Dream Simulator {Discontinued}

CHAPTER 23 - Arabelle Clarke

So that's what a fire is like.

The strange, grey mist he presumed was smoke still hung heavy around him like a ghost. Even though he was far away from that sketchy alley and the massive place it hid underneath it, the unbearable smell kept assaulting his nostrils and burning his eyes.

Remembering the destruction that stood all around him, grief flooded through him. The destruction was something else completely. It was. . .

Well he had no words for it. Just thinking about it brought slight tears to his eyes.

Why would the Society do that?

They wouldn't destroy something like that.

As Archer inspected the charred beams, ripped fabrics, burnt Castellans and smoldering sacks of flour, he only had to guess that it was a market place.

No, not a market place.

The market place.

The Black Market.

Up until that moment, he had thought that it was just a stupid rumor people made up, but he was wrong. It was a real place, and they had been walking on top of it their entire lives, completely and utterly oblivious.

Sighing, he brought his knees closer to his chest, burying himself further under the warm blanket.

No matter how many windows and doors he left open, the smell still wouldn't go away. He even had to shower for a full hour until he was confident that his family wouldn't smell the destruction on him.

But he had failed miserably, as him taking a shower for an hour brought his parents to ask him hundreds of questions.

"Are you feeling alright?," asked his Mother, stepping in front of him to block his path so he would answer her. "Are you sick? Did something happen".

Archer groaned. "I'm fine, Mom. Please".

"I don't think he is," said his Father as he stepped out of the kitchen and into the small hallway. "He looks pale".

"I'm fine".

"Did something happen at school?," he pressed on. "Is everything okay with your friends?".

No. They plan to ruin two people's lives, and turned into complete jerks. I can't even stand to be around Jessica anymore.

Oh, and did I mention that the person they plan to take down is a cyborg, an illegal author and a Black Market trader? And that I'm really curious of uncovering whatever other secrets she hides?

And by the way, I read some of her stuff, so you, me, and our entire family could get arrested along with her.

"Yes," Archer lied. "Everything is fine. I'm just really tired. It was a long day".

Long day indeed.

Three loud knocks at their door echoed throughout the entire house, making him throw off his sweaty covers with a start. The window was still open, and there was hardly anymore sunlight pouring into his now dark room.

Looking over at the small alarm clock on his nightstand, it wrote 8:07 PM in a bold red.

"Strange," he muttered to himself.

No one ever visited at this hour.

He could hear his parents opening the door, and the sound of their muffled voices along with the voice of their guest. They seemed to be having a regular and decent conversation until the voices stopped altogether.

A couple seconds went past in silence before his father's gruff voice called "Archer! Would you come downstairs please? An Official's here for you!".

His eyes went wide with fear, and he even felt the colour draining from his face.

An. . . Official.

They know. They know I saw what she wrote. They know I eavesdropped on her conversation. They know, they know, they know.

It was hard to move his tongue which felt like cement once more. "C-coming!".

Being as slow as possible, Archer dragged himself from his bed and opened the door trying to buy himself more time. He needed to figure out what he was going to say.

"I'm sorry I broke the rules, please don't arrest me or my family".

"Or Arabelle".

Thinking about her made some of the fear go away. Maybe it was the way she hid so many secrets behind those eyes he always somehow managed to catch. Maybe it was the way how she distracted him with millions of questions.

Who is she really? Why haven't I seen her before? How long have she and Micah been in the Black Market? Does she really have a job there?

Finally, he made it down the two flights of stairs, and the Official looked unbearably bored while his parents on the other hand looked annoyed. They knew he took longer on purpose.

"Archer Ryder," said the Official, hands clasped behind his back.

"Sir. Why am I needed?".

He felt a small sense of accomplishment as he kept his thoughts busy with Arabelle and his words clear and unwavering.

As far as I know, she's a junior, and her brother is a senior.

"This will only take a minute".

She's a cyborg.

"On behalf on the Scientific Department of Discovery, you have been selected for some trials that will occur doing your school time".

His parents gasped with delight, and he forced himself to not sigh out loud with relief.

At least he wasn't in trouble, but a trial sounded terrifying.

She's a writer with interesting words.

"They will begin in approximately three days".

Arabelle Clarke has pretty honey blonde hair. I like the way the free strands in her messy ponytail fall in her face.

"You will have to complete them with a partner".

Arabelle Clarke is a Black Market dealer. She makes me curious as to what else she hides.

"Here is your partner," the Official concluded, handing him a piece of folded paper.

Archer carefully unfolded it and read the bold name printed on it.

Arabelle Clarke is my partner.