Awaken

by Bryan, Michelle

  She leans heavily on a wooden walking stick as she makes her way to us, two others following her closely ready to catch her at any moment should she fall. But she don’t fall. She brushes past all the others and yanks the lit torch from one of her companion’s hands and comes to stand directly in front of me, studying me intently in the torchlight. I wince at the close flame, try to shield my eyes from the burning light but she yells at me.

  “Stand still!”

  It shocks me enough that I do as she says. She studies me a bit more with her dark eyes, like she’s trying to peer into my soul, lays her wrinkled hand on my hair, then leans back on her heels and cackles so loudly I jump. I think she’s about to fall over she’s leaning so badly. The two others fear the same and try to hold her elbows but she shoos them away impatiently.

  “It is true! By all that is holy, a new blood stands in front of us!”

  Talbert slides in eagerly.

  “It was me Orakel...I found ‘er I did!”

  Whack! She hits him soundly in the gut with her walking stick and his breath leaves him with a loud “Oomph!” as he doubles over from the impact.

  “You buffoons nearly killed this child from what I have been told!” She gives a hard look to Beanie who is trying real hard to hold in his laughter and just like that his grin falls away and he backs up, out of the reach of the walking stick. She certainly was an overwhelming presence. She turns her attention back to me and I find myself under her piercing gaze once again.

  “My apologies child, these idiots make for quite capable lookouts but truly have shite where their brains should be. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Orakel....and I have been awaiting your arrival for a very long time.”

  *****************************************************************************

  Against Tater and Jax’s very vocal objections, I agree to accompany Orakel back to their camp. For some reason I cain’t explain to them I know she is true to her word and will not harm any of us, regardless of what her people had tried to do to us earlier. Besides, my burning questions far outweigh any fear I might have for our safety. They don’t like it but they follow along with me, Jax muttering the whole time under his breath and his hand on his shooter.

  I try to keep track of our progress but it ain’t long before I’m lost in the maze of paths and ruins we pass through. If their intent was to remain hidden and unseen in these iron bones then they had truly succeeded. I ain’t even aware we are at our destination ‘til Orakel steps aside and says very mannerly ‘after you’.

  To me we were just standing at a pile of rubbish and debris ‘til I notice an entry way and steps leading down into darkness. Her companion holding the lit torch goes first to light the way and I quickly follow, ignoring Jax’s loud whispers behind me. I chuckle quietly to myself as I hear Orakel berate him.

  “Oh for the gods sakes boy, if we had wanted to harm you we would have done it long ago. I wouldn’t have brought you to my home just to bloody it up. Now stop your braying and move!”

  He don’t say anything back. I suddenly decide I like this strange old woman.

  We descend down the steep steps and I find myself wondering how that crippled old woman was able to handle doing so when she passes by me hanging piggyback on the larger of her two companions. My unbelieving stare is met by her loud cackling as it echoes down the wide tunnel we now find ourselves in. The tunnel is massive, its walls smooth and rounded, definitely no storm cellar. Settler made to be sure but no idea what it could have possibly been used for. Maybe Tater knew....I would have to ask.

  At the far end of the tunnel we find ourselves facing a large metal door with a long arm on it. The man carrying Orakel lifts up the arm and slides the door open, and unbelievably it seems to disappear...right into the wall! I don’t have time to be too amazed by this though ‘cause by now we find ourselves in a large cavernous room, so lit up by torches it was almost like stepping into the daylight. But it wasn’t the huge room, or the dozens of lit torches or the other people waiting inside that amaze me so. It is the....stuff....I cain’t think of no other word to describe it. Settler relics everywhere! There were chairs and tables and plenty of other shite, all piled on top of each other, towered so high I fear it’s going to topple at any moment. They had used it all to partition off the large room creating walls and rooms and pathways. The word of our arrival is spreading fast ‘cause more people seemed to be appearing out of the numerous nooks and crannies, eager to get a look at us.

