New Short Story
The Machine
I’m feeling the need to share with you all my most recent story. It’s a short tale of a Princess that gets called to an intergalactic war and decides to go on the run.
I’m excited to see your comments so please let me know what you think! I’ll be posting the second story in the series in the coming weeks so watch this space!
The Machine
Chapter One
Who I should have been
My father is the king. It was decreed a thousand or more years ago that our world would be governed by one true soul and they would be chosen by bloodline. Of course, that was decided by our strange ancestors who believed in space travel and peaceful life in the universe. We had evolved past that now. No longer did we create vast ships to explore the outer reaches of our solar system. We focussed our scientific energies inwards, examined our own mortality and found ways to extend our lives by hundreds of years. Only the royal bloodline got the full benefit of the new technology. It was seen as too dangerous to share planet wide.
For all these reasons and more I felt my involuntary recruitment to the war was unfair. I above all others should have the option of saying no. I should not be dragged kicking and screaming from my charmed life and tossed into battle at such a young age.
The day had started out so well. I was in the gardens, taking a stroll through the perfumed air and enjoying the temperature modified sun. A clear shield protected the area, it allowed only a perfect amount of heat and light to penetrate through to the flowers and trees below. It was my favourite place to go when the city became too overwhelming. With its advanced transport vessels that shot through the air like bullets and the pavements that moved beneath my feet, the speed of it all never failed to make me feel dizzy. I would have preferred to live in a place that was gardens in its entirety but despite my searching, I have never found such a place.
I rested upon the wall that skirted the outer edge of the fountain, a beautiful creation filled with sparkling water that was gently squirted into the air where it caught the sun and dazzled like diamonds before sprinkling back into the main basin. The sound was therapeutic and I could often close my eyes and shy away from the noise of the world outside the shield.
I heard footsteps from a distance and recognised the shuffling walk as belonging to my betrothed, Venerath. We were to meet to discuss our upcoming nuptials. I was clearly accustomed to the finer things and my wedding would be no exception. As I sat in the garden six of my maidens were in the sewing room designing and creating what would be the most stunning dress ever seen. Even the city folk were excited to see a royal wedding, it had been a century since my father’s ceremony and I had only just come of age. They had waited long enough and I intended to make it spectacular.
Venerath sat beside me and took my hand. I looked into his creased eyes and wondered about all the things he had seen as a young man. He was my father’s greatest general and many years my senior. It had been decided by the king that his only child should marry a man that could guide her and help her to rule the world. He wasn’t my ideal man, there were a great many men in the city that I would visit for mild flirtations, but he could take good care of me. He spent many hours working on battle strategies and trying to come up with a final solution to win the war.
Venerath saw the guards before I did and his posture stiffened immediately. I turned to follow his gaze and saw them. Not the King’s Guard but something worse. These men were the Guardians of the Machine and you only saw them if they were coming to take you to war. Those next few seconds were a blur. Their cold eyes were locked on me and my father was behind them in tears. Venerath stood before me and pleaded with them to spare me. As they got closer it became apparent that these men did not fall under my father’s rule and they would not be swayed by the riches he was offering them as he followed behind. I rose to my feet, my legs shaking as I tried to look brave. Venerath turned to me, grabbed both of my arms and told me to run. He was so authoritative that I turned on my heels without further question and ran for my life.
Chapter Two
How to run away from your life
Sprinting through the gardens in the pale pink dress I had chosen for today’s activities was no easy task. The flimsy material threatened to wrap itself around my feet with every step. I was constantly one step away from falling heavily to the ground. The sound of fighting behind me said all I needed to know about Venerath, he would distract as many as he could but the footsteps following me told me I was not alone.
I knew every inch of these gardens, they had been my childhood playground. I was braver back then and more willing to leap headfirst into a muddy puddle. That would be the Guard’s downfall. They don’t know the pitfalls like I do.
Every day the men who tended the garden would dispose of the debris they collected in one of the collector holes. They were designed to look like flower beds but were truly holograms hiding nothing but a deep hole. I knew they had to lead somewhere since I’d seen transport vehicles moving palace vegetation away through the city a couple of times. As it was late afternoon, they would collect soon, and I may not have to spend that long in there. That would be my escape.
I turned a sharp corner and spotted the flower bed I was looking for, glancing behind I saw the guards following closely behind. I had to get in there before they saw. They had to think I was still running through the gardens.
I threw myself headfirst at the daffodils and prayed I’d remembered it correctly. It’d been a long time since I’d played in the mud and the layout of the gardens could’ve been changed over the years.
I closed my eyes tightly and held my breath, waiting to hit the ground, wherever it may be. It wasn’t a long drop, perhaps only a story high and there was plenty of plant life to break my fall. Thankfully it hadn’t been emptied yet.
I sat silently holding my breath waiting for the guards to follow me down. The damp leaves soaked into my dress and twigs poked into me painfully but still I sat in silence and waited. An hour must’ve passed by without me moving an inch when suddenly the pile I was half embedded in began to rumble beneath me. This was it, freedom.
Leaves and twigs shook as the pile began to lower, slowly at first then faster until it felt like I was falling all over again. When it was finally over, leaves had covered me completely and I was desperately trying to crawl my way out so I could at least see what was happening. Manoeuvring upwards was just as difficult as I suspected it would be and it took a few long minutes of breathing in the rotten smell of dead leaves before I finally tasted the night air. The day had made way into night while I had hidden and I could see the stars above me as the transport whizzed through the city at a manic speed. I clawed my way to the side of the vehicle and looked over the edge. The drop was a short one and once we stopped I could easily hop out.
As we sped through the shiny buildings of the inner city I watched as sleek designs made way for dirty bricks and neon lighting that was dark in places and made unusual buzzing noises. I had never ventured into the outskirts before as my father has warned of the dangers. The people here were poor and desperate and would happily take the life of a princess in order to take any riches she may be carrying.
As the vehicle slowed I pushed myself over the side and landed hard on the pavement below. It was made of stone, not like the moving pavements in the inner city. Things were going to be different here.
I didn’t like the look of the buildings surrounding me but I knew my first priority was going to be finding somewhere to stay. I scanned the words flashing above windows until I found something that resembled an eatery.
Slipping through the heavy door I immediately regretted my decision. It was dank in here and smelled of dirt and stale food. I couldn’t help that my nose wrinkled and I certainly didn’t think it would offend. The proprietor must’ve known what kind of state his establishment was in. He couldn’t possibly think it was high class.
