Flame (Fireborn)

by Arden, Mari

  I slide in next to her, and repeat her motions. When the cuffs click onto my wrist, I fight back the urge to take it off. I want to throw the restraint against the wall, and break it into a million pieces. I need to blend in, I remind myself, taking a deep breath.

  The anger is boiling underneath me, but I try to ignore it. I take a bite of the cream-colored soup, and gag. I clench the table in an effort to force it down, and it works even though my stomach is heaving. The creature from before notices me, and she pauses, catching my eye. She demonstrates taking little sips at a time. No one notices my outburst, except her and I follow her motions, taking tiny sips. The herbal taste is more bearable in bits, but she's sipping fast. Maybe I need to, too.

  Soon another bell rings. No one moves, though. Slowly the guards move between us, taking their sweet time, showing us how insignificant we truly are. I watch as one guard unlocks the metal handcuff of the girl beside me. When it's my turn, I hold my breath in anticipation. When the metal opens, falling back from my wrist, I bite back a gasp. My hands feel lighter.

  We take our bowls to the other side of the room, and hand them to other scarlet clad workers. There is no eye contact, and when my finger accidently touches the worker's, she shrinks back.

  I continue to follow the person in front of me, but the two rows are closer together. The creature from before is next to me, and her tail lightly touches my calf. I pause for a millisecond before moving.

  "You blend in very well," she whispers. Her voice is thick with a European sounding accent. "It's hard to notice you."

  I decide to be honest. "It's sort of a trick of mine."

  "Oh." She grins. "It's a nice trick to have."

  I don't say anything.

  "My name is Chloris."

  "I'm Kenna," I murmur.

  "I'll show you what to do when we get to the caves," she offers.

  "Thanks."

  When we step outside, I'm greeted with a rush of cold air that sweeps the folds of my dress between my legs. If they notice the cold, no one shows it and we move as silent as ghosts. In the distance I can see trees and hills. I hear the wired fence around us, buzzing with electricity, and it's so cold I want to move closer. Soon I see a cave up ahead, its mouth stretching high above us. I want to see more, but my head remains bowed, submissive.

  Good girl, the thought whispers in my mind, and I almost stumble. I clutch the red fabric of my dress in my palms so I won't trip. My heart's racing. Had a guard just talked to me in my head? Head low, I search around. All I see are scarlet folds and shuffling feet. Anger, desperation, and terror pulse through me, shooting panic through my body. What sorts of powers do the Saguinox have? Suddenly, I remember Lenora's eyes, and the tingling in my head. I wonder if she's done something to me. Has she opened my brain up to the other Saguinox?

  I try to listen again, but the voice is gone.

  We travel further into the cave until the only light available are torches and candles that burn dimmer than embers. Even the color from our red dresses has faded, vanishing as shadowed veils.

  As if she senses my thoughts, Chloris whispers, "You'll get used to it."

  I'm afraid I won't because the further we go in, the less I feel of myself. Darkness is all around us, and my thoughts are evaporating into air. Soon I think nothing, feel nothing, see nothing, but black shadows all around.

  I don't know we've stopped until I bump into the person in front of me. She doesn't acknowledge what I do, so I don't say sorry. We're moving slow, and I wonder why. Someone is handing out helmets with a light attached. It's weak, but it's better than nothing. Putting it on, I'm grateful when the faint beam flashes ahead. We keep walking, and I'm suddenly glad I ate the disgusting soup from this morning because I have a suspicion what we'll be doing in this cave is work.

  We start going down on a slope, then we walk down a flight of stairs. It's as dark as before so I don't know if we're underground. The silence is deafening, and I want to turn back so bad. I don't, and even though my mind is afraid, my body isn't, and it keeps moving even when I'm too scared to. We keep walking and walking and when we finally stop, I'm a little breathless. I don't doubt we're miles from the cave entrance.

  A pair of glowing eyes light up a feminine face, and she stands on a chair above us. The light on her helmet is a little brighter, and she aims it over our heads. "This is what we are looking for." She holds something small between her fingers, but no matter how my eyes strain I can't see it. "If you are new, raise your hand and I will come closer so you can see it." She pauses, but no hands rise.

