Obsidian Sky (25 page)

“Or you could die tomorrow, my friend,” Bailey said solemnly. Jin grabbed his hair and grit his teeth in exasperation as Bailey turned to the boys.

“Are you okay with that?” she asked. Isaac nodded reluctantly but Aidan was at a loss for words. Once again, two paths were before him that could destroy all he cared about. Take Leah with him or leave her in Lowsunn – both options had their risks. Both would probably end in blood. He just had to decide how much he would allow to be spilled.

“I think running is better than fighting this battle,” he said finally. “But, I want to talk this over with my wife as well. It’s up to her whether she wants to go with me or not.”

“Do you understand how serious each choice is? And what you’ll be asking of her either way?”

“Don’t have a clue,” Aidan laughed. “And I would rather not know. But I have to choose, and I’m ready to get it over with. I’m going to be leaving now. I want to spend my last couple of hours with her.”

“I understand,” Bailey said. Jin began to protest but she placed a hand on his chest. “Be careful on your way back.”

“Those people outside,” Isaac said suddenly. “Are they real?”

“No, they’re puppets,” Bailey said. “Created by Eugene’s imagination to fill up this place. By controlling the way they act and making the environment enjoyable, we’re able to attract future villagers to Lowsunn.”

“Control,” Aidan said with downcast eyes. “You seem to have a knack for it.”

“I’m not the enemy, Tallawah,” she said, glaring at him. “Given our past, I hoped you would have realized that by now.”

“Given our past, I hoped you would have known me by now. You would have remembered how much I hated tricks and that you needed to get the message across another way.”

“I know you more than you think. And that’s exactly why I sent the message that way.”

“We’ll finish this later,” Aidan said, pushing Isaac lightly toward the stairs. “But just remember how much this hurt me.”

“I’ll remember,” Bailey said with a lump in her throat. “I promise.”

Chapter 15 – Trust

She wasn’t in the infirmary. She wasn’t in her bedroom or the Field of Visions either and Aidan felt like he was going mad searching for her. It hadn’t taken long at all to find the break in the shield and he and Isaac had parted ways in the forest, each not having much to say. All Aidan could think about was what he was going to tell Leah, and what he was going to suggest she do. But reaching her room and finding her gone? Now all he could do was worry about what had happened to her.

Immediately, his mind raced through a list of faces and names, with her father at the top. But he knew that deep down she had probably just been checked out of the infirmary. After his encounter with Elder Ainsley, it wasn’t unthinkable that she might be found in the Elders’ compound, bundled up before a warm fire, drinking warm tea as her father scolded her for associating herself with the scum on his boot or whatever the heck he had called him that afternoon.

But before he scorched the compound in search of Leah, he decided to check one last place. Once again he navigated the shadows and crept his way into the boys’ cabin, just as the sky was beginning to come to life and the birds were warming up for their morning song. He made it past the rooms where his associates slept and into his bedroom. He barely remembered to close the door behind him when he saw her, sitting on the bed in the dark, holding his pillow.

He tried to tackle her, he was so excited, but she caught him in mid-air with an explosion of water that thrust him into the door. The water became ice and then the floorboards became sentient, creaking up and wrapping around his wrists to hold him down. She shot up from the bed to her feet and threw the pillow directly in his face. Thankfully, it wasn’t encased in ice.

“Where have you been?”

“Out,” he said.

“Haha. That’s funny. You know what’s also funny? This.” She made a circle with her index finger towards Aidan and a floorboard shot up and slammed into his elbow. He winced and fought against his restraints. “Get it? Funny bone? Why aren’t you laughing?”

“Leah, we don’t have much time together.”

“And whose fault is that?” she sobbed, walking over and stooping down so that she was eye-level with him. “I thought you were going to come by tonight. What happened?”

“A lot,” he said, hearing the stirring of boys awakening from the morning light. Without a window in his room for the sun to lift his eyelids, their rustling had always been his alarm.

“Whatever,” she said, walking back to the bed. The floorboards unraveled and reverted back to their rightful place. The ice on his body melted, leaving his clothes damp. He climbed to his feet and sat next to her, deciding to take her hand into his.

“It was important,” he said.

“More secret espionage stuff?”

“Yeah, and I’m going to tell you all about it.”

“You are? Why the sudden change?” she asked, looking up at him in puzzlement. “I was disappointed that you weren’t there, but I don’t want you to jeopardize anything you were working on.”

