by Ann Bakshis
“Those statues,” I begin when we’re far enough away from Addie’s house, “they’re in your sister’s room also.”
“I know.”
“Did you know what they did?”
He hesitates in answering, which causes my stomach to fall. “Yes and no.”
“What does that mean?” I practically shout, jerking my hand out of his.
“They’re used to control those who otherwise can’t be. I used to have them, but stopped causing trouble, so they were removed from my room. My sister never did…which is why she’s not here anymore.” His voice wavers a little when mentioning his sister, but there’s also an undertone of resentment or hatred mixed in. “But they’ve changed. They’re not showing the same messages they used to.” He stops walking and lets the umbrella fall to his side. “I saw you in my dreams,” he says, moving his head to look down at me. “Leader Fallon was torturing you, burning you alive and I couldn’t stop her.”
I step in front of him and lift my hand to his cheek. “It was only a nightmare. None of it is real.”
“But why would they project such an image into my head? They’re supposed to be supporting a stable society, but nightmares like that could send anyone over the edge. It seemed so real. I could smell your skin burning.”
“Who, Frey? Who is operating those?”
“The Patrician,” he says.
“Come on, we need to get going,” I say, trying to pull him forward and out of whatever thought has him trapped.
He lifts the umbrella, but we’re already soaked. Nan isn’t around when we walk in. Frey grabs us a couple of towels from the laundry room to dry off with. We only have an hour until the carriage arrives. Frey disappears down the hall towards the bedrooms while I quickly strip down to my underwear and toss my wet clothes into the dryer. I go to his room, but he’s not there. His sister’s room is empty, and the bloodstain gone. I check her bathroom and Frey is standing there, shirt off, looking at his dragon tattoo in the mirror.
“She was right. Telling me to get this,” he says, his eyes never leaving his reflection.
“Your sister?”
He looks over at me. “How did you know?”
“Lucky guess,” I say, lying, sort of.
I really don’t know how I knew she was the one, but it just seems to fit. If his sister was starting to align herself with the Dracken, which it seems like she might have been if she experienced the same nightmare I did, then it would stand to reason she would recruit her younger brother. But where is she? What happened to her?
He puts his shirt back on, gives me a hug, and we go back to the common room to wait. Our carriage arrives right on time. The driver takes our bags and places them in the space behind the backseat. Frey and I both nervously stare out the windows as we leave and head towards the main city. We don’t talk, but I get the feeling it’s by his choice not mine. Our carriage queues up with the others outside of Thrace Tower. It takes ten minutes before we’re finally able to get into the holding area. Matron Kaniz is waiting for us in the lift corridor, a troubled look on her face. She tells us to set our bags next to her and she’ll join us upstairs after everyone else has arrived.
The lift up to the Looper unit is barely full. When we reach our floor, Rem and Addie are already in the common room, but the monitors are all off. Rem gives me a hug and punches Frey in the arm. Her way of saying hello to him. We join them on the couch as others arrive, but they head mainly to the bedrooms. Only a few wander into the common room.
“What do you think happened?” Rem asks.
“I heard someone was killed,” a guy with cropped red hair says from his seat in the corner of the room.
“Don’t be so dramatic,” Addie says. “It’s probably nothing. The Keepers just want to make sure we all return on time.” She doesn’t sound convinced of her own statement.
An hour passes before Matron Kaniz arrives, but our duffle bags aren’t with her. She calls for everyone to gather in the common room. As soon as everyone is situated, she clears her throat, tightens the bun at the back of her head, and clasps her fingers together in front of her.
“As many of you know from our recent history there is a slight rift between the ruling party and those who oppose her.” Matron Kaniz fidgets slightly, then moves her hands behind her. “The Litarian Battles were to have bridged the gap and brought us together as a society, however this is turning out not to be the case.” She tucks her hand in her pants pocket and removes a small device. She points it towards the monitors and they all turn on, showing the same newsfeed.