In hindsight I probably should’ve straightened my face and not looked so disgusted but I was genuinely taken aback by what I was seeing. I headed to the bar where a pot-bellied balding man stood wiping a grimy glass with an even dirtier cloth. “Good evening, Sir.”
His eyes looked me up and down and I felt more vulnerable than I had in a long time. Citizens knew better than to stare directly at royalty and I had no idea how to handle this situation. Back in the palace I would simply demand they leave and usually they were smart enough to listen but something was telling me that approach wouldn’t be beneficial to my safety. “It would seem that I’m lost here and I was hoping you could point me in the direction of somewhere safe to sleep.”
“You buying a drink or what?” The man’s voice was gruff and unfriendly. I was quite thirsty and probably should hydrate myself while I had the chance. I didn’t like the look of the glasses he had on the shelves and the glass bottles behind him were thick with dust. Maybe he was impatient or maybe I just took too long but he lost his temper with me and began to shout,
“I should’ve known. No money, looking to beg for somewhere to sleep. Well not in my bar Missy! Either you buy a drink or you walk yourself right back out the way you came in.”
Never in my life had I been spoken to in such a way, unfortunately the anger I felt manifested itself as tears and they began to fall from my eyes. I looked at the ground, too shocked to speak. “Get out I said!” His voice was even louder and had now begun to attract the attention of his patrons. One of them stood up and walked over to the bar as I began to back away.
I didn’t hear the conversation between the two men, humiliated I turned and ran out of the bar and into the street. It was vile here, and I wanted nothing more than to go home and relax in a hot bath.
The temperature was dropping too and I was beginning to shiver outside the bar. I wrapped my arms around myself, lowered my head and began to trudge along the street, looking for somewhere to hide.
“Hey! You there! Serenity?” The voice wasn’t gruff like the barman and it didn’t sound angry either. Whoever he was he knew my name. If he recognised me he could bring the Guards here in minutes. I looked over my shoulder and saw a young man standing outside the bar. He was smiling and beckoned me back to the doorway. At this point I was just glad to see a friendly face and against my better judgement I turned and walked towards his outstretched arm, cold and quite afraid. It was wonderful when he wrapped his muscular arm around my shoulder and guided me back into the bar.
Believe me when I say I did not relish the thought of going back inside that place but with the night air biting through my dress and the cold wet pavement soaking my shoes through, I was glad of the warmth. I avoided the stare of the barman and allowed myself to be led to a small table at the back of the room. The man motioned to a seat and I gratefully took it as he sat opposite.
“You don’t look much like a princess.” He just came right out with it, no games or cryptic conversations, just bold and upfront honesty.
“It’s been a really long day.” My face somehow twisted into a smile as I thought back over the events of the day. How could things have gone so wrong for me? I was devastated by the thought of never returning to the Palace. I expected him to say something but he just stared at me expectantly. It was quite unnerving but not as unpleasant as I thought it should be.
“Am I safe here?” My voice was suddenly tiny, like a child. I was terrified the guards had been alerted and they were currently flying here at full speed to take me away.
“Why wouldn’t you be safe?”
I didn’t know what to say. If I told him the truth he may hand me over, he may already know in which case a lie wouldn’t do me any good anyway.
“The Guards are after me.”
“The King’s Guard? Why would your father send his men after you?”
“It’s not the King’s Guard.”
His face drained of colour as the realisation washed over him, “The Guardians? They’re after you?”
I nodded my head whilst keeping my eyes firmly locked on the table. I was afraid to see his face, to see what his next thought would be.
“Jesus, Serenity. You’re in deep.”
“No one ever uses my full name.” I dared to glance up at his face. His features had softened and he was actually quite handsome, in a scruffy, rugged kind of way. A few days of growth had covered his chin and his clothes were dishevelled.
“I’m sorry, I don’t really know what to call you. Would you prefer Princess?”
“My friends call me Ren.”
“Alright then, Ren. We can’t stay here for long.”
Before I could ask why the bartender came over and brought a couple of warm drinks to the table. They smelled lovely, like cinnamon and the mugs were mostly clean. This man must’ve told him who I was. The smell of the tea and the warm air in the room made me feel quite relaxed and I actually smiled as I reached out for the mug. The bartender was turning away but my new friend reached out and took my hand. Confused, I looked up at his worried eyes. What was he thinking? He nodded his head slightly to the bar and that’s when I noticed the small television screen telling the tale of the missing princess with a reward for her safe return.
“If we run he calls the Guardians and they’ll be on us in seconds. As it is they think they have time to surprise us. I’m going to talk to Frank, try and get us a head start. Stay here and don’t touch that drink.” I nodded as he walked away and headed to the bar. Every sound I heard became the guards coming after me. I was growing more paranoid with each passing second.
Chapter Three
Betrayal
When he came back the young man tossed a coat around my shoulders and walked me to the door. He nodded at Frank, pushed open the exit and escorted me onto the street. I felt exposed in the open air and didn’t like just standing here. “What’s going on?”
Silence for a few seconds then he led me down the street, away from the bar. “Are we safe? What did you say to him?”
“I said you’d seen the news and wanted to leave. I told him I was taking you to my apartment for safekeeping and he was to call the Guardians and tell them to go there instead. Then he’s going to follow us there and wait. He tried to say no but I reminded him of his missing licences and that the guard’s wouldn’t be too happy about that. Suddenly he was very accommodating of my plan.
Betrayal, even from a stranger, cut deep. I had made my first mistake, trusting this man when I didn’t even know his name. I tried to pull away, I had to run, escape from these men before the guardians arrived.
“Calm down Ren. You’re gonna have to trust me sooner or later okay?”
I had no other choice. Running wasn’t an option when this man could easily catch me and drag me. I would walk to my prison with dignity, as a Royal should.
The walk was thankfully a short one and we reached a tall building with a red neon sign outside that read ELLIOT TOWERS, although with a few of the letters broken it looked more like E IO T WERS. It was not a particularly nice looking place.
Walking inside I was struck by how tiny the hallway was. A large number of apartments had been crammed into a small amount of space and I wasn’t all that excited about seeing them.
