Eyera (The Eyera Series Book 1) Read online

  “You think I make something up like that,” I say, irritated.

  Cyren holds his tongue and shakes his head, he leans closing us together tightly.

  “Ya shouldn’t be going around telling people that,” he whispers seriously.

  “You asked a question and I answered. And I have not been going around telling people, you are the first to know,” I say.

  “Well, it was nice meeting you while it lasted,” Raiya says cattish. Cyren glares at her and she shrugs, not caring.

  “What does she mean?” I say confused.

  Cyren doesn’t answer all he does is look at the boy and girl.

  “Sorry.”

  Is the only word he says, they look down at their trays not looking at me, and in that moment I know my punishment is going to be fatal, the drug.

  CHAPTER twenty-five

  I know Eyera take people to the corporation, but I’ve not seen anyone come out looking like they are mindless. How can the drug do something like that? The boy and girl eat their food the same time, backs straight and shoulders spread apart it doesn’t look like they are blinking too, they stare through the wall. Cyren keeps his gaze on me and squints as he tries to figure me out, how a girl like me can kill two guards, even I’m trying to figure myself out.

  “Oh great,” Cyren says not amused.

  I furrow, he flicks his wrist signalling me to look sideways. A screen comes down and everyone snaps to it. The screen turns black and white letters appear.

  ‘Citizens, I welcome you to our vast wonderful world. We have thrived and conquered. You are here to see the greatness we enforce, I the Director, welcomes you to Eyera Corporation. The words fade out and white walls appear and Miss Katherine Bennett comes on screen.

  “You delinquents are here because all of you have broken the law, your crimes will not go unpunished. You knew the rules and consequences and decided to go against them, and we are here to make sure that never happens again.” She smirks, and the screen turns to black.

  I face Cyren and the others, they tap their fingers together mocking and laughing loudly, the guards shout, and they slink down giggling quietly.

  “Gosh Miss Katherine Bennett is annoying, she is like a pestering fly,” Parrish says which makes them roar with more laughter.

  “She is a huge bitch, stuck up thinking she is high and mighty,” Raiya says.

  “She is high and mighty Rai,” Cyren says making Raiya stick her tongue out playfully.

  “A super bitch,” Parrish laughs.

  “To Miss Super Bitch,” they chime together, raising their bottled water.

  I admire them. They might be stuck in a place like this, but that won’t stop them from mocking Eyera. They are friends, people that have been here for a long time, they bonded and have seen things together. I, on the other hand, can’t force a smile or laugh at their jokes, my mind goes back to the drug. I want to know more information.

  “When do they do they drug?” I ask breaking up the laughing festival.

  “They go through a list, if you did something serious, most likely to be bumped to the top. It varies,” Raiya says.

  She emphasises the word you, meaning I’m most likely to the top.

  “No one knows when it’s their time, they come for ya at any hour,” Cyren says.

  “Oh,” I say faintly.

  They finish up their last remaining food on the trays, and they get up, I stay in my seat not sure where they are going.

  “What happens now?” I ask.

  Cyren turns round.

  “Well, ya get ta experience Eyera.”

  And they leave me to my thoughts.

  “I’m already experiencing Eyera,” I mutter to myself.

  CHAPTER twenty-six

  I get sent back to my cell. The guards told me that tomorrow is where the fun begins.

  I struggle sleeping, I toss and turn waking up sweating or crying, sometimes both. The nightmares are about the drug and what’s it’s going to do to me. I see them use it on my family. My family are keeping me sane. I have to stay strong, even if the sleepless nights of tossing and turning are my only friends.

  Sometimes the nights are long and endless of people getting dragged out of their cells and returning as they came from the dead, every face is expressionless, sometimes people do not return. I count the minuets, twenty-three. That’s how long it takes

  My stomach howls; interrupting my thoughts. I feel weaker by the hands of time, my skin is rough and I feel pale, my cheekbones are noticeable, and bags roast underneath my eyes. I haven’t eaten food in two days — I believe. I’m not sure, I’ve lost track of time. How long have I been here? Two days, three days, five or six? It feels forever I know that. The water underneath the bed helps.

