The Veil: Corruption (HASEA CHRONICLES BOOK 2)

by Stuart Meczes

  Elliot leaned into me and whispered, “Dude if you capture an Asrai, whatever the hell that is, please give it to me. I really need to boost my points.”

  Andrea overheard and glared. “Uh, hell no. If you pull ahead, I’ll be last. Don’t do it, Daniel.” Next to me, John rolled his eyes.

  I raised my hands. “Look, we’re a team, and I want us to win. If that means passing an Asrai to any other player, I will. But I’m not picking favourites.”

  Andrea gave a satisfied nod but Elliot turned away. “Easy to say when you’re on seventeen points,” he muttered under his breath.

  A twenty-second countdown began. We all stopped talking and got focused.

  “Recruits, get ready!”

  I scanned the area, waiting to see something. My muscles were twitching, fired up and ready to launch me towards the first sign of movement. Beside me I could feel the others gearing up to charge. Opposite, the others were ready too. Troy looked like a war champion preparing for his latest slaughter.

  The siren went off, and I saw a flash of silver shoot up from one of the glass towers in the middle of the Battleground.

  “Follow me!”

  I raced through a dune, kicking up sand as I went. John was next to me, his spiky black hair bobbing up and down as he ran. A series of ropes dangled down the side of the tower. I grabbed onto one and pressed my feet into the side, hoisting myself up.

  Don’t look down, don’t look down.

  I pulled myself onto a circular platform. Six sloping walkways connected to it like the spokes of a wheel. Above there were higher ledges with countless other catwalks connecting to yet more towers. Charging down one of the nearby walkways towards me were Troy and Richard.

  The Asrai was some type of fairy, about the size of a Barbie doll, with wispy silver hair and pink eyes. She spiralled around on dainty wings above my head, laughing as she dodged every attempt I made to grab her. Elliott made a lunge and almost fell off the side of the platform, and he windmilled his arms to stay upright. Andrea seized the back of his jacket and yanked him back onto the ledge.

  Something barged into me. By the time I realised it was Troy’s shoulder, I was sliding on my back down a walkway. A beam of red light shot up on the far side of the arena. From my position I could see the projector screen, which showed that Hollie had placed an Asrai into the Safe Zone. The Red Team all clocked up an extra point, and she jumped two ahead of me.

  Oh no you don’t!

  I vaulted to my feet and sprinted back to where all my teammates were battling it out with Troy and Richard. Everyone was doing a great job of missing the Asrai that flicked above their heads.

  Troy was just the height I needed.

  “John, give me a leg up!” I shouted, sprinting towards him. He ducked to one knee and launched me upwards. As I lifted up, I pressed my feet against Troy’s shoulder, giving me extra height. He grunted and stumbled backwards as I closed my hand around the prize. A ray of blue light shot out from my hand. Landing, I rolled, tucking the Asrai into my stomach to avoid hurting her. Richard tried to grab me as I stood, but I stepped out of the way and sprinted down the nearest walkway towards the safe zone.

  “I’m not hurting you am I?” I huffed.

  “No, don’t worry,” came the tiny reply.

  As I ran, the glow shot out of my palm as if I were carrying Zeus’ bolt. The fairy had her arms resting on my hands and was watching everything happen with a look of amusement.

  Lucy appeared from around the side of a tower and ran full pelt towards me. I turned back, but saw Richard closing in. Glancing over the side of the railing, I noticed a rope dangling from a higher ledge. I can make it to the adjacent walkway if I time it right. I didn’t have time to second-guess my decision. Just before the pair could reach me, I jumped onto the railing and vaulted off, grabbing the rope with one hand and swinging high into the air. As the rope reached the top of its arc, I let go, landing on the other walkway and slamming my stomach into a railing, knocking all the air from my lungs and nearly dropping the Asrai.

  Still wheezing, I turned to run and realised that one side led to a dead end below the spectator stands. Bowling towards me from the other direction was Troy.

  Bollocks.

  “Daniel!” A voice shouted from behind the stampeding recruit. Just beyond Troy, I could see Elliot waving his arms. He leaned over the side of the railing and held out his hands. As Troy loomed over me, I leaned out and threw the Asrai towards Elliot like a rugby ball. The fairy somersaulted through the air with surprising grace, past Troy, and into Elliot’s hands.

