Spurn

by Jaymin Eve

  “Hell, yes. That makes sense. The Spurns can’t fight that thing. A few more of them roaming the waters and they’ll be wiped out.” I looked at Josian. “I have to go back now.”

  “And this time I’ll be going with her, Francesca.” Josian glared at his sister-in-law.

  She dropped her head into her hands, and even I could feel the worry bleeding out into the room. But as she lifted her face, the worry dispersed. She even smiled.

  “You have gathered some Walkers, and I see that word of mouth is spreading as well. It should be okay for you to help them out this one time.” Her white eyes continued to dart around, something that happened when she was ‘seeing’ the future.

  “What is the big problem with Dad helping on the planets?” I had to ask.

  She was really adamant about it. “You must learn, grow and develop your abilities, Aribella. If Josian helps too much and shoulders the bulk of your responsibilities, you won’t be ready for the final battle.”

  I gulped audibly. “Have you seen anything about this battle?” I asked.

  All I really wanted to do was scream. Who do we lose? Who will I lose?

  Francesca rubbed her arm absentmindedly. “I can’t tell anything yet. The future shifts and changes so rapidly. There are too many unanswered questions, too many choices that can change everything.” She focused on me again, the freaky eyes giving me cold shivers. “But one thing is clear: if your abilities are not developed, we lose.”

  She coughed then, dropping to her knees, her head cradled in her arms.

  “Go to Spurn now. You have to go ... Talina is in trouble.” Her panicked words echoed around. “Go to the land again.”

  I turned to Josian. He already had a hand held out. I grabbed on.

  “Everyone wait here. We’ll be right back,” he said as he opened a doorway.

  Without hesitation we stepped through. In the last second Lucy yelled something at me. But I was gone before the words registered.

  We arrived onto the golden beaches, right into the midst of chaos. Josian’s bronze eyes flicked around as he tried to discern the most immediate threat.

  I ducked instinctively as a mass of blue-hair dived at me. He was followed by another Baroon, who sailed over my head, courtesy of a cranky seven-foot Walker. Josian continued to throw around the tiny Spurns as they dived and attacked us.

  “Aribella, baby girl, what the hell is going on here?” He lazily deflected an Earon this time. “We seem to have walked into a world of angry little people.”

  An emerald-haired woman had come quite close to landing a jab with one of their spears.

  I spun around quickly, letting loose a roundhouse kick into the gut of a gray-haired – I couldn’t remember their clan names. He flew through the air, crashing into three yellow-hairs, name unknown too.

  “Get off me, you dirty Gerk,” the yellow-haired snarled as he disentangled himself.

  Right, gray was Gerk.

  “There are four clans on Spurn,” I yelled to Josian, but my explanation was cut off when I had to dodge a series of lightning-fast punches directed at me from a team of Baroons.

  When one ducked in from the front, another came at my back. I elbowed the first one in the face, cracking his nose. A dark purple blood sprayed around violently. The other screamed in anger, diving onto my shoulders. I spun around fast enough that my own head spun, before running backwards and slamming into one of those tall trees. The groan from behind me indicated pain, but the weight didn’t shift.

  Josian was charging in my direction with at least twelve Spurns hanging off him. Suddenly, the weight on my back lifted. And I was free.

  “What are they? Evil little munchkins?” Josian worked to dislodge all the Spurn barnacles he’d gathered.

  They were so small and light compared to us that he could easily throw them a distance down the beach.

  And for the first time we were alone, far enough from the main foray that we had a moment to prepare for the next onslaught.

  “So there are four clans,” I continued. “Blue is Baroon, emerald is Earon, yellow is ...” It took a minute for their names to come to me. “… Yertle and gray is Gerk.” We were getting noticed again so I shuffled him behind a few trees. “None of them like the other clans. It’s a constant battle, and they have the cold nature of their dual status. Think fish-people.”

  Josian looked like he was going to roll his eyes, but refrained. Like all Walkers, he carried a certain level of arrogance, especially to those less evolved species, amongst which I counted myself.

