by Ramona Finn
“This is why we reject all technology.” Skylar Two motioned to his people as they bared their vulnerabilities for all of us to see. “It makes us traceable. Vulnerable. Ty, it could mean death for all of us.”
He paused to let his words sink in, and I felt afraid of what was coming next. I was just about to reassure him that the comm was probably broken anyway, that I hadn’t tried to make contact with Ben, but he didn’t give me a chance before continuing.
“But it doesn’t have to be that way.” He was no longer talking to me—or, at least, not just to me. He projected his voice, squaring his shoulders. He was speaking to them as their leader’s son. “Don’t you see?” he asked. “Tylia could be the key to ending Farrow Corp.”
This sparked a frenzy of discussion so loud that I could barely hear my own thoughts. The end to Farrow Corp? That would mean the end of everything in the Geos! Surely, he realized what that would mean? How could he connect that to me?
I couldn’t help speaking up. “You’d be no better than them, if you did that.” My voice carried over the crowd, but they ignored me. “You’d kill hundreds of people. People who aren’t immune to the Virus. Women and children… don’t you understand that?”
“Your turn to speak has passed,” Skylar One said calmly as he looked over the chaos. “Only those who have undergone their trial may speak now. Only they may vote.” The crowd quieted, falling into two groups—those who had been tested against the Virus and those who had not. The latter group, mostly youth, was ushered to one side of the room, where they were allowed to observe quietly. A few of the younger teens picked the youngest tots up onto their hips and took them from the room to reduce interruption. As they transitioned, I saw an opening to speak.
“I will not be a party to the annihilation of my people, any more than I will to yours.” My bluntness didn’t faze Skylar One at all. He looked into my eyes a moment, then turned to face forward once more.
“Even so,” he said, and shrugged.
I wanted to ask him what he meant by that, but I had the feeling he wouldn’t tell me, and I didn’t have the patience for silly mind games. I clenched my fists at my sides and scanned the room.
“You’ll only embarrass yourself if you run,” Skylar One said, apparently having picked up on my body language. “Besides, that is not what is up for vote. At least not at this time.”
“It isn’t?”
“Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to see an end to the man that took Skylar’s mother from me. But not if we can’t minimize the casualties.”
My head spun toward Skylar Two, and my heart broke for him. I’d noticed the absence of his mother but hadn’t felt comfortable prying in that area. The thought of losing my own mother was too close, too tender for me to brave asking him where his own was. I wanted to reach for his hand. To offer some form of silent apology… but I was afraid that, given the timing, even that small gesture would be considered inappropriate.
“But I thought we were here to vote on my freedom?” I asked. “Are you saying that you’ll set me free regardless?”
“In a manner of speaking. Now, hush.”
He drew my attention back to Donalt, who was addressing a smaller group vying for my imprisonment. Though the group was small, their voices were loud, and I watched in suspense as those voices converted new members. In a matter of moments, the room was divided between those who wanted me locked up and those who would give me my freedom.
“Tylia is the only one among us who has something to lose in both worlds,” Skylar Two countered Donalt’s accusations that I was a danger to the Rejs. “Or have you forgotten what was foretold?” At this, the others fell silent.
“Don’t,” Donalt spoke to Skylar Two directly. “Don’t try to use the prophecy to save your pet; that’s going too far.”
Prophecy? “Wait, no one said anything about a prophecy,” I stammered. I was here to save my mother, not fulfill an ancient superstition.
But the others continued as if I hadn’t spoken.
“Think about it,” Skylar Two said to Donalt before turning to address the crowd. “If Tylia wins the Acceptance and survives, they will take her to the Labs.” A shadow fell over his face for the briefest moment when he talked about me leaving, but it was gone so quickly that I wondered if I had been the only one to notice it, or if maybe I’d imagined it altogether. “The prophecy said the one who would unite the splintered fragments of humanity would have a link to all three worlds: the Geos, the Labs, and us.”
