Chapter 40: Sector U

I blinked to make sure I wasn’t seeing things. The description had grown, and by a lot. There was a lot to unpack. Firstly, the weaver seemed to be a lot more powerful than I had thought. Secondly, I still controlled the threads despite my blessing being changed to another thing altogether.

Shaper? What the fuck is shaper? I reached out my hand while channeling magic through it, feeling the electrical buzz of the veil brush against its fingertips. Nothing had changed. Only the fact that I had access to the red threads. Apart from that, I had no clue what changed. It seemed awfully unnecessary. 

I groaned and kicked a pebble. It bounced down the roof to the street below. I wished there was someone to talk to about these things. Sera would have been a prime candidate, seeing as we shared a fate, but she was bound by things I didn’t even feel like learning about. Maybe I should have stayed and talked things over with Joanna. Maybe she knew, she had the education and background to know, after all.

I leaned against a crude chimney of interlaced metals and brick. “They better hurry up…” I complained with a mutter, and stared out at the city. Never in a million years had I expected I would miss the rustle of bustle of London. It used to feel so… destitute. But the zombie-like working class didn’t hold a candle to this place.

The others would be catching up soon. There was no reason to stray further away, not even self pity. They needed a guide, and I needed security in numbers. I scanned the snaking alleys leading to the towering building. They were empty and quiet, the rooftops untouched and layered with soot. Untread and unkempt. Most didn’t dare go to the coiled building. I wouldn’t want to go back either, if I didn’t need to.

Not only to avoid the bad memories, but also to avoid danger. I had already had enough of that for this week. I just wanted to get my shit done and go back home. Back to the amphi, fight some stumblers, flesh golems, and the giant snake-man, and then get the hell back to earth. But of course I needed to go back to the Chambers, back to sector U. Short for unknown. 

I scoffed to myself. 

Despite their many good points, Joanna and Samara had a terrible naming sense. Very unimaginative. When I pointed it out they shot me down without a second thought. Sure, they had a point, but making the best of what you got had kind of become my specialty. Seeing as I was used to having less than most others dragged down here. 

I shook my head to rid myself of the thoughts. They had done nothing to me. Most of them anyway.

The sheet metal creaked underfoot, as usual, when I stood again.

Jumping from rooftop to rooftop became somewhat of a normal occurrence a few days ago. At the beginning it was nerve wracking, now I practically skipped over the gaps like they were puddles of water loitering the street. 

The others should have left the amphitheatre by now. Most of them had physical blessings. It wouldn't take them long to catch up. Nea knew very well what path I used to take, there was no chance of them missing me. 

“I wonder if ‘shaper’ is derived from your blessing as well?” I mumbled, hoping Sera was listening in despite resting. “If it is, then what separates it from the weaver’s blessing? Is your blessing derived from the weaver? Who even is the weaver? There’s so much I’d like to know. So much you’re keeping from me…” 

It was a monotonous life down here. Even if no days were the same in one way, in another, they all were. The crystals always shone with the same intensity. People always struggled to survive. None of us knew what was going on back home, or even in the other parts of the Forgotten lands. Who knows, maybe they even gave this shit hole a different name while we were missing? 

It had been more than two months now; if time moved the same here as back home. Joanna and Samara had assured me that it did, but I still couldn’t help but wonder. 

I fished up a piece of dried fruit from my pocket and put it in my mouth. It was sweet like candy, but didn’t lose its taste. I could keep savouring its sweetness until the primal parts of me forced me to swallow. 

“I wonder if you would have liked it here…” I mumbled and gazed at the stalactite roof. I’m sure the certainty of monotony would have suited you. You never did like when things moved on. Always opposing mom and dad whenever they forced us to stay with a friend of theirs. 

In hindsight, I knew they did it with our best interest in mind. It was mom’s way of shielding us from seeing the darker sides of dad. But I still held it against her. Even now when she played no part in my life. “Even now that you’re no longer here,” I whispered.

I swallowed the fruit prematurely and rubbed my eyes. “Shit.” 

How could Hugo talk like he knew me? So what if he read a few files? A few reports supplied to the order by Dorothea? She probably sold my information for some pocket change. Coined it as a macabre tale of loss and patricide. A cruel play not at all connected to her prestigious branding. 

It probably sold well too. People have always been intrigued by things that scare them. And I could scare them. I could scare myself. Especially now that taking lives was becoming second nature to me. I barely even flinched when I killed the cook, and the woman. 

“Cal!” Nea shouted from behind. John and Samuel trailed her.

Samuel? Well that was a surprise. Why would they send a kid out to do this?

“Yeah,” I responded leisurely, watching as they bounded over the rooftops toward me. They moved without my practiced grace, but their physicality more than made up for it. Feet moving quicker than the metal sheets could bend.

“You should have waited,” she hissed quietly enough that only I heard her, glancing at the others. 

The odd grouping made sure that every faction in the amphitheatre had at least one attendant. I was a proxy for Joanna, Nea and John for Samara, and Samuel for Hugo—who was supposed to be working with Joanna.

“Why? Neither Samara or anyone else is the boss of me,” I spoke softly and grabbed another dried piece of fruit. It was more than I had rationed for myself, but today felt as good a time as any to treat myself. A pity meal, if you would. 

Nea was about to retort when John placed his hand on her shoulder, he nodded his chin at me, “You feeling alright? After… You know.”

