by Al K. Line
"No, this isn't normal at all. Look at it, it's bedlam," said Erato.
"Nobody is working, nobody's doing anything. They're all hanging around, eating and drinking and shouting. What are they all doing?"
"They're waiting for the screen to come alive again. Waiting for this camera." Arcene tapped the one that pointed out the window, the one she had sent her very essence into to make function, clearly one of Vorce's replacements for the one she damaged beyond any kind of repair.
Turning to the boy, trying to look friendly, Arcene smiled and said, "Did you see the images? Did you see what Vorce did? How he killed Cashae, how Elder Janean acted? All of it?"
"We did," stuttered the boy.
"What was your name? Pieter was it?" He nodded. "So you know what he's like? What he has done to you all?" Again, he nodded. "And how did people react, Pieter?"
Pieter was silent, head bowed. "It's all right, Pieter, you can tell her. Or tell me, you know me, you know Erato."
He lifted his head. "Okay. Well, we saw you wink before you turned all the cameras off, or we guessed it was you. People were angry, and just waited. And then they came on again, and it was you again, Arcene."
He turned to look at her, the story overcoming his fear. "You were smiling and you said to watch. So we did. We saw Cashae, all sad, and crying, and we saw you in the main street and what Vorce did, and more. We saw him act so mean. He kicked her. He killed her, and after he kicked her! We saw him shouting to himself, saying horrible things about you all, and about how he would do terrible things and that he was going to make all of you Prey in the next Hunt. It was awful, but we watched, we watched it all. Then it was over, you were all gone, you ran away and he went after you. Now you're here."
"That's right, now we are here. So the people know? They saw what Vorce did?"
"Yes, and they aren't happy about it. Some of them defended him, and there was some trouble, still is. It was only an hour or so ago, I think. I came up here to get out the way. Everyone's gone crazy."
"Come on, we have to go, get down there. You too, Pieter. Bring the camera. Can you work it?" asked Arcene.
"Sure," he said brightening. "Although I'll get in trouble. I'm not supposed to, not really."
"Don't worry about that, Pieter," said Erato. "Nobody will mind, not today. Not ever. You got what you need?"
"Almost." Pieter went to the circuit board and flipped a few switches. Things hummed into life behind the blackness. "It's just to power the cable, and to send it to the camera for the screen. The cable is already run down there, where it stays. I just have to connect it."
"Okay, let's go," ordered Arcene.
"Do you know what you're doing?" asked Talia as they left the room and filed down the stairs.
"Haven't got a clue, but what have we got to lose? Vorce will be here soon, and if I can get a message to everyone before then we might avoid a lot of trouble. Maybe."
Sunshine greeted them as Pieter ran though the large entrance to The Island and over to the bundle of cables Arcene had run up as a mouse what felt like forever ago. He fiddled with switches and other things hidden from view, then turned and smiled, camera in one hand, thumb up on the other.
It was too late, they had already been seen. A communal gasp almost deafened Arcene as the chant was taken up.
Arcene. Arcene, Arcene. Arcene.
Someone else chanted Talia's name, then Erato's. Then Leel's.
Leel barked loudly. The screen flickered into life.
The Big Show
The noise was deafening as they stepped out into late afternoon sunshine. It wasn't all cheers though, there was anger there too. Not directed at them, but at Vorce.
Where was he? Had they killed him? How could they do that? Was it true? Was it a trick? And on and on it went.
They stood there, Arcene, Talia, Erato, and Leel, in a line on the top steps, images huge as they stared at themselves on the screen.
The most bizarre thing about it all was that probably three quarters of the people weren't facing them, they were watching the screen. Why look at the real thing when you can see it televised?
It was one of the most bizarre things she thought she had ever seen. But thinking back it had been the same at her Judgment, everyone looked at her first, but then at the screen to see it larger. The spectacle, the shame they should all play a part in.