  Chloris's tail touches my ankles, and she shakes her head.

  I already know. I'm not dumb enough to declare myself a newbie, I say with my eyes. I'd be fresh meat for those bastards.

  "Crystals," Chloris murmurs so softly I almost think I imagine it.

  "This cave is vast. This area is rich with Braxi. It should not be hard to find." She pauses, staring hard at us. "You only have to dig for it." She throws a shovel to the person in front of her, and she falls, knocking down the person behind her. The Saguinox female makes an annoyed sound and jumps down. Her hand lashes out. The slap echoes around us, followed by desperate weeping and begging.

  "Get up," she snarls. "I have no time to waste on your useless human tears!" She slaps the girl again, and we jump back, making room for her to come through. Her hand brushes against mine as she moves by, and I feel a chill that has nothing to do with the cave temperature.

  "The shovels are up ahead," Chloris informs me when the Saguinox footsteps can no longer be heard. She shows me the way. The tools are dirty and smelly, but I know better than to complain. There are a few guards with us, but they don't seem too alert. There are more than fifty prisoners down here, and only a handful of Saguinox, yet they are unafraid. One is dozing off as I walk by. Why don't we revolt? I think. The odds are in our favor. I turn back to where we got the shovels. From where I'm at I can see carts and carts full of shovels, brushes, wedges and sledgehammers. Suddenly, I feel something inside; it's pounding beneath my skin.

  "I want the sledgehammer," I say to Chloris.

  She looks at me like I'm crazy. "We're looking for crystals, Kenna, not breaking a wall. Trust me, shovels are best."

  I don't say more because I need time to think through what I want to do. I'm so close behind her I have to be careful not to step on her tail. "Chloris."

  "Hmm?" She's maneuvering around the other prisoners, going in deeper.

  I hesitate for just a moment. "If you don't mind me asking, what are you?"

  "Shape shifter."

  This time I stumble behind her, falling onto my knees. Unfortunately, there's also a rock underneath me, and the edge connects with my bone. I hiss, but don't make a loud enough sound to catch the guard's attention.

  "Kenna! Are you okay?" She sounds anxious. I rub my knee.

  "Just… not expecting that."

  She gives me a smile, and her eyes are gentle. "There's a lot humans don' t know about."

  I'm reminded of Lenora's conversation with me earlier. You're just a baby planet, she'd said.

  "Yeah, I'm learning that."

  She helps me up. Her hand is like mine, but green and with longer nails.

  "Do you come from a different planet, too?" I ask, wiping my bottom.

  "My ancestors a long time ago, probably. But I'm an earthling like you, born and raised." She has my shovel in her hands, and she hands it back. "Come on."

  She's moving, but I'm rooted to the floor, stunned. She'd been born and raised here? How's that possible? How many others are out there?

  "Are there more like you?" I whisper.

  "Some like me. Some not."

  My mind's racing with questions. Her words echo in my brain. Some like me. Some not. What does that mean? Is she referring to different species of aliens? Is she the good guy, and the others are bad? More importantly, can I trust her? Chloris turns back, waiting for me to catch up.

  Do I follow?

&n
bsp; I look around at the other prisoners whose gaze refuse to touch mine. I turn back to Chloris. Her eyes are curious.

  She's the only one willing to help.

  I don't have a choice. Not really. Not if I want to escape.

  Chloris takes me to a spot more secluded from the others, and shows me how to dig.

  "The Braxi crystals are small and white. Try to dig without cracking them. They're no use broken or cracked. They need to be perfect." She demonstrates, shoveling a handful of dirt each time. She's careful to not push too hard, and wiggles the tool, rather than pushing it in. I imitate her, but it isn't natural. The shovel is so heavy I want to use its weight to push down, but I have to resist, and use my arms to make it light. She has to crouch every few minutes, and use her hands and the light on her helmet to search for the small crystals. It takes a long time, but when she finally gets one, she shows me. I adjust the light, and stare in awe at the perfect white crystal. It's oval shaped, and glitters. I take it in my hand. It feels warm. I make a fist around it, and when I feel something, my eyes shoot up to Chloris.

