Purpose (The Wanderer Trilogy Book 1)

by B. Buechter

  Those were the words that lingered in Eva’s mind for the evening. Wanda was content with her life, though it was filled with pain and suffering. She knew that she may never leave these metal walls but the happiness in her life came from knowing that her daughter was safe. It was like they had never been separated.

  Day 1 - Jake and Tommy

  “Dad?” Jake’s mouth had dropped to the floor. Dan McAvoy did not smile when his eldest son recognized him. Instead, he nodded and snapped his fingers. Four of his personal guards, loaded to the teeth with weapons, blocked the door behind them. He took a few steps down the carpet, almost dancing with each stride. Tommy hid behind his brother until their father bent over to look at him.

  “I understand your hesitation,” he said. His voice was cold but soothing. No sense of emotion within the words, but the baritone chord was melodic. “You were just an infant when I left. And your brother was fifteen, I believe. I suppose a warm welcome is just a father’s dream at this point.”

  “S-so you were looking for us?” Jake questioned. “All this time?”

  The Chief snapped his fingers again and lanterns were lit. They were able to see each other for the first time in years. Jake thought he resembled his father in face and hair. Tommy, on the other hand, looked nothing like him.

  “Well,” his father exhaled a dramatic sigh. “Not the whole time. You see, I was forced to fight for my life until I was given this position of power. And it did not come easy.”

  “I was eighteen dad,” Jake added. “Eighteen. And Tommy was three. And you left us. By ourselves. Without a mother or anyone to care for us.”

  “Do you not think that your mother’s death affected me too, boy?” His father snapped, but did not change his expression. “I meant to escape that vault for years. None of us had an inkling how this world would treat us.”

  “The rest of our people. Our friends and families. They were taken to the Serpents to be sold into slavery.”

  His father raised his hand either to strike his son or silence him. Jake flinched and looked over McAvoy’s shoulder at The Wanderer’s blades. But his father was too observant. He noticed in an instant.

  “What do you know of The Wanderer and those blades?” he inquired. Grabbing Jake’s chin, he pulled it back to face him. “I will not believe that my most precious children survived this long on their own. You must have heard of this Wanderer.”

  “Heard of, yes.” Jake could feel his face getting hot. He hoped his father’s icy eyes did not take notice. Tommy was tugging on his shirt. “But I never met the myth. Just stories of the blades… and… I suppose those are it?”

  The Chief straightened his stance and released his son’s face. Straightening his clothing, he cleared his throat and took a step back. Not one person in the room knew what he was thinking until he opened his mouth once again.

  “I have a proposition for you two boys,” his face contorted to a painful-looking grin, if one could call it a grin and not a jeer. “My sons. But first, I would like you to work in my kitchens for a day. One measly day. You will not be treated as poorly as my slaves in the yard. However, there will be punishment for your actions. All I am doing is simply teaching you the difference between a King like myself and the common man… my servants.”

  With another wisp of his hand, the boys were escorted out of the room, but just before they turned the corner, the Chief called out once more. “Oh and boys. If there is anything else you would like to tell me, do not hold back. You may find that I am a particularly good listener. Liars have no place in my kingdom.” And with that, the McAvoy brothers were brought to a room with two beds and locked inside. Neither of them had anything to say. Their exhaustion settled in and they were asleep within moments.

  ***

  As sunlight burst through the window of Jake and Tommy’s prison, both of them opened their eyes to an unfamiliar sight. They had almost forgotten where they had been taken the night before. They had found their father after all these years. Was their reunion a dream or reality? Everything felt like a wisp of smoke they couldn’t grasp. That was, until the Tigers came for them in the morning.

  “Go down to the kitchens,” they commanded. “You will be making the evening meal. The other slaves will show you what to do. Don’t screw up.”

