The Nightscape

Useless Information

The gun was on the table between them, Hayden's hand resting on it in a clear threat as he coolly stared her down. Lyra honestly didn't care if he shot her. He would run out of bullets before she died. He'd run out of everything before she died. Still, it was enough to convince the guard to obey, sketching a quick bow to him and then doing a smart heel turn and marching out, leaving the two alone. 

For a long moment, neither spoke. They simply gazed at each other in silence, both daring the other to talk first. Finally, Hayden spoke.

"Why would you come back here? I gave you mercy, I allowed you to escape once, and I made it clear that you were no longer welcome here. You know what sort of man I am, and yet still you test me. Why?" He asked her coldly. Lyra shrugged. 

"I'm immortal, Hayden, I literally cannot die. Any injuries I sustain quickly heal. My father is gone, either dead or sealed on the other side of the ridge, and I have accidently sworn myself to the service of a mad man. All I have left is my best friend, and you've enslaved here. I'm here for her, that's all." She told him, her face blank as she listed off all the reasons her life had gone to hell. Hayden sat back. 

"You aren't here for Etalia?" He checked. She shook her head. 

"No, I'm not. I don't even care about the others you have here. I just want Anya, and then I'll leave." She told him tiredly. He watched her carefully for a long moment, trying to tell if she was lying or not. Finally, he nodded. 

"If that's the case, I do believe that we may be able to come to some sort of agreement. I don't particularly need Anya here, so I wouldn't mind if you took her off my hands. Another mouth to feed." Hayden said. Lyra narrowed her eyes at him. 

"If food is so thin on the ground, then why do you keep accepting new people? Why do you keep taking people as slaves?" Lyra questioned him. He sighed. 

"This isn't what I envisioned, I'll be entirely honest. I keep accepting new people because before the split, I said that I would shelter any who needed it once the split was fixed. As for the slaves... it works as both a punishment and free labour. Keeps the people here in line, lets me get the work I need done, done, and keeps spirits up. If they think that others are having to work harder than them, it helps motivate them. I never wanted it to end up like this, but what choice do I have?" He asked her. It felt as though he had been carrying this for a while, and had finally found someone he could talk to about it. After all, no one would take her word for anything, and she wasn't one of his people. He didn't have to appear strong in front of her. 

"I mean, you could choose not to keep people as slaves. The humans proved why that was wrong. Surely you don't want to be seen as the guy who built a society on slave labour?" Lyra pointed out. He scowled at her. 

"Of course that isn't how I want to be remembered. I will be remembered as the man who fixed the split, who brought our world back to the way it should be, and did everything in his power to look after those seeking his care." He snapped, running a hand through his hair. Lyra arched a brow. 

"Well, that isn't how it went in the human world, but maybe you're right. Maybe people will see this differently. Either way, I honestly don't care. I just want Anya." She stated, realising she was just wasting time arguing a point she didn't much care about. He nodded. 

"I would be willing to free her and allow you both to leave, in return for information about what, exactly, happened in the library." He bargained. Lyra frowned. 

"I would be happy to accept that, but I doubt I know anything more than what the others have told you." She said. Hayden's face darkened and he shook his head. 

"They haven't told me anything. The slaves aren't even talking to each other, never mind to me, no matter what I offer them. Etalia has gone quiet again; she won't say a word. I need to know what happened, so I can help my daughter and prepare for whatever the fuck is about to happen." He said. Lyra paused for a moment. Clearly, he also wanted to know about Zidros's plan. For a moment, she thought about refusing, before she caught herself. Why did she care? Even if Hayden could somehow stop what Zidros had planned, which realistically he absolutely couldn't, she didn't care whether or not he succeeded.