Divided (6 page)

     ‘Kai! What are you doing with
her
?!’ she yells, spitting the last word out like an insult. ‘We’re engaged!’

     What?! They’re engaged?! That doesn’t happen here! Engagement is a term I’ve only heard stories about from Papa and the other people who lived to experience it in the Old World. That’s Old World love. Iris and Kai?! I feel my heart rip and the world seems to slow down as I watch Iris run to her tent, and then slowly Kai turns and follows her, his eyes void of any emotion. I’m left here alone.

     I run past all the tents, people see me but I don’t care. I run straight into the forest, jumping over fallen trees and under low-hanging branches. I follow the route I took only this morning, but in reverse. That hits me more than anything has yet. Only last night, Kai woke from his dream, which I thought to be a vision. Only last night we were kissing for the first time. Only last night my life was finally complete. Now tonight, my life is suddenly a huge lie. I’m placed against my will into a plot started by my parents; a plot I know nothing about. And I have to stop my own feelings and emotions and stop myself from loving anyone just to fulfil that! I was once taught to play a game called chess, by Michael, one of the older members of the Tribe who eventually moved onto another tribe. There was an entire row of the same type of piece, one which name I forget. I feel like one of those, just controlled by my parents. I have to sacrifice my entire life as I know it just so they can have their knock-on effect. I hate it. I suddenly take in my surroundings. I’m stood at the waterfall Kai and I kissed by last night.

     ‘And he was engaged that entire time,’ I remind myself. I feel as if the memory itself is now poisonous and force it away. I make my way towards the back of the waterfall, and notice a cave, lit only by the moonlight. I decide to go inside it by jumping through the waterfall and sit down. I’m cold and wet, but I stay there for what seems like hours, just watching the waterfall in front of me.

Suddenly the realisation of where I am hits me. I’m in a forest in the middle of the night with the closest people who can protect me several miles away at least. Hunters could be anywhere and I’m here, unarmed, unprotected and completely alone. Fear begins to overwhelm me as I realise how in danger my life is right now. I plan to wait out the night in this cold cave, and make my way back at the first light of day. My hands shake and I tell myself to calm down. Besides, the lake is hidden, there’s little chance Hunters will know it’s here, let alone that I’m here. I begin to relax, bringing up the memory of the Hunters near the lake with Zeke this afternoon. That memory seems a lovely one in comparison to the later events. I hear something... someone. The footsteps are too heavy to be an animal. I hold my breath, and my heart beats almost painfully against my chest. That’s when I see through the water: A solitary Hunter, making its way towards me. I shrink against the wall silently, hoping not to be seen. But it comes closer... it must know about the cave! I search frantically for a sharp rock. I have no training in hand to hand combat and the little training I have had with a knife is no use with rocks. The Hunter enters the cave, not spotting me yet. He’s a tall man, bald headed and very muscular. Hunters that travel alone are almost always armed. I spot it straight away: a short sword hanging loosely from his belt. He’s distracted by the waterfall and he also got wet coming through. He shivers as he takes off his thick travelling cloak. I take the chance, my heart beating faster each second. I run past him and jump. I misjudge the jump drastically and land loudly in the pool of water, the sharp rock flying from my hand. The Hunter, startled, turns on me instantly, picking me up by my neck and throwing me against the far wall of the cave. He draws his sword and advances on me with it raised. My hands fumble for another rock, though I find none. He stands over me, the sword inches away from my neck.

     ‘Arys!’ I hear a familiar voice shout.

     The Hunter is caught off guard, turning his head in the direction of the voice and I kick him as hard as I can. My foot makes contact with his stomach and he collapses on the floor. I jump up and step on his hand as hard as I can, forcing him to let go of the sword. I hear my name called again and so scream to alert my rescuer of my location. The Hunter pulls my legs and I fall to the ground, scraping my back against the wall of the cave. I cry out in agony while the Hunter kicks away his sword and picks me up by my neck again. I struggle and kick as much as I can but his iron grip won’t release me. Just as I think he’s won, his release slackens and we both fall to the ground. I see blood spray the floor as I pass out.

