The Column Racer

by Jeffrey Johnson

  “I don’t deserve this,” said Areli, “just now. I don’t deserve this.”

  “What don’t you deserve?”

  “To be happy,” said Areli, tears streaming down her face, “I should have been stronger. I should have . . .” Aubrie wrapped her arms around Areli’s body.

  “Don’t you ever say that, Areli,” said Aubrie, “you deserve to be happy. You do. It’s what Emilee was trying to protect. If you allow this to eat you up, the repercussions are . . . they’re endless. Emilee would have wanted you to race.”

  “You don’t understand,” said Areli, “it’s all my fault.”

  “It’s not your fault, Areli. It’s not.”

  “I had to kill someone, Aubrie. A Follower of Degendhard. I had to shoot them with an arrow . . . for the Emperor – for the Emperor to trust me. And I couldn’t – I couldn’t keep it together afterwards.” Aubrie stepped closer to Areli.

  “I’m sorry, Areli. I am so sorry. You had to do what you had to do. A follower of a rapist, a murderer . . . whomever you killed . . . they had it coming.”

  But he’s not! screamed Areli, only to herself, he’s none of the things you say he is. She kept her mouth shut.

  “Emilee did what she had to do as well, Areli. Don’t let anyone decide your happiness. Not the Emperor. And certainly not that bitch Degendhard. Emilee. She wants you to be happy, Areli.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Because . . . because she was my friend.”

  “I’m so sorry, Aubrie,” said Areli, fresh tears coming from her eyes, “I’m sorry. You must hate me.”

  “I don’t hate you, Areli. I love you. And Emilee . . . Emilee must have loved you too, or at least saw something special in you. Don’t let her go like this Areli,” said Aubrie wiping away Areli’s tears, leaving her own untouched, “she meant for you to live. She gave you and Kaia a chance to soar.”

  “But why?” asked Areli, “why didn’t she just let the Emperor kill me? I don’t understand.”

  “Because . . . your life wouldn’t have been the only one he would have taken.” More tears came gushing from both Areli’s and Aubrie’s eyes. “Look at me Areli. Look at me. Emilee is always with us. Always. She’s amongst the stars. She’s happy, Areli. She’s happy. But she will be pissed if you don’t get on your dragon and show the world what you’re capable of.”

  Areli’s lip cringed through harsh tears. Areli looked into Aubrie’s dark eyes, her hands on her trainer’s shoulders, and nodded her head.

  “For Emilee,” said Areli, wiping her eyes.

  “For Emilee,” repeated Aubrie, who then motioned over servants that seemed to come out of nowhere, carrying a ladder and pulling a gold slab with wheels, which carried Kaia’s saddle and tack. Areli went back to retrieve Kaia and then returned, giving her the time to clear the tears from her face.

  Once Kaia was onto the marble surface, the servants set to work saddling her up. When they were done, Areli climbed the ladder, held stationary by a group of servants, and mounted her dragon. She was then handed the reins by Aubrie.

  “Oh, Areli,” said Aubrie as Areli was beginning to make her way to the center of the room, “do it for yourself as well.” Areli smiled and nodded her head. She motioned Kaia forward, slightly kicking her in the shoulders.

  When she was in the center of the floor, Areli looked up to the large glass hole in the ceiling that led to perfect blue skies. She took a deep breath and loosened her grip on the reins, kicking her dragon hard with her legs two times, and felt lightness invade her heart and her body as she heard the unfurling of Kaia’s wings.

  This was the only way she would feel alive again. Areli could hear her heart thundering just as loud as Kaia’s wings as her dragon was pushing and gathering air. In a few elongated flaps of her wings, Areli and Kaia were lifted into the air. Areli felt a surge of happiness flood throughout every part of her body. She was back in the safest place in the world. No one could touch her when she was on Kaia. No one could beat her, abuse her, or penetrate her with the coldness in their eyes.

