Divided (20 page)

44

Kai

The music itself brings back nostalgic memories of the last time I was here. It’s hard not to get excited as I dance with Iris happily. Once the upbeat song finishes, I bow, and she smiles widely at me.

     ‘You could do with a little more work,’ she says, grinning.

     ‘I could say the same to you!’ I retort. ‘You’ve lost your elegance, but I guess Zeke does that to you!’

     She throws her head back in laughter as I lead her by the hand back to Zeke. He’s sat at a makeshift table deep in conversation with a much older man, flagons of beer between them.

     ‘You wouldn’t know!’ the man roars happily. ‘You must have been only a pup!’

     ‘I remember bits of the Old World,’ Zeke says defensively. ‘I have one memory of playing with Kai! I used to tease him quite badly.’

     Zeke looks up at me, grinning.

     ‘Aha!’ the old man gasps. ‘Brothers! We don’t have any in our tribe! Who took you in? How did you stick together?’

     A small awkward silence fills the air between us.

     ‘We lost each other, but found each other at the last Festival, and I joined his tribe,’ I explain, leaving out the worse parts.

     The older man doesn’t seem to notice the awkwardness, and is busying himself with trying to down the entire flagon in one large gulp.

     ‘You!’ the man says, pointing at Iris, and slamming the now empty flagon on the table. ‘You’re dancing with me!’

     Iris looks startled, and looks as if she can’t find the words to say to him. He approaches her, seizing her arm with apparent strength, and slowly drags her into the group of dancers.

     ‘She’s mine!’ Zeke says, holding onto Iris’s hand.

     The older man releases Iris, looking disappointed, and with a mischievous grin, walks alone, vanishing into the crowd of dancers.

     I laugh at the situation uncontrollably. Iris and Zeke watch me with amusement on their faces.

It’s definitely past midnight, and the music is still playing energetically. If anything, it’s got even livelier! I’ve caught up with so many people I met last time, all of which telling impressive, slightly unbelievable stories of how they survived impossible Hunter attacks. The first tournament of the week ended, unsurprisingly, with a more combat-focused tribe’s competitor victorious. The tournament consists of seven situations in which the competitors are tested. Tonight’s being fist fighting. I’ve never wanted to take part in the tournament, but the last Festival’s was fun to watch. There are at least ninety tribes represented here, all of them having unique skills. The Festival is a time for switching tribes, and so children old enough to want to move on tend to get to know the various tribe members of the tribe they wish to join. Ours are wood-focused. Carving and crafting wood. My old tribe used to make armour, until they were captured and killed. I remember my adopted parents well, and even most of the people in my tribe. I never found any of my tribe. But then, as if it’s a perfectly planned moment, I see a face I recognise. A face I haven’t seen in over ten years. The face of my trainer. I had two trainers, one I know to be dead; his knife I still carry. The other is sat opposite me. He doesn’t recognise me, but it’s as if his thin face hasn’t changed in the past ten years. His hair is still long, falling past his shoulders, now slightly greying. His eyes are a deep blue, like the colour of a river in the moonlight.

     I walk to him, and take the seat opposite him, after asking his permission.

     ‘I know you won’t recognise me,’ I begin, looking hopefully into his eyes, searching for a glint of recognition. ‘But I’m Kai; you trained me when I was in your tribe over ten years ago.’

     ‘Kai?!’ he gasps, his eyes widening. ‘You... you mean?’

     I just nod my head, and taking me by surprise, he gets to his feet at great speed and pulls me to my feet, hugging me.

     ‘You’re supposed to be dead!’ he cries. ‘The few of us that survived the attack mourned you, alongside our other losses.’

     We separate, and I show him his training partner’s knife. He takes it in his hands, examining it closely.

     ‘I remember it well,’ he says. ‘He made this with me one night... it was never supposed to curve. We were drunk at the time, but he found it worked better than he had hoped.’

     He smiles sadly at me, looking into my face.

     ‘You’ve grown well,’ he says smiling at me.

     ‘I had great instructors,’ I say weakly. ‘I had to survive on my own for years. Your training paid off well.’

     ‘Train them young!’ he announces rather loudly. ‘That’s what I’ve always said, and you’re living proof of that!’

     He suddenly looks shocked, his expression changing, looking excited.

     ‘I have something of yours!’ he exclaims suddenly.

     He beckons me to follow him, and he leads me through the small fires until we reach a large tent, big enough for at least ten people to fit comfortably. He enters and I follow him slowly. In the low light, he pulls out a large, long bundle of items, bound tightly in heavy material.

     He removes the material, and after searching carefully, he extracts a long sword and hands it to me. It’s slightly heavy in my hand, but I hold it steady, comfortably. It has a silvered colour gleam to it, as if it’s glowing in the dim light.

