be dead. They said you were eaten by monsters.”

  “Monsters eat children.” Tyna’s voice rung through the chamber, as hard and clear as it always was. Sirius felt a flare of hope stirring in his chest. “We’re no monsters.”

  “So it was you. And now look where you are. Your little sister’s pure, holy mind tainted by your lies, and dying children too stupid or stubborn or loyal to end it now and save themselves. Look at her.” He motioned at Doki, who gave a murmured whimper, turning over and burying her head in her hands. It was uncertain how much of the world around her she was actually aware of. Jon laid his hand on the girl’s forehead, and pulled it back instantly. “Her time’s running out, Tyna. Make your decision.”