  Areli let Kaia rise until they found space to fly around the room. She pushed her dragon with the inside of her left leg and they flew smoothly to the edge of the room and began to circle. For Emilee, Areli . . . race for Emilee . . . race for yourself, your family, your sector, and your dragon. Areli felt her confidence come back, and her aggression and her competitiveness also returned. She had to focus. She cleared her mind and refilled it with thoughts only of column racing. To think of loss would ruin her. It would destroy them both. She had to become whole. She had to feel like she belonged. She circled Kaia ten times around the room and then switched directions.

  She occasionally let her eyes travel to the bottom as she paid attention to the burning set of fires below. Like everything else concerning the column racing team, a rider is assigned a number. And when the fires are arranged into the shape of your number, it is your turn to go to the holding area. The number that was flickering below was seven.

  Areli continued to fly in circles, loosening Kaia’s wings while keeping a close eye to the changing of the flames. Areli continued to push Kaia. Her dragon was being infused with enthusiasm and excitement. The rider pushed her, kicking her dragon gingerly in the shoulders, and then let Kaia’s wings relax, allowing them to glide.

  The wind stung her eyes and slightly tugged at her hair. Areli needed the intensity of the sport to wipe away her depression, to obliterate her fears. When Areli looked down again, she didn’t think her heart could be beating more rapidly than it was now . . . but it did . . . as she saw that the flames were shifting. The servants below pulled and tugged until they manipulated the large pots burning dragon’s oil into the number eight.

  Areli closed her eyes, took a deep breath. For Emilee, Areli . . . you owe it to her. You owe it to yourself. You didn’t work this hard to quit now. You’re stronger than this Areli. You’re the strongest girl in the world. You’re the greatest column racer in the world. Prove that you belong, Areli. Prove it.

  She motioned Kaia downward, doing exactly what Aubrie told her to do in their last practice together. Once near the bottom, Areli motioned Kaia toward the large double-doors with her dragon’s talons just feet above the ground.

  Just before they exited the door, Areli pushed her left leg into the side of her dragon, placed her left hand firmly around the saddle horn, and pulled the reins over Kaia’s right shoulder with her free hand. They turned into a large space between the sections of trailer docks and the outer wall.

  Areli could barely breathe. The wind was suffocating her. On the other side of the double-doors they just exited was another set of large doors, already opened. Areli turned her dragon into them. They entered into a large hallway that resembled the tunnel that was carved into the Mountains of Abhi. Everywhere Areli looked, the walls, the ceilings, and even the floors were covered with lanterns, with not so much as a finger’s length between them.

  At the end of the enormous hallway, Areli could just make out a lull in the amount of lanterns used. And the ones that were used were formed into the shape of an arrow pointing up. Areli’s heart continued to pound. She had to focus. She cued Kaia into an easily glide, allowing air to gather beneath her wings. When the walls became dark, with the remaining lanterns directing her where to go, Areli tightened the reins in to her hands and prompted Kaia to rise.

  Kaia flapped her wings, entering into a tunnel that was carved into the mountain itself. It curved and twisted, and lanterns guided their way through the darkness. Lighting up the straight points and guiding them through the curvy ones. They weaved their way around the tunnel until it leveled out; bringing them to the part of the tunnel that was parallel to the ground.

  The only light in the tunnel was that of the lanterns. Areli could feel her heart rising in her neck. She felt the rumbling in her lungs, the forced inhale, followed by a staccato exhale. She was amongst the stars, she was sure of it.

  At the end of the tunnel there
were two large statues on either side facing one another. And next to them was a small group of servants. They weren’t as lightly dressed as those below, as each had on elegant furs that drooped from their shoulders like a cape. Areli could see their breath filling the air next to the fur covered lanterns that they held. She had made it to the holding arena.

  A large double-door exit faced her. Dragons swam in the luxurious material, covered in precious stones to give them color. In the corners of the doors were moldings of battle dragons, spewing harsh flames from their mouths, brought to form by elegant red, yellow, and orange stones. And now all Areli could do was wait.

  She kept her dragon steady. Quickening her grip on the reins as her dragon had become fidgety. She could feel the cold in the tunnel kiss the tips of her fingers, hug the curves of her ears, and caress the tip of her nose. She watched out of the corner of her eyes as servants took turns pointing at her or her dragon, whispering into each other’s ears. Focus, Areli. Just focus.