  The two wavy-haired brothers descended the stairs to the main floor. They hurried down the hallway to the kitchens. When the door was opened, they could scarcely believe the sight before them. A large cloud of smoke billowed through the room. Some of it ventilated out of The Castle through small windows on one side. The soot stained air choked both their eyes and throats. Still, the slaves worked endless hours peeling and preparing vegetables, stirring massive pots of thick liquid and serving the edible food to the Gang. Not a single one of them looked like they had eaten in days, maybe longer. Each one, distinct red eyes with deep bags underneath and rib bones poking out of their skin. They stood almost naked, careful to not overheat. The women donned the same nightgowns as the Doxies. One of them walked over to the boys and grabbed Tommy to peel potatoes.

  Jake was given two tasks, stir the pot of gray sludge and feed the fire. “It has to stay hot or it will turn solid. We’d have more death on our hands because it rots so fast.”

  “What’s in this?” He asked the wrong question. The guard who had been stationed right inside the door walked over to Jake and grabbed his upper arm.

  “Whips aren’t allowed in the low ceiling but we still like to leave marks here.” This Tiger had blackened teeth. As he pulled out a small, dull blade, he bit down on it like a joke. “Don’t you worry about what’s in it. It keeps you alive. That’s all you need to know.”

  Jake watched helplessly while the knife penetrated his flesh. It was not deep enough to cause serious injury. But the edge had been so worn, that the pain intensified as the man drew it across his arm. It was only Tommy that noticed his brother screaming in agony, but the Doxie held him back. “Do you want to be next little one?” The rest of the room remained fixed on their work.

  “Get back to work,” the man sneered and threw Jake back to his fire. “And don’t get blood in the slop. I wouldn’t want to make another pretty mark on your skin, lad.”

  For the rest of the day, Jake and Tommy worked their hands raw. The younger McAvoy brother had cut up his knuckles while peeling hundreds of potatoes for the Gang. He was instructed to clean the blood off only the good ones. If they were bad or molding, throw them in a pot to the left, where Jake was stationed. Jake spent the entire day stirring a thick liquid sludge and tossing small logs into a fire. Even his hands were splintered from the wooden spoon and the wound on his arm had not stopped oozing blood. But the worst part was the heat. It was hot enough for him to pass out for a few moments now and again. No one stopped to wake him up. If he passed out for too long, there would be an identical cut on his other arm.

  The kitchen staff was served their evening meal first. Jake was forced to wait until someone took over his position while he ate. When they had all finished, the two feeblest old men began taking the pots out to the yard. It did not look easy. The Tigers watched them and laughed as the gangling men slowly moved to each pot. Both were shaking from age and fatigue. Over time, the skin on their chest had calloused from the burns of hot soup sloshing over the edges of the pots. In the hallway, they could hear the Gang ordering them to “hurry up” or “move faster.”

  After a while, they returned for the second batch of pots. Both of them panted for air and now bore three or four whip markings on their backs. Jake had enough. He noticed that the Tigers in the kitchen had left for the yard. He took one of the pots and raced out to the queues. When he returned, the two older gentlemen had tried to grab the next pots.

  “No,” Jake pointed to chairs in the corner. The rest of the room watched in amazement. “You should not be doing this job. There are too many of us young servants who are more than capable. You men, carry a pot. We will go out in pairs so we avoid suspicion.”
>
  The old men cried into their beards, thanking Jake for his kindness. The younger men looked at one another and smiled. For so long, they had allowed the Tigers to treat them as they desired. Truthfully, the guards did not care who brought out the food. It was just a sick joke to force two elderly men to struggle day after day. Jake was part of the first pair to make it out into the yard. The first wave of cold air brushed against his body that was saturated with sweat. Another gust made him shiver when his bare feet sunk into the cold mud. Both young men hurried to the table, dropped their pots as the lines continued to move and raced back into the kitchen.

  It did not take long before all of the full dishes of food were emptied. But the kitchen staff were instructed only to clean the dishes that the Tigers had eaten from. The slaves’ leftovers, pots, and pans were to be used the following day. After every dish was clean enough to pass the Tiger’s inspections, the overnight crew replaced Jake and Tommy’s shift. Their hands were crusted with blood. While the rest of the servants filed out into their tents, the brothers were locked back in their room within The Castle.

