Trials

Chapter 13- Liam

          Liam stares up into the dark sky. The clear day had turned bleary fast. A slow rumble of thunder echoes distantly from the trees. Of course another rainstorm was coming. But of all the storms he'd experienced in the rainforest, he had a feeling this one would likely be one of the hardest. He's surprised there would be a storm this big. It was no secret that they weren't under the same sky as the rest of the world. He has some speculation of how they do the weather and the realistic sky, but no one really knows for sure.

           And yet, as the rain begins to fall slowly, kids were already rushing around, preparing for the storm. They got rain all the time, but the others knew as well as him that this storm could be catastrophic.

          Then there were the kids still out there. He needn't worry about Jay. She could handle herself. Although it was suspicious that she hadn't returned yet... Oh well, one less burden to handle in his small pack of outsiders. He was, however, worried about Mya. He recognized her dull face as soon as he saw her. She was undergoing Transformation. How she slipped past cams and Silent he didn't know, or maybe he just didn't care. Her parents didn't even send out a distress call when she hadn't returned. Liam told Josh to make up a story, but he didn't expect any excuse to hold for a while. It didn't really matter. After she awoke he'd make sure she was where she belonged.

           Everyone was almost inside except for the few checking the hut roofs. Liam halts one of his close associates and she faces him attentively.

           "Rynn," He says calmly. "Status?"

          She nods. "This is gonna be one heck of a storm. Most everyone is already in, but I suggest we remain inside for the rest of the day. I would advise to send at least one more patrol to do a double check, sir."

          Liam smiles. Rynn and a few close others have been loyal to him since the beginning. They try their best to enforce his rules, and he keeps them begging like dogs in return for his praise.

          "And you're sure this storm won't hold until the Trial is done for the day?"

          "Positive," She reports. "Discussion around camp suspects it may even still be going by the time we get back tomorrow."

           Liam nods in acceptance. Everyone always assumes the weather keeps on going even after everyone leaves. The plants and animals too. Where else would they go? And the sky always darkens when they leave, so perhaps the Trial even has those starry nights he'd seen from his past? Likely not, it would waste more energy when no kids were even there, but one can dream...

           He'd wish he'd stay at nights. On regular nights he went back along secret shortcuts with no cams to an abandoned room no one used. It was lonely there, but not in the rainforest where everything was alive. And maybe the Silent would throw him out if he got back in, but only just for a minute...no. He had to be the example for his Trial. He would have to keep up his image. Had to protect his Trial. There would be a few casualties, sure, but Liam was here for a reason. Noah had been a setback. The boy had a plan and after that Liam's memory was... fuzzy. Strange. He couldn't even remember Noah's plan. And he had disappeared. The feeling only reminded him of one thing. Something that had erased one's entire memory. But no, too risky to give out in one mass dose. Liam himself had taken a part in creating it. So what if Noah had gotten it? Or better yet, the Silent? Had they weaponized it to target only certain incidences? The more he thought about it, the more likely it sounded. Liam had to stay low. He didn't want any blood on his hands. Not now. But if Noah had taken his work of genius, sacrifices had to be made.

           Then a soft roar grew behind him. Liam jolts around. Muddy footprints beside him pointed towards one of the huts. He frowns. Even Rynn wouldn't always be loyal. That's why he only relied on himself. It's the only way he's survived all these years.

            The roar gave way to a loud whir of a siren. Liam sprints towards the Trial entrance in hopes that the abnormal alarms may fling it open. And sure enough, when he gets to the heavy metal doors they open with a noise just like the thunder. When Liam spots the first glimpse of the scary black faceless mask he darts behind the nearest tree. Liam stares around. The large metal Trial door seemed to stretch up to the sky, but Liam was smart enough to know the holographic projection. How far it stretched, however, he's always wondered. Liam takes notice of the rifles they carry and makes a hasty choice to skid up the tree. It's a skill most everyone's had to learn in the rainforest. But not the most stealthy. Liam's foot accidentally slips on some bark that's loose from rain and the patch of tree bark tumbles to the mud with a thud. One of the Silent turns to the tree and Liam pokes his head out to see the Silent, rifle up, beckoning him to come out. Liam curses under his breath and climbs down. He comes, hands up to spot a group of three Silent.

          "What can I do for you?" He says with one of his charismatic grins.

        One of the Silent rushes up to him. A man in a hurry. A weakness. But still dangerous. How he despised a man in a hurry. Liam gives a small groan.

         One of the Silent takes off his mask to reveal a tall man with a slender face.

         "We are looking for someone," He says calmly.

