The Virus

Chapter 6

(if this gets to at least 100 views I will make a sequel.)

"I'm...I'm-"

"Sorry? I don't think I know what that word means either." Lorcan sighed bitterly. "Look, accept it. You're lucky."

"Lucky?" I snapped. "Lucky to have my whole family torn up because of the virus, lucky to have a dad who turned into a demon, lucky to have almost no food?" I yelled, sitting up now. When he didn't respond, I turned away. "Yeah, I don't think I'm lucky either."

"At least you knew your mom and dad, I was sent to a foster home. My dad there wanted me to be a guard." Lorcan sighed. "I didn't get freedom until I was on the team, then he decided that a simple color wasn't enough to classify me into that family, he disowned me. All the other kids at the foster home pushed me around, they hit me hard and never stopped. Our father didn't even care. I found myself crying myself to sleep every night. At least you have people who care about you, who talk to you, who let you in their house. While I was kicked out every night. At least you have something." He finished. "Now we don't have to keep secrets from each other."

"Great." I sighed. After a long silence I stood up from my hammock. "Well, I won't be able to sleep anymore. I'm up for the day...what time is it?" I asked while stretching.

"Almost o500 IM" he said.

5:00 In the Morning.

"Did you get any sleep?" I asked, dousing the fire, watching its scarlet tongues fade.

"Nope. As a guard I have to stay and watch to make sure you don't do anything bad, or that no one does anything bad to you."

"So... guards never sleep?"

"It's not likely, but if you sleep while on watch you have to be a really light sleeper." Lorcan blushed, under the dim light of the sun scanning over the horizon, I could barely see it. "But I'm not a light sleeper." He finished. I could see Lorcan getting a little flustered in the small light and smiled.

"Wow. The whole guard system is so messed up." I sighed. "What are the orders of the colors?" I asked.

Lorcan sighed. "Well, there is two guards for each color, and you already know yellow is the lowest rank, me, then there is red, orange, purple, grey, green and blue. Blue is the top rank unless a black guard is present."

"That's...very complicated." I hummed under my breath. "How do you memorize that all?"

"Oh, it's the first lesson every guard learns."

"Okay, what about...how long is your occupancy there?" We were walking now.

"Well, if there's still hope in me, and still happiness in the Capikan, then I will move up from being a yellow guard, but most people live their whole lives being one color,"

"Cut to the point Lorcan." I interrupted, punching his arm softly.

"Ow," He rubbed it. "As I was saying, most guards spend their whole life in the 'guarding' job, whether they move up the colors or not. I don't think however, that they have a 'quit here' sign. If they did I would be there. Or maybe even free." He sighed.

We stayed in silence for a while, but my mind was still buzzing with questions. "So at what age can you start applying?" I asked. I was aware my eyes were sparkling and my lips morphed into a smile, and so was Lorcan.

He looked at me, one brow arched to the sky. "Trust me Elsie," I was still getting used to that name. "You don't want to be a guard."

"What?" I asked, taken aback.

"But fine. I'll tell you." He narrowed his eyes, looking suspiciously. "Promise me you aren't going to be a guard?" He asked. I nodded, a sly smile crawling on my face. "Seriously Elsie, it's terrifying."

"Aw," I sighed. I was joking, but it was still fun to mess with this new kid.

"You have to be nine years old."

"Nine?" I asked. "Isn't this a job that could kill you?"

"Oh yeah definitely." He sighed. "I joined when I was nine."

My eyes widened in awe. "Right."

"It's not that dangerous, training is pretty rough, so-"

"How old are you now?" My inquisitive mind took over.

"Fifteen. Now, can I continue?"

I flushed a shade that would match the color of a rose petal. "Yes," I said glumly.

"So you may die during that."

"Wait... you said that you didn't want me doing it, and you also said it isn't dangerous..."

"Oh yeah, I just don't want having to see your face. Also, there's a rule, you have to take care of your peers. I...I wouldn't want to take care of you..." Lorcan blushed.

"Ouch, you're doing it right now though,"

"...Besides when I'm forced to." He finished, and glared at me.

The sun was rising as we walked, dawn was waking, and citizens waking along with it. The wall was long and tall, and it took almost to 1100 IM for the sun to pop up over the wall. We walked, smiling, waving at society, watching them crawl out of their rural homes, we were in a smaller part of Zemira I noticed. Although it was still just as amazing.

It was strange how big and populated Zemira was, and we just lived on its outskirts, so it was weird seeing so many houses compacted together like clay particles. The houses looked different than our own little shack in the midsts of the Neer forest. They were made of compressed sandstone, and volcanic acid. It was strange. One would have thought volcanic acid was not a thing to have structured on walls and should be torn away from the house immediately. It would be too dangerous. Most, however, disagree. The volcanic acid is stickier than sap and more durable than hog flesh. It is almost like a gluey substance and can help workers build their buildings faster.

"The Labs are straight up ahead," Lorcan pointed to a long white building that stretched across Zemiras width like another wall. "Once we pass through those we'll be on the coast, That's where you'll find the Corr."

I nodded as we approached the Labs.

"But we have to be careful, they're guarded."

Sorry, this chapter was pretty long, but I hope you enjoyed!! Once again if this gets at least 100 veiws before the end, I will make a seqeul. I already have an idea for that :)