by Leyton, Bisi
Myopia
(A Wisteria Novel)
By
Bisi Leyton
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
By Bisi Leyton
Copyright© 2012 Bisi Leyton
Cover Art by Olivia Smith, http://aivilo0.deviantart.com/
No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied for reviews.
DEDICATION
I cannot imagine a world without you.
You give me counsel and advice
While your heart is large and kind,
And your joyful excitement about me just makes me happy.
You’ve never grown tired of my late night calls and insecurities
And you are all always super excited to see and hear from me.
I thank God for brothers like you.
I dedicate this to you.
ALSO BY BISI LEYTON
Wisteria (Wisteria Series #1)
Myopia (Wisteria Series #2)
Paranoia (Wisteria Short Story #2.5)
Aporia (Wisteria Series #3) – Coming Soon
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Biel Core: A black orb used by the Family, to generate power and heat.
Biter: A human infected with Nero’s Disease. Biters are extremely violent and only eat the flesh of healthy humans, also called the infected, fleshers, and flesh eaters.
Bean Vine: The wisteria plant, also called Strangle Weed by the Family.
Beacon: A detached faycard that is placed and embeds in a person, mainly Family, and can be used by the embedded to track or trace them across realms.
Blue light: See Pulse.
Bridewell: The prisons underneath Jarthan castle.
Burnfruit: A brown fruit indigenous to the Family’s realm.
Cohort: Small unit of the Family, traveling together.
The Cure: Euphemism for killing an infected biter.
D’cara: An insult in the Dialect.
Dark Glass: Substance thresholds that are made of Earth.
Darkroot: A spray or mist that forces Famila to regenerate.
Den: Houses or accommodations used by the Family while on Earth.
The Dialect: The language spoken by the Family.
Draug: Famila infected with a condition that makes them violent and cannibalistic.
Elders: See Seven Elders.
Eminent: Title given to the Famila by the Thayns.
Empiric: A Famila trained to conduct special investigations.
Famila: A member of the Family’s race.
Far Eye: Artifact used to communicate by the Family.
Faycard: Device used by the Family to renew humans. It looks like a playing card. The faycard was a powerful focal point of the energy used by one of the Famila, also can be used for playing simple tricks on children and Terrans.
Flesh Eaters: Another term for biter.
Flesher: Another term for biter.
Great Walk: The rite of passage every male in the Family must go through. It lasts 1,000 days.
Haro Caste: The lowest caste in the Family. They work with the Thayns.
The High Street: The main business street of a town and the British version of Main Street.
Ilac Caste: The second highest caste of the Family and includes sentinels, empirics and the Lords.
Ino Caste: The highest caste of the Family and made up of the leaders.
Intended: The person to whom another Famila has been pledged.
Jade Ocean: A green ocean near the Family’s home.
Jaga: A racial slur used by some Famila to insult humans. It is even more offensive than the term Terran.
Journeying: To travel between realms via the thresholds.
Lead empiric: One of the five chief empirics in the Family.
Leviathan: A giant sea dragon that lives in the Jade Ocean.
Liege: The master /mistress of a Thayn. The Famila who renewed a Thayn and to whom the Thayn is loyal.
Matula: Famila insult.
Mongrel: A derogatory term for a person who is part Famila and part human.
Mordin: The third highest caste of the Family.
Mosroc: A deep emotional and mental bond between two people in the Family.
Nero Disease: A sickness that causes humans to turn into biters, also called Nero plague, the madness, Nero illness.
Obsidian Coral: Red coral used by the Family that enables them to journey through thresholds without dying, as thresholds are very dangerous and will rip any traveler apart.
Obsidian Crystal: Synthetic obsidian coral, deadly if used to travel through thresholds.
Pillar: A clan within the Family. There are seven Pillars in the Family. Each Pillar has four castes.
Piron Net: An artifact used by the Family to conceal their dens on Earth from humans.
Pit: A mini bunker that holds one or two people.
Pledge: A long term betrothal or engagement between Famila.
Pulse: A blue light that emanates for the Family. The blue light has many uses including: converting of humans to Thayns, healing the injured Family, healing humans.
Prime: The first child and heir of a Sen.
Qwaynide: An insult in the Family Dialect.
Regeneration: A period of long rest during which Famila heal themselves.
Renewal: The process of turning humans to Thayns.
Rhodium: A white precious metal of great value to the Family.
Sandwine: A strong beverage.
Sen: A chief and head of a Family Pillar.
Sen-Dra: The spouse of a Sen.
Sen-Filla: The daughter of a Sen.
Sen-Son: The son of a Sen.
The Seven Elders: The heads of the seven Pillars of the Family also referred to as the Seven or Elders.
Shana (singular and plural): Tattoo-like dots on some Famila.
Sixth Form: Equivalent to American 11th and 12th Grades. It is the combination of Year 11 and Year 12.
Sleepwalker: What other humans call Thayns.
