Eyera (The Eyera Series Book 1) Page 7

  In Eishen, if anyone breaks the law punishments must be served, as ever cruel is needed, it is to send a message. They don’t see the harshness that is enforced, in fact, they even like to enforce it, they get some sick kind of rush. I’ve heard many stories about what Eishen does to people that disobey, they tie up the delinquents hands tied up so high their feet barely touching the ground, and they lash but it isn’t the guards that lash the delinquents, it’s their parents. The parents get forced to lash their children, punishing both, if the parents refuse to lash their child they get tied up too, compelled to watch as the citizens lash their children, one lash for each citizen that lives in Eishen. I’ve heard people died from the lashes.

  They train kids from a young age to become Eyera guards; that is where they are mainly recruited. Eishen is Eyera’s personal section. A child is born into Eishen having no say whatsoever and is trained to become ruthless, cruel and evil whether they want to or not, they have no choice. That is why Eishen is the most powerful out of the four sections. Eishen will never be in the wrong, they always think like that and they always will. They will never change, they will never show mercy, they will always be Eyera’s puppets.

  Hunter and I head out of the forest walking on a path, at first I don’t recognise the area, but familiarity hits me. I haven’t been here in a long time.

  Hunter and I turn the corner and a massive boulder planted near the forest, and I watch Hunter walk up to it tracing his hands over the markings.

  “Do you remember this?” he says.

  And I do.

  When Hunter and I were thirteen years old, we lied to our parents saying we were sleeping round a friend’s house for a couple of days. It took a long time to convince Father but Mother told him that I needed to experience what it’s like to be a kid and I was very surprised when Father said it was okay to go.

  Hunter and I travelled around Elspeth, not all of it obviously, but we came across this road and found this boulder, it hasn’t changed at all and that is why Hunter and I like it. We used to come here a couple of times but stopped.

  “This is still my special place, our special place; it means a lot to me,” Hunter says.

  I go over to him; looking at his hand touching the faint letters ‘A+H till death.’

  This is our place and only ours.

  We carved our initials to remind ourselves that when everything starts to fall, and we can’t be there for each other, we can come here and talk to the other half because in spirit, we are here together, till death. As cheesy as that may sound, I like it.

  I inspect Hunter’s face, and I can see he’s reminiscing about the past, where we became friends in the end, more than friends, not lovers but close to each other. Do I even like Hunter in that way? I don’t think so, I never thought about it really.

  “Till death Acelyn,” Hunter says.

  “Till death Hunter,” I smile.

  “Do you remember our little pact?” Hunter asks.

  I furrow my eyebrows trying to remember our past; Hunters looks at me smugly as I try to think back, after a while my lips pin back couldn’t contain the addictive smile that is forming.

  “The whole marriage thing,” I say amusingly.

  “That’s the one,” Hunter says.

  “We were stupid kids, we didn’t even know what marriage was, we thought it sounded cool,” I say which makes Hunter break out a little snicker.

  “Gah, thinking about that marriage thing sounds terrible,” I say.

  “Hmm yeah, I guess so. Do you ever want to get married?” Hunter asks.

  I face him thinking; the marriage thing has never crossed my mind, I can’t see myself being married to someone especially in this world, I cannot be happy with someone with the world that is like this. Plus I’ve never had a crush on anybody, romantically or sexually. It’s quite confusing.

  “I don’t know, you?” I say.

  “I don’t know too,” he replies.

  We stop talking as voices shout in the distance, we both look at each other confused. Hunter grabs my hand and pulls me behind the boulder. I peek over to see Eyera guards pushing a man onto his knees. I carefully sketch the guy in my head, his black sleeveless jacket shredded, he wears a red bandana, black hair dangling over his white skin and covered in cuts. The bandana guy has four black lines painted on his face like a target sign.

  Officer Slevic appears, making his way to the bandana guy, taking out his gun and whacking it across his face. The bandana guy coughs; spitting out blood. Officer Slevic brings him to his knees.

