The ARC 03: Fractured

by Alexandra Moody

  ‘He comes in handy,’ I say to April.

  ‘Tell me about it,’ she replies. She checks the coast is clear before ushering us over to the window Dalton has created in the wall.

  I feel unnerved as I walk out from the protection of the building and into the open space that leads up to the wall. I can’t shake the feeling someone’s out there and I keep waiting for a siren to go off or recruiters to descend on us. There’s no sign of pursuit though.

  As we near Dalton, I catch a flicker of light out of the corner of my eye.

  ‘Get down!’ Dalton roars.

  I throw Kelsey and myself to the ground, not taking a moment to question the order. I try to create a cage with my arms to protect Kelsey with, and land on my side, rather than on her, but her body still slams hard against the ground. As we hit it, I feel a wave of hot air pass over the top of my body. As I glance over my shoulder a huge purple flame recedes from above us, back towards a man, who is highlighted by the flickering embers of a fire that seems to curl and coil its way around his hands. A recruiter.

  April crawls up to me and grabs my elbow, pulling me up. ‘We need to get to the wall!’ she says.

  I scramble to my feet and drag Kelsey up with me, who has woken and begun to cry from our rough landing.

  ‘Get to Dalton. Soren and I will distract him,’ April says.

  I grab Kelsey’s hand, but she doesn’t want to move, so I pick her up and run. My arms ache as I try to keep hold of her and my legs throb as I push them to run faster. My stomach churns with fear, and it’s hard to ignore the overwhelming exhaustion I’ve felt over the last couple of hours as I push my body to its limits.

  I check behind me as I run and see Soren and April both taking cautious steps back towards the wall as the recruiter moves in. The man’s focus is almost entirely on Soren, flames whipping out from his body towards him, as though the long tendrils of flame were an extension of his arms.

  ‘Elle!’ Dalton yells, making me turn back to the wall. It’s close now and I can see Dalton clearly in the darkness. ‘I can’t hold this open much longer, you need to get through!’ he shouts, urging me to run faster.

  By the time I get to him, Dalton’s body is shaking, and his nose has started to bleed. He looks like he could collapse at any moment.

  ‘What about April and Soren?’ I ask.

  ‘They’ll come through once you’re safe on the other side. Go!’ he urges.

  I duck under his arm to move through the gaping hole he’s created. Shivers run down my spine and creep up my arms as I make my way through, disappearing as soon as I’m on the other side.

  I wait for the others to come through. Kelsey is still crying, so I rub her back and make soft cooing noises to comfort her as I continue to watch their retreat.

  April and Soren stand merely twenty feet from the wall now, ducking and diving as they avoid the burning whip of the recruiter’s flame. Dalton looks even worse than he did a few moments ago, and as though he’s read my thoughts, he staggers and the section of cement wall reappears, flickering back into existence, before disappearing again once Dalton steadies himself.

  ‘April!’ I scream, the terror in my voice causing her to face me. ‘Dalton can’t hold it any longer!’

  She focuses on Dalton and what she sees causes her enough panic to grab Soren’s arm and pull him into a run.

  They race fast to get to the wall, and Soren’s body seems to blur as he moves. He’s the first one through and April is almost there when a huge flame rises up behind her.

  ‘Watch out!’ I yell.

  She dives through the window with Dalton hurling his body after her, just as the flame is about to engulf them. They land harshly against the hard ground, with the section of wall forming solidly back in place behind them. A wisp of smoke billows up from where the fire had been just moments ago.

  ‘Are you okay?’ I ask, rushing over to help April stand. Part of her jacket is singed, and there is an ugly red welt forming on her upper arm.

  ‘I’m fine,’ she says, ignoring the gravel scratches that are bleeding on her hands and the burn mark that looks incredibly painful.

  I check the other two. ‘Are you guys both okay?’

  Dalton groans an affirmative as he slowly rights himself and Soren gives a non-committal shrug, which I assume means he’s fine. I am yet to hear a word from the man.

