Well, that only made sense. Ren knew she could be kind of a hothead. “Why me? Why not another native?”
“There has been another Outsider Scion. Like you.” Lindiwe said, crouching before Ren. Groaning, she dropped into a cross-legged position. “She is dead now.” It was left unsaid how she died. But Ren had a feeling it was murder.
Days wore on like weaving thread as it bunches together to create a colorful tunic. Lindiwe taught, spreading knowledge about Moira and the island the Mesh populated. She spoke of the dangers of the Wilds, the new danger on the Northern Shore, and the Great Wall which separates the Outsiders on the shore from the Mesh inland. She spoke of the Dreaming ceremony and the Dreaming Anew, something Ren had gone through already. Attacking that lion-thing—Tevran, Seble had called it—had initiated the Dreaming Anew. Along with drinking from Moira’s Elixir, the souls which swirled blue in the crystal at every Scion’s neck. As two days threaded into two weeks, Ren had questions of her own. But, so did Lindiwe.
“Why would the Shamaness give me the elixir if she hates Outsiders?”
Lindiwe rubbed her fingers across her forehead. “She thought the Wilds would kill you.”
“But there has already been another Outsider Scion. Why would she dig a deeper hole for herself?”
Lindiwe huffed. “You know the answer to that as well as I.”
Oversight. Ignorance. Refusing to see the present for what it is.
“Past the Veil, do your people live similar to ours?”
The question threw Ren for a loop. “What?” she snorted. “No! We have televisions and huge fluffy beds. We’ve got books we can read all night—transporting ourselves into a different world through words. We…” Lindiwe’s face twisted in confusion.
“You’re able to summon hallucinations by staring at…words?”
Ren cocked her head. “Well…pretty much.” It sounded right to her.
One morning, Kato didn’t wake Ren up. She woke on her own, hitting her head on the dangling dream-catcher in the process. Scanning the hut, she listened for his breath but heard nothing. Why hadn’t Kato woken her up? Where had he gone?
The bead curtain clicked.
“Times up with the elder.” Seble barked. Stomping into the hut, she went to Kato’s pile of spears and yanked Ren’s out. “You’re with me now.” She snapped as she threw Ren the spear.
Ren caught it, snapping her fingers around the shaft.
28
Seble took Ren to the edge of the Wilds.
“I don’t trust you, Outsider.” Seble announced as they squared off. “But my orders are to teach you.”
Ren was taken aback. “The Shamaness asked that you teach me?”
Biting her tongue, Seble bit back a laugh. “No. Silly, Outsider. Elder Lindiwe wanted it done. And so it shall be.” Angling the point of her spear at Ren’s ribcage, Seble barked that Ren should do the same.
Seble charged. Knocking her spear with Ren’s, she swiped it from Ren’s sweaty hands and sent the weapon rolling into the grass. At the first opening she saw, Ren swung a fist. Her knuckles connected with nothing but air as Seble squatted low. Springing up with her free hand clenched, Seble clocked Ren in the jaw.
“Get your spear, weakling.” Seble commanded.
Rubbing her jaw, Ren did as she was told. She was far—far away—from giving up.
With every punch and kick exchanged, spears clashing, scuttling into the grass and rolling; the day wore on. Sweat ran like a river between Ren’s shoulder blades as she huffed, panting like she had just sprinted through an entire marathon. With sweat beading on her forehead and her pale face permanently stained red, Seble shrieked: “Come get me, Outsider!”
Ren’s fight was fueled by anger as much as it was by her mantra—this is for Mia. This is for Mia. Get the fuck up, Ren! Seble fought savagely. Like one of those lion-beast things and a rhino combined. All horns and gnashing teeth and sharp, silvery, claws. Seble fought dirty. If her spear clattered to the dust, she didn’t refrain from using her nails and teeth. Seble had a reason, though: “You think your enemy is just going to lie down and wait while you go get your weapon?” she smirked. “You are slow, but I am sure even you know the answer to that.”
A resounding no shrieked through Ren’s mind as they squared up for what felt like the millionth time that afternoon and charged at each other. A strangulated war cry erupted from Ren’s lungs as Seble sent her spiraling into the dirt. She was strong, Ren would give her that, but anything can be learned. And Ren was determined to be better.
