Cairo

Chapter 14: Hidden Secrets

Coming back to Berrgport had worn Cane out more than he would have ever thought. Adding to the stress of having to make sure Cairo stayed out of trouble, it was an utterly exhausting day. Emotions were stirring in the back of his mind that he wasn't quite sure how to deal with. It's easy to forget something important, but it's always the things that no one wants to remember that they remember with vivid clarity. Cane's legs felt like jelly as he threw his shirt on the ground before collapsing in his bed. He stretched his body under the covers as he folded his hands behind his back, his eyes drifting quickly closed. A heaviness settled over his body while he sunk further into his mattress. Goosebumps ran up and down Cane's arm when a cold breeze passed right through the blankets. Even though there were three heavy wool blankets on top of him, Cane couldn't help the shiver that overtook him. He mumbled curses about the cold as he rolled over to his side.

The mattress creaked as his body adjusted, another wave of shivers shaking his body when his skin touched the chilled fabrics. All of a sudden Cane's heart started pumping against his chest, his stomach turning into a volcano of acidic liquid. His eyes snapped open as soon as he felt the heavy pressure settle on him. Prickles like little knives ran down his body as he locked eyes in the darkness of the night. In the back of his room near the window a woman stood, leaning against the window rail with her arms crossed as she stared directly at Cane. There was no emotion in her eyes that seemed to glow in the darkness shrouded moonlight. With a quick movement that didn't register in Cane's mind, she jolted to his bedside to cover his mouth before his scream could come out. It sounded like a dog yawning instead of plea for help that no one could hear.

"My name is Houri," she said gently, releasing her grip on Cane's mouth, a small smile touching her lips as she spoke. "I'm not here to hurt you, child, don't worry; I'm merely here because I'm scared that I, myself, will be the one to be hurt tonight. You see, your friend is the one that they sent to deal with my protests here. The people from the Government are ruthless, they're monsters who won't bat an eyelash to disposing of inconveniences, so please, if you could, help me convince your friend not to condone the act violence."

"Cairo isn't like that," Cane said with a quick shake of his head. The fear that was overwhelming him at first was now completely gone and he felt rather at home with the women standing in front of him. "He won't hurt people for no reason. You should be fine as long as you stop whatever it is you're doing. I thought the same thing when I first met him: I thought he was ruthless, untrustworthy, a waste of a human life, but he's better than that. He wants to help people, not hurt them."

A laughter that was deep, dark and completely corrupted filled the room. Cane froze in his place as he watched the woman's face distort into a sadistic kind of madness. Then she stopped laughing, taking in a large breath of air. The homey feeling that Cane felt earlier had returned when she smiled at him. Even with a smile of an angle, it still felt like every word she spoke pierced through Cane like some kind of weapon.

"They're all a waste of space, no one who could work for them can be considered a hero. They don't work for the people, they hide their monsters. You could say we're similar in that regard. Everyone's motives steam from an ulterior motive for themselves. Remember that one. It makes you rethink how you look at the world. Speaking of which, I'll take it you've never actually seen the world as it is."

When Cane's eyebrows creased into a frown, she bobbed her head, sliding it to look out the moonlight encrusted window. "You just have that look of innocence in your eyes. It reminded me of how I used to be long ago-looking for the good in people who would never have it. Sometimes there is no salvation for people. The world is a cruel, desperate, fucked up place, kid. Even this place is no match for the ruthless reality. People tend to turn a blind eye to the fact, even you too pretend you don't see, but there's homeless running amuk in the shadows, outcasted by the people who can afford to easily eat and drink with pleasure. The Government tells people such fabricated lies, I really wonder how people believe them. But it's because the lies are what the people want to hear so bad that they believe without a doubt in those same lies that any other day they would have been rejecting without a second thought."