     ‘This was your adopted father’s,’ he says quietly. ‘We kept it in the hope that he would return to us. We never found his body.’

     I never heard of what happened to my adopted father or mother, so this moment is precious to me.

     ‘How many survived?’ I whisper.

     ‘Seven,’ he replies sadly. ‘We didn’t find most of the bodies, they were probably captured. But only seven travelled with me.’

     ‘And now?’ I ask, already knowing the answer.

     He nods his head. He’s the last one remaining.

     ‘There are nine of us now,’ he says. ‘But none of them were with me when you were here. You’re the first I’ve found. It gives me hope.’

     He smiles at me, and wraps the rest of the weapons up in the heavy material again, before turning to face me once more.

     ‘Thank you,’ I say to him, trying to put all the emotions that can’t be put into words into two simple words.

     He smiles at me. He knows what it means to me.

I’m exhausted as I make my way towards our tents. Thankfully, some of the Tribe members took our packs and set up all the tents in our allocated location, and so when I find my own, I don’t hesitate to throw myself heavily onto my bed. The music is still playing in the distance, but I silence it as I try to sleep.

     Suddenly, people walk into my tent, whispering to themselves. I open my eyes to see Zeke, Zach, Nina, and Iris stood around me. Zeke is carrying Alaoden again, who is softly snoring in his arms.

     ‘We have to talk to you,’ Zeke says urgently.

     I lift my head to see his weary expression.

     ‘What is it?’ I ask him, a little annoyed.

     ‘We’re leaving,’ he says bluntly.

     ‘What?!’ I ask, bolting upright. ‘Why?!’

     To my surprise, it’s Zach who speaks up. ‘Because the tribes are the same as the Compound. I was imprisoned in the Compound, caged in, and the tribes are the same! They adopt a lifestyle and we’re still not free. We’ve discussed it; we’re leaving to survive on our own. To finally have freedom.’

     ‘You’re not thinking straight, Zeke!’ I protest, turning to my brother, who I’ve always thought wise. ‘You’ve been drinking!’

     ‘I haven’t had a drop,’ he says calmly. ‘We’re here to ask you to come with us.’

     ‘What?!’ I ask, thinking this is a crazy dream. ‘What’s gotten into you all? Iris?’

     Iris shakes her head. ‘It’s for the best, Kai.’

     ‘What about Arys?! She needs us!’

     ‘She left too, Kai!’ Zeke says, raising his voice. ‘Maybe you need to realise that there are more ways to live than in tribes, with Hunters, and in the Compound!’

     ‘You’re crazy!’ I tell them all.

     ‘Then this is goodbye,’ Zeke says sadly, pulling me to my feet, slightly against my will.

     He hugs me, and I allow him to, but I don’t hug back. I’m still too shocked at the whole idea of everything. Iris hugs me too, and Zach gives me a feeble smile, before walking out of the tent door. Nina remains standing in the tent, while everyone else leaves.

     ‘We’re being serious,’ she says to me. ‘You’re just going to get caught up in this way of life. Come with us! Arys realised, that’s why she left!’

     ‘She left because I scared her!’ I shout at her.

     She stands her ground, not breaking eye contact with me.

     ‘That’s not the reason she left,’ she says quietly. ‘Zeke explained it all to us, and from a Compound perspective, it all makes sense!’

     ‘Well the Compound
never
helped us when we needed their help! We’re being hunted out here, barely surviving while they remain closed up in their protective wall! Don’t you
dare
mention their perspective to me!’

     She leaves the tent without another word. I lie back down, hoping that either this is a dream, or they’ll wake up tomorrow realising that considering leaving is a mistake.

45

Arys

I’ve been playing Old World games with Lee all day. He was only supposed to be on a break, but he stayed with me. We’re now sat playing a card game called ‘Gin Rummy’. I’m sat cross-legged on the carpet in front of him, finally getting the hang of it. I watch him as he takes my discarded two of diamonds and places it into his hand, discarding the ten of clubs from his hand.

     ‘I’d say I’m settled enough now,’ I say, stretching my legs.

     There are empty packets of sweets on the floor. I’ve heard about them all my life, but we have been living off natural food and animal meat at the Tribe for as long as I can remember, as our personal supplies diminished quickly. The Compound, however, doesn’t seem to have a shortage, and I help myself to another small bag of jellybeans. Some of the flavours, like raspberry, apple, and mint, I recognise almost instantly. Others are ones I’m tasting for the first time. Briefly checking the flavours on the back, I select a white coloured one, labelled to be coconut. I chew it and the flavour bursts into my mouth, it’s a pleasant taste.

