CHAPTER TWO
I wiped the droplets of sweat that dripped down my face, and brought out my water bottle. I glanced at the little muddy water that sat at the bottom of the bottle and gulped it all down. That was it. I had about 8 hours until I died of thirst. There was no greater motivation for me to get to the Inlands than that. The fog brought about the Chaos that separated the poor from the rich. The rich built a new society, and figured out how to keep the fog away, which made them able to breathe in habitable air, drink clean water and eat edible food. Their society was called the Inlands, and those who lived there were called Inlanders.
The poor were banned from stepping foot into the Inlands which left them no choice but to face the wild and the dangers that lurked within it. The once green and bright fields was turned into a desert by the fog, laying waste to everything it touched. We had no choice but to breathe in the toxic air, drink murky waters, and eat poisonous food. The wastelands were called the Outlands, and the people who lived there were regarded as the Outlanders. I was an Outlander, and I'd survived every terrible thing that came my way. But I knew I couldn't survive in the Outlands any longer, my only option was to make it to the Inlands.
Separating the Inlands from the Outlands was a huge gate that stood about seventy feet tall. The Gate of Doom was surrounded by hundreds of guards that protected the Inlanders from invasion. A few feet from the gate was the Dome of Life, the Dome protected the Inlands from the Fog and the horrors that lied wait in it.
The guards patrolled the gates, guns and lasers on their arms as they paced. I gasped and hid quickly when the beacon came my way. I clutched my chest as I gasped loudly. I coughed, and splatters of blood fell to the sand. I wiped the blood away and wore my mask quickly so I wouldn't inhale any more of the toxic air. I was slowly dying, I knew if the thirst didn't kill me, the poisonous air would. I checked the oxygen tank in my backpack, I had about an hour and half before I ran out of oxygen.
I had to get in there no matter what. I gulped down the fury that slowly spread through my veins as I glanced at the patrolling guards. Beyond the Gate of Doom laid the man I'd sworn to kill, even if it meant dying myself. With my empty bottle of water, and my rotting lungs that spat out blood, I knew I had just hours left but I was too angry to die on my own. There was no way I could face Mom in the netherlands if I died without taking my revenge. I glanced at the Gate again and tightened my grip on my bag.
"I need to get in there. I have to find him," I mumbled.
I pulled my knife from my sock, and tightened my grip on it.
I paused when I heard the rolling of tires headed my direction, and I crouched behind the car scraps quickly. I stared at the incoming sandstorm headed my way. The deep rumbling sounds made me realize it wasn't a sandstorm but a truck, and by the engine rumble; a huge one. I hid deeper so I wouldn't be seen as I watched the truck slowly become visible. It was a huge truck like I'd thought, and I had only ever caught a glimpse of it once. I furrowed my eyebrows in concentration as I tried to get a clearer vision of the sign in front of the truck.
I gasped loudly when I saw the symbol of the two-horned rat. It was the Terrors symbol. Anger filled my heart as I started at the incoming truck. Bile grew in my throat and I spat it out.
The Terrors.
A group of mercenaries who came to the Outlands to scavenge, kidnap and kill the Outlanders. They were known throughout the land for the destruction they brought with them. The Terrors took everything from me. The only thing that kept me alive till that moment was my thirst for revenge against the person who took the only family I had away from me.
The truck skidded to a stop, and after a loud bang, I saw a figure running away from the truck. It was impossible to see who it was, but I'd recognize that purple hair anywhere.
Rais.
I had gone on a scavenger hunt a few times with him, and he was a reliable acquaintance but we'd lost touch a while ago.
"What is he doing?" I wondered. There was nothing but wasteland for miles to come.
The sand settled, two men jumped from the front of the truck, and chased after him. I saw the fear in his eyes, and my heart sank. Rais and I had faced danger many times, but I had never seen him that afraid of something before. It dawned on me he'd been kidnapped by the Terrors and was being taken to the Inlands. I folded my fists in rage and held my temple when the ringing in my ear got louder.