What was wrong with them? Were they not ashamed for what they had done? For the things they did in the name of entertainment? And now here she was with a new drama for them to witness. She knew it was how it had to be, how she could make the most of the situation, but it was sad — they hadn't really snapped out of it and many were still crying for blood, for a Judgment. They wanted to Hunt, they all wanted to Hunt.
They wanted to Hunt Vorce.
"Enough," shouted Arcene, sword pulled out fast, swept in front of her like she would slice them all to bits if they didn't shut up — it was tempting, whether they did or not. Arcene was tired, hungry, thoroughly fed up and she'd had more than enough of the lot of them. She wanted to go home. She would go home, nobody would stop her, not now. Not ever.
"You saw what happened?"
"Yes," shouted the crowd.
"You know what Vorce did? That he killed one of you, one of his own?"
"We do," they agreed.
Arcene tried not to roll her eyes. What was with them?
"And did you see the truth of this Hunt? How wrong it is? How people cry and are terrified, and Hunters break down and know to kill is wrong?"
"We do," some shouted, but there wasn't the same response there had been.
I'm losing them, already. "Did you see Vorce kill Cashae because she wanted to go home? That she discovered Vorce was manipulating her, that he fooled her, fooled you all?"
"Yes," came the subdued answer.
"He cheated. He used cameras not to show you what happened, but so he could track Prey without them having a chance." A gasp. Good, they were with her again. "Talia and Erato are witness to this, and so much more. He lied and he cheated and there is a tunnel under the sea and you can go to the mainland. You can go now." Silence, nothing. Nothing at all.
What was wrong? They were scared, they had never even considered such a thing. What now?
Talia stepped forward. "It's beautiful. There are fields and rivers and meat, and there are houses and you could live anywhere, do anything. We can have our freedom. We can do whatever we want. Vorce lied. The Hunt is a lie. He killed us if we disagreed with him. He made us do things we didn't want to do. We can leave. We must leave."
"Why should we?" came one angry man's sullen question.
Arcene stepped forward, unable to contain herself. "I'll tell you why. Because if you are not off this Island in exactly three hours then you will never leave. We know the way. We are the ones that can open the doors and show you how to get there, where to go and how to survive, and if you do not leave now then I will make damn sure you never can. I'm sick of you people. You enjoyed watching me get chased like an animal. You wanted to see me die. All I did was accept your friendship and your food and you turned on me. Well, I've had enough. You can leave, or not."
Arcene shrugged — it made no difference to her. "But if any of you try anything I will cut you into bits and feed you to the fish. Understand?" Arcene roared.
She was sick to her stomach with the lot of them. She wasn't even sure they deserved such an offer. Maybe she should close off the tunnels and leave them to their insanity? No, give them a choice, a final offer. Nothing more, no second chances.
They had their options. She would not let the tunnel remain open. She simply would not. No way was she going to allow another unfortunate to wash up at The Island and give any of them the opportunity to continue the Hunt and have their games. It was now, or it was never. She was in no mood for discussion or lengthy departures.
"It's beautiful, it really is. But we have to go. I know this is our home, but only because we don't know any better. O
ut there is a world full of space and we can do anything. But no more Hunt." Talia was almost pleading with them, but her words seemed to have the desired effect.
"No more Hunt. No more Hunt," came the chorus.
Arcene stared at herself on the screen and tried not to scowl and roll her eyes. She looked pretty good though, considering.
Dirty, rather a mess, but still kick-ass with her sword and her kilt. And her socks looked as cool as ever. Leel looked amazing, standing there by her side, almost up to her shoulder, proud and strong, but still dopey, although she never seemed to make that impression on others.
"Ooh." The crowd gasped.
Arcene knew they looked good, and the ultimatum was rather extreme, but she didn't expect quite such awe.
"Traitors!"
Arcene stared at the screen again, understanding why there was a collective gasp.
Vorce stood at the entrance to the bowels of The Island. He looked insane, hair blowing wildly, face a mask of hatred, eyes blazing. The eyes of a madman.
He was gone. Lost and over the edge.
Dangerous.