“Frank’s not too far behind. We have to hurry.” I didn’t acknowledge his words. I didn’t care to be honest. My captor had forced me here, and he shall remain a nameless fool forevermore. We took the lift, he said it was to slow Frank down, must want to keep the reward money all to himself. Selfish and a jerk to his friends, I certainly knew how to pick them.
The doors opened on a high floor to reveal a dark hallway with a couple of broken bulbs and one working one. The carpet was an odd shade of burgundy while the walls were peeling and yellow. The fourth door down was our final destination and my kidnapper pulled out a key and opened the door.
It was just as dark in here as the hallway but it was at least cleaner. In fact it was the cleanest place I’d seen since I arrived in the outer city. I was ushered into the bathroom as he closed and locked the door. One glance in the mirror told me all I needed to know about how stressed I was. My normally shiny hair was falling limp around my shoulders and even had a few leaves tucked in there for good measure. My face was dirty but still quite beautiful but my dress was awful. It had been soaked with filth in the vegetation disposal, torn slightly from what I can only assume was jumping out of the transport and the water from the streets had soaked into the bottom turning it black.
The young man walked into the bathroom while I was washing my face and threw a bundle of material at me. “Put these on, makes you less conspicuous.”
Confused I looked at the clothes in my arms, dark green pants and a black t-shirt. They were way too big for me but I’d spent years pinning clothes to fit right. In a couple of minutes and the aid of some bathroom scissors and string I’d fashioned an outfit that while horrendous in colour and style, fitted well enough not to fall off.
While I was working Frank began pounding on the front door. I looked at the young man who was prising the bathroom window open and I realised what he was doing. Beneath the window were some old metal steps that would lead us back to street level. By the time the guardians arrived, we’d be well on our way.
He clambered out the window and held out his hand to help me climb through. Once on the steps we almost flew down to the street below. I didn’t even know my feet could move that fast.
He held my hand tightly as we reached the ground and pulled me down the alley putting as much distance between us and the apartment as he could.
As the night wore on there were less and less people on the streets. Most of the shops had pulled down their shutters and closed up for the evening. They were a blur as we ran past them, towards the inner city. My sides were aching and my feet sore from the running. I needed to rest and pulled my hand free as I slowed down. I was breathing heavily and my friend knew I couldn’t carry on like that forever. To be fair, he had broken out in a sweat and was panting as he looked around us.
“There’s a park over there, it separates this block from the inner city. We’ll rest for a few minutes there and then carry on okay?”
I nodded as I still couldn’t catch the breath to form words and followed him across the street. There was a little metal bench under a tree in the park. It was nowhere near as beautiful as the gardens I’d been in that morning but it stood out in the run-down buildings, a little piece of nature in such a heavily built up area.
We sat beside each other and rested quietly for a few minutes. The only sound was us trying to breathe.
“What’s your name?” I finally had the chance to ask him. He smiled, I guess he realised he’d never told me, “Eric.”
“Okay then, Eric. What now?”
“They’ll be looking in the outer city for us. Potentially even the wastelands around here. I don’t think they’d expect us to head back to the inner city.”
I thought about it for a minute and realised the problem with his plan. “There are a lot of screens in there.” I motioned to the inner city, “They won’t look for us in there until someone calls it in. Which will be pretty fast considering the reward. You’ve really put yourself in a lot of danger here, Eric. And you don’t even know me.”
He smiled an incredibly charming smile and leant back on the bench. “Yeah, well, I’m a sucker for a pretty face. Even when it’s smeared in dirt.”
The compliment took me by surprise and I felt my cheeks growing red. Thank goodness it was dark or this had the potential to be very embarrassing.
“Look, here’s the plan. I have a little money, enough to get a room for the night, As long as you stay out of sight, it’ll give us a couple of hours to find one of the peace-zones.”
I’d never heard the phrase before. Peace-zone. How could an entire place exist that I’d never heard of?
Eric must’ve seen my confusion and began to explain. He told me that the peace-zones had been created over two hundred years ago by a man and his son, after he’d been chosen by the machine. Unable to bear the thought of leaving his son behind he ran from the guardians and hid in the wastelands. Slowly he had dug a small shelter, enough to keep them both safe.
After a few years had passed another runaway happened across them and joined the family. Soon others came and began to create their own underground shelters. Some got caught, some wandered into the wastelands and never returned, but the shelters remained a safe place for those on the run from the guardians. Rumour was the network of tunnels spread throughout the whole of the city; an entire community living underground, safe from the war that they had each been drafted into.
After his tale I felt rather positive. I could have a life outside of the palace, it may not be what I had grown accustomed to, but I wouldn’t have to spend the rest of my life running. We continued into the inner city and I waited in a darkened doorway while Eric arranged accommodation for the evening. The night was warmer here, I couldn’t really comprehend how that was possible, but more than anything I was just glad not to be shivering any more.
The door across the street opened and Eric walked out and motioned me over while the street was empty. “The receptionist is on a bathroom break so we have to be quick.”
I found myself being shuffled to the stairs and suddenly was running again. This time though I had a target, somewhere to aim for where I could rest peacefully for a few hours without wondering if they were coming for me.
The room was nice, but a little small. It had a terminal and a small bed with a tiny bathroom off to the side. It was definitely designed for one person. I raised an eyebrow at Eric who smiled at me, “Don’t worry, I’m not all that tired. You get some sleep and I’ll look for more information on the peace-zones. I know a couple of unregistered web spots that I can hit up for information.”
“What exactly is it that you do for a living?” The thought had crossed my mind that someone so knowledgeable could easily be working for my father, or worse.
“At the moment, not all that much. I used to work with computers though. I know them pretty well.”
Fatigue was catching up with me and suddenly I needed to sleep so badly I could barely keep my eyes open. The bed looked rather firm and nothing like my large, squishy mattress back home. It was odd things that I found myself missing.
I removed my shoes and crawled onto the bed fully clothed. Lying on my side I watched Eric as he worked at the terminal. He really was handsome. Part of me was hoping that he would stay in the peace-zone. After all, he was in danger now too for being associated with me. I wouldn’t mind spending more time with him, getting to know him better.
I must’ve drifted off because the next thing I knew Eric was shouting my name and looking panicked.
“We have to go now, Ren.” His voice was stern and I knew better than to argue. The guardians had found us.