"Freeze!" A Terror yelled, but Rais kept running.
It happened so fast, I barely had time to register what had happened. All I could see the next second was Rais slumping on the floor, a fist sized hole in his chest as he went limp. I covered my mouth quickly, afraid they'd hear me breathing. I caught my breath and tried to arrange my thoughts. Rais was someone I always depended on whenever we went to out to scavenge, and he was someone I'd consider a friend but I could not afford to think about him when I had my own problems.
This was the moment I prayed for. A chance to get into the Inlands and get my revenge. I couldn't afford to lose the opportunity.
The truck.
The Terrors were a few meters away from the truck, their gazes on Rais' dead body. Rais had had my back numerous times, and even as he laid dead on the wasteland, he had my back too.
"Thank you, Rais," I mumbled and ran to the truck as fast as I could.
I paused to stare at the number of captives in the truck. Their bodies shook in fear, as they stayed blindfolded. They heard the gun go off but didn't know what was happening. I threw my bag and helmet under the truck so I could blend in with them. Quickly, I climbed on the truck and sat the furthest away from the door so I wouldn't be caught.
I heard footsteps. Heavy, and unrelenting.
They were coming back.
My breath hitched as I ripped off my sleeve, tying it across my eyes. The material was thin allowing me to see through it. My pulse hammered as I tucked my hands behind my back forcing myself to stay still.
I willed myself not to move, and paused my breath. The last thing I wanted to do was stand out. I clasped my hands behind me tighter to keep me from moving, and I put my head down.
"I wanted him alive!" one of the Terrors yelled in annoyance.
What if I was caught? What if they realized I wasn't with them in the first place? What if they know I sneaked onto their truck? My heart beat faster in my chest and I was scared they'd hear the heavy thumps.
"What a waste, he would have earned us so much Points," the other said.
I squeezed my wet palms together; it was getting harder to keep them together since they were so sweaty.
A heavy boot landed on the truck bed, and I swallowed hard.
A loud clang broke through the air, and the whimpers got louder as the captives—me included, shivered in fear.
"If any of you even think about escape like Mr. Dead Hero over there, I would make you wish the Fog caught you first," he threatened, and I have no doubt in my heart that he meant every word he said.
A girl beside me slowly rocked her body, her lips trembled as she mouthed incoherent words. Part of me wanted to hug her and assure her everything was going to be okay but I was worried I was going to get caught, and killed like Rais. I watched the Terror quietly from behind my blindfold as he glanced around, making sure we understood his words, and when his gaze stopped on me, my heart dropped to my stomach.
He walked towards me slowly and with each step he took, my heart raced faster.
Did I stand out too much from the rest of the captives? I could feel his suspicious gaze on me, and I rocked silently, my lips trembling, mimicking the young girl beside me. It wasn't all an act, I truly was petrified. I couldn't die, not when I was this close to getting to the Inlands. Not when I was so close to finding him and getting my revenge.
Did he find out l was an intruder?
Each step he took towards me was slow.
Deliberate.
Like a predator walking towards its prey.
My pulse pounded in my ears, drowning out every other sound but his approach. Sweat slicked down my palms as I fought the urge to run. But there was nowhere to go.
I was trapped.
He stopped in front of me, and his heavy-laden boots stared me right in the eye. I stopped breathing, my heart coming to an agonizing slow stop.
"Topper, we are out of time. They are expecting us," the other Terror called.
"Okay," he said and turned away.
I sighed in relief, as my heart resumed beating.
"Wait," he said and I looked up.
He turned slowly towards me.
"Something's not right," he said.
If the Fog wasn't the cause of my death, a heart attack surely will.
His heavy footsteps made me have heart palpitations. I gasped when he removed my blindfold and I blinked rapidly to the light. Topper's face came into focus and I moved away. His beards reminded me of a creepy homeless guy I once saw. His brown eyes held mine, and I could see a mix of emotions in them. Confusion, surprise and... lust.