  "It's vibrating," I breathe.

  "They're used to store energy and magic," she informs. A small smile lights up her face. "Beautiful, isn't it?"

  I'm in shock, but I agree. Shape shifters? Crystals that store magic? "How has all of this stayed hidden?" I don't just mean the crystals and she seems to understand that.

  "Humans see and hear what they want to see and hear. Arrogance can make you blind."

  Still bewildered, I shake my head. My fists close around the Braxi again to feel the pleasant sensation. "What do they need these crystals for?"

  "Evil." She says it quietly, but with such sadness I'm speechless.

  The Saguinox don't mean to join us.

  "They mean to conquer us." My whispered realization is met with silence.

  Chloris and I stare at each other. Her eyes are large and sad. Hopeless.

  Discouraged, we don't talk anymore. For a long time there is only silence as we work. She demonstrates how to use the shovels to dig the cave walls. My stomach is rumbling, and I'm thirsty. Chloris takes me to a small water stand and a worker hands me a little cup.

  "Don't drink too much," she warns me. "There's nowhere to relieve yourself." I'm angry when I drink. "We're just animals to them." I watch a guard as he casually leans on a worker, using her head to lean on.

  "Yes," Chloris affirms.

  I turn angrily to her. "How can you just accept this?"

  Her eyes are wide, and she sneaks a glance at the worker before shaking her head. I bite my lip. "Come on." She gestures and we go back to our stations.

  I try to talk, but she doesn't want to anymore. I rebuke myself for letting my true feelings come through. I need her to give me information. I find the sledgehammers and shovels. I dare not stare at them too long, but my heart is racing with determination again. I can't stop myself from getting closer.

  "Switching shovels," I murmur to Chloris, and leave before she can argue. It doesn't feel right, but I try to soften my loud feet. That doesn't work, and I'm thankful that like in the real world, no one seems to notice me much here. I hope Chloris won't notice how long I'm gone.

  I'm the only one near the sledgehammers, and I pick one up, feeling the weight of it in my hands. I admire the rusty metal head, and a certain handsome face with glowing eyes flitters in my head. Yes, this will work just fine.

  I clutch it tightly in my hand and casually walk forward, away from Chloris and the other workers. I try to move slowly so as not to arouse suspicion. I move past more prisoners, their scarlet attire more visible with their helmet lights. For the first time, I wonder what the red dress means. Rhys and Lenora had referred to it as "the offering". Maybe the Saguinox have some ritual where people are "offered" to an alien god. It doesn't sound far-fetched, and feeling a deep apprehension, I keep walking.

  The slope is moving upward, and there are no workers beyond this point. It's careless to keep going so I stop. I dig, using the sledgehammer and my hands. I should've brought the shovel too, I think. My heart's dancing wildly in my chest. Please stay invisible, please stay invisible.

  It takes time, but I finally get it. The hole is big and deep enough to hide a sledgehammer. I glance around, careful to look nonchalant. When I'm sure no one is watching I shove it in, and frantically cover the sledgehammer with hardened dirt, and any other materials I can find. I take in air, and it smells like dirt and metal. I'm so busy breathing I don't notice the body until my head connects with an elbow. I gasp, turn around, and instantly fall back.

  Her glowing eyes are cold, and scrunched in anger. I can't help but stare back with wide eye panic.

  "Where did you come from?" she snarls. Her short hair is spiked up like a boy's, and she's looking menacingly at me. "Answer me."

  "I-I…" For a second my mind is blank. She looks so threatening and so terrifying that my mind is frozen. I can't feel the sledgehammer underneath me, but my heart's beating violently.

  "Don't you know how to talk?" She wrinkles her nose. "You're not one of those mute humans, are you?"

  I shake my head. "No."

  Suddenly her hands lash out, and she has the back of my head. She carries half my body off the ground, pulling painfully at my hair. "Don't think I didn't notice you here by yourself. Did you think you would get away with that?"