  “Can you see your half-Walker anywhere?” He watched, quite interested in the bedlam on the beach.

  I found the entire thing more comical than scary. At least half of the Spurns couldn’t even walk properly on land. At one point they were actually taking themselves out.

  I shook my head. “Her name is Talina. And, no, she’s taller than almost all the Spurns: she should be easy to spot.”

  And then, as I scanned the running, fighting, wrestling mob … was that someone biting? I shook my head before noticing a large congregation down on the sand, in nearly the exact spot where we’d faced the creature before.

  I gasped as the scene came into a clear and horrifying focus.

  I took off at a sprint.

  I could hear Josian hollering after me, but I didn’t pause for a second; I wasn’t sure we had an extra second.

  It took no time to traverse the distance, thanks to my Walker genes. The horrifying scene I’d noticed from so far away came into focus. The Spurns had Talina, Raror and Gladriel strung up in some kind of rope contraption, suspended over a wooden platform. They were dangled out in the ocean. In the distance, two of the creatures were drifting closer.

  “We sacrifice these Spurns so that you will leave us alone. They are the bringers of evil, so they will be eliminated for the greater good,” a Baroon yelled, his lisping voice echoing over the ocean.

  Where was Ladre? Wasn’t he the spokes-Spurn around here?

  Creature one and two were moving in. They’d been about a hundred yards offshore, but were closing that distance fast.

  “Oi!” I yelled as I came up behind the jeering Spurns. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

  Pink faces spun in my direction.

  I was so angry that both my fists were in the air. “Let them go, you dirty, rotten ... fish-people.”

  Opening my tight hands, I shot waves of light energy at them; this was one part of my powers that I could control.

  But I also wasn’t very strong or skilled.

  My little stream just blew them around the beach. I didn’t have to worry, though. I’d forgotten that Josian was right behind me, and he definitely knew what he was doing, blasting the group in all directions, throwing them far across the beachfront. Of course, this resulted in ropes being flung free, and the three captive Spurns plunging into the water.

  “Dad, they’re tied up; they can’t swim,” I yelled as he reached my side.

  We were at the edge of the water.

  Could they drown if they were bound? Did they need movement for their gills to work? So many questions I didn’t have the answers to. I pointed out toward the fast-moving dragon-octopus animals.

  “Those are the creatures, the ones Lucy and I think were modified by the Walker who kidnapped me.”

  “If I keep the big bugs occupied, can you rescue the Spurns?” He was already stepping out into the water.

  “No, Dad ... I can’t swim. Dad!”

  But he wasn’t listening any longer. He’d decided he was a cowboy and was already astride creature one, holding on to two of its tentacles.

  Bloody Walkers.

  With a deep panicked breath, I stepped into the water. Saltiness lapped around my shoulders as I continued further out into the cool waves. Suddenly, the ocean floor stopped its slow tapering and dropped away violently. I went under, spluttering the entire way. Luckily, I managed to close my airway, otherwise I’d have drowned immediately. K
icking my legs, and doggy-paddling my arms, I made it back to the surface. I pushed my heavy hair off my face, wishing I was wearing the light Spurn wraps instead of jeans and a t-shirt, which weighed a hundred tons.

  After a few deep breaths, I ducked my head under, looking left and right. I was at a loss as to where Talina and her family were. The waters surrounding me were empty of all life forms – not surprising if those creatures were cruising around.

  I continued my frantic search, my churning legs pushing me further from the shore. If I didn’t find someone soon, I’d be the one in desperate need of rescue. Finally, I made it into the deeper water, close to where Josian was wrestling two giant octo-dragons. I shook my head, transfixed for a moment by the sight of such reckless stupidity. Walkers were awesome.

  Ducking under again, I could still see almost to the ocean floor. I noticed some movement in the dark area to my right. Pulling my head out, I gulped in as much air as possible. Hoping half-Walkers didn’t really need oxygen, I dived under and powered down. My muscles worked effortlessly; I enjoyed the mild burn as I churned through the water. I was relieved as the three Spurns came into sight.