“That’s ridiculous...” But Donalt’s protest was cut short by Skylar One.
“That isn’t for you to decide, Donalt. Not alone.” He turned and addressed the crowd. “If you vote with Donalt, and wish to imprison the undergrounder, declare your intent with a show of hands now.”
I flinched as several members of the community raised their hands in solidarity with Donalt. The air was thick with anticipation as they situated themselves, and then there was a long pause.
“Those who would side with my son, and allow Tylia to complete the trial, make clear your intent by a show of hands.”
In moments, more hands were raised, and even I could see they outnumbered Donalt’s party. “Then, it is decided,” Skylar One declared. “Tylia will be allowed to undergo her trial.”
Those who were gathered behind Skylar Two and myself erupted into hoots of celebration. All of the commotion made my eyes glaze over as I tried to process what had just happened.
“What does this mean?” I shouted to Skylar Two over the chaos. I’d thought I was nearly done with my trial, and there was only one other test I could possibly pass that would grant me freedom to return to my family in the Geos.
I steeled myself against the answer. I’d known it was coming, but I had still cherished a tiny spark of hope that I would be allowed a pardon on the final stage of the trial.
“The final test—to be exposed to the Virus! If you are the one the prophecy speaks of, you will survive and officially become one of us.”
Chapter Thirty-One
The celebration lasted long into the night, with only Donalt and her handful of followers refusing to take part. Though by law they were not allowed to opt out of the celebration, they seemed to be allowed the option to stand in the corner and sulk while the rest of their people stood in line to offer up tokens they considered lucky—the petals of a local flower, bits of yarn, the feather of a hawk to accompany their well-wishes. Some even brought flowers woven into wreaths and whispered prayers to the prophet who they believed had foretold my coming.
A feast was prepared in my honor, using the best cuts of the most recent kill and greens foraged only the day before. The scent of the meat cooking washed over my senses, bringing to the surface one of those things which I’d most come to appreciate about living with the Rejs. It had only been a week before I’d given up Ben’s warning and tried their food—my stores had only been built to last me so long, after all, and I’d wanted to save some for when I left the Rejs’ company. And, after living with them only that long, I’d already longed to know what food from the surface was like.
Their food wasn’t grown in a lab. The second their food had touched my lips, I’d regretted every strip of dried hydro-meat I’d insisted on eating since I’d been brought to Skylar Two’s mountain village. Tonight, I treasured every bite of our meal. The Rejs’ food was unbelievably fresh, and even tasted free from man-made additives. These greens had been grown with natural light, and the meat hadn’t been genetically altered, but grown by nature. The flavors were incredible.
And I wondered, as I dined with them again… if such factors could cause such a dramatic difference in taste, could they be partially responsible for the disparity between the health of those who lived in the Geos and those who were raised here on the surface?
It seemed unlikely that the answer could be so simple and escaped the attention of the scientists working in the Labs. Why would Ben have warned me against eating the food here if it was known
that many of us could survive on the surface with the right mix of genetics and diet? But they couldn’t know, I argued to myself. Or else the algorithm would be weighted to provide more survivors.
Maybe what I’d learned during my time with the Rejs could be helpful in the Labs, as well. If everyone could get along long enough to work together. It was a pipe dream at best, but I tucked it away inside my head for later, just in case.
The meal ended just as the sun was setting, and the light in the cave dimmed as the stars took over the night sky. One by one, torches were lit and placed in holders along the outer walls of the cave, and the fire pit in the center of the cave was fed until it raised up far above our heads, becoming the cave’s main light source.
It was then that the dancing began.
Rejs of all ages participated in this part of the celebration, pulling out instruments made from wood or bone, some threaded with long animal hairs that made a pleasant tune when plucked. They danced in a circle around the fire, pairing up occasionally. A handful hummed along to the tune as they moved their bodies to the music in a way that struck me with a deep awe.