  I can't talk. I can't breathe, and she jerks me to my feet. "Lazy scum. You humans are the worst." She pulls me by my hair, dragging me like a bag so hard I cry out. I'm pushed against something hard. The metal tub connects with my shoulder blade, and my skin instantly tears. The pain burns.

  Out of nowhere I see a flame in my mind. It's exquisite, and it's swaying gently, ready to go where I need it to go. I know exactly where it needs to shoot, but before I can, a voice shouts in my head.

  No! The voice sounds alarmed. No flames, take it out!

  I shriek.

  The voice is back in my head.

  Something hard is shoved into my arms. A shovel.

  "Everyone works in the caves," the Saguinox guard informs me coldly. "You're no exception. If I catch you slacking off again, you'll be given to the crystal. Do you understand?" She pushes me back. "Do you?"

  I nod, but I don't look at her. I'm shaking. My mind feels numb, like something heavy's inside. I'm so focused inside myself that I can't look at her. She takes it as a sign of submission. I wait, and even when the sound of her footsteps has disappeared, I can't move. My insides feel jumpy, and I'm anxious, and tense and fearful, and all of it twists in my gut like a cyclone.

  I'm trembling so bad I don't notice the smell of burning metal underneath my fingers until my eyes sting from the smoke.

  I drop the shovel and jump back.

  It's smoldering.

  * * *

  It's dark when we're allowed back outside. My back aches, and I'm glad to walk with my head low, because it hurts to straighten my body. Supper is comprised of the same disgusting soup. It tastes like what I'd imagine liquid roots would taste like. Even though I'm starving my hunger isn't enough to drown out the revolting taste, so I sip at it, each mouthful worse than the last.

  Chloris is ignoring me, although I catch her shooting me an empathetic look when she hears me gag on the food. No one talks. No one moves unless told to, and I actually feel relieved to go back my cell.

  When the door closes blackness envelope me. I try to sleep, but pictures of my parents churn in my mind like a broken movie. I miss my dad, and if I breathe deeply enough I can smell past the perfume of alcohol on his clothes, to the woodsy scent of his skin. I wonder if he's searching for me. When I think about how lost he must be, I feel a hot rage inside, and it's all I can do to not pound against the walls, screaming. But I don’t want to give them the satisfaction of seeing me do that, so I pull my knees to my chest instead.

  My mind wanders back to what happened in the caves earlier, but I shut my eyes, refusing to acknowledge it. I'm so cold, and a memory of m
om, dad and I sipping hot chocolate during a wintry night drifts into my mind. I remember the warmth, and I sigh, pretending that it's here. I hear the fireplace in my head. I see the dark orange blaze, twirling like dancers over and under the logs. The flames bend, swinging in a contained space and I imagine touching it, feeling it through my body…

  I fall asleep with the flames brushing my face, feeling more alone than ever. As I drift into unconsciousness, the tender promise whispers inside my head. I'll always be here.

  Chapter 14

  When the alarm sounds, I jump, panicked. The first things I see are the windowless walls of my prison. Lifting myself up, I notice something strange. The floor is burnt. What the-

  "All clear."

  The door opens, and it's my cue to step forward. I can't move, staring at a large black spot where my face had been. Reaching out, my fingers brush against the hot surface. I jerk back when I feel the heat. Frantic, I look around to see if anyone's noticed. I can see scarlet dresses through the wide crack in the door. I don't have anymore time. Quickly, I stand, and move to join the group.

  My eyes find Chloris. Maybe she sees something in my face because she gives me a small smile. I shake my head.

  The three men from yesterday morning are back. The speaker begins the same way. "You will be fed this morning, and then you will return to the caves to harvest. Yesterday's batch was pathetic. We are expecting better today." He pauses, smiling, but it's not really a smile and everyone is nervous. No one will look at each other. He continues, "Do as you're told. Escape is an illusion. Should you attempt, he will find you, and you will be very, very sorry." The last part is said with such softness it sounds more like breaths than words.

  Chloris looks scared. I feel sick.

  The alien begins to walk, taking a few steps before stopping before the first prisoner. Out of the corner of my eye, I see the girl in front of him is trembling, and his finger gently pushes her chin up. He stares at her for a long moment, and the tension is unbearable.