Page 29 of Riftborne
“This way,” he called as he neared a different door on the opposite side of the room. Shivers ran down my spine. I stood motionless.
Huh?
“I was going to show you through the Compound. Aren’t you eager to see what your future looks like?” He chided.
I truly wasn’t.
My mind briefly considered bolting out the exterior door, but I found myself trudging over to him. I sighed heavily, audibly. Civility was the goal today, but my strength was being greatly tested. Insulting him with my breath was the least I could do to stay true to my heart.
He handed me the stack of papers. “Some light reading.” He smirked and pulled the door open, “After you.” He motioned for me to walk ahead. I hesitated as I had before in the greenhouse.
“Do you have some aversion to doorways? Go on.” He scoffed and tapped the back of my boots with his own, causing me to stumble forward.
Prick.
My heart was racing as I stepped onto a balcony overlooking the Compound below. Staircases were fixed in each corner, traveling all the way to the top floor. The walls were dark charcoal, much like the General’s quarters. Down below, the space was vast, stretching out through the entirety of the block.
Tables rested in uniform lines throughout the mess hall, overrun with members of the Guard socializing, eating, studying. I noted a closed off section to the right.
He must have noticed my gaze wandering. “Those are the on-campus training gyms,” he remarked.
My eyes widened, taking in just how many people were filtering through the expanse below. Eventually, this would be the place where I spent the majority of my time. It still didn’t seem real.
“As I said before, you won’t be training here any time soon. Don’t start crying.” He smiled wickedly before whispering, “I can’t have you accidentally incinerating my guards, now can I?”
I shot him a look of contempt, but he was chuckling, clearly far too pleased with himself. One would have thought a General in the Guard would be more stoic. That would have been preferable.
My skin tingled at the feeling of his hand on my back, ushering me forward towards the staircase that led down to the social area. I lurched forward instinctively, getting out of range of his touch.
We made our way down the stairs, and he pointed for me to go left, a gesture that had me breathing a sigh of relief. The gates to the front entrance were just a few paces away.
“I’m actually off work tomorrow if you wanted to start earlier in the day,” I mumbled, remembering what Ma had said. Sitting around and dreading this all day might just be worse than getting it over with.
He twisted his lips.
“Meet me in the morning, 9:00 sharp. And don’t be late.”
As the words left his mouth, my attention was drawn to the front gates, where a familiar face drifted towards me. Deadly blue eyes, golden hair. His armor bore the symbol of the Guard–emerald serpents winding up the chest plate, mirroring my growing horror. My mouth turned bitter. My muscles tightened. I couldn’t breathe.
“Don’t make me repeat myself,” the General said with exasperation.
I couldn’t move. All I could do was stare.
The General’s gaze followed mine, confusion spreading over his face.
I had to get out of here.
“Yeah–I’ll be there,” I managed to mumble as I turned and hurried towards the gates.
It was the guard.
From the Dam.
The one who pulled the levers.
The one who killed my friends.
A burning began at the back of my eyes, blurring my vision. I broke into a sprint that didn’t stop until I made it to the apartment, my back hitting the door as it slammed shut behind me. My heart continued to race as the fears came tumbling back.