Night drew across the sky like a curtain, ending their session. “As long as the Kirabo do not attack, I’ll be by tomorrow.” Seble said as they walked back to the village.
Ren narrowed her eyes. Was that Seble’s fucked up idea of a joke? She stole a glance at the other woman walking shoulder to shoulder with her. When a smile graced Seble’s face, disappearing faster than Ren could blink, Ren simply shook her head. “That’s kind of messed up.”
“What is?”
“Your joke.”
Seble shrugged. “I was not joking.”
“But you smiled.”
Snorting, Seble picked up her pace. “A girl cannot smile? Do you believe happiness is only for you outsiders?” tossing her blade-like dreadlocks, she harrumphed and sauntered off.
So much for that.
A melted pack of…something…sat on Ren’s bed roll once she returned to Kato’s hut. She picked it up, examining it as if it would explode. A sharp chill waved off of it. Ice. Ren couldn’t help but smile. She didn’t bother figuring out how it was possible. Magic, probably. Whatever.
Dropping into a cross-legged position, she draped the bag over the base of her neck and sighed. What an awesome fucking dude. She passed out with that thing on her neck.
Thumping footsteps woke her. Darkness blanketed the cabin as a figure stalked in, crouched and tiptoeing.
“Go away.” Ren croaked. Turning on her side to get a look at the intruder. Kato stared back at her. Clothing sticking to him. Drenched in water and dirt. Ren sat up immediately, her heart pounding. “Are the Kirabo—”
“Go back to sleep.” He hissed. “It’s nothing.” He wouldn’t say anything else.
Ren found out that it absolutely wasn’t nothing the following morning.
“You want to know what he does at night, hm?” Seble asked, pursing her lips as they trekked to their training spot that morning. “Give me something in exchange. Swear that you will.”
“Right now?”
“In the future, Outsider.”
Sure, whatever. “Fine. Just tell me where Kato goes at night.”
Seble stopped. Surveying the nearby thicket of trees, she hooked her thumbs into her belt. “You have seen the village. The dry riverbeds. The finger of dirt that drives toward the sky near the Shamaness’s hut?”
The last part made Ren shiver. That “finger of dirt” was what the Shamaness had used to try and bury her alive. “Yeah…”
“Well, they are dry for a reason, Outsider. Water used to flow beneath Nyx. Clean, fresh, water from the Great River.”
Ren rubbed her neck. “What happened to it?”
“That twisted tower of metal.” Seble hawked and spat. “Once it appeared on the beach, our water went sour. It became liquid rust. Sickening everything and everyone it came into contact with.” Pivoting on her heel, she faced Ren. Her face grim. “Moira blessed us by drying it up. Now, to supply the village with fresh water, the Scions must hike into the Wilds and bring some back.”
That’s awful. “And you’re saying that metal tower you showed me did that?”
Seble could do nothing but nod.
“I’m sorry.” It was all she could say. All she could do.
“Do not be sorry.” Seble snapped. “Your pity is of no value to us. Stop them.” Seble’s voice cracked. “I am strengthening you so that you may someday stop them…please.”
Please. It broke Ren’s soul. Swiping her spear from her ba
ck, Ren dug its butt into the dirt. “Okay.” I promise.
That brought the ghost of a smile to Seble’s haunted face. She took it with gratitude, freeing her spear from her back as well. “Let us continue.”
The days tread on like smoke from a dry fire. Ren was getting better, her arms strengthening as her mind blanked while fighting. Instincts taking over.
At one point in their training, Ren managed to poke Seble in the collarbone. The spear did more than poke, however. As Ren lodged the spear into Seble’s bone, it began sucking at her skin. Eating and drinking her blood as it poured from the tiny incision.
“What the fuck—”
Seble held fast to it, squirming as it sucked her in. Clinging to her like a vacuum does to a rug. When she uncorked it, the thing smacking like a suction cup, she looked at Ren with wild eyes. “I think we are done for today.”
