“Finally,” he sighed. “Men grab some pickaxes and lets get started!”
A few strong looking men joined in and grabbed the pickaxes from the back of the wagon. Like a line of worker ants, they headed single-file to the base of the mountain. As the first sharp point of the first pickaxe hit the hard earth, a sharp pain exploded across my hip. I gasped, shocked by how much that hurt, and doubled over. Another pickaxe fell and I cried out from the pain. Malcolm looked at me strangely. Another axe fell and I crumpled to my knees holding my hip. Tears of pain filled my eyes and trailed down my checks. The men swinging the pickaxes stopped and stared at me. When they paused, my pain eased and I looked up at Malcolm, pleading.
“Don’t do this…” I whispered. Malcolm looked from the men to me and back. Then a light seemed to go off inside his head as understanding dawned on him.
“Keep going,” he ordered his men, his gaze still locked on mine.
“NO!” I cried, but it was too late.
A cascade of pickaxes pummeled the earth, digging into her flesh. I felt every nick, every tear and every gouge. My cries echoed on and on until my voice grew horse and I couldn't do anything but lay in a ball and whimper. After hours crawled by in agony, Malcolm finally strolled up to me. His brown eyes gazed down at me with something akin to regret.
“I'm sorry this hurts you Raina,” he whispered. “I really am, but it's for the greater good. My people will finally have everything they need to survive and thrive because of you. I can never repay you for this.Thank you for your sacrifice.” Then he turned and started walking back toward the mountain.
“I didn't choose this,” I gasped out.
He paused and turned back to me.
“Yes you did, Raina. You chose to come with me when we first met. You chose to lead me here. You chose this!” He lifted his arms wide to encircle the work they were doing on the mountain and all the women and children who were busy making this their new home. “Now live with it,” he smirked and walked away to go inspect the workers.
I laid there all afternoon. Then as the sun began to fade over the horizon, the digging came to a slow stop. The pain eased but I still couldn't move so I watched as the villagers continued to set up their final campsite. All the families had branched out to claim their own little piece of land. Then as night slowly descended, a large bonfire was built in the center and all the families huddled around it together, but still in their own little units. Malcolm stood beside his aunt next to the fire as they roasted six large chickens over a spit. Their juicy aroma coated the campsite, but I wasn’t hungry. Soon music and laughter filled the night. A sense of peace had descended, like a warm quilt, upon Malcolms people. The promise of a brighter future seemed just over the horizon.
That was them. Me? I had never felt so raw, so beaten. Every nerve was screaming. And no one cared. I didn’t even have someone to complain to. All my friends were gone.
At least I can finally breathe again. I just wish I had the strength to move. No one is watching me right now I could escape. Come on legs! Move! But it didn't matter. My limbs were like lead weights. I could barely open and close my fingers. Every inch of me was stiff and sore.
Nope. I'm not going anywhere....
A shadow fell across my wagon and I glanced up to see Mindy reaching me out a trencher of chicken and cheese. When I didn't move to grab it she sat it down a few feet from my face. I ignored it.
“He may not be good at showing it, but he is sorry Drifter.” Mindy said patting my shoulder soothingly. I pulled away from her touch and had to grit my teeth to keep from moaning.
“He doesn't look sorry.”
Mindy sighed haggardly and crawled up to sit beside me in the wagon. She kicked her feet back and forth as they dangled over the edge. She looked up at the stars a small frown tugged at the corners of her mouth. Very slowly, she began to speak.
“When Malcolm was only six, his mother came down with a horrible illness. A fever ravaged her body. A fever that had already swept through three villages and killed almost everyone it touched. Only two people who had been sick didn't’ die from it. And Malcolm’s mama was such a frail little thing, we knew she wasn’t going to be strong enough to make it through. But, there was a rumor going around about a secret potion that could cure the sickness. In desperation, Malcolm's father left in search of the potion. He was so bent on saving his wife that he spent every penny they had to find that cure. But nothing worked. In the end, she died. And Malcolm's father not only lost his wife, he became the laughing stock of The Five. Everyone would mock and jeer wherever they went. Poor Malcolm was even laughed out of school. Then a year later, his father passed away too. Some say from the shame and others say from a broken heart. It doesn’t really matter though. Either way, it left poor Malcolm, only six years old then, parentless and alone. But, poor Malcolm didn’t let that stop him. He took on his father’s responsibilities as Chief of our people with pride and determination.