Chapter Four
How it ends
We ran out the room and to the stairs. I was afraid to ask how they knew where we were. No doubt the receptionist had seen Eric and recognised him from the news. Running out of the room we headed to the stairs and burst through the door. The heavy clad footsteps we heard coming from beneath us told us all we needed to know. They were already here and heading to our room. My stomach sank as I realised we weren’t getting out of this one. Suddenly I felt Eric pulling on my wrist and I was being dragged back through the door into the corridor we had just fled. Eric’s eyes were panicked. He’d kept calm for so long, I supposed it was catching up with him now.
We stood there for a few seconds while my companion took in his surroundings, I couldn’t help but constantly check over my shoulder, they were getting closer and if we didn’t make a break for it now, they’d catch us.
That’s when Eric’s eyes lit up and a grin spread across his face. “I have a really bad idea, Ren.”
I had no time to register what happened next. He shouted for me to go back to the room, wait one hour then meet him outside the Lux Towers, a tall corporation building near the centre of the city. I could’ve seen it from my window if I was back at the palace. The next thing I knew his lips were pressed against mine, then we was gone. Through the door to the stairs.
I turned on my heel and ran back to the room we had shared. Flinging the door open I caught a sob. What if he didn’t make it? If he got caught I’d never find the peace-zone. I dropped down onto the bed and allowed my tears to finally fall. Tears for my father, for Venerath, for the truly blessed life I had left behind. I was a fugitive now, and not a very good one. More than anything, I just wanted to go home.
I looked at the computer terminal that Eric had left on and saw the hour was almost up. I went to the bathroom and washed my tear streaked face, neatened my hair and tried to make myself look as presentable as possible. This could very well be the last day I spend in my life, and I would not spend it looking like a homeless person.
I checked the time, took a deep breath and headed out of the room. I took the stairs and waited until the receptionist headed away from the desk before I made a break for it.
Sprinting was tough since my muscles were still aching from all the running I’d done since I first saw the guardians. I pushed through the pain, digging deep as stopping could mean getting caught.
It didn’t take long for me to find my way to Lux Towers. They were pretty impressive close up. I’d often seen it from a distance and even from a few blocks away but I’d never had reason to stand in front of the Goliath and look at it.
There was a doorway tucked across the street that looked like a good place to keep watch. I’d hide here and wait for Eric. My stomach sank at the thought of him being caught by the guardians and I could only hope he was safe.
It was easy to spot him, he was jogging down the moving pavement in an effort to get here quicker. He was looking around him constantly, probably looking for the guardians, or me. I waited until he was stood directly in front of the main doors before I decided to reveal my hiding place. I was still afraid, I didn’t know if it was completely safe here or whether I would just be revealing myself to danger.
I watched as Eric bent down and grabbed a panel beside the tech box that controlled the pavement. When his head popped back up again he was smiling, he’d found something.
I stepped forward into the open space of the street and shouted to my new friend. His smile spread even wider when he saw me. I was genuinely surprised at how happy I was to see him safe. I started to run towards his outstretched hand and that’s when I saw him. Out of the corner of my eye, a man running full speed at me and getting closer with every second. He was a guardian.
My shoes almost skidded on the road beneath me as I stopped and turned away. I had to run, I had to escape again. That’s when I felt the stinging sensation in my neck that slowly turned into a burning. Running became harder, like I was trying to wade through mud. Something wrapped itself around my waist and no matter how hard I tried to pull it away I couldn’t. It was too strong.
My eyes were drawn to Eric, he would save me from this stinging monster. I could see him, standing next to the open panel and I realised then that he only had one choice. They hadn’t seen him yet which meant the peace-zone was still safe, still secret. He had to go, leave quickly and not look back. I started shaking my head at him, I needed him to understand that he had to leave me. This was my fate but it didn’t have to be for those who had already escaped.
I watched, fighting against the sleep that was threatening to take me, as Eric understood me and looked down into the opening beneath him. His eyes met mine one last time before he disappeared and the panel closed gently behind him.
Now I was alone, things were starting to blur, then nothing.
Chapter Five
My Last Goodbye
When I opened my eyes I saw an unfamiliar world around me. I was sitting in a rather uncomfortable chair surrounded by guardians.
I heard voices, coming closer, getting louder. One of the voices was that of my father. I almost felt sick with relief; he’d found a way to take me home. I stood up rather fast and my legs still weren’t quite ready for that. I almost toppled to the ground but was steadied by a guardian. His strong hands holding me up until my brain registered where my feet were and I was able to stand alone.
I smiled at my father as soon as I could see him. And Venerath too, he had accompanied my father. Embarrassed I straightened out the clothes I was wearing, they’d be surprised by my story but they would understand why I ran. I hoped Venerath wouldn’t be too hurt when I mentioned Eric. Then I realised, neither of them were smiling. They weren’t happy to see me, in fact they looked positively depressed.
I’m not free.
I could tell by the look on my father’s face. He held his arms out to me as he reached the area I was being held.
“Daddy.” I whispered through the tears that had begun to fall down my cheeks. I squeezed my eyes as tightly shut as I could. I felt like a little girl again, safe with my dad. Protected. But he couldn’t save me from this, no one could. I pulled away from the embrace and held my hand out to Venerath who took it and held on tightly. He didn’t want to let me go. I knew that, but no one could help me now. I was going to war.
As a royal my understanding of the war was limited to what my father wanted me to know. Which, truth be told, wasn’t much.
When I was a little girl I heard the story of the first man in the Machine. He was a scientist and had been one of the three men to discover it in the wastelands. No one knew what it did but when he sat in the chair the machine powered up and the man was surrounded by a glowing blue light. It got brighter and brighter until suddenly it went dark and the man was dead. For centuries it was believed to be an executioner’s chair. Although some believed it to be a magical doorway to the afterlife. They always seemed a little crazy to me.
Eventually a message came through for my grandfather who was the King at the time. The message spoke of another world, populated by a species that wanted to kill us. The machine was the only way to send people through. The message begged for soldiers to stop the impending invasion from the aliens.
My father caught me and sent me back to bed. By the next morning it had been decreed that we were going to war. I don’t know what convinced my grandfather, he took that secret to the grave, but from that moment he was a changed man.
I was led down a tight tunnel that led to a wide open room. My father and Venerath watched, horrified, as I was led to the chair. I looked at them once more, to commit their faces to memory, before I allowed myself to be pushed into a sitting position.
Electric blue light flashed around me and for one second I could see the whole world. Then, eternal blackness.
