by Coralee June
This tent stood out from the others. Bright pink and yellow flowers covered the canvas exterior, giving it a modest, yet homey, feel.
"Nikketa!" Tallis yelled in a bright tone, causing me to flinch. After a few moments, the tent door opened, and a short plump woman with braided hair down to her knees shimmied outside.
"Tallis, sweets! I never get visits from you anymore,” she said in a whiskey voice. Her skin was like aged leather, and the laugh lines around her lips were deep set. She pinched Tallis’ cheeks, and I stifled a laugh as he squirmed under her hold. The stoic Chief gave Nikketa a half smile while pulling out of her grip. He shook off his embarrassment before introducing me.
“This is Miss Black,” he said, gesturing to me. “She’s here to see Gordon. Do you know where he is?" Tallis' eyes peered through the dark opening of the tent as if already knowing the answer to his question. Instead of replying, the woman looked at me and crinkled her nose in disgust.
"She looks like an Empire skyla," she scoffed, gesturing to my dress. I looked down at my outfit and frowned before looking up and raising an indignant eyebrow at her.
“I’m going to assume that is a compliment, Scavenger,” I said in a snarky tone.
Tallis sucked in air and began frantically whispering to her while eyeing me. His crystal blue eyes were wide as she whispered in return. Nikketa rolled her eyes so hard I was sure they’d end up stuck. They whispered a little more before she sighed and pulled away.
Nikketa took her time and made sure to scrutinize my appearance. "Gordon’s inside. You know he doesn't leave the tent most days," she explained while stepping aside. "I'll be at the river. Let me know if you need someone to whoop his kolo."
Nikketa started to walk away but paused and looked back at me. Her eyes squinted with so much judgment that her iris' were no longer visible. "I have a pot of stew boiling. Be sure to eat some before you leave. If it weren't for that ridiculous jewelry weighing you down, a good stiff wind could blow you away."
I looked down at my thick gold necklace covered in gemstones and shrugged. Nikketa was feisty, and had I liked Scavengers, I might have found her spunk endearing.
"Are all Scavengers as nice as her?" I asked Tallis, loud enough for her to hear. I watched as her head full of white hair shook in frustration before slipping out of sight.
"Nikketa's all talk but be careful. I’ve been on the receiving end of her kolo whooping and it's not a pleasant experience,” Tallis explained, rubbing his butt.
We walked into her home, and I had to crouch down so my head didn’t hit the ceiling. The entirety of the tent was about half the size of my tiny dorm room, with a slight partition in the middle. A ginger woven rug on the floor covered the entire space, and tapestries covered each wall. Goodness, how did people live like this? I crinkled my nose as Tallis lifted a calloused hand and pulled aside a white curtain blocking the other half of the tent. I inhaled and coughed at the strong smell of spice and mildew. Once my eyes adjusted to the darkness of the room, I noticed him.
There, on a cot with thick green blankets, sat a young boy who was writing with a chewed pencil on tan parchment paper. Using a thick, tattered book as a makeshift desk, he scratched illegible words while ignoring us. Even in the dark, I noticed his grey-white hair and deep black eyes. My gaze involuntarily drifted to his missing leg before sliding back up just in time to greet his angry stare.
"What do you want?" Gordon barked out in a harsh yet high pitched tone.
Tallis opened the bag and pulled out the prosthetic that Maverick created. It was hard to deny the care and love that Mav put into it. Gordon frowned at us, his brooding expression illuminated by the glow of his lantern. It irritated me. Didn't he know how much effort went into bringing him this?
"We brought something to help you walk," Tallis said while walking towards Gordon. His deep and confident voice was full of scintillating authority. Gordon shifted towards the edge of his cot while letting out a painful gasp. Once again, my eyes zeroed in on his missing leg.
"Hasn't anyone told you it's rude to stare?" Gordon picked up his thigh and readjusted it, ignoring Tallis. This kid was bitter and angry—two emotions I knew well.
"Hasn't anyone told you to get used to it?" I asked, crossing my thin arms over my chest. I wanted to feel sympathy, but the stares were something he would need to come to terms with. "I mean, you're missing a leg. People are going to stare. You plan on being an ass to everyone that glances your way?"
