by Kyle Perkins
My lips part to speak, but nothing comes out. My thoughts are screaming at me to release the voice I have muted, but my body refuses to listen out of fear of repercussion. I have never been with a man and I don’t intend on letting him do anything to change that now.
“That’s what I thought, little one. It’s time.” He releases my hair, allowing me the distance I need to ensure he won’t hurt me as I thought he was going to.
I follow him to the cave entrance and wait as he removes the tight bindings securing the opening. Once the last of the ties are removed, the gate swings open with an invitation to my oblivion.
Before he can say anything or touch me again, I put one foot in front of the other as I make my way into the darkness of the cave with my dignity in place. I would have normally stayed as close to the gate as I could; clinging to it like the last time I was sentenced, but today I want as far away from Garret as possible. I continue to walk through the cave until I am sure he can’t see me in the darkness. I turn and wait for him to finish securing me in, like an animal.
“The girl that goes into the cave, never returns the same. I am counting on that, Aya.” With that, he turns on his heels, heading the direction he came from without a backwards glance to make sure I was ok.
The night will not come anytime soon as we saw dark before my last sleep. I welcome the light, the brightening of the mouth of the cell. With no remaining sign of Garret, I move back towards the door as the whispers begin to fill my head with the wind.
I slide down the rock wall, giving me the view of the bluff overlooking the meadow; my meadow. I let the breeze encircle me as I wait for the sorrow to overtake my sanity. I have been here before. I know what to expect and no-one will save me this time.
Slowly, as the wind screams through the leaves of the trees, the torturous sounds rip through my soul. Small pieces of me being shred from my very existence with each passing branch they blow through. The echoes of sadness reverberate within the walls of my cell, teaching me the lessons that were forgotten by the many that have been encased in here. I silently damn the people of my past that created such a place. I understand the reason, but for the weak and the broken, the pain is real.
The darkness is overwhelming throughout the depths of my enclosure. I strain to focus on the beauty of my surroundings that are kept just outside of my grasp, as I struggle to keep hold of my sanity. The most bothersome part, is that I have no idea how much longer I will be forced to endure such a place, or how long Garret will leave me here. What I do know, is he is after a girl that doesn’t exist anymore.
I need a distraction… Something to help me escape.
Pushing myself up the wall to stand, I start pacing the front of the cave. Needing to quiet the winds, I begin humming. My mother used to sing to me when I was little. I don’t remember much about her, but part of her stayed with me; her song. I hum along with the breeze, overpowering the echoes trying to break me. With my eyes closed, I have walked the front of the cave enough to know it is four steps - turn, four steps - turn.
Continuing my melodic tune, I am more at peace with the predicament I have caused for myself. If I would have just accepted Garret and become the doting bride, I would be decorating the center with field flowers or sharing secrets with Saray.
I have no control over the tears building behind my tightly closed eyelids. This place is doing to me exactly what it is intended to do; I am breaking down, slowly.
The constant walking and turning is messing with my senses. Although I refuse to open my eyes, I know the darkness has come and I will be left alone during a night with no-one to help me.
Wait. We had a night recently.
My eyes shoot open only to find myself in complete darkness. I blink repeatedly, hoping there is a return to my vision. The sounds are clearer and less winded, inflicting fear to course through my body. My heart begins to beat rapidly as I fear the worst. Instinctively, I extend my hands in hope of finding a wall. I take short steps as I try calming myself down. I won’t be able to think rationally if I am rattled by fear.
Get it together, Aya.
I finally brush my fingertips against something cold and damp. I am relieved to find something other than darkness. I grip the wall and release the breath I didn’t know I was holding. With my heartbeat reverberating within my head, I am quieting the hell I have been forced to endure. The overwhelming need to cover my ears and hope for a quick death isn’t enough to bring me to my resolve.
Following the wall, I notice the constant change in temperature and texture of the rocks. The cooler parts of the wall were to be expected, but the warmer stones surprised me. I must have walked my way to the depths of the cave. I need to find my way out.
As I adjust to the darkness, I begin gaining grainy vision. The screams have dimmed as I focus on being able to see. I am thankful for the subtle peace. As I focus, I see there are color differences amongst the stone wall. I gently reach for the different shades of gray, noticing the temperature change between them. The darker ones are warmer, like the silence stones. I am drawn to the darker stone; there is an unexplainable energy that courses through my arm when I glide my fingers across the slick surface. I place my palm on the center, allowing the warmth of its presence to calm the fear I have embedded deep within my soul.
I step away from the stone and feel more in control of my body. I need to get out of here, now. I begin moving at a faster pace, keeping one arm against the wall for guidance. I follow a slight turn to the right and the lighting changes; everything begins to come into focus. I see the light making its way towards me, like a calling.
As I move closer to the front of the cave, the breeze continues its assault on my psyche. Any sense of strength I had within the depths of the cave dissipate as I am reminded of my containment. Finding the exit of the cave was excitement short-lived. I am still here and I am still forgotten about.