The machine had taken me.
I’m feeling the need to share with you all my most recent story. It’s a short tale of a Princess that gets called to an intergalactic war and decides to go on the run.
I’m excited to see your comments so please let me know what you think! I’ll be posting the second story in the series in the coming weeks so watch this space!
The Machine
Chapter One
Who I should have been
My father is the king. It was decreed a thousand or more years ago that our world would be governed by one true soul and they would be chosen by bloodline. Of course, that was decided by our strange ancestors who believed in space travel and peaceful life in the universe. We had evolved past that now. No longer did we create vast ships to explore the outer reaches of our solar system. We focussed our scientific energies inwards, examined our own mortality and found ways to extend our lives by hundreds of years. Only the royal bloodline got the full benefit of the new technology. It was seen as too dangerous to share planet wide.
For all these reasons and more I felt my involuntary recruitment to the war was unfair. I above all others should have the option of saying no. I should not be dragged kicking and screaming from my charmed life and tossed into battle at such a young age.
The day had started out so well. I was in the gardens, taking a stroll through the perfumed air and enjoying the temperature modified sun. A clear shield protected the area, it allowed only a perfect amount of heat and light to penetrate through to the flowers and trees below. It was my favourite place to go when the city became too overwhelming. With its advanced transport vessels that shot through the air like bullets and the pavements that moved beneath my feet, the speed of it all never failed to make me feel dizzy. I would have preferred to live in a place that was gardens in its entirety but despite my searching, I have never found such a place.
I rested upon the wall that skirted the outer edge of the fountain, a beautiful creation filled with sparkling water that was gently squirted into the air where it caught the sun and dazzled like diamonds before sprinkling back into the main basin. The sound was therapeutic and I could often close my eyes and shy away from the noise of the world outside the shield.
I heard footsteps from a distance and recognised the shuffling walk as belonging to my betrothed, Venerath. We were to meet to discuss our upcoming nuptials. I was clearly accustomed to the finer things and my wedding would be no exception. As I sat in the garden six of my maidens were in the sewing room designing and creating what would be the most stunning dress ever seen. Even the city folk were excited to see a royal wedding, it had been a century since my father’s ceremony and I had only just come of age. They had waited long enough and I intended to make it spectacular.
Venerath sat beside me and took my hand. I looked into his creased eyes and wondered about all the things he had seen as a young man. He was my father’s greatest general and many years my senior. It had been decided by the king that his only child should marry a man that could guide her and help her to rule the world. He wasn’t my ideal man, there were a great many men in the city that I would visit for mild flirtations, but he could take good care of me. He spent many hours working on battle strategies and trying to come up with a final solution to win the war.
Venerath saw the guards before I did and his posture stiffened immediately. I turned to follow his gaze and saw them. Not the King’s Guard but something worse. These men were the Guardians of the Machine and you only saw them if they were coming to take you to war. Those next few seconds were a blur. Their cold eyes were locked on me and my father was behind them in tears. Venerath stood before me and pleaded with them to spare me. As they got closer it became apparent that these men did not fall under my father’s rule and they would not be swayed by the riches he was offering them as he followed behind. I rose to my feet, my legs shaking as I tried to look brave. Venerath turned to me, grabbed both of my arms and told me to run. He was so authoritative that I turned on my heels without further question and ran for my life.
Chapter Two
How to run away from your life
Sprinting through the gardens in the pale pink dress I had chosen for today’s activities was no easy task. The flimsy material threatened to wrap itself around my feet with every step. I was constantly one step away from falling heavily to the ground. The sound of fighting behind me said all I needed to know about Venerath, he would distract as many as he could but the footsteps following me told me I was not alone.
I knew every inch of these gardens, they had been my childhood playground. I was braver back then and more willing to leap headfirst into a muddy puddle. That would be the Guard’s downfall. They don’t know the pitfalls like I do.
Every day the men who tended the garden would dispose of the debris they collected in one of the collector holes. They were designed to look like flower beds but were truly holograms hiding nothing but a deep hole. I knew they had to lead somewhere since I’d seen transport vehicles moving palace vegetation away through the city a couple of times. As it was late afternoon, they would collect soon, and I may not have to spend that long in there. That would be my escape.
I turned a sharp corner and spotted the flower bed I was looking for, glancing behind I saw the guards following closely behind. I had to get in there before they saw. They had to think I was still running through the gardens.
I threw myself headfirst at the daffodils and prayed I’d remembered it correctly. It’d been a long time since I’d played in the mud and the layout of the gardens could’ve been changed over the years.
I closed my eyes tightly and held my breath, waiting to hit the ground, wherever it may be. It wasn’t a long drop, perhaps only a story high and there was plenty of plant life to break my fall. Thankfully it hadn’t been emptied yet.
I sat silently holding my breath waiting for the guards to follow me down. The damp leaves soaked into my dress and twigs poked into me painfully but still I sat in silence and waited. An hour must’ve passed by without me moving an inch when suddenly the pile I was half embedded in began to rumble beneath me. This was it, freedom.
Leaves and twigs shook as the pile began to lower, slowly at first then faster until it felt like I was falling all over again. When it was finally over, leaves had covered me completely and I was desperately trying to crawl my way out so I could at least see what was happening. Manoeuvring upwards was just as difficult as I suspected it would be and it took a few long minutes of breathing in the rotten smell of dead leaves before I finally tasted the night air. The day had made way into night while I had hidden and I could see the stars above me as the transport whizzed through the city at a manic speed. I clawed my way to the side of the vehicle and looked over the edge. The drop was a short one and once we stopped I could easily hop out.
As we sped through the shiny buildings of the inner city I watched as sleek designs made way for dirty bricks and neon lighting that was dark in places and made unusual buzzing noises. I had never ventured into the outskirts before as my father has warned of the dangers. The people here were poor and desperate and would happily take the life of a princess in order to take any riches she may be carrying.
As the vehicle slowed I pushed myself over the side and landed hard on the pavement below. It was made of stone, not like the moving pavements in the inner city. Things were going to be different here.
I didn’t like the look of the buildings surrounding me but I knew my first priority was going to be finding somewhere to stay. I scanned the words flashing above windows until I found something that resembled an eatery.
Slipping through the heavy door I immediately regretted my decision. It was dank in here and smelled of dirt and stale food. I couldn’t help that my nose wrinkled and I certainly didn’t think it would offend. The proprietor must’ve known what kind of state his establishment was in. He couldn’t possibly think it was high class.