Revolt
Arcene turned as Vorce's voice sent shock waves through the community. She could feel the indecision build in an instant.
This was Vorce, their leader. The man that had kept them safe, kept them together, the only ruler any of them had ever known and the man they owed everything to.
It was understandable, and Arcene knew that all that had been said and seen so far could be forgotten in an instant as Vorce's presence and power swept over The Island like a strong breeze.
Vorce stepped forward, but remained at a distance from Arcene and the others. The boy with the camera changed position, and the image on the screen blurred for a moment then switched to a closeup of Vorce.
His face filled the screen, and the crowd murmured loudly, his insanity clear for all that would accept what they saw without their vision clouded by the man he had once been.
This was the truth of their leader, the reality behind the lies, the manipulations, and the enforced following he dictated by his dominant influence. Would it be enough? Would they stand against him or bend to his will?
"They are traitors." Vorce pointed at Talia and Erato in turn. "And she, this girl and her dog," Vorce's words came out in a hiss, spittle at the corners of his mouth, "they have disrupted our peaceful existence. All of them must die. There is to be a Hunt, the greatest Hunt of all. They shall be Judged, the two ex-members of our community, and they shall be found Guilty. They will be taken to the mainland, taken as only I have been given the power to do by the strength of my righteousness, and I shall pick new Hunters and this will be the most glorious of Hunts you have ever witnessed."
There was silence. No cheers, no clamoring for blood, and no chants of encouragement.
The islanders knew his words to be a lie. They knew of the tunnel, knew what he had done, had seen it on their screen.
"They saw you, Vorce," said Arcene. "I turned the camera feeds back on and they saw you kill Cashae. She was one of your own people, and you killed her. You cheated and you lied and you never gave Prey a chance. You are a fraud and you deserve to be punished. It's over, Vorce. Enough of this."
Arcene felt thousands of pairs of eyes follow her every move. Some watched her, others the screen as the image panned from Vorce, to her, to Talia and Erato, even covering the crowd for a few moments, showing Arcene in detail the complex emotions of the islander's.
This was a lot to take in for sure, but she was resolute. This was it, the final show. The last one ever.
"You... you turned the cameras back on?" asked Vorce in shock, coming back to himself, the madness retreating.
"Yes. Everyone saw what you did. They saw you kill Cashae and they saw you run and they saw you as you truly are. A manipulator and a liar." Arcene moved closer to Vorce as she spoke — he didn't seem to notice.
The crowd jeered and hissed.
"I did it for you," said Vorce, hands open, pleading. "I had to save us all. She turned her back on us, just like Talia and Erato. They killed Elder Boehn, and Elder Janean. They are the ones in the wrong, not me."
"We saw you kick Cashae, after she was dead," came a voice from the crowd, followed by more jeers and shouts from the increasingly incensed crowd.
"What? No, I didn't. Did I? Anyway, that is my punishment. They are traitors and you will do as I say. I keep you safe, I control you. You will obey!"
"You kicked her?" whispered Talia, walking toward Vorce. "You kicked her as she lay dead in the street after you killed her?" Arcene watched as Talia got ready to fight, to kill.
"Talia, wait," said Arcene. Talia turned at her voice, and Arcene watched in dread as Vorce lunged for Talia, sword jabbing out hard and fast as he propelled his body forward, the act of a desperate man who could stand the insubordination no longer.
But Talia was quicker than Arcene had expected and easily sidestepped the thrust, slamming the hilt of her sword into Vorce's wrist as he floundered forward, almost losing his balance.
The crowd was in turmoil, shouting and clamoring for Vorce's Judgment. What was wrong with them? After all this and they clung to their old ways like a baby to its favorite teddy bear.
Vorce moved to continue the fight but Leel ran to Talia's defense before Arcene could stop her. Arcene could see the aggression, the bloodlust from earlier and the atmosphere combining to send Leel over the edge, to go berserk and ravage Vorce until he was nothing but lumps of flesh. This would not be good. It would cause havoc, and it wasn't what Arcene wanted. She had other plans for him.