I awake to find myself in Kai’s tent. I recognise it instantly by the smell of him. The sharp pain is still in my back and I see light penetrate the gaps in the entrance to the tent. From what I can see, it’s still very early. Kai has his own tent. He found it and claimed it, and must carry it when changing location. He doesn’t mind this, and is content to have a place to call his own; he hates being treated like a child. I think of him properly for the first time since waking up. Kai: the boy I love, the boy who I shouldn’t love, the boy who is engaged; the boy who betrayed me. As the memory of last night comes back to me properly, I feel hatred for Iris burn through me. And Kai’s betrayal stings more than the pain in my back.

     The entrance opens and Kai steps in, smiling slightly at me. I reach for the knife on the floor of the tent, grab Kai by his shoulders and throw him to the floor. My strength surprises me, as Kai is well built. I pin him to the ground, my knife against his neck.

     ‘Arys!’ he says, as if telling me off.

     ‘You said you loved me!’ I scream at him. ‘I should have known better! Love doesn’t exist anymore. Not the Old World kind! Not the
real
kind!’ I release him, tossing the knife onto the floor again.

     ‘I did love you!’ he pleads, after catching his breath again.

     I attempt to leave the tent, but Kai immediately rises and clutches my wrist. ‘This is a complicated situation now, Arys. Papa told me everything when you were gone. I don’t love you. Not the way you want me to, though I promise on my life that I will protect you. That’s the real kind! Hopefully I demonstrated that tonight. Nothing is going to be the same anymore, but you have to trust me.’

11

Arys

I struggle as much as I can against Kai’s grip on my wrist. His words have hurt me more than I could have thought possible. Papa is right; I would take any sword wound over the pain of this betrayal. I stop struggling as much, the anger ebbing away, replaced by an empty gloomy feeling. Kai releases me and all I can do is stand there staring at the boy I no longer recognise as my best friend. I take a deep breath, choosing words carefully.

     ‘Okay, this isn’t about me or us,’ I say, hating that my voice catches on the word “
us
”. ‘This is about finding Kayra. We’re packing up anything we need and leaving. Forget about getting married to me or Iris or any of this, and forget that “vision”. That’s not happening anymore. Papa is the only person we’re telling.’

     I look away from him, not wanting to even think of him, and I climb out of the tent, not saying another word.

     Within ten seconds of walking towards mine and Papa’s tent, Kai catches up to me. I don’t want him around me, and clench my fists as he walks in time with me, like he always has.

     ‘What’s the plan? Where are we going?’ he asks me awkwardly.

     ‘We’ll ask Papa, he will know,’ I reply, purposely not looking at him, and instead staring blankly ahead.

     We pass Iris, who watches us walking together. She doesn’t say anything, and Kai seems to avoid her too. The other people around camp watch us too and it feels in the air like they know something is wrong.

      We reach my tent to find Papa sat on his stool. He welcomes us, looking me over quickly as I sit on the dew-covered grass in front of Papa, sitting as far away from Kai as I can.

     ‘Papa, Kai and I are leaving to find Kayra. We’re leaving tonight and nothing you say will stop us from going. We need to know how to reach her,’ I say confidently, a hint of rebellion in my voice.

    Kai doesn’t say a word, and avoids looking at me while I speak. I expect Papa to scold us, or remind us how foolish we are for wanting to go out of camp alone, but he speaks with relief and with hope.

     ‘She’s working with the government now. Since the earthquake, Unity became the entire government. Everything is controlled by them. In my last report from Henry, they were in what he called a compound, safe from the earthquake’s destruction.’

     ‘Henry?’ I ask, hope filling me suddenly. ‘My dad is alive... and you’ve heard from him recently?’

     ‘It’s difficult, but we communicate via phone,’ Papa says slowly. ‘It’s not important how, but I’m connected to the government’s network.’

     ‘Papa... can I speak with him?’ I ask hopefully.

     He looks at me sadly.

     ‘Okay, though later. You need sleep now if you’re leaving tonight,’ he says. ‘Go and fetch us both something to eat from the fire pit.’

     I walk out of the tent smiling, leaving Kai behind and putting distance between us. I’m going to talk to my real father soon, my father who I’ve always thought to be dead! The happiness of my father being alive forces away the pain of yesterday away and I begin to think of my mother. What if she’s alive too?

     I change my course and turn back, rushing back to the tent to ask Papa. I hear voices inside: Kai and Papa.