He moved closer to me, his breath on my lips, and I almost gagged in disgust. I shrunk away in complete revulsion when a slab of spit moved up my skin as he licked my neck.
"Hmm," his eyes glazed over with arousal as he stared at me, and I didn't know which emotions I felt stronger; disgust or anger.
"You are gonna be mine," he declared.
I dug my nails into my skin enough to draw blood to keep my hands from doing something I knew I was gonna regret.
"No, we are gonna make an exchange for Points, remember?" the other Terror called out.
Points was the currency used in the City of Illyt, the higher the Points, the higher the class. The Outlanders barely had enough Points to survive, I had zero Points. The only options I'd had for the past couple of months were to scavenge or to steal and since there was hardly anything to scavenge in the Outlands, I mostly did the latter.
Topper ignored him and sniffed my hair. "Not this one. Mine."
"With those Points, you'd think you could afford a toothbrush or something," I spat, my voice trembled, not from fear, but from disgust.
A low chuckle came from a side of the truck across from me, and I briefly glanced at the man. He was blindfolded like the rest of us, and a side of lip was curled up. His black hair fell across his face making it difficult to get a look at his face. Topper raised his gun and hit me across the face with it. I collapsed on the floor and the ringing in my ears got louder. I grunted in pain as the blood trickled down my face, blurring my vision. His boots made contact with my stomach, as he hit me continuously. I dug my nails deeper in my skin and cried out in pain.
I couldn't block the attacks because I was 'tied up'. If they knew I wasn't tied up like the others, they'd realize I snuck onto the truck and it wouldn't be long before I met Rais in the netherlands. I spat out blood as the pain ran through my body. Topper grabbed a fistful of my hair and sat me up.
"Outland bitch!"
He ripped open my jacket and tore it away from my body. I moved away from him, flailing my legs but he held me down. My back hit something—a trembling kid, too scared to move.
"You hit like a girl," I sneered.
"You're gonna regret that," Topper spat.
He grabbed my legs and pulled me closer to him. I glanced around the truck for help, but they were all terrified like I was, if not more.
"Help!" I yelled at the other Terror, who smirked in response.
I didn't realize how deep in shit I was until that moment. The Terrors were monsters who killed anyone that stood in their way. There was really no difference between them and the Fog. It was stupid of me to think he would help me.
"Fog incoming!" the other Terror yelled and the kids yelled out in fear.
Topper paused and stared out the truck. True to his words, I could make out the Fog heading in our direction through my bloodied vision. I saw a pair of menacing eyes stare at me from behind the Fog and my heart thumped loudly as I remembered the violet eyes that hunted me down the hallways. I blinked and it was gone. I wondered if I had imagined it.
"Damn it!" Topper yelled and turned to me.
"I'll see you soon," he stood and headed out the truck. He paused and glanced at the guy who had chuckled earlier before getting off.
"We gotta go before it catches up to us," Topper said and shut the door leaving us in darkness.
I bit my lip and groaned in pain as I held my stomach. My organs felt like they were on fire, and I wiped the blood away from my mouth.
"You okay?" a voice queried.
Even though he was blindfolded, I could feel his stare which made my hairs stood up. There was something off-putting about him. The other kids were too scared to form coherent words, but he seemed right at home like he had not just been taken by the Terrors. I grunted painfully as I tried to sit up. The truck was shrouded in darkness as it headed towards the Gate but a light seeped in through a little hole from the side of the truck.
I could hear the noises outside the truck getting louder as it screeched to a stop. I inhaled sharply when the pain shot up my body. I held my stomach and toppled over. Even breathing felt like a chore.
"Sneaking onto a Terror truck, should I call that bravery or stupidity?" the guy asked, and I stared in his direction.
"I don't know what you're talking about" I acted dumb but my heart skipped a beat.
I didn't come this far to be outed by a twat.
"Stupidity it is. A shame."
"Who are you?" I asked as I crawled silently to where he was.
"Me?" A chuckle escaped his lips, and a chill creeped up my body.