  A door swung open next to Areli that she didn’t even realize was there. A servant exited the room, covered head-to-toe with furs, and told the others that the horn had sounded. The servants went to work, and the door in front of Areli started to open.

  First, she heard a jolt, and then a creaking noise, and then a crack of light busted through the line between the doors. And then the doors were completely opened. She didn’t know how far she had traveled up inside the mountain, but she was high enough to look out over the entire city of Abhi. As she neared Kaia close to the doors, she could see the two lakes that made up the two elegant communities and also the river that bordered the city. She could see the green forest beyond the cut grass of the city lawns, the edges of Emperor Abhiraja’s tree’s, and the Columns of Abhi.

  “Miss Roberts,” interrupted a servant, who had removed the furs on her head and mouth, “they’re ready for you.” Areli tried to swallow, but it was forced and a bit painful. She nodded her head and took one more look outside before she kicked her dragon forward – and out into the open mountain air. For Emilee, Areli. You owe it to her to do well. You owe it to yourself.

  With the height, Kaia simply had to spread her wings and let the air steady them from beneath. Areli motioned Kaia using her legs and hands up towards the elevation that was near the top of the mountain. Areli instantly recognized it by how its diamond edges shimmered as it collected sun.

  Areli and her dragon soared above it and landed firmly on the gold surface, where she was surrounded by a small cluster of servants. She let her eyes scan the elevation. At the far end, there was an elegant limestone building with marble pillars and several chimneys exhaling smoke from the multiple fireplaces used to keep the interior warm. Along the four corners of the platform were statues of dragons, each faced towards the open valley below.

  Areli followed their gaze. Again, her breath was taken away. She felt like she could see the entire valley from there. They were so high up that she could see the tops of the valley’s natural rock columns, flushed with dense forests, and the tops of the Emperor’s tree’s, which created a near endless sea of green. Areli tried to take a deep breath to soothe her nerves, but they were too far up. The air was thin, thinner than a slice of parchment. Areli should have known. She adjusted her breathing to the measures that Aubrie taught her. Quick in – quick out. And then there was the sound of a horn, funneling through the air from below, so distant sounding it could have been blown by a bug.

  A servant next to Areli sounded his horn as well, and the arena was ready. Quick in – hold – quick out. Be fierce, Areli. Be brave. Remember the numbers. Just remember the numbers and you’ll be fine. Areli tried to gather as much air in her lungs as she could hold. She knew once the run had started, her next breath wouldn’t come until the first column. She kicked Kaia forward with her legs. Her heart grew two times bigger in her chest, and her lungs shriveled to raisins. This is it, she told herself, for Emilee. For Kaia . . . for me.

  Kaia was bouncing between each leg as adrenaline was flooding into every organ, vessel, and vein. Areli could feel the same rush coursing through her body. She took breaths as deep as she could, doing it in multiples. She kicked her dragon just enough to get her filed claws on and over the edge. She breathed deep, quick, and then held, and kicked her dragon again.

  Kaia’s entire body tensed, every muscle contracted, and then there was release. She lunged off the elevation, with her wings gathered close to her sides to gain as much speed as possible.

  Areli fought with the thundering of the wind collecting around her ears. Cold burned and sliced at her hands, neck and face. Tears were being pried from her eyes. She focused on the numbers that would either save her or kill her.

  She couldn’t be off. She had to be precise. The wind made it nearly impossible to see. Everything seemed to be black and grey, and it all seemed to want to swallow her whole. If she hesitated for an instance, or if she stayed on a number for too long or counted too fast, she would find herself amongst the stars. And there would be nothing left of her to bury.

  Areli had to focus. She had to drown out the sensation that her bones and organs wanted to be ripped through the back of her body. Her lungs felt like they were tearing at her shoulders, her stomach was grabbing at her throat. She had to concentrate. Seven seconds . . . she couldn’t hesitate . . . Areli gripped the reins slightly and Kaia turned out of the dive. They flattened the decent slowly with Kaia’s wings only slightly spread. The air was warmer, but the wind was just as menacing. A tyrant trying to disrupt all her senses.

