Broken Wings (Cruel and Beautiful World, Book One 1)

by Stoddard Hancock, L.

  "For the president's sake, just give him the bucket!" shouted the woman.

  "Three coin," repeated the tram worker.

  "Please ... ugh ... no ... Bleh!"

  Even without looking, Deryn was quite sure she knew what had just happened.

  "My coat!" shouted a new voice. "Are you fucking kidding me?"

  "S-so s-s-sorry," sputtered the drunk man. "I-I din' mean to -"

  The familiar sound of whip-like beam of light shooting out of an Element made Deryn wince, and that was before the man screamed. She put her hand back in her pocket and gripped her knife tightly.

  "Check his information before I lose it, Luka."

  There was the clear sound of a scanner as a set of footsteps walked slowly down the aisle. Deryn could hear as the two new Guardians grabbed everyone's wrists, making a few comments along the way.

  "You sure are pretty," said the same Guardian to a whimpering woman. "Your body already reeks of sex. Did you do it right here in this seat?"

  "No," she cried.

  "You toxic little liar."

  "I'm not toxic. My aunt and her family went out, but -"

  "Same thing," he spat. "Hey, Luka, your shift's done after this, isn't it?"

  "Yeah," said the voice of Luka Voclain. Deryn hadn't seen him in years, despite the fact that he lived with his father Barath, who often favored her during the slave trade.

  "Maybe you'd like to take this lovely piece home with you?"

  "I'd rather not. The last time I brought a girl related to an Outsider home, my father whipped her to near death. Needless to say, she hasn't been over since."

  "You're ... you're kidding, right?" she asked.

  "I wish I was," said Luka. "She's all yours."

  "Excellent," said the other Guardian. "Clean yourself up. I don't want any traces of some other man on you while you're in my bed tonight."

  "You're not even going to fight for her?" asked Luka, assumingly talking to the man she was with.

  "I ... we ... I mean ... I only met her an hour ago."

  The Guardian laughed. "Looks like I got myself a real class act tonight."

  Footsteps continued down the aisle. Deryn clenched her eyes shut and moved her face farther into her hood. Her palm was sweating as she fought to keep her grip on the knife in her pocket.

  "Evening, Veli."

  Deryn trembled as the hooded Guardian said the name. She knew it well. Veli Tash, older brother to Soren and an adamant hater of Deryn. He couldn't stand the way his brother acted when she was around, so he tortured her every chance he got. He said she made Soren weak. It seemed he was right. If Soren wasn't weak then he might still be alive.

  "What are you doing here?" Veli asked the hooded Guardian.

  "Just trying to get home. A process you're currently delaying. Could you move this along, already?"

  There was silence, followed by another footstep. Closer to her. A presence leaned in. Deryn gripped the knife even harder to stop her shaking. Should she strike? If she did, would there be any chance for her to -

  "I would prefer it if you didn't wake her," said the hooded Guardian.

  "Why? She with you?"

  "Yes she is, and she's a little drunker than I prefer, so I was hoping to sober her up a bit. I don't want to end up with something sloppy tonight."

  Deryn knew she had stopped breathing but she couldn't bring herself to start again. He had just lied for her.

  "You scan her band?"

  "Yes, because I always ask to see a woman's information before buying her a drink."

  "Don't get smart with me, you little -"

  "Watch your tone! You forget that I am your superior now."

  Veli shut his mouth.

  "She's not who you're looking for, so get the hell out of here and let me get on with it!"

  There were several more creaks on the floor as Veli stepped backwards, away from Deryn.

  "By the way, I was so sorry to hear about your brother."

  Veli stopped moving.

  "Of course, Elvira's another story. She says her lousy husband deserved it, considering his obsession with that slave. Didn't keep a good enough eye on her."

  "Fuck you -"

  "Ah! Language!"

  Deryn's hand gripped the knife even harder. She hated that he was prolonging this. Just let them leave, already.

  "I oughtta -"

  "You ought to what?"