     Checking my hand, I have almost got a run from six to ten, so I pick up the ten of clubs that Lee discarded and discard the four of clubs from my own hand.

     ‘You never told me,’ I say. ‘What am I doing here?’

     He sets his cards down, face down, and I do the same.

     ‘You have to pretend to be your sister,’ he explains. ‘We needed information from Kayra, we need action from you.’

     ‘What kind of action?’ I ask.

     I’m limited when it comes to combat, and I hope he realises that because from what Kayra explained of the Compound, it’s a heavy training centre and I’m not sure how I’ll cope.

     ‘Our current goal is to stop the Chipped,’ Lee explains, stretching out on the carpet, too, and resting his head on his arm.

     ‘We want to de-chip them, and to do that we’re going to need you.’

     I laugh uncertainly. ‘Why me? Why not someone stronger who can make an actual difference? Why any of this? Why did the earthquake have to start?’

     I close my eyes, imagining life like this normally. A life when I grew up with my parents and Papa. A life where Papa wasn’t murdered by people who can’t help it.

     ‘Because life has to get worse,’ he replies comfortingly. ‘That way, when it does get better, you know how to appreciate it.’

     ‘It was bad enough as it was without Papa having to die,’ I sigh.

     ‘If nothing bad happens, any good that comes along will just look ordinary to you,’ he says, his voice still in the comforting tone. ‘Because life would already be good that you would no longer see it as good. Good becomes life, and you will always be waiting for something better.’

     ‘And I’m the one who has to make the difference to make it better for everyone else?’

     ‘Life always promises to give the world a person to take away everything bad.’

     ‘And what if I can’t be that person?’

     Lee sits up, and takes both of my hands in his.

     ‘You already are that person, Arys! You proved that when you trusted me when you had no reason to!’

     ‘Well...’ I say, smiling a little again. ‘That
was
before you took away my obedience enhancement.’

     The look of seriousness vanishes from his face as he throws his head back in laughter. I join in and we sit there laughing together for what seems like hours.

I wake up feeling fresh, and for the first time in my life, I don’t want to get out of bed. I stretch and yawn, looking out of the window to try and see what time it is, as the clock still makes no sense to me. I can’t see the sun due to the wall around the Compound blocking it from sight. After five minutes of trying to get up, someone knocks on the door. I hurriedly get changed out the clothes I was sleeping in, and put on the black uniform that I was given by Lee. I open the door to see Fran carrying a backpack. I’m seeing her for the first time since thinking she was a Hunter, and her face, like Lee’s, is a lot friendlier. She wears the same uniform as me, although I notice that where my white Unity emblem is, she wears a slightly different one. Hers is the same, though with two red stripes below the U on the emblem. Used to show that she’s staff, I surmise.

     ‘Good morning,’ she says, smiling at me in a friendly way. ‘I’ve brought everything you’ll need. People will be here to help you soon.’

     She gives me one last smile before handing me the backpack and leaving my room, closing the door behind her. The backpack holds two more uniforms of the same design I’m wearing now. On the top of them sits a black box. I open it to reveal the watch that Lee gave me back in the cell. A note is sat underneath it. I unfold it quickly.

Dear Arys,

As you left this with us after the injection, I thought you’d like it back. Pressing the top button will allow you to communicate with us, and by pressing it again, it will cease that communication, so you can have your privacy whenever you desire. Inside the watch is a hidden, unregistered tracking device. It won’t be detected by any of Unity’s computers, but instead connected to my personal computer, so we can know where you are at all times if you ever need to be pulled out of there for any reason. We can talk to you through the earpiece sitting underneath the cushion of the box. I will try and see you before you fully enter into the Compound, but if I don’t, I want to wish you the best of luck and you should know that both Fran and I, and all of North Bridge are behind you!

Lee.

P.S. The items you carried with you when we took you in are still safely in our care. Unity won’t be too happy if you walk into the Compound with a sword and a letter from a man from the very tribes they’re hunting. They’ll still be here when you are ready to come out again.

I put the watch around my wrist and lift the cushion of the box to reveal a smaller, plastic box. I open that, and the earpiece looks as thin and tiny as a miniscule piece of paper.

     There’s a knock on the door, and a woman walks in. She has long hair, a deep red colour, like the setting sun.

     ‘Sorry, but you’ll have to go in the shower,’ she says briskly. ‘This way, please.’

     I’m led to the bathroom door in the corner of the room. I wanted to have one last night, but Lee left before explaining how it works. The woman takes several bottles out of her bag and places them on a shelf, next to the shower. She turns the shower on and hands me the first bottle.

