Claire and Savannah tripped through the darkness that was barely brightened by the light shining from Claire’s watch face that Savannah held in front of them. Claire examined her left shoulder with her right hand, feeling for a possible dislocation.
“Setting Ecko’s hair on fire—no one saw that coming,” Claire said, trying to distract herself from the mounting pain in her shoulder.
“It was easier than fighting with her,” Savannah said, trying not to remember the altercation. She still carried the nauseating smell of burning hair and flesh on her.
“And really, she deserved it. Those extensions were criminal. They needed to be put out of their misery.” They both laughed weakly, one in too much pain and the other too scared to laugh with any feeling.
“Claire, do you know where you’re going?” Savannah didn’t want to ask, but they had been jogging along for quite some time, sometimes turning around and going back the way they had come.
“I’m trying to head upwards. It’s getting cooler.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” Savannah said. She was just as hot and exhausted as she had been in the cramped cell.
“Claire, tell me about Zhimeya.”
“Do you need a distraction?” Claire guessed.
“More than you know,” she answered.
“The best way to describe it is that it is much less extreme than what you are used to.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, because it is smaller than Earth, most of Zhimeya has the same type of weather—warm and mild most of the time. Only the highest mountains at the most extreme poles get any kind of snow. Because the weather is so uniform everywhere you go, there aren’t as many different species of plants and animals. Earth is all extremes—weather, terrain, flora, fauna, even humans. It’s not like that here.
“That’s why our people have been able to live so peaceably for thousands of years. We live in close-knit tribes—communities instead of countries. We’ve always had very similar religions and languages too. Religion is a large part of our world, as well.
“Of course, lately, that has all changed. Everything is in upheaval,” Claire explained. Savannah walked along quietly, trying to picture a whole new world existing just above her head.
“Earth has been coveted since its discovery. You come from a place that is not only full of beautiful and mysterious things but most likely carried our savior.”
“Ryen told me that Gideon claims he wants to protect Earth and to let your people worship there too.”
“Yeah, right,” Claire said sarcastically. “Gideon has always been a megalomaniac. I assume he wants the planet for himself.”
“How can one person take over a whole planet? Almost every country on Earth has a standing army. It would be impossible!”
“Gideon must have something that would give him the upper hand. A weapon, maybe? I don’t know. Before we left for Earth, he was trying to drum up support for an invasion, though he wouldn’t call it that. Surprisingly, many Tribunal members agreed with him. And that is really all it would take, a vote from the Tribunal to start preparations for war. Their tribes would abide by their decision.”
“They’d just follow blindly? What makes a Tribunal vote so powerful?”
“It’s the most sacred of honors to become a Tribunal member. Only the most infallible men or women are elected. They represent the very best of us, or they are supposed to. Gideon has obviously found a way to corrupt the incorruptible. No one would believe it—a corrupt Tribunal! It’s never happened before.”
“No one will stand up against a Tribunal vote?”
“There has never been a need. But when it comes to something of this magnitude, I would greatly hope that not everyone would go along peacefully.”
They were silent again, hurrying along passageways. Before long, Savannah needed to hear Claire’s voice again. It was a comforting sound.
“So let’s say we do find our way out of our present situation. What will happen to me?” Savannah asked tentatively.
“Let’s not talk about it right now, Savy. I don’t want to give you anything more to worry about,” Claire hedged.
“I want to know, Claire.”
Claire sighed.
“As the laws stand now, you wouldn’t be allowed into any tribal society. First, you are human. I assume most people would be afraid of you. Second, you are what we call Unnamed. At birth, we are claimed by a tribe and marked. Since you have not been claimed by a tribe, you would be exiled with all the criminals of our world who have had their tribal name revoked and lost their marks.”
“You’re right. That was one more thing I didn’t need to worry about,” Savannah agreed.
“Things will work out; I know they will,” Claire said resolutely. Savannah had no choice but to believe in Claire’s conviction.
“You know, your talents would be in very high demand here. You could teach art in any university. Zhimeya has never made much time for art and music. The ancients painted and composed, but for the last few thousand years, we have focused solely on scientific pursuits. Now that I have been to Earth, I feel like we have wasted a lot of our time. I have seen some beautiful things there.”
“Me too,” Savannah said, feeling her first pangs of homesickness.
“Would that be something you would like to do? Teach us art and teach us about your world?”
“Yes, I would.” Savannah almost laughed at the idea of her standing in front of an alien race as a teacher instead of a prisoner.
“Good. We will survive this, a tribe will claim you, and we will all live happily ever—” Claire paused and then thrust Savannah back into the dirt wall with her good arm. “Quiet!” Claire whispered.
They both stood silently and listened to heavy footsteps coming from behind them. A dim light appeared at the end of the long passage they were pressed against.
“Run!” Claire whispered again and shot into the darkness. Savannah followed as fast as she could. They ran into the black, their footsteps too loud against the earthen floor. Even though Savannah’s whole body felt feverishly hot from running, she could tell that the air around her was cooling. They must be near the surface.
A set of metal stairs finally materialized ahead of them, which led them up to a door. Savannah felt a gleeful surge of relief, which vanished when she saw Claire debating on whether to push through the door that was now in front of them. With the footsteps drawing closer, Claire shook her head and pushed it open.
It was almost too cold in the white marble hallway. The lights were too bright and harsh. They were too exposed. For one wild second, Savannah wanted to run back into the dark tunnels and hide among the recesses. But Claire shut the door, and it almost vanished into the wall—there was no handle on this side.
Claire stood frozen looking up and down the deserted hall. “This way, I guess,” she decided.
They ran down the curving marble hallways which ended at a hopelessly locked door.
“Come on,” Claire said, pulling Savannah back the way they came. They ran the length of the hallway again, but it wasn’t empty anymore. Both women stopped dead. A tall, handsome man covered in wet, shining blood blocked the hallway. Savannah stared transfixed at the empty black space where one of his eyes should have been. He pressed a finger to his earpiece.
“Found them,” he said. Claire placed herself in front of Savannah and stared down the frightening man.
“Dai,” Claire said.
“Claire,” he smiled back.
“English please.”
“As you wish,” he said with a heavy accent Savannah had a hard time understanding. “I was just looking for you. The guards put you in the wrong cell, and I was on my way to put you in the right one. We are all working very hard today. Mistakes are bound to happen.”
“Of course,” Claire said sarcastically.
“But it turned out for the best. I happened upon a fascinating conversation. Emani and Ryen were together plotting against Gideon.”
“Whose blood is that?” Claire whispered urgently. Savannah felt her hand fly to her heart, which was threatening to stop beating.
“All you need to know is that it isn’t mine,” Dai said simply.
“Whose blood is that?” Claire screamed. Dai’s face twisted into a cold sneer.
“You wouldn’t dare hurt Ryen. He’s too valuable to Gideon!” Claire said in disbelief. “Tell me whose blood that is now!”
“You are in no position to be giving me orders, Claire,” Dai said dismissively. Two of Gideon’s guard came running down the opposite end of the great hallway. They were the same two that had brought Claire to Savannah’s cell.
“Take them to Gideon’s quarters. Do you understand? No more mistakes!” Dai barked. Savannah couldn’t understand him anymore. He was speaking in a strange tongue that sounded almost silky, like music but with a hard edge.
If that’s Ryen’s blood, if he’s gone, I have nothing left, Savannah thought numbly as she was pushed along. If Ryen were gone, she wouldn’t fear a death sentence. Death would allow her to be with her mother and Ryen soon.