Deathmarked, p.3
DeathMarked, page 3
The steel door leading down to the camp opened, and a few kids climbed out. Gunner waited for the six kids inside to file out before he entered, motioning for us to follow.
I climbed down the few feet until I hit the dirt floor, an overwhelming scent of earth mixed with unwashed bodies filling the small space. Theo was close behind, his fingers brushing against my back, as he kept close. This camp was built entirely underground, dirt walls surrounded us, and the roof was so low we had to duck as we followed behind Gunner.
On one side of the tiny camp were two bedrolls placed on the floor, another two shoved in the back. Also at the back was the only thing not made of dirt. A ring, just bigger than the size of my fist, glowed white from where it jutted out of the wall. Gunner placed his arm inside of it, his skin lit up green, before he pulled it out and motioned for Theo and me to do the same.
“Check in station, all camps have one,” Gunner explained, as he pulled off his small pack and took out a water canister. He filled it up with a tap sprouting out of the wall. “You have to check in daily, one way or another. If you don’t check in within forty-eight hours, they’ll assume you’re dead and you’ll get dissolved.”
“Dissolved?” I scrunched my brow, moving aside to allow Theo to check in, the space so closed in I could feel the heat from his body, and when he was done checking in, he stood between Gunner and I, still assessing if he was friend of foe.
“Yeah, just as disgusting as it sounds.” Gunner took a swig of water. “These tracker chips in our wrist have some sort of toxic nerve agent that gets released when we die. It seeps into the blood stream and literally melts you from the inside out. Not a pretty sight.”
I swallowed back the bile threatening to come up.
“So what do we do now? Why did those kids leave? Couldn’t we just stay in here and keep checking in?” Theo asked. He might as well have been crawling on his knees the roof was so low.
“You could, but then you wouldn’t be of any use to them, and you’d get dissolved, anyways.” Again Gunner shrugged as if it were just a common occurrence for people to get melted from the inside out. Maybe it was for him.
“Not of any use how?” I asked.
Gunner sighed, clearly annoyed at all of our questions. He took his time placing his water canister back in his pack before he spun around. “If we don’t bring back an artifact from the forest for The Six, they have no use for us and will get rid of you. You can’t just expect to hide out the rest of your days in this camp; things here don’t work like that. We all got to go out there. It’s part of the job.”
“What’s The Six?” Theo asked.
“Bloody hell, do you guys really know nothing?” Gunner shook his head, and Theo took a subtle step closer to me. “All right, I’ll explain this once and only once, so listen up and save your questions for someone else. The Six are the people who sent us in here. There are six main bases surrounding the Void, one of which you guys came from… doctors, creepy white suits, you remember them, right? The Six—that’s what we call them—are all looking for artifacts within the forest that we need to track down. You at least know about the war before the Peace-Making right?”
I nodded, numb as I listened. Theo was watching me while he listened to Gunner, his brows tilted in a frown. I knew my mouth hung open, but I couldn’t clamp it shut.
“Well, the part of the Space Station that landed in the Void had a lot of information on it—artifacts—and The Six want them all. They’re usually smaller items, made of some kind of steel, but they could be just about anything. Electronics, tech, notebooks... So every day, we go out in search of these things and hope they find the items we bring back useful, and if they do, we get rewarded. Food, water, better weapons and ammo... the supplies you’ve got will last you a week, tops. In order to survive out here, you’ve got to find artifacts,” Gunner said.
“What kind of artifacts are we looking for?” I asked, forgetting Gunner’s request for no questions, but he seemed to have forgotten, too.
“Anything that doesn’t belong in the forest. Sometimes, it looks like trash and it’s useful, other times it looks important and ends up trash. You never know.” Gunner shrugged.
“Still, why not just stay here for four days, check in daily, then on the fifth go out looking for something?” Theo suggested.