         Liam's brow furrows in surprise. A Silent that speaks? Odd. And strange. Even in front of him. Seems precarious so close to the other children. They probably would only speak in an emergency. Was it an emergency?

         Liam studies the man. Not one he recognized. He collects himself with a deep breath.

        "Who are you looking for?" He asks.

         "A girl," The man replies. "Not much is known. She's escaped custody. Really what I'm saying, has any new faces appeared in your Trial, Liam?"

         Liam gathered himself. Of course he'd done a double check of everyone who went in. Other than Jay and Mya, everyone else should be in the huts. Then his hopes soared. Had Noah come back? No. A girl. He had no knowledge of who that could be, but things like this could sometimes play in his favor.

           Liam gave a sly smile. "Suppose I did see an extra face this morning. But why would I tell you?"

          On command, a Silent takes his g*n out and points it to Liam.

          Liam laughs. "Your tranquilizers don't scare me."

        The Silent points it at a tree and a small bullet collides with the tree in a fiery boom that shatters Liam's ears. Liam frowns when he sees the blackened hole it made in the thick bark. Liam bit his lip with frustration. They wouldn't kill him. Would they?

       Liam took a deep breath. He still had control of the situation. Their threat was only another factor in it.

      "I'm sure Dale wouldn't like you killing me," Liam threatens. "So I'd hate for you to report to your boss that you murdered the one kid here who knows Daniel."

    With that, the man with his mask off froze and signaled for the other Silent to lower his g*n. Fear blossomed in his irises. Liam grins. Yeah. That name could stop a war. It was how Liam has managed to blend in. To receive his powerful status. A name of his past.

      Something in the man's face had changed and he now spoke to Liam with caution.

       "I'm-I'm very sorry." The man took a breath. "Now, do you know where the girl is?"

       Liam stares at him as certain emotions waved through him when he gazed at the man. Fear, regret, longing, love. This was a man in despair. Maybe the others too. Not worth his time.

        "Down south hiding out on a hill." He lies.

         The man with dark hair waved a command and they trudged through the forest, leaving him behind.

         Liam smiles again. Jay and Mya would be the only ones to question him as soon as he broke news of Noah's death. May as well dispose of that mess now. And the guards only knew they were looking for a girl. Perfect.

        Liam turns to stride back to camp , but curiosity pricked at him like a needle. There was a fugitive in the Trial. In his trial. How interesting!

         Liam frowns. He wasn't sure what he'd do with this mystery girl when he found her, but he had to seek her out. Maybe a trade to the Silent or maybe she could even offer him information. Either way, the mystery thrills him and he decides to join in on the hunt. There were risks of course, even though everyone was safe inside the huts. He could still be punished by the Silent. Just not by death. But what everyone didn't know is that now, thanks to Noah, he has a new weapon. Liam grabs a stick and pokes it around in the small pocket he'd crafted in his Trial clothes. Liam gently lifts it out and inspects the small creature wrapped around it. His little pet. He called it Blue. The black and blue poison dart frog. Perhaps it was dangerous to keep him out of the jar, but he was careful. And besides, he'd been more wary now ever since Zach's disappearance. Might as well have a weapon ready to fire whenever he needed it. He tucks the minuscule frog back into his pocket and surveys the jungle.

           It was easy to be distracted among the immense trees and the lively rainforest thicket. It was always bustling with the sounds of odd birds, chirping insects, and a splash of water somewhere. Liam searches along the ground awhile for any sign of footprints in the mud until he got too close then he'd liked to the deep forest. It was then when he was about to give up and go back to camp when he heard the small hiss behind him. Liam's eyes snap back to a large slithering shadow beneath the thicket of the rainforest. It was just a snake. Plenty of snakes had slithered along too close too camp and had learned their lesson, but he was very close to the deep forest, so it was their domain. Liam looked carefully at the shadow to judge the species by its size, but it was moving too quickly and all Liam could do was prepare for the worst by grabbing a jagged rock. When it came closer to a pale patch of light is when Liam recognizes it. A green anaconda! Liam held back his terror and backed away slowly. Anacondas themselves were very territorial and fast. He couldn't outrun it if he tried. His only chance was to back off or fight as a last resort. The deadliest snake in the rainforest. Well, he's faced worse. Liam backs up until his back hits a tree and it nearly knocks the breath from him. His breath quickens as the snake slithers closer and exposes its muddy green-colored body. Liam was finally frightened. He was going to die. No. He wouldn't die. He couldn't run, but he could fight. Liam stuck his elbow back and through the rock like a torpedo at the snake. It barely missed the snake, but gave it a nasty scratch down its scaly side. The snake hissed and shimmied closer. Liam thought about flinging Blue at the snake, but likely the frog's venom