Days merged like cotton balls in a jar. It was becoming harder and harder to tell them apart. To remind her of home, Ren played Mia’s recording and tinkered around with her phone from time to time. One morning as she opened her eyes, she flinched. Half expecting Seble to drag her out of bed and onto the thatched flooring. A tapping sound echoed around her, falling down onto the thatched roofing above her head. A drop or two slithering between the hay and frond making up the roof. The rain drop fell, slithering to the ground before it splattered. Hissing, steam exploded from where it landed, the wet eating through thatch and dirt.
Kato rushed to her side, shoving her away from the steam.
“Acid rain.” She murmured, looking at him blankly.
The village died that day. Ghosts going about their daily tasks on the sizzling boardwalk.
29
“How long has it been, now?”
Standing on the edge of the beach-side cliff, Seble and Ren stared out at the ocean as dark clouds clambered overhead.
“A month?” Seble asked. “Two?” she cracked her neck. “Do you believe your friend is still alive?”
Ren forced her lips into a firm line. Seble was good at baiting people. Ren had learned this the hard way while training under her. “I don’t know.” She spat. “Why don’t you tell me?” Of course, she believed Mia was still fucking alive. Ren sneered as Seble crossed her arms and cocked her head.
Ren’s eyes fluttered to the scar on Seble’s collarbone, bruised black and deep purple. Dashes of green bloomed around the incision. It was a testament to Ren’s power—to her fortitude and determination. She had landed a hit on Seble just days ago, right before the acid rain hit.
“The Kirabo are us. Yet, they sacrifice our people whenever it suits them. No, Outsider.” Meeting Ren’s eyes, Seble raised an eyebrow. “You tell me.”
Seble and Ren duked it out, spears clashing. Fists flying as kicks connected and bones snapped. When night rolled around, Ren and Seble’s sparring session ending, Ren returned to Kato’s hut, she found her bedroll gone. In its place was a cinched leather pack with Kato’s dream-catcher sticking up out of the pack’s mouth.
“I guess it’s your turn now?” Ren asked, registering movement at the back of the hut.
“Yep.”
Ren was bone tired. But she swallowed her exhaustion and threw the pack on her back, tying her spear down beneath it. “Then, let’s get going.”
Leaving the village behind, they trekked into the Wilds at nightfall. Stars glittered overhead as Ren followed Kato deeper and deeper into the overgrown jungle. A stream gushed nearby, cutting through an amalgam of rocks and fallen leaves. When Kato heard the stream, he dropped his pack. Ren followed suit.
“The Water Scion taught me to control air during a typhoon.” He said, sitting cross-legged on his rolled out bedroll. “Only makes sense you’d learn under the cover of darkness.”
Ren was grateful for the dark, it hid her smirk. Did it?
It began with breath. Drumming her fingertips along her thigh, she tried to conceal her excitement. Ren was about to learn how to control fire. Moira’s Rage! She had come far. From learning from Elder Lindiwe to getting beaten black and blue by Seble. Now, she was finally going to learn to control the fire so that she could fight off the Mafioso and save Mia. It was finally happening!
“Clear your mind.” He hissed. “Focus.”
Right. Focus.
It’s hard to focus when you’re on the edge—mentally. Ren extinguished her thoughts as Elder Lindiwe had taught her—how many weeks ago? It didn’t matter. She let the humid night air enter her, filling her up until she willingly let go. Her breath whooshed out in a buzz.
“We will ease into the fire.” He told her. “Then, climb our way up.”
It was harder than it sounded.
Easing meant shooting it from her fingertips without burning the entire jungle down or scorching herself, destroying the clothes Seble had so kindly lent her. Easing meant letting the fire climb up her arms—controlling it as it ate away at her. Ren grimaced—it felt like a thousand tiny pinpricks slithered beneath her skin. Like little doves of adrenaline creeping up her arms and legs. Orange and scarlet bit at the night, smoke wafting from her scorched skin as she breathed in the Rage and—with an exhale—let it go.
Kato chuckled. “A human torch.”
Ren didn’t get the joke.