  “Dammit!” shouted Troy, grinding to a halt inches from me. I watched as Elliot rappelled down one of the ropes hanging from the walkway and dropped to the arena ground. He had a clear run, and no one had time to intercept him. Less than ten seconds later, we had matched Red Team’s score. A burst of applause rang out from the crowd, and Elliot gave me a thumbs up before returning to the action.

  Below I saw another Asrai burst from a hidden hatch in a sand dune near the Red Zone. She slipped under a low ledge and didn’t emerge. Everyone else seemed to be focused on the other, who was floating about a spire high above me. They were climbing up ropes and ladders, trying to be the one who got there first.

  I ran back to a circular platform and down a run of slopes until I was back on the ground. From there, I jumped over small walls and ducked under ledges until I was at the sandpit. The recess was a tight fit, and I had to crouch down to get to her. The Asrai was sitting on one of the large bolts that held the tower legs together.

  “Nice spot. It normally takes people ages to find me,” she giggled.

  I reached out to grab her, but she slipped away from my fingers, floating deeper under the ledge.

  “Oh come on!” I laughed.

  “Sorry, sir, but I have to follow the rules. I can’t make it too easy.”

  I climbed in deeper and was vaguely aware of a camera pointing at me. No doubt my sweaty face was smeared across one of the projectors by now. It wouldn’t be long before the others knew what was going on.

  Got to hurry up.

  I pretended to reach with one hand, but swept my other out faster, and collected the Asrai into my hands. The light she gave off the moment I touched her was blinding in the darkness of the dim space.

  I heard a beep and a cheer, and I knew that someone had scored a point. I hope it’s our team. But with Hollie and Troy on the other side, I had a feeling it wasn’t.

  The Asrai settled into my grip, and I wriggled out of the space, getting sand all over my arms and chest. When I emerged, Lucy was waiting for me. “I’ll take her off your hands,” she said, lunging for me.

  I feinted right and then ran to the left, back towards the main cluster of towers.

  “Give her over! I need more points!” she shouted.

  “No chance. Sorry, Lucy!” I called back over my shoulder.

  The direction I’d run in led me to a dead end. The only way forward was up. So I unzipped my jacket and placed the Asrai against my chest before zipping it back up a bit. With both hands free, I was able to grab onto a high rung of a ladder and scale the side of another circular platform. Once on top, I started to run towards one of the sloping walkways towards my zone, but I was shocked when a set of hands shot down from above and stole the Asrai right out of my jacket. I looked up to see Hollie dangling by her legs from a higher catwalk’s railings. “Told you, you ain’t seen nothing yet!” She laughed and hoisted herself back up.

  I couldn’t help but chuckle at her unorthodox robbery. But as soon as she reached the right side of the catwalk, I heard her shout out. “Oi, get off!”

  I jumped up and pulled myself onto the suspended path just in time to see Andrea wrestling the Asrai from her grip. Then, in turn, Troy appeared behind Andrea and wrapped his gigantic arms around her. Hollie grinned and grabbed the Asrai from the struggling Andrea. The light around the fairy switched from blue to red again.

  “Watch out!” Troy sho
uted, but it was too late. Hollie turned and ran straight into me. I snatched the fairy from her grip.

  “Thanks, what a lovely gift,” I teased as I dodged her attempts to get the Asrai back. “Love to stay and chat, but I’ve got a game to win.” I winked and jumped onto a lower bridge.

  As soon as I stamped down onto the glass floor, there was a loud groan and the whole thing tilted backwards. I let out an embarrassingly high-pitched scream as I tumbled in reverse down the steep slope. I was unceremoniously dumped into a large rabbit tunnel. Spitting dirt from my mouth, I looked for the Asrai and found her happily sitting on my chest, glowing like a beacon in the dark tunnel.

  From outside I could hear Ivy’s muffled voice. “Looks like poor Daniel was the first to fall pray to one of the Battleground’s booby traps!” The crowd laughed and cheered.

  “Can you shift to my back so I can get us out of here?” I asked.

  “Okay,” said the Asrai.