  Orakel is by now on her own two feet and she is making her way through the piles not the least bit concerned about it toppling on top of her so I reckon it was safe enough. We follow directly behind her, me and Finn and Cat, and the boy’s eyes are opened so wide I fear they may just pop from his head. I can still hear Jax and Tater behind me bellyaching with every step we take further into the overflowing room, but I don’t heed them, so entranced am I by our surroundings.

  I gasp out loud and cover Finns eyes as we turn a corner and I suddenly see what I believe to be a naked woman standing at the bottom of one of the piles before I realize she ain’t a real woman at all...she’s some kinda statue, made out of plastic or such. Finn pulls my hand away and laughs as I rap on her solid bent arm with my knuckle causing it to fall from her body. What the hell? What kinda uses could the settlers have had for a plastic woman? I want to pick up the arm and examine it but Orakel quickly kicks it out of the way and continues walking.

  We pass a couple of wide flat metal boxes, their glass fronts shattered with dozens of spider web cracks. I spot some rubber wheels poking out of another pile, kinda like the one’s gra’da had got from the pickin’ grounds once. His he had attached to his hand cart, but these seem to be joined together with strange metal rods and a set of handles as if it were meant to be steered....I cain’t even begin to imagine what it was used for. My eyes are drawn to a strange multi sided red piece of metal standing at the corner of another pile and in big white lettering it spells

  S T O P. Why the hell would you need a piece of metal to tell you to stop? Stop for what? Curious. I ain’t ever seen so much stuff...not even at the pickin’ grounds, and I’m just as bad as Finn, my eyes are wide trying to take it all in. A brightly colored ball grabs my attention now and I stop to pick this up. Its heavy weight surprises me and I study the three perfectly formed holes in its smooth surface but don’t dare put my fingers in. I ain’t sure what it would do. Finn just grins at my questioning look but I put it back down and hurry to keep up with Orakel who is moving at a speed that amazes me for someone so old.

  I’m aware of the curious onlookers trailing behind us now and how the number keeps growing, so that by the time we finally stop in the middle of the huge room there’s at least twenty or thirty other people besides me, Finn, Jax and Tater. The braver ones walk up to me and touch my hair or take my hand but most hold off, scared by Cat’s presence I’m assuming. Some of them are like Talbert, covered in the sores and the blackened lips while others appear to be disease free. Why I wonder. What happened to them? Orakel shoos them away and they listen immediately, like they were used to obeying her every command. I am grateful for that….I ain’t liking all their eyes and hands on me. She then points to the darkly stained table surrounded by eight high backed chairs sitting in the center of the clearing. There is a big stone hearth behind the table and the crackling fire burning in it almost makes the cavernous room feel homey.

  “Sit,” she says. “You must be hungry,” and gives a slight nod to someone in the mass of people. A very tall, very thin woman, with a long hooked nose, steps out of the assembled crowd. She gathers up a stack of clay bowls from the table and wordlessly starts spooning up some sort of broth from the cauldron sitting in the hearth. The smell of it makes my mouth water but none of us sit as asked. It’s like we are of the same mind and hesitate at the thought of taking food from them. As if Orakel can read our thoughts though, her cackling laughter fills the room.

  “Do not worry....what they
have is not catching.”

  The smell of it is too hard to resist however, and with an unspoken agreement we all sit on the strangely padded soft chairs while the tall woman serves us the broth. I hate to admit it but I am relieved she shows no signs of the sores on her skin.

  The broth is hot and tasty and filled with chunks of meat I think is wolfling but I ain’t sure. Orakel enjoys hers as much as we do though so I ain’t too worried about the meats origin. Even Cat is treated with a charred bone though Finn has to take it to her...none of the others will go anywhere near her. Even the woman serving us goes out of her way to avoid Cat at all costs. Cain’t understand why she was so afraid...the devil cat ain’t going to bother with her. Cat would probably get more enjoyment out of chewing on a chair leg than that scrawny carcass.