I fall to my knees just a few steps shy of my freedom and I break. My emotional detachment is imminent and there is little I can do to prevent it. I am exhausted from fighting and I can’t do it anymore. All hope for my escape is lost while I watch the animals scurry free just outside of my cell. There are no differences between me and the furry creatures outside. They run from their anonymous attackers as they are being hunted, while I am fully aware of my fate and the hand that will destroy the girl I have fought to keep strong.
There is nothing left and the voices ripping through my ears are a constant reminder that I am weak. I want to stay strong, stay alive, stay… me.
For now, I will endure the pain and suffering of the wind, but I will get through this. I may not be the same, but I will get out. I sit down on the dirt floor and lean back against the stones that welcome my weight. I embrace the changing energy within the cave, allowing it to overtake me.
After some time, I am left with nothing short of the strength I harbor deep within, when a part of me is awakened. My body hums with a sense of energy as my breaths slow their pace and I am finally left with a sense of inner peace. This didn’t happen last time.
Everything is clearer, sharper even. I look around the cell as if it’s the first time I had ever seen it. Dark walls covered in dirt and sand. Nail marks decorate the opposite wall, followed by dark lines. Blood. I should be surprised, but I am not.
I don’t know how long I have been in here when the rustling of the bushes in the distance catches my attention. I stand, pushing myself off the dirt floor, anchoring myself against the cell.
I hear my name, faintly, but I hear it.
The motion I was startled with moves closer as I wait for Garret to emerge from the opening he disappeared into. I want for him to find me now; I have changed. I am stronger than I was when I went in and I can’t explain why. I am not sure why I was able to mute the screams, but I did.
When the clearing reveals the source of my name, I am frozen in place. “Ricon?”
Ricon rushes to the cell door as I stand statuesque. “I am so sorry, Aya. I
should have been here for you.” His soot covered hands fumble with the threads that hold me captive. “I had to finish the fire. Signal fires, Aya. We have a problem and I don’t think it is going to be a fair fight.”
Chapter 5
Caius
Light flickers in and out of my field of view as I feel the grit of the soil grinding against my suit. I’m not sure how long I’ve been out, but my onboard targeting system is completely drained. It’s the first time I’ve had to actually rely on my eyes since landing on this planet, and the outlook seems grim.
I have always admired Orrin, or “Captain Windhelm,” as he likes to be referred to. Though, what he did back there was unforgivable. His weakness cost us lives. He has been trained for his entire existence for one task, and when faced with it, he crumbled. He is directly responsible for the deaths of our men, and I am surely next on the chopping block.
As I am pulled through the foreign soil, I begin hearing the familiar buzzing of the camp. Their voices in the distance give me comfort. Soon, I will be able to tell my story of what transpired. It will be a tale of a cowardly captain, though I’m sure his version of events will be different.
“What do you plan to do with me?” I whisper out to him.
“Something I should have done a long time ago. I always knew you were trouble, but I tried to give you the benefit of the doubt.”
“So, this is it, then? You aim to kill me?”
“You killed yourself, Caius. Along with all of those men back there. We can’t have a loose cannon running around, causing mayhem before we’ve so much as started. We could have worked with those people.”
“So, they’re people now, are they? You’ve fucking lost it.”
“People or not, human or not, they were higher-thinking beings. Primitive, but sentient. We could have worked with them, but now all that is down the drain. Now I have to get the camp ready for an inevitable attack, and it’s all because you wanted to prove how big your cock is.” Orrin snaps, obviously growing impatient.
I want to respond to him, I really do. It is taking everything in me not to come back with some shitty remark, but my energy is gone, and I want a fair trial. With his erratic behavior, he is likely to kill me right here without a word.
Quick footsteps approach and I hear Erikk call out, “Captain, what’s happened?!”
“Prepare a containment element. Caius is being charged with treason.”
“Treason? Is he responsible for this?” he asks. “And our fallen? Should I prepare the pods?”
“No, Erikk. Give these men a proper burial. This is our home now, we are no longer of the stars, and we won’t send our people back to them. Scrap the pods, we could use the material,” he says as I feel a tug on my suit, again pulling me through the mud.
Erikk walks alongside the captain, over to a table where a familiar device is sitting. He stops at the long metallic rod with “CE” etched over and over down the sides; the markings serve as a warning of its power.
The doctor takes the rod from the table and stabs it downward into the ground before taking a few steps back. Once he is out of range, the rod begins humming as electricity dances across the surface.
Orrin lifts me from the ground and with one flick of his arm, I am sent through the air. For a brief moment, I feel the weightlessness of space again, and it brings me comfort, until my back hits the hard surface of the rod. In an instant, the machine disguised as a metal pole begins to serve its true purpose. Large metallic legs jut out of the top, blooming like a flower before reaching over and sealing itself by connecting the ends.
I immediately feel my energy being drained, but I am prepared for it. This device is meant for one thing, and that’s to leech the occupant of any remaining suit energy, and to keep the person inside. It’s a harsh punishment, but nothing like what I know Orrin will have planned for me. Treason is no small crime for us – in fact, it’s the worst crime you can commit. Him labeling me as a traitor in such haste only adds to my fear that he isn’t fit to lead.
