Bound (The Guardians) Read online

  Free from the highly strung atmosphere of the travel, I relax my shoulders. I glance up at the early morning sky.

  Overhead I see people shooting past on flight boards, the most common mode of single and double person transportation. They hover into the city, the beautiful and flashy patterns on the boards screaming out to me, “You will never be able to afford one of us!” And as much as it sucks, it’s true.

  I keep my crappy, busted old ride folded up and chose to walk. A group of young children in school uniforms thunder past me. I hear one cry out, ‘Let’s go and see the Tower again before class!’

  ‘Yeah,’ another answers. ‘I wonder how close we can get before we get busted.’

  I look to the north. The building they’re talking about is Guardian’s Tower. I see it almost every day, but it never fails to amaze me. It’s a magnificent structure that sits on a hill above the city. The Tower is made of three thick columns of opaque crystal, all joined at the base, that soar hundreds of feet into the air. The middle pillar is tallest; the one to the left is a bit lower with a flatter peak and the one on the right, kind of shorter again. I’ve always thought that the pillars look like an award platform. They also have wonderful gardens outside the Tower, or so I’ve heard. You can’t really see because the grounds are encircled by a thick opaque crystal border. The only entry I know of is the large heavily guarded front gates. I will never know more than what I do about the Tower, inside or out. Its impervious structure makes it impossible for the common folk to see inside.

  Also, as expected, only people with power or influence are ever permitted to enter the sacred home of our royal family. I wish I could see one of them in person, just once. Maybe shake their magical hand and hope something rubs off on me. But they hardly ever make public appearances.

  The Guardians do a fantastic job at keeping their lives a total secret.

  CHAPTER two

  I make my way down the flat stone path of the shopping district. Only a few people pass me by. It’s still too early for the boutique shoppers to be out.

  Down the middle of the straight line of shops is a long garden with green, lush plastic plants. Every hour, on the hour, tiny sprinklers come up and water them. That’s right. They water plastic plants; it’s designed to make them look realistic and shiny. It seems like a waste of perfectly good water.

  My shoe lace comes undone and I rest my foot on a park bench to tie it. Even the seats in the strip mall are made of see-through plastic.

  But as manufactured and fake as this place is, I have to admit that being surrounded by perfection makes me feel less like a forgotten rural girl who lives in a house with cracks in the walls.

  I stand in line at my favourite drink cart and fish around in my bag for money. I try and make out like I’m deciding what to get. But in truth there’s only one thing on the menu that I can afford.

  As I pull out a small array of different coloured coins, I hear boot-covered feet walking past me. The hair on the back of my neck stands up.

  Two tall men stride by. They’re wearing black and white blocked uniforms, long pants and pressed jackets. People dressed this way are a common sight in Poridos. They’re members of Sentry. Unlike the policing Concords who worry about keeping the general peace, Sentry officers’ loyalty belongs only to the Guardians. They’re basically their personal army.

  Sentry officers are well protected and have a reputation for being heartless. I heard a story once that they beat a man half to death for looking at them the wrong way. Apparently, another time they threw a woman in jail because she stood outside the Tower too long. Whether those stories are true or not, Sentry serves as a constant reminder of the Guardians rule. There are outposts all over Selestia.

  It makes a lot of people feel like they can never escape the Guardians because Sentry are their ears.

  When I’m sure the officers can’t see me, I turn a bit to watch them disappear around the corner of a shop. From the look of their jackets, those two were fairly high ranked officers. They were walking with a purpose, as if maybe they were looking for something.

  I shrug a little and step up to the counter. The young girl working the machine takes my money. As she processes my order, she says to her co-worker, ‘Why are they patrolling so early?’

  He replies, ‘Probably has something to do with those people that keep going missing. You’ve seen the news. But shush, if they come back and hear you talking about it, they might get rough with you. You can’t even joke about it when they’re around.’