  Rolling over, I felt gentle prods as the tiny creature climbed around my side. Using elbows and knees, I crawled forward about forty yards until I saw the tunnel slope upwards towards a disc of light. I reached over my shoulder and collected the Asrai. Emerging, I scanned around me. With a smile, I realised that the seesaw trap had done me a favour; I was away from the main cluster of the Battleground pointed in the right direction.

  Lucy saw me and pointed, but it was too late. I sprinted to the to the Safe Zone and ushered the Asrai in. A jet of blue light shot up, and her glow faded. Cheers and foot stamps accompanied the beep that heralded my successful touchdown.

  “Thanks,” I said to the Asrai, jogging backwards.

  “You’re welcome. Good luck,” she replied with a pearly grin.

  Turning, I took a quick glance up at the timer.

  4.52

  Under five minutes left; need to get a move on. A few seconds later another red stream of light shone up into the air, and the crowd burst into cheers. Dammit!

  I sprinted back into the chaos. Scanning the cluster of towers and bridges, I saw that Hollie, Richard, and John were gathered around a large sandpit on one side, jumping from ledges and ramps and trying to catch an Asrai flitting between them. Elliot, Lucy, and Andrea were running from different directions to the centre of the main wheel spoke tower above, where the latest Asrai had just been released. Troy was nowhere to be seen, which meant he had been the one that scored.

  Still running, I ducked right and headed to the sand pit. I sprinted up a ramp and jumped off the end. My hand stretched out, and I felt fluttering on my fingertips as I grazed the Asrai’s wings. Before I could close my grip, Richard collided with me from my right. We fell in a heap on the ground sending a shower of sand spraying up. I landed on my back, and Richard’s elbow collided with my face. Sharp pain rang down my cheek.

  Without even stopping to check I was okay, he clambered up and headed for a ledge to try his luck again.

  I do not like that guy.

  I stood up just in time to hear my name being shouted. John was in still mid-air. He had caught the Asrai and was throwing her down to me. Through pure instinct, I caught the fairy and pivoted in the direction of the safe zone. Hollie and Richard were on me in seconds. She cut off my route home, so I had no choice but to scale a nearby ladder onto one of the catwalks. Richard followed me up, pinched face glaring at me as he climbed.

  The walkway was empty. Above, I could hear other recruits still battling it out for the other Asrai. I sprinted to the end and around a corner. The route took me parallel to our Safe Zone. I passed a spiralling slope that wrapped around a tower and led to the ground, deciding not to risk it. Anyone could be waiting down there.

  I could hear Richard stampeding behind me, his breath almost on my neck. Ahead a sloping ramp broke away from main gangway. I knew I had to take it; otherwise I’d be zigzagging around this level of the Battleground until the timer ran out. I peeled off and felt Richard’s hand swipe for my shoulder but grab nothing. He swore loudly.

  Yes!

  I charged down and around the square run of slopes until I hit the dirt of the arena ground. No one was there to intercept me. I turned in the direction of the Safe Zone. As I neared the flashing ring, it suddenly became harder to breathe, as if the room were being stripped of air. I slowed, coughing, as my lungs were unable to fill with anything.

  What is going on!?

  The Asrai made a tutting noise. “Cheaters.”

  Richard appeared in front of me.

  “Jesus!” I exclaimed as he shoved me to the ground and wrenched the Asrai from my hands. There was an echo of boos from the audience and a sharp tone registered his cheat.

  “Y-you can’t use teleportation in this event!” I wheezed.

  “I just did,” he replied with a satisfied smirk. “It’s all about the long game.”

  “Not cool!” I shouted after his diminishing figure. I watched as he sprinted over the grass mounds and through the sand dunes, uninterrupted until he was at the Safe Zone. The deducted point was replaced and another added.

  One step back, two steps forward. Clever. Shame he’s an absolute dick.

  I picked myself back up and stared into the crowd. All of Orion had their eyes on me. Can’t let them down. I gave Gabriella a nod that meant ‘I’m on it.’ She gave a nod back.

  “Only two minutes left!” shouted Ivy.

  As I ran back to the main area, I saw Andrea sprinting in the opposite direction, trailed by Troy, Lucy, and Hollie. She was carrying a glowing Asrai.