  “Do you want to go back to Eyera? Because I can make that happen,” Officer Slevic says through his teeth.

  I look at Hunter, and he has the same look as me, back to Eyera? I know that once you enter Eyera, you don’t come out the same, and there is no such thing as going back twice, the first time is enough to make you obey them.

  The bandana guy doesn’t say anything which causes Officer Slevic to reach his boiling point, he throws him on the floor and puts the gun to his head and cocks it. The bandana guy weeps, whatever he is hiding, he’s willing to die for it.

  “One more time,” Officer Slevic warns.

  I feel myself part but Hunter pulls me down and gives me a ‘don’t you dare’ look.

  Officer Slevic rests his finger on the trigger putting a little pressure, and the bandana guy glares.

  “I already told you,” he says breathlessly in an accent.

  Officer Slevic remains dark, kissing his teeth. He signals the other guards and they bring him on his feet.

  “Take him to the train,” Officer Slevic says, and they obey.

  Officer Slevic trails behind, once they are out of sight I leap and begin to follow but keeping a distance, Hunter grabs my hand and turns me around.

  “What are you doing?” Hunter shouts.

  “What does it look like Hunter, I’m following them,” I say, but he is not amused.

  “Do you want to get yourself killed, huh?” Hunter says stern getting closer.

  “Aren’t you curious?” I whisper.

  “No I’m not curious,” Hunter says bluntly.

  “Come on Hunter,”

  “This is suicide,” he mutters.

  “I’m going, either way,” I say.

  I stare, and he lets go and breaks down his wall.

  “Damn you and your curiosity.”

  CHAPTER fourteen

  We run through the long grass bending down slightly; I see the guards pushing him on the train. Officer Slevic enters and looks back, but Hunter and I duck down in time.

  The large white and blue train stretches down the tracks and the sun bounces off the silver rim blinding me.

  I look to my right seeing the front of the train with a point; the train lets out a loud noise, and I hear the wheels slowly rolling, letting out a powerful ozone smell. The wheels spark as it gets into gear, electricity humming from the train. Hunter and I run as the train begins to move, I have a hint of doubt that we are not going to make it.

  I keep running, pushing my legs harder, and I get to the opening of the train jumping on gripping the handle. I turn round reaching my hand out for Hunter as he struggles to keep up, his face strains and he leaps grabbing my hand, and I pull him to safety; his body pressed up against mine tight, our lips inches away from each other. His breath hitches and his body is hot and sweaty. Hunter clears his throat and nods. I tiptoe through the open doors and swiftly make my way to crates that hides us.

  I poke my head up to see the bandana guy’s hands locked on the table, with more bruises and cuts across his body, his face is fierce as ever.

  “Now, I am going to ask you. One. More. Time,” Officer Slevic says breathing heavily getting into his face.

  The bandana guy leans closer too.

  “I already told you. I. Don’t. Know,” he spits mocking Slevic.

  Officer Slevic grows impatiently, snarling. He’s growing colder, and he slams his fists on the table.

  Hunter pu
ts his hand on my shoulder, making sure I’m fine and not to do anything stupid.

  One of the guards walks up to Officer Slevic with a silver case, and Officer Slevic opens it and picks up a card, he drums his fingers lightly and pulls a wicked grin.

  “I am going to do this one more time, and I hope for your sake you corporate.”

  Officer Slevic puts the card in front of him, and the bandana guy studies it.

  “What is it going to be? We can do this the hard way if you like, I don’t mind paying a little visit,” Officer Slevic says immorally.

  The bandana guy eyes enlarge and shake his head repeating the word no, and it brings a sick satisfaction to Officer Slevic.

  “Don’t you dare, I will kill you,” he shouts as he struggles to get his hands free, this only made Officer Slevic chuckle.

  “Oh you don’t have any authority here,” he hisses.