  It was their rolling movement that had caught my eye as they strived to free themselves from the ropes. Talina’s eyes widened as I came into focus. My lungs weren’t struggling yet. I wasn’t panicking, but I didn’t want to push my luck. I knew if I got one of the three free, the rest would be okay. I was good with knots, but I didn’t have to worry about that since I’d strapped a small knife into the side of my now ruined right boot. I don’t like to leave the house unless I’m armed with at least one weapon.

  Reaching down, I yanked it free, and started to swim around Talina. The clear lenses flickered up and down over her eyes, which honestly made me want to barf into the water. Luckily, I managed to control that impulse.

  Once I was at her back, I lifted the knife; it was difficult moving against the water at this depth. Why the hell did the water feel heavy? Eventually I held the blade level with her bound hands. I sawed through the top section, groaning as I realized this was a double-layered vine-rope. I’d just cut into the second part when something that felt like steel bands gripped my ankles. I screamed, bubbles streaming from my mouth as I was dragged.

  Pure panic gripped me as I was pulled at the speed of a bullet through the water, heading out in to the deep. I shifted my head to the side, trying to see what was taking me. Images of sharks and octo-dragons ran through my head. But as I finally glimpsed my captor I realized it was something much worse than an ocean creature.

  Psycho-Walker was back.

  I didn’t have much time before I lost it, the lack of oxygen was starting to make itself known to my confused nervous system. My brain was pretty sure we needed oxygen to live, and it did not like going without.

  In the back of my mind I knew we were eating up the miles, traversing away from the land. I clenched my fist and winced as something bit into my palm. I still had my knife. Somehow my pincher finger had clamped down on it. But how was I going to get into a position to hurt a Walker? It would have to be a near-fatal blow to slow him down. I would need to hit one of the major arteries. I quickly thought back to anatomy class, which at the compound was more a combination of first-aid and murder 101.

  Sometimes you needed to know how the body was designed, so you knew the easiest way to kill a person. I wasn’t generally the compound’s perfect little soldier, but in that class I’d eagerly listened. I was always on the street and needed all the advantages I could find.

  Considering how fast Walkers healed, I’d have to sever the artery, hitting it at a jagged angle to give myself the most time.

  I had a few options.

  One of my favorites was the femoral artery, easy to find, high on the inner thigh. It was a big artery, and if I hit it right he could bleed out in a minute. I had also been particularly proficient, during dummy practice, with the jugular vein and carotid artery. Although, considering how tall this Walker was, I’d be lucky to have enough reach for a clean shot into the side of his neck, which left, in the upper body, the brachial artery, though this small knife would have trouble severing the bicep muscle, and the axillary artery, which I could get to under the armpit.

  I favored the axillary. It would be hard for him to reach and apply pressure to slow the bleeding. Therefore, it was my best hope that the healing would take long enough to give me a chance to escape.

  I need a different life.

  Probably a true thought, since I’d just spent thirty seconds of my remaining oxygen contemplating the best way to bleed out a Walker.

  He was slowing in the water, and it was light around us now. As my head broke the surface I took a huge gasp of air. My lungs seized as I coughed in a rough manner.

  “Hello, my precious baby Walker. I missed you, lovely.” His caressing words washed over me.

  I shuddered in revulsion. There was an obsessive stalker quality to not only his actions, but also now his words.

  “The feeling is not mutual,” I muttered, trying hard not to think of my last lot of torture at his hands.

  Panic hovered much too close to the surface and I needed to stay in control a little longer.

  His expression darkened. “I think maybe you just need to spend a little time with a real man. You will come to realize that we are a much better match than you and that Abernath.”

  I laughed, thinking he was kidding. The grip he suddenly had on my throat told me he was serious.

  “No need to disrespect me. Do not forget your place. No matter the beauty I behold, you are still a half.”