“No, I need you to hear this. The reason I was brought here to Lowsunn is because Bailey sponsored me. She believed that I had the resolve to become some kind of strong leader if I just harnessed my anger properly. Her words. Anyways, she and I are part of a secret underground movement that monitors the Elders. It’s no secret even among the people here that their dealings are shady.”

“So what do you do? Prevent the Elders from making wrong decisions?”

“I’ve been on the ground floor mostly. I don’t know much. But the movement mostly just watches, and ensures that we keep our focus on what’s best for Lowsunn. Usually that means not getting too comfortable. Comfort in some ways can be a hindrance to growth. You lose that will to grow, to fight for what you believe in…I know how that feels. From seeing both sides though, I believe there has to be a balance somewhere. We just have to find it. I think the villagers here could rise to do better.”

“Kind of like what Duncan was talking about,” she said. He didn’t know how to take that.

“In a way, I guess. But I don’t like his methods. I don’t care for the Movement’s methods that much either…but most of us don’t get a choice in what situations we’re placed in.”

“That doesn’t mean you have to go with every which way the current takes you. You can paddle. If Bailey or anyone else in this Movement isn’t treating you right, shouldn’t you speak up? Doesn’t your vote count too?”

“I would like to think it does. But it sure doesn’t feel that way.”

“It’s still better than doing nothing.”

“I’ve made some choices on my own,” he said, smiling at her. “Choosing to be with you was a big one.”

“I believe it was the other way around, mister.”

“Either way, that’s one move I’ll never regret. And that’s why what I have to say next is pretty painful.”

“What happened?”

“I was outside the shields tonight,” he admitted. “I know you would have come with me, but I didn’t know the situation. Our Movement found out the particulars of the mission list and most of the names on there were people in our organization. I was brought outside to talk, and they told me that the enemy I would have to face…it’s one of the Omegas.”

“What?” she gasped, squeezing his hand. “Which one?”

“Necrosis,” he said solemnly. He could feel Leah’s temperature rise through her palm. “Listen, I don’t know for sure if your father’s involved. It’s no secret that the Elders want me gone.”

“But they’re not expelling you. They’re murdering you.”

“Not exactly. My team and I – we’ve decided to leave Lowsunn. Necrosis will probably still come after us, but it’s better than meeting certain doom and putting the rest of the village in danger.”

“When?” she asked, casting her head down, her hair veiling her face.

“Tomorrow. I’ll be leaving with the mission. Only I won’t be coming back.”

“And what happens to me?”

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about…I –” Leah clutched his jaw and slammed his lips onto hers, holding it with all the strength she could muster. Aidan sighed deeply and pulled away, but all he could see were her pleading eyes.

“Whatever you do, just don’t leave me behind,” she said. Aidan began to say something, but then he stopped and pulled her to his chest, kissing the crown of her head and holding her tight.

“I won’t,” he said. And he felt her temperature drop immediately.

*              *              *

“What happens when all of you are gone? The Movement, I mean.” Leah asked as the last of the boys left the cabin for the announcements. Aidan rubbed his eyes.

“I have no clue,” he said. “Some will come back. Others won’t. But I think Bailey’s using the missions as a way for us to become better soldiers. More battle experience. More intel gathering.”

“But then what? You come back to Lowsunn and the cycle continues. It’s nice that all of you are talking and gathering together for a purpose, but nothing changes. The Elders are still in charge. They still get to make any decisions they choose and no one’s going to challenge them openly or they’ll be branded as an enemy.”

“I trust that Bailey knows what she’s doing,” Aidan said, looking under his bed. “Guess it’s just the robe I’m taking,” he muttered.

“That doesn’t sound like you.”

“What?”

“To just put your life in another’s hands like that.”

“She’s my friend.”

“But she didn’t trust you enough to tell you why you were going to Otalli.”

“Guess not.”

“Now I know what Bailey’s talking about,” Leah said, still sitting on the bed. Aidan halted his search and stood up to face her.

“What do you mean?”

“You’re afraid. Of yourself. That’s your problem. It’s not the anger.”

“It’s always been the anger.”

“Everyone’s angry. The difference is that you’re vocal about it.”

“I don’t see how that makes me afraid.”

“You only combat what you know. What’s familiar. You start the same old fights and battle only when you’re sure you can win. When you think you can control the situation.”