Gordon blinked while raising his brow. "Who are you?" he stuttered, looking towards Tallis who stood there eyeing our exchange. Gordon met his match, and I was not backing down.
"I'm the girl that walked that heavy-as-hell leg here to your ungrateful self," I huffed out. It wasn't like I had anything better to do, but Gordon didn’t need to know that. "I even got lost on my way here! And look at my shoes, look at them!" I cried out. "They're ruined." Gordon's eyes widened as if he was watching a rabid animal come undone in his living room.
Tallis laughed, the sound deep and melodic. "I thought you knew where you were the whole time Agapimenos?" Of course he would pipe in with that little discrepancy in my story. This Scavenger Chief was quickly becoming a major pain in my ass.
"Choke on thorns, Scavenger," I growled back.
“I-I don’t want it!” Gordon stuttered, bringing us back to the conversation at hand. His kept his fists clenched as he looked around the room, avoiding eye contact with me. “I don’t need it.” He added in a soft voice marred with defeat. His eyes held a thin layer of uncertainty, and I watched as he massaged his thigh.
With an exhale, I dropped my hands to my sides and stepped closer to him. “Look, the pride act is cute and all, but at the end of the day, it’ll get you nowhere.”
Gordon pulled his blankets over him in a last-ditch attempt at self-preservation. He frowned as he readjusted the various books and papers on his bed. My eyes took in the crinkled pages of juvenile writing, while trying not to critique what poor spelling I saw. Tallis excused himself without saying goodbye, leaving us alone in the smelly, cramped tent. Typical man. Leaving once emotions got involved.
“I…I can’t do anything I used to,” Gordon whispered.
“Well, isn’t that what this leg is for?” I gestured to the prosthetic on the floor. This seemed like such an easy solution. Why was he being so difficult? This was going to help him.
“It’s not the same,” he immediately replied with anger laced throughout his words. “It’s a tease. A small look at who I was before this happened, but not the real thing.”
I waited for a moment while looking around the sad tent. Of course the boy felt like he couldn’t do anything anymore. Staying in here all day was reason enough to drive anyone crazy.
“You don’t get it,” he added while slinking back on the cot. “My Grandfather was the Chief. I’ve always dreamed of one day following in his footsteps. Now…I literally can’t.”
I watched him fight the tears that threatened to spill over. A kind person would have averted her gaze and gifted him with privacy, but I wasn’t kind.
“You’re right—you can’t. Don’t be who you were or who you even thought you were supposed to be. Be something better, kid,” I offered with a shrug while wondering why I was helping this Scavenger boy. He wasn't worth the effort.
“What’s better than running, better than fighting?” he asked with such desperation, and I couldn't help it—I laughed, the sound bursting out of me without a care. The loud sounds of my giggles made him lean back in frustrated awe. Didn’t he know? There was so much more to the world than this pathetic Scavenger camp.
“Your brain! Don’t you have a school or something?” Certainly, even Scavengers had the means necessary for obtaining an education.
“Our teacher died last year. She got X on a raid,” Gordon replied without remorse. Even here, death was a common occurrence that didn’t warrant a reaction.
An idea came to me then. They might have banished me to the
gardens, but maybe I could get on Cyler and Maverick’s good side if I volunteered at the Scavenger camp. It was a fleeting thought, but it took hold of me. In a flash, I saw a future where I could do as I pleased. If Maverick and Cy thought that I learned my lesson, then I could escape the confines of my punishment. Take my life back; maybe even get a job teaching. Find a decent man of good standing. Move to Galla. Run the world.
Ok, Jules, reign it in.
“It’s your lucky day, Scavenger. I’ll tutor you.”
The words spilled out of me before I could stop them.
I wanted to laugh it off. Say I was joking and leave this tiny tent, but the flicker of hope that flashed over his face made me pause. It was a look I recognized. It was the same joy I felt when my own mother used to teach. Like me, Gordon craved knowledge. But of course, it couldn’t be that easy. He had to pretend to be disinterested. Young boys were so painfully predictable.