  This was probably my best chance. He was holding me close, his eyes locked on mine. He wasn’t looking down to see what my hands were doing. I didn’t even care that I’d be left floating in the water. Anything was better than being in his presence.

  With his arm gripping my throat, I had a perfect angle to hit the axillary. I tightened my grip on the smooth handle, preparing myself. I didn’t shift my eyes, afraid to give away my intention. Instead, I distracted him by moving my face closer to his. He didn’t remove his hand, but he allowed me this.

  “Tell me what you have to offer me. What am I missing out on?” I appealed to his massive ego.

  Considering its size, I should have enough time to not only hit the artery, but probably dismember him too.

  He smiled. His large white teeth reminded me of a shark about to devour its prey.

  “Aribella, I shouldn’t have to explain anything to you. You have experienced my power.”

  I bit my lip. I had absolutely no problem remembering the burn of his power. Psycho. I almost had the knife in position.

  “You have witnessed my intellect and skills. My creatures are perfect; they have done the job I intended.” He looked out over my shoulder, slight chuckles shaking his upper torso. “I have seen what no one else could. I scoff as they worship their so called gods and challenge them to be more omnipotent than me.”

  Out of the corner of my eye I could see the glint of steel, and my angle was perfect. Without hesitation I stabbed upwards, the shallow water offering almost no resistance to my Walker speed and dexterity. Despite my squeamishness, I never hesitated as it made contact with his skin. I continued to push until it was at its hilt.

  I noticed once I pulled back that I had not only cut him with a knife, but had also depleted some of my power. It was bleeding from me in slow ebbs. As soon as I recognized this, I halted the flow. Shock registered on his face.

  “Should have used your omnipotent powers to see that,” I snarled as reached forward to twist the blade. “Maybe what you meant to say was impotent; it’d be more accurate.”

  He bellowed then, dropping me from his grip. Reaching around, he attempted to staunch the flow of blood before realizing the knife was still lodged. As he pulled it free, small spurts of blood erupted from the wound.

  “What have you done to me, Aribella?” he spluttered as his blood gushed into the water, coloring it a dar
k red.

  I kicked my feet, keeping my head above water and working my way backwards. He didn’t follow me. Instead he went a deathly white color and started to sink into the depths of the water.

  I lay back, floating like I’d practiced on First World, and began to kick my legs hard, powering in the direction I hoped was land. I stared up at the half-sun. Its weak light was my visual guide. I didn’t think or worry about the creatures that much blood could bring. I just kicked.

  It took me a long time to tire myself. I couldn’t even say when I noticed the slowing of my kicks, the heaviness of my body. But eventually, when I couldn’t kick any longer, I just floated. The sun disappeared.

  The world shifted into shades of blue as the four moons spanned the sky. And for the first time I wondered if I would die out here, if my First-World side, which could drown, would prevent the immortality of my Walker genes. Finally, as my exhaustion reached its maximum, I let the few tears that had been threatening fall free.

  Faces crossed through my mind. Lucy, Lallielle, Josian – my family would be devastated. And then lastly, Brace.

  I wished that I’d told him how I felt, that although I hated that he’d lied to me, at the end of the day life is short and I didn’t want to die out here and never know what being loved by Brace was like. That he was the one to get me through the tough, lonely nights on Earth, and that I’d wait for an eternity for the perfect kind of love that I thought we’d have.

  I held his image close.

  For some reason I could feel his warmth, and a renewed sense of energy flowed through me. With a deep breath, I kicked out again, determined not to give up. Despite the fact I loved the inbuilt protection half-Walkers had – that I could keep my thoughts private and that no one could sense my energy – right now it felt mighty inconvenient.

  “This seems like a strange place to be having a swim, Abby.”

  I wondered for a moment if I was having one of those hallucinations-right-before-death. It spoke of my utter exhaustion that I barely even reacted as Talina hooked me under my arms, and pulled me close for a hug. I slumped into her, my head hanging heavily on her shoulder.