In hindsight I probably should’ve straightened my face and not looked so disgusted but I was genuinely taken aback by what I was seeing. I headed to the bar where a pot-bellied balding man stood wiping a grimy glass with an even dirtier cloth. “Good evening, Sir.”
His eyes looked me up and down and I felt more vulnerable than I had in a long time. Citizens knew better than to stare directly at royalty and I had no idea how to handle this situation. Back in the palace I would simply demand they leave and usually they were smart enough to listen but something was telling me that approach wouldn’t be beneficial to my safety. “It would seem that I’m lost here and I was hoping you could point me in the direction of somewhere safe to sleep.”
“You buying a drink or what?” The man’s voice was gruff and unfriendly. I was quite thirsty and probably should hydrate myself while I had the chance. I didn’t like the look of the glasses he had on the shelves and the glass bottles behind him were thick with dust. Maybe he was impatient or maybe I just took too long but he lost his temper with me and began to shout,
“I should’ve known. No money, looking to beg for somewhere to sleep. Well not in my bar Missy! Either you buy a drink or you walk yourself right back out the way you came in.”
Never in my life had I been spoken to in such a way, unfortunately the anger I felt manifested itself as tears and they began to fall from my eyes. I looked at the ground, too shocked to speak. “Get out I said!” His voice was even louder and had now begun to attract the attention of his patrons. One of them stood up and walked over to the bar as I began to back away.
I didn’t hear the conversation between the two men, humiliated I turned and ran out of the bar and into the street. It was vile here, and I wanted nothing more than to go home and relax in a hot bath.
The temperature was dropping too and I was beginning to shiver outside the bar. I wrapped my arms around myself, lowered my head and began to trudge along the street, looking for somewhere to hide.
“Hey! You there! Serenity?” The voice wasn’t gruff like the barman and it didn’t sound angry either. Whoever he was he knew my name. If he recognised me he could bring the Guards here in minutes. I looked over my shoulder and saw a young man standing outside the bar. He was smiling and beckoned me back to the doorway. At this point I was just glad to see a friendly face and against my better judgement I turned and walked towards his outstretched arm, cold and quite afraid. It was wonderful when he wrapped his muscular arm around my shoulder and guided me back into the bar.
Believe me when I say I did not relish the thought of going back inside that place but with the night air biting through my dress and the cold wet pavement soaking my shoes through, I was glad of the warmth. I avoided the stare of the barman and allowed myself to be led to a small table at the back of the room. The man motioned to a seat and I gratefully took it as he sat opposite.
“You don’t look much like a princess.” He just came right out with it, no games or cryptic conversations, just bold and upfront honesty.
“It’s been a really long day.” My face somehow twisted into a smile as I thought back over the events of the day. How could things have gone so wrong for me? I was devastated by the thought of never returning to the Palace. I expected him to say something but he just stared at me expectantly. It was quite unnerving but not as unpleasant as I thought it should be.
“Am I safe here?” My voice was suddenly tiny, like a child. I was terrified the guards had been alerted and they were currently flying here at full speed to take me away.
“Why wouldn’t you be safe?”
I didn’t know what to say. If I told him the truth he may hand me over, he may already know in which case a lie wouldn’t do me any good anyway.
“The Guards are after me.”
“The King’s Guard? Why would your father send his men after you?”
“It’s not the King’s Guard.”
His face drained of colour as the realisation washed over him, “The Guardians? They’re after you?”
I nodded my head whilst keeping my eyes firmly locked on the table. I was afraid to see his face, to see what his next thought would be.
“Jesus, Serenity. You’re in deep.”
“No one ever uses my full name.” I dared to glance up at his face. His features had softened and he was actually quite handsome, in a scruffy, rugged kind of way. A few days of growth had covered his chin and his clothes were dishevelled.
“I’m sorry, I don’t really know what to call you. Would you prefer Princess?”
“My friends call me Ren.”
“Alright then, Ren. We can’t stay here for long.”
Before I could ask why the bartender came over and brought a couple of warm drinks to the table. They smelled lovely, like cinnamon and the mugs were mostly clean. This man must’ve told him who I was. The smell of the tea and the warm air in the room made me feel quite relaxed and I actually smiled as I reached out for the mug. The bartender was turning away but my new friend reached out and took my hand. Confused, I looked up at his worried eyes. What was he thinking? He nodded his head slightly to the bar and that’s when I noticed the small television screen telling the tale of the missing princess with a reward for her safe return.
“If we run he calls the Guardians and they’ll be on us in seconds. As it is they think they have time to surprise us. I’m going to talk to Frank, try and get us a head start. Stay here and don’t touch that drink.” I nodded as he walked away and headed to the bar. Every sound I heard became the guards coming after me. I was growing more paranoid with each passing second.
Chapter Three
Betrayal
When he came back the young man tossed a coat around my shoulders and walked me to the door. He nodded at Frank, pushed open the exit and escorted me onto the street. I felt exposed in the open air and didn’t like just standing here. “What’s going on?”
Silence for a few seconds then he led me down the street, away from the bar. “Are we safe? What did you say to him?”
“I said you’d seen the news and wanted to leave. I told him I was taking you to my apartment for safekeeping and he was to call the Guardians and tell them to go there instead. Then he’s going to follow us there and wait. He tried to say no but I reminded him of his missing licences and that the guard’s wouldn’t be too happy about that. Suddenly he was very accommodating of my plan.
Betrayal, even from a stranger, cut deep. I had made my first mistake, trusting this man when I didn’t even know his name. I tried to pull away, I had to run, escape from these men before the guardians arrived.
“Calm down Ren. You’re gonna have to trust me sooner or later okay?”
I had no other choice. Running wasn’t an option when this man could easily catch me and drag me. I would walk to my prison with dignity, as a Royal should.
The walk was thankfully a short one and we reached a tall building with a red neon sign outside that read ELLIOT TOWERS, although with a few of the letters broken it looked more like E IO T WERS. It was not a particularly nice looking place.
Walking inside I was struck by how tiny the hallway was. A large number of apartments had been crammed into a small amount of space and I wasn’t all that excited about seeing them.