  The nervous girl hands me my beverage. I take it and walk away. The stories of people disappearing have become headline news everywhere. There’s no pattern like age or gender, place in society or even money. People simply disappear and never come home.

  The locals have become restless with questions and Sentry’s numbers have doubled, snatching up anyone who even jests about the issue. My father is convinced it’s the Guardians who are abducting people, unsurprisingly.

  I think that’s stupid.

  If the Guardians were kidnapping people, for what purpose I don’t know, Sentry wouldn’t be on patrol. Plus, there is no way it would be on the news. What’s the point of being powerful if you can’t swish a little media coverage under the rug?

  With my hot drink clenched tightly in my hands, I make my way towards work. I turn and stroll up through the main shopping arcade. The polished floors shine under the bright lights above. The wooden artefacts on the walls are hand carved. Every boutique’s glass window, displaying expensive wares, is polished to perfection. The arcade is not for those shy about splashing some cash. All the stores here sell mostly home gifts and expensive knickknacks.

  However there is one store I pass every day that makes me stop. It’s a beautiful shop selling custom couture uniting gowns. The mannequin is changed almost daily into another stunning design - the lace and beaded dresses flowing down and around her plastic ankles - her shoes adorned with crystal gems. I try not to gawk too much or too long at the faceless woman. It only depresses me.

  I don’t even have a boyfriend.

  I step up to a store’s front window and tap lightly on the glass. I wait for a moment, glancing at the name, “Finishing Touches” painted on the shop front. The glass door opens and a black-haired young man pokes his head out.

  ‘Sorry Miss, I’m not interested in anything you’re selling,’ he says.

  I smile. ‘Let me in, smart ass.’

  The young man moves out of the way and I pass into the shop. He’s my “boss” and childhood friend, Blade. Until I was seven, I lived in Poridos City in an upper class apartment. Blade and I became friends when I was only six, my mother and Blade’s mother coming together for a design project. Being the same ages, our mother’s pushed us together to play whilst they worked. We became instant buds.

  When I turned seven however, we had to declare bankruptcy and make several living downgrades, eventually landing in Pekkin. I was heartbroken. Not that I was leaving Poridos. I was getting further away from Blade. But we sent letters and as we got older, visited each other for sleepovers. Somehow, through all that, our friendship remained strong.

  He’s the reason my life doesn’t completely suck.

  Finishing Touches is an interior décor business owned by his mother, Kyla. I’m employed to help out; Blade’s hours had to be cut back when he got accepted to study music at the prestigious Bendoc Chamber of Arts.

  I have to admit that things are different between us now. Not necessarily in a good way either. He’s slowly started making new friends at school, including with the ladies. I’m not surprised. Blade is eighteen and a real cutie. He’s got short black hair, glasses that suit him to a tee and a gentle smile. He’s sweet and funny and brightens any room he enters.

  I’ve always had a thing for him. Not that I would say it to his face. But, sometimes I wonder if my feelings are still real or if they’re simply lingering residue from years gone by. I mean, I tell myself I like him. I then block out
any other possible offers from nice looking gents. Yet I know that he doesn’t think of me that way. So admitting any feelings would only make things awkward and complicated. I’d rather not lose my one true friend over something like that.

  ‘Where’s Kyla?’ I ask, walking in.

  Blade replies, ‘Ma has a meeting with the arcade manager. Well she says that. But I swear it’s a date. Those two have been making eyes at each other for weeks. Bler.’

  I rest my drink on the counter and pass by him into the back room, putting my bag and scooter down. He calls to me, ‘Are you going to tell me?’

  ‘Tell you what?’

  Blade calls, ‘The reason why you’re so upset.’

  I re-emerge and give him a faint smile. I’m always shocked at how quickly he can pick up when I’m troubled.

  ‘It’s nothing,’ I lie, returning to my drink at the counter.

  Blade folds his arms. ‘Mellea Kelisa-bey Wendorn: you tell me right now.’

