Lost Horizon

by Michelle Hercules

  A group of four women dressed in full armor emerges from the fog. In their hands, they each carry some type of triangle-shaped weapon. It’s not a sword or a blaster, but it definitely seems more modern than the munchkins’ spears. Most importantly, they ooze ill intentions. I aim my blaster at the one ahead of the others, guessing she’s in charge.

  Her straight, jet-black hair is chin length, a stark contrast to the pale gray color of her eyes. The sharp haircut emphasizes even more her cold, steely stare.

  “You killed the Red Witch.” Her voice is devoid of any emotion, but it serves to incite her companions to sneer at me.

  “She tried to kill me first. Who are you?”

  “I’m General Jin. Hand over the crystals, and I’ll let you keep your life.”

  Toto takes a couple of steps forward, growling as loud as he can. General Jin drops her gaze to him with an arched eyebrow.

  I take the woman’s momentary distraction to bend down and retrieve the crystals she wants. I have no intention of handing them over, though. Almost immediately, they become warm in my palm and begin to glow from within.

  “General, look.” One of her soldiers points at my hand.

  The red glow changes. The hue becomes lighter and lighter until pure white light envelops the stones. My hand tingles, the sensation spreading up my arm. It’s not unpleasant, but even if it were, I don’t think I could let go of the crystals now. It is as if they are fused with me.

  “No,” General Jin whispers. “That’s impossible.”

  The light fades away, revealing two pieces of clear crystal in my hand.

  “By the power of the Great Wizard, Dorothy purified the crystals,” Skooli announces, his voice wrapped in awe.

  “General, what should we do?” one soldier asks, glancing from me to her superior with a perplexed expression on her face.

  General Jin lowers her weapon, taking a step back. “Nothing. Let’s go.”

  She whirls on her feet fast, her scarlet cape flying with the motion. Her soldiers follow, but one of them throws a stare of pure hatred in my direction.

  “This isn’t over,” she says.

  My heart is pounding, and even when they vanish in the fog, the muscle won’t stop beating at an increased pace. I don’t know what just happened, but despite my bravado and the munchkins’ belief that I’m some kind of savior, I know I escaped with my life by sheer luck. No way I could have taken those four soldiers by myself.

  “Yes, run away, you filthy cowards!” Skooli stops next to me, brandishing his spear up in the air.

  “Who were they?”

  “The Red Witch’s inner circle. Rumors say General Jin is her daughter, but I don’t think the Red Witch could spawn anything.” Skooli pauses to rub his mustache. “Although, General Jin is quite awful herself, so it is possible.”

  That’s just great. I just managed to get on the shit list of the evil villains who are clearly winning this war.

  Exhaling heavily, I glance up at the sky. The dark clouds are dispersing, but there’s no sign of Mirus anywhere. Did it leave the planet’s vicinity already?

  I feel a tiny prickle on my wrist, a terrible reminder that, no matter what, I must find a starship. The medical bracelet can only store medicine for a month, and I’m already half through it. Without the drug, my body will become useless within days. My heart sinks. How am I going to get out of this mess?

  “I cannot believe you were able to purify the Red Witch’s crystals.” Skooli’s voice pulls me out of my pity party.

  “Is that what I did?” I stare at him again.

  “It seems so. You see, those crystals were what gave the witch her great powers. But they were tainted. No one would dare try to steal them for that reason. But you didn’t feel any of the nasty effects. You didn’t become corrupted. Instead, you changed them back to their purest form.”

  Feeling the expectant stares of Skooli and his soldiers to the max, I begin to bounce on the balls of my feet, back and forth, as anxiety takes over. I don’t know what I did to purify those crystals. I simply touched them. But it seems my accidental crystal purification, plus the slaying of the Red Witch, has made me a national hero.

  “Right. Here, you can keep them now. Maybe it will help protect your people in case those nasty soldiers decide to come back.”

  Skooli’s eyes become as round as saucers. He raises both hands and takes a step back. “Oh no. I can’t possibly accept them. You defeated the Red Witch. You are the rightful owner of the crystals of power.”