"Leel, no!" Leel turned but kept on moving, teeth bared, eyes manic. "You won't get any supper. Ever. Stop!" Leel skidded to a halt, the punishment filtering into her mind, the threat of loss of food combined with the order enough to stop her from losing control completely.
Arcene rushed up to her and whispered in her ear, while everything else was still.
The crowd was silent.
Vorce seemed lost to the madness and just stood there as if accepting he was beaten.
"You stay and guard him. Don't let him move," Arcene ordered Leel, loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Are you all mad?" Arcene shouted, finally at the end of her patience. "We tell you what he has done and all you can think of is to carry on as you were. I'm sick of the lot of you. You deserve to be locked up here forever and to never see what the world is really like."
The crowd shifted about uncomfortably, unable to come to terms with the changes thrust upon them so quickly. Was this all a mistake? Should she have left Talia and Erato to deal with this how they saw fit? No, they were too close to it all, and Arcene was certain Talia would never have defeated Vorce if left alone to end it all. She had to... Ugh, something's not right.
Arcene turned to find Leel laying down at Vorce's feet, half asleep and far from the vicious animal she was a moment ago. She turned to Talia and Erato, but they were half asleep too.
The crowd was quiet, watching. Watching her. As she turned her attention from the crowd to the huge screen, she was confronted with the smiling face of Vorce.
"Did you think you could subdue me, Arcene? Did you think you could defeat me? ME! I am The Island. The Island is me. It is MINE! You are a child and it is time you were taught a lesson by the grown-ups." Vorce's eyes bored into hers from the screen. Arcene couldn't turn away, was transfixed by his manic gaze, by the light that caught the spittle at the corners of his mouth. By something else.
He was going to win.
Battles with Worms
A worm.
There was a worm wriggling into her skull, boring into her mind and her thoughts, eating away at her sense of right, her sense of duty, her compassion and her personal morality.
It was being gnawed away and replaced by something else. By a craving for Justice, for a call to vengeance and an acceptance of what her betters knew to be just. She was being warped, changed so she believed in the power and the righteousne
ss of Vorce. Her leader, the man that would do what was best and who's say was final.
Arcene watched transfixed as Vorce moved forward, smiling like it was a pleasant day and all was well in the world. Her mind was reaching for his, his mind reaching out to hers, reaching out to everyone's. Invisible tendrils, powerful beyond compare after hundreds of years of practice in The Noise, able to insinuate himself into the minds of others, even Awoken, taking advantage of the slightest weakness and forcing his will on her, on them all.
This was the truth behind the man, behind the madness of The Hunt. He projected his personal sense of Justice onto them all, enveloping them in his presence like a warm blanket, tucking them in tight, making them a community that had to sacrifice to stay together, to survive and remain as they were.
Arcene's mind floated above, watching herself lose control and her posture slump, her sword lower and her eyes dull. Vorce had a similar effect on every single person on The Island.
She watched as Elders emerged from inside the building to see what the commotion was about, seemingly coming out of hiding after the revelations of earlier. A few of his wives came out too, with children. They must have feared for their lives and hidden once his true nature was revealed. He was calling to them all, calling everyone to him.
As he strutted across the wide platform of the entrance, Arcene watched his confidence grow.
Was she truly floating above herself, watching this unfold? Or was this merely her imagination, a means to escape the brutal attack on her senses? It made no difference, she knew what she had to do.
Arcene switched off The Noise inside of herself. Shut it down and sealed its all-encompassing power away. Pushed it out. She turned inward, examined herself as she was now and how she once was — a wild thing, a primitive creature.
She looked at the things she'd done to herself, the transformation of her body chemistry to lock herself away forever as a fifteen-year-old girl, the half woman, half girl she was for eternity. She followed all the changes she had made to herself in a fit of anger and shame and she traced the subtle lines of invisible energy that made it all possible. She flowed inside of herself and met Vorce, his will, his presence inside her body, and she joined him.