  After she had served all of us she then approaches Jax again with another bowl and he grins eagerly, I reckon he’s thinking he’s getting a second helping. Wordlessly she knocks his hands away from reaching for the bowl, pulls a cloth from it and none too gently starts cleaning his head wound.

  “Ouch!’ he protests loudly but she don’t heed him, she just goes right on cleaning. I cain’t help but chuckle as she stares disdainfully down her long nose at Jax’s complaining. She don’t say a word however, then finally done she motions for him to hold the cloth to his head while she takes the bloodied bowl away. I raise my eyebrow at his exaggerated winces of pain.

  “What?” he says crossly at my look. “She didn’t have to be so rough!”

  “Cry baby,” I taunt softly but he chooses to ignore me.

  Orakel waits patiently while we finish eating but her shrewd eyes don’t leave my face. I can tell she is eager to talk but she lets me finish my stew before the questions start.

  “Tell me child, how is it a new blood is in our presence right now. What is your name? Where do you come from?” she says.

  “I think we should be the ones asking the questions.” Jax answers crossly before I can, throwing the bloodied cloth on the table. “Like why the hell did your people try to kill me?”

  She sends him a withering look.

  “Please, if they had wanted you dead then dead you would be. My people were merely ...defending their territory. We are quite used to strangers trespassing through our city, and having to protect ourselves and our property.”

  “Hah!” Jax snorts at her. “Attacking and robbing poor innocent souls unfortunate enough to find themselves in your crazy town is more like it.”

  “My name is Tara,” I say, cutting short whatever the old lady was about to say to Jax. I had questions as well, we don’t have time for arguing.

  “I come from the sand lands...a place called Rivercross. Have you heard of it?”

  She tilts her head, thinking for a bit.

  “Mayhap…it feels to be a distant memory,” she says finally. “The sand lands....a harsh place indeed. You must be very resourceful young Tara to have traveled so far and for so long and have not been killed or captured. The gods truly must be watching over you.”

  I smile at her but there ain’t no humor in my smile.

  “Rivercross was attacked by the Prezedants Army. My kin either all killed or taken...I don’t think the gods give a damn about what happens to me,” I say.

  She gives me a slight nod.

  “My condolences on your loss child but you couldn’t be more wrong. The gods have guided you here...to us. They have sent us a new blood. That is indeed divine intervention whether you believe it to be or not.”

  “I believe that to be pure shite,” I say shortly and ignore the gasp of Orakel’s two companions who are still hovering behind her chair. I ain’t sure if they weren’t used to hearing someone speak to her this way, or if they were just scared the gods would smite us where we sat. Orakel don’t seem to take no offense though, just nods at me some more.

  “I think otherwise. So what do you believe has brought you to us then?” she says.

  “Coincidence… happenstance….bad luck?” Tater is the one who answers. “We were on our way to Littlepass when we encountered raiders and…well long story short here we are, guests in your charming abode. Which by the way, I must say I find a little disconcerting to be underground. Does anyone else find that bothersome?” he asks, looking ‘round the table and tugging at the neck of his tunic like he cain’t breathe.

  Orakel snorts loudly at this. “It is a necessary means little man. The only way we can avoid his ever searching eyes. You grow accustomed.”

  The tall woman starts circling the table again, this time with tin cups of tea. I pick mine up, sip it. I ain’t quite sure what it’s made from, maybe dandy weed, but it is hot and tasty. Jax eyes her suspiciously as she sits a cup in front of him, but she passes on without incident.

  “What did you mean Orakel when you said you have been waiting for me to arrive?” I ask the burning question that has been bothering me. “How did you know I would come here? Are you some sort of seer?”

  “I have been called that….among other things!” She laughs again like what she said was side splitting funny but I don’t get it. “I didn’t know it would be you per say... the prophecy just said ‘A’ new blood would return and we have waited very patiently. And now, here you are.”

  “Ya ‘ave graced us with yer light mistress!” The voice comes out of the crowd hovering in the background and I recognize it from our earlier entanglement. Orakel also notices and her piercing eyes search the crowd.