Strangle weeds: What the Family calls Bean Vine.
Terra: The Famila word for Earth.
Terran: What the Family calls humans. It means Dirt people.
Thayn: A human who has been turned into a devoted follower of the Family by being renewed, also called Sleepwalkers.
Threshold: A Gateway used by the family to travel between realms.
Vappa: Means jerk or ass in the Family’s Dialect.
Year Twelve: English equivalent to the American 11th Grade.
PROLOGUE
Over three years ago, the Nero virus infected eighty percent of Britain’s population. It turned otherwise normal people into biters who are violent, angry, and only interested in one thing: eating the flesh of the uninfected. People like Wisteria Kuti and her family.
Months after the disease broke out, society fell apart. There was no government, no police, and no army. There is no shopping, no internet, no mobile phones and no vacations. People are either flesh eaters or trying to hide from them.
Wisteria’s family survived the carnage and now lives with a small settlement of survivors on the Isle of Smythe. They’re not looking for a cure—They’re trying to survive.
CHAPTER ONE
Three years and three months after Nero
“You’ve got to be joking!” Sixteen-year-old Wisteria Kuti glared at about forty teenagers and a handful of preteens dancing wildly in the once-deserted pub.
From the smell and heat, the partiers had been burning up the dance floor for hours. The music of the Law Abiding Citizens thumped through the restaurant, and she spotted an mp3 player hooked to large speakers propped on the bar.
Wisteria couldn’t believe they were having a party on Norton. Her stepfather, Major Elliot Coles, the head of security, would literally murder someone if he discovered that forty of the kids from the heavily fortified Isle of Smythe had snuck out onto the mainland.
“You’ve got to admit, they’re having fun.” Garfield Simon, her best friend, was standing next to her while adjusting the strap of his crossbow. His long curly hair bounced as he nodded to the music. “Everyone’s okay and seems happy.”
After four years of living in fear of biters and being locked behind the walls of the Isle of Smythe, she could see why the kids wanted a night of freedom and reckless abandon. Even she wanted one, but it wasn’t safe.
With eighty percent of the world’s population crazy, flesh eating biters, being outside wasn’t just a bad idea, it was deadly. The only thing biters wanted was to feed and the only things they ate were uninfected people. And people who didn’t get eaten most likely ended up becoming infected and turning into biters themselves. As a best case scenario, even one biter walking into this pub could result in everyone becoming infected.
“They’ve been having this party how long?” she asked Amanda Weiss, the tall, slender blonde girl who had come with them.
“This is the sixth party.” Amanda’s blue eyes glittered as she tried to laugh it off. “It’s not that big a deal. We’ve always been safe.”
“Six,” Wisteria choked out. “And you knew about this and didn’t say anything?”
“We couldn’t tell you because of your mum and your stepdad,” Amanda explained. “If they found out, they’d stop the party.”
“David’s here and he’s my brother,” Wisteria pointed out, but she knew that was different. David was Amanda’s boyfriend.
“Yeah, but you’re a tracker. David’s not, so you have to tell Coles.” Amanda frowned, knitting her blonde eyebrows together. “Everyone just wanted a few nights out. We’ve been working all summer on farms for the harvest. We just need a break. I mean, I know it’s dumb, but we really thought this town was safe. David said there hasn’t been an infected reported in Norton in forever.”
“David isn’t a tracker or he’d have half a clue,” Garfield remarked.
Garfield also hadn’t been invited to the party, but Wisteria suspected that had more to with him being a rat catcher. Even though most kids on the island ate rats, they were too proud to publically admit that. One way to deny it was steering clear of Garfield.
Wisteria scowled at the boy. It was no secret he hated the notion of Amanda and David being together because he was so in love with Amanda. Garfield had had a crush on her, the prettiest girl on the island, since he first saw her. Sadly for him, Amanda only wanted to be friends.
“Well, I’m glad you told me, Amanda. I know Hailey’s going to make you pay for doing it.” Wisteria was still surprised Amanda had come to her with this.
“So, what do you want to do?” Amanda asked.
“Ahh,” a boy shrieked as he ran past them.
Wisteria jumped.
The boy burst out laughing, joining several of his friends.
“Are you okay?” Garfield looked over at her.
“I’m fine,” Wisteria answered, but she was terrified being out here. She wanted to be locked and chained safely in her home, surrounded by the thirty-foot fence, and not standing in the doorway of an abandoned pub off Norton High Street. “I’ll feel better when we’ve got David and we’re gone.” Biting her bottom lip, she checked the time. It was half past two. The first patrol wouldn’t be out until four. That meant they’d be able to get David home before anyone found out they’d left. “Let’s go.”
As they walked through the smoky pub, Wisteria’s sole intention was getting David out.
One of the partying girls staggered up with a glass of green liquid. “What are you doing here, Wisteria-Hysteria?”