  ‘Don’t full name me,’ I say with a frown. Blade stands waiting. I finally admit, ‘It’s my parents. They had another fight this morning, more Guardian stuff. I really wish one of them would tell me what happened before I was born. All I know is Da had a brush with them and has never been able to get over it. What did they do to him? It kills me not to know.’

  Blade frowns.

  ‘We’ve been over this, Mellea. You can’t make him spill if he doesn’t want to. You’ll have to hang in there. I’m sure he’ll tell you when the time comes.’ Blade walks around the back of the counter. He stands near me, taking out the store’s electronic tablet. He taps on the screen. ‘Although I’m not surprised your parents are bugging you again, I honestly thought you were upset about this…’ He presses play on movie file.

  It’s a clip from the local news station. The presenter woman behind a long desk speaks seriously into the camera. ‘Another three people have been reported missing yesterday as the disappearance of citizens across the Centreland and Stray Islands of the Coasts continues to rise. So far, no official comment has been made from the Guardian’s Lord Neros or Lady Lethia on the matter, however extra Concords have been deployed around the Poridos area for added protection.’

  Blade turns the screen off and stares into my eyes.

  I add, ‘Not only Concords, Sentry officers too. They were lurking around this morning. They freak me out.’

  ‘Listen, I’m worried about you Mellea. You live so far away, what happens if you get picked off?’ He’s serious and his eyes are deep with fear.

  I smile. ‘Don’t worry, there’s no way. Why would they take me of all people?’

  Blade puts down the tablet. ‘Why have they been taking children? Why have they been taking older men? Whoever is behind this doesn’t care about that stuff, there’s no pattern. It’s unsafe. Please…come and stay over at my place, at least for tonight. I have a class this afternoon, but after I finish we’ll have a movie marathon, like we used to. I will give you my apartment key and you can wait there.’

  To anyone else this would seem so sweet like he really cares about my safety. But I know him too well. This isn’t about the danger. It’s so obvious he’s feeling guilty for making new friends, for moving on, for ditching me. He’s been fidgety for weeks.

  Still, a part of me wants to take up his offer. I would love to snuggle with him and be totally happy resting on the soft sheets of his bed with his arm around me, pretending I was his girlfriend in some sad way. But I know he has exams to study for. I can’t mess around in his life anymore.

  I back out of the conversation. ‘It sounds great…but I can’t. Mr Horris needs help with his fruit collection today. I promised I would go and help him after work. And I should probably go home and make sure my parents haven’t killed each other.’

  ‘Another day then,’ Blade says. His face is almost relieved, but he tries not to show it.

  He quickly suggests we get the day started. I was happy to, anything to take my mind off home, at least for a little while.

  CHAPTER Three

  My work shift goes fairly normally: long and slow.

  We serve our usual upmarket customers weird shaped vases, abstract paintings and other random items that I don’t see the purpose of. Most buyers are solid deal makers. But I always leave that stuff to Blade. I do what I do best, unpacking boxes, checking stock and sweeping around his feet.

  When Blade finally flicks the window sign to “closed” I finish the end of day tidy. Blade counts and then secures the money in the safe. I take off my apron and grab my bag and scooter from the back room.

  We talk as we head out of the arcade and into the afternoon sun. I say goodbye to Blade as he heads towards his music college.

  I keep walking straight down towards the train station. When I climb the stairs, I’m instantly met by a wall of people. I’m not even close to the south platform. Being peak hour it’s normally busy, but this is insane. I jump up and down trying to see what’s going on.

  An announcement over the speaker says that all trains from Poridos City to Absotras have been halted due to an accident on the main line. Meaning all passengers from the city, going any direction, are going nowhere. The people on the platform crowd around the conductors yelling and pushing. Its rush hour too, the worst time for a major public transport stuff-up.

  I move back down the stairs before I’m trampled to find a quiet spot. I reach into my bag and pull out my phone. I search for my mother’s name and hit the call icon. When it picks up, the image is unclear. I hit the side trying to get the flickering to stop. Finally, my mother’s face appears on the screen.