     ‘...don’t think I can,’ I hear Kai say.

     I sneak to the back of the tent, holding my breath as I listen.

     ‘Please, Kai. She can’t love you,’ I hear Papa say. ‘I have spoken to her father and he insists and remains adamant that we can’t let her fall in love. I gave her the choice and she chose you over her sister. Kai, sometimes one person’s hurt is needed for the greater good.  I’m sorry, Kai. I really am.’

     ‘What? So heartbreak is the better option?!’ Kai demands. ‘You and I both love her, Papa! How can you just sit back and watch her get hurt? Or what’s worse than that is that you’re behind the hurting!’

     ‘You do not understand!’ Papa roars.

     I’ve never heard him shout like that before. He always keeps calm.

     ‘You think Old World love is the most important thing!’ Papa continues angrily. ‘But maybe sacrificial love is equally as important! One sacrificed love could just save a whole lot of people and let these people love, the way you should not!’

     ‘It’s easy for you to say! The one you love is dead and she’s not coming back. I saw our daughter! Do you expect me to just give that up because some foolish old man told me to? If this plot of yours fails and we both die, what will it accomplish? We’re living in a destroyed world with no hope; let us have these moments of happiness while we still can!’ Kai shouts back at him.

     There is a sudden silence. I hear Kai breathing heavily.

     ‘If you truly saw it,’ Papa says, quietly now. ‘Your marriage to Arys... your daughter, then you’re right, it may be a vision. It could come to pass.’

     ‘The Tribe burns,’ Kai says viciously.

     I hear him weep.

     ‘Then this is a warning. Don’t worry, Kai, everything will work out.’

     I hear footsteps coming, and creep backwards. I watch Kai leave our tent and return to his. I follow him back, keeping a safe distance. I wait until he enters before clearing my throat to let him know I’m there.

     ‘I’m... sorry for putting a dagger to your neck,’ I say pathetically.

     He invites me into his tent and seals the entrance.

     ‘Don’t be,’ he says, a slight smile appearing on his face, ‘You pinned me down exceptionally well.’

     ‘Ha! I would agree with you, but I think you’re just an easy target!’ I laugh, glad that at least our old friendship still stands, if the love isn’t there anymore.

     ‘Oh and that “easy target” didn’t just save your life last night,’ he says. ‘I have a little present for you, now I mention it.’

     I watch him as he picks up a long object, wrapped in blankets. He hands it to me and I unwrap it carefully. A sword falls out into my hands. More specifically, the sword the Hunter carried last night. I pull it from its sheath, examining the design. It’s a basic weapon with no markings. The sword is a dark colour, almost black and the hilt is bound tightly with leather, comfortable in my hand.

     ‘You said you wanted training, and as little as I think you need it after your quite marvellous display of strength and agility earlier, I think no good warrior is without weapons,’ Kai says.

     I know swords are rare for us to obtain. This Tribe only has one – two now. Malc is the one who owns the other. Kai owns a long curved knife, but that’s no sword. I thank him for the gift and for saving me, and hug him tightly.

     ‘I need some sleep now,’ he says. ‘You know how tiring saving damsels in distress are.’

     ‘Oh of course I do, it’s part of my daily schedule!’ I joke.

     He winks at me once, before diving face first onto his pile of blankets and pretends to snore.

     I laugh at him, and then take the hint and leave.

After a quick breakfast of wild berries, I sleep for a short time in my tent and wake up with a start late into the morning. The sound of people laughing carries from outside my tent. As I remember everything that happened last night and this morning, I realise the task I’ve yet to face. My heart leaps at the thought of speaking to my father later, but I choose to pack before seeing Papa. I pick items that I need carefully. I get up and take my bag which is hanging from a pole at the entrance to the tent. I take enough food for three days, wrapping the dried fruit and cold meat in leaves. By the time I run out, we’d definitely have hunted some animals. My water skin is empty, so I make a mental note to refill it from the supply near the fire before leaving. I hide my favourite bone knife in my boot, and pack another two. I also pack several blankets, rolling them up tightly and stuffing them into my bag. Finally, I fasten my belt around my waist and attach my newly acquired sword to it. I take a moment to look down at myself, barely recognising myself already. Only two days ago, my life had routine: Arrive at new camp, investigate area, unpack, spend the month on a strict foraging rota, pack up, and then leave to find a new camp site. Every five years, several tribes come together for a festival, celebrating survival. The location is the same every time, making it easy for us to locate, and that’s the only thing the Tribe ever looks forward to. Some tribes merge, others leave tribes and join others there, and there’s fighting competitions, drink, and joint hunting parties, where the adults find Hunters and kill them for sport. The last one was almost five years ago now, and it’s where I met Kai. I’ve never liked it much. Papa hobbles through the entrance of the tent, his staff holding the flaps open.