  Veli said nothing.

  "That's what I thought. Get out of here, Veli. I'm tired and I would like to get home."

  "Bastard," said Veli under his breath as he walked back down the aisle. "Just like his father."

  "And, Veli!" the hooded Guardian called once his subordinate had gone a fair distance. "Leave the girl sitting up there, will you? I suddenly have a craving for a three-way tonight."

  Veli grunted. He left the car and headed for the front of the tram.

  Luka laughed.

  "Drinks later this week, Luka?" asked the hooded Guardian.

  "Definitely," answered Luka before following Veli out of the car.

  As soon as they were gone, the Guardian looked at the whimpering woman near the front of the car and said, "I suggest you get home quickly. And don't go out again at night anytime soon. If he sees you then he'll undoubtedly try again."

  "Yes, thank you," she cried.

  A few seconds later, a bell rang and the tram started again. As it continued to move, Deryn sat there baffled. She had been saved. By him .

  After taking a deep breath, she released her knife, sat up straight and turned her head to face the Guardian. She kept her eyes down for a long moment before lifting them slowly, first taking in his feet, which were aimed in her direction, then his knees, his chest, his shoulders, his neck, and finally his face, no longer hidden beneath the safety of a hood. It was a face she hadn't seen in years but would never forget. A face she had never wanted to see again. The face of Xander Ruby.

  Xander stared back at her with his golden-brown eyes, which were hidden behind two dark circles that made his creamy complexion appear even paler. By the looks of it, there was a good chance his exhaustion rivaled her own.

  Xander only held Deryn's gaze for a moment before he lifted his hand and motioned for her to turn around. The old her would have fought him on such an order, but the present her knew he was right. She was not in the clear yet. Someone could still recognize her. She turned back around and closed her eyes, silently wondering what could possibly happen next.

  Chapter Five

  Deryn must have drifted off to sleep, because she shot up in panic and nearly attacked when someone grabbed her shoulder.

  "Our stop is next," said Xander, fixing her hood, which had fallen halfway off.

  She blinked.

  He leaned in and whispered, "Everyone here heard me say you were getting off with me, so I suggest you do just that before you risk both our lives."

  Deryn looked around the car and saw that everyone was watching them, including the other woman who was trying to get a good look at whomever it was she wouldn't be having a three-way with that night.

  Deryn stood. She flinched as Xander grabbed her hand, but he kept a firm grip and pulled her towards the front of the tram.

  While taking a good look down at their clasped hands, Deryn felt absolutely sick. Filthy and starved, holding hands with Xander Ruby, forced to rely on the help of a Guardian. It really didn't get any lower than this. And that was saying a lot, coming from her. She had been pretty close to the bottom before but at least she always somewhat had her dignity.

  Deryn kept her head low as they walked, not making eye contact with anyone.

  Xander led her through the tram's cars, each more crowded than the last. When they reached the front, he stopped by the exit and gripped a pole, pulling her into him and holding her tightly as the tram came to a halt.

  The doors opened. Xander took hold of her hand again and hurried them outside. They were the only ones who exited. The doors closed behind th
em and the tram zoomed off, creating a loud whistling sound as it sped through the night.

  As soon as it was out of sight, Xander dropped Deryn's hand and the two of them were left standing outside in the cold, damp air.

  Unsure where they were, Deryn looked around. They appeared to be in an older neighborhood, with houses and apartments built with brick, as opposed to the steel and glass structures that were favored throughout the majority of Middle and Inner City.

  It was pretty dead. Not only were there no people walking around, but every building was pitch black. Many people ran and even more were killed when Saevus came down harder on his citizens after defeating her father. Their population had already been dwindling for years and a lot of buildings were left deserted. Sometimes entire streets were devoid of human life. This looked like one of them.

  Without a word, Xander turned and started walking to what Deryn recognized as the east, thanks to the stars they could see in the artificial sky, which Saevus claimed mirrored the outside world. She knew that was another one of his lies. It rained far more in here than it ever did out there.

