by Nguyen,Peter
The Soldiers of the Cyto Field
By Peter Nguyen
I
When I was eight years old, I used to scream out my brother Rylan’s name every night. It drove my mom crazy. She kept shouting at me to stop, but I didn’t. I didn’t want to lose what was left of him. The louder I yelled the more it pains my mom. It was almost like I was pressing a spear against her chest until it pierces through and with each beat it draws closer to her heart. I kept going regardless, because if there was the slightest chance of Rylan being found than I had to be there for him. I was the twin brother he always depended on, but the one time, the time he needed me most, I wasn’t there.
These days, the house is quiet. It’s only me and my mom, living here now. It has gotten to the point where she believes I’m an only child, losing all hopes that her other son can still be out there. She tries to forget what happen to him 8 years ago, but my face is a constant reminder.
The old picture she keeps in a box down here in the dark, reminds us of the tragic event that took place, something I can never forget.
My mom would always change the subject whenever the name “Rylan” or my dad’s is mentioned, almost as if it never existed. Sometimes she breaks and her eyes would get teary and she’ll turn away to hide them, lingering in the bathroom for hours.
I search through the old boxes in the basement that my mom plans on throwing away. There’s nothing but old relics, baby clothes and photos placed in broken frames. I usually don’t go down here because the walls smell like burnt wood, but this might be the last time I can see these forgotten portraits.
I run my fingers against cold broken shards of glass as I reach further down the box. They’re dusty and dull. They use to be all over the house, the living room, kitchen and bathroom until my mom decided she had enough. My father was a photographer and he could never make me stand still for a proper picture.
The photos show two toddlers, standing side-by- side nearly identical, about 5 years old. I blow the dust particles off of the picture frame, revealing a small fragment of my brother Rylan and me. Although Rylan and I were twins, we did have our differences. My hair is dark blond while his is medium brown. I was a little chubbier back then, but overall we had the same jaw line, fair skin and small nose.
I can only wonder what it would have been like if I had grown up with my other half. Rylan was always the quite one and the last speak whenever it came to making new friends at school but I can always remember the day he stood for me.
It was during lunch hours and when I was about to take my seat with my class and this kid Carter snatches my milk from my tray. We were only given a small amount of food since our resources are scarce. I tried to reach for carton but the guy was known to be tallest 3rd grader. I could hear everyone laughing as I tried to get my milk back but Carter kept pushing me off of him. That’s when I hear Rylan shout from a distance and the next thing I knew, Rylan tackles the tallest kid in our grade to the floor. It came to a shock to me because that wasn’t the Rylan I knew. That was month before the gates opened.
I blame my mom for forgetting Rylan. I blame the ones who took him. The soldiers and law enforcements; considering they are the only reason my family is broken. They can take whatever they want and whenever they want. The people of Capa talk; they say we’re all nothing but rats in the Soldier’s eyes. They are the real threat in my world. I usually stand nearby the people down at market while my mom shops and I eardrops on what the people say. Even though my mom wouldn’t allow it, I do it regardless. She says, “Hazer don’t listen to their bad words.” I would try not to mute them but things they say were so appalling.
The last thing I would do is start a conversation with any of them; most of them are either crooks or have really bad breath. One woman said the soldiers invaded her home and trashed her belongings, taking all her months’ supply of food. It was because they suspected she was hiding her child from the injection.
It’s a Friday morning and I have decided to skip my school lectures for the day. Instead of walking pass the abandon railroad tracks to get to the dilapidated building we call our school, besides, I don’t want to learn anything from any of my classes, only because the school in Capa reeks of bad odor and the AC is always broken. The summer is the worst, the heat will rise and disease will be at risk for most of us. I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on this special occasion anyways. Instead I have made plans for myself; it’s the time of year again to watch the Cyto Field’s lights that travel across out gate.
The thick morning fog clouds the pine trees as I reach an opening trail in the forest. From a distance I see Carter waiting for me. I can tell it’s him as the by his tan skin, jug ears and comb over shiny jet black hair. The odds of me becoming best friends with the school bully after all these years were slim. Ever since Rylan was taken, Carter and I just bonded, almost like brothers. We ended up having a lot in common. Like hunting, exploring, and being a smartass towards our teacher Mrs. Karen, but the worst part was that Arraya Rivera was Carter’s younger sister who was also kidnapped along with many other kids by the law enforcements 7 years ago. That was when the gate first opened in my life time. Carter told me they abducted her for wondering the streets at night without any warning or goodbyes. She was gone just like that and was never seen again.
“There you are, I thought you were going to chicken out like you always do,” Carter says
“Ha! Whatever dude. Let’s get this over with before someone catches us.”
“If the gate doesn’t open up you owe me money,” Carter smirks.
“Funny, I don’t remember making that bet.”
“Whatever bro only an idiot wouldn’t make that bet. The gates aren’t even going open up for another long time.”
Carter just turned 16 years old and he tells me he always wanted to run to the other territories and live a life free from rules. There are only four countries in the world now. I told him that was ludicrous because the South, West and East countries are just as strict with their way of living.