  The other munchkins all bob their heads and whisper words of agreement.

  “Okay then.” I drop the crystals inside my belt pocket. “Do you know who could possibly help me fix my ship?” I peer at the sad wreckage of Horizon.

  Skooli rubs his head as if my question greatly puzzles him. “Well, we certainly don’t possess anyone who understands about machines that fly all the way into space. There’s only one person in the entire Oz who can help you with that.”

  “Who?”

  I’m thinking of a scientist or maybe the owner of a starship’s factory. Not what comes out of Skooli’s mouth.

  “The Great Wizard of Oz.”

  7

  Dorothy

  After I go through the debris of Horizon, I say good-bye to Skooli and his soldiers and set on the road to Emerald City where the captain said the Great Wizard lives. They are keen to return to their villages and deliver the good news. I’m not happy parting with my ship. Despite me not having the means to fix it myself—I don’t even know if it can be fixed—it’s the only transport I know with the potential to take me back to Kansas. There’s no certainty the Great Wizard possesses the technology or power to help me get out of this planet.

  The heaviness in my heart won’t relent. It swirls in my chest like a festering disease. Fear and guilt mix in a toxic cocktail of emotions. For one, my plundering of Horizon wasn’t as fruitful as I had hoped. I found a few meal bars, a couple of bottled water containers, a portable charger for the blaster, and a small backpack to carry it all. No wonder my mood is somber as I walk on the strange yellow road Skooli assured me would lead to Emerald City.

  The avenue is large, so road is probably not the best term to describe the peculiar, translucent lane that extends for miles ahead of me. The munchkin captain explained this was once Oz’s major highway, and it connected all the main central lands. It worked as a high-speed relay, sending large convoys of merchandise and raw materials where they needed to go without requiring anyone manning a transport vehicle. Special crystals powered the technology, but those were all stolen at the beginning of the war. Hence, the once-busy highway sees no traffic now, not even pedestrian.

  With Toto by my side, I traverse the lonely road, mindful of any hidden dangers along the way. On both sides, the remains of a torched forest are a reminder that Oz is not safe. I haven’t experienced firsthand the devastating results of war, but I’ve read enough to understand it changes people. It makes them do despicable things to survive. It’s with that knowledge that I keep my blaster ready and my attention sharp.

  The dead forest doesn’t provide many places for the enemy to hide, but the open road also leaves me too exposed. It’s a double-edged sword.

  When I spot the shape of clustered buildings in the distance, I feel relieved and apprehensive at the same time. That must be Scrape Town. According to Skooli, it’s a trading stopover, frequented mostly by folks conducting shady business and desperate travelers. I suppose I qualify for the latter.

  As I draw nearer, I begin to discern sheet-metal shacks and square, shoddy buildings which seem to have been built from recycled materials. There’s no rhythm or rhyme to the conglomerate of dwellings. It makes me think there was no planning to the layout. It stands as an eyesore with its dark and sometimes rusty metal facade.

  My sixth sense tells me I should avoid going through the outpost. I fear if I go in I might never come out. But the yellow highway goes right through it, and Skooli was adam
ant I stick to it. There’s a sudden drop in the road as I reach the apex of the small hill, revealing down below the gargantuan gates of Scrape Town—which, at the moment, are wide open and enshrouded in darkness, thanks to the sun hiding behind the town’s tallest buildings.

  “Talk about a welcoming sight,” I mumble.

  Toto starts yipping before he takes off ahead.

  “Where are you going?” I run after him, not wanting to lose my only companion.

  So transfixed by the bizarre city before me, I failed to notice what got Toto’s attention. Hanging on a pole not too far from the town’s gates is a heavily beaten man. Attached to his torn clothes, a sign says Honorary Scarecrow.

  “Blessed stars. What have they done to you?”

  Toto continues to bark as he circles around the pole. I’m beginning to fear the man is dead when a soft moan escapes his lips. Not wasting any time, I circle back, looking for the bindings that secure him to the pole. What I find brings bile to my mouth. They tied him using barbed wire. What kind of awful creature would do such a thing?