  It was only before closing his eyes that Jake was given time to think of Eva. Because his father had asked of her whereabouts, she must still be alive. There was a good chance that she stayed behind to save them. But maybe she didn’t know that the Chief of the compound was Dan McAvoy, their father. He was afraid of what would happen if they met because his father seemed unusually determined to find her.

  I miss you Eva. Jake pictured her one final time before yawning and turning on his side to sleep.

  Chapter 17

  Day 2 - Eva

  The familiar bang of gunshots woke the only remaining person in the tent, Eva. She hurriedly changed out of her rags and slipped into the sheer black gown. Crisp winter air blew right through the dress and chilled her to the bone. Her shoulders hunched in a shiver as she made her way towards the warm fires for the morning meal. Unlike the day before, she was much more vigilant. She remembered Wanda’s warning. The Tigers were alerted to the presence of The Wanderer. It was evident by the increased number of guards in the yard, combing the food lines and interrogating as many servants as they could. But they did not know who Eva was. As long as she did not draw attention to herself, they would not question her. She hoped.

  Two faint outlines of bodies behind the Pits reminded her of the night before. The lines moved so that she could see between the large barrels that held the molten metal for ammunition. She caught a glimpse of her attackers’ bodies in the mound of nameless faces. Tigers had already started lighting the bonfires and the smoke masked the smell of death. But the odor stuck to Eva’s nostrils from the previous night. Her bowl of food carried the same scent as the rotting bodies a few feet away. Wanda sat next to her while they ate. They were alone in the tent.

  “No one gives the Doxie direction,” Wanda explained. “You see what needs to be done and you do it. When a Tiger requests your presence, you give it to them. If you don’t, they bring you straight to the torture chambers.”

  “How many men do you think I could kill before someone would notice?” It was a valid question. Eva still had weapons and she refused to let another man make a slave out of her. She would rather die fighting.

  “There are only so many ways you can hide a body here,” the middle-aged woman chuckled. “You may have a day or two before it starts rotting. Then the smell will give it away.”

  “I will be out of here by then,” Eva said and choked down the last of her food. “Or dead.”

  “Just look busy and most of them will leave you be. They’ll think you are going to the next room or something.”

  Eva stood up when the other Doxies began emptying the yard towards The Castle. Wanda departed with their dishes and urged her to get started with her day. Day two. It would be spent scoping any way in or out of the compound as well as a place to hide in McAvoy’s chambers on the third day. Manual labor was nothing to her. In fact, she enjoyed it. The work of the Doxies was unspeakable. What transpired behind closed doors was something that Eva refused to recall. She had endured it for too long with the Serpents. And never would she allow it to happen again.

  Like clockwork, the Hooded Demon appeared again. It followed her into the front doors of the building, whispering under its breath. “Your plan will never be successful. McAvoy will find you and kill you. He will murder his own sons for keeping you a secret. You are a burden to them.” Eva shut her eyes hard and shook her head, trying to ignore the Shadow’s taunting.

  The other women were hard at work, and the cooking staff was changing to the morning crew. Eva’s heart jumped when she saw them. Jake and Tommy. Jake looked right at her, but did not seem to notice. She did look quite different, but she had to keep moving. But it was a relief either way. They were alive. What caught her attention next was the guards that were interrogating every woman that walked in The Castle.

  “New girl,” one called. Eva flinched. “Yeah. Black dress, red hair. Turn around and come here. We have some questions for you.”

  Instinctively, Eva put on a fake smile. It matched all of the other Doxies around her. She raised her voice to sound more upbeat. Even her walk became a more graceful stride. All of it made her stomach sick.

  “Sir?” She swayed on her feet. “How may I be of assistance?”

  “Never seen your gorgeous face around here before,” the taller man caressed Eva’s cheek. Her hand slid to the side of her dress where her knife was, but she resisted the temptation to slit his throat. Too many witnesses.

