by H. J. Lawson
Hayden stands back in surprise. “Cool, can you read mine?” he asks me, and squints his eyes as he stares at me.
I burst into laughter, and so does Dax. Hayden folds his arms, clearly upset.
“Screw you two!” Hayden walks off to another rock formation.
“Come back, we're only joking,” Dax laughs.
“He will forget all about it after a nap.” Dax smiles.
What makes Hayden wrong for me? Being with him and Dax makes me feel more alive than I have my whole life… no, that’s not true.
I rest my head on my knees, and think of Lowell, and the minutes we secretly shared together hidden away in the Cueva. Those moments made me feel alive, too. Was that because we weren’t meant to be together alone? And was it the sneaking around that excited me, or was it that we were together? I don’t frigging know anymore! My head and heart hurt just trying to figure this out, and this is the least of my worries.
“What's wrong with your mother?” Dax asks, breaking his silence.
“She has blood cancer. She doesn't have long to live, just a few weeks.” My heart breaks as the words pour from my mouth. “We were hoping my brother, Rian, would get selected for the Sanction Games, and the bitcoins would pay for the medicine she needs. In all the years of my family trying to get into the Games, we've never been selected. Someone is holding our family back.”
Dax lowers his head in shame.
Your father did this to her... spills out of my mind.
Dax's eyes widen as he listens to my thoughts. “I know.”
“Sorry, it's not your fault. It's just horrible what he's doing to people. Why did your father banish you?” I've been dying to ask him this question since I first found out.
“I overheard my father talking with someone about the poisoned bio meat. I told him I was going to tell everyone.” Dax frowns a little as he says it, as though he's embarrassed.
“Who was he talking to?”
“Someone from another Sanction; I think the Empire is making all the Chancellors do it. To be honest, I think the Sanction Chancellors are enjoying it. It will give them power for another century.
Dax falls silent for a moment, then adds, “Where is your father?”
“My father went to sell his organs in Purenet and never came back.”
My mother had begged him not to go, but he had insisted. He refused to allow the disease to kill her; he preferred to die himself if it meant keeping Mother alive.
“Please, Kaso, don't go. I beg you,” Mother cried out from her bed. This was the place she spent most of her time, as her legs were too weak to carry her.
“Surely there is another option?” Rian asked the same question I wanted to.
“Son, there is none. We all know that. Let's enjoy these moments together. I will be home before you even know.” A fake smile was pasted on my father's face.
I wished I could read his mind, like Callie and Rian could. It was always weird that I could not. Mother said it was because of my other special gifts. I would have given them all up that day if I could have listened to the thoughts running through his mind.
I was sure it wouldn't have done much good. Over the previous few months Rian and Callie had been blocked, even when they played games. It was as if he was worried some thought would slip away from him.
“Please, can you take Callie to her dorm? Thank you,” Father said.
We walked silently along the path carved out of the rocks, and many thoughts ran through Callie's and my minds. Will he be okay? What if he never comes back? I wonder what a kidney looks like. I bet it's all gooey. She hadn't learned to block yet; I wished she had... question after question.
He will be fine.
What if he's not? Then what?
Callie, stop thinking, you are giving me a headache. Block.
“Hey, that's not fair!”
“He'll be fine. Get some sleep. He will be back before you know it.” I hoped he would. I was asking the same questions she was; I just didn't want to admit it.
“Okay.” Callie slumped her shoulders down in defeat.
“Come here.” I grabbed her around her waist and squeezed her tightly. A seven-year-old shouldn't go through this.
“Group hug,” Callie laughed as she dragged Rian by his arm. She was strong, like Rian. He had no choice but to join in, and he threw his arms around us.
“Arh... I need air,” Callie squealed, laughing.
Rian and I jumped back, giving our little sister some space to breathe.
“Good night Callie, sleep tight, see you tomorrow.” I softly kissed her on her head.
Rian's question broke the silence as we walked back to our parents' room. “What if he doesn't come back?”
“He will.”
“You are talking to me now, not Callie,” he muttered.
“He has to...”
“You've heard about others not coming back, right?”
“Of course, they were sick before they left. Father's not sick.”
“But were they?”
“What?”
Rian looked around the Cueva; we knew we were being watched.
Why would they let you sell your organs if you were sick? That doesn't make sense, even for them. Think back—do you remember any of them being sick before they left?
Don't think like that... we have to stay positive for them.
“All right kids, less of the sad faces.” Father smiled warmly, creating wrinkles around his eyes. Mother's illness had aged him. He had also lost weight from the stress—or was he sick like the others?
Without thinking, my arms wrapped around his waist. Hugging him tightly, I didn't want to let go, I didn't want him to go. My eyes welled up with tears; I could no longer be the strong one.
“Why can one of us not go with you?” I blurted out.
“Skylier, my dear, you know the rules. You need to be invited to Purenet.”
“I hate the rules!” My voice bounced off the cave walls.
“Hush, child, these rules stopped the wars. We must be grateful to the Chancellor for that.” At a time like this he used the same line as always... "Be grateful to the Chancellor,” he said, as if he was programmed to say it.
