Run

Marchers Field

Marchers Field

I used to come to Marchers Field when I was little. It is a vast open space, one of only two fields in London. The grass reached my knees and the ground beneath me was dry. The night sky that would usually calm me, seemed dangerous, threatening, a place where your own shadows could turn against you. Clouds spread across the sky, like thick, choking black smoke.

I sprinted to the huge, bulky boulder, the one I used to hide behind in games of hide and seek. I settled down beside it and pulled my nightgown close. Slowly, the smoky clouds overwhelmed me and I drifted off to sleep.

I awoke to the gentle light of dawn and for a moment I believed that nothing had happened last night. Soon though, I realised I had lost everything. I’d lost my father, my mother, my future and I’d lost Rubinus.

How could a girl, fall in love with an animal – a beast? It’s irrational, impossible and impractical. That’s what I used to tell myself. I heard the quiet sound of a hound padding through the field. I prayed that this one had an owner because if otherwise it would most definitely attack me.

“Paul! Paul!” shouted a boy’s voice and the hound’s breathing quietened as it returned to the owner.

I crawled out from behind the boulder and saw a boy, probably about my age, patting his dog, Paul. He turned around and saw me. He flashed me a warm smile, showing amazing white teeth.

“Er… hi,” I said, too quickly.

“Hi,” said the boy, unfazed by the slight awkwardness of the situation.

“This isn’t what I usually wear,” I said, gesturing to my nightgown.

“I thought not. Why are you here?” he said, beginning to walk slowly back up the field.

“It’s a long story, but well… my parents, Edward and Beatrice Forrest,” I stopped as I saw the boy press his lips together and turn away. It was then that I realised he was a Degrader. His dog, for instance, had no upgrades. Degraders are people that rebelled against the LUI, against my family.

“Well, both my parents were killed last night. The wolf upgrade went wrong,” I said walking up to the boy and stopping in front of him.