  There’s no way I can break the bindings with my bare hands. But I have nothing sharp that can cut through the wire. Unless … I inspect the blaster, checking if there’s any way I can adjust the output. Some training models have that functionality. When you’re not trying to kill anyone, there’s no sense in wasting battery life.

  There isn’t any power control adjustment on the LED display, but flipping the blaster over, I find a small switch at the base of the handle. I change it from regular to training. Then, I point at the ground and lightly squeeze the trigger. A small blast shoots out of the barrel, becoming stronger as I squeeze the trigger harder.

  The man bursts into a coughing fit, drawing my attention to him once more.

  “You’re going to be all right. I’m getting you out of there.”

  “What happened?” he asks in a weak, raspy voice.

  “You don’t remember?”

  “No, my mind is a blank slate.” He coughs again.

  Damn it. Was he beaten so badly that it caused amnesia?

  “It’s okay. We can figure it out together. I’m going to cut through the wires. Try not to make any sudden movements.”

  “I don’t think I can even twitch my fingers. My entire body is numb.”

  That’s not good, but I keep the remark to myself. Steadying the blaster in my hand, I aim it at a point where it won’t get the man’s skin in the process as well. The blue energy shoots out the barrel in a steady stream, cutting through the wire as if it were made out of butter. But whoever pinned this poor soul to the pole did a thorough job. Not only are his wrists and ankles tied to it, but his torso and legs are, too. Shit. I suspect they didn’t loop a wire over his neck as well because it would have killed him faster. They wanted to prolong his torture.

  Flaring my nostrils, I try to abate the anger that is coursing through my veins now. Without knowing who was responsible for this atrocity, I don’t have a target to aim my fury at.

  When the final wire snaps, the man falls forward, awkwardly landing on his knees. Shoot. I should have tried to catch him. Crouching by his side, I grasp his upper arm to prevent him from falling face-first on the dirt.

  “Are you okay?”

  A curtain of long white bangs caked in dried blood hides his face from me. He lifts his chin, peering at me through strands of hair. Deep purple eyes search my face as if trying to decipher my true intentions.

  “I think so. Who are you?”

  “My name is Dorothy Hanson. Can you stand up?”

  “Dorothy … strange name. Are you from the outer lands?”

  “Something like that.” I don’t know enough about this man to divulge my true origins. “Come on. Let’s get you back on your feet. I’ll help you.”

  Together, we unfurl from the ground, but it takes a few steadying steps on my part to make sure we don’t end up back on the dirt. The man leans on me for a second, his emaciated body becoming flush with mine. My spine becomes rigid in an instant. Despite the unintentional contact, I’m not used to my personal space being invaded.

  “I’m sorry,” he mumbles, stepping away as soon as he’s able.

  “No worries. So, what’s your name?”

  As he rubs his forehead, the man’s gaze becomes unfocused for a moment. “I … I don’t remember.”

  It is as I feared. I’m torn about what to do now. It’s clear he needs medical attention, but I’m reluctant to go search for it in Scrape Town. I’m sure his assailant is from there.

  “If you think you can walk, maybe you should come with me. I’m headed to Emerald City.”

  Widening his eyes, he speaks with a touch of wonder. “Emerald City?”

  “Do you know it? Maybe you’re from th—”

  “Hey, who said you could get out of your post, Scarecrow?” a malevolent voice shouts from the entrance of Scrape Town.

  Without a second thought, I push the man behind me, standing with my feet spread wide in a protective stance, blaster pointed forward. Five munchkins are sneering at us, their malicious intentions coming in waves at us.

  “Stay back, or I’ll blast you to pieces.”

  Toto growls, jumping in front of us. Tiny, fierce thing. But I don’t think he or my blaster is doing a great job of intimidating the munchkins. They glance at one another before they throw their heads back and laugh.

  “I mean it. Haven’t you heard? I killed the Red Witch.”