"Why, a fellow captive like you."
I brought out my knife I hid in my boot and held it to his throat.
"Now listen here. I don't know who you are, or where you crept up from, but I did not fight tooth and nail to escape to the Outlands just to be outed by someone like you," I said.
"Someone like me? Whatever do you mean?" his tone was playful, which grated on my nerves. I could feel his smirk and I pierced his Adams apple a little with the knife.
"Someone who doesn't know how it feels to have survived every fucking thing that is out there creeping in the Fog. Someone who hasn't lost loved ones, including themselves to the Chaos. I didn't come this far to let it all be ruined by you."
There was silence for a moment, and the truck started moving. We were almost in the Inlands, and there was no way he was going to take that from me, not when I was this close. The light seeped in more, brightening the room and touched his face. He was still blindfolded but the material was as light as mine so I knew he could easily see through it. That was how he knew I snuck on the truck; he'd seen me through his blindfold.
He searched my eyes carefully, his smirk never leaving his face. It irked me to no end, and I felt unease as he stared at me. Though I had a knife to his throat, he did not look scared. In fact, it felt like I was playing into his hands and he was the one in control of the situation, not me. I didn't like that one bit.
"I have a knife to your throat," I informed, surprised at his lack of fear.
He smirked.
"Oh, I am aware."
I pressed the blade harder and drew blood. "I could kill you right now," I threatened but he didn't seem fazed.
He blinked up at me and tilted his head slightly. I could feel his piercing stare from behind the blindfold.
"Have you ever taken a life before?" He asked, his voice almost playful and I froze.
I had done a number of things to survive; backstabbing, betrayal, cheating, but not once had I taken a life, at least not human life.
He tightened his hand around mine on the knife.
"It's easy, all it takes is one swish and I'm silent," he smiled.
"What are you doing?" I tried to remove my hand from his but he was stronger.
He let me go when he saw me struggle.
"Don't bark when you can't bite, Princess."
I moved away and glared at the stranger in front of me.
Who the hell was he and why the hell did he annoy me so much?
The truck skidded to a stop, and I hurriedly hid the knife back in my boots. I'd almost forgotten who my enemies were. Sure, the strange guy stepped on my nerves but he was not a Terror. At that moment, I had two Terrors I needed to get away from as soon as possible and find him. I'd come this far, and nothing would stand in my way, not even an animal like Topper. The door opened and I squinted my eyes to the sudden light. It was my chance to escape.
I ran to the door and jumped off.
"Hey!" Topper yelled but I failed to look back or falter in my steps as I ran faster.
I could see Rais a few feet in front of me, smiling and urging me to run faster. I increased my pace when I heard Topper's heavy breath behind me. I didn't have time to take in my surroundings, all I knew was I had to escape before he caught me. A sharp pain on my thigh made me lose my step and I fell. I yelled when I felt the crushing pain as the blood flowed out of the bullet sized hole on my thigh.
"You are gonna wish you didn't do that," Topper held the gun to my face as he stood over me.
This was it. Death stared at me in the face, yet again.
"Dane wants her alive," the other Terror said as he ran up to us.
Topper's finger moved dangerously close to the trigger as he pointed the gun to my head. I knew I was going to die one day, but I had made a vow not to meet Death until I had my revenge. It was a deal I had with her and I wondered if she wasn't gonna honor it.
"He wants her. Alive," there was a warning tone in his voice as he stared at Topper.
Topper stared at me in anger, the blood gushing to his face as he breathed hard. "Fuck!"
He grabbed me and threw over his shoulder as he walked back to the truck. I hit his back with all my strength but it didn't move him, not one bit. He threw me on the ground and walked away. I applied pressure on the wound, and grimaced.
"What are you gonna do to me?" I asked.
"That remains to be known," I looked up to see the guy from earlier. He crouched down and held my gaze.
"Welcome to the Inlands, Princess."
His fingers brushed my face. "Let's see how long you last."
It was the last words I heard before I succumbed to the darkness.