  While growing up on the outside, Godfrey had taught Deryn how to read the stars. The real stars.

  After Xander had taken a few steps, he stopped and turned. "Coming?"

  Deryn's eyes widened. It was a ridiculous question. Of course she wasn't coming, and she made that very clear by rapidly shaking her head.

  "It's not safe for you to stay out here."

  She crossed her arms and remained silent.

  "If I wanted to turn you in, don't you think I would've done it already?"

  That was a very curious question. If he had been any other person - Guardians and guards aside - then she might have said yes, but this was Xander Ruby. Someone history had taught her never to trust, and for good reason. Why should now be any different?

  "Look, I understand why you don't trust me."

  At least they were on the same page.

  "I never gave you much reason to before and the band on my wrist doesn't exactly help. But if you stay out here you will be caught and you will be executed. They have a plan to capture you and, without someone's help, they will succeed."

  Even though Deryn was starting to feel less confident, she still stood up straight and held her ground. This was Xander Ruby. The boy she had pleaded with to save her moments before she was forced into the life she was now trying to escape. She could never forget that.

  "Fine. Do what you want. Your fucking funeral."

  And with those final, familiar and heartfelt words, Xander turned and left. Deryn watched him walk farther and farther down the road, his figure growing hazy in the fog. Fog she never understood, considering they were in a damn bubble. Her eyes did not leave him until he rounded the corner.

  Deryn turned to walk in the opposite direction, but quickly looked back at the corner he had just gone around.

  She had never been much of a gambler but, given the current circumstances, every move she made was just that. A gamble. Right now she had no plan. She knew no one in Middle City, other than her former slave owners, and had nowhere to go. Sleeping on the streets was a great risk and she could hang around the crowds all she wanted, that didn't change the fact that, eventually, someone was bound to recognize her. Xander had.

  Past prejudices aside, at that moment Xander had given her no reason not to trust him. He protected her from those men outside of the bar, paid for her to get on the tram, lied for her so she wouldn't get caught by the other Guardians, and bought her chocolate.

  Deryn reached into her pocket and touched the chocolate bar. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. It had been a great gamble when she used that knife, and now she was going to take another one.

  Before Deryn had a chance to talk herself out of it, she opened her eyes and ran in the direction Xander had gone. Her body ached as she moved and a pain she had almost forgotten about shot through her ankle. But she didn't care. She had to catch up to him. Whether he betrayed her or not, he was still her best option. So, for the first time since she had known him, Deryn Leon was taking a chance on Xander Ruby.

  She whirled around the corner and stopped to look for him. He wasn't there. She had already lost him. What was she supposed to -

  "About time you got here."

  Deryn's heart jumped. Xander was leaning against the wall just beside her.

  He smirked. "You didn't actually think I was going to leave you alone out here, did you?"

  She didn't answer.

  "Do you never talk anymore?" he asked, standing up straight. "Back in training, the trick was getting you to shut up. Always so damn opinionated. Where are your snide remarks? Your derogatory comments? Where's your fucking fire?"

  Deryn stared at him coldly. She huffed and said, "It's back at Eagle, probably in that hallway we were in before your father dragged me off to a life of slavery."

  Xander stared back at her, mouth slightly fallen. But it was not long before his look of surprise melted away and became a grin instead. "Ah! Now there's the girl I know and loathe. Looks like I just have to rattle you a bit. Well, come along."

  Xander took the lead and guided Deryn through the dead streets of what was formerly a vibrant city. Back when Outsiders were allowed in as long as they went through quarantine or wore gasmasks, and Saevus hadn't killed off half of his citizens for disagreeing with him. The world had practically ended but two centuries ago, the majority of people had died and yet he still took so many lives from the few who remained. It was their job as the survivors to rebuild the world, not destroy it further.