“Frank’s not too far behind. We have to hurry.” I didn’t acknowledge his words. I didn’t care to be honest. My captor had forced me here, and he shall remain a nameless fool forevermore. We took the lift, he said it was to slow Frank down, must want to keep the reward money all to himself. Selfish and a jerk to his friends, I certainly knew how to pick them.
The doors opened on a high floor to reveal a dark hallway with a couple of broken bulbs and one working one. The carpet was an odd shade of burgundy while the walls were peeling and yellow. The fourth door down was our final destination and my kidnapper pulled out a key and opened the door.
It was just as dark in here as the hallway but it was at least cleaner. In fact it was the cleanest place I’d seen since I arrived in the outer city. I was ushered into the bathroom as he closed and locked the door. One glance in the mirror told me all I needed to know about how stressed I was. My normally shiny hair was falling limp around my shoulders and even had a few leaves tucked in there for good measure. My face was dirty but still quite beautiful but my dress was awful. It had been soaked with filth in the vegetation disposal, torn slightly from what I can only assume was jumping out of the transport and the water from the streets had soaked into the bottom turning it black.
The young man walked into the bathroom while I was washing my face and threw a bundle of material at me. “Put these on, makes you less conspicuous.”
Confused I looked at the clothes in my arms, dark green pants and a black t-shirt. They were way too big for me but I’d spent years pinning clothes to fit right. In a couple of minutes and the aid of some bathroom scissors and string I’d fashioned an outfit that while horrendous in colour and style, fitted well enough not to fall off.
While I was working Frank began pounding on the front door. I looked at the young man who was prising the bathroom window open and I realised what he was doing. Beneath the window were some old metal steps that would lead us back to street level. By the time the guardians arrived, we’d be well on our way.
He clambered out the window and held out his hand to help me climb through. Once on the steps we almost flew down to the street below. I didn’t even know my feet could move that fast.
He held my hand tightly as we reached the ground and pulled me down the alley putting as much distance between us and the apartment as he could.
As the night wore on there were less and less people on the streets. Most of the shops had pulled down their shutters and closed up for the evening. They were a blur as we ran past them, towards the inner city. My sides were aching and my feet sore from the running. I needed to rest and pulled my hand free as I slowed down. I was breathing heavily and my friend knew I couldn’t carry on like that forever. To be fair, he had broken out in a sweat and was panting as he looked around us.
“There’s a park over there, it separates this block from the inner city. We’ll rest for a few minutes there and then carry on okay?”
I nodded as I still couldn’t catch the breath to form words and followed him across the street. There was a little metal bench under a tree in the park. It was nowhere near as beautiful as the gardens I’d been in that morning but it stood out in the run-down buildings, a little piece of nature in such a heavily built up area.
We sat beside each other and rested quietly for a few minutes. The only sound was us trying to breathe.
“What’s your name?” I finally had the chance to ask him. He smiled, I guess he realised he’d never told me, “Eric.”
“Okay then, Eric. What now?”
“They’ll be looking in the outer city for us. Potentially even the wastelands around here. I don’t think they’d expect us to head back to the inner city.”
I thought about it for a minute and realised the problem with his plan. “There are a lot of screens in there.” I motioned to the inner city, “They won’t look for us in there until someone calls it in. Which will be pretty fast considering the reward. You’ve really put yourself in a lot of danger here, Eric. And you don’t even know me.”
He smiled an incredibly charming smile and leant back on the bench. “Yeah, well, I’m a sucker for a pretty face. Even when it’s smeared in dirt.”
The compliment took me by surprise and I felt my cheeks growing red. Thank goodness it was dark or this had the potential to be very embarrassing.
“Look, here’s the plan. I have a little money, enough to get a room for the night, As long as you stay out of sight, it’ll give us a couple of hours to find one of the peace-zones.”
I’d never heard the phrase before. Peace-zone. How could an entire place exist that I’d never heard of?
Eric must’ve seen my confusion and began to explain. He told me that the peace-zones had been created over two hundred years ago by a man and his son, after he’d been chosen by the machine. Unable to bear the thought of leaving his son behind he ran from the guardians and hid in the wastelands. Slowly he had dug a small shelter, enough to keep them both safe.
After a few years had passed another runaway happened across them and joined the family. Soon others came and began to create their own underground shelters. Some got caught, some wandered into the wastelands and never returned, but the shelters remained a safe place for those on the run from the guardians. Rumour was the network of tunnels spread throughout the whole of the city; an entire community living underground, safe from the war that they had each been drafted into.
After his tale I felt rather positive. I could have a life outside of the palace, it may not be what I had grown accustomed to, but I wouldn’t have to spend the rest of my life running. We continued into the inner city and I waited in a darkened doorway while Eric arranged accommodation for the evening. The night was warmer here, I couldn’t really comprehend how that was possible, but more than anything I was just glad not to be shivering any more.
The door across the street opened and Eric walked out and motioned me over while the street was empty. “The receptionist is on a bathroom break so we have to be quick.”
I found myself being shuffled to the stairs and suddenly was running again. This time though I had a target, somewhere to aim for where I could rest peacefully for a few hours without wondering if they were coming for me.
The room was nice, but a little small. It had a terminal and a small bed with a tiny bathroom off to the side. It was definitely designed for one person. I raised an eyebrow at Eric who smiled at me, “Don’t worry, I’m not all that tired. You get some sleep and I’ll look for more information on the peace-zones. I know a couple of unregistered web spots that I can hit up for information.”
“What exactly is it that you do for a living?” The thought had crossed my mind that someone so knowledgeable could easily be working for my father, or worse.
“At the moment, not all that much. I used to work with computers though. I know them pretty well.”
Fatigue was catching up with me and suddenly I needed to sleep so badly I could barely keep my eyes open. The bed looked rather firm and nothing like my large, squishy mattress back home. It was odd things that I found myself missing.
I removed my shoes and crawled onto the bed fully clothed. Lying on my side I watched Eric as he worked at the terminal. He really was handsome. Part of me was hoping that he would stay in the peace-zone. After all, he was in danger now too for being associated with me. I wouldn’t mind spending more time with him, getting to know him better.
I must’ve drifted off because the next thing I knew Eric was shouting my name and looking panicked.
“We have to go now, Ren.” His voice was stern and I knew better than to argue. The guardians had found us.
