Olivia's Escape

by Cindy Matthews

  "I understand. It's selfish of me to want to keep you here. BloodDark is not your home, and there's no reason for you to risk your safety to liberate it."

  The light in his eyes a moment ago dimmed in sadness. She felt her heart breaking.

  "Oh, how I wish you could come back with me," Olivia blurted without thinking.

  Hernando smiled. "You—you do?"

  "Uh, I mean you're more than welcome to visit my world." Olivia back-pedaled her enthusiasm so she didn't come across as acting too forward. "Yeah, you really should visit Earth. You'd be very popular, especially with the conspiracy nuts."

  "Is that the only reason?" He leaned closer and cocked a playful eyebrow. "Could it be you can't live without me?"

  Olivia felt her cheeks warm. She scooted away from him, and he smiled. "I want to help liberate BloodDark, too," she said with as much dignity as she could muster. "I can't think of anything more noble or necessary."

  "You've convinced me. I'll introduce you to the others. After we're dismissed for the rest period, wait at the entrance of the women's dormitory. I'll send someone to take you to the meeting."

  *****

  Under the perpetual twilight—or dusk—of the so-called bright star, there was no difference in night and day. The farm workers were placed on work shifts of ten hours each with the newcomers placed on the first rest period. Olivia watched Valori crawl into her bunk and fall fast asleep before heading to the doorway. To her surprise, she saw no Overseers guarding the dorms. The closest must be standing watch over the entire encampment from the gate tower in the distance.

  A female voice from the shadows beckoned her. "This way, human. Hernando told me to guide you to our meeting."

  Olivia took a step onto the stoop and peered into the grayness. "Are you to my right or to my left?"

  "Your right. Be careful of your footing and keep low. We will travel along the hedgerows until we reach the field."

  She did as she was told, following the black-haired woman as they quickly made their way past several Overseer barracks. Most of their guards appeared to be either sleeping or busy taking care of their own chores and not the slightest bit worried about any of their charges getting up to any mischief.

  About a quarter mile from the dormitory they came to small hollow. Low, tree-covered hills surrounded the spot. From a distance, it would be difficult to see the small campfire that had been built there.

  "Greetings, Lucy. Is this Olivia of the Clan Brown with you? Greetings as well." A deep voice welcomed them as they came into the circle of firelight. Olivia looked in vain for Hernando in the grouping of men sitting cross-legged around the fire.

  "Is Hernando here?" she asked.

  "Sit, sit! He'll be here shortly. Lucy, please give our guest some water and some of our roasted desert serpent. It's quite good."

  "I'll pass on the serpent, thank you." She tried hard not to think what other wild creatures might live on this side of the planet. "I'll take you up on the water."

  Olivia could tell from her expression that the petite Asian woman named Lucy didn't trust newcomers, but would do as she was told. The deep voice came from a thin, white-whiskered man. In the harsh shadows of the campfire, she noted his tanned and wrinkled skin. He must have been at least ten years older than Olivia's grandfather, yet he appeared to be strong and muscular and in good health. She realized she hadn't seen too many older men on BloodDark. What was this gentleman's secret to longevity?

  Olivia did as she was commanded and took a seat across from the older man. Her escort Lucy gave her a metal cup of water and then sat beside him. Olivia noticed a family resemblance.

  "You two are related?" she asked, trying to make friendly conversation.

  Lucy nodded. "Byron is my father."

  Olivia kept a straight face and tried not to act too surprised. She thought more likely they were granddaughter and grandfather. Maybe the tough life of a farm worker had prematurely aged her host?

  "Are there many families on the farm?" she asked.

  "We are all brothers and sisters in the Resistance." Byron nodded at the others gathering around the campfire. "We fight against those who would break apart our families. We fight for the right of all peoples to live in the light and to not be afraid of the dark."

  "But can the Pure Bloods live on the dayside? I mean, isn't it bad for their health?"

  Byron chuckled. "They are welcomed to continue dwelling in their dark caves, provided they leave the rest of the world to us who can tolerate the light."