  “Talbert…step forward.”

  He does as she asks, Beanie bringing up the rear, and the look on their faces is obviously saying they both wished he had kept his mouth shut.

  “The watch?” She questions curtly and he bobs his head up and down.

  “It is covered….but we needed to be ‘ere Orakel….please. It’s the light…” he trails off as if pleading with her to understand. She finally gives him a slight nod and I can see him sag with relief at her approval. She definitely was the one in charge here. Hopefully she was also the one able to answer my questions.

  “What does he mean by the light? When we had our earlier….disagreement with your people they were calling me that….the light. What does that mean?” I say.

  “It is obvious is it not? A new bloods power comes from the light…the aura that shines when your powers are at their peak. Talbert and the others, they witnessed your light…your life force, or Chi as some call it,” she says.

  “But you didn’t. All you did was stare into my eyes and yet you have yourself convinced I am this new blood…this thing you been waiting for. I think you’re wrong. I think you all have been waiting so long that you have yourselves convinced on the wrong person. I ain’t nuthin like Beanie said the prophecy spoke of. I ain’t no healer, no purifier...” I trail off not knowing what else to say. She leans forward and studies me with those piercing eyes again.

  “Are you trying to convince me or yourself child? You are what you are…there is no denying it.”

  Before I can respond to her puzzling words we are interrupted by a young girl, maybe my own age, as she starts gathering the stew bowls. I hand her mine and she bows her head as she takes the offering and I notice the reddish sores on her skin. Once she is out of earshot I cain’t help but ask ‘cause I need to know.

  “What’s wrong with ‘em? What sickness do they carry?”

  Orakel shakes her head. “It is no sickness that comes naturally child...they were given those pox marks on purpose like.”

  Her words shock me.

  “Who would do such a thing?” I say, horrified, but it’s surprisingly Tater who answers.

  “They are refugees from Skytown are they not?” he says.

  Orakel leans back in her chair and studies Tater with shrewd eyes. She is trying not to show it but I can tell she is taken aback by his question.

  “Aye, that they are. And what do you know of this little man?”

  He shrugs and takes a sip of his tea.

  “I have heard...things. R
umors about experimentation being carried out by the Prezedant. Experiments that end badly and leave his subjects strangely marked.” Tater says, answering Orakel.

  Her loud “Hah!” rattles us all and the fist she slams on the table makes the tin cups all wobble but they don’t fall.

  “Marked! Is that what they call it? Try deformed and diseased and minds so damaged that madness is all they know! And they are the lucky ones! Marked.” She snorts the last word with derision.

  “The Prezedant did this to them? But why?” I cain’t even begin to understand the reasoning for something so cruel.

  “Because he is the maddest of them all!” Orakel says. “His whole life he has been obsessed with hunting your kind...new bloods. Why, no one can say. Once he has found one though they are never seen again, that we do know. He has brought your kind to the point of extinction I am afraid. There haven’t been any true new bloods for years now, not any possessing Chi anyway. So what do you do if you can no longer find the object of your burning desire? You try to make it yourself. His...experiments as your friend refers to them as...number in the hundreds...maybe more. Most end in death, for the fortunate ones. Some end like the ones you see here, deformed, disfigured. But none yet have ended in what he is so desperately searching for...or so I have been told.”

  “Is it true what they say about him Orakel? Is he really magical and hundreds of years old?”

  Finn, who had been real quiet up ‘til now, speaks and his question makes her cackle again.

  “Mayhap it is boy, mayhap it ain’t. I could say the little man over there has a boil on his arse the size of a toadie... that don’t make it so.”

  This gets a chuckle from Jax and Finn but Tater...he ain’t finding it so funny.

  I’m still too full of questions to get any amusement out of this either.

  “Why Orakel? Why does he need new bloods so badly?” I say. “And why seemingly wipe them out on one hand and then try to create his own on the other? It don’t make a lick of sense.”