Bailey walked past the side of the hovel, confused and searching.
Raj whistled.
Bailey turned and noticed him.
With a cry, Raj leapt from the side of the hovel and swung his stick. Bailey’s hands flew up too late. Raj’s swing was true. The stick broke in half off of Bailey’s face with a satisfying crack, crunching his nose and spraying blood and waste on the side of the hovel. Bailey cried out, throwing his hands up to block another blow for which he was unprepared.
Raj dropped the broken stick.
He dove at Bailey’s midsection, putting his small frame into a tackle. The attack was enough to throw Bailey off balance. Bailey grunted and fell, landing on his back. On top of his enemy, Raj unleashed the fury of too many nights in bed with sickness and pain. The memory of Bailey’s insults and his fists drove Raj as he punched the boy’s cheeks, his nose. Bailey groaned in pain, but Raj kept hammering him as he thought of Samel, Adriana, his knife, and his keepsake.
He thought of Bailey’s relentless torment.
His knuckles ached as he kept punching.
Footsteps pulled away his attention. Raj pulled back his bloodied fists and looked up, broken from his violent trance. Several of Bailey’s friends stood at the mouth of the small alley where they’d ended up.
One held a knife.
The other held Samel.
Raj unclenched his fists, as if the simple act might release his brother. Bailey’s friends—the hook-nosed kid and a short, portly kid, both from the graveyard—looked from him to Bailey. For a moment, the two parties appraised each other in silence.
Samel’s small voice broke the quiet.
“Raj?”
Bailey emitted a quiet groan. The hook-nosed kid took a step toward Samel with his knife, solidifying his intent. The portly kid held Samel in a tight, meaty embrace.
“Let Bailey go, or I’ll cut your brother,” the hook-nosed kid said.
Raj looked at Bailey. Bailey’s face was marred with blood and grime. Any satisfaction Raj might’ve felt for his revenge was taken away by his brother’s fearful whimpers. Slowly, Raj got to his feet and took a careful step back, as if Bailey might rise and take retribution. But Bailey was in no shape for that. Snot dripped from his blood-covered nose. A pained whistle snuck past his lips.
Facing his brother and the bullies, Raj asked, “What are you doing here, Samel?”
“I followed you,” Samel said guiltily, looking at his boots.
Raj swallowed. If he hadn’t been so focused, maybe he would’ve noticed. Of course, it was too late for that. The bullies leaned back, looking left. Raj’s battle had landed him on the side of a hovel. Deep in the distance, he heard the crowd streaming away, talking excitedly. Most were probably too far away to notice a few boys up to no good.
Raj swallowed. His plan hadn’t extended farther than revenge. Now he would reap the repercussions.
Hoping to sway the bullies with reason, Raj held up his hands. “Let Sam go. He has nothing to do with this.”
“Of course he does,” said the portly boy, squeezing Samel tighter. “He was probably sneaking around, waiting to get a kick in.”
“He wasn’t,” Raj said, shaking his head.
“That’s what you were doing, weren’t you, Sam?” The hook-nosed kid pricked the side of Sam’s neck with the knife. “Why do you think we followed you?”
“We knew you were up to something,” said the portly boy.
Recoiling from the blade, Samel said, “N-no.”
Raj took a tentative step forward, keeping his hands up. “Leave him be.”
“Or what?” the hook-nosed kid said. “You’ll hit us with a dung stick, too?”
The portly kid smirked nervously, as did his friend.
Their eyes flicked from Raj to Bailey’s bloodied face—their downed leader. Their smiles faded as they realized their confrontation needed an ending. They glanced at each other, shoring up courage to make good on their threats.
Raj’s eyes flicked to the broken stick. It was out of reach, and cracked. Lunging for it would do no good.
“If you stab us, you’ll go to the cells,” Raj said.
A flash of fear went through the hook-nosed kid’s face.
“The Heads of Colony will exile you,” Raj quickly added.