  She heard a familiar laugh. "It's a fair enough deal."

  Olivia turned at the sound of Hernando's voice. "About time you showed up!" She sat up straighter and fussed with her hair, trying to act like her heart didn't beat faster whenever he came near. "I was beginning to wonder if you hadn't woken one of the Overseers."

  "I did." Hernando sat down next to her but directed his comments to the group. "Wornok says the next transport isn't scheduled for another two time periods."

  "That long?" Byron stroked his whiskers and seemed to mull over the information. "You have any reason to doubt his word?"

  Hernando shook his head. "He's never given us bad intelligence before. Besides, he's eager to get back at Lynik for breaking up his romance with one of the matrons. I do believe he's looking forward to the revolution."

  "It is hard to believe that an Overseer would so easily turn on his own kind." Lucy flashed a disapproving frown. "They want to come out on top. They feel they're the true masters of BloodDark."

  "We all know it's the Quadsangs who should rule, don't we, Lu?" Hernando's raucous laughter only made the petite woman frown more. "Hey, think about it. There are no natives of this world—we are all immigrants. Only those who are equally human and Pure Blood can lay claim to being the true and rightful rulers. I'm right, aren't I?"

  Other voices jumped into the argument that humans were more suited for governing, although perhaps the Overseers had a point, and really who could prove their heritage was equally alien and human? Olivia noted that the Resistance consisted of all the various BloodDark servant races, and each held a unique position on who should rule once the Pure Bloods were removed from power. How would they ever unite and become powerful enough to change their world if they argued all the time?

  She'd never had much interest in the debating societies at school, but Olivia knew enough American history to recognize the familiar tone. The founding fathers must've sounded much like this during that first Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Every group thinks their way is the only way. They'll argue forever if I let them, too.

  "You guys have got to learn to shelve your petty differences for the good of the whole, don't you think?" Olivia blurted before she realized it. Immediately the arguing ceased. All eyes turned to focus on her. She blushed and stumbled forward.

  "Uh, yeah. I'm saying that you all have to show a bit more unity in the face of opposition, you know? Work out what you have in common instead of debating where you differ."

  Byron smiled a wide toothy grin. "She is quite intelligent, your Olivia. I see now why you invited her to join us." He winked at Hernando. Soon everyone in the circle was laughing and smiling at her red cheeks.

  Hernando gave her shoulders a quick hug. Olivia took courage. "I'm only speaking the truth as I see it," she whispered to him. "How am I going to get off this rock if this Resistance cell is bickering all the time?"

  He pulled back. "I'd forgotten. You want to go home. Back to Earth... Leave us here to deal with the bloodsuckers all alone."

  Her heart sank. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way. I want to help."

  "Of course you do." He turned to his comrades and announced, "Olivia is the key to our successful capture of the Portal and the city."

  This statement caught the squabbling members' attention. Hernando explained how and why they were sent out of the city through the use of a scent-masker.

  "Olivia is willing to be used as a scent decoy again to let us get cl
ose enough to the Portal to capture it." He smiled broadly at her. She stared daggers at him.

  "Decoy? You want the Pure Bloods sniffing after me again?" Hernando's words caught Olivia off guard. "This is the first I've heard of your idea," she said under her breath, unsure she wanted to be used to lure anyone away from the Portal. Her voice rose as the implications sank in. "Without the scent-masker, they'll know they were duped before, and they won't be happy. What if they catch me?"

  "They won't. Trust me. We'll be able to get in and out before they know what's hit them."

  Byron looked askance. "Hernando, you know it's not possible to guarantee the outcome of any operation, let alone one as dangerous as capturing the Portal. Olivia shows great wisdom in voicing her objections."

  "Thank you." Olivia smiled at the Resistance leader. She could tell that Byron's levelheadedness would win out in the end. Others also voiced skepticism at Hernando's daring plan to capture the Portal.

  "I still think it's our best hope of getting into the city," Hernando protested. "We don't have the numbers to outman the Overseers in the city. Even if we can group together with the cells from the other farms, we'll have how many? Perhaps one or two hundred able-bodied humans, an equal number of Quadsangs, and a few sympathetic Overseers? There's no way we can take on the Pure Bloods and their technology with so few. The only way we can hope to do so is to utilize the element of surprise."

