บท 9: The Opening of the Gates
Over the years here, they hadn't allowed me outside the complex after I was found wandering the forest. Perhaps for fear that I would try to escape. Or fear that someone on the outside would liberate me and I would give away all of the compound's secrets and tactics.
And yet, I never understood why they treated me differently than everyone else. When I was young, the assumption was maybe it was because I was an outsider, but that didn't explain why they would take me down to the lab every week for fresh experiments. I never told anyone of the things I saw down there. Mostly because everyone in the compound avoided me like the plague and Joth hurt anyone dumb enough to try to speak with me.
And now here I was in my room packing my clothes in a sturdy cloth stitch backpack. I don't understand why she's having us both go by ourselves. Isn't she worried I'll run away? Or does she think I'll just die? William was packing as well, demeanor as cool as ever. He finished way before me, obviously, having more experience at it. He slid a small hunting knife across the dresser, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"You need to be armed in case something happens to me. Don't tell anyone or it'll be kudos for both of us." I shook my head with a smile.
"Haven't you realized by now? I'm full of secrets." I joked. It dawned on me in that moment that he was the first person I had ever joked around with. I'd never had anyone that I was close to until now. Unless Abigail was counted too. But, she mostly hung out in the trees while I read. And now, it was easier to be around this person than it was to even be around myself. It felt weird, like the attention was something foreign.
"Thank you for this. I appreciate it." I put the knife in my bag at the very bottom and zipped everything up.
"Are you ready?" He asked. I nodded and slid my arms through the backpack straps.
"Let's go."
The guards were waiting for us outside the room. A whole entourage led by Joth was ready to escort us to the outer gates. The only time I had ever seen them was when I was brought here. My nerves were on extreme edge, my body tense. I couldn't seem to breath in more than quick shallow breaths and I had to focus on William's back to keep from collapsing in a panic. We headed down all 5 flights of stairs and down the opposite hallway of the administration room. We passed the library on the right and storage rooms and my interrogation chamber on the left before hitting the unimpressive metal double doors that led to the main courtyard. The bright sun was almost blinding when they opened the doors for us. William stood to my left as we walked out of the courtyard, making sure he was between Joth and I at all times. I was grateful for that, yet fearful that he knew my secrets.
The guards flanked us, awaiting the director's speech. She made one every time anyone had an important mission. She came up from behind us pushing through, and climbing up on her makeshift stage. She cleared her throat.
"Ladies and gentlemen, citizens of 48B compound. Today we send two fairly capable individuals out on a dangerous mission to stop a gang of bandits. These bandits have been murdering our men and stealing our supplies and they must be stopped!" Shouts of agreement broke over the crowd of workers gathering to hear their precious director speak. I inched closer to William, feeling uncomfortable. "I believe wholeheartedly in what they need to accomplish and just to ensure their safe return, I will send 10 pre-selected and fully capable guards with them to escort and set up checkpoints for them." So that's how she'll keep me from running... Of course, I had given her no reason to trust me, but I wouldn't ever run so close to the border.
Across our border was a large, lawless faction that had abandoned their compounds and were living like heathens. Or so they had told us. They said that the faction there stretched across our whole western border, abandoning all laws that we once had among compounds and murdering people like savages. They were said to sleep in dirt holes like animals as well and run around naked. But all of this was told to children to scare them at night. Who knew what the actual truth was. Other than the bandit raids, no one had seen people from those factions in 20 years or so.
The Director finished her speech and everyone cheered. She got down from her stage and walked swiftly towards us.
"You will just be dealing with the bandit camp by yourselves." She said. Then she leaned in closer to me. "You didn't really think I'd let you go alone, did you? I'm not a fool, Calypso." She then turned to the guards. "If she tries anything, kill her." She pointed at William. "That goes for you too." Then she and her personal guards went back inside. Now that the commotion had finished, all the civilians went back to their duties and all that were left standing at the entrance were us and Joth with his entourage. He approached me with a sly grin.
"I guess we will be accompanying you on your little journey." He said condescendingly. William smiled at him.
"Good to have you." He said warmly. "I'll be glad to have a fellow experienced soldier on this mission." I rolled my eyes with an inward groan. They began walking up the long 'driveway' towards the outer wall gate. The men followed behind them, uniformly. I lagged behind a bit, until one of Joth's men pushed my shoulder forward. I glared at him and trudged forward, pouting. As we came closer to the gates, my heart began to race once more. My hands began to wring themselves as I waited among the guards for the gatekeepers to open the massive gates. William appeared next to me making me jump a little.
"Didn't your mother ever teach you that it's not nice to scare people?" I joked. My words came out tense, my nervousness apparent. He laughed.
"Sorry I didn't mean to scare you." He put his hand on my shoulder. "Don't be nervous. It's beautiful out there I promise." He smiled at me sweetly and I felt a smile creep onto my own face.
"You're right. I suppose I am a little nervous." His hand found mine for a moment giving me a reassuring squeeze and the gates began to open.
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