Hellooooo.
So the good news is I'm still alive, so please don't kill me. Please.
This chapter though...took me forever to write.
No copyright infringement intended
Chapter 9
"Merla City" Jaryn had announced when they jumped off the hovercraft, now safely invisible behind yet another bar. It was late morning and the sun blared down as Jaryn led Helia through the streets of the city, box of bottles jostling merrily. Helia couldn't remember if he'd been here before, as it looked much like every other city he's ever been to. It was crowded, jaded, and anonymous, which troubled Helia greatly. This was not the Linphea he knew. Even Linphea's most dense cities echoed with the voices of nature. It wasn't difficult to feel it all around. Now, he could only feel a certain coldness, uncharacteristic of Linphea, the people barely smiled, and they moved at a sluggish pace. He knew something was definitely off, whether it involved Linphea's current monarch…he didn't know.
Helia followed Jaryn into the outskirts of the city, and further still. Although Helia felt magnitude of Linphea's conditions, he was still wary of Jaryn. He still couldn't tell if this rebellion was real or not. They walked until they came to some kind of mansion. Helia tilted his head back and surveyed the four storey building. It was old, no doubt, but beautiful still, with vines twisting its way into the architecture. Great trees peeked from behind the mansion, and more were scattered around the grassy property like sentinels. Shrubbery lined the pathway leading to the front door. Helia couldn't help but notice that while it was all very grand, there was a peculiar dullness to it. The same dullness, he observed in the city. Is all of Linphea like this?
"…and that's how I got all these free drinks." Helia pulled himself into reality as Jaryn ended his story. When had he started talking? Helia thought.
"Quite a story," Helia said quickly, as he wracked his brain trying to remember.
Jaryn smiled, and started talking again, unaware that Helia wasn't paying attention. They came up to the front door, a large mahogany one, carved in intricate twists and knots. Jaryn tilted his head toward the door.
"Go on, then," he said simply, as if Helia was a regular guest coming for tea.
Helia stood blinking at the door. This was it. An escape. A release. Just behind that door. He reached for the gilded handle and slowly pushed the handle down. The door opened with a moan that echoed within the mansion walls. Jaryn stepped in, and Helia followed closely. It was quiet, as if no one lived here. Helia's eyes darted round, looking for signs of life. He saw, at each side of the foyer, a flight of stairs with an ornate balustrade that curve up to the first floor. From the ceiling, hung a glittering chandelier. He could see his reflection on the porcelain floor. Helia had imagined a rebellion base to hidden the shadows, quiet and unassuming, not this great big building that was fit for royalty. What the hell is this? Helia thought.
"This way," Jaryn said as he opened a door to his right, adjacent to the front door. Inside revealed a flight of small wooden stairs. Jaryn set the box of bottles down and started up the steps. A sliver of panic ran through Helia. Why couldn't they take the other stairs? He should leave, his mind was saying. But his body moved of its own accord, and he found himself climbing the stairs, each step complaining under their weight. Helia felt as though he was climbing to his death. But that's what you wanted, right? He tried to focus his thoughts elsewhere, and found himself thinking of Flora, of what she might say if she were here, if she knew what he was doing, what he was thinking of. Then again, if she were here, he wouldn't be. They'd be somewhere safe, somewhere peaceful. He'd be writing poetry, and she'd be reading. He'd reach for her hand her and it would be there, solid and real. He felt an ache in his throat, and rubbed a hand across his eyes. He took in a deep breath and push his thoughts aside. Now is not the time. He needed to stay focused, just in case.
At the sound of Helia's deep exhale, Jaryn turned around. "You alright, man?"
" Yeah, I'm fine. Just how many more steps do we have climb anyway?" he asked before Jaryn could probe any further.
"Welcome to the third floor," Jaryn exclaimed, "There's nothing special about it. It's just the third floor, that's all."
Helia said nothing as he followed Jaryn down the wide hallway. They passed several doors. Some with decoration, some without. But still no sign that people lived in this building. They stopped at the last door. Jaryn knocked loudly but no answer came. He tried again, "Scarlett, you in there?" Jaryn put his ear close to the door listening for a reply.
"Who's Scarlett?" he asked, his voice low, as if saying the name was dangerous.
Jaryn hadn't answered, only knocked again. Maybe he hadn't heard. Helia was about to ask again when Jaryn opened the door. It was a study, complete with shelves of books, a desk and guest seating. "Have a seat," said Jaryn as he took Helia's bag. "I'll go find Scarlett and send her up." As he turned to leave, Helia put a hand on his shoulder, "Wait! Who the hell is Scarlett?"
"She's our leader." And with that he left closing the door behind him.
Helia sat down heavily on the couch at the far end of the room. He set his elbows on his knees and covered his face with his hands. His head was flooded with doubt. He wanted to leave. He wanted to go back to his lonely apartment. He wanted to…he didn't know what he wanted. He was so sure that he wanted to escape, but now in this confusion, he simply didn't know. Eventually, he found himself pacing the length of the room, lost in daydreams of Flora, lost in would-be's and maybe's. Suddenly the door flew opened, and shut again. Helia stood in front of the door, rooted to the spot, mouth agape, eyes wide.
"I'm sorry to keep you waiting so-…" she stopped abruptly, her expression mirroring his.
Helia felt his pulse race, his breath stick in his throat. There she was. Right in front him. Bronze skin, brown hair, green eyes. That voice…
He would've thought she was an illusion, a ghost, were it not for the shocked expression she wore.
"Flora?"
Sooo yeah, what did you think?Did this chapter suck?
Please tell me if the story starts to suck so that I can go die in shame.
But for now 'til the next chapter...if you want one.
