Infinity's Row - Interlude

Chapter 1

It is quaint and dim inside. The soft lights cast a radiant, almost orange glow in the place, shedding light on a couple laughing, a man performing on a banjo with his group of friends watching and some children run about screaming. Their parents are too busy having fun themselves to tell them to quiet down. 

Then there's me.

I sit quietly at the counter, away from the hustle and bustle. One arm rests lifeless on the wood while the other clutches an icy, vacant glass. My eyes are closed and my mind is clear. I don't do anything to affect the tides of excitement. Instead I simply let them wash over me. Unsurprisingly, the waves do not get me wet. 

I can hear the door creak open, then smacked shut. The clicking of heavy boots resonate through building in spite of all of the commotion. Gradually they get louder and louder until they stop and a shadow looms over me.

"Hey there."

I open my eyes and flick them upward. Nora, a tall woman in her mid-twenties with long, dark extravagant hair, looks down on me and smiles. The only hint I give that I've seen her is a dip of the head.

She takes this as an invitation to sit down. "Nice to see you here. You're with other people for once."

"I'm not exactly socializing. I prefer being alone."

"Then why are you here? If you wanted to be by yourself, why not just stay at home?"

I stare ahead at the menu. The white letters begin to distort and blur. 

We remain like this, silent and steadfast in both of our different opinions when my older sister shifts in her seat. "The Row recruitment is tomorrow."

"I'm perfectly aware of that," I say. 

"Are you ready?"

"I've been bred for it, same as you. How can I not be?"

"I'm not talking about physical preparation. I'm talking about mental preparation."

My hand on the glass tightens. "What kind of question is that?"

"A simple one. And," she cocks her head to the side, "it's not one that you seem very keen to answer."

"Why are you suddenly so interested in what I think?"

"Because you're my brother. Of course I'm interested."

Nora rests a hand on my shoulder. "Look, you're going to do great. You just have to place a little faith in yourself."

I shrug her hand off, the movement far sharper than I had intended it to be. "Stop it. You talk as if I actually want to be recruited."

"Elias, when I first applied, trust me, I had the same feelings that you do right now. But in time I came to see that it was a great honor--"

I slam my fist on the counter and finally look up to see Nora's face. "Maybe I don't want a great honor." The words come out very carefully, punctuated with coldness. "Maybe, you know, I don't want this life. Perhaps I just want to live a quiet, uneventful life. And it doesn't involve being in the Row, or becoming just like you."

For a long time, Nora is motionless. Shock has contorted her face, and she stares at me with something filling her bright blue eyes. I don't think it can be described as anything other than hurt. My stomach contracts at the sight, and I divert my eyes away. I can't bear to look at her face.

Suddenly she stands up and rams the stool back in its original place. I try not to cringe at the loud grinding it produces. Nora subsequently turns on her heels, strides to the door and slams it behind her as hard as she can.