“They’ll exile you first,” the hook-nosed kid said, taking his knife away from Samel’s throat long enough to point it at Bailey.
“Maybe so, maybe not,” Raj said.
“It’s obvious that you started the fight,” said the portly boy.
“No, it isn’t,” came another voice.
The words were so quiet that at first Raj didn’t know who said them, until the hook-nosed boy and the portly one turned to look down at Samel.
Finding power in his voice, Samel said, “We’ll tell them you started all of this, just like you started trouble by the river. Just like you hurt my brother in the graveyard. I saw you attack him, from around the cliffs.”
The boy’s faces turned white as Samel sold his lie.
“I spoke to the healer and the Crop Supervisors right after it happened.” Samel’s eyes blazed with sincerity as he spoke. “They believed me.”
Warmth for his brother came over Raj as he nodded. “That’s right.”
“Now that Raj is awake, he’ll corroborate what you did, and so will the people with whom I spoke. We’ll all go to The Heads of Colony.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” the hook-nosed boy said, clenching the knife tighter.
“We will,” Samel said, swallowing through his fear.
Slowly, the hook-nosed boy lowered his knife, eyeing Raj with hate. Raj stared back at him, inspired by his brother and projecting courage. He’d do anything to save Samel. But maybe Samel had saved them both.
To Raj’s surprise, the hook-nosed boy charged him.
Raj stepped back, barely able to get his fists up before the hook-nosed boy took a jab. Raj skirted left, avoiding a slice from the sharp knife. The boy reared back his fist for another stab. He aimed and swung. Raj leapt away.
Amped from his previous fight, Raj swung a sloppy fist, catching the hook-nosed boy in the jaw. The blow was hard enough to send the kid off balance.
Raj dove, knocking the knife-wielding boy over.
Grabbing hold of the hook-nosed kid’s wrist, he fought for control of the knife as the kid landed on his back. In his peripheral vision, he saw the portly kid let go of Samel and flee the alley.
“Get out of here, Sam!” Raj yelled.
Samel stood his ground, but Raj was too preoccupied to notice. He pried at the knife-wielding boy’s fingers, managing to get several of them off of the weapon.
And then the knife skittered away, and he and the hook-nosed boy were grappling.
Raj broke a fist free and swung it, striking the boy in his cheek. The kid’s head thudded backward into the ground. Raj threw more blows, punching the kid several more times, as the kid weakly tried to fight back.
Out of the corner of his eye, Raj saw more movement. Bailey was sitting up, recovering. Another person came from Raj’s left.
He spun to find Samel holding the blade.
“Don’t move!” Samel told Bailey, who stayed on the ground.
Relief flooded through Raj as he looked from his brother to Bailey. Slowly, Raj got to his feet.
Vindication.
He looked back and forth between the bloodied kid on the ground and Bailey, who wore a miserable expression of contempt.
His celebration was short lived.
Boot steps beat the alley. Cries filled the air. A stream of Watchers raced forward with their spears, closing in from both sides of the hovel, surrounding Raj, Samel, and the others. It seemed their fight hadn’t gone without notice, after all.
“Stay where you are!” they shouted. “Don’t move!”
Chapter 54: Raj
“This way!” a stern-faced Watcher ordered, marching Raj, Samel, Bailey, and the hook-nosed kid through the ma
in alley. Guards surrounded them from the front and behind. Even if anyone had the foolish idea to escape, they would be caught before they ran far.
Raj looked around at the empty hovels.
Anyone who might speak a word on their behalf was probably at the meeting. His idea of revenge had been foolish. He’d realized that as soon as he saw Samel.
Their life was over. Samel and Raj would be punished, and Neena and Helgid would be fraught with tears and grief.
Behind them, more Watchers prodded Bailey and the hook-nosed kid forward, ignoring the hook-nosed kid’s explanations and protests. They weren’t here to sort out a mess; they were here to stop a fight and make sure the offenders were punished. Bailey took staggering steps, wiping at his bloodied nose and leaning on one of The Watchers for support, while the others urged them forward. Raj saw no sympathy in their faces. In fact, most seemed preoccupied.