  Footsteps echoes in the distance, my heart freezes. Are they here for someone or is it my time. I dread those sounds, they get closer and closer, and finally, it stops … and I know it’s my cell.

  Shutting my eyes tightly trying to breathe calmly but I’m not subtle. Slowly, my door opens and I scrunch my hands into a ball. I know it’s useless to fight, but I’m not letting them take me without a fight. The guard gets closer to my bed; it’s the sound of death personally greeting me.

  “Acelyn, are you awake?”

  I hear a gentle voice, my heart calms down thankful it’s him and not another guard. I unclench my fist getting up to see Linxston, even though he is an Eyera guard, somewhat I feel safer with him than any other guard. Maybe because he hasn’t spoken to my like I’m dirt, or has tried to hurt me. His smile is not like the other guards too.

  “I got you something to eat, I heard what happened in the cafeteria,” he says.

  “It’s safe to eat,”

  Linxston gives me the tray and I accept looking at a few slices of what looks like beef. Before I can say something about it, he interrupts.

  “It’s not meat, I promise. It’s a form of soy and mushroom slices that give it a meaty texture,” he says as he knows about faux meat.

  I look at the rest of the food, carrots, peas and potatoes lay next to it with a carton of orange juice. I eat the vegetables, they are bland; no taste whatsoever, but that doesn’t bother me. I’m grateful to eat something. I don’t eat the mushrooms just incase its meat.

  “Uh, thank you,” I murmur.

  “I’m glad you are enjoying the food,” he replies. I still don’t know if it’s a trick. It’s screwing with my head.

  “You know, you are changing things … I can see it,” Linxston whispers.

  I’m not changing a thing, how can I? All I want to do is survive and go back home.

  “Wouldn’t you be in trouble if you are seen here?” I ask changing the subject.

  “You don’t need to worry about that,” he says.

  “I got you something.”

  Linxston reaches into his pocket and pulls out a long piece of fabric and gives it to me.

  “I pulled some strings, and it’s okay to wear it,” he says as I play with my blue ribbon. I don’t know what strings he pulled to get this back, but a little trust grows.

  “How did you?” I say in shock.

  “I spoke to Miss Katherine Bennett in letting you wear that,” he says.

  Miss Katherine Bennett will never allow this.

  “How did you convince her?” I ask intrigued.

  “Don’t worry about it, but please be careful while wearing it,” he says as he walks to the door.

  Surely there’s another reason.

  I don’t know what he means by being careful, it’s just a ribbon. Linxston throws something, and I catch it looking down to see chocolate circles.

  “Enjoy fellow fighter,” he says heading out of the cell.

  I can’t help the huge smile spreading across my face. I laugh a little too; it feels weird laughing especially in a place like this. I begin to rip open the bag and pop one in my mouth. The chocolate swirls with a dark flavour, chocolate is expensive in the city, so I never got to taste it, but now
I have. I can see why people love chocolate, it’s good, my body craves more and I give in finishing off the packet in seconds.

  I look at my ribbon once more and memories flashes, Hadrian saved up his coins to buy me this, he worked hard. That is why it’s my favourite ribbon and wear it mostly.

  I get under the covers with the ribbon held tightly in my hands, and for once I can sleep. My eyes stay shut, and I drift off. I hear my mother singing to me, oh how I miss her voice. When I was younger, she’d sing to me every night but stopped as I got older, but now I wish she was here to sing to me. I sleep to her voice.

  ‘Sleep my little angel and close your eyes,

  The sun is sleeping, and soon it will rise,

  The moon is full, and the stars are out,

  Hold your heart whenever you feel doubt,

  Because tomorrow is a new day of love,

  I’ll be with you in your heart,

  Our love is stronger when we are together,

  So, sleep my little angel and close your eyes,

  Because I will be here with you, when the sun shall rise.’