  Judging from the street they were on, Middle City might as well have been a ghost town. Deryn glanced around the eerie sight, unsure of how she was supposed to feel. Even though she had spent a good deal of time in Middle City, as a slave she had always been isolated in a house. Other than her glimpses from the window during the slave trades, she had never really seen how sad it had truly become.

  Xander walked rather quickly and Deryn had a hard time keeping up with him. Her ankle was really starting to hurt and she found herself wishing she would have thought to buy something for it.

  After several twists and turns through the streets, they eventually stopped in front of a tall but narrow apartment complex. Xander scanned his wristband, then used a key to let them inside. As they walked up the stairs, loud music and voices could be heard coming from one of the higher floors. She pulled her hood on farther.

  "Oi! Ruby!" shouted a man as they continued past the third floor.

  Xander put his hand on Deryn's waist and guided her up a few steps higher than him. He ignored the way she flinched and turned towards the man who called him.

  "Picked these up for you."

  Deryn watched him toss something to Xander out of the corner of her eye.

  "Thanks." Xander pocketed whatever it was.

  "Come on, Ruby. You gotta tell us," said another man, walking over and taking a large swig from a bottle of whiskey. "How much longer we gotta put up with this damn lockdown?"

  "Yeah. You Guardian bastards catch whoever it is you're looking for yet?"

  "You know I can't share that information," answered Xander.

  "Ah, come on! What's the point of having a Guardian as a neighbor if you can't tell us anything?"

  "Favors." Xander winked. "All I can say is that the lockdown won't be ending anytime soon. Actually, starting tomorrow, it's going to be worse. You will receive a formal notice in the morning."

  Both men whined in great disappointment.

  The first one took a puff of what appeared to be a cigarette, which was strange considering they had been banned several decades ago, along with all other tobacco products. He glanced at Deryn and she quickly turned away. "Who's your lovely friend?"

  "None of your fucking business."

  "Shier than the ones you normally bring around. What's your name, sweetheart?"

  Xander grabbed the bottle out of the second man's hands and said, "I'll be taking
this. And I suggest you keep it loud down here tonight, 'less you want to hear something your small and feeble minds won't understand."

  Both men gaped at him and then at Deryn. They grinned.

  "It's always the quiet ones who are the screamers." The man with the cigarette laughed.

  Deryn whipped in their direction. "I beg your pardon!"

  "We should be going now." Xander grabbed her arm and yanked her farther up the stairs. "Hold your fucking tongue, will you?" he whispered harshly, once they were a fair enough distance away.

  Xander didn't stop pulling her until they reached the very top, which she had counted as the fifth floor. There was only one door here. His wristband was scanned and he unlocked several locks quickly with his key. He stepped inside and turned on the lights. Then he waited for Deryn to come in, but she made no signs of leaving the hallway.

  "You already came this far. Seems a bit foolish to stop now," he said, wiggling the door like he was going to shut it.

  Deryn looked skeptically at him. But then she took a deep, meditative breath and stepped inside. After all, it was part of the gamble.

  She jumped when Xander shut the door. Without a word, he took off his coat and tossed it over the back of a chair, leaving her standing there as he headed for the kitchen.

  Deryn stood frozen as he shuffled around in there, her eyes studying every last inch of the apartment Xander called home. It was much smaller than she expected. Not that it was small by any means, but he had grown up in one of the largest homes in Inner City. The Saevuses and the Rubys had been close for generations, often living next door to one another.

  The living space was well-sized with a black couch, two matching armchairs, a coffee table, a desk and chair, a fireplace, and a nook with a built-in bookcase that had more knickknacks on it than books. Considering the majority of books in Utopia were electronic, it seemed irrelevant.

  There was a small dining area with a hardwood table and four chairs just beside the kitchen. A tacky chandelier hung above it, which she was sure Xander did not choose. Just beside the dining area was the open kitchen, which she only glanced at briefly since Xander was moving around in there.

  There were three wooden doors in this apartment, and one large sliding glass door that led out to a balcony. The curtains were currently drawn. Deryn moved to close them.