“Please don’t use that word,” Aidan sighed, closing his eyes. “Control…I’ve heard a lot about that tonight.”

“But it’s true!” she said. “You can talk big and act big and fight your enemy to the end, but only when you think you’ve got a shot. Anything complicated, anything bigger than you are – you bow out or run. Because you can’t control the situation. You’re afraid to tackle any problem that you don’t completely understand.”

“What are you saying? That I should face Necrosis?”

“No!” she shouted, jabbing a finger into his chest. “I’m saying that you should fight for your right in this village, and you should fight for Lowsunn!”

“Why should I fight for this place? They’re trying to kill me.”

“The Elders are, but they only hold an insignificant percentage of the power we all have if we just came together. We have far more seals than they and they are supposed to be representing our wishes, our desires. And if they’re not going to listen to that, then it is our job and our right to stand up and tell them that they can no longer claim to act in our best interests. Your underground movement might believe differently than the Elders on what is the best way to save Lowsunn, but the desire is still the same. We want to save this place! And you do too…you didn’t just fight for me that night. You fought for them. And none of us would be here if you hadn’t.”

“I have no clue what to do though,” Aidan said, raising his palms to look at them. “Whatever I put my hand to, it melts. It gets destroyed.”

“I need you to make a flame,” she said, taking his palm and facing it toward the ceiling. “Go ahead.”

He obeyed, and in an instant, a small flame emerged, only a couple of inches tall. Leah placed the palm of her right hand just above the flame and rain began to pour. The flame flickered and fought to stay ablaze. Just as it began to die, Leah tightened her grip on Aidan’s hand.

“Don’t let it die!” she shouted and he increased the intensity. Leah furrowed her brow and let a miniature monsoon pour onto the flame. It flickered rapidly, and it wasn’t as strong, but it still remained in Aidan’s hand. “Don’t you see?” she said. “Alone, your fire is too hot and so bright, it offends. But together with something that cools it, it’s stabilized. It’s just enough to comfort. And yet, even in the rain, it never goes out. Your will is strong, Aidan. But if it’s too hot, you’ll push people away. Just right – and you can make them dream again. You make them want a better future. They feel your warmth and it gives them comfort. Don’t let the Elders or this Movement put out your fire. Because you’re the only one that can allow that to happen.”

“Maybe you’re right. But how do I make a difference now? I’ll be leaving soon.”

“You might have to take care of things on a lower level…but that doesn’t mean you give up. Look for a way to save the village. Bring together others of commonality. Know when it’s time to act.”

“I’ll do my best,” Aidan smiled. “When we’re on the outside, we’ll search for a way to save everyone.”

“That’s my man,” she said, giving him a quick kiss. “Now, let’s hurry to the announcements before anyone realizes that we’re missing.”

“You want to know what’s really sad?” Aidan asked. “I finally thought there was another place like Lowsunn out there when I came upon Otalli, but in the end, it was all fake.”

“That’s because they don’t have you around to test the waters,” she said, and then they walked out the door.

They weren’t late, but they were close. As they reached the crowd of concerned villagers, they were forced to wait in the back, trying to extend their necks over the many heads that swayed back and forth in the way of their view. The Elders were sitting in their chairs on the makeshift stage, sitting with their hands folded together and their legs draped over their knees. It was strange seeing only five of them now. Once the crowd had reached an acceptable level of silence and order, Elder Thine stood to her feet and addressed the villagers.

“This is an exciting and solemn time, but necessary nevertheless,” she said. Elder Exil handed her a stack of papers from behind. “I must remind you that, in order to secure Lowsunn forever, please be aware of any information concerning the Choate while you are on your travels. In my hand, there are lists of teams. Each team will receive a parchment on which will be the details of the team’s mission and requirements for completion. It is best if you do not discuss with each other the particulars of your specific mission. The time is now 8 a.m. All teams must be adequately prepared and vacate the premises no later than noon. I will now begin by reading off the names of the first team: Laura Ent, Samantha Childs, Tristan Yen, Elias Quill, and Leah Ainsley. Tristan, please come retrieve this document for your team.”

The crowd formed a path for Tristan by parting into two large groups but Aidan barely moved. He couldn’t take his eyes off Leah.

“Well, who didn’t see that coming?” Leah sighed, rubbing her shoulder as she stared at the grass. Aidan grabbed her shoulders.

“You know you’re not going on that mission,” he whispered.