“Citizens of Tarsus,” Hammond begins, the city laid out behind him, “a Dracken leader has been murdered.” Only a handful of people in the room react. Many just take it in like it’s an everyday event. For me, it almost is. “Now, as you know, the Dracken are a group of people who are anti-Patrician. I do not know how all of you feel about the proposed realignment that the Dracken are rallying for, but everyone needs to pay attention to what is happening to our society. Murder is not the way to go about trying to further your agenda,” Hammond practically shouts to the camera. “We are a civilized people, and actions like this will only throw our world into chaos.”
I have to hide the chuckle that is building up inside. Such a contradiction in regards to how these people value life. People are killed in The Litarian Battles and it doesn’t faze them. They allow other atrocities to occur, such as Brink almost raping me in front of a room full of people. They permit the horrid treatment of the people in the Outer Limits by the Aedox. Yet someone of authority gets killed and now everyone needs to take notice. Leaders are replaceable, just like everyone else.
“The body of Avery Canton washed ashore this morning in the southern section of Tarsus.”
The image changes to show Avery lying face down in the sand, several bullet holes in his back. Frey grips my arm, almost cutting off the circulation. His eyes look to be on the verge of crying, but it’s not from sadness. Joy maybe? Relief? But why? Addie moves next to Frey and takes his arm to comfort him.
“It is still not clear who murdered Mr. Canton, but at this moment his wife Nan is a suspect. Her whereabouts are unknown at this time. The Aedox are scouting all sections of Tarsus looking for her. We will let you know when there are further developments.”
Matron Kaniz turns the monitors off and asks Frey to go to the Progression Room. I begin to follow him at his request, but Matron Kaniz stops me and orders me back to my seat. He kisses me and leaves. I take back my seat with Addie huddling next to me.
“That is the reason you’ve all been brought back early. Your bags are currently being searched by the Aedox. Each unit will be assigned two Aedox, with a six-hour rotation. This is for everyone’s safety. Tomorrow, Hammond will distribute a broadcast that’ll advise you of the new rules and procedures for The Litarian Battles. For now, everyone relax and try to get back to your normal routines. Dinner will be delivered momentarily.” Matron Kaniz exits, heading towards the Progression Room.
The monitors turn on to music videos and everyone goes about their business. Rem joins Addie and me. We sit in silence since we can’t really talk with all the noise and other conversations going around. Rem stands and signals for us to follow her into the training room. She opens the door and we slip in before anyone can notice. The lights turn on automatically and we each take a spot on the floor against one of the walls.
“What do you think?” Rem asks either of us.
“About what?” Addie responds. “It’s obvious that the Dracken are getting close to achieving their goal, so the Patrician are panicking.”
“I don’t think that’s it,” Rem says, folding her arms across her chest.
“It has to be!” Addie shouts. “What else could it be?”
“Does anyone know who the Patrician are?” I ask.
“Well, Leader Fallon obviously,” Addie comments with a snide tone.
“I mean besides her,” I add.
“What do you mean, Ma
x? She’s the only one,” Rem says, looking confused by my remark.
I bit my tongue on saying anything further. Addie and Rem spend the next several minutes arguing. I know Addie is a member of the Dracken because of her tattoo, but where does Rem stand? Better yet, where do I. Do I even really care? None of this affects me since I don’t live in Tarsus, so why should I let it bother me? It does though, and I have a feeling my parents are involved with it somehow. I wish I could talk to them and find out what they were thinking making that deal with Brink. If it’s true. Leader Fallon said she didn’t kill them, so where did she put them, and is there some way I can get a message to them?
Rem and Addie are close to physically battling each other when we smell dinner. They decide to hold off their fight for another time. Frey isn’t with the crowd that has gathered by the bar. The meal tonight consists of roast beef thinly sliced, green beans, and mashed potatoes. I take a small helping since I’m really not that hungry and sit down on the couch that lines the far wall. Two Aedox are standing poised by the lift. Their weapons held firmly in their hands. Addie sits next to me, but Rem leaves to eat elsewhere.