  ‘Hi Momma, it’s me.’ I say to her. ‘There’s been a hold up here at the trains; nothing is getting in or out of Poridos. It could be a while before they get it sorted. So I’m going to the ALS directly. I should have enough power in my scooter to make it, but I’ll have to walk home from Pekkin station. Oh and I said I would stop by Mr Horris’s house on the way to help with the fruit picking. So I will be late home.’

  ‘Sounds like a big mess!’ she says. ‘But that’s fine. I’m actually going over to Mr Horris’s to drop off a painting anyway. I will wait for you there.’

  I end the call and unfold my scooter. I step on and hover out of Poridos. I travel down a long concrete path, taking the fastest route to Absotras. Eventually it turns into a dirt road alongside the lake hidden by trees. I prefer this way rather than having to go through the surrounding suburbs. Most of the directly outer housing groups aren’t much better than Pekkin, scum wise. They’re filled with people who can’t afford to live directly in Poridos, but they still want to be close. Residents there have to beg and scrape to be able to survive when they could easily afford a nicer place somewhere further away. But they don’t want to.

  I putt along the dirt road. My mind is a million miles away. Until, that is, I hear a popping sound. At first I’m concerned it’s my scooter again. I slow down a bit. But the noise doesn’t stop, in fact it gets louder. I tilt my head upwards to follow it.

  Above me, but a short distance to my right, flies a man on a blue flight board. He’s blond, wearing a grey bodysuit over his clothes and a pair of yellow goggles over his eyes. His mouth and nose are covered by a flap from the suit. He powers through the sky and does a few flips.

  My eyes narrow. ‘What a show off,’ I mumble.

  I start to turn away when I unexpectedly hear yelling. Two men on black flight boards are trailing after him. They wear dark bodysuits and black glasses. Both have a silver pistol in their hands. One of the men shoots at the blond guy. He flies up higher, but appears to be having trouble balancing.

  He’s hurt.

  The other man fires a shot that connects as with the blond man’s leg. He and his flight board lose altitude and strike the ground with a loud crash.

  Both attackers stop for a moment. They hover above to observe the scene. One looks at the other, signals to him, and they both fly away. Without hesitation I jump off my scooter and
fold it up. I run from the path and through the trees. I find the clearing where the man has landed and rush over to him.

  I fall to my knees and begin to panic. He’s on his back, lying flat, not moving at all. I reach over, carefully. I want to pull the mask down to see if he’s breathing, I really believe he might be dead. Unexpectedly, he groans. I pull back. One of the man’s arms twitches and he cringes as he drags himself up. The mask covering his mouth gets pulled down by his left hand. He takes two deep breaths in and out. Carefully, but with a pained look, he tugs the yellow flying glasses off his face.

  I’m stunned. He’s a lot younger than I’d first thought. Guessing I’d say nineteen or twenty years old tops. His face is soft creamy colour but pale from the attack. His eyes are a stunning and vibrant blue. I’ve never seen anything like them. He’s gorgeous.

  Gradually he tilts his head towards me. ‘Who…are you?’ he asks huskily.

  It takes me a moment to stop staring at this stunning specimen and answer. ‘Oh…I was travelling past and I saw you get shot. I came over to see if you were alive.’

  Glancing towards the young man’s long legs, I gasp. The area where he’d been shot is bleeding. Blood drips from his boot onto the grass. He glances at his foot as well, but he’s surprisingly calm as if it has happened before. Jerking forward he unclips his feet from the flight board. Once free, he pulls himself backwards along the ground with a painful moan.

  ‘I should get you some help,’ I cry, fishing fiercely around my bag for my phone.

  ‘No. I do not need help. I am fine.’ The stubborn boy tries to stand and stumbles. I quickly leap up and grab him as he topples forward. He regains balance and glances down at me.

  My eyes widen. Wow…He’s tall, really tall! I’m only in line with the middle of his ribs.

  ‘Why are you trying to assist me?’ he asks strongly.