     ‘Are you ready?’ he asks, eyeing the sword at my side.

     ‘I think so,’ I respond, not sure how to say goodbye to him.

     ‘Nice sword,’ Papa says casually.

     ‘It’s a present from Kai.’

     ‘I have a present for you too,’ he says, reaching into his pocket. 

     He extracts what looks like a thin, black rock. I recognise it from the stories I’ve heard from everyone, though I don’t remember seeing one before. It’s a phone. After the earthquake, people got rid of their electrical devices, when they lost electricity to recharge them. There was a man in another tribe who we met at the Festival who has a collection of old electronics. He showed me music players, devices that can visually record things and play them back, a box that cooks food for you... None of it works anymore, but it’s nice to see pieces of the Old World that I never truly lived in. One thing worked, which was what he called a “Torch”. It emitted light in a beam, and he said it was powered by “Solar energy”. I asked Papa about how it works, but his explanation was far too confusing for me. This is a phone though, something that man didn’t have. Papa presses his finger to it, causing it to glow white. It’s something I have only imagined existing before!

     ‘Do you remember when I told you about inventions from the Old World?’ Papa asks me, handing me the phone. ‘I told you about computers and the internet and solar power?’

     I do remember, it’s something I’ve been fascinated with all my life but I still can’t understand how it all works. How you can hear someone who is on the other side of the world, or even see them on the other side of the world. It’s like something incredible from Papa’s books, only something that really existed... really exists!

     ‘Yes, I remember,’ I say to him.

     ‘Well this is one of those devices. It’s a government issued phone, powered by solar energy. It will take too long to explain how I got hold of it, but your father and I both have one and communicate through it.’

     He presses a button on the phone, and then holds it up to his ear.

     ‘This is 247227, requesting communication with 015429,’ Papa speaks into the phone.

     After a short silence, the phone beeps and Papa continues talking.

     ‘It’s time. It’s happening now,’ he says bluntly, before handing the phone to me.

     I take it hesitantly, my heart fluttering, hoping that this isn’t a dream, or worse, a joke.

     ‘Arys? Is it really you?’ I hear a male voice saying; my father’s.

     I’m hearing his voice for the first time in my memory. I try to talk, but tears come instead. Tears of happiness! All my life I’ve thought him dead, or thought he loved me so little that he left me for dead. But he’s here right now, as if in front of me and I’m making an embarrassment out of myself already.

     ‘Are... are you really... my dad?’ I ask him in between crying.

     ‘I thought I’d never hear your voice again!’ he says, now also crying.

     ‘I thought you were dead... or you abandoned me!’ I confess, feeling like a young girl, not someone who is about to head out to possible death.

     ‘We never wanted to abandon you and we made sure you were in perfectly capable hands! Your mother and I never wanted any of this to happen, we wanted to go with you but we were being tracked and it was only a matter of time before they would have discovered you and taken you,’ he tells me.

     I never thought I’d hear my dad cry, but right now it’s all I hear coming through the phone. 

     ‘What happened to mum?’ I ask him, scared of the answer. ‘Did she die?’

     ‘No! She’s been watching over Kayra, while I have been watching over you.’

     My father has been watching over me? All this time, he’s been close enough that I can possibly see him and I never have.

     ‘You’ve been watching over me?’

     ‘Only from a distance, we have cameras to protect the tribes, and more importantly, you.’

     Papa told me of cameras. They’re like eyes, watching... recording your every move and sending what they see to other people. I always thought they didn’t really exist and was just a story to scare us kids when we were young.

     ‘Can I see you?’ I ask, knowing it will be impossible.

     ‘No, it’s too dangerous. I positioned myself in a tribe, and tribes try to avoid crossing paths, you know that.’