Chapter One - Leah

Leah

            Slap bang in the middle of all of the chaos, where I exist is Gaea’s Forest. If you were to be the unlucky one gliding over Episkopos you’d just make out the resemblance of that to Mickey Mouse’s head, only difference is, is that it’s a much distorted, multi-coloured version of the Disney character. We have the best of surroundings there. We have trees which are as green as our lawns, home grown fruit and vegetables that are hand-picked and steamed, parks where everybody knows your name for good or bad, shopping centres that sell the coolest of gadgets and our school is situated here.

            What you’d also see while up above this prison are three diamond like spaces. Each of them are bordered by graphite wired fences with signs telling us bystanders to keep our mitts off otherwise we’ll be begging for death and it won’t come. I remember a while back that a young boy placed his hands onto it and soon after he began shaking. His eyes were bloodshot, the colour drained from his face and fingers but his chest was still rising and falling as if nothing was happening. I’d watched as the Ministry sent the crucifiers. They’d rolled him in a big, black sheet and they’d taken off quickly.

That was when the Ministry realised we were growing tired of being on the side-lines, after that they’d placed forbearers, three in each space, to make sure none of us ever made an attempt to get in ever. This had seemed to work. Plus two to them. Minus two to us. 

            Bending my knees I tilted the ski to the right and rode over a wave. The waters of Poseidon’s Ocean weren’t safe at the best of times, today though they seem to be on their best behaviour. I have just passed the Achati River and prepare to turn right as another wave meets the brunt of the front of the Jet Ski.

             Riding about on these waters is a big risk for me. Firstly because I’m not too great at riding a jet ski and secondly he could have been watching me from afar. I clutch the handlebars hard and desperately try and shake the thought from my mind. To think of him now would surely end up with me falling into the water and being some mermen’s lunch.

            To be honest, that sounds quite appealing. There’d be no going home to Ellie moaning at me to tidy my room, no Henna daydreaming about my hapless older brother, Steve and I can forget that ever a boy like him exists.

            I approach the docks of Acitta Trove and unmount my vehicles; my feet feel the way across the blanket of white and black ice. This is the part I dread too. Falling on my bottom and having him watch me would be so humiliating! I wouldn’t be able to look him in the face again.

 As I crawl nearer to Rosie’s cabin I take note of the icicles that have spouted above her pine window panes and the brown panel above the small black step. I catch sight of her then, walking hunched over as if she’s just been kicked in the stomach by some thug. She is wearing her black blazer over her light blue tunic; the bottom of her dark blue tights have been swallowed into the snow. Her boots are now lined with a thick coating as she stands in front of me. She kicks the brown fence with such force that it begins to keel over.

‘It’s such a good job I don’t have a camera. Your face would break it for sure.’ I say playfully to her but her eyes don’t meet mine. Her long light brown hair was tousles over her face, her cheeks are bright red with the bitter cold.

‘Har, har!’  Her eyes roam the area suspiciously, as if it’s her first time outside. I watch as her eyebrows raise slightly, her jaw opening inch by inch.

‘I’ve never seen that cabin before.’ It’s not like all the others that are dotted around the street. This one has mahogany painted planks on the outside instead of the usual light auburn that Rosie’s has. Its windows are larger too, more square than rectangular like ours and the lawn was immaculate. Rosie’s is a mass of mile high, uneven snow. Theirs were hardly covered at all.

‘That’s impossible. Things just don’t appear like that.’

‘I know right?’ There’s a big clatter that stops us, our eyes focus on a moving figure, the gate slams and suddenly she comes into view. She is a bit taller than me, three inches more in estimation. Her shoulder length black hair hides her gold hooped earrings, eye shadow licks at her eyelids, blusher caresses her cheeks and red lipstick paints her thick lips.

That’s not what gets my attention though. She is wearing a red, silky chemise which has black eyelash stitched lace at the sides, a little black bow was in place between her cleavage, making them the centre of attention.

At all four corners of Episkopos we are ordered to wear uniforms. Rosie’s consists of a blue tunic to represent the water and black tights with blue ribbons weaving over the top with black, patent leather loafers. My tunic was light green to represent the green grass of home; the trousers are the same colour with dark green ribbons and matching loafers.  How is she able to wear what she wants and not be condemned to torture? A door flies open from somewhere, I realise it’s the front door. Two women are standing with their arms round each other, both dressed in golden robes.

‘You’d better get back here now young lady!’ The woman on the left threatens her tone of voice flat and nonchalant. She has shoulder length caramel blonde hair and is smaller than the woman beside her. The girl doesn’t stop, she keeps on walking in her six inch stiletto heels, sashaying her hips as she goes. ‘I’m warning you!’ She stops and turns to face them.

‘Do as you please. You always do. What’s to say this is any different?’ The woman sighs and turns to the woman beside her who I assume is her partner.

‘I give up. You sort her.’ She leaves the doorway, leaving the remaining woman to deal with her. A hand runs through her short, jet black hair, her eyes narrow and her chin squares.

‘Come on darlin’.’ She coos as if the girl is a lost kitten. ‘We can work this out. Come back right now and we’ll talk hmm?’

‘That’s all you ever want to do!’ She yells. ‘What is the point in that? The world is going to end and all you want to do is talk?’ She shakes her head. ‘I thought you were different. I thought you’d listen to me.’ The woman catches us staring and smiles apologetically.

‘I am listening or I would if you gave me a chance to. Please, let’s just me and you go somewhere quiet and I’ll listen to anything you’ve got to say.’

‘She going to be with you?’ 

‘No. I promise it’ll just be me and you.’ The girl walks back to the cabin but as she shuts the gate her eyes meet us. Her eyebrows furrow, her breathing becomes haggard as her chest rises and falls erratically. Her hands fly from the gate.

‘And what are you two gawping at?’ Her hands smooth down her chemise seductively. ‘I know I’m gorgeous but pur-lease I have taste.’ The woman comes out in her slippers and drags her into the apartment.

‘What a tart!’ My voice is thick with disgust and horror. ‘Why haven’t the forbearers got her in custody?’ Rosie shrugs her shoulders.

‘I don’t know. Maybe they are unaware of her.’

‘No, the forbearers never miss a trick. They’d have locked up her freaky deeky parents too.’ She flinches at the word freaky and her cheeks turn a crimson red. It could have been from the cold but chances were very slim as we’d been standing here for ten minutes straight. I rub my hands together in a bid to bring heat. Rosie takes a few steps forward, her head tosses over her left shoulder.

‘We’d best get going.’ She informs adamantly. ‘We don’t want to be late now do we?’ I heave a sigh of frustration and follow suit.

‘I guess not.’ We head towards the docks in silence.