by H. J. Lawson
Chapter Forty-Four
Skylier
My body feels weak from sitting all day staring at the monitors, waiting for the clock to count down to now.
“Not a chance! There is no way she’s coming with us,” Gerel snaps as we stand at the back of the cave, waiting for Enoch to join our little recue group.
“I’m coming as well,” Rian chirps, interrupting the argument between Abaven and Gerel. They have been at one another’s throat for the last twenty minutes. Well, Gerel has been doing most of the arguing. Abaven has just said a few words like last night, like he did with me when I argued with him that I would be going tonight no matter what he said.
I tried to talk Rian out of coming, but he ended up using the same string of arguments I used, so the argument was over nearly as quickly as it began.
“You want me to bring the goofy kid as well?” Gerel says, looking at Rian.
“Goofy? You must mean someone else,” he says, looking over his shoulder as if to find someone else she’s talking about.
“Did I miss anything?” Enoch asks as he comes to a halt after running towards us. His face is free of the white makeup, revealing his natural tanned skin and warm brown eyes. Now he looks like the kid I remember from the Cueva.
“Just them having a go at one another,” Rian says as Gerel scowls in response.
She’s a ray of sunshine, my mind laughs.
My frigging head is still killing me from the toxic stuff last night, as if the party is still going on and the drum is pounding in my head, Rian’s mind complains.
You can go back to bed if you like. Us girls can handle this, my mind tells him.
Ha, very funny, but you’re not leaving me out of this, his mind tells me.
Are these two going to be done anytime soon? They are bringing my headache back as well.
“Whatever,” Gerel spits, as if she was also reading my mind, “but don’t complain to me if these two end up getting killed!
“Come on,” she snaps as she heads down one of the caves.
“Aren’t you coming?” I ask Abaven.
“No, I have to be at control, reprogramming the motions that show up in the capital. You really don’t have to go. We have other people, good people who will be able to go on the rescue mission,” Abaven says.
“I have to help Madison,” I say firmly.
“I’d tell you the same, Rian, but I know it’s pointless. Just obey Gerel,” he says.
“Will do,” Rian and I add in unison as we run off, following Gerel.
Chapter Forty-Five
Dax
“Let him sleep,” a voice drifts into my head. With all my power, I bring myself out of my unconscious state.
Through my eyelids I know I'm not in the darkness anymore. I open them up to see people standing over me.
It is the Enlighten tribe members. Their skin looks tough, like old tree bark, with every wrinkle and scar revealing a different story of the harsh conditions they live in.
They don't care for the normal lifestyle the people of the Sanctions created, the normal way of living or being. In fact, they are the complete opposite, with garments covering their sexual areas … and that is all the clothing they have on.
Trinity stands by one of the Enlighten members. She looks completely different, stripped from any traces of Purenet. Her long, bleached-white hair has been cut completely off.
She nervously rubs her head as I stare at her … all that remains is a fingertip of dark hair; her poisoned hair has been removed.
As she strokes it, one sign of Purenet and the Sanctions is still clear to see: the bar code on the back of her hand. That looks red and raw, as though someone tried to remove it from her skin. But, like her torturous memories, the bar code will stay with her forever.
She pushes her lips together as if reading my mind. Will she ever fit in with her tribe now?
“Drink this, it will make you feel better,” Trinity says, as she leans over to hand me a wooden cup filled with liquid.
I don't ask what's in it; I don't care. She passes her hand under my chin and pours the drink into my mouth. My lips crack, and my throat is parched raw as I gulp down the sweet liquid.
Trinity helps me as I move into a sitting position. At least this time they put me on a bed, not in a muddy hole to die.
“Where are the others?” my voice breaks as I ask. Trinity passes me the cup, and I drink some more.
“They are recovering … my people thought we were intruders. Until they saw this….” she points to her golden tattoo around her arm, and smiles fondly. “It's my tribe’s marking. A lot has changed since I was taken,” she mumbles.
“Trinity has told me you are their leader, and that you saved my daughter’s life. I’m Spiro, Trinity’s father,” the man next to Trinity says, not breaking his stare with me.
“You have a strong daughter. I merely had the transport to get her here.” I cannot take any credit for saving her life … it's my family's fault she needed rescuing in the first place.
I try to get to my feet, and Trinity helps me stand straight. My body is weak, but nothing is broken—I can go on, I must go on.
“We need to wake the others; we need to get to the boat,” I mumble out quickly.
“Trinity told me the soldiers have your friends and family, just like the Aurum Sanction has taken ours,” Spiro says shamefully.
“I’m sorry they have taken your people,” I say, as I walk past him and toward the exit.
“If you help me, we will help you,” he says in a soft tone. “Trinity said you need an army.”
This stops me in my tracks. Now he has my attention.
“Yes, we need an army.” Two, in fact, if this plan will ever work.
“The Aurum Chancellor has kidnapped many of our men. We have tracked them down—they have been forced to work in the gold mines. Their only way to leave the mines is by death,” he says soberly. Then he looks directly into my eyes. “If you help us rescue them, I will give you warriors from my tribe to help rescue your people.”
