The Badlands was a cold a dangerous place to live. Veil was not fond of the way her world worked, but she knew she was better off than most. She didn't have to work in the Dollhouse and she wasn't a cog; she was free. For that she was grateful, it allowed her liberty to do things such as her current task.
Veil smiled as she neared her destination: the cog fields. She slipped away from her parent's home earlier, walking in the heat with the sun beating down. Veil sighed, this was her exercise for the day. When she got closer Veil felt relieved. She was right on time.
The cogs were taking their short noon break. They all congregated under the few trees that dotted the area. Veil walked through the crowd, ignoring the stares some cast her way. Others were too busy shoving food and water down their throats. Veil wrinkled her nose. She could hardly call what they ate "food". Cogs were provided the bare minimum to keep going thanks to their generous baron. The smell of sweat pervaded the air. Veil's clothes were already sticking to her body. She considered giving up until she found who she came for. A young woman slumped against a tree trunk holding her face in her hands.
"Jade!"
Veil's friend looked up. "Veil?" They hugged and Veil knelt beside her. "What are you doing here?"
"Helping you. Yesterday you told me you were having headaches." Veil began digging through her satchel.
Jade's brow furrowed. "Yes.."
Veil produced a tincture from her bag. "Drink this."
"You took this from your father?" Jade's blue eyes widened.
"Yes, it'll ease the pain, take it." Jade obeyed. Her face twisted at the bitter taste of the tonic.
"Thank you." Jade drank some water to erase the taste. "When I told you my head ached I hardly meant for you to make the journey out here to ease my suffering."
"You didn't have to, I'm your friend. It's the least I could do." Veil felt Jade's forehead. Her friend was sweating like everyone else but her temperature was high. Jade's pale skin was slightly red. "Jade, you're burning up. Have you eaten anything?"
"A little," Jade gestured to her small piece of bread. "I haven't been able to keep anything down."
"You shouldn't be out in the heat of the day bleeding your fingers raw. You should be resting."
"Taking a day off to rest isn't exactly an option." Jade said, smiling weakly.
Veil's face was hot, not from the heat, but from her anger. She wanted nothing more than to bring her friend home and tuck her in bed so she could recover. Jade would have to look like she's on her deathbed for the clippers to let her go. Even then they'd ask her to cut one more damn plant before she passed away. Both ladies looked at the exhausted workers surrounding them.
"I'm glad I caught you. I was afraid I wouldn't make it in time." Veil said.
Jade sighed. "Be glad you're not one of us Veil."
Veil nodded. She was glad of her station, but she resented that it was provided by Quinn, their baron. Veil was an orphan, she knew they probably worked themselves to death on this very field. "I'll come by later to see how you're doing."
Clippers, Quinn's enforcers, walked through the cogs, making sure they weren't causing trouble even on their break. Veil didn't look away as some made eye contact with her. They all had the same cold distant look in their eye. Lives meant nothing to them.
"When do you think it happens?" She mused.
Jade followed her gaze to the clippers. "What?"
"When they start having a complete disregard for life? Quinn gets them as children and he warps their minds. He breaks something in them."
"We're all broken." Jade replied. "They're too far gone now."
The clippers supervising them were older than the two girls. Veil knew clipper life expectancy was low, but while they were alive they made sure to be absolute brutes. Veil looked at one, standing slightly far away. He had short black hair and fine brown skin. He looked lost in thought.
"That's Sunny." Jade said noticing Veil's attention to him. "He's the most deadly clipper. Everyone says he'll become Regent when Waldo's time is done. Makes sense since he was his colt."
Veil smiled. "Here I thought you didn't have time for chin wagging as you toiled away out here."
"We have to find some way to pass the time." Jade smiled back.
A horn blew. "Alright you worthless cogs. Back to work!" Several other clippers echoed this statement. Veil jumped at the sounds of whips cracking.
"You need to go." Jade rose and held her head. Veil steadied her. "I move too fast."
"I wish you weren't moving at all." Veil grumbled as they walked toward the endless rows of opium.
"Leave Veil, I don't want you in trouble. Please," Jade pleaded with her blue eyes.
"Alright. I will be by later to check on you. Tomorrow at the latest." Veil gave her friend's hands a tight squeeze before leaving.
She didn't make it ten paces before a clipper stepped in front of her, halting her progress. He stood taller than her, his muscles rippling every time he moved. His skin was a darker brown than her own, and his voice was deep and booming. "Where do you think you're going?"