As the sun prepared to burst over the horizon, Ren was spent. Her sleep schedule capsized as Kato bid her sleep during the day and train her fire at night. When she collapsed onto her bedroll, stinking of burning skin and burnt hair, Kato kept watch until sleep took her. Ren was unsure if he slept at all because as quickly as her eyes would flutter closed, she’d be shaken awake. The sun would be setting and another night had already come. By the third night of training, heavy bags weighed down Kato’s eyes, but to him, it was all worth it. Ren was amazing with the fire.
“There was another just like you.” He told her one night. “An Outsider Scion. She controlled the Rage as well.”
Ren had already heard snippets about this Outsider Scion. If another Outsider had already visited the Mesh, could that Outsider be another key to Ren’s past? “Who was she?”
“Ava.” He said, unable to meet her eyes. “I met her when I was very young.” He flashed a smile, all teeth. “I met her as an Outcast.”
“An Outcast?”
“I am not a full-blooded Mesh.”
Ren leaned against the rough trunk of a teakwood tree. “And what did that mean? Back then?”
“It meant that my father was an Outsider. My mother a Mesh.”
Ren blinked away her disbelief. “So your father is one of the men on the north shore?”
Kato snorted. “No, Ren. There have been other Outsiders before the ones on the shore.” He looked at her pointedly, searching for something. “My father’s ship was marooned here a long, long, time ago.”
It was hard to believe. “I’m not sure what you want me to do here.” She blurted. “Your parents aren’t around. I’ve never met them—I’d never know this.”
“I wasn’t expecting you to.” He inched closer, searching for her eyes as she cut her gaze away. “You’re a lot like her, the other Outsider Scion.” He sighed, giving her space. Bringing his gaze to the sky. “She was murdered.”
“I figured.” She said as hurt clenched his voice. Ren stole a glance at him and immediately regretted it. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” The Mesh do not need your pity. “What happened to her will not be repeated.” He hissed. “I swear it.”
For some reason, that made Ren’s heart hiccup.
30
They returned to the village at sunrise. Ren counted five days on her fingers, five days spent in the wilderness learning to control her fire. They returned early so that Ren could catch a Dreaming ceremony. See the entire thing with her own eyes. It was almost as if the Kirabo had been forgotten. But the eternally dark huts in the village stood as a constant reminder that the Kirabo still existed, still kidnapped and killed.
Ren wondered if Mia was still alive. If everything sh
e had learned and done had been for nothing. Fuck that—don’t even think about that. But it was hard not to.
Returning to Kato’s hut, Kato dropped his pack in a corner. Ren collapsed onto the rug and poured the scant contents of her pack out before her.
Combing through a colorful mountain of knickknacks, Kato pulled something from the pile and came to her. “I think you should have this.” It was silvery, glinting in the light that slipped through the teakwood sidings. “It was Ava’s.”
Her cell phone. Ren cradled the phone in her hands, staring at the blank screen. She tried mashing the power button but the thing was dead. Fuck.
“Thanks.” She said, slipping the phone into the pack. Taking out Mia’s phone, she hit the power button and sighed. Relief flooding her. At least Mia’s phone was still alive. She still had a tie to home but…truthfully…she was beginning not to care. Ren couldn’t remember a damned thing. And of the things she did remember—none of it was good. She was running from her life back home, from her boyfriend, from her studies. Maybe it was good that she found these people and found a—a place among them. She may be an Outsider, but she was something important. She was a Scion. And, back in the day, that might have meant nothing to her. But after learning so much about everything, she was finding it hard to care about remembering her past. Maybe Mia could fix that. But first, the Kirabo would have to come to her—if they ever did.
Ren took a walk.
Leaving the hut, she glided onto the boardwalk deep in her thoughts. She was at a crossroads. If she got Mia back, would she go to the Northern Shore and ask the people on the beach for help getting back home? Could Mia even jog her memory? What if her memories never came back? What if life back home—in the States—was…worse?
Her slipper smacked into something wet. Ren grimaced as a river of people charged by her, parting into two lanes. Something snorted, the frustrated sigh of a horse. The puddle at Ren’s feet was widening, growing all on its own. Tripping backward, Ren looked up and gasped.
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