“Yeah. The doctor banged me up real good but I’m fit as a fiddle now.” 

I stretched my arms above my head, fingers interlaced, and turned to let my eyes linger on Samuel, then move to Nea and John, “You sure about this? The Chambers isn’t a place for  kids.” 

Samuel bared his teeth with a growl. “I can handle it just as well as any other. Don’t look down on me.”

I rolled my eyes, Nea stepped forward. “You heard him. Now lead the way.” 

I knew Nea wasn’t the one to mess with, but I couldn’t help myself. 

I smirked. ”Now lead the way … what?”  

Her face took on a beet red colour, not from embarrassment, but rage. If John didn’t cut in to stop her, steam would probably roll out her ears. “Cut the shit, Cal. Let’s go,” he said. 

I sucked loudly on the piece of fruit while watching Nea contain her rage, then smiled. “Aye, aye. It’s right down this way.” 

I pointed to sector U despite everyone knowing where we were headed. 

They heeded my words like I knew better than them. Thing was, I didn’t know if there were any jailors. I hadn’t seen any during my travels with Elana. The city wasn’t that big so I should have seen one by now if there were more. I had tried to explain this to Joanna, but she was adamant in there being more than one. If that turned out to be the case, then I sure as hell wouldn’t push my luck and fight them. Not unless absolutely necessary.

I stomped down on the roof, launching myself across a deep gap to the next building. My hair and clothes fluttered in the wind. The satchel had grown light enough that it trailed me like a cape. I really did feel cool. 

When I landed on the other side of the four meter gap, I looked back to catch Samuels surprised expression. I smirked. His eyes shot open as he noticed and hurriedly wiped the surprise from his face, then began to worriedly shift his feet.

“I can’t jump that far…” he admitted quietly. 

John patted his back. “It’s alright. He’s just showing off. There’s a smaller gap just a little bit ahead.” 

“I’ll wait here then,” I said with a wave. 

Nea gave a short snort and jumped over like it was nothing. Her small feet banged against the roof with an echo. I clicked my tongue. Show off. 

I led them out of sector C using the path I always did. The tension noticeably rose as we crossed into sector U. John and Samuel in particular kept a tight grip around their weapons. Samuel with his spear, and John his sheathed sabre. 

Nea exuded an air of superiority, her nose pointed to the roof whenever I looked at her. She was holding a grudge. Honestly, I didn’t think a simple please was too much to ask of her. She had no right to demand things of me. 

I wasn’t—nor had I ever been—her subordinate. Her status as Samara’s right hand gal gave her an inflated sense of worth that only seemed to grow with time. She was much worse now than she had been just after losing her sister.

I rubbed my face. That was no way to think of a comrade. Absolutely despicable, Cal. Get your mind right. 

I smacked my forehead. She gleaned over with her eyes pressed into tight slits, as if I’d gone mad. 

She chewed her cheek, and huffed. “Sorry,” she whispered. 

I almost let my mouth hang open in shock. Now that was unexpected. I studied her expression. Her cheeks flushed with colour. She tugged at my shirt with a pinch of her fingers.

“What are you doing?” I asked and nodded to the backs of John and Sam. “Let’s go.”

“I didn’t mean to boss you around,” she spoke quietly. 

“I… Uh… It’s alright”

She nodded and averted her eyes from mine, staring at the others. They stopped to let us catch up, waving us over.  

“Right. No more fucking around. Let’s stay focused.” 

***

“You spent how long in there?” Nea asked quietly, eyes locked to the looming structure of the Chambers. The others reacted much the same. This was the first time they saw it up close, after all. I also felt awestruck as I gazed at its towering silhouette, and I had spent more time there than any other living being… Save Sera, if her condition could be counted as living.

I sighed. “Give or take a month.”

Samuel looked at me as if he was staring at a ghost. 

“What?” I asked. “It’s not like I had a choice.” 

Besides, it was just a building. A damned curse of a building.

He gulped. “No. I get that… It’s just…” 

“It’s just what?” 

“…Nothing.” 

“Alright then.” I turned to the streets below. They were as empty as the day I escaped. I closed my eyes and took a breath. “Last chance to turn back… Samuel?” 

He glared, biting off his words. “I won’t.” 

“Okidoki,” I said and dropped down from the ledge, strengthening myself to cushion the impact. Gravel and soot gnashed beneath my weight. The others thudded down just moments after. 

Whenever we passed a window I used their reflections to confirm that we weren’t being followed. It was unsettling to see my own reflection staring back after so long, but it was something I had to get used to. 

We took a few snaking turns through narrow alleys before ending up at the bottom of the steps leading up to the entrance. There would be no more hiding when we stepped foot on the shaved stone. I confirmed that the others were ready, they nodded resolutely at me. Samuel’s eyes were shaky. I had given him ample opportunity to back out. This was no place for a child, no matter how mature he thought himself to be.

I didn’t like the little brat, but I saw myself in him, however much I disliked the fact. Rebellious, eager to prove himself to be more mature than he was. 

I stepped onto the stones. The last time I walked down the steps I hadn’t felt this uneasy. I had still been painfully naive then, maybe I still was. Maybe all that had changed was that I got my hands on a wand and knew how easy of a target I was. I gritted my teeth and kept walking. The others stood frozen behind me, not joining the climb until I had made it at least ten steps up.