“Sir, I am picking up a disturbance in the East. I detect movement, but no life,” E-7 says, whizzing into frame.
“Erikk, stay here and watch the prisoner. I am going to check this out,” Orrin grunts as he unlatches his remaining tethers. Just dumping off the mess he made for the minions to clean up, I see. Typical.
“I will gather a small team,” Erikk says, turning his back.
“No. I will go this alone. I can’t risk any more lives this early on. I won’t be long,” Orrin says, pulling his rifle off his back.
Good; go get yourself killed, jackass. We’ll be better off.
“Captain, please take a few men. We can’t afford to lose you. The camp is growing restless.”
“Dammit, Erikk! Stay with the prisoner. I will go this alone, and that’s final,” he orders as he walks towards my prison. He moves over to the element and lets it scan his eyes so that only he can open it, before turning and walking towards the east, with E-7 in tow.
“What exactly happened out there?” Erikk says, turning to me once Orrin is gone.
“Would you believe me if I told you?” I ask faintly.
“Perhaps not, but a whole story can be formed with the half-truths of many.”
“We saw creatures. Creatures that resemble us in some ways, but in others, not. I believe the captain has taken a shine to them, either out of curiosity, or something more sinister.”
“Orrin, sinister? Did he knock a few more screws loose in your head dragging you here?”
“You weren’t there,” I mutter.
“You’re right, so I’ll take this with a grain of salt. Back to these creatures, were they armed? Were they intelligent? I am creating a codex of the plant life and animals on this world, and the more information, the better. You can still be a help to our cause, even if your time with us is short-lived.”
“Erikk, you know me. I may not always do the right thing, but I am no traitor. I hold the mission above all else, just like the rest of us. My execution isn’t always the best, but when have I not had good intentions?”
“On the ship, it was fine. The stakes weren’t as high, but now we are actively in our final mission. There is no room for error, there never is. You got away with so much over the years on the goodwill of Captain Windhelm, but a few of our men are dead, now. Whatever you did out there seems unforgivable in the eyes of our captain. It is not my job to question his authority. My job is to follow his lead, as it is your job. I’m sure you will be given a fair trial. You’ll have time to say your piece. Now, can we get back to those creatures? Be of some use while you can, if you do truly care about the mission.”
There is no use arguing with him. I am basically arguing with the more reasonable half of Orrin, but it’s still half of Orrin. Inseparable, the two. If I have any chance of escape from this, I need to speak with the soldiers. They’re the only ones that would understand… but also, they’re likely the most loyal to Windhelm. Quite the predicament I have put myself in.
“They were humanoid, like us. Darker skin and eyes, dirty hair. They were savages. They use crude weapons, but they are brave. They are not to be underestimated. They took out Jazreth, Ekor, Akal… all in fully-charged suits,” I say. As I speak, a crowd of men and women begins to gather around my cage.
“Do they possess the capability to communicate with one another?” Erikk asks.
“Yes, we spoke to them. E-7 deciphered their primitive language and uploaded translation to our suits.”
“Fascinating, but almost impossible. We have traveled the far expanses of our universe, and our forefathers have catalogued many worlds before finding our final home. The most intelligent life we have ever found outside of Earth and Mars had the mental capacity of a house cat. What are the odds that we would pick a planet out of the cosmos that would hold a species so similar to us? It’s incredible.”
“I didn’t have time to dwell on the implications,” I say.
“Of course, sorry. So,
what happened next? You approached these creatures and they attacked?”
“We approached the group, and the females and young ones hid in their dwellings. The males – or what I suspect to be their males – approached us, weapons in hand. They threatened us. Threatened war if we didn’t return to the sky. I wanted to end them right then and there. Minimize our risk, and protect our mission. However, Windhelm had other plans. He wanted to talk to them, even though they were making hostile remarks and movements towards us,” I say as more soldiers begin to gather around.
The crowd makes way as a single soldier passes through the sea of bodies. I recognize him by his sheer size right away. Siriuv.
“Were you ordered to not attack these creatures?” Siriuv asks.
“Yes, to our peril, in fact. The creatures were able to attack first, getting the upper hand. In all of the commotion, three men were killed, and somehow, I am labeled the traitor. Three men died because of Windhelm’s curiosity. I am labeled a traitor for simply doing my job – what we came here to do!” I growl through gritted teeth.
“Sounds to me like the captain did not stick to protocol. We’re not here to make friends, or to open a petting zoo. We’re here to dominate and conquer so that the next generations can live in comfort. Has our captain forgotten the mission?” Siriuv asks the crowd.
The rabble forming around begins to shout, but through the mixing of so many voices, it’s hard to make out which way they are leaning.
“I’m sure the captain had his reasons. We weren’t there,” Erikk says.
“You’re right; we weren’t, but he was,” Siriuv counters, pointing to me. “He’s all we have to go on, and if what he says is true, he is no traitor. In fact, our dear captain is the traitor!”
“Our captain is no traitor! Get that thought out of your head!” Erikk demands.