  CHAPTER twenty-seven

  The warmth of the sun gently touches my skin, a breeze twirls around waking me up, my eyes hurt from the sun, trees poke into my vision – towering above. I shuffle and leaves crunch underneath, and sticks dig into my back. I prop up looking around the forest, birds tweet in the distance. I stand patting the leaves off, walking as my hands touch every tree. I get deeper and the temperature drops suddenly, a cold shiver enters my body like a ghost has walked through me. The sun is no longer visible, swallowed by grey clouds. I travel down the hill and birds become silent, a cold mist rises above the ground and expands making my feet turn to ice. I walk for hours that leads me nowhere, no sign to guide me. I am lost … a lost soul searching for a purpose and I cannot find mine. I duck underneath fallen branches, and carefully climb over rocks. A glimmer catches my interest and I automatically follow stomping on obstacles that block my way. I push myself through the bushes to be stopped by an 18ft wall that spreads along each end. I place my hands on the wall; it’s cold. I hit the wall, and it echoes back. A dead end. I wallop the wall, and nothing happens, I hit it harder, and I keep hitting and hitting, no matter how hard I try nothing happens, it provoked me to the core.

  “Acey, wake up,” a gloomy voice says. I put my ear on the wall.

  “Come on, get up!” it thunders, but I can’t do anything.

  “We got lots of things to do today, Acey.”

  I stumble getting irritated because I cannot find out who it is. I step on a rock and a light bulb hangs over my head, I pick up the heavy sharp rock and throw it at the wall causing a little crack, I trace my fingers over the crack and tilt my head as water leaks. The crack expands, and water gushes.

  “Wake up!”

  I shoot up almost head-butting a grinning Cyren, I move away, and he sits at the end of my bed. I’m confused and sluggish.

  “Ah ya finally up, sheesh gal ya can sleep,” he says.

  He detects confusion. What is the world is he doing? He hands me a board with paper and it reads out things to do, such as, cleaning desks, cleaning rooms on level nine and taking the rubbish out, a chore list, great just what I wanted.

  “Best part is we are working together, I’m excited for this,” Cyren winks.

  I get out of bed placing my hands over my sleepy face. I look in the mirror seeing my ghostly reflection. I begin to brush my teeth with cool mint that stings my mouth and spit. I splash water on my face hoping that will wake me up. I turn to Cyren who stares with a big smile.

  “So, when are we supposed to be doing these chores?” I ask.

  “Now, so get ready,” he responds.

  I change into the clothes Eyera provided, and I feel Cyren staring.

  “Do you mind, I know we are paired up together, but we are not at that stage of you seeing me in my underwear,” I say.

  “Ooh, there’s stages? Interesting, am I close ta the stage?” he smirks. I shake my head and his face drops.

  “But Acey, I thought we were there. We ate food together, told each other stories, and now this. I think ya can put on a li’l show for me,” he winks. I glare.

  “I’m kidding.”

  “Look away before I make you,” I say sternly, and he throws his hands up.

  “Hmm feisty, I like it,” he chuckles leaving my cell.

  I slip into my clothes quickly. I know Cyren is a ladies man, I see the way the girls look at him in here, the girls in my school would swoon over him. His boyish charms, intoxicating smile and his signature wink surely to capture any girl’s heart, he is the complete opposite of Hunter. Hunter is kind, good-hearted and would never talk to a girl like that. I wish I could speak to him, tell him I’m fine, even if I’m scared.

  “Ready?” Cyren asks breaking me from my thoughts of Hunter.

  “Don’t have a choice,” I say burying Hunter from my mind. Cyren rips a bit of paper from the checklist and gives me the board. We walk down the corridor, the guard stares at us like we are diseases. Cyren shows him our schedules and he lets us through, we enter into the elevator and go up to level nine.

  “Little heads up, don’t go in ta anyone’s cells, especially boys,” Cyren says.

  “Okay, but you came into my cell,” I respond.

  “And I’m lucky I didn’t get a beaten for that,” he chuckles. Note taken.

  I look at the other levels, I wonder what is on them. I notice the button for level thirteen has fresh black marks on it, the rest of the buttons are sparkly clean.

  “What are the other levels like?” I question.