“Is that Ria?” someone else jeered. “Who the hell invited her? Go home, you cow.”
Ignoring them, Wisteria searched the crowd for her brother. “Amanda, are you sure David is here?”
The blonde girl nodded.
Getting up on the nearest table, Wisteria scanned the room for any sign of her fifteen-year-old brother. “I don’t see him.” She struggled to make out exactly who was there, because the only source of light was candles, as Norton had no electricity.
“Maybe he’s using the john,” Garfield suggested. “Where are they?”
“They’re that way.” Amanda pointed toward the bar.
“I’ll check.” Garfield jogged away.
“Garfield, don’t,” Wisteria called out.
That wasn’t a smart thing to do, but she knew he was only trying to impress Amanda.
“I’ll be fine.” Moving across the dark room, he disappeared through a door behind the bar.
Groaning with frustration, Wisteria leapt off the table and headed after him.
“Where are you going?” Nervously, Amanda grabbed her arm.
“We can’t let him go back there alone, even if my brother is back there.”
“So, should I wait out here? I’ll be safe out here, right?”
“I don’t know.” Wisteria drew out her wakizashi sword, unsure of what to tell the girl.
The last time the two girls encountered biters together, Amanda ended up running off and leaving Wisteria to face to a swarm of biters unarmed. This was after she’d risked her life to save Amanda’s, so she wasn’t sure she wanted the girl with her at all.
“I’m armed; maybe I can watch the door?” Apprehensively, Amanda produced a handgun. “It’s going to be more effective at killing the biters than your knife.”
Wisteria gaped. “If you fire that, you’ll only attract more biters with the noise.”
“No, it won’t. Hailey said—”
“I’m a tracker and it’s my job to watch their movements and try and thin out their numbers. We don’t use guns, even guns with silencers, if we can help it, because we know they travel in swarms and they like the noise and lights.” She pointed to one of the candles.
As a tracker, Wisteria and several other residents of the Isle of Smythe patrolled the neighboring towns to try and curb the numbers of the infected. They also collected data and samples for the many scientists on the island who were trying somehow to find a cure.
The other girl glanced from her handgun to Wisteria, uncertain what to do next.
“Let’s go, but don’t fire it,” Wisteria warned her.
They moved across the room, behind the bar and through the doorway where Garfield had gone. More candles lined the corridor and lit the way up a stairwell. Cautiously, the girls headed up and found the hallway of the apartment where the pub landlord once lived. There were candles everywhere.
The hallway was empty except for someone leaning against one of the doors. Wisteria could not make out whom or what it was as the figure seemed to stagger toward them.
“Bloody hell,” Amanda gasped as it neared. “It’s a biter!”
“Shh, we’ve got to keep quiet.” Wisteria drew out her sword.
“David’s in there,” the figure said and pointed to one of the doors.
Relieved it was Garfield and not one of the infected, Wisteria put her sword away. “Are you sure?”
“Wait.” Garfield patted her shoulder as she moved to the door. “Don’t go in there.”
“What? Is he infected?” She shuddered. Would she be forced to cure him? The only cure for the infected was a bullet through the brain or removal of their head. Doing that to her little brother was unfathomable.
“No,” Garfield smirked. “But
you still don’t want to see what’s going on.”
“Is he okay?” Amanda burst forward.
“Oh, yes.” Garfield still tried to block the door.
“Okay, you guys are trackers; you get him out of there. It’s too dangerous for him to be here,” Amanda demanded.
Moving up to Garfield and closer to the door, Wisteria heard a girl giggling. Rolling her eyes, she turned back to Amanda angrily. “You only told me about the party because David came here with another girl.”
“No, I—” Amanda stammered.
“You’re unbelievable.” Getting involved in David’s love life was something Wisteria never did. If she wouldn’t interfere to break up David and Amanda for Garfield, her best friend, there was no way she’d do it for anyone else.
“So, we’re leaving, right?” Garfield gloated.
“No.” If Wisteria hadn’t been worried about David’s safety, she would’ve walked away from the manipulative girl. Opening the door, she came into the living room and saw three couples making out in different corners. Scanning the room, her gaze settled on a couple sitting right across from the door.
Her brother and his apparent latest attraction. The girl was much shorter than Amanda, but still slightly taller than Wisteria. She had short, spiky red hair, with grey-brown eyes and freckles.
Wisteria was pretty sure it was fifteen-year-old Poppy Cheung, the step-sister of Wisteria’s mathematics teacher
“Man, Ria, what the hell are you doing here?” Poppy stood up and glared at Wisteria.
Ignoring the girl’s outburst, Wisteria stepped past her. “David, are you out of your mind?”
Several kids laughed.
“Wisty…” David groaned in embarrassment. “You need to go.”
“You fat cow.” Amanda lunged at Poppy, slapping her. “I told you to stay away from my boyfriend.”
“You brought Amanda?” David tried to separate the two girls as the other kids in the room laughed and watched.