“I would be grateful if he gave Mother the drugs she needs, instead of you having to sell your organs. Are we not worth more than that?” I yelled, unable to control my anger anymore.
“Hush!” Father snapped loudly, “It's your curfew time. I will see you tomorrow.”
“Fine!”
“Watch that tongue of yours. Remember the ways we taught you... Skylier, remember.”
Tears roll down my cheeks onto my dress as I rest my head on my knees and remember that day. That was the last time I spoke to him. Angrily, I stormed back to my dorm. Each night I waited for the shuttle to return and bring my father home, but it never did.
Dax wraps his warm arm around my shoulders. But I still feel cold inside.
Chapter Thirteen
What's your mother like? Dax's voice drifts into my mind.
She's beautiful. Hazel-green eyes with sparkling blue edges, like yours. Her hair is bright-white, like mine. Her heart is warm and joyful. Her love for us is almost overwhelming, it's so strong. She is smart; way too smart for Father... She is the image of what a mother should be.
...But that was before she became sick. She is still all those things, but in shadow form... her skin has a grey tone as she fades from life to death. The joy in her voice is gone, rough, as if the cough has ripped the last bit of happiness away from her. Sometimes it's hard to recognize her, but the bonds of love will always be there.
What's your mother like? I allow my thoughts to drift into his without hesitating.
Dax's mind goes blank for a moment, but he hasn't blocked me. It's more like he's frozen in time.
“Like my father.” He sighs. “We had staff that raised us. My parents liked Xander and his twisted ways, the complete opposite of me.” Dax's face turns into a scowl.
Wiping my tears from my face, I turn to him.
He tilts his head and stares back, a puzzled look on his face.
“What is it?” I ask.
“Was your mother a Host?”
“No. That’s the part that isn't adding up. I was thinking the same. She said she wasn't but she must have been. Can you read other people's minds?”
“Yes, my brothers'—Xander and Nero—and my father's.” Dax looks to the ground in disgust. “Most of the time I block Xander's and my father's thoughts—they are both evil and twisted, always preying on the weak and seeking ways to become stronger and more powerful. Can your father read yours?”
“Nope. Was your father able to read yours?”
“No. He hated the fact that I was able to read his. Xander reading his mind just made it easier for them when they were attacking people.”
“What about Nero?” I ask.
“He is the second-oldest son. He moved away to another Sanction a few years ago. He will never be the Chancellor of Purenet because Xander will take that role,” Dax tells me.
Dax picks up the little sand particles off the ground and rubs them between his fingers.
“He is the smart one in the family. He learned quickly about Xander's and Father's twisted ways. He pretended he couldn't hear them. He told me to do the same, but I was too young and stupid to listen to him.”
“Were you able to read your mother's mind?” I ask.
“No. Could you?”
“Yes. She blocked me, until she got too sick and weak to do so.” I hate referring to the strong woman I grew up with as weak.
“I always thought the Host received the egg and sperm from the sponsors, and the Host just hosted the baby, and then gave it over to the genetic parents.” This is what we've been told.
“I thought that as well... what do we know? This place is built on lies.” Dax shrugs his shoulders.
“One thing I do know is that only blood relations can read each other's thoughts. Which makes us related, and I think you’re my brother.”
Dax smiles warmly, “I was thinking the same,” making me feel less alone.
Dax falls silent for a moment and then nods in agreement. “We will go to the Grounders first, and then to your mother…” I really want to go home first, but the Grounders' home is before our committee. I guess that's why he joined the Grounders—he got there first. People don't last the walk from Purenet to the Cueva.
“What are the Grounders like, the original ones?” I ask.
Dax leans back on a rock, casually, like he’s in an arm chair. “They are like any dysfunctional community. Once you see past their physical appearance, they are simple people, just trying to get through life,” Dax smiles fondly.
“Their physical appearance?” I’ve only ever seen the Grounders from afar.
“They are larger than any human I’ve seen. When we used to go on The Sanction Games tours visiting the other Sanctions, I would meet people from all over the world. Never did I meet another person that could compare to the strength and size of an original Grounder.”
“They should compete in the games, if they are that strong,” I say.
“I thought that when I met them, but the games are not just about strength, which they have loads of. You also need to be smart; normally the one that wins the games is a mixture of both, with a few winners that were just lucky,” Dax says.
“So… the Grounders are stupid?” I feel awkward asking.
Dax winces, some are, and he claps his hand over his month, like the words crept out of his mouth.
“I… I didn’t mean that. It’s just, the radiation that their ancestors survived seems to have stolen some of their common sense genes,” he smiles. “You will see soon enough; try to get some sleep.” He stands up.
I curl up in a ball on the rough ground, like at home... but this different. I feel like one of the newly-born stars in the sky, breaking through the dark night for the first time.
Chapter Fourteen
“Dax... wake up.”
We've taken turns doing the look-out in the middle of the night. He is awake in an instant.
“They are packing up and going back to Purenet,” I mumble as I try to get all my words out. “And another team is approaching Grounders' base.” I didn't want to tell him what I heard, but I have to.
