Blood for Blood

Chapter 2

*4 months ago*

The sun rose upon a new day, a new start for Lyra. Years of oppression, tyranny and limitation lay forgotten as Lyra gazed upon her kingdom. It had taken blood, sweat and tears to construct. Lyra herself had long, flowing dark brown hair, accompanied by shallow brown eyes. Her face bore few battle scars, whereas her eyes were filled with scars which seemed to tell the whole story. But she had escaped now. She was free now.

Lyra diverted her gaze to a lamppost below, and spotted Andre walking down the road. Andre was probably the reason why this community existed. He had a rather magnificent persuasive quality about him, he had the power to change the minds of many people, and have them follow him like sheep. It was without a doubt that she couldn't have got here without him and his actions. Yet Andre was a humble man, and did not want to take the final position of power, hence why this was Lyra's city.

It was a community she had built on trust, and not fear or tyranny. The streets were busy, yet darkened by the towering walls which enclosed the area, keeping the rest of civilisation out. Deep down, Lyra knew that these walls rocked of the boat of many, particularly annoying the people in power outside of the walls. These sorts of people are those who rule on the basis of fear and enforcement, so these walls were to keep them safe. You see that years of ignorance of the worlds major problems, climate change, famine, black inequality, you name it, had bubbled and boiled up, leading to a great civil war, a civil war that did not end well for most. The new government was, of course, not democratically elected, and imposed much stronger rules and regulations than most were used to. Lay a hair out of line, and very quickly your fate would be be public execution. In fact it would be a rare occasion to not have to watch an execution one day.

Lyra quickly pushed these thoughts from her head. They made her stomach churn, her head spin and eventually her face red with anger. Somehow, one-day she would have to put a stop to this tyrannical reign. Sighing, she consulted her 'to-do' list.

Lyra had agreed to meet Andre in the van this morning. Task number 1. Quickly pulling her hair up into a ponytail, she ran down the stairs and stepped onto the cobbled street. It was a small community, which also meant it was a very tight and friendly one. No more than 10 metres from her front door, had Lyra received several friendly and reassuring smiles directed towards her. Lyra marched on with eagerness until she reached the van.

This van meant a lot more to Lyra than you could ever imagine. She remembered the many late nights she had spent hunched over the single table with Andre, planning and devising the best way to rebel against the government, by building this community. This van is the very centre of Ashshore, and so it is as vital as a heart may be to all humans.

"Hey Lyra, glad you turned up" a voice shouted from the distance

"Andre what did you want to tell me?"

"I've found a new member, his name is Jak-"

Lyra was taken aback. The audacity! She and Andre had agreed in this very van that there would be no new members of Ashshore, as to be sure of no government spies.

"How can you know he's trustworthy?"

"Lyra, I just do know"

Upon seeing Lyra's uncertain look on her face, he hastily added: "You know you can trust me, right?"

"Fine" Lyra said with her lips pursed tight, "But this is the last time, ok?"

Andre smirked: "Deal"

Lyra returned the light expression, not wanting to cause any further tension. She simply could not afford to be mad and potentially lose Andre, the founder of this nation. It was especially vital to not loose him right now as tensions grow from the outside, and soon she would need him more than ever.

Whilst lost in thought, Andre had already began to walk away. She gazed upon his soft brown curls swaying in the gentle breeze as he disappeared behind the van. There was something so persuasive, so powerful in his piercing blue stare, she thought to herself, no wonder he was a born leader. Task 2 on her to do list was to try figure out what to do about the growing tensions outside, but who was she kidding, she needed Andre for that. But he was gone for now. She'll have to talk to him again tomorrow.