Hearing Carter so optimistic really calms my nerves. Maybe he is right, I don’t have anything to worry about.
***
We crouch behind the large gray rock while looking down from the top of the hill, windy dark gray skies but a silver lining is in the horizon. The unified men march towards the gigantic cement wall that protects us from the rest of the world. The soldier’s rifles are pointed towards the clouds, resting on their shoulders as they stand and wait for the unknown.
When I was six years old, I always hated the fact that my mom tried her best to come up with tall tales to Rylan and me about the gates. We would catch glimpses of the Capa’s gate wall on flyers whenever we went grocery shopping. Rylan had pulled the flyer off of a wooden pole, bringing it to my mom. She nearly yelled at him in front of everyone after she snatched it, crumbing it. One of my favorites lie was that it leads to the edge of the world and that we should never come too close or we’d fall into oblivion. Being the curious child I was and having a little rebellious nature due to my friends always encouraging me, I’d always watch the red and blue light travel across our wall ever since.
I run my hands against the smooth rock until I reach for to the markings. The carved lines show the years I’ve been up here, waiting for the gates to open back up again. I’ve drawn seven lines already.
Carter hands me a small rock, “Here you can draw the eighth one.”
I grab the rock but I don’t draw until I know for sure. We learned from this short old man, who would come up here once a year, that if the lights ever stop at one of the four gates around the world, then it opens. This will allow us to roam freely into the field and bring back resou
rces, but this also means we’re at war against another gate. These days, I’m sure there aren’t any resources we would want to bring back from a wasteland, but no one has control over the function of this system, it’s all about survival now.
The territory that won more wars was the considered the riches by notion and the ones that lost was either dirt poor or nothing but ruins. By the looks of where I’m currently standing I guess we are a mix between dirt poor and ruin. Although as time moves on Capa begins to flourish, there are still dilapidated buildings and crumbs of the fallen structures that took place seven years ago. We lasted this long only because it hasn’t opened since .My days is numbered. The fear of not knowing when the gates will open back up again, knowing it can bring pain back into my life and the ones I love.
I stare at the cement wall and see a quick red light moving on the top of the gate. It blinks across our realm so fast that I’m constantly asking myself if I’m seeing things; the light goes off into the distance to the point where I can no longer see beyond the descended cloud banks. About ten seconds later, a blue light appears as it travels in the same path.
“Hey Carter?”
“Yea?”
“If you were kidnapped one night by the military and they injected you with the serum, which abilities would you want to end up with?”
Carter turns and looks at me with a raised eyebrow. I don’t blame him; the question is pretty much insane.
After a long silence he replies, “Well… if I do survive that nearly 99% chance of death, I guess I would want to be a Barge or Discern. What about you?”
“Immune, nothing can hurt them physically or mentally.”
“Boring,” Carter yawns. “You can knock back a wave of an army, break down cement walls and telekinetically stop bullets if you were a Barge.”
“I guess, do you remember that time when we first saw a Redeemed? The one that passed us in the market?”
“The blonde? You can’t forget a girl like that. Her golden eyes were so exotic.”
“You think misses her family?”
“Probably not. I mean when you treated as royalty and everyone looks at you like a prodigy, you pretty much forget where you came from.”
Carter lays forward and plainly stares at the gate for what seems like a good long minute until the lights begin to slow down.
My eyes follow the red gleam as it reaches our wall.
“Don’t stop,” I whisper.
It keeps traveling.
“Here comes another one,” Carter says intensely.
I feel my heart pounding against my chest as the blue light is slowing down, but it passes our gate. I quickly sigh, knowing the lights will probably stop soon. The red light must be thousands of miles away from here.
I wait for another long minute, it’s dead silent. Even the soldiers are anxious.
Nothing happens. It’s over. I can be the first to tell my friends and family that the gates will not open. I pick up my book bag and ready for home. My mom must be worried sick, but she doesn’t know I’ve been coming out here once a year after school just to see the red and blue lights circle the Cyto Field. I will tell her I heard the news from school.
We’re not even allowed to be within a mile of the gate by law but we’re not the only one who breaks the rules. Usually, I would see people hiding in bushes or tall grasses in order to view the lights but I guess no one really believes we’ll be chosen.
“Congratulation boys, we made it through another year,” one of the soldiers cheers.
Carter turns around and begins to head back. “Told you! Just draw the eighth line and leave the money on my kitchen table when you come over.”
He walks into the tall trees curved inward, dimming the pathway. We both remember the way through these woods since we’re used to it by now.
I began to draw the eighth line. Carter waits for me from a far. I slowly get up and I to began to head home. As I walk down the slope I nearly jump.
“SIR, THE LIGHT!”
My eyes widen, my spine shivers and I nearly lose my balance as I hear a soldier yell out those damn words. I turn around to see the red light from a far, coming towards our gate in a slow pace. I shake my head and I almost forget how to breathe.
“Hazer whats going on?!” Carter shouts from behind.
