Castle on the Rock

April 2008

Two hundred years have passed. A new way of life has emerged.

Lily sat on the underground bench, the smell of cheap cigarettes filling her nostrils. Glancing down at her beat-up plastic watch she realized the train was exactly 1 minute and thirty seconds late. 

Typical.  Not even a train would hurry up a minute on her birthday.

While she watched the clock, she started pulling her hair out of the tight bun required for her job at the crappy cafe in the city. She eased her thick waves into a low ponytail and massaged her scalp, trying to ease away the stresses of the day.

Glancing up, she heard the train coming before she saw it. The doors slid open in front of her, and a faceless sea of people came out. The harsh lights blinded her temporarily as she attempted to find a seat on the jam-packed train.

She settled next to a young woman holding a wailing baby. The poor girl couldn't have been a year older than Lily herself. Silently, she thanked God that she wasn't saddled with a child. It was the first thing her mother drilled into her head; 

"Don't get pregnant Lily. Or your chance of getting out of this shithole is even lower."

"Welcome to WestHail station. Exit the train carefully, and do mind the gap between the platform station and your train. Thank you!" The cold, smooth operators voice announced. 

She sighed and heaved her backpack up, slinging it over her shoulder. As Lily exited the train, she threw a weary smile to the girl with the baby, but she had already looked away. 

When she walked down her street towards the community housing block, the sun was already below the horizon, streetlights flickered to life. The cold wind blew through the empty street and she shivered, hugging the threadbare coat tighter around herself. 

Happy birthday to me. 

When Lily arrived at her lot, she fumbled with a key, and then almost fell into the dark room. She flicked on the light switch, but nothing illuminated the room. She groaned and pulled out a phone from her pocket, switching on the feeble light and using it to guide her through to the kitchen. 

"SURPRISE!!" A chorus of voices yelled deafeningly. The light was switched on fully, illuminating the small kitchen with was jam-packed with people from school.

She threw a hand to her mouth. Jasper, her best friend rushed forward and squeezed her into an enveloping hug, all the air pushed out of her lungs.

The room cheered and began singing happy birthday.  Lily let a smile slowly creep over her face.

The rest of the night was a blur. A happy blur of singing and bass music thumping in her bones. She vaguely remembered receiving noise complaints. 

Lily was lying on the couch when she woke up. The sunlight filtering through the shades lit up the room. Her head was pounding with a roaring hangover. Groaning she reached for her phone. Turning it on, she saw a message from Jasper thirteen minutes ago: Last night was fucking great. Happy eighteenth :) Meet at the usual spot nine today. 

Muttering under her breath about the stupidity of him, she pulled on a coat and scarf and stepped out the front door, making sure to lock it behind her.

Arriving at the rusting metal gate, she flung a duffel bag over, watched it arc in the sky and settle on the grass on the other side of the fence, she glanced around before pulling at the loose bit of fence and slithering under it, the dirt dragging at her clothes.

Jasper's firm handhold grabbed her and heaved her onto her feet.

"You made it."

Lily rolled her eyes, "I'm not in the mood Jay."

Jasper just laughed and picked up the duffel bag, slinging it over his shoulder. He began walking up the beaten cobblestone track, Lily trailing behind. The sky was grey and covered by a thick blanket of smog and grey clouds. 

When they reached the ruins, Jasper threw the bag down next to a magnificent carved stone and the pair settled down. Out of the bag, Lily pulled a spray can. 

Jasper raised an eyebrow. "That's illegal, you know." 

Lily just scoffed. "Well, it's not like anyone else cares that this place exists."

"Well-"

Lily continued, "Besides, the people who built this did a fair bit of shit to it."

"Oh yeah?"

She gestured to the writing and carvings, in a version of English they didn't understand. And the weird carvings in the shape of animals and people and stars.

Jasper protested, "Yeah, but that's different."

Lily furrowed a brow. "How?" 

He faltered for words, "it just... is?"

She scoffed and tossed him the bottle. 

"Just paint something Jasper. Consider it another late birthday present."

He frowned. "Why do you care so much, Lily?

She blinked a few times, suddenly confused. She said quietly, "I... don't really know."