“You don’t know, so I’ll tell you. The Five, is what we call the five villages in this part of our land. Our village is the fourth. Once, ours was the grandest and richest of all The Five. After Malcolm's father lost everything, we became the poorest. Do you see all those families? There's about ten there right?” she asked nodding towards the families. “There used to be twice that many, at least. But with no money, means no way to barter with other villages. When crisis hit, we were left on our own. As abandoned as those two children,” she nodded to the two kids I had shared my food with earlier. They were huddled together in another wagon, away from everyone else. “A flood hit, and then a drought, and there was nothing poor Malcolm could do. Many families died. Men women, and children all perished because he didn’t have the means to afford help. Malcolm took that blow to heart. It was his responsibility to take care of his people, so after that he began searching far and wide for a way to help his people.”
“Why are you telling me this?” I croaked, my throat too dry to really speak.
Seeing this, Mindy held up a flask of water and helped me sip it. After I lay my head down again, she sighed and glanced over at where Malcolm was eating a chicken leg near the fire.
“When his father died, he made Malcolm swear he would be a better chef than he was. That he would find a way to restore their people’s stature and their family name. So between his vow to father and the needs of his people, he’s desperate Raina. And you have given him everything he has spent his entire life looking for. He'll never give that up. No matter how much he hates hurting you. No matter how much he despises himself for what he’s doing to you. He will continue to do it. He doesn't think he has a choice.”
“Everyone has a choice,” I whispered.
“I know,” Mindy sighed. “It doesn’t matter. I even tried talking some sense into him. Nothing has worked. I am sorry Raina. For what it’s worth. I just thought you should know why it has to be this way.” She looked so haggard as she finally glanced over at me. Her eyes rimmed with unshed tears.
“Eat the chicken,” she urged softly. Then she slid from the wagon and rejoined her nephew.
I lay there in silence and gazed up at the stars. So many thoughts raced through my head that it all felt like a jumbled mess. Nothing made sense anymore. Nothing was as it should be. And there was nothing I could do about it. After a moment I felt the weight of the wagon shift and I looked over to see the two orphans crawl into the wagon.
They probably want my chicken. I nodded to my plate.
“Go ahead. Eat,” I whispered. The older girl grabbed the plate and they both came to sit next to me. Then, I watched in stunned silence as the girl handed her brother the chicken, then gently lifted my head up to rest it on her lap.
“What are you-” I began.
“Shh….shhhh...shhhh….” she soothed me as she ran her fingers gently through my hair. Then, very quietly, she began to sing. It was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard. And as she sang, she continued to run her fingers through my hair. I felt my b
ody start to relax as the pain melted from my nerve endings.
“Eat,” the little boy spoke for the first time as he held a piece of chicken up to my lips. His brown eyes pleaded with me. So, even though I wasn’t hungry, I opened my mouth and he dropped the chicken inside. I couldn't taste it, and I didn’t really want it, but we both knew I needed it.
“Why are you doing this?” I asked between bites. “Why are you helping me? No one ever helps you.”
The little boy looked me straight in my eyes, his expression serious.
“You did.” Was all he said. Then he took another piece of chicken and fed it to me.
I couldn't help it. New tears sprang to my eyes and trailed down my cheeks. They noticed, but they didn't say anything. The girl continued to sing to me and her brother fed me until the chicken was gone. They didn’t even steal a bite for themselves.
“I'm Raina,” I said after I had finished the last bite and my tears had finally stopped. The food had rejuvenated my energy and I was able to sit up on my own again. Now, we sat huddled together gazing up at the night sky.
