“You brute,” she smirks, teasing me right back.
It’s like we’re sixteen again…
“Alright, let’s go.”
Chapter 21
Rezin
It happens so fast. Da is getting ready to go to his work in the fields, and Ma is finishing the porridge for breakfast. I’m playing in my room with a small wooden person Da carved for me on my fourth birthday. Ma says I’m seven now.
I’m waiting for mother to tell me the food is done. She doesn’t get the chance, though. I stop playing with my toy to listen for her voice. Instead, I hear the pot fall to the dirt floor with a clunk, and, in an instant, everything becomes chaotic as my parents rush into my room.
There is something wrong. I can tell by the looks on their faces as Ma grabs me under my armpits and lifts me into her arms. I drop my wooden toy in the process, forgetting about it with my parent’s hurried whispering for me to come with them.
It’s only then that I hear the crackling of fire outside the hut and screams of men, women, and children maybe a mile away. Something bad is happening.
“Come on, Rezin,” Ma calls to me, fear making her voice shake. “It’s time to leave. You have to get to Landow and warn the Elder.”
“Do you remember what we practiced, son?” Da asks me as we get close to the back of the hut. It’s where the secret path is hidden, under a wooden chest bigger than me that Ma made before I was born.
The shouts outside the hut get closer, and I can hear a strange pop pop pop not far from us now. Guns. Ma and Da told me about those and how deadly they are. Guns are only used by Loyals in the most desperate times in that city. It’s only then that I start to feel scared.
I nod in response to Da’s question, fear not letting me to speak. It’s difficult to forget the drills he had me practice. Crawling through the tunnel.
Ma and Da used to live in the city that sits above the hill. I’ve never seen it since we live so far away from it, but they would tell me it’s where all the pompous and arrogant people live and that we are better off here. Whatever that means. They were forced out before I was born.
My parents have had me run this escape route for as long as I can remember. All of us would run the track to make sure we all knew which ways lead to outside and away from the village, or into a trap. I know exactly what to do.
“Good,” Da breathes.
“Promise me you’ll talk to Aukai?” Ma says to me. She’s holding my chin tightly in her left hand to make me look in her eyes. She’s terrified but determined. “Promise me.”
Still unable to speak, I nod.
“Go,” Da insists.
He moves the wooden chest while Ma lowers me into the tunnel.
“Run.”
Both of them repeat the word to me, scaring me more. They pushed me through our emptied out escape burrow that Da built in secret. He lowers the chest over me and I scream for them to stop, asking why they aren’t coming with me this time. I don't want to leave them, but Ma insists as Da gives me a last terrified look.
It’s up to me to warn Landow that we’re being attacked. My job alone since no one else thought it necessary to prepare for something like this. But my parents did.
Crawling further into the hollowed-out dirt, Da shoves our trunk in front it without another word, causing me to be surrounded by darkness. On the other side of the chest, I hear our front door slam open. Widespread fear fills my body when I hear the piercing shrill, the pop pop pop of the guns the Loyals are carrying.
I can feel the tears forming in my eyes. My parents are dead. Their pleas stop almost as soon as the pops begin. Frozen in place, the reality of what's happening sinks in. I don't understand why the Loyals are doing this to our family, and others within Kynol, our small village. They've never taken such measures before. Why now?
My parent’s preparations weren’t supposed to be necessary…
Managing to get my body to crawl again, and I start moving as fast as I can. Da made me practice going through this tunnel at least once a week. Sometimes twice. I can find my way through entirely by touch.
There a few different paths to take, but I feel for the smooth river stones Ma collected and placed within the tunnel floor. The stones are placed in such a pattern that only we know what they are there for, and how they are directing us. She did this so if we were ever followed, there would be the chance our trackers would go the wrong way and end up down another tunnel.
A deadly one. Where it gets smaller and smaller until the sharpened branches, stuck deep in the walls, pierce into their skin.