I decide to go back for seconds, but Matron Kaniz stops me. She takes my plate, sets it down, and escorts me to the Progression Room. Frey is sitting on a stool in the corner being tended to by a nurse for an injury I can’t see. I’m directed to take a seat in the same chair I was forced into upon my arrival. My arms and legs are secured by straps along with a collar around my throat.
“What the hell is this?” I yell.
“Max, since you were with Frey, we need to scan your memory to see if you saw anything related to Avery’s death,” Matron Kaniz says as a doctor adheres electrodes to my forehead and temples.
I know they’re going to see Nan shoot Avery, so I try to think of a way to manipulate my memory. Replace the images with something else, but I can’t think fast enough. In a matter of moments, the incident is displayed on a monitor to my left. Frey watches as his father attacks me, pulls out a knife, and then Nan fires. Frey turns to me, shock on his face.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asks through tears. “You knew he was dead and you didn’t say anything to me.”
“I was scared, Frey. He almost killed me. I told you I didn’t feel safe there.”
“Yes, but you didn’t say why.” He stands and crosses the room, stopping next to me. “What else haven’t you told me?” The doctor is in the process of removing the electrodes from my head when Frey stops him. “Leave us,” he tells everyone in the room.
I’m surprised to see them all comply, even Matron Kaniz. Frey steps to the door, locks it, and switches off the lights. The only light in the room is from the display, which is paused on Avery’s execution, but that too gets turned off. The temperature in the room soars and I begin to sweat. Frey paces around me, slowly, almost tauntingly.
“Why?” Frey asks from somewhere in the room. I can’t tell where he is exactly, but it’s not close to me.
“Why what?”
“Why would a Dracken leader try to kill the daughter of another Dracken leader?” He sounds closer this time. “He must have thought you to be a threat, but why? What did he know about you that I don’t?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I struggle with the restraints, trying to get myself free.
“I thought getting you into bed might reward me with your trust and honesty, but I guess I was wrong.”
“You had to drug me for that!” I shout. “How pathetic!”
Pain radiates up my legs. I try to scream, but Frey shoves the bite plate into my mouth. The discomfort grows, almost to a breaking point then stops. I spit the device out and swear at him.
“You fucker!”
The pain returns, followed by a burning sensation. I let out a scream, hoping to alert someone in the common room to my distress, but no one comes.
“The room’s soundproof, Max. I could spend hours in here with you doing all kinds of things and no one would know.”
I need to loop. Time loop preferably, but I’m in so much pain that I can’t get my mind to focus. I try and concentrate on a spot in the room, but I’m unfamiliar with the layout that I’m afraid I might wind up in the wall or something.
“I know you’re one of them,” I spit out. Frustration replaced by anger. “Addie is too.”
“So?” he says nonchalantly. “There are a lot of us, and if I guess right, after the contestants of the event have been determined there will be many more.”
“And your goal is what? To take over Tarsus?”
“Not just Tarsus, but everything. There will no longer be an Outer Limits. No one will be rewarded for being loyal to the Patrician by being sent to Icarian.”
“I thought only battle winners went there?”
“They do, but they’re all Patrician favorites. Manipulated somehow, giving them the advantage over the rest of us.”
I curl my fingers into a ball, realizing this is probably why I was maimed. So, do they do this to everyone they want to have win? How have they managed to get away with it and not get caught by the Keepers? Garrett was right, I’m a threat now, to all of them. If I demonstrate that I’m another Patrician favorite, I’ll be placed higher on the Keepers’ kill list, regardless of who my parents were. Maybe my points will even be knocked down to where I can’t recover and will be killed in The Litarian Battles.
I need to manipulate the situation. Get Frey to believe I’m on his side until I can figure things out. This whole realignment can’t just be a battle over governmental power, there has to be more to it. I take a couple of deep breaths to get my temper and anxiety down. Frey is standing next to me, so close that I feel his breath on my cheek.