“I'm Caleb,” said the young boy with a wide and ready grin.
“Ruby,” the girl answered next.
“Thank you Caleb and thank you Ruby,” I said with a warm smile. “You really helped me tonight.”
“If you are a real Walker, why do you let him control you?” Ruby asked suddenly. Both of them looked at me expectantly, waiting for me to answer.
“Do you see this?” I indicated my bonds. “They're enchanted. So they stunt my powers. I can't fight him. And even if I could, I wouldn't know how. I'm pretty new still and I’ve never had to fight before.”
Both of them nodded and I couldn't help but smile as I watched both their eyes light up.
“We'll find a way to get those off you,” Caleb announced bravely.
“Shh,” I hushed him glancing towards the others to make sure no one had overheard. It seemed safe, so I turned my attention back on the kids. “You can't Caleb. Neither of you can. Whatever happens to me, I want you two to stay out of trouble. I want you to stay safe, ok?”
They both nodded but they exchanged a glance that made my stomach twist into knots.
“Really you two. Don’t do anything foolish. Promise me?” I urged glancing between one and the other.
“We promise,” they chorused but something still didn’t feel right.
Then Caleb looked up at me with a honest open plea.
“Tell us a story,” he begged. I couldn't help but smile. “Once upon a time...not so very long ago…” I began and my smile widened into a grin as the two of them nestled up against me, one on either side, and rested their heads on my shoulders. I wrapped my arms protectively around them and continued their story.
Perhaps some humans are good after all. Maybe helping them won't be so bad. Maybe it's a good thing. Maybe by helping Malcolm, I could help them. Besides...it's only a little gold. Right?
Chapter Thirteen
Another Chance
A few years went by. Years of near constant pain as Malcolms people clawed their way into the center of the mountain. They had found the gold ore by the second day and had constructed a system to help dig it out. Pulleys, levers, and hundreds of buckets. Buckets that they filled to overflowing with gold. They rebuilt their village around the base of the mountain. And his people, did indeed, flourish.There were so many of them now their homes stretched out and around for miles. There was nothing of the field left to build on, and they were beginning to cut down the trees more and more rapidly to keep up with their housing needs. Sone, apparently, was no longer practical. They needed something quicker, wood met that need. And with each tree that was felled, I felt the aftermath. The pain of the trees as they died. The helplessness of the animals who had made those trees their homes. I felt everything.
To keep watch over his enterprise, Malcolm hallowed out the top of the mountain and had it turned into a gilded palace. That's where he kept me. I had my own little tower at the very tip top. Harder for me to escape there.
My prison was a large stone room filled with all the comfort a massive amount of gold could bed. A feather mattress, thick quilt blankets, and a whole dresser filled with more clothes. Clothes that looked just like the first. I despised all of it. If only for the pure and simple reason, that it had all been bought with blood money. My blood. My pain. For junk.
The only respite I found was at the end of the day. When the digging would finally stop for the night and my body could take time to mend. That was also when Ruby and Caleb would come. They snuck into the palace every night while Malcolm slept. We’d sit cuddled together on my big bed. And they would eat the food I’d have stashed for them, while I made up stories to tell them. My love for them grew with each passing day and they became more and more like my own children.
Then one day the digging slowed. Most of the pain subsided and I had more energy to move around. For the first time I got up the nerve to step out of my room, my prison, and gazed down at the village below. The mountain that once held so much beauty and life now was nothing more than towering wood and stone houses. Grooves ran through the mountain and cut so deep into the ground in spots that water and welled up to fill the hole. Deep and wide grooves ran all throughout the mountain and scared the landscape. I stood there for hours and watched the sun set over the horizon.
“Raina?” I turned around in surprise to see Ruby and Caleb tiptoeing quietly into my room.
“What are you guys doing here? Your early,” I whispered and rushed over to meet them. There faces were flushed, their eyes wide with excitement and they were both grinning wickedly.