  ‘We need to keep moving,’ April says, slowly standing and not stopping for a moment to catch her breath. She pats the gravel from her arms and starts to move away from the wall.

  ‘How did he find us?’ I ask, following her.

  ‘I doubt they knew who we were. It looked like it was a lone recruiter patrolling the wall and we just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.’

  ‘But he attacked. Surely that means something?’

  She glances back at the wall, with a flicker of unease entering her eyes before she quickly dismisses it. ‘He saw us opening a window through the wall to the east, that would have been reason enough for the attack. We got away, that’s the main thing. We’re heading this way,’ she says, nodding her head in the direction of two tall buildings that mark the entrance to a cold and uninviting alleyway. Not even a sliver of the moon’s light touches the narrow passage and it’s impossible to tell where it leads.

  I hesitate by the entrance, where the dark fragments of shadow from the alley reach out to the moonlit street. ‘Where are we going?’ I ask April.

  ‘To the south side of the city,’ she says, not hesitating as she continues into the darkness of the alley.

  I race to catch up with her, ignoring the short spike of unease that rushes through me as I enter. ‘But I thought no one lived there.’

  ‘That’s because it’s what we want people to believe.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘We’ve put a lot of time into creating a place the world here doesn’t want to know about. I can explain more when we get there, but we should hurry.’

  She steps her pace up a notch and I struggle to keep up with her with Kelsey in my arms. I pat Kelsey lightly on the back of her head and slowly ease her to the ground.

  ‘Do you think you could walk for a little bit?’ I ask her.

  She nods tiredly, but doesn’t grumble. As her eyes adjust to the darkness, her small hand immediately seeks mine and she clasps it tightly, refusing to let it go.

  We exit the alley, but then enter another, followed by another. Each is just as dark and empty as the last, and my unease only grows the further into South Hope we journey.

  There are no lights illuminating any of the windows in the buildings we pass and the city becomes more and more neglected. Thick green vines creep across the ground and up and around the walls of buildings, creating an entangled prison for the stone structures. Weeds grow out of large cracks that interlace across the surface of the road and there are large gaping holes where the asphalt has sunk. The wrecked cars we pass, abandoned on the side of the road, are covered in patches of rust. This area is deserted and it’s easy to see why no one lives here.

  I become increasingly uneasy as we walk. The night seems darker here and the streets feel more dangerous, like anyone could be lurking around the corner waiting to pounce on us. The skin on the back of my neck tingles and the further we walk, the more I have to fight the urge to turn around and run in the other direction. I really don’t want to be here.

  I slow my steps until I’ve stopped completely. I peer over my shoulder to the road behind us. It looks safer in that direction and it fills me with a sense of warmth and comfort when I consider changing route. Maybe we’re going the wrong way?

  April touches my arm lightly, causing me to jump. ‘You have to ignore the urge to turn and do a runner. We have a device that projects the unease you’re feeling, to help discourage unwanted visitors.’

  I glance at the foreboding road that rises up behind her. My insides turn cold, just by looking at it. ‘Are you sure? It doesn’t seem safe here.’<
br />
  She smiles. ‘Yes, I’m certain. I can feel the same urge to leave too, but you just need to ignore it. Don’t worry, it will be fine once we’re in camp.’

  ‘We’re going to a camp?’ I ask. April nods in response.

  ‘And we’ll be safe there?’ I glance at Kelsey next to me, hoping desperately I’m taking her to a place where she will be protected.

  ‘We are never safe,’ she says, softly. ‘But for the time being, you should be.’

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  The sun is slowly beginning to rise over the mountains in the far off distance when April announces we’re nearly there. We must have been walking for hours by now and in the cool morning light I can just make out where we have been brought.

  ‘This is it?’ I ask, peering around.

  We have reached the edge of the city and sprawling out before us is an expanse of long grass rippling gently in the breeze. In the distance, beyond the grass, is a tall barbed wire fence, but I’m unable to see what it borders.