Chapter Four
How it ends
We ran out the room and to the stairs. I was afraid to ask how they knew where we were. No doubt the receptionist had seen Eric and recognised him from the news. Running out of the room we headed to the stairs and burst through the door. The heavy clad footsteps we heard coming from beneath us told us all we needed to know. They were already here and heading to our room. My stomach sank as I realised we weren’t getting out of this one. Suddenly I felt Eric pulling on my wrist and I was being dragged back through the door into the corridor we had just fled. Eric’s eyes were panicked. He’d kept calm for so long, I supposed it was catching up with him now.
We stood there for a few seconds while my companion took in his surroundings, I couldn’t help but constantly check over my shoulder, they were getting closer and if we didn’t make a break for it now, they’d catch us.
That’s when Eric’s eyes lit up and a grin spread across his face. “I have a really bad idea, Ren.”
I had no time to register what happened next. He shouted for me to go back to the room, wait one hour then meet him outside the Lux Towers, a tall corporation building near the centre of the city. I could’ve seen it from my window if I was back at the palace. The next thing I knew his lips were pressed against mine, then we was gone. Through the door to the stairs.
I turned on my heel and ran back to the room we had shared. Flinging the door open I caught a sob. What if he didn’t make it? If he got caught I’d never find the peace-zone. I dropped down onto the bed and allowed my tears to finally fall. Tears for my father, for Venerath, for the truly blessed life I had left behind. I was a fugitive now, and not a very good one. More than anything, I just wanted to go home.
I looked at the computer terminal that Eric had left on and saw the hour was almost up. I went to the bathroom and washed my tear streaked face, neatened my hair and tried to make myself look as presentable as possible. This could very well be the last day I spend in my life, and I would not spend it looking like a homeless person.
I checked the time, took a deep breath and headed out of the room. I took the stairs and waited until the receptionist headed away from the desk before I made a break for it.
Sprinting was tough since my muscles were still aching from all the running I’d done since I first saw the guardians. I pushed through the pain, digging deep as stopping could mean getting caught.
It didn’t take long for me to find my way to Lux Towers. They were pretty impressive close up. I’d often seen it from a distance and even from a few blocks away but I’d never had reason to stand in front of the Goliath and look at it.
There was a doorway tucked across the street that looked like a good place to keep watch. I’d hide here and wait for Eric. My stomach sank at the thought of him being caught by the guardians and I could only hope he was safe.
It was easy to spot him, he was jogging down the moving pavement in an effort to get here quicker. He was looking around him constantly, probably looking for the guardians, or me. I waited until he was stood directly in front of the main doors before I decided to reveal my hiding place. I was still afraid, I didn’t know if it was completely safe here or whether I would just be revealing myself to danger.
I watched as Eric bent down and grabbed a panel beside the tech box that controlled the pavement. When his head popped back up again he was smiling, he’d found something.
I stepped forward into the open space of the street and shouted to my new friend. His smile spread even wider when he saw me. I was genuinely surprised at how happy I was to see him safe. I started to run towards his outstretched hand and that’s when I saw him. Out of the corner of my eye, a man running full speed at me and getting closer with every second. He was a guardian.
My shoes almost skidded on the road beneath me as I stopped and turned away. I had to run, I had to escape again. That’s when I felt the stinging sensation in my neck that slowly turned into a burning. Running became harder, like I was trying to wade through mud. Something wrapped itself around my waist and no matter how hard I tried to pull it away I couldn’t. It was too strong.
My eyes were drawn to Eric, he would save me from this stinging monster. I could see him, standing next to the open panel and I realised then that he only had one choice. They hadn’t seen him yet which meant the peace-zone was still safe, still secret. He had to go, leave quickly and not look back. I started shaking my head at him, I needed him to understand that he had to leave me. This was my fate but it didn’t have to be for those who had already escaped.
I watched, fighting against the sleep that was threatening to take me, as Eric understood me and looked down into the opening beneath him. His eyes met mine one last time before he disappeared and the panel closed gently behind him.
Now I was alone, things were starting to blur, then nothing.
Chapter Five
My Last Goodbye
When I opened my eyes I saw an unfamiliar world around me. I was sitting in a rather uncomfortable chair surrounded by guardians.
I heard voices, coming closer, getting louder. One of the voices was that of my father. I almost felt sick with relief; he’d found a way to take me home. I stood up rather fast and my legs still weren’t quite ready for that. I almost toppled to the ground but was steadied by a guardian. His strong hands holding me up until my brain registered where my feet were and I was able to stand alone.
I smiled at my father as soon as I could see him. And Venerath too, he had accompanied my father. Embarrassed I straightened out the clothes I was wearing, they’d be surprised by my story but they would understand why I ran. I hoped Venerath wouldn’t be too hurt when I mentioned Eric. Then I realised, neither of them were smiling. They weren’t happy to see me, in fact they looked positively depressed.
I’m not free.
I could tell by the look on my father’s face. He held his arms out to me as he reached the area I was being held.
“Daddy.” I whispered through the tears that had begun to fall down my cheeks. I squeezed my eyes as tightly shut as I could. I felt like a little girl again, safe with my dad. Protected. But he couldn’t save me from this, no one could. I pulled away from the embrace and held my hand out to Venerath who took it and held on tightly. He didn’t want to let me go. I knew that, but no one could help me now. I was going to war.
As a royal my understanding of the war was limited to what my father wanted me to know. Which, truth be told, wasn’t much.
When I was a little girl I heard the story of the first man in the Machine. He was a scientist and had been one of the three men to discover it in the wastelands. No one knew what it did but when he sat in the chair the machine powered up and the man was surrounded by a glowing blue light. It got brighter and brighter until suddenly it went dark and the man was dead. For centuries it was believed to be an executioner’s chair. Although some believed it to be a magical doorway to the afterlife. They always seemed a little crazy to me.
Eventually a message came through for my grandfather who was the King at the time. The message spoke of another world, populated by a species that wanted to kill us. The machine was the only way to send people through. The message begged for soldiers to stop the impending invasion from the aliens.
My father caught me and sent me back to bed. By the next morning it had been decreed that we were going to war. I don’t know what convinced my grandfather, he took that secret to the grave, but from that moment he was a changed man.
I was led down a tight tunnel that led to a wide open room. My father and Venerath watched, horrified, as I was led to the chair. I looked at them once more, to commit their faces to memory, before I allowed myself to be pushed into a sitting position.
Electric blue light flashed around me and for one second I could see the whole world. Then, eternal blackness.
The machine had taken me.
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