“Man, if you’re good enough to find something in one day then all the power to yah, but most people struggle with even five days to collect something. And remember when I said that the kids here don’t play nice? Well, it gets even more vicious when you’re down to your last day, and all you need is an artifact someone else has…”
I stilled. “They’d steal from each other?”
Gunner snorted, another amused but dark smile on his face. “Sweetheart, people will kill for what you’ve got. You don’t just have to find an item, you have to get it back to one of the Distribution Camps, camp ten, camp twenty, camp thirty—anything that ends in a zero basically—they’re larger and easier to spot. But there are people out there, Poachers we call them, who don’t go out looking for artifacts. They go out looking for kids who’ve already found them. They’ll kill you for them and call it they’re own. That’s how the game goes around here. Every man for himself.”
“That’s sick,” Theo said.
“That’s reality.” Gunner’s expression revealed none of the repulsion we felt, just honesty. He stepped over to the short ladder and pulled himself up and out of the camp. We followed, the sun beaming down on us, hurting my tired eyes. “Well, it was nice meeting you guys, wish you loads of luck, but you’ve wasted enough of my time, so I’ll be seeing you around, or not.”
Gunner clapped his fists together, and two curved blades shot out of the sleeves of his jacket. The metal glistened in the morning sun.
“Wait, we’re coming with you,” I said, following his lead and releasing my own knives from my jacket. Theo hesitated, as if he wasn’t sure we should join Gunner.
Gunner shook his head. “I work alone.”
He moved to leave. Theo grabbed my arm to stop me when I went to follow.
“Wait,” I cried again.
With an exaggerated sigh, he paused and turned around, impatiently waving his hand.
“Will you at least point us to where the ship is?” I asked. We had no idea where we were, but if we could at least get to the ship and find an artifact, then the only other thing we had to do was survive the whole way there and back, find one of the Distribution Camps, and avoid Poachers, Reeks, and Dred Wulfs… easy right?
Gunner puffed out his cheeks and let out a long, heavy breath. “God, you guys are so damn naïve it’s painful.” He took a step towards us, something like pity reflecting in his eyes. “I’ve been here over two years, and not once have I been more than a hundred yards from that part of the ship. There’s no getting inside of it, not unless you have a death wish. It’s smashed into the side of the mountain where Reeks are all over it twenty-four seven. You’ve got to just search around here, and keep track of the time, watch the sun. I wouldn’t suggest hiding in the same place as last time if you miss closing time again. And a few too many days without sleep won’t do you any good, either.”
I opened my mouth to ask something else, but Gunner held up his hand and stopped me. “Just do yourselves a favor and keep it simple. You might get lucky and find something small that others missed. Or an artifact one of the other kids who didn’t make it dropped. But don’t go trying for the big items, it’s not likely in the cards for you guys, and you’ll be lucky to last the next five days, so you might as well enjoy it while you can.”
Before I had a chance to say anything else, Gunner sprinted off, tearing through the bushes and out of sight before we had a chance to even think about following him. Theo still had his hand gripped around my arm, and it slowly slid down until it was resting on the small of my back.
“We could just stay here for the day, take a little break, and try to figure this all out,” Theo suggested.
“What will time change? We don’t seem to have a choice.” My chin dipped. My voice was cautiously low, and I heard movement from the forest around us. I couldn’t tell if it was the wind or another kid or a Reek.
His fingers tensed against my back, but he didn’t correct me or argue that I was wrong; he knew we were now fighting in a game of survival. I set my jaw, rolled my shoulders, and swallowed back my fear.
“We can do this,” I said with as much confidence as I could muster.
The faintest smile lingered for only a moment on Theo’s lips, but he tilted his head down and placed a heartbreakingly soft kiss on the top of my head.
“I will protect you until my last dying breath, Sienna,” he murmured against my hair. “That’s my only vow, to you and no other.”
My chest felt as if it would explode, but Theo’s words calmed the storm building. I took in a deep breath, my lungs filling with the lingering lemon citrus scent wafting from him. “Let’s go.”