  As we move closer, I am immediately struck by an array of strange, vile smells, which emanate from the area. I crinkle my nose in disgust. The ground beneath my feet isn’t any better. Rather, it consists of thick, gluggy dirt that slurps and sucks at my shoes, which easily sink into it.

  April leads the way. She moves certainly, following a path that avoids the large pools of water that collect on the sludgy ground. But even on the route we’re taking, my shoes and the bottom of my pants are still covered in mud.

  ‘Is this where you were that night when I caught you sneaking in?’ I ask April. She’d been defensive when I’d asked her where she’d been at the time, and I remember wondering at the mud that caked her shoes.

  She nods. ‘I only come here when absolutely necessary, though I’ve more and more reasons to lately.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘You’ll see once we arrive. There’s someone who will be very happy to see you,’ she says, winking at me cryptically.

  My eyes light up and I lightly grab her wrist. There’s only one person she could mean. ‘Sebastian. Do you have him here?’

  She gives me a small smile. ‘Yes, he’s at camp.’

  I try to fight a responding smile and fail badly as I all but beam at the thought of seeing him again. Could I really be seeing him so soon?

  We continue through the marshland, which only becomes more difficult to navigate. Kelsey struggles to walk without slipping and the hem of her princess dress drags through the mud, quickly becoming coated in dirt. No matter how much I try to help her she still continues to fall.

  She looks miserable and on the brink of tears, but doesn’t let one escape. Even when her lower lip trembles, and I think she’s about to cry, she tightens it, scrunches her lips up in a pout and pushes on. I have to admit I’m impressed by how strong she’s acting, especially given how tired she is after such a long night.

  When we reach the edge of the marsh, we approach an old barbed wire fence. The wire sags heavily in sections and is covered in rust. Behind the fence is a large open concrete lot that surrounds a series of huge warehouses made from corrugated iron. The whole place seems more abandoned than the camp I imagined April had been talking about.

  April lifts the corner of one piece of loose fence and motions for us to crawl under it while she holds it back. Dalton goes first, and I’m surprised he’s able to fit through the small gap, but he does so easily. Soren is next, then Kelsey.

  When it’s my turn to go, I clamber my way under the fence, my shirt catching on the wire and tearing. I huff out an exhausted breath as I stand and inspect the damage. It’s only a small tear, so nothing to worry about. Kelsey resumes her grip of my hand.

  ‘How are you holding up? I ask, crouching down to look her in the eyes.

  ‘I’m okay,’ she says, stifling a yawn. ‘I didn’t like the mud.’

  ‘No, me neither. I think we’re nearly there now, so we can have a rest soon.’

  She nods, yawning again. ‘I think I’d like that.’

  ‘Me too.’

  I stand and watch as April manoeuvres under the fence easily with well-practiced movements that look like they’ve been done many times before. She nods her head at the large sheds. ‘We go that way,’ she says, taking up her position in the lead again.

  We walk across an open space towards the buildings. The place feels empty with no towering buildings nearby and no life to be seen. I feel like we’re making our way across a dusty concrete desert.

  When we get to the first huge building, which stands out in the middle of nowhere, we don’t go inside. Instead, April directs us to the next one, which lies beyond it.

  A man stands in the doorway of the second building, and though he’s far away I recognise him immediately. ‘Sebastian?’ I whisper, my heart stilling and the corners of my eyes filling with happy tears.

  He turns, as though I’d shouted his name, and on seeing me a huge grin covers his face. I squeal when a moment later he has disappeared from the doorway in the distance and reappears in front of me.

  He doesn’t say a word as he takes one step to close the distance between us and pulls me up in a massive bear hug. My body fits perfectly within his arms, and a sense of feeling whole again fills me.

  ‘Are you trying to crush me?’ I say, with a laugh, after a minute of being held in his iron grip. He pulls back and, as he does, I notice April watching us closely, a calculating look in her eyes.