  The bandana guy swallows hard, forehead crinkling and anger pique on his face.

  “Time is ticking,” Officer Slevic sings.

  Sweats roll down the bandana guy’s face; he licks his dry lips brimming with tears; he stretches his neck up high biting his lip hoping to find another way out.

  The bandana guy is left with one option, and that is to tell him what he knows, and no one gets hurt, it’s the way Eyera does it. Officer Slevic watches with some sick enjoyment; he preys over him like a creature in the night, a snake hunting for its mouse, playing around with food.

  “All I need to do is give my men the word and it’s bye-bye,” he snarls.

  They look at each other intensely, not one wanting to give in. I look at Officer Slevic’s guards; having their hands on their radio’s waiting for the order. I am close to doing something stupid but Hunter doesn’t let me, he holds me tighter as he knows.

  Officer Slevic growls having enough of going around in circles, he looks at his guards and dips his head, and the guard pulls out his radio but before the guard can speak the bandana guy screams.

  “No, no, no wait-wait.”

  “I’m listening,” Officer Slevic says.

  “The Outskirts, it’s the Outskirts, don’t hurt them please, it’s all I know, please,” he says breaking down.

  The Outskirts? I think to myself confused, what does he mean?

  Officer Slevic eyebrows flick in confusion.

  “The Outskirts, what else?” he demands, but the bandana guy only lets out desperate cries.

  “Please, it’s all I know.”

  Officer Slevic waves his hands, and the two guards unfasten the straps, and they drag him out of the room while the bandana guy is kicking and screaming. I get on my tiptoes trying to see what is on the card and lose balance making the crate move which makes Officer Slevic swing his body to our direction. Hunter quickly pulls me down before he can see me. I hear boots walking closer very slowly, and I let out sharp breaths. Hunter put his hand over my mouth. Officer Slevic stops. Near the crate, my heart beats loudly like it is trying to get us caught. I hear a snarl, and the only thing that runs through my head is to run, and it’s not going to be pretty. My pulse explodes and I bury myself deeper into Hunter, face burning. I hear the automatic doors open and a guard calls Slevic.

  “He is ready, Sir.”

  Officer Slevic snarls once more and walks to the opposite of the room, the doors swoosh open and close after a few seconds.

  Hunter removes his hand, and we both let out a huge breath, and I start panting, my body still tense. I lift myself up running to the table. I pick up the card and my mouth drops, it’s a picture of him with a woman and three children, two boys, and one girl. They were threatening his family to get answers, typical Eyera, of course they threaten his family it’s what they do, they threaten the people you love because that is a weakness in their eyes and Eyera feeds on weakness.

  “What is it?” Hunter asks as I flick the photo on the table running my hands through my hair.

  Hunter picks it up and anger flickers, he bites his tongue and lets out a sigh.

  “Those bastards,” he says.

  I hear voices from the other side, and Hunter twists his head then faces me.

  “We need to go, Acelyn,” he says.

  I don’t hear a single word he said as my head is hazy and messy. The automatic doors open and the two guards come back.

  “Hey!” the guard’s shout.

  “Now!” Hunter shouts as he runs to my side.

  The guards pull out their guns and start firing. Hunter flips the metal table on its side and the bullets hit it. We crouch heading back to where we came from, the train speeding like lightning; our only options is to jump now or never. Hunter locks our hands together, we look at each other. Ready. I can do this.

  The guards come closer, and Hunter and I jump off the train, our bodies colliding, tumbling and rolling on rocks making the fall extremely painful. I land on top of Hunter our faces pressing together. I lift my head up slightly, eyes bulging that we were nearly caught, this is not good.

  We stay like this for a few minutes but it feels much longer, the world around us stopped, and only the sound of our loud breathing is heard.

  I feel Hunter’s heart beat out of his chest and his breath thickens.

  “That was too close, way too close, ” Hunter says huskily.