“We brought you something!” Caleb whispered loudly and Ruby held out a small leather pouch.
“What is this?” I asked as I accepted it from her and held it up to inspect the bag. It was only about three inches in diameter. Whatever was inside was squishy and crumbly just like sand. The bag itself had an arrow design burned into the front center of it.
“Tubocurarine,” Ruby whispered. “The hunters have begun using them in their arrows. They say it helps take down their prey faster. It’s also known as poison.”
I almost dropped the bag. My gaze shot to theirs.
“Why did you bring me poison?” I sounded shocked even to my own ears. My tone high and shrill.
“So you can use it on Mankind, duh.” Caleb rolled his eyes.
“Mankind?” I breathed...why does that sound so familiar?
“Yeah. It’s what the villagers have been calling the chief. It’s short for saving mankind. That’s what they say he’s doing. He’s their hero.” Caleb explained matter of factly. Like it was common knowledge.
It’s just like she said it would be... I finally remembered that dream. I remembered meeting my future self. I remembered the desolate world that Mankind had created. That Malcolm was going to create. I gripped the potion bag more firmly in my palm.
“Production has slowed Raina,” Ruby gave voice to what I had been feeling all day. She looked so much older than her thirteen years. Her gaze too knowing. She had seen too much already. “Malcolm isn’t going to stop. I heard him speaking with his men by the mine entrance. He’s going to make you find more gold Raina. I'm not sure when he’s going to make you leave, but I know it’s going to be soon. This could be your only chance to be free.”
I knew she was right, but the thought of what I had to do caused sweat to bead on the back of my neck and my hands shook slightly.
I'm responsible for the balance. I have to do something. But does it have to be this?...I gazed down at the bag in my hand. This seems so...wrong… to take another living beings life away is one of the worst crimes you can commit….I don’t think I can do this...I have to find another way…
“Raina!” I heard Malcolm’s voice echo from the hall.
I looked down at the kid’s terrified expressions.
“Quick, hide under the bed,” I said pushing them towards the corner of the room
. They ran and quickly slid under just a second before Malcolm walked in.
I turned around and walked slowly towards him. My heart racing, my palms broke out in a light sweat, and I had to take slow steady breathes to keep from passing out. Then I lifted my gaze to Malcolm. He paused when he saw me and relief flooded his face. Still after all these years, he thought I'd actually be able to escape.
“Production has slowed,” he accused.
“The gold is almost gone Malcolm. You've bled this mountain dry.” I answered walking wearily closer to him. The potion was cupped in my right hand, which I held down by my thigh and out of view. It’s contents hidden in my fist.
“Then we need to move locations.”
“ Why?” I asked. “Haven't you gotten enough gold yet?”
“No!” He growled. “There isn't enough. Not yet.”
I lifted my head and glared at him. At first I had helped him willingly. I liked his people. Well, I liked Ruby and Caleb. They deserved to be happy. But every time his men tore gold or jewels from the earth, it left me bleeding and it still wasn't enough.
Well... I'm sick of it!
“I don't think it will ever be enough,” I growled back. His brown eyes darkened in anger.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means you’re a selfish pig that will never, and can never, be satisfied. You'll always want more because you're using it to fill a void that can never be filled with greed Malcolm.”
“What would you know? You don't even know me,” he grumbled and stalked casually towards the balcony. But I could see the tension in his shoulders, the tick in his jaw...I had hit a nerve.
“Yeah because I've sat beside you for over three years, but I don't know you? I know more than you think master,” I said with a cocky grin on my face. “I know that the hole you are so desperately working to fill was put there by your parents. Their deaths ripped a hole right through you. You are so busy trying to fulfill the promise you made your father that you've allowed it to consume you. Well, look around Malcolm! Your villages is the top of The Five! Congratulations! Your people are thriving! They want for nothing. And still, still, you're here demanding more!” My eyes raked over his body like he was a pitiful sight to behold. He turned to me, his eyes wild, his face flushed with rage.
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