There were so many meanings to that one night that I don’t think I even caught them all. Especially not at the first breath of dawn, after we had watched the sun rise together with not much more on our minds than peace within ourselves and within each other.
I sat on the brink of the old stonewall, gazing out before me towards the east at a windswept field turned golden with the late touches of Summer’s strong hand. The lights of the city had created a silver glow intertwined with the rose hues of the morning, and lone stars could still be seen behind us, twinkling the last light of the night sky.
The city seemed so far away, almost making the thought of being one with the countryside truly real and not so much a dream. It used to be that way. It was always that way. Once, the moon lit the hills, not the false illumination of the steel bedded lights.
We said nothing to each other. I wondered if his thoughts drifted on the same path as mine. Perhaps he was remembering a time when the world was raw and beautiful. I was afraid to speak for ruining the precious moment. I wasn’t sure how many more would greet us in such a gentle fashion.
I stared at the scenery with a wistful, heart-felt expression. Someday, the world would be as it once was; as it was meant to be. If I could wish anything, I would wish that.
Arms gently wrapped around my waist, and I was startled from my thoughts. I turned to look into Thorn’s beautiful green eyes.
“You alright?” He asked, a bit of worry to his tone of voice, and I forced my expression back to normal, hoping he couldn’t see the remnants of tears glistening in my eyes.
“Of course,” I smiled, and turned back my gaze to the dawn. “Thorn…”
“Yes?”
I paused for a moment before continuing. “Do you think there are people born to save the world from what it has become?”
He was quiet for a moment. “I guess.”
Shaking my head, I turned to face him. “I think I’m one of those people.”
“You could be.”
I stared at him, shuddering inside from the apprehension in his voice. He couldn’t understand. Couldn’t understand the pain I went through every time I had to enter the City, every time I had to watch another eradication of the remaining forest by the Engineers. He didn’t see my cry all those times. He hadn’t seen my fall to my knees, sobbing in horror as I felt the pain of the trees as they were cut from their very roots.
I turned my head away, clacking my boots against the stone in an upbeat rhythm. I was ruining the mood.
“Rainia?”
I turned around, a smile on my face, a smile forced for his sake. “Yeah?”
“We should start heading back. They’ll realize we’ve been gone the night.”
“Yeah.”
Reluctantly I stood up upon the ledge, and he offered his hand to me. I clasped it, feeling a surge of joy as if somehow that certain gesture meant something very, very important.
Suddenly, we heard the echoes of an explosion. I whipped around, auburn hair flying, my eyes searching the horizon. Thorn was doing the same, and he let go of my hand, using both to hoist himself onto the ledge.
“What was that?” I asked.
Thorn shook his red locks. “I’m not sure. But it came from the direction of the City.”
We stared, and the faint outlines of smoke could be seen from the very horizon where the silver artificial light gleamed.
I could feel Thorn stiffen, and I glanced down at him. “What?”
His voice was grim. “The Atisans are attacking again.”
I narrowed my blue eyes. “How can they be? Rune hasn’t invaded the City for a long time now! The Atisans have no one to fight!”
Thorn didn’t say anything.
“Thorn!” I cried desperately, fear rising in my chest. “Who are they fighting?”
He didn’t look at me when he answered. “The City’s inhabitants. They’re eradicating the poor. I’d heard rumors about this, but I never thought it would ever happen.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “They’re killing innocent people? Of their own City?” I almost shouted in disbelief.
Thorn grabbed my hand, but this time it was tight and urgent. “We should go.” He pulled me off the ledge and we hurried back towards the old farmhouse. After we descended the stone slabs of the Walk Wall, Thorn started sprinting. I followed close at his heels, but for a moment I stopped, looking back towards the City. The grass beneath my feet was wet with dew as surely as the City slums were wet with the blood of its inhabitants.
My hair billowed gently behind me from a soft, unnatural breeze. I could smell fire and oil in the air. Unconsiously I touched the quartz stone that hung at my neck, fury burning within my very soul.
“Rainia! Hurry up!” Thorn’s voice echoed in the horrid wind, and I turned my back on the dawn and ran to catch up with him.
~To be Continued...~