  I’m not sure if it’s wise to divulge that information. What if they worked for her?

  Their amusement is cut short. No more mirth coming from the party of scoundrels.

  One of them spits on the ground and hisses, “You are lying. Get her, fellows.”

  So much for my attempt at scaring them with my great feat. The munchkins charge. I take aim and fire, missing my target entirely. I forgot the blaster was still in training mode. Damn it. I’m too late to switch it back to normal before a leather whip strikes my wrist, tightly wrapping around it. With a yank, the munchkin holding the end of the leash brings me down on one knee. If he thinks I’m going to give up without a fight, he has another thing coming. I reach over with my free hand, curling my fingers around the whip and using it as leverage to jump back on my feet.

  Toto bites his ankle, distracting the munchkin for a few seconds before the asshole throws him off with a jerk of his leg. Poor Toto flies into the distance, hitting his tiny back on a rock nearby. I don’t have time to check if he is okay. Sensing another munchkin approaching from behind, I throw a back kick, connecting with something solid. The attacker lets out a grunt, but I’m still bound by the whip. Whirling around in an attempt to get free, I find the man I just saved on his knees with his head pulled back by the hair and a dagger pressed against his throat.

  “I’d quit struggling if I were you,” the munchkin holding the captive says.

  “Don’t hurt him.”

  The odious creature laughs while the man squirms under the sharp blade. In this stalemate, we’re joined by more rough-looking munchkins. One of them seizes Toto, who tries to bite his way free. At least he’s moving.

  “What in the world is this?” The one holding Toto narrows his eyes as he inspects my dog.

  “He’s mine. Leave him alone,” I reply through clenched teeth, offering resistance when the whip-yielding outlaw attempts to bind my other wrist.

  “What’s the meaning of this?” one of the newcomers addresses the munchkin holding the white-haired man.

  “Nothing that concerns you.”

  The one who asked the question raises his hand, displaying a wicked-looking metal glove he’s wearing. A stone sits atop, and it glows blue. His friends do the same, pointing their peculiar weapons at the other members of the gang.

  “You’d better rethink your answer.”

  Grinding his teeth, the bully releases his prisoner, who falls forward, leaning his elbows against the stony ground.

  “I was just having a bit of fun.�
�� The munchkin raises his hands, backing away from the poor guy I just rescued.

  “Fun, right. And who are these people?” The newcomer glances at the man first before peering at me, calculating.

  “Don’t know. Found this one here in old Proctor’s house, high out of his mind. That woman over there claims she killed the Red Witch.”

  My spine goes rigid as I notice the manner in which the munchkin calling the shots is watching me with keen interest now.

  “Killed the Red Witch, huh? So, the rumors are true.”

  His statement seems to drop like a bomb among the outlaws. Now, their gazes are bouncing among each other in a nervous manner.

  “Yes, I killed her.” I raise my chin higher.

  “If that’s so, you and your friends are coming with me.”

  My pulse quickens. I don’t want to go anywhere with anyone. “What for?”

  “Boq would love to have a word with you.” He signals for one of his companions to fetch me from the whip guy.

  “Who is Boq?”

  “The lord of Scrape Town.”

  8

  Reo

  I’ve been to many forsaken locations, but Scrape Town is on the top of the shittiest places in the entire land of Oz. To call it a town is wishful thinking. Maybe a way for the munchkin who started it all to give it some polish. But for all the patch-ups he’s done, he can’t hide the filth that lies right under anyone’s nose.

  The sun has almost set, and the wretched creatures who have no choice but to work and live here are hurrying to their dwellings. They keep to the major arteries, for outside the main throughways, it’s a dangerous maze. If one is not careful, they can get lost and end up in the worst section of Scrape Town—exactly where I’m heading now.

  The war, which has lasted more than fifteen years, has allowed such places to exist. Once upon a time, Oz was said to be a beautiful planet, full of joy and color. I never knew it like that. When I was brought here, the war was in full swing, and the Red Witch and Raven Witch terrorized supreme.