The Cipher

Chapter eight | Cyrus

  The following day seemed to drag on forever. With nothing to keep us entertained, and the desire to see Shields looming over our heads, it was impossible not to die of anticipation.

  Cyrus taught me many games, which to me seemed inane, but passed time one way or another. 

  He also told me of the Pre-Landie customs that went along with them. Most of them were used for grade school children or babies. But they were doing their job just fine with the two of us.

  When it was around five o’clock and we hadn’t received any food, the anxiety became that much more present.

  My stomach growled loudly. 

  “God, can they just release us already?” Cyrus asked.

  I scoffed. “Yeah, really. Are they trying to turn us against them?”

  Cyrus laughed, and right when he did, our door swung open to reveal an obnoxious Onyx.

  “You two lovebirds hungry?” he asked jokingly.

  I sprung from where I sat on our bed and bolted across the room and up the stairs right next to Onyx’s side.

  “Hell yeah! It’s about time.” I teased.

  Onyx laughed, shoving me lightly on the shoulder. In return, I tousled his hair, which had become an inside joke between the two of us considered the height and age difference between the two of us.

  Cyrus slowly ambled over to us and once he reached the top of the stairs, he looked rather annoyed.

  “Hey. Cheer up!” I yipped. “Dinner time.”

  I kissed him, meant to be a small, quick one, but Cyrus pressed his hand to the back of my head and began using his tongue somewhat forcibly. All I did in response was slip my hands into his hair and do the same thing back. By the time we had finished, Onyx stood red-faced. I had almost forgotten he was there.

  Cyrus met his awkward gaze, and walked around Onyx and out of the door.

  I followed after Cyrus, and Onyx closed the door behind us.

  I practically skipped through the entire camp with happiness. I had thought I knew where I was going until I realized Onyx and Cyrus were no lon anger there, and I was lost.

  Looking around, all I could see were tents upon tents that seemed to go on endlessly into the horizon. This fact freaked me out, I felt my breathing as it grew shallow and much more rapid. My heart began beating out of my chest and the world spun around me.

  Who knew how big the Slum Sector was? It could go for miles, for all I knew. I would never find my way back.

  Suddenly, I felt a hand on my back. Small and rigid.

  “I can take you to the dinner. Looks like Onyx was incapable of keeping track of the both of you.” A woman’s melodic voice comes from behind me.

   I turn around to see the exotic Zulu, her hand still on my shoulder and her eyes searching mine.

  “You got pretty far off the path, Aspen.” she said as she began to tug me, hopefully in the direction of the dinner.

  “I was just excited.” I sighed. “The next thing I knew I was alone and lost.”

  “You looked like you were about to have a panic attack. Have you had one before?” she asked.

  I shrugged. “If it’s a medical-related thing, then no. I got my special pills from the Society and never had any health problems. I haven’t taken them for over a year now.”

  Zulu laced our arms so that they were interlocked and we were walking alongside one another. “That’s probably it, then. Did you have to take the red pills?”

  How did she know?

  I nodded.

  “Those are for Landies who are prone to stress, or who don’t handle it well, at least. Have you had another episode like this before?”

  My instinct was to say no, but then my mind began reeling with images of the past year. My reaction after HQ had burned down Cyrus’s cottage. Several times when we were alone in our log cabins.

  “Yeah, I guess I have. I never have thought much of it.” I shrugged.

  “I’ll get you some red pills after dinner, okay?” she smiled.

  “Okay.”

  And I found myself smiling back at this exotic woman.

                                                               Chapter nine | Cyrus

  How Cyrus had lost his girlfriend in plain sight, he did not know. But somehow, even with the body-building oaf with him, she had disappeared right in front of his eyes.

  He shrugged it off though. How big could the Slum Sector be? She’d find her way to dinner.

  Onyx continued to lead him to dinner, which turned out to be held outside. Obviously there were not enough structured buildings to house a gathering so large.

  The tables were shoddy, but large and round. There were about ten or so, enough to fit fifty people, or more if need be. Cyrus plopped himself in a chair, and to his frustration, Onyx sat right next to him.

  He made a big deal out of scooting his chair away, when he looked up to see Zulu and Aspen making their way to the tables. Arm in arm, laughing and smiling, they approached the table.

  Of all people for Aspen to bond with, Cyrus hardly believed she was bonding with Zulu. Strict, know-it-all Zulu, who had bossed him around just days ago. This couldn’t possibly be the same girl.

  Who knew she even had the ability to laugh? Obviously this perplexed Onyx as well, who shifted in his seat uncomfortably.

  “I haven’t seen her laugh since…” Onyx muttered, but the rest of his sentence was unintelligible to Cyrus.

  Zulu lead Aspen to the chair next to Onyx, which caused Cyrus to cringe. Aspen smiled beautifully at him, and Cyrus smiled back of course, but there was something inside him that wanted to grimace. Although he didn’t know why.

  Aspen continued her unceasing conversation with Zulu, in which Onyx joined in, and Cyrus attempted to join, but could not.

  Was Aspen moving on from Cyrus? Was she finding out that maybe he wasn’t the greatest thing out there?

  Suddenly, Cyrus felt like a dog, animalistic instincts shrieking at him. Do something! 

  His territory was being breached, and he would have to defend it sooner or later.