The New Dynasty

The Law is the Law

Russell awakens to angry voices. First, Stacey's:

"...much blood has he lost?"

"I'm not sure."

"Aren't you a doctor? How are you not sure?"

There's an irritated sigh. The other voice is a familiar one, a man's voice, but Russell's mind is still too foggy to place it. He's lying on a hard surface. He feels the pressure of fingers against his thigh, although there's no pain. He wants to open his eyes and get up, but he's too exhausted.

"Was it too much?" Stacey asks, "Is he going to live?"

"You can see that he's breathing."

"You said his blood pressure was low."

"Yes, because he's unconscious." The other man's tone is patient, but barely. Dr. Barnes. That's who it is, one of the only two doctors in Middlebridge. Dr. Barnes is a quiet, soft-spoken man who's always remained unusually calm even in the most chaotic of circumstances. Only Stacey could test his patience.

Russell feels the side of the table creak.

"Why is he still bleeding so much though?" Stacey asks.

"Because I'm putting a needle through his skin. I understand you're concerned, but you don't need to worry. He's going to be fine. The tips of their arrows are ignited..." Dr. Barnes hesitates, like he's choosing his words, "A lot of the wound was burned closed. He isn't bleeding as much as you think. Now will you please sit down and let me finish? I'm going to take good care of him."

There's a long moment of silence, and more pressure in Russell's thigh. Stacey speaks again.

"He needs one more stitch in that direction, I think."

"Garrett, will you please?" Dr. Barnes says in an exasperated tone, "I cannot work with this boy hounding me."

"You think I'm hounding you?!"

"Stacey, let's step outside." Another deep voice comes from further away in the room and Russell instantly feels a wave of relief at hearing it: it's their father.

"Get off me." Stacey snaps coldly. "Fine, I promise I'll shut up. But he's my brother, and I'm gonna be right here when he wakes up."

Russell feels a warm hand take ahold of his own before he slips back down into the darkness.

***

When Russell opens his eyes, it's dark, and he's lying in his bed under a blanket. He doesn't move.

"You missed the fallout."

Russell looks over, and Stacey is sitting on the floor between their beds, facing away from him. It looks like he's sorting through his bluenite. How did he know I was awake? But it's best not to dwell on it. The burning in his leg has returned, and his left elbow is throbbing.

"It was pretty epic," Stacey continues, "Pop and Charmaine were furious when The Law brought you in. They automatically blamed me, of course, and I had to run and get Dr. Barnes. The second you were all wrapped up and okay, they both let me have it. They took turns. It's the worst Charmaine's ever cursed me out. You would have been entertained."

"What time is it?" Russell asks.

"It's about two...not that it ever matters."

"Is my arm broken?"

"It's just bruised. You're going to have a nasty scar on your leg, but otherwise, Dr. Barnes says you'll be fine."

Russell turns his head to look out the window. He can see the tops of some of the trees, and the bluish moonlight reflecting off of the snow-covered leaves. He remembers the fight he'd had with Stacey about who got the bed by the window, but he can't remember how he'd won it. Pop and Charmaine must've intervened. It's a beautiful view, and one that most kids in Middlebridge wouldn't dream of having. The Canopy, where they live, is the only village in town with two-level homes. The Westwood homes are decent, but they're all one-level, and many of the homes in the Backlands don't have windows at all...or floors. Or proper plumbing.

Canopy kids tend to stay away from the Backlands.

"I thought I was going to bleed to death," Russell says.

"It's a good thing we live up the road from the doctor."

"We're lucky."

Stacey snorts. "Do you think so?" He turns around, and glares at Russell. "We're lucky to get shot for going outside?"

"They shot me because we didn't stop when they ordered us to. We should have just—"

"Why were they chasing us in the first place? What right do they have to come bother us when we aren't doing anything wrong?"

Russell opens his mouth to argue the point, but he realizes that he can't. He's never put much thought into why they can't go past five miles into the forest; it's just the way things are. Occasionally, every few months or so, a new story travels through town about someone getting imprisoned or killed for doing something illegal. You hear enough of those stories, and you learn quickly enough not to ask questions, to just obey. Pop's mantra comes to his mind: The law is the law.

"It was exhilarating though...running." Stacey grins. "You've gotta admit it."

Russell suddenly feels his heart pumping again, and the bitter wind against his face as he dodges through the trees and jumps over bushes, his boots pounding against the snow as horses thunder behind him. Being chased by The Law was absolutely TERRIFYING. But exhilarating...?

"Yeah," Russell says, albeit reluctantly. "It was."