Spoken Weapons

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Navaeh was confused, locked in her room again. The all too familiar white ruffled bedding, dark cherry wood furniture and bookshelves surrounding her. Many many spines aligned by height to make her OCD happy. She stared her hands, nit picking her lavender nail polish at the moment. What had she done this time? All she said was "hi" to a friend, and yet she was sent to her room.

Soon she lost herself to her thoughts. Which as usual consisted of being able to vocalize without being questioned. Maybe a choir... she's read of those. But singing was a lost art when speaking became rare. It was looked negatively upon, and even outlawed in some places. Seen as a "Siren song" and not just voicing your opinions and feelings. Then again, that wasn't looked positively upon, so why would singing? When it did the same effect, the same thing. Ha! Like anyone would listen to her ideas. They haven't for years, decades even. 50 years. Why would they start now? But she was determined to win this... somehow. She didn't know how.

With a heavy sigh, she stood, going over to her window and opening the window. A curtain of boring brown hair blew behind her. The wind slowly coming in, and her oddly bright purple eyes narrowing to see better. One of the few things she didn't hate about being locked in her room, the balcony. She could see almost all of the city, each house tiny. Little dots for light, sometimes shadows moving around within them. She liked to watch all of that.

Climbing over the small ledge of her window, she sat on the edge of the balcony, kicking her legs over the edge. Her hands sat on the top of her thighs, over the short white dress she wore. It was a requirement of her mother mainly, used to requirements she didn't hate it... anymore. What if...?

What if what though? She had wants, she had ways to achieve them. Ways she couldn't do safely. Would she put her wants over her family? She has a toddler brother, a tween sister, a loving mother and father, aunts and uncles. Her choices reflected them. Each and every bit. But... at the same time. She wanted freedom. And she didn't feel free completely.

Her brain quickly growing exhausted from the deep thought, something that was repetitive anyways. That topic was always on her mind. She hopped down from the ledge, landing effortlessly onto the gardens below, like she's done this countless times. Which she has. The wind instantly blew her hair back more, and a instantaneous smile went across her face. A small moment of freedom, complete freedom.

Letting herself truly enjoy herself for once, Navaeh spread her arms open and tilted her head back. She wished this feeling lasted forever, time frozen. But her mothers voice broke through her happiness, and she had to quickly climb up to her window. Her mother always ruined these moments. It seemed to be her talent, one she truly didn't understand.
Now leaning against the trim of the window, as her mother entered the room. You could practically feel the tenseness and annoyance, it raised off of her.

Her mother began to angrily sign, "you're grounded. And there's mail for you." Her mother - Brooklyn, removed a sealed letter from her pocket. It had a golden owl seal. It was from the government.

Naveah blinked. Seeing the seal, and nearly freezing. What had she done now? With somewhat of a shaky hand, she took the letter, opening the seal with a soft 'pop' sound. Her eyes scanning over the words. Shit. Not what she wanted the letter to be.

"Well, what does it say?" Brooklyn signed in quick succession. She at least respected Navaeh's mail to where only Navaeh opened it.

Navaeh put the letter on the desk nearby, leaving it open for a few words to peek out if her mother went to read it. Though, she doubted that she ever would. "I'm asked to appear in front of the council, tomorrow, at noon."

Brooklyn sighed, shaking her head. "I..." her signed paused, as if considering what to say. " had a feeling. You'll appear there, no skipping. Otherwise I'll bar that window of yours, no matter how against it I am."

Navaeh's eyes widened quickly, her mother couldn't. She wouldn't. Even though she read the signs read. "No!" She cried out, forgetting to sign. "I'll go!"

Brooklyn gestured quickly to Navaeh's hands, meaning for her to sign. It was well known that Navaeh didn't like signing, but she should follow traditions. "You better."

Her mother gave one last long glare before exiting the room with a slam to her door. And she fell back against the bed, unbelievable. Fourth time in this last four months she's been summoned. Her hands slapped against the bed, what had she done now? She'd tried her hardest to only sign. But keeping to her beliefs was also important.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~  The next day, 11:30 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Navaeh was pacing her room, nervously checking her watch every few minutes. Time was against her. The light blue material of her simple flowy dress consistently hitting against her thighs. She had stayed up all night trying to sleep, but she couldn't. No matter what she tried. She had dressed up, nails neatly repainted to match her dress, makeup simple and natural looking, her hair curled and pinned. She was overdressed to her liking, but required that to be meeting with the council unfortunately.

Brooklyn came into her room, snapping her fingers as Navaeh looked to her. "You best get going. Unless you want to be late, again."

Navaeh rolled her eyes at Brooklyn, stopping the pace which she had been for hours. She was honestly surprised she hadn't paced away a strip in the carpet. "Alright, alright, I'm going." She said, as usual. She felt her mother pushing at her back, towards the front door, out of her room.

"Remember to sign," Brooklyn said once she was satisfied with Navaeh's pace, and making sure that she could see the movements of her hands.

Naveah just nods. Without another word she was out of the door, and on her bike. The council's building was only a few blocks away, not more than a 15 minute bike ride. In that time she'd try pushing away the nerves, but they always came. Knowing how highly respected and how much power the council held. Anyone who wasn't scared of the council, they were officially idiots.

She still wondered what she had done to be called in, she hadn't done anything stupid. Not saying anything bad. Yet she was called in, not for parole check ins, that was not scheduled anymore.

15 minutes was too short, almost immediately over. Or at least it felt like that to her. She sighed, as her bike came to a slow halt, and feet steady against the ground to let her pass a few more moments. Not unable to stop her gaze from reaching her watch again, she checked the time for the millionth time. 11:50. She had to get inside.

Quickly getting off her bike, and chaining it to the bike rack, she made her way into the bright marble building. Almost immediately once she was inside, a lovely redheaded receptionist greeted her in sign. "Hello, welcome. Sign in please."

Navaeh just nods again, signing in her name, time she arrived, scanning her handprint on the scanner, and department. All used to this from being here so many times. She remembered to sign, "I already know the way."

The receptionist nodded in return, returning to apparent paperwork.

Navaeh walked down the floor, her heels causing a soft click sound. Which then echoed in the hallways, the rooms in this building had great acoustics. Nervously she glanced to her feet, then back to where she was walking. A quick elevator ride, she watching through the glass her ascend up 6 floors. Her mind enrapturing the people walking around, all looking busy or in conversations.

The elevator doors opened, a heavy oak door held her view in front of her. She knew it was the councils room, and her heart skipped a few beats. More nerves kicking in. Pushing herself, she walked out of the elevators, and after a deep breath, opened the doors.

Something made her pupils widen fully, something she never thought she'd see. The whole council was there, all clearly ready for her arrival right on the dot of noon. True fear ran through her veins, down to bringing a chill to her bones. She noticeably shivered once. And that's the moment she knew, with all 50 of the council there, she was in deep shit.