  "I'm the surprise, right?" Olivia folded her arms across her chest. "I don't know about you, but I think I can be of more use to the Resistance as a fellow fighter than as a decoy."

  "How can you assist us?" Lucy's frown and tone of voice indicated the young rebel was far from convinced. "Have you been trained in the ways of combat and weaponry? Very few humans with such talents have ever been abducted from Earth. The Pure Bloods make sure those they kidnap are relatively harmless and without military skills."

  Lucy was right. Olivia bit her lip in thought. What did she know about hand-to-hand fighting? What did she know about shooting weapons? The closest she'd ever gotten to anything approximating a rifle was while she was playing a video game. Still, Olivia didn't want to play a passive role as bait for the Pure Bloods to sniff out.

  "I might not be a trained soldier or a terrorist bomber, but I'm a fairly fast runner. Yes, my scent might work well to trick the Pure Bloods into following me while others can get close to the Portal, but I believe my ability to think quickly on my feet will allow me to stay two steps ahead of them."

  "Don't underestimate the intelligence of the Pure Bloods," Byron said. "They aren't motivated through their animal nature alone. They can prove to be very calculating foes, willing to sacrifice their own desires if necessary for the good of their people."

  A sudden snapping sound in the surrounding woods made everyone jump. They turned in unison to see who or what had made it.

  "It's me, Wornok. I have information you might find useful."

  Olivia's heartbeat raced. She could tell from the others' cautious expressions that even a sympathetic Overseer's appearance at their cell meetings was not a usual occurrence.

  Hernando stood and approached his contact. After a short conversation, he returned to the circle and the Overseer disappeared the way he came.

  "Wornok's information isn't good news. He heard from a contact in the city via telegraph. Murnau was seen leaving the city soon after the transport departed. He's heading this way."

  The group members all at once began to discuss their concerns. Byron cleared his throat and hushed the murmurings. "What is the reason given for the dark lord in charge of clan protocol to travel so far?"

  Hernando swallowed hard. His wild-eyed look said it all. "Murnau claims he will prove his instincts regarding Olivia were correct and valid. He promises that the festival will recommence and be celebrated as originally planned."

  Chapter Eight

  Olivia's head spun at the rapid change of events. After Hernando informed them of Murnau's imminent arrival, the Resistance gathering's focus turned from capturing the Portal to trying to save her from the Pure Bloods.

  "We have to hide her in the Mosaic Desert." Hernando raised his voice but found it hard to gain the group's attention since they were all on their feet and speaking over each other. "It's the only way we'll ever have a chance to use Olivia's special... ability as a decoy in the city. We'll have to cross it and approach the city from the east."

  "It's too dangerous," Lucy advised. The commotion began to subside as she took the floor. "We'll die of thirst in the desert, and the sun will bleach our bones. Besides, the Overseers will be watching for us to return to the farm from there, ready to slap us in chains and drag us to prison."

  "Lucy makes a valid point," Byron agreed. "The Overseers have enough sun block equipment to follow us at least part of the way into the expanse. It would be better if we hide Olivia somewhere on the farm to prevent Murnau from finding her."

  Hernando dismissed the thought with a wave of his hand. "Going into the desert is a chance we'll have to take. Think! If it's difficult for us, how much more impossible it will be for a Pure Blood to come looking for us in all that light and heat."

  "You're assuming Murnau won't make the Overseers do his dirty work looking for Olivia while he stays comfortable here at the farm," Byron pointed out.

  "I know Murnau. He enjoys the hunt, perhaps a little too much." Hernando's expression turned grim but only for a moment. "That's why they put him in charge of vetting all the newcomers when they come through the Portal. He won't want to pass up on this opportunity to track down his prey single-handedly, especially one who embarrassed him so well in front of his clan members."