I’m not able to judge how long it takes me to weave through the black tunnel. Our trial runs would take several minutes of navigation before reaching the end, but with my blood pumping loudly in my ears it feels like hours have passed.
My knees start to ache, but I have to keep going fast. I finally see a light and I get my body ready to run. Although the end is outside the village, it’s not far enough to escape danger. I don't know if anyone or anything will be waiting for me on the other side.
Bursting out of the tunnel and into a bush, I head immediately towards the forest on my left. The woods are about twenty steps away. Landow is about a three hour walk from here, from Kynol, near where the sun sets.
"Hey, there's a kid running away!" I hear a Loyal shout.
Knowing I’ve been spotted, I will myself to run faster. I have to make it to Landow and tell the village leader what has happened. I promised Ma. She has always kept her promises to me, so I must do the same for her. I have to.
I glance back only a moment to see the village slowly going up in flames. The only home I have ever known is gone. One last glance before I leave the burning village. I face forward again, hearing gunshots, and I know the Loyals are firing at me.
I’m lucky that most whiz past me on either side. However, I think one hits me. I feel pressure against my right side as pain shoots through my stomach.
But I can't let anything keep me from getting to Landow. There is no time to stop.
Making it into the tree line, I feel the moss underneath my feet. My legs are getting a little tired, but I’m used to running. All the village children are pretty good at it, as our favorite games require running most days.
I feel slightly relieved the further I run. I've known these forests since I was small. My parents would take me with them on walks and show me herbs and wildflowers that can be used as medicine or food. Plus, I know of many places to hide if the Loyals were to come this far into the woods.
The forest can be a scary place for those who do not know it at all. I think I am safe here. I can still hear shouting and gunfire, but it's becoming distant. Turning further towards the direction the sun sets, I scramble through an old tree log and make it to the other side of a small hill.
My vision is beginning to blur a little. I just hope I’m close to Landow now. I will not let anything stop me from keeping my promise. I run past a pile of three rocks. One has a small speckle of red painted on it, only noticeable if you’re looking for it. This serves as a marker telling me that I am halfway there.
Unable to help myself, I brush my hand to my side while I run to see why it hurts so much but I’m afraid. Every movement causes the agony to spread throughout my body. I bring my hand up and it's covered in blood.
What is that from? The guns? Is that what’s causing me so much pain?
Dashing to the left, I duck behind a large tree. That is definitely what the pain is from: one of the Loyals landed a shot on me. I rip off the bottom of one of my pant legs and tie it around my belly, around the wound. I wince at the pressure the makeshift bandage is putting on my side, making more pain shoot through me.
Ma always said to stop the bleeding first. I can't let this stop me.
Getting up, I take a minute for a wave of dizziness to pass. Rustling in the distance causes me to take off again. There's one more landmark I have to get to before I can slow down. Once I see it, I know I will be safe. Fr
om that maker, only a few minutes more and I will be in Landow.
It's getting harder to get enough air into my lungs to keep up my pace, though. I slow down slightly to a fast jog rather than a sprint. I'm looking all around for the marker, causing me to stumble a bit. Out of the corner of my eye, I see it: a green triangle painted onto a high tree branch.
There, I turn right, and I can hear the bustling of people. Losing my footing, I fall into the entrance of the town - my feet rolling head over heels and my side burning.
"Are you alright," I hear a woman exclaim.
A hand touches my back at my left shoulder.
"Please, I need to see to see Aukai," I gasp between wheezes, trying to make myself get up from the dirt. "Please!"
Suddenly, I’m hoisted up onto a strong shoulder. I look up to see a young man looking serious at the growing crowd.
"Out of the way," the man yells. "This boy needs to see the Elder."
My savior pushes past the people gathering around us toward the leader of Landow, who lives only a hundred steps away from where I fell. Looking to where we are headed, my weakened eyesight catches the larger hut that we're approaching. I feel the man carrying me yell out something. I can’t hear what, though. All the sounds around me are a bit muffled.