He thought back to the Watchers he’d seen gathered around the base of the cliffs. Something more important than this fight was occurring. In a moment of regret, Raj wished he had followed the crowd instead of calling out to Bailey. Maybe he’d be listening to a meeting, rather than going to jail.
He looked over at Samel, feeling hopeless.
Samel met his eyes, no doubt harboring the same, foolish idea that somehow, they’d escape. He wanted his older brother to find them a way out. Looking ahead to where they marched, Raj saw the Comm Building, where they’d surely end up. Soon, they’d tell their stories and pray for an end to a hopeless situation.
“What’s going to happen to us?” Raj asked, regretting the words as soon as he spoke.
The Watcher next to him looked at him with cold eyes. “You’ll be in the annex, until Gideon can decide what to do with you. You’re lucky he’s busy now.”
Raj nodded through his fear.
He’d won the fight, but now he and Samel would pay for it.
Chapter 55: Neena
Neena, Kai, and Darius kept an attentive ear out as they hiked the upward slope of a tunnel. Around them, the walls turned from a deep auburn to a lighter red. The thought struck Neena that she might be one of a few to ever see this place. If Neena weren’t on the run from packs of bloodthirsty Watchers, she might’ve appreciated the beauty of their exploration.
“We’re almost there,” Darius told her and Kai.
“Good,” Neena said. “I’m ready to get home.”
The thought was hopeful. But then, she had no choice but to believe it. The exit near the river felt like the last promising option they had, before a place of refuge became a place to die. They could only last so long, scavenging for food as they slowly ran out of water.
Neena hung onto thoughts of her brothers. She’d give anything to be back in her hovel with them. The stares of nosy colonists seemed like an easy thing to face, compared to a Watcher’s knife or spear.
Every now and then, hesitation found its way into Kai’s step. His ankle was bothering him. Or maybe it was the thought of leaving the caves and running into the desert. At least Neena had a hovel and a family about which to dream. Kai had nothing.
Leaving the cave would be the start of his journey. And each step he took would take him farther into a desert where his fate was more uncertain, with only a few supplies. She wouldn’t wish that life on anyone.
Darius pushed on with a strength she hadn’t thought he had left. For all of his experience in the tunnels, he seemed ready to leave.
Light appeared in the distance.
“The exit looks unmanned,” Darius whispered, surprised.
Picking up on his optimism, Kai said, “I don’t see any guards.”
They took a few more steps. Light poured from the cave entrance, as if the sun itself were trying to guide their way.
Or lure them out.
“Hold on a moment,” Darius said, stopping. He shone the light behind them for a moment, ensuring that no one followed before dousing his torch, prompting them to do the same. “We don’t need to call any more attention to ourselves.” He waited a moment longer before saying, “Let’s go.”
Neena took a long breath.
Together, they headed toward the light.
Chapter 56: Gideon
The last of the podium had just been constructed when Gideon mounted the steps, climbing up to the top with his men behind him. A row of Watchers lined the front of the stage. Looking up at the horizon, he saw a few, representative men guarding the top of the eastern cliffs. Others remained at the bottom of the caves—not enough to cover every exit, but enough to intercept anyone looking to make a quick getaway. He’d pulled the rest of his guards to keep the crowd controlled and contained.
Keeping Red Rock calm was no easy task.
It felt like the colony was a single, pulsating ball of nervous energy, waiting for something dire. Women shifted uncomfortably. Fathers lifted children onto their shoulders to see. Packs of neighbors huddled close together. Too many rumors and speculations abounded, after seeing The Watchers on the cliffs and in the streets, and the suddenness of the address he’d called.
Gideon raised his arms several times, waiting for people to hush. Too many continued talking, or pushing past one another. When it was clear that he would need assistance, Gideon signaled Thorne and The Watchers.