I stared at the flames, which flickered in a similar motion. I wondered if it was the musicians who were playing to the beat of the fire, or if the Rejs had somehow found a way to enchant even the most powerful forces of nature. The thought would have sounded absurd to my past self, but that version of Tylia felt a lifetime away, in more than one way. I had changed so much in the past weeks that I wondered whether anyone from back home would recognize me if I survived my trial tomorrow. Maybe it wouldn’t matter whether they did or not, as I’d be going to the Labs anyway, and would be leaving all but my parents behind. And Ben? Well, he hadn’t known much about me to begin with, aside from what he’d read in my file. Those things were my data, but they weren’t really me. At my core, I had become something that Ben would never understand.
I caught a glance of Skylar Two as he joined the circle of dancers, marveling at the realization that he was taking part in the celebration of my mere existence. The way the firelight bounced off of his face drew my attention to the creases that gathered at the corners of his eyes, and his cool exterior made way for an embodiment of pure joy. Eyes that had seen so much in such a short lifespan. More than myself and Ben combined. Eyes that had seen me, that day that he’d saved me from the horned beast his people called a water buffalo, and had seen me not for my genetics, but for my humanity. Who had looked at me, his enemy, with all of my faults, and believed in me anyway.
Skylar Two moved around the bonfire, twisting and turning in my direction, a broad smile on his face. He came to a stop in front of me and held out his hand, asking me to join him in his dance. I stalled, suddenly self-conscious, and looked at the throngs of people around us. I shook my head, but he insisted good-naturedly. “Come on, Ty, enjoy the night. Celebrate with me.”
A feeling I couldn’t identify tugged me in his direction. Maybe it was because I was processing the gravity of what tomorrow could bring. This was my only chance at freedom. If, by some miracle, I survived the Virus, I would rejoin my family—not only saving them, but maybe even reuniting the Geos and the Rejs. I could save everyone I cared about.
And I cared about Skylar Two. Even more, I wanted to feel like, even if I died the next day, I’d made a difference. I needed a way to prove to myself that I’d made a connection with someone that was meaningful in a way I needed, even if I didn’t quite understand it.
Why couldn’t it be with him? I thought as he pulled me to him, so close that I could feel the warmth of his body against my skin.
We danced like that until our bodies glistened with sweat. At times, our movements would bring us so close that I could feel his breath on my neck, making me tremble. I knew I was being selfish, that I couldn’t offer Skylar Two anything beyond this moment in time. If my genetic profile was any indication of my chances of survival, I would be dead by this time tomorrow. Still, I thought to myself, if I’m to die tomorrow, I might as well enjoy my last night. My entire life had been about sacrifice. I wanted this one night to be about me.
Finally, we broke for water. I sat on the stone steps that led up to Skylar Two’s home. He took a drink from his flask and then handed it to me, marveling at me as I took a swig without the filter. It was cool, and tasted like the morning dew smelled on the cold mountain grass. I mourned every day I’d deprived myself of such a sensory experience. After a moment, I could feel Skylar Two’s eyes on me.
I could feel the tension rising between us. It seemed to double in on itself until I couldn’t stand the silent buffer between us. I had to find a reason to break the silence.
“It’s getting late… I should turn in.” I waited awkwardly for him to agree. When he didn’t, I filled the silence again. “Big day tomorrow, ya know?”
He nodded, an excited grin spread across his face. It was meant to be encouraging. He was so sure that I could do this. “I know you’ll be great, Tylia.”
I tried to return his grin, but it came out forced. His attention made my heart race and my head spin, and I couldn’t tell if it was from the food, the dance, or the smell of dust and adrenaline that was filling the room. I reached over and took his hand in mine.
Together, we climbed the stairs to his home, barely glancing over our shoulders as the party continued below us.
We removed our shoes and made our way to the bedroom, but when he leaned down to retrieve the bamboo roll he normally slept on, I put my hand on his shoulder to stop him.
He knelt by the bed and looked up at me, confused.