Spiro is not lying. His eyes don’t blink; they just stare into mine.
“We have to get to the boat, it’s the only way over the big ocean,” I explain.
“You will not make it there without our help. We know the land,” he says firmly, as though "no" is not an option.
I cross my arms in defiance—but I know it’s pointless to argue. I need them as much as they need me.
“Take me to my men, and I want my gun and bracelet back,” I reply, as though I haven’t made my mind up yet … even though I have. We will battle against another Sanction.
Reznor looks at me furiously as I walk into the room where they’re holding him. “They threw me down a hole!” he spits out angrily. The tribesman keep their daggers pointed toward him … it looks like he’s been causing them some trouble, as usual. He’s going to love what I’ve got to tell him.
“Yeah, me too,” I say, as I brush dirt off my pants. Then I notice the clean bandages covering his stump. “They took care of your arm?”
“Trinity and some other women did, yeah.” Reznor has a mischievous grin on his face; he does like the ladies.
I roll my eyes and smile back. In battle you have to take the good things when they come, because they don’t happen too often.
“Reznor, Trinity’s father has asked that we help them, and in return they’ll give us some warriors.”
Reznor looks past me and toward the skinny, half-naked men standing guard over him and laughs. “Sorry … sorry …” He waves his one good arm around. “It’s just, you know … I could snap you in half with just one hand.” He continues to laugh, but the warriors aren’t amused.
I cannot help but chuckle. Reznor’s arm is bigger than their bodies. “Reznor, we need their help to get to the boat.”
“Can’t your fancy bracelet do that?” he asks.
“It can show me the path to the big ocean, but not the safest path,” I explain.
; Reznor lets out a big breath. The smell of rotten food drifts from his mouth and by me, making me feel sick and hungry at the same time.
“What does he want us to do?” he asks.
I explain to him what the Chancellor of Aurum is doing to the Enlighten tribe.
“So what’s the plan?” Reznor asks.
“We need to speak with Hayden and Lowell, then Trinity’s father will explain the rest,” I say.
Reznor lets out another breath. This time it smells like feces. Quickly I place my hand over my mouth.
“Okay, you talk to the others. I need to find a bathroom, whatever drink they gave me is screwing up my stomach.”
My stomach churns as he says that … are his bowels so full of feces, the smell is now drifting out of his mouth?
I just nod in response, not wanting to let any more of the toxic air into my body.
*****
“Up here.” Trinity points upwards, looking back at me and the others. Luckily, like me, my friends weren’t injured too badly from being thrown into the holes. They’re just worn out from the day’s events, and a bit bruised up.
“Really?” Hayden asks. He places his hands on his hips, already looking tired before we even begin the climb. I don’t blame him … just looking up to the top of the stone pyramid of steps is making me feel dizzy. It looks as though it’s touching the clouds.
“Yes.” Trinity shrugs her shoulders and smiles back at us as she starts to climb.
I pat Hayden on the shoulder. “Come on, mate, scared of a bit of exercise?” I ask, as I follow her. Hayden just rolls his eyes and follows me, along with Lowell.
“Where’s Reznor?” I ask.
“He’s already up top,” Trinity informs me. I bet he was able to climb these steps two at a time, unlike the rest of us.
“Watch out for the kissing bugs,” she adds. Instantly my body shudders at the thought.
“Why, what do they do?” I ask. I’d quickly learned when I had arrived in the Grounders’ community that insects may be tiny, but they can steal your life from you within an instant.
“The clue is in their name; they like to kiss you and suck the blood from you as they leave their poison—they are a silent killer.”
My eyes scramble around the steps, which have vines wrapping around them … everything looks like it’s moving.
“What do they look like?” I blurt out.
“Like that—” Trinity points down to the ground in front of me. I instantly jump away, my feet wobbling backwards, taking the rest of me with them. Hayden grabs hold of my top and pulls me back in.
“Scared of a little bug?” Hayden laughs. I push his hand off me.
“Life sucking ones, yeah,” I say, as I stamp down on the ground in front of me. One less to worry about. The quicker we get to the top, the better.
As we climb up the pyramid, my lungs feel like they are being crushed from the pressure in the air. Soon we will be in the clouds.
“You’re nearly here,” Trinity yells from the top, as she waves at us.
My heart is racing at an unbelievable speed. I try to breathe in, but my lungs feel as though I cannot fully inhale.
My head starts to thud to the speed of my heart—I lower my head down and rest my hands on my knees. Everything is spinning.
“Dax ... Dax, are you okay?” Trinity asks me.
My head wobbles backwards as I face her. “Your body will adjust. Here, drink this,” she says, as she passes me a leather flask.
I gratefully take it, and pour the sweet liquid down my throat. I lower the flask and take a breath of air. Finally, my lungs feel full of oxygen, and my heart rate slows down.
I’ve reached the top of the pyramid, and I freeze like one of the carved stone statues.
The view is breathtaking. The greenery of the jungle is overwhelming, and it covers nearly as far as the eye can see. In the distance I can make out the clear dome from the Aurum Sanction. Even from here it looks as if it’s glowing gold.