“I guess that would be ok,” he said while clearing his throat. “Are you even qualified?”
I looked at him. My pride urged me to talk about my tutoring and travels. But it felt too cruel, even for me, to brag now. Especially when all he’s seen of the word is the Deadlands and this sad little tent.
“I guess you’ll find out. I’ll be here tomorrow. Try to work on that winning personality of yours in the meantime. Maybe practice smiling in the mirror so you don’t scare the locals,” I said while walking towards the exit of the tent. As I walked outside I heard him ask,
“What’s a mirror?”
Oh, God. What did I get myself into?
Chapter Three
The sun completely descended by the time I exited Gordon and Nikketa’s tent. Outside, there was a large pot hanging over an open fire. Tallis was leaning over the pot, glancing around to see if anyone was watching. Once he thought no one was looking, he took a sip of the steaming soup, wincing as he swallowed.
“I’m ready to go now,” I interrupted with an air of impatience. The stern Chief spun around, coughing as he fumbled to cover up that he had been sneaking some of Nikketa’s dinner. Seeing him flustered made me laugh.
“How was he?” Tallis asked before straightening and walking towards me, all while ignoring my chuckles.
I brushed my fingers through my long dark hair. “He’s dramatic, that's for sure. I persuaded him to try it on for size. But I'm sure he’ll brood about it a bit more.” I wrapped my arms around myself as I looked around. Various flames illuminated the camp in a haunting glow.
“You should probably eat before we go. Nikketa doesn’t take kindly to people that ignore her dinner invitation,” Tallis informed me, surveying the area.
“Nikketa seems like the type of woman that’s able to handle a little disappointment. Besides, I’ll be back tomorrow. I can eat then,” I rushed out, praying that he wouldn’t make a big deal of me coming back. I looked around the dirty camp and cursed my impulsiveness. I wanted Cy and Mav to revoke Garden duties, but would spending time here be worth it?
Tallis’ eyes widened in surprise as if the notion of me ever returning was something he hadn’t considered. His lips quirked up as he wiped some of Nikketa's stew off his chin. “So you’ll be back then?”
“That's what I said, isn’t it?” What was it about this Scavenger Chief that annoyed me so? “Gordon said you don’t have a school teacher. What kind of leader doesn’t make sure his people have the opportunity to learn?”
Tallis paused then, all playfulness gone from his expression.
“The kind of leader that worries if his people have enough food. Or the kind that has to fight off infected Walkers, spending the evenings alternating between searching for freshwater and guarding camp.”
I considered his statement for a moment while placing my index finger against my bottom lip. Yes, it was sad. But these days, everyone faced hardships; it was simply the state of the Empire.
“Even the Walker Zones have makeshift schools. Round up your children. I’ll come by for an hour or so a day in the evenings.”
Tallis broke out in bright laughter that made goosebumps flash dance across my sweaty neck. His serious expression morphed into mischievous joy.
“Your ego is both concerning and inspiring,” he choked out through bursts of chuckles. “You want to mold the minds of my people? Fine. But you have things to learn, too.”
I took large strides towards the Walker Dorms. Annoyance thrashing beneath the surface of my cool, indifferent expression.
“What could someone like you possibly have to teach me?” I asked over my shoulder. Tallis grabbed my wrist and pulled me close. The movement whipped me out of my forward momentum, forcing me to fall into his strong arms.
“There is much I could teach you,” he said in a tone that suggested he meant more than Scavenger lessons. His white eyebrow arched playfully, and I took in his amused expression which appeared bright against the dark forest. We stood so close that I could make out the intricate scarring on his naked torso. I felt his hot breath on my cheek.
At that moment, I forgot that Tallis was a Scavenger or that we were in the woods. I forgot everything but the sound of my racing pulse as his arms flexed tighter around me. I licked my lips and cocked an eyebrow.
“I think you need a lesson in boundaries,” I replied while pulling out of his grasp. For a moment, he just stood there as I walked away. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw that his mouth was slack and his hooded were eyes fixed on me. I swayed my hips, smirking to myself as he shook his head before running to catch up with me.