  Shades of blacks, greys, and greens flashed before Areli’s eyes, until she saw the coliseum and the alley through her squinted eyes. Areli had to trust her speed, her hands, and her dragon. She had to trust that she and Aubrie worked out the right numbers.

  Areli loosened her grip on Kaia’s reins, allowing her dragon to ride out the momentum into the alley and towards the first column. Nothing but darkness and lanterns surrounded her and Kaia as they entered the elegantly built tunnel that was braced at an angle.

  Areli could see where the lanterns were no more. They poured into the arena, past the judge and the booths for the composer and his drums. Areli moved Kaia over with her legs, still holding the count, still holding her breath, and they glided quickly to the first column.

  Two seconds sounded off in Areli’s head. She pushed her left leg heavily in Kaia’s shoulder, grabbed the saddle horn with her outside hand, extended the reins past her dragon’s inside shoulder with her right hand, and buried herself into the seat. Her dragon leaned her body to Areli’s command, forcing her back to face the surface of the marble. Areli held onto the saddle horn as tightly as she could, her knuckles the color of the stars, exhausting the rest of her air.

  As Kaia slowed and turned around the column, Areli parted her lips and allowed oxygen to enter her lungs. Kaia came out of the other side of the column and Areli clamped her airways. She relaxed her grip on the reins, moved her other hand back to the leather strap, and kicked furiously into Kaia’s shoulders in an intense, synchronized fashion.

  Three seconds . . . Areli exhaled through her nose, outside hand found the saddle horn, inside hand extended the reins beyond Kaia’s left shoulder, butt dug deep within the seat, and right leg pushed Kaia towards the massive marble column. Kaia curved her body around it, as if she thought to wrap herself around it like a rope.

  Kaia then steadied herself, body parallel to the ground again. Areli released the pressure on her dragon’s mouth and face caused by the bit, and she encouraged Kaia to fly as fast as she could to the final column, jabbing her heels continually into her dragon’s shoulders.

  Areli attacked the third column by performing the same commands as the second. All that was left now – was the stem. All that was left was the fly home. Areli kicked Kaia tirelessly, making smooching sounds with her lips that only her dragon’s pinned down ears could pick up. It was the sound that told Kaia to hold nothing back. It was the sound that told Kaia to fly li
ke she may never fly again. Her dragon responded, moving her wings with such violent force that Areli thought they were back in a dive.

  Areli maintained focus. She neared the alley. Lanterns, darkness, open air. She tightened her hold on the reins, gripped the saddle horn, and put pressure on the seat, signaling her dragon to slow down. Kaia positioned her body up a little; letting air gather gently into her wings, gradually bringing down her speed.

  Once Kaia was moving at a moderate pace, Areli could still hear the pounding of her heart. It seemed to want to crack every rib she owned. Her lungs still had diminished use, as each breath was interrupted by the push of adrenaline that still inhabited her body. Her head felt light as she brushed the streaks of tears from her cheeks. She kept blinking her eyes, readjusting her vision to the details of objects, and a huge smile wore across her face.

  When the black shadow of a battle dragon moved across the mountain surface in front of her, darkening the space around her like a cloud blocking the sun, Areli knew she had better get herself back into the holding pen. She maneuvered Kaia towards the dome that rose above the center of the travertine building.

  She had to circle above the dome a couple of times as servants went to work opening the metallic center. When it was clear, Areli and her dragon flew through it. They circled around the top next to the glass and then eased their way back to the marble surface. When Kaia’s feet touched onto the ground, Areli was filled with such intense happiness that it took all her strength to keep from crying. She thought she might never experience such powerful feelings again. Hopefully you are proud of me, Emilee, said Areli to herself, forgive me for not being strong. I’ll be strong, Emilee. For you. For me. I promise I’ll be strong.

  It took a moment for Areli to readjust to what was going on around her. All the other riders were back on the front seats of their trailers, ready to be brought back to the facility. She didn’t know why, but she felt embarrassed to have all those eyes upon her. Scrutinizing her. Judging her. A carriage came to the center headed directly towards her.