Divided

2

"Wait, wait, wait. Stop and say all that again."
Keith and Detective Girvin had moved into a private room on the lower floor of the building. The detective had gotten straight to business, informing Keith about his brother's work.
" This will be the last time I explain this to you. Your brother is a Fetch, meaning he crosses into the Feral Zone to bring back antiques and painting which he sells illegally on our side." Girvin took a sip of the coffee she picked up along the way before continuing with a bored tone "I have evidence against him that, if shown to the High Court, will put a bullet through his head. But if you go into the Feral Zone and retrieve a painting of mine, the evidence will magically disappear." She finished with a wicked grin on her face.
Keith scowled. How was this a fair deal? How did he know this woman wasn't lying? Why hasn't he seen this "evidence" of hers?
All these thoughts bubbled up in keith's head. But quickly fizzled away as Paloma slid a tablet across the table towards him. It showed a video of Shiro sneaking through the old immigration center of The Wall and even through a large iron gate and into the Feral Zone.
Keith looked up at Paloma and said, anger in his eyes, he didn't like being blackmailed into things " How do I get through The Wall?" He was going to save his brother and bring back that painting.
The detective smiled "Follow me."

Keith’s fingers grazed the rough surface of the Wall, his mind wandering. He traced the graffiti that was sprayed on the rough surface by some of his classmates . He'd been invited numerous times to put his mark on it but had always declined because Shiro never let him. At the time, Keith had been furious but looking back on it now his brother was just trying to protect him.  He still couldn’t believe that Shiro kept all that from him. He always thought they were close. But who knows what was going on shiro’s head.

His feet slowly took him to the large cement gate which he opened using the key he was given by detective Paloma. One look on the other side and his eyes went wide. It was nothing like what he thought it would be, instead it looked as if there were no living creatures there. It seemed to be trees and silence for miles. Somehow that terrified him more than sick people running around would have.
Keith wasn't looking around for long before he felt himself fall. One second he was walking, the next he was dangling upside down in the air. Keith let out a string of curses as he hung there, hoping the person who set up the trap wasn't looking for an easy meal.
He was surprised when, what he thought was a little boy and a man walked towards him, minutes later. The pair were both wearing cloaks with hoods covering a majority of their faces, Keith guessed the hoods were to protect them from the sun that was starting to set.
The little boy ran up to Keith and squealed excitedly to the man "Look Lance, we've got dinner!"
The hooded man, Lance, let out a chuckle as he set a rucksack down on the ground and took out a knife "No, Hero, he's far too skinny. And look at that hair; nasty."
Keith was about to give this Lance guy a piece of his mind when Hero took his hood off; Keith's mouth hung open. He looked like a Halloween costume gone wrong. Imbedded in his curly brown hair was a pair of cat ears, he had whiskers growing out of his cheeks and claws where fingernails should be.
Keith's eyes widened in both awe and horror. Hero gave Keith a toothy grin which in turn revealed pointed teeth "What's your name, mister?" He asked Keith as he sat on the ground in front of him.
Just as Keith opened his mouth to tell the boy, Lance moved Hero to the side and started cutting the rope "We don't have time for this Hero. Get up and find some firewood."
Hero nodded and ran off in search of some fallen branches.
Keith fell to the ground with a thud as Lance got the rope free. Keith rubbed his head, mumbled a thanks to Lance before standing up and walking in the direction of the setting sun. In the direction of the compound Girvin told him he'd find people who would help him.
He had barely taken five steps before Lance called out "Walking alone in the dark isn't the best idea. Especially for a guy who fell into a trap meant for dumb Ferals."
Keith turned around his eyes blazing "And what do you think I should do instead?"
Lance started rifling through the rucksack taking out two sleeping bags "Well," he said "I've got a spare sleeping bag that you could share with me." Lance gave Keith a devilish grin before dissolving into a fit of laughter at Keith's red face.
Keith already hated Lance and he'd only known him a few minutes.
"Is that how you get people in your bed? You give them the option between freezing to death or sleeping with you?" Keith said crossing his arms and glaring at Lance "I'd rather freeze."
And with that Keith turned to leave but stopped when he heard Lance's proposition "Hey, hey, hey I was joking alright? No need to get all worked up. Anyway, you can take the sleeping bag and some of our food if you help us hunt a Rogue."
Keith walked back over to Lance and sat on the ground, snatching the sleeping bag from his hands "What's a Rogue?" he asked.
"It's a Feral smart enough to plan attacks." Lance replied skinning a squirrel.
Keith agreed to helping them as he planned to be far away from here tomorrow and that he'd walk away with a full stomach and a sleeping bag.
Hero bounded towards the pair, a stack of sticks in his little arms. He dropped them beside Lance and said proudly "I brought 2 more than I did last night. I'm getting strong, Lance!"
Lance ruffled Hero's hair and chuckled "You sure are, buddy. How about you get that fire started and we'll get ourselves some grub?"
Hero nodded and started setting up the fire. Keith was amazed that Hero was able to do all that. He looked like he was 7 and yet he was so much more mature than any 7 year old Keith knew. Keith guessed most kids in the Feral Zone had to grow up fast to survive.

Most of the meal involved listening to Hero ramble on about his adventures when he was sent to get the firewood. There was a lot of Lance rolling his eyes but anyone could tell that he was proud of his little brother.
Since Lance had only planned on feeding himself and Hero there wasn't enough food to feed the trio. Lance had insisted on Hero and Keith sharing the squirrel as he'd said he had a big dinner two nights beforehand that would keep him going till the next meal.
Although Keith strongly disliked him, he couldn't help but admire Lance for going on hungry.
Once the pair had finished eating, the sleeping bags were rolled out and the fire was put out. Keith had questioned why the fire had to be quenched, to which Lance told him that they'd be eaten alive as the light would attract Ferals. Keith knew he wasn't going to sleep a wink that night. Not when a Feral could be lurking in the shadows.

Keith looked up at the night sky, trying to spot the constellations Shiro had shown him when he was younger. He was scared to blink, fearing a Feral might jump out from somewhere. Just as he thought everyone had fallen asleep but him, he heard Lance singing to, who he presumed was Hero.  The song was a lullaby in a language Keith couldn't understand. But the meaning of it was clear; to help a frightened child find sweet dreams.
As the song came to a close, so did Keith's eyes. Maybe he was going to sleep after all.

I know I said I'd have this out the day after the first chapter was published BUT I have an excuse. I had family friends over for a few days and didn't have the time to write. I'll try to update regularly but no promises.
Anyways I guess as an apology for not updating when I was supposed to this chapter is longer than usual. It's nearly 1500 words. Which isn't a whole lot but it's more than usual so give me a break.
Don't forget to comment and vote!
You're feedback is always welcome. And maybe check out my other story Cleanse. Which I'll try to update this week.
Anyways, until next time
~Sarah