In unison, they raised their spears, calling for immediate attention. The crowd quieted. Last pockets of conversation died out. And then a thousand pairs of expectant eyes were on Gideon.
A nervousness that he seldom experienced crossed his heart as he prepared to speak.
He recalled the words that his father taught him. No matter what the address, he needed to project his authority. He was the filter through which the colony processed their information. They needed him.
Glancing sideways at Wyatt, he swallowed a last bit of nervousness and spoke.
“Thank you for gathering so quickly,” he began, focusing on a few in the front row of faces to stave off his lingering unease. “You have undoubtedly seen the commotion among The Watchers. We are here to address the reasons.”
The crowd grew quiet enough that he heard his own heart beating.
“I want to assure you that our Watchers are preserving order. With that said, we have had a complication.” He paused for a short breath, allowing only a few whispers to grow before he silenced them. “Last night, the prisoner whom we captured escaped our authority, finding his way toward the cliffs with the assistance of some others. Although these people temporarily escaped captivity, our belief is that they made the foolish mistake of hiding out in the forbidden caves. In all likelihood, they will die. Of course, our Watchers are hunting them. It will be a short time until we find them. But we wanted to inform you, the colony, so that you can assist us in keeping alert.”
Gideon paused, putting on the stern face that always commanded respect in his addresses. Worry knit the brows of the people in front, and assumedly, the people behind.
“As I said, we believe this is a contained threat, but with your help, we will locate them quickly. We would like all in the colony to keep their eyes open for any more strangers, people you have never seen, or the girl who arrived with the stranger. If you see Neena Xylance, you are to report it immediately to a Watcher. Anyone who finds her, the stranger, or any others acting suspiciously, will be rewarded.”
More whispers began.
Gideon raised his hand, silencing them. “Our hope is that you will cooperate as we seek to locate these individuals. Although we suspect that they hid in the caves, we need to verify that they have not infiltrated our colony.”
Some in the crowd turned behind them. Whispers turned into audible conversations as people processed the meaning behind those words.
Before Gideon could continue his speech, someone yelled, “Are we going to be attacked?”
More exclamations rose from the crowd as a small panic set in. People turned behind them, or looked around, as if the strangers might lurk among them.
“How many strangers are
here?” yelled someone else.
A few colonists gripped their spears. Thorne and his Watchers shifted uncomfortably, holding their weapons. Raising his hands higher, Gideon kept the authoritative posture that had always served him under times of duress.
“To be clear, we do not think they are among you. We believe that they are in the caves. This is a precaution.”
People jostled one another, looking from the cliffs, to their homes, to the desert. Others clutched their children tightly, protecting them from a danger they couldn’t see. Some looked as if they might run back to their homes.
“It is important that everyone stay calm,” Gideon said, through a sea of growing noise. “Stay orderly!”
Thorne and his men took it upon themselves to raise their spears in unison again. Only a few people in the front rows quieted. More questions volleyed about.
“Do you think those other colonists are coming here?”
“What if they steal our crops?”
“What if they attack us?”
A brutal truth Gideon had known as long as he was alive resurfaced. They might be the leaders, but they were outnumbered.
Wyatt looked over at Gideon, his eyes widening. Horatio, Saurab, and Brody looked around uncomfortably. Gideon wasn’t ready to give up. Putting his authority into a commanding stride, he strode to the edge of the platform. “Listen!” he shouted.
Thorne and his Watchers headed forward, lowering their spears.
A rumble shook the ground.
Gideon looked from The Watchers to the edge of the crowd, thinking that he was missing a stampede of fleeing people.
The rumble came again, loudly enough to make even the people look around.
The colonists stared at their boots.
In the center of the mob, people flew in all directions as the earth burst open.
An enormous, scaled body rose from the ground, opening its giant maw, swallowing a handful of people and crunching them between its bloodied teeth. Children screamed as parents tried hopelessly to protect them. Sand and dirt splattered on those lucky enough to avoid the creature’s erupting body, knocking them over, while others trampled them.
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