  I climb off Hunter, feeling bolts of pain embed, and I let out a little raspy cry.

  “Are you okay?” he asks, placing his hands gently on my back.

  “I am, the fall was pretty nasty,” I say rubbing my wrists together.

  “How are you?”

  “Shocked, I can’t believe we got shot at,” Hunter says.

  “I can’t believe it,” I gasp, putting my fingertips on my head.

  “Me neither, we could have been hurt or even killed, what we did was stupid,” Hunter responds.

  “No, I mean the Outskirts,” I say.

  “Acelyn, we could have been seriously injured or killed like I said killed! And you are worried about the Outskirts, something that man made up,” Hunter shouts.

  I look at him like he’s a stranger.

  “Are you serious, Hunter? Why would that guy lie?” I say in disbelief.

  “To survive,” Hunter says.

  “Hunter it has to exists … there is something out there that exists, something more.” I say holding the knowledge.

  There is something outside of Elspeth.

  CHAPTER fifteen

  I get so lost in thoughts about the Outskirts. It can’t be something he made up; I don’t believe it, it has to be true.

  I stay in silence, not being able to focus on anything but what the guy said. I knew there is something out there and the Outskirt has to be that thing, I have a strong gut feeling that there is more in this world. I just know.

  I don’t realise Hunter is snapping his fingers.

  “Hello, Acelyn, are you there?” he says.

  “Hmm yeah,” I say quickly going back to my thoughts again.

  “What are you thinking about Shader?” Hunter says, but I brush him off.

  But it doesn’t stop him from asking again. Hunter stands in front stopping me.

  “Hey, I said what are you thinking about?”

  I look at him.

  “About what that guy said,” I say.

  How can he not be thinking about that?

  “Outside of these four sections, outside of Elspeth there is a place, Hunter, something that is unclassified and Eyera does not want us knowing about it, why else would they keep it a secret?”

  Hunter observes me as I continue to speak.

  “There has to be something out there, right? That guy would not make it up, it makes sense. There has to be,” I mutter.

  “Acelyn, he made it up, a fairy tale that’s all it is,” Hunter says.

  “No Hunter, it’s not and out of all people, I would expect you to think the same,” I snap.

  Hunter doesn’t respond, he carries on walking back to Nisahles bus stop. I know for a fact there is some
thing out there. I seriously don’t know what went through the Director’s head for him or her or it to bring this world misery, I know there have to be rules but do we need violence with it.

  I dread to think what people would do in a no rule world, and I wouldn’t want to know what people are capable of doing.

  “Take it easy,” Hunter says calmly as I feel myself getting lost in twisted thoughts.

  I take a deep breath and release the clouded thoughts; he is right I need to calm down.

  “Here eat something, food makes everything better,” Hunter says as he hands me a handful of grapes, he is right yet again.

  “Thank you.”

  Hunter and I wait silently for the bus we don’t have to wait long though as the bus arrives with quite a lot of people coming off, guessing all these people are heading to the Johansson’s annual festival.

  Hunter and I get on, and I show the driver the pass, we both sit at the back, and the bus takes off. After today I do need alone time, I just want to get back and show my family what I got for them, and then end the day. I yawn feeling the weight of tiredness resting on my eyelids. Hunter puts his hand over mine and I rest my head on his shoulder, snuggling deeper for comfort. I want answers.

  I hope the bandana guy is okay.

  I bring up my satchel to see how squashed the food is from the fall; the bread rolls are flat, and the cupcake is squashed but other than that everything else fine.

  My eyelids close tightly, and any second now I think I’m going to dose off.

  “We are nearly home, Acelyn,” Hunter says.

  “Acelyn?”

  “Yeah,” I respond.

  “I’ve been thinking … and I guess you are right,” he says.

  I lift my head from shoulders sitting up straight.

  “The four sections and Elspeth City cannot be the only places that exist, we will find out what is out there,” he says seriously.

  “Why the sudden change?” I ask.