I don’t answer. I pray the light will speed up but each seconds that goes by, its lags to a near stop. I can feel my heart at the pit of my stomach.
The red light comes to a fatal rest and loud siren goes off, echoing throughout our entire realm.
“NO!” Carter cries.
The soldiers ready their guns just as they were train all these years. Their fearful faces and shaking hands foreshadows a year of death, pointing towards the unknown. I can barely move a muscle nor gasp at what I’m witnessing. I want to tell someone, I want someone to tell me everything is going to be ok, but I’m seeing this all by myself. The wind howls into our streets, blowing the leaves off the concrete.
Our gate is open…
II
I quickly put on my black leather jacket as I see the haze, forming on bedroom window. My shoes are placed neatly by the door. I’ve had these shoes for about two years now and the mud has already dried up from me walking in the tall grass yesterday. I don’t care too much about my looks nor how people see me. I never felt like it was necessary.
Some of the kids, my age have been wearing their shoes for 3 years and this is because they are so expensive and Capa doesn’t have the resources that will ever meet the citizen’s demands. I grab the pair and slowly tie them.
If I can spend an eternity in this bedroom, I would. At least I don’t have to face the reality that lies outside these walls, but hiding isn’t the answer. Eventually I have to face my fate and so does anyone who lives in this damn country.
My dark blond wavy hair falls down above my eyebrows as I take my black cap off. I got this hat from my mom a year ago. This morning she told me wear it when I go outside, considering how young my face looks. It’s what the troops are trained to look out for. A smooth face filled with youth. I run my fingers through my hair, combing it to the side. I realize I’m beginning to look more like my father each day. The same small nose, same brown eyes, and same define jaw line.
This could be the last time I get to look at myself in the mirror. I don’t want to admit it but a part of me wants a change, hope I guess. Even if I get chosen as a Redeemed or even a Northern troop, I want to grow up.
“Honey, they’re almost here,” my mom calls.
I walk out of my bedroom and go down stairs where my mom is waiting for me. Her eyes stare at me with sorrow. I haven’t seen that look on my mom’s face since the time she had thought Kaleb had run away. The creases on the corner of her eyes are becoming more noticeable, as well as her weak smile. She didn’t know how to break down the news to me. She knew how much Kaleb means to me. Luckily he showed up the next day, covered in mud that has now permanently stained his fur a darker shade from his natural light brown fur. I would try to get it out myself but that would require a lot of water that we cannot afford. I did think about putting him in the rain but he’ll scratch the door until we let him back in.
“Hazer where’s your hat?”
“I decided not to wear today.”
“Honey, are you sure?” My mom’s face grows more worry.
I nod, giving my mom reassurance but her concern eyes seems to stay fixated on the fact that this might be the last time she’s going to see me. I hug my mom, letting her know everything is going to be fine.
“You worry too much mom. I’m okay.”
I grab the door knob, taking a large deep breath before walking outside. Everyone is waiting anxiously by their homes and the military has just arrived. I have to stay strong, I remembered those words I told my father when the soldiers came knocking on our door, 8 years ago. It was right before they took my brother.
I can’t think about that, if I start to break down in tears then my
mom would most likely do the same and I don’t think she’ll be able to stop. I can’t handle seeing her shed a tear.
There are two benefits if I get chosen today. I could become a prodigy and people would see me something more than just a kid off the streets or I could join my dead brother Rylan.
As the Northern troops and their black military vehicles pass by each house, the fear escapes my neighbors’ eyes. Even then, they hold each other closer hoping the men in black uniforms will offer them some pity. Pity, in which it’ll only go so far until the next time that they’ll come back, seeking for more subjects.
A woman that lives two houses down the street quickly grabs her two children away from the rocky path where the trucks are driving on. The troops are known to unhesitatingly abduct any child without a parent, especially the ones off the streets. I wish our territory would spare the younger kids. They shouldn’t have to go through this. They didn’t even get the chance to live their life. This is cruel, but this is the world I was born in.
Everyone waits outside their homes as the Northern Troops make their decision. My mom holds my arm so tight that it nearly warms me up from the cold wind. I grip my hands together but it’s no use, I can feel goosebumps forming all over my body, making me shiver like I always do when I’m outside too long. It could be worst; at least the temperature didn’t drop below zero degrees like it did a week ago.
The only thing I can think about right now is lying down in front of a roaring fire place surround by the people close to me.
Even though it’s freezing, the white sunless sky still shines through the thick white clouds, illuminating Capa’s domain’s dilapidated houses. Small vines hang from the roof to the cracked windows. Although, I’m to blame for some of the broken glass, since throwing rocks was something us kids did when we were growing up in this neighborhood.
The dark overgrown grass that inhabits my streets brings me back to childhood memories. The memories are mostly me playing outside in the yard with other kids. Though we all had a time limit to how long we are allowed to play outside, I did try to enjoy every second of freedom I got. Everyone who grew up in this neighborhood become so watchful and paranoid due to the Northern troops. Since the Capa’s gate has just opened up, it will only get worse.