     ‘Rub this into your hair first, after wetting it. Then do the same using this blue one. Then you can wash yourself with this one,’ she points says, pointing to each bottle as she speaks. ‘Keep that last one away from your hair, and make sure you rub it over your whole body. When you’re done, switch the shower off with this button here, and then step into the other side. The same button will turn on the dryer for a minute, which should be more than enough to sort you out, though if you need any more time, press it again.’

     I nod to show that I’ve taken in and understood her instructions, and when she leaves the room, I take off my clothes and step into the shower. I test the water with my hand, feeling the heat of it. I’m usually used to the cold water of a lake, or river, or sometimes a waterfall. This, I’m not used to, but as I stand under the hot water, I know it’s something that I easily could get used to. The dryer blows warm air all around me, like a light breeze in summer, only much warmer.

     After my shower, I feel clean. For the first time in my life, I actually feel hygienic. My hair falls down the side of my face, smelling so fresh and looking pure. I notice suddenly as I rub my arms that the hair on them has gone, along with the hair on my legs. I dress in a cleaner uniform, and the red haired woman starts to put makeup on my face. I recognise it from what Nina had. On the way back from the Compound, she put some on my face, but I didn’t see what I looked like with it on.

     ‘Beautiful,’ she says, handing me a screen. ‘You don’t half as bad as I thought you would!’

     I look down at the screen I’m holding to see my reflection. My initial reaction is shock, but not because of the makeup. Staring back at me, as if in a world of her own, is my reflection, but it’s not flat, like a mirror I’ve seen before. My reflection appears to be sticking out of the screen. The woman shows no surprise, so it must be normal here. I look at my reflection closely, noticing that I have black lines above my eyelashes and lightly around my eyes. My lips are a brighter red than usual. It somehow makes me look healthier, and my skin has a warm glow to it. At first glance, I could easily genuinely be mistaken for Kayra if it weren’t for the hair.

     ‘One more thing,’ she says after I’ve examined myself in the screen.

     She withdraws a thin white box from her pocket and opens it in front of me.

     ‘Your eye colour,’ she explains. ‘You need to have the same shade of green as Kayra’s eyes.’

     She takes out a small object from the box that looks like a thick pen with a screen attached to it.

     ‘I’m going to hold this to your eye,’ she says, describing the procedure to me. ‘It will hold your eyelids open and print the shade onto your own eyes. Think of it as a spray on tattoo.’

     She must register the terrified look on my face, as she laughs slightly.

     ‘It doesn’t hurt!’ she assures me. ‘It’s like the sun changes your skin tone; this will change your eye tone.’

     She taps a few times on the screen, before holding the pen-like object to my left eye. It’s hollow, and a bright light shines at the end of it. It feels slightly warm, before she takes it off my left eye and does the same with the right eye. It barely takes ten seconds altogether.

     ‘Done!’ she exclaims, handing me the mirror again. ‘Do this every twenty four hours.’

     I look once again at my reflection extruding from the screen. I stare into my eyes, only they’re no longer my eyes, they’re Kayra’s. I’ve always believed that no matter how old you get, your eyes remain the same, but right now, my eyes are unrecognisable as mine. I’m looking into Kayra’s eyes! Then suddenly, without warning, she takes scissors and starts cutting my hair, so fast that she’s probably done it hundreds of times before. My hair falls around me into small, messy piles. Someone else knocks on the door just as she finishes.

     ‘Come in!’ she calls.

     Lee walks in, his jaw dropping when he sees me.

     ‘You... look...’ he tries to say.

     We both start laughing, and the red haired woman scowls at us both for not treating this maturely and like the highly dangerous mission that it is.

     ‘Did you know my sister?’ I ask, standing up and shaking my head, the hair falling from my shoulders.

     I look in the screen at my reflection again, and sure enough, I look exactly like Kayra does, especially with the Compound uniform.

     ‘Very briefly, barely a couple of weeks ago,’ he says.

     The woman leaves us, saying goodbye rather sharply, before closing the door behind her.

     ‘She’s so
formal
!’ I say, slightly annoyed.

     I’ve never had to deal with official people in my life, and they already annoy me.

     ‘You’ll get used to people like her,’ he says, the now familiar grin back on his face. ‘Did you get my note?’

     ‘Yeah! I thought I wouldn’t be seeing you before I left!’ I say, hugging him.

     ‘Do you want any help with the earpiece?’

     I accept the help, and he carefully takes the paper-thin device and with a stick almost as thin as a needle, attaches it to the inside of my ear.

     After some testing of the watch and earpiece, he stands back and looks at me, beaming.

     ‘So!’ he says, clapping my shoulder in a friendly manner. ‘Ready to go into the Compound?’