  “Watch out!” she screeched as she bowled towards me.

  I stepped back, and she whipped past so fast, the wind tugged at my clothes. For a split second it looked like Troy was going to stop her, but she just managed to get the Asrai into the zone before he grabbed her by the waist and yanked her backwards. The light shot up and our scores clocked up.

  “Yes, Andrea!” I shouted as the crowd let out a roar. We exchanged a quick high five as everyone jogged back towards the main area. Then, remembering we barely had any time left, I charged towards the central structure. Heaving my way up a rope, I – and everyone else around me – saw the flash of another Asrai released high up on the platform that circled the highest tower.

  “Perfect,” I muttered as I made it onto the next tier and scrambled to reach a ladder before the others could. All eight of us scaled our way up the gigantic structure as the crowd cheered us on in a deafening roar. I made it to the next level and started climbing again, scooting up a rope and then dangling from the next section that led to the final platform, where the Asrai was waiting.

  Don’t look down. Don’t look down.

  I looked down.

  There was a lurching sensation, and the arena ground seemed to drop away from me, becoming a hundred times further away. I closed my eyes, but not before I saw a splash of silver on a tiny ledge underneath a glass bridge, about fifty yards away. Forcing my eyes open, I looked again and saw the tiny frame of an Asrai. Everyone else was still focused on going for the obvious Asrai that carried the most glory – the one at the apex of the arena; no one had bothered to look for the other. I abseiled back down until I hit the nearest platform level and then charged the bridge. It was H-shaped with no railings, and it connected the furthest parts of the main Battle zone together.

  It could also be another trap.

  I glanced at the clock. 1.15 No time to check.

  As soon as I stepped onto the surface and felt my feet slide from under me, I knew it was another trap. The bridge wasn’t made from glass. It was made from ice. I almost slipped right off the side, but managed to dig my fingers into the freezing floor at the last second. I flipped onto my stomach and felt the gasping rush of cold as it hit my chest. Leaning over the edge, to the sounds of ‘oooohs’ from the crowd, I stretched out my fingers and snatched the unsuspecting Asrai.

  I felt a shudder behind me and had to grip the side of the bridge to stop myself from falling off headfirst. Glancing up, I saw that Troy had followed me and,
like the bull he was, had charged right onto the ice bridge. He clumsily skated his way towards me as I scrambled away. It took longer than I wanted to reach the connecting catwalk at the end.

  “Forty-five seconds!” shouted Ivy.

  I ran as fast as I could. Troy followed right after me, roaring in determination. I jumped onto ropes and swung to other walkways and took leaps of faith I would never have considered had I not been out of time and under the threat of being flattened. I just didn’t want to lose this close to securing the win for my team. I turned a corner and ran down a catwalk that hovered over the largest pond in the arena. Below was nothing but an expanse of clear water. As I ran, I became suddenly aware of a horrific fact.

  The walkway ended with nothing but air. Troy still thundered behind me, making heavy metallic thuds on the walkway. I couldn’t turn back. There was only one option.

  With adrenaline pumping through my veins, I glanced down at the glowing Asrai clutched in my hand. “I really hope you can swim.” The fairy let out a high-pitched squeal as I reached the end of the ledge and jumped.

  Everything seemed to shift into slow motion as I flew through the air. I could see the crowd ahead of me, their faces a mixture of surprise and excitement. I could hear the scrape of Troy’s shoes as he ground to a halt behind me. Raising the Asrai-laden arm as high as I could, I resisted the urge to use my gift and instead waited as gravity did its job and wrenched me down into the pool.

  My feet broke the surface, and the rush of cold water hit my body. It was shallower than I’d expected, and my knees jarred as my shoes hit silt. I fell forward and splashed under the surface, dragging the Asrai with me.

  For a horrible moment I flashed back to when I’d smashed into the Thames with Alex, and phantom pain flared up. I emerged, spluttering, and dragged myself one-handed out of the water. The Asrai was drenched, her silver hair plastered over her tiny face, and her frock resembled cling-film.

  “Ten seconds!”

  I sprinted towards the safety zone and placed her in as the clock reached 0:02. The glow shot up across the zone, and a loud beep pushed our team into the lead.