JAYLA
One by one, our sources were disappearing. Some went into hiding while others just refused to give us any information, even when we tried to beat it out of them. “It wouldn’t matter if I knew something. I’ve seen what happens to snitches, and that’s worse than what you two will do with me,” one of them had said.
The only person who might be able to help was the one person we couldn’t find… Simon. The usual spots he hid were empty; we’d checked them all, more than once.
With Em still working on the tablet from Reyes and sifting through piles of information for anything that might help us, I had gone out looking for the elusive Carbon Resistance.
Many Carbons had been apart of Simon’s crew, and I only needed one to talk.
Em had tracked down the Carbon I was following tonight through some old acquaintances. The woman was a known member of the resistance and a close friend of Governor Grayson’s—the Carbon Governor of Cytos.
The hood of my black jacket covered my face from view, and the rest of me blended into the shadows. Even Azrael on my hip wouldn’t be seen until the muzzle was pressed against her skull. So, it was no surprise when she walked out of the sleazy bar she had entered three hours ago without the slightest hint she was being watched.
Skinny red heels clicked against the concrete. The sheer blouse and skin-tight skirt matched the trashy establishment she’d just come out of. With any luck, she’d be less than sober and willing to talk.
My Watcher training made it easy to silently step behind her unseen. Azrael slid soundlessly from my holster, and the gun was pressed to the back of her head before she even sensed someone was there.
She froze.
“Turn around slowly,” I ordered.
The woman paused, hands resting on her hips as she turned to face me. Her bright pink lips moved into a smooth smile as she surveyed me up and down, settling her gaze on the gun now pointed at her face.
“To what do I owe the pleasure, Watcher?” the woman asked.
“I’m looking for someone,” I said. She raised a brow, waiting for me to continue. “Any idea where your friend Simon might be hiding out?”
She snorted, shifting onto one leg. “Well, I guess that makes two of us.” Not bothering to worry about the gun in her face, she opened her small purse and pulled out a cigarette and lighter. “I have no idea where Simon is, but we’d like a few words with him, too.” She shrugged and lit the cigarette, letting out a little puff of smoke in my direction.
“What do you mean, you don’t know where he is? He’s your leader, isn’t he?” I asked.
“Was,” she said, blowing out another puff of smoke in the shape of an O. I clenched my fists to avoid snapping her neck. “Not anymore. Not since he betrayed us and helped you lot out for some stupid reason.”
I shook my head. “He’s been little help to us.”
The woman waved the cigarette in her hand towards the sky with dramatic annoyance. “More than he’s done for us lately.”
I was baffled. Simon had gone into hiding not only from us, but his own people.
“Listen, Watcher. I don’t give two shits about you guys, and I could care less what happens to any one of you, but I’ll give you a little advice, anyways. Simon isn’t the kind of guy you trust with anything or anyone you care about. He’s the furthest thing from being honorable, and the last person you’d want to put your faith in. He has secrets—we all do—only his will tear you apart if you ever found out.” She shifted on her feet and added, “This isn’t the first time he’s betrayed his own, and it won’t be the last. So count yourself lucky you can’t find him.”
The Carbon turned on her pretty high heels and stalked away before I had a chance to stop her, a confident swagger in her gait as she left. Over her should, she said, “Oh, but if you do find him, tell him we’d like to talk, too.”
I took the long way home, needing the extra time to think. We had no leads, no information, and seemingly no hope left. I didn’t even want to consider what was happening to Caspian right now. What they could be doing to him, if he was still alive. He’s still alive, I told myself over and over again. A throbbing pounded at my temple, and my pulse quickened as that small bit of fear welling up inside of me became almost unbearable. I’d finally allowed myself to love, and it was ripped away so fast. He’s still alive.
I turned down a familiar street and found myself in front of the building I once called home. The side facade was dark and dingy, built under an apartment complex with the entrance hidden in a side alley. No signs indicated what it was, but every slim and vagabond in Cytos knew this place well.