I squint my eyes as the hut door opens and Aukai comes out.
"Dear child, what has happened," his gentle voice calls, filling my ears with relief as he steps closer, so I don't have to strain my voice. I wheeze some more to get the necessary air I need to speak.
"Kynol, my village,” I murmur. I want to speak louder, but my voice won’t work. “Loyals came burned it to the ground. The sounds of guns were everywhere."
"Let's get this child medical attention," Aukai orders as he ushers the man carrying me into the hut. He sounds worried.
I feel myself being laid on a flat surface. I sigh, letting myself finally relax, allowing my body to become numb.
I’m finally safe. I kept my promise to Ma and Da. I told Aukai about what the Loyals did to my home. Tears fall down my cheeks. Now, I can finally rest my exhausted body. A cloudiness forms in front of my eyes, spreading through my limbs, and I know I’m fading. Maybe I’ll be able to see Ma and Da again…
Chapter 22
Alora
Waking up after a long night, I smell dry dirt and hay. The bed sheet is rough against my right side, and the blanket is coarse - nothing like what I grew up with, and I’m glad. It means I’m still in Landow and it hasn’t been a dream.
I’m still afraid to open my eyes, though. My limbs crack and pop as I spread them across the bed in front of me, knocking into something solid and smooth next to me. Abs. I should be shocked or offended, but I’ve been waiting for an intimate moment like this since we met.
I run my fingertips up to a strong chest, gliding my left hand between hairless pectorals, with my right relaxing on the bed. A soft moan escapes between my companion’s closed lips. The pads of my fingers barely touch his skin but continue to soak in the warmth and strength radiating from his body.
Up his chest, over his collar bones, and along the left side of his neck to the hair behind it, running my fingers through it. My eyes open to see Ryder looking at me lustily, a wondrous glow in his gaze. Awestruck with the person across from him.
“Hey,” I whisper with a smile, a bit anxious to be in bed with a boy for the first time. Along with the look he’s giving me. He is probably experienced with sex, but I’m not.
“Hello, Kyanite,” he responds gruffly, his voice thick with fervor. There’s that nickname again… “How are you feeling?”
After he left with Micah and the rest of the group last night, Aukai attempted to calm my nerves by giving me warm wine. It worked in the sense I failed to adequately determine my tolerance level.
As I have never tasted alcohol before, I reached my limit before I wanted to. My head spun after two glasses, which had the sweet taste of succulent blue apples and juicy orange grapes, then burned the entire way down my esophagus. It was satisfying.
Aukai consumed thrice my capacity, yet he was unaffected. The ground faltered underneath me, or that’s how it seemed. It was more likely my feet that wavered. The Elder guided me to the room Micah used before he built his hut, and I was asleep for most of the night. As soon as my head fell upon the hay-stuffed pillow, my eyes shut, and I travelled through dreamland.
I’m not sure when Ryder and Micah returned from Geha, but it was Ryder who came into the room and woke me. He picked me up and carried me through the hut. Skylark was clinging to Micah near the main door.
My brain was clouded by the alcohol and sleep, so I couldn’t process why she was here in Landow. All I heard was Ryder whispering in my ear if it was okay that I spent the night with him, so Micah and Skylark could have some time to catch up. He seemed almost annoyed about it.
I remember groaning and being carried back to Ryder’s hut. Before going inside, Micah kissed the top of my head and he ushered the woman into his hut while my companion carried me into his. Sleep overcame me before we made it to his bedroom. I woke with my clothing still on, so I know he was a gentleman. Though, I didn’t doubt that he would be.
Now I lay next to him, unsure of the time or how my brother and his old love are doing. I suppose it’s his current love still, as she came back from Geha with him. It makes me wonder how the Arbiter’s daughter will adapt to living without all her privileges. Micah will be there to help and spoil her, though.
“I’m actually okay,” I sigh, rubbing my forehead with the back of my left hand before returning it to Ryder’s bare chest. He’s so warm… “It may have been my first time drinking alcohol, but my body was able to metabolize it efficiently.”
