The Pariah

Chapter 59

Chapter Song: Sleeping With Sirens - Kick Me

|||

It didn't take us long to arrive at the Snow Region. Luckily, when we boarded the docks, it seemed that the country was quiet. As we neared closer to the snowy plains, I could feel the air shifting around us. The cool, bitter feeling that I wasn't particularly fond of. People around me were feeling it too, judging by the way everyone was hugging themselves. 

The air when I breathed out turned into mist the closer we got to the icy region. When the Monarch came to a stop and the plank was placed to allow the people off, I looked back at the captain of the ship, standing with Giles. 

I wave at the pair, knowing that they'd only stay for as long as this war lasts. They wave back and I step off with everyone else. 

When the boards of the docks creak underneath me, I look to Myrina. She's right next to me, but her eyes are everywhere but looking at me. She doesn't get cold, so when I see her with a simple white tank on, I know that it isn't a problem. Her white skin seems to get even paler in this weather, I feel. I continue to stare at her and I can tell that she belongs in the colder temperatures, because she looks so majestic. 

She breathes out and I catch her saying, "Welcome home, me," before walking ahead. 

"Erin," my messenger man, Braden, came toward me. He had his arms around himself, since I don't think most of us were even slightly prepared for this kind of weather change. But I indulge in my messenger. "Ahead, scouts say that there's people heading in this direction."

I look over the heads of my camp, to the snowy distance and sure enough, I can see people walking this way. I immediately rush to the front of the crowd, with Braden following suite. When I freeze at the end of the docks, it seems all talking behind me gradually ceased until silence followed shortly after. 

Everyone's heads, I imagined, were turned in the direction I was looking. 

As the crowd gets closer, I see we're largely outnumbered. Still, I wouldn't let that get us down. I straighten up my back as far as I can allow it to go and call out, "Who are you?" 

It takes only a second for a response. 

"My name is A'kito! I am a resident of the Sands, but have come here in search of the Pariah!" The man in front calls back. "My orders are to find the Pariah and bring her back to HQ."

I tilt my head to the side in confusion. "And who's orders are you following?"

"That depends who's asking," he responds as they get close enough so that I can see his face. He was definitely telling the truth about not being from around here. His skin was far too tanned and the rest of his body seemed to fit what I've been seeing for months. "Who are you?" He questions me next. 

I don't know if it's wise to just say this at all, but if I know anything, it's that I've never been the most wise person. "My name is Erin Skies. I'm the leader of the rebellion and the Pariah." 

A'kito slowly smiles. "I had a hunch you were," he eyes my metallic arm and I feel like hiding it behind my back. "Your stunt you pulled in Ki'szar was pretty impressive. The clip has people already riled up. My scouts say they've already gotten tons of people from the Snow Region to join in the fight." He tells me, with a satisfied nod. "We've also acquired a lot of people from the Dead Zone as well--"

"The Dead Zone?" My eyes light up when I hear this. "Where are they? Take me there." I demand from the man. 

He nods his head and turns back. He says something in a language I cannot understand, but the one he's talking to appears to also be from the same place he is. Dark skin, dark eyes and the dark hair. He turns back to me and says in English, "Come, I'll take you there."