"Home." Veil tried to step around him but he blocked her.
"You will return to the fields with the other laborers or I'll be forced to mark up that pretty little body of yours." He detached the whip from his side.
"Let me pass. I don't work here, and I'm not a cog." Veil said forcefully glaring in his eyes. He grabbed her arms and Veil cried out. "Unhand me!"
"Veil!" Jade ran towards them but was cut off by other clippers who gathered to watch the spectacle.
"Not a cog?" The man sneered, laughing as Veil squirmed in his arms. "What are you then? A doll?" He trailed two fingers down the side of her face. Veil pushed his hand away and he pulled her closer. "A beautiful one too. What are you doing away from the dollhouse at this time of day?"
"Dax you know a doll's busiest at night." One of his friends jeered.
Dax laughed. "Then I'll provide some entertainment until then. I would seek your services." He began dragging her away. Veil screamed and Jade tried in vain to get past the other clippers. They laughed at the sight of Veil fighting against him.
"Pass her to me when you're done."
"Be gentle with her Dax."
"She'll wish she was a cog when you're through with her."
Dax took his time, enjoying the attention. Veil kicked at the air and punched his chest. He let her go and she fell to the ground, causing more laughter. Veil's hair was loose from it's binding. She pushed it out of her face and saw cogs starting to look their way. Veil grabbed a nearby rock and stood, glaring at Dax. The other clippers circled them.
He crossed his beefy arms. "Just what are you going to do with that?"
Veil hurled it at him and the rock hit his arm. She didn't think it did little more than sting him until she saw a thin line of blood. Surprised laughs were heard from the clippers. Dax wiped the blood away. "You little bitch."
Dax started toward her and Veil grabbed another rock. She was about to throw another one when a hand caught her arm. Veil looked back to see Sunny gripping her forearm. She tried to move her arm but couldn't. Sunny's grip was like iron. He moved her wrist and the rock dropped.
Sunny moved to her side, looking at Dax. "What's going on here?"
"This bitch refuses to go to work. I was going to teach her a lesson."
"I told you I'm not a cog." Veil spat. Sunny's eyes flicked to her, surprised at the force behind her words. "I'm not a doll either."
"It's true." Jade said behind two clippers. They parted so she could be seen. "She was visiting me, that's all. Veil doesn't work the fields."
Veil wanted to run over and hug Jade for sticking up for her. The herbs had yet to start working, Veil knew Jade wasn't at her strongest yet she spoke up on her behalf. Not that it would do much good. The clippers would have their way with her as well.
"I don't believe you." Dax growled.
"This can be solved easily." Sunny took Veil's wrist again and displayed her hand for all to see. Sunny ran his fingers over it, sending little bolts of electricity up Veil's arm. "Her hands are smooth, and non-calloused. No evidence of working in the fields."
Sunny released Veil's hand. She looked at him, marveling at how her body responded to his touch. Sunny's black eyes stayed on Dax, who grunted. "A doll then?"
"Does she look like a doll to you?" Sunny's voice held hints of condescension and impatience. Was there also sarcasm? It was hard to tell. His facial expression was as blank and emotionless as his voice.
"I'm neither." Veil said firmly. Veil wanted to rub her aching arms but didn't, she wouldn't let the clippers see how they hurt her. "I'm free."
Dax and the other clippers scoffed. Veil didn't care what they thought. She knew who she was and why she came. Veil certainly didn't want any clipper defending her. She held her head high and tried to walk away. Veil came to a stop in front of two clippers who didn't move. She got in their faces.
"Move out of my way." Veil put as much command into her voice as she could. She knew she looked ridiculous. They were both several inches taller than her.
"Nathan, Lysander." Sunny said.
She looked back at him but his eyes were on his fellow clippers. They looked at Dax for direction. Sunny turned toward him, squaring his shoulders. Despite Dax being taller and buffer than Sunny he stiffened. Veil and Jade's eyes widened. Jade did say Sunny was going to become the next Regent. How lethal was he that the mere setting of his shoulders caused bigger opponents to falter?
Dax nodded at Nathan and Lysander who parted for Veil to pass. Jade was on her heels. After a quick hand squeeze they parted. Veil grabbed her sack and quickly left the fields, not looking back. Which is why she didn't see Sunny's eyes on her receding figure.