“Okay, Kyanite,” he giggles. His gaze and smile have a content sparkle as he looks to me. He seems happy just listening to me talk.
“Kyanite,” I repeat, wrinkling the bridge of my nose. “Why do you keep calling me that?”
“It suits you,” he answers, leaning in and kissing the tip of my nose. My cheeks burn and my lips curl into a smile against my will.
“Cut that out, I’m trying to ask you for an explanation,” I tease with a chuckle. “You’re distracting me.”
“Sorry, Kyanite,” Ryder chortles. “Continue.”
“Thank you,” I grin, triumphant. “I know that it is a rare mineral from back on Earth-that-was but is almost nonexistent now. It has many different properties and purposes, but the use is what made it unique. The Kyanite mineral is meant to inspire hope and fair treatment to others. But what does that have to do with me?”
“You’ve already answered the question.”
“I don’t understand,” I announce, my brow furrowing.
“You inspire hope and fair treatment to others.”
“I’m still not following. Who have I inspired?”
“Me, beautiful,” Ryder informs me, a playful twinkle in his eyes and laughter in his voice. “You’ve inspired me.”
“I have?” I ask, taken aback.
“Definitely,” he confirms, running his left hand through my, probably messy, hair. “You’ve also inspired Micah. Although he tried not to show it, he was constantly depressed until you came back into his life and decided to stay. I doubt Skylark would have ever rejoined him if it weren’t for you venturing below Geha.”
“I suppose so,” I respond, extremely doubtful.
My Bleeding Rite revealed that I have some fantastic potential, but I don’t know if he’s being honest or trying to flatter me. I haven’t been trying to inspire anyone, so I haven’t noticed it happen.
“There’s also the ‘fair treatment’ portion,” he grins. He refuses to let go of his humorous nature. He’s lucky that it’s endearing. “From the very moment we met, you did not judge me even though you knew that I was one of the Unfavorable. Any other person from Geha would have treated me as inferior and smaller than the dirt underneath their feet, but you didn’t do that. That is what amazed me and d
rew me to you from the very start.”
Wow, what a sweet-talker…
My left hand goes from his chest to his right cheek, my thumb stroking his skin.
How did I get lucky enough to find such a smart, handsome, and sweet man? Favorable, Unfavorable - doesn’t matter. No one else in this world, or any other, would complement me like he does.
I open my mouth to say something, but I’m not sure what. To either thank him or kiss him, I haven’t decided yet. Either way, I don’t get the opportunity. A young, male voice is shouting and running towards the hut.
“What’s that?” I say, rolling onto my back and toward the bedroom door. My head snaps back to Ryder, terror flooding me. “You and Micah took care of Cloudore, right?”
Ryder is unable to respond. The voice is almost to our entry door. I mean…his front door. His hut. Ryder is staring at me with the same fear.
They didn’t kill him…
“Micah!” the man yells to us. “Ryder!”
No way to ignore it, we push ourselves up out of bed and rush out of the room. Dashing through the rest of the hut, Ryder exits first with me right behind him. Micah comes from his at the same time, Skylark following him with no more than a foot between them at all times.
The boys acknowledge each other before giving the frantic boy running towards us their attention. The distressed newcomer stops in front of Micah and almost collapses onto the dirt, gasping for breath.
“Aukai,” the boy wheezes out.
The four of us, waiting impatiently for him to finish his message, have frozen in place, as if vines have grown up from the depths of the Leda and wrapped themselves around our ankles. That man has done so much for all of us - he has to be alright.
“He…” the boy coughs, extending our wait and creating more anxiety. “He needs to…to see you…right away.”
There’s a moment of relief, an exhale we all share. A deep sigh that extends to the messenger. Without a word to each other, the four of us walk back to the Elder’s hut, keeping a quick pace. I can’t help but ponder what he could possibly want from us.
The Unfavorable Page 19