“Lay with me for a little while?” My voice trembled. “I… I know it’s not very Rej of me, but I’m afraid.”
Skylar Two’s eyes traced the lines of my face silently as I waited for his response. Then, he leaned down and brushed his hand along my face as he sat down beside me. I leaned into the feeling of his skin on mine. The feeling of being vulnerable to him as his fingers traced down my neck and shoulders sent shivers down my spine. Finally, after waiting for what felt like an eternity, he pressed his lips against mine, and I sighed as his essence swept me away.
Chapter Thirty-Two
I woke before the sun, with Skylar Two beside me in the bed. The cave was eerily silent as it anticipated the dawn of a monumental day in Rej history. The day their prophecy would be fulfilled. At least, that was how I hoped everything would go down. I blinked the sleep from my eyes and traced my fingers along Skylar Two’s arm as his chest rose and fell in his sleep. Finally, I decided to face my destiny, pausing only a moment to kiss Skylar Two’s shoulder before pulling the blankets away and slipping from the bed.
The bath house was normally one of my favorite parts of living with the Rej community. In the warmer months, rainwater was collected through a funnel system made primarily from bamboo. On a warm, sunny day, one only needed to stand beneath the bamboo piping to enjoy a sun-warmed shower.
I had no desire to cleanse myself of my life here with Skylar Two before facing certain death. Instead, I opted for the attached steam room. It was closed off from the shower room, save for strategically placed holes in the stone that were meant to vent out the moisture and prevent the growth of mold.
In the center of the room was a large fire pit made from metals which the early Rejs had salvaged from the fallen cities. A pot of hot stones was situated above the fire, which was constantly stoked and tended to. I paused by the doorway and took a stick of incense made from cedar soaked in spices and borrowed fire from the firepit to light it before placing it in a holder.
The hot stones sent clouds of steam up into the air when I scooped water from a nearby rain barrel and poured it over them.
I replaced the bowl on top of the water barrel and turned my attention to the basin of rose water beside it, scooping it up with my hands and pouring it over my body. The water was warm against my skin, and the steam was soothing. I sat on the bamboo mat nearest to the fire pit and let the warmth move over my body and cleanse my so
ul. My mind drifted, and for a moment I was able to let all of my worries melt away.
The feeling didn’t last long. Soon, the steam began to cool, and I knew the time had come to face reality. I dressed mindfully—not in a hurry, per se, but not delaying myself, either. Every moment I took for myself was a moment taken away from my future. From my mother’s future. With my tracker damaged, I had no way to prove that I was still alive, and I didn’t know how long they would wait before assuming that I had failed. Now that I was able to leave, putting it off seemed selfish. These were moments that could very well take my mother’s life.
Her life, my life.
My life, her life.
I knew that, if she’d had any idea what I was about to do, my mother would have begged that I refuse to complete my trial. She would have demanded it. I was tempted to accept that as my excuse. To call it all off. But I knew I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I traded her life for my own. And, of course, it didn’t sound as if I’d even be allowed to stay with the Rejs if I refused to go forward with the trial. There was no choice but to go forward on the course I’d set for myself.
Before leaving the bath house, I squared my jaw, steeling myself against what I was about to do.
Skylar Two was waiting for me, along with Donalt and an escort of three others. They surrounded me, with Donalt on my left and Skylar Two on my right, the other two taking up the lead and the rear, forming a diamond-shaped pattern around me as we exited the cave.
They took me down a different path than the way I’d come up, and as soon as the tree cover became thicker around us, the terrain became foreign to me. I had stared down at this forest from the mouth of the cave many times, but never had my gaze penetrated the tops of the trees. Walking beneath the branches felt like entering a hidden world long kept secret. Despite the somber mood of our troop, I couldn’t help but bask in the atmosphere of the forest. I wished that Skylar Two and I could share it together, without the others. I barely resisted the urge to reach over and take his hand, afraid that it might push Donalt over the edge. The last thing I needed was to get in a fight with her during my trial.