  Byron stroked his white beard thoughtfully. "You have observed the Pure Blood lord for many years now, Hernando, and I respect your insights. If you say Murnau is willing to risk his life in the desert, then perhaps we should draw the fool into the expanse. If he never returns, so much the better for our cause."

  "Father, we can't all go into the desert at once. It will cause suspicion." Lucy stared hard at Olivia.

  Olivia flinched. She could tell Lucy didn't care to risk her fellow Resistance members' health and safety for the sake of protecting one lowly newcomer to their group. She didn't blame Lucy one bit. She'd do the same to protect her father and her friends.

  "Lucy's right." Olivia flashed a wan smile. "I'm not worth risking all of your lives. Better if I sneak off into the desert by myself to avoid getting recaptured by Murnau. Then you can all claim you don't know what became of me. You'll be in the clear."

  "You can't survive in the Mosaic Desert alone." Hernando's false bravado diminished. His deep brown eyes filled with fear and something else Olivia couldn't quite fathom. Could it be he really loves me?

  "I can take care of myself all right," she asserted. "I've made it this far."

  "Oh, don't act so foolish, Olivia!" Hernando muttered. Hmph! I'm a fool in his opinion. Who could love a fool?

  Olivia put her hands on her hips and leveled her gaze squarely on Hernando and spoke in measured tones. "Don't dismiss me so easily. My eyes are the best of this bunch for seeing in full light, right? Plus, I spent an entire summer on my uncle's ranch in New Mexico. If I can withstand that dry and dusty place, I'm sure I can handle this Mosaic Desert, no problemo."

  "It's not like the deserts on Earth," Hernando argued. "You don't know what you're saying."

  Olivia arched an eyebrow. "And how would you know what the deserts on Earth are like? Ever been there?"

  Hernando shook his head. "Of course not, but you can't go out there alone—can she, Byron? What if she gets lost or hurt?"

  The older man nodded. "True. Life in general is much better with a companion. You will accompany Olivia on this journey, Hernando?"

  "I will."

  "Don't I get a say in the matter?" Olivia tried hard to hide her interest in spending alone time with Hernando. She realized there was safety in numbers, but maybe another in the group was better suited f
or the task? "Who all has ventured very far into this Mosaic Desert?"

  No one raised a hand or otherwise indicated they had ever left the farm or attempted it. Hernando gave her a smug grin and crossed his arms. "Satisfied?"

  "You guys don't get out much, do you?" Olivia sighed.

  "We've been biding our time," Byron explained. He pointed toward the dark side. "See?"

  Olivia had noticed how the second sun was growing closer in its orbit about its companion star. Every day it illuminated the Pure Bloods' city with more and more orange-red light. From what Valori had told her of this planet's history, this infrequent occurrence wasn't something their captors looked forward to with much enthusiasm. In fact, the Pure Bloods dreaded it.

  Byron raised his hands in solemn salutation to the celestial body. "At last, our time has come. The Day of Two Stars will shine upon us all soon, and then we will attack while our enemies are at their weakest. Olivia of the clan Brown, you must survive. You could be the instrument we need to strike that fatal blow. Don't forget it."

  The Resistance members grabbed what supplies they could before the end of their rest period. Byron insisted Olivia and Hernando leave before the work shift began. If all went according to plan, the men would be able to cover for Hernando in the fields and the women would cover for Olivia's absence.

  The thought of leaving her friend without a word of explanation brought unexpected tears. It made Olivia think of how much she'd hurt her parents when she'd disobeyed them and sneaked out of the house to see her favorite band. "Can't I go back to the dormitory and say good-bye to Valori?" She quickly wiped the tears away with the back of her hand. "She's been like an auntie to me."

  Lucy's stern expression softened. "No, it's best you don't go back to the compound. We will tell Valori why you left and not to worry. She'll understand." The haunting look of concern in Lucy's eyes did nothing to calm Olivia's nerves.

  "Ready?" Hernando looked like a mountaineer with the heavy backpack. Olivia picked up and slung the heavy leather pouch with supplies over her shoulder and almost toppled over. Somehow she hadn't expected they'd need so much food and water to hide out a few days in the desert.