“What do you need me to do?” I ask, sounding calmer, more in control.
I sense him smiling. “Do what I tell you, no questions asked. Don’t hide anything from me. I need your full trust and honesty. Can you do that?”
“Yes,” I answer without hesitation.
He’s on top of me, pressing his heavy body against mine. “Good.”
He kisses me hard on the lips. I return the gesture, determined to show my allegiance. He lowers the chair until it’s almost supine. He doesn’t remove my restraints, but does loosen my clothes. I feel him, all of him. I hate myself for letting Frey inside, but I need him to trust me. Time passes slowly, but he does eventually free me.
“Matron Kaniz will be coming for you in a few hours. You will be branded with the Dracken mark.” He helps me from the chair, pulling me against him. “I suggest you get it here,” he says, tapping the top of my chest. “That way, I can see it on you at all times.” He kisses the spot, then opens the door and leaves.
I linger in the room, afraid to step outside and get bombarded with questions from Addie or Rem. The light from the hallway allows me to see the damage Frey inflicted on my legs. Gouges, not deep but severe, line both my calves.
Seems he’s familiarized himself with Aedox torture methods.
The blood that had seeped out of the wounds is now mixed with a gel. It’s a rapid healing solution, which is what caused the burning sensation. The Aedox use it to quickly heal our injuries so they can be reopened for maximum scarring.
The common room and hallways are empty when I finally emerge. I look at the time on my wristband, which shows it’s just after midnight. I hustle across the way, change into my nightclothes, wash the gel from my legs as my wounds have healed, brush my teeth, and get into bed. I don’t fall asleep since I know I will be woken up in a little while to be maimed, again.
Fourteen
I must have dozed off. I didn’t even hear her come in. But when I open my eyes, Matron Kaniz is standing next to my bed, her face too close to mine. We quietly exit the room, head towards the hallway that’ll take us to the lift, but instead of turning left we go right. We exit through the emergency door, though no alarm goes off, and go down four flights of stairs. The lighting in the stairwell is minimal, so I
have to watch my footing as we descend. Once at the bottom, we turn right and proceed down an even darker hallway. Voices emanate behind the only door I can see. Matron Kaniz opens the door and practically shoves me inside. She closes the door and joins the other Matrons by a metal door that’s currently closed. I’m the only one from the Looper unit, so I take a seat far from the others. A woman I recognize as belonging to Nius gets up from her seat and sits next to me.
“You’re Max, right?” she asks, to my mind too cheerful for the late hour.
“Yes.”
“I thought so. You’re from the Outer Limits like Lil.”
“Yes.”
“So…where are you getting it?”
I look at her puzzled, not quite grasping what the question is about.
“Your tattoo,” she says since I didn’t respond.
“Oh, I don’t know. Why?”
“Placement is everything, Max. The position of your tattoo determines where you rank among the Dracken. Anything above your diaphragm means you’re important, a top ranked official. Place it on your abdomen and you’re classified as second. Anything lower than that means you’re simply a lackey. Someone to boss around.”
“I didn’t know that.”
She cocks her head, sizing me up and down. “Strange that the person who recruited you didn’t tell you about it. They’re supposed to direct you where to have it placed.”
“He did, I just didn’t know that the location was pre-determined.”
“Frey talked to you, didn’t he?”
I nod.
“He’s one of the top officials, just below the actual leaders,” she says. “So, where’s your spot?”
I tap the top of my left breast.
Her jaw drops open, then she squeals with excitement. “That means you’re his. No one else can have you. It also means you’re high ranked like he is. I’m so jealous.” She stands and goes back to where she’d been sitting.
Now I understand why he selected that area. A good portion of the dragon will be visible under all my shirts, including my battle outfit. It’s like he’s marking me as a target if I go up against anyone who is opposed to the Dracken. What will happen to those I fight who are lower ranking than me? Will they try to kill me faster, or avoid me?