  “Ya know the usual,” Cyren says.

  No, I don’t know. I scrunch my face and the lights in his head seems to turns on.

  “Oh right newbie, I forgot ha,” he laughs.

  “Can we go on any level?”

  “No, only the ones ya schedule for, if they find out that ya not scheduled for that level, they punish you. A beating or starve ya,” Cyren says.

  I bite my tongue, Eyera is very extreme, they don’t play around.

  “What is on level thirteen?” I ask curiously.

  Cyren looks down hurt like something has been ripped out.

  “Evil.”

  Evil rolls of his tongue and has left many scars.

  “Don’t ya ever step on that floor, ya hear me,” he says sternly.

  I nod fully understanding.

  I want to ask why but don’t want to push it, he made it loud and clear that level thirteen is forbidden. The elevator stops and we step out, the floor is silent. Our boots click down the corridor, I look into rooms to see that they are empty, no Eyera doctor or people screaming their lungs out. Beds, trays, tools, notes scattered, blood stains on the walls and across the plastic screens. Cyren pulls out a bucket filled with sponges, disinfectant sprays and a mop. He throws the sponge and spray and I catch them with no problem. I get on my hands and knees and spray the dirty floor, putting pressure on the sponge removing the dried blood. Cyren comes back and puts a bucket full of water in front of me, and leaves walking into one of the doctors’ rooms.

  I think about the boy and girl who were here when I first came to Eyera, the girl cleaning the blood, was it his blood? I can imagine the length of evilness Eyera has done to that boy. I hear Cyren making a ruckus in the other room and it draws my attention, I open the door to see him throwing papers and raiding the draws.

  “What are you doing?” I ask as he continues to make mess for us.

  We came to clean, but this guy thinks it’s a magnificent idea to make mess.

  “I’m looking for a way out, keys, a card or something, anything. I need something. There is a vent that leads ta a door, the exit and all I need ta do is walk out of here, and I’m free,” he says quickly ripping cupboard doors open.

  Cyren has a plan, something he must have been thinking about ever since he came here. He uses his free time to study every inch of this place and find it
’s weakness. I look at the vents studying carefully. I pull out a revolving chair and climb onto it, tapping the vent door to hear it echo, it doesn’t stretch that long. I lift up the hatch and tiptoe higher looking inside. The chair wobbles and makes me lose my balance, the chair tips and I scrape my hand across a nail that sticks out, and I’m sent flying to the ground. Cyren runs to my aid and sees blood; he runs to the tray making noises, and comes back to my side and kneels down. He cleans up the blood and rips the bandage packet with his teeth, gently wraps it around.

  “Ya okay, Acelyn?” he says worriedly.

  I nod letting him know I’m fine. I look into his dark blue eyes, he is concerned. I get lost for a moment.

  “The elevator,” I say.

  Cyren cocks his head.

  “Okay, Acey, I know ya fell, but I’m pretty sure, ya didn’t hit ya head,” he chuckles.

  “The maintenance hatch, it’s slightly open, have you seen it?” I say.

  I watch Cyren’s face light up and eyes grow wider, and his smile too. He leans closer; putting his soft hands on my cheeks.

  “Ya a genius, this is perfect. How did I not see the maintenance hatch, I could kiss ya right now,” he beams joyfully.

  He shrugs and plants a sweet kiss on my cheek.

  “I don’t know if it will work,” I say.

  “I got it covered, I’m gonna get out of here, ya are, and the others,” he says strong head. He’s serious. He will do anything to get out.

  “Okay,” I whisper having a little hope.

  Cyren helps me up and goes back to look for a card. I walk to the desk that has multiple files inked with names and a note is on top of the first file that reads ‘The Crixgen Drug’ this must be the drug Raiya mentioned. I remove the sticky label looking at the records. I had to see if my name is printed and when is my time. I rummage through the piles of names, and one name stands out, not my name. Cyren comes closer looking at my ghostly face, he reads the note too and looks at the folder in my hand close to my chest. He takes the folder and looks at the name that is next in line and his face falls.