This was no longer my home, but it was a familiar past threatening to resurface. Something dark and broken called to me from inside. So I pushed the door open and walked into the Underground.
The guards at the door recognized me without an introduction, and no one stopped me when I stalked through the crowd to where the Maestro oversaw a fight in progress.
The crowd was fueled up tonight, and the smell of alcohol and sweat filled my nostrils. Blood sprayed across the cage as a fighter’s head whipped back from a blow.
My chest clenched when I looked into the cage. A part of me thrilled at the sight, wanted more of this—more pain, more blood. But the other part of me wondered why I was here, what was I thinking?
The need for an escape won out, even if it was temporary. So I didn’t leave. A waitress strolled by, and I swiftly took two glasses from her tray, downing both before she noticed they were gone.
The Maestro glanced over his shoulder at me as I approached. “Back for more?” he asked.
“I need a fight, a good one this time,” I said. My fists clenched so hard my knuckles cracked under the pressure.
“The ladies are all done. I’m afraid there isn’t much left of either of them for another fight,” he said.
“So find someone else, anyone.” I shrugged. I didn’t care if I was the one to lay the beating or receive it. I had to get this feeling to go away, had to turn off the pain in my heart, silencing it with different kind of pain.
“I think we can find someone to fight you, if you’re up for the challenge.” The Maestro had a wicked smile on his face. One that would have had Jayla running… but I wasn’t Jayla, not tonight. Tonight, I was the Wraith. And the Wraith never ran from a fight.
JAYLA
“I’m not going to lie, Jay, there’s not much in here that’s very useful,” Em said from the table where she’d been pouring over everything Reyes had given us for the last two days. “She has a couple places listed as known hideouts for Simon we didn’t have. I’ll check them tonight. And a few files I’ve marked as… curious.”
“Curious how?” I drawled.
“A file on some orb type thing, its use and location unknown, but someone found it interesting enough to try and track down. And one on the King of Kuros’ son who’s been missing for five years,” Em said.
There were rumours of the missing prince throughout the country. King Maliki of Kuros had three sons, and the youngest had been gone for five years now. The King claimed he’d sent his son to a private school outside of Armestes, but no one had seen the boy in such a long time many believed it was a cover up. Not to mention the only place outside of Armestes was the United Isles across the sea from Kuros, but it wasn’t a place that welcomed outsiders anymore.
“None of that will help us get Caspian back,” I said.
“No, it won’t.”
I sighed. Two weeks… it’d been two weeks, and we were exactly where we started when we first got back. We couldn’t enter the Void even if we somehow managed to commission a shuttle to take us there—it was too heavily guarded—and even if we did, the base we’d gone to was well hidden, or so Simon had warned. So for now, we were grounded with no idea if Caspian was alive. He’s alive. And no leads to help us solve any of this. Even with Reyes’ information, we had nothing.
The bruises across my face, the split lip, and the pounding headache were slowly subsiding from the thrashing I’d taken a few nights ago in the Underground. I hadn’t won, nor had I expected to. Maybe a part of me hadn’t wanted to because the bruises and the blood felt better than the hurt deep inside. But as the physical pain subsided, the other kind returned.
“See what you can find,” I mumbled from my spot sprawled across the oversized chair. A glass of amber liquor, my second of the night, danced in my hand.
Em sighed. “We’ll find a way to get him back.”
I nodded, not really hearing or believing the words. Em had been trying for days now to reassure me things would be okay, but we both knew that was growing more and more unlikely.
She had been less than pleased when I’d nearly crawled into the apartment after the fight, covered head to toe in my own blood. She’d been ready to destroy whoever had done this to me until I told her it’d been my own choice. Then she’d been ready to destroy me.
Not surprisingly, she spared me no sympathy other than tossing me a bag of ice and mumbling something about painkillers in her bathroom. She knew what it meant that I’d stepped back in the arena, knew the memories I was trying to erase, and I was glad she said nothing.