We traveled in silence until the lights of the Walker Dorms were visible in the hazy night. My stomach growled, reminding me that I missed dinner, and I regretted not grabbing some of Nikketa's stew.
“I’ll be here in the evening to walk you to camp tomorrow. Can’t have you getting lost again,” he said in a coy whisper.
Before I could argue, Tallis was already strolling back into the thick trees. As his deep voice hummed a haunting song, the leaves on the trees surrounding him seemed to dance along to the melody.
I missed dinner, and there was barely enough luke-warm water left for a five-minute shower. But it wasn't enough to completely wash off the smoke-filled Scavenger camp from my skin.
Day one at the Walker Dorms, I decided that forcing someone to take a chilled shower was a special brand of cruelty. As the water trickled upon my sore shoulders, I looked down at my calloused hands and frowned. The harsh dirt and grime of the Gardens ruined my manicure. I wanted nothing more than to take a nice bath and soothe my muscles. Short showers and crude amenities were now the bane of my existence.
To my absolute dismay, Becca was already fast asleep in her bed next to the window by the time I settled in for the night. Most nights, I made a point to fall asleep before her to save myself the headache of her loud sleeping habits. Like each night before, my roommate’s loud snores filled the tiny bedroom. I tossed and turned on the sad excuse of a mattress, attempting to find a comfortable position. After a few minutes of shifting, I fell back with a sigh, frustrated that I couldn't even position my pillow in a way to drown out her loud snores. God, I missed my goose feather bed. Destroying it the night Cyler and Maverick kicked me out broke my heart. Yet I simply couldn’t live with myself knowing that their little Walker would have it in my absence.
“Oh Kemper,” Becca moaned in her dreamy state, and I rolled my eyes in annoyance. Lately, her dreams had become more graphic, and I wanted nothing more than to claw out her vocal cords in her sleep.
After an hour of trying to force myself into exhaustion, I got up and unlocked the door to our small, cramped room.
Curfew was no laughing matter. The only time I saw Kemper be ‘stern’ was while telling me that skipping curfew would earn me more chores. Although scrubbing toilets didn't seem appealing, I decided that it was preferable to this. Besides, what more could they take from me? I didn’t have a family, a home, or a fulfilling career. I guess the clothes on my back were still up for grabs, but they
’d have to pry them from my cold, dead, fingers.
I made my way down the dark tiled hallway and into the kitchen where I snuck a small slice of Ashleigh’s chocolate cake. I might hate the girl that stole Jacob's heart and gained favor in my brothers’ eyes, but even I couldn’t deny that her baking skills were amazing. I think what made it taste so good was that it reminded me of Mom’s. It tasted like home.
Even though I loved the taste, it would be a cold day in hell when she’d hear that from me. Everyone worshiped her, which is why I avoided the bakery. I didn't want to subject myself to yet another forum for everyone to gush over how wonderful and perfect she was.
I stuck my fork into the moist cake and sighed in contempt before taking a bite. The rich chocolate flavor burst over my tongue. Why, oh why, must it taste so good? I thought, licking the sweet icing from my lips. All the good things in this world gave me hell.
“I wasn’t expecting to see anyone here,” a low bored voice echoed throughout the kitchen, startling me. I turned around and saw Huxley frowning, his bulky frame taking up the entire doorway .
“What are you doing here?” I asked as incriminating chocolate crumbs tumbled from my mouth. I cringed at the state he had caught me in. Instead of answering, Huxley rolled his shoulders back and strolled towards me. He pulled up a metal stool and sat down, grabbing the fork from my fingers and spearing a piece of the cake before answering me.
“I’m on Guard duty tonight. Heard there was cake here and decided to stop by for a bite.” He placed the fork in his mouth, closing his eyes briefly as he savored the rich treat before handing the fork back to me. “The real question is, what are you doing awake and out of your room? You know Kemper doesn't play around when it comes to curfew.”
I sighed dramatically. “Kemper takes everything way too seriously. And if you must know, since being kicked out of my own home, I’ve been forced to room with quite possibly the most obnoxious sleeper in the entire Empire.” Huxley stared at me with one raised eyebrow before rolling his eyes. He was never one to enjoy my theatrics.