  ‘I’m so glad you’re okay,’ he says, the look in his eyes changes and the happy sparkle in them disappears, being replaced by a look of pain. ‘Everything that has happened to you is my fault. The bridge … I wasn’t strong enough to take you with me, and I was already on the other side of the river before I realised you were left behind. I’m sorry Elle.’

  ‘You’re not to blame for what happened to me,’ I tell him. I take his hand in mine and give it a squeeze. ‘I would never blame you, it wasn’t your fault.’

  ‘Seb, we’ll have plenty of time for you to apologise later,’ April interrupts. ‘Elle and Kelsey need to get settled. They’ve both had a long night.’

  ‘Sorry April,’ Sebastian says, rolling his eyes and smiling. ‘It’s like she thinks she’s the boss of me,’ he whispers, before taking a step away from me.

  ‘I heard that,’ April says, ‘and that’s because I am.’

  April glances at Kelsey whose head is slumping tiredly as we walk towards the building. ‘Do you want me to carry her the rest of the way?’ she asks me.

  I nod, feeling too exhausted to resist the offer and carry her myself. I couldn’t do it now even if I wanted to. I’m tired and my body feels heavier with each step I take. I almost wish someone would carry me too.

  Sebastian lightly touches my arm, causing me to pause as the group continues on ahead of us. ‘How are you feeling?’ he asks. The serious look in his eyes is back.

  ‘I’ve been better, but I’ve also been worse.’

  ‘I heard what they were doing to you in there,’ he says, his eyes growing darker. ‘I spent every day of the last two months trying to find you and would’ve stormed the place myself if I’d known you were there. But by the time I was told April had gone to get you, you were already out.’

  I give him a small smile. I have no doubt he would’ve taken everyone in the hospital on if he’d known I was there. ‘I’m glad you weren’t put in danger. They have inhibitor sensors everywhere in the hospital and you would’ve had a hard time getting me out by yourself. Sending April and her team was best.’

  ‘Still…’ He leaves the word hanging in the air before drawing up straighter and trying to push the pain in his eyes away. We slowly catch up with the others.

  ‘How did you end up here?’ I ask Sebastian, trying to change the conversation.

  ‘When I got to the other side of the river, I was exhausted from using my talent. I tried to get back to you, but I was completely drained and the effort caused me to black out. By the time I woke up it was mor
ning and I was here.’

  ‘But how?’

  ‘When you surfaced and told me Seb was in Hope I searched for him,’ April says, slowing her steps to join us. ‘But I didn’t want him to get involved in what I was doing. I didn’t want to put him in danger, and so I thought it would be best if he were left in North Hope. We have people monitoring the recruiter’s database. When you went there and escaped with Seb, his profile was flagged by them. They wanted him captured at all costs, so I knew I didn’t have a choice anymore. He had to be brought in.’

  We enter the building through the doorway I’d seen Sebastian standing in before. Three massive planes, which take up most of the area, are inside. They look like large birds of prey with flat angled wings and sharp pointed beaks. I can almost imagine them hovering in the sky, ready to drop down on their prey. They would move with such speed and precision, the target wouldn’t even know they were coming.

  The whole wall on the other side of the room has been cut out and huge doors are folded at the edges. Morning light spills in through the large, open entrance, highlighting the sheer size of the building.

  ‘What is this place?’ I ask April.

  ‘It used to be an air force base, but I don’t think anyone’s been here since impact. Well, anyone but us that is.’ She leads me past the winged beasts and out through the large opening on the other side of the building. It’s just as open and deserted on this side of the hangar, and there’s no sign of any camp.

  I begin to worry we’re nowhere near to getting there. My legs are exhausted and I feel close to dropping. I don’t know how much longer I can walk for.

  ‘How much further is it?’ I ask.

  ‘We’re nearly there,’ April replies. ‘Make sure you remember the route we’re taking. If you ever come or go from camp the alarm will be raised if you don’t come through the second hangar we just came out of.’

  ‘There are people watching us?’ I ask, searching for any sign of life in the open ground around us.

  ‘Yes, we always have people on look out,’ April says. I look around again but can’t think where they could be watching from.