  “How’d you like to come to my room?” he winked.

  “Sorry sir,” Eva lowered her head to hide the irritation. Her voice still remained singsong. “I already have appointments on the top floors today. But perhaps I could fit you in tomorrow if there is time?”

  “What a busy gal,” the other one laughed. He turned to his friends. “Got a lot of Tigers to please. But she’s gotta be one of the prettiest here. It’s them eyes.”

  “I should be on my way then?”

  “One more question. You don’t know anything about The Wanderer do you? And look at me when you speak.”

  Eva gazed up, right into the man’s soulless grey eyes. Her answer had to be careful and calculated, but not too rehearsed. “Just the stories that people tell, sir. Heard of her, yes. But met her? No. I was a little girl in the Nomad troupe south of here. In the city. Ages ago. Gangs killed my parents and took me here. Well, not here. I was with the Serpents for a time.”

  The men paused. She remained as happy as she could fake, but she was terrified at her response. The silence was driving her crazy. Was it too much? After a few moments, she was shooed away. It would not be the last time she was questioned. With each growing fear, her Shadow became stronger. If it became too large, she knew the darkness would be too deep to crawl out of. After curtsying to the Tigers, she hurried to the stairwell and began the climb. First was to find McAvoy’s quarters. It must be on the top floor. The day before, he made his rounds in the yard in the early morning, right after daybreak. Now was her chance to gain access.

  Uneven concrete steps caused her to trip and scrape her bare knees. The palms of her hands were scratched up but that did not slow her pace. Three floors from the top. Two. One. She stopped and opened the metal door to the floor directly below The Chief’s. She searched for something. Right outside one of the bedrooms was a neatly folded pile of clean cloth. Whether it was for bathing or linen, Eva didn’t care. It could be used as a distraction. She scooped them in her arms and ran her fingers through her hair, pulling forward a few strands to cover her face.

  McAvoy was up there. The Wanderer heard his footsteps moving down the hallway to the stairs. She could wait on the floor below until he and his guards left, but if a Tiger caught her standing idly, there would be consequences. Unfortunately, she had to keep moving.

  “I want more guards posted at every tower.” The Chief’s voice echoed through the stairwell. Marching boots followed the v
oice towards the yard. “She may try and move at night. So absolute vigilance is a must. Also, I want my sons returned to me after their work. The Evening Meal. Then my quarters. And most importantly…”

  Eva almost bumped into him as she closed the door behind her. He had not seen her and it was clear that he did not recognize her. Only a quick side glance had been exchanged between the two rivals. The Wanderer apologized and bowed. Chef McAvoy ignored her presence entirely. Lingering at the top of the stairs, Eva heard his last demand echo up the stairs.

  “Most important, my Tigers,” he said. “Please be sure to bring me The Wanderer alive. I am the only one who will separate that head from those shoulders. Understood?”

  His cronies agreed. Eva touched her neck. Just as she remembered him from years ago, his voice was devoid of emotion. But something was different when he spoke of executing her. Something was off. A faint hint of excitement rose from the underbelly of his words. As his voice trailed off, her demon changed. Not in size, but it developed claws and pointed teeth.

  Inside the highest floor of The Castle was an empty C-shaped hallway with a few doors on its perimeter. Eva stuck her head into the first door on her right. And just as Wanda had promised, an old wooden chest. She slipped inside to make sure no one had discovered the hidden cache. Tucked inside was her armor, folded and placed safely underneath a pile of old cloth. Underneath the cloth was a note. It was sealed, a single line scrawled on the top. Please take this to Elaine, my beloved daughter. Without another moment to waste, she closed the box and continued down the corridor to the Chief’s chambers.

  A single guard was posted right outside the room. Opposite to him was another door with a sign that read Wives. It must have been where Dan McAvoy kept his concubines. Eva cleared her throat and threw on her fake smile again. The Tiger tensed up out of instinct and pointed his weapon in her direction.