“What?!”
I nod. “That's why they can go back to Purenet.”
“No! Reznor was right all along. He'd said they'd come after me.”
“Who's Reznor?”
“Reznor is the leader of the Grounders, Ayah's brother.”
“Are the... you know, the Grounders, like, crazy? Can't they fight them off?” I say bluntly.
Dax stops walking and turns to me. “Do I look crazy?” He angrily waves his hands in the air.
“Mmm, well, right now you do.”
Dax shakes his head. “Most of them are sick, which is why I had to get the medicine.”
“What's wrong with them?”
“We think our crops were poisoned.”
“How?”
“Normally the Purenet aircraft flies over us in the daylight about once a month, checking up on us.”
I nod. They are lucky that it is only once a month, we are checked on every second of our lives.
“Then one day, the hum of the plane came in the evening. I remember because of the tapping on my roof. When I went outside, it wasn't raining. At the time I didn't think much about it, because the weather can vary. Once the new crops were ready to harvest and were eaten, people began to get sick... really sick.” Dax starts walking once again, impatient for the guards to leave.
“Hayden. Wake up.” Dax rouses his friend.
“Why didn't you get sick?” I ask.
“You are nosy, aren't you?” Dax smiles, with a playful twinkle in his eye. “A few of us were okay. Mainly those who were originally from another Sanction. I guess we were safe because of the immunizations we received as children.”
“So the people that left to get the medicine were only the ones who weren't sick?”
He just pulls in his bottom lip and nervously nods.
We both fall silent; there's nothing I can say. We are sitting here waiting, with nothing we can do.
Hayden walks toward us, stretching his arms out wide as if he had a good night's sleep.
“Can you get in touch with the Grounders?” I ask.
Dax nods with his eyes closed.
“Is the radio with the others?”
Again, Dax just nods.
As we watch the guards ride off to Purenet, I want them to come back. I don't want to see what they have left behind.
“Are you sure you want to come with us?” Dax asks, as he prepares to leave. The guards are a faint blur and they will be back inside Purenet in a minute.
“Yes.” And no.
“Which is it?” Dax asks bluntly.
“She said yes,” Hayden adds, shaking his head toward Dax like he is stupid.
“Yes, I said.” I jump onto the back of the bike. I'm not staying here, just in case they come back.
Dax swipes his finger over the panel, and the bike takes off, flying over to the other rock formation, a lot faster than before... almost like he's trying to throw me off. I grip my fingers into him, not caring if it hurts. I'm not falling off this bike!
Before I even have the chance to prepare myself for the sight I'm about to see, we are at the rocks. Dax slows the bike down to a crawl.
An awful, acrid odor floats up my nose. It's so strong; I can almost taste the smell. My stomach begins churning, making me gag. My tongue folds up against the roof of my mouth as it try to block out the taste. Swiftly I place my hand over my nose and mouth... this smell is burning flesh.
Dax turns off the bike and we come to a halt in front of the bonfire made of bodies that are twisted and cracking. I'm unable to peel my eyes away from the horrific sight—how could humans do this to one another?
Dax bends ove
r and vomits uncontrollably. Hayden just stands there, totally stunned.
I jump off the bike.
Find their bags...
I try to look past their burning corpses, but the cracking of their flesh keeps drawing me in. I scan the area for their bags, but they aren't here. The guards didn't take them, so there must be some caves.
Focus on the bags... I tell myself as I step around the fire.
Placing my hand on the rugged wall, I follow the rock for a few moments to where it stops. They hid the bikes in a slim dark cave which you would only find if you were looking for it.
I squeeze my body between the jagged edges of the rocks and the bikes and sweep the bags up from the pitch black cave.
“I've found stuff!” I yell, as I hold up the remaining personal belongings of Dax's friends. My heart sinks, as the burnt flesh fills my nostrils once again.
Dax wipes his hand across his face, removing the last traces of vomit.
“Let's get out of here.” He shakes his head in disgust.
“Reznor, can you hear me?” Dax repeats, as we stand behind the rocks we slept by last night, away from the burning bodies.
“Dax... Where are you?” a voice crackles through the old black radio.
“The guards are on their way. Get out!” Dax begs.
“I knew it!” Reznor snaps. “Get back here with the others.”
“They already got them. It's just me and Hayden left,” Dax admits shamefully. There is silence.
“Reznor, are you there?” Hayden yells.
“Reznor?” Dax is gritting his teeth now.
Silence follows. And then... “I'm here... everyone is too sick to leave... we have to fight...”
“No, you will lose!” Dax shouts.
“What choice do we have?”
“I am coming. I have the medicine. Don't shoot... I will surrender... Do you hear me, don't shoot! They want me.”
“Reznor? Reznor?”
He doesn't reply.
“Screw this!” Dax gets up and shoves the radio into a bag pocket on the side of his bike. “Get on, we are leaving!”
Hayden jumps onto his bike.
I do as Dax commands; I have a feeling he'd leave me if I didn't. Even though he doesn't want to be like his brother or father, it's clear their blood still runs through his veins.