To my right is the big ocean. The sun is illuminating the waves. I have crossed it many times before with my father and Xander on our trips to the other Sanctions.
It was always the journey that was more interesting than the Sanctions. It gave me a physical view of what the world was like before the wars, before the Chancellors and the Emperor.
As a child, I spent most of my time hidden away in the vaults under Purenet … each Sanction has them. The vaults contain what remains of our Sanction’s history from before the wars … paintings, drawings and books. Only the Untouchables have access to the vaults; only we know the truth … what the world was really like.
There are no planes in the sky. Where is Xander? He will not be far away, that’s for sure.
“What took you so long?” Reznor yells at us, snapping me out of the memory of the vaults. Now I’m living one of the adventures in the books.
“Come on, mate, let’s find out what we have to do to get out of there,” Hayden says, as he pats me on my shoulder. He steps onto the top of the pyramid and heads over toward Reznor.
Lowell follows him, his head moving side to side as he takes in the view.
I can do this… I have to, I think to myself as I walk over toward Reznor. He’s sitting with Trinity and members from the Enlighten tribe.
“Please, take a seat,” Trinity says as she points towards a large, rectangle stone. A cushion would be nice ... this tribe is not about comfort at all; their beds are made out of stone as well, but at least they have animal skins over them.
“Thank you.” I try to sound sincere as I sit down. At least the stone is warm from the sun.
“We have to go over there—” Spiro points into the distance.
“The Aurum Sanction?” all three of us say at the same time, and I let out a sigh. I really don’t want to head into another Sanction. We’ve upset enough people today.
“No, not there. There—” He moves his finger.
I squint my eyes and raise my hand to block out the sun.
To the right of the Sanction is a break in the jungle. All the trees have been chopped down, and in their place is a massive brown patch.
“Those are the gold mines they are holding our people in,” Spiro explains.
We all continue to look over there … it’s going to be quite a trek.
“Over the last few weeks there have been fewer soldiers watching over the men,” Spiro continues.
“Why?” Hayden asks before I can.
“We noticed some of them walking off into the land that separates them from us, leaving their posts and heading into the unknown. Just like my men did—they have the illness,” he explains.
Hayden looks toward me. “Are you sure about this? I really don’t like the idea of walking into a plague.”
Neither do I.
“We will be in and out; no time to get the illness,” Spiro says. I have a horrible feeling he’s not telling me the truth. But we need an army … what state will his warriors be in when we get to them?
“The soldiers are the weakest in the early morning before the sun has risen; we will go tomorrow,” Spiro says. “Then we get you on the boat.”
I really don’t like the idea, but I have no other options.
“Okay,” I say. I can feel Hayden drop his head in his hands … I hope I don’t kill my men in this battle.
“Very well.”
Chapter Forty-Six
Trinity
“Why now?” I ask my father. My mouth feels dry like the desert as I speak.
He grips hold of his spear so tightly, his knuckles turn white. From the corner of my eye I see Dax and the others standing …watching … waiting.
“We’ll give you a moment.” Dax’s voice is full of concern. He looks over toward me, as if he’s checking to see that I’m okay.
I nod in response. After all the years of coldness in my heart, it’s nice to feel that someone cares for me.
Dax walks back to the steps, and then disappears down the pyr
amid—leaving me alone with my father.
My father rests his head on top of his hands, with the spear tightly gripped by his fingers as though his life depends on it. Creases appear on his forehead like the bark of a tree worn from time.
“Why didn’t you come for me?” My voice cracks, and my father’s eyes widen.
“We did,” he says, as he turns toward me.
I shake my head in confusion. “What? You came after me?” That doesn’t make sense. “Please, Father … I have to know.” I don’t know why— it’s not like it will change anything, but I just have to know.
“I thought you were out hunting,” he says.
I nod. “Yes, we were.”
“But you never returned … our watchman hadn’t seen anything … I …” Father stops and lowers his head, avoiding eye contact. His eyebrows arch outwards in a guilty expression, and his mouth droops.
Why does he feel guilty? “What?” I blurt out.
“I thought you decided to leave the tribe. You were coming of the age of interest … I thought you left.” He lifts his head up and stares at me as if he’s still questioning if I planned to leave.
“Why would I leave here?” I have to force my eyes not to roll upward at the thoughts that had crossed his mind.
“Young people leave, curious about the outside world—I thought you were one of them,” he shamefully admits. My heart breaks into thousands of pieces. He never knew me before they kidnapped me ... he will never know me.
“But I had to be sure. I and the other men searched the jungle for you. That is when we found your spear—” he pauses for a moment, and looks down at the spear in his hand … it is mine, “— lodged into a dead man’s heart.” He lets out a breath of air as he leans toward me.
“We followed the tracks out of the jungle, which led to the Aurum Sanction. We watched and waited for a way to get in.” He squeezes the spear tightly through his fingers, as though the wait was unbearable.
“There were guards at the entrance, and we knew there were more inside … there was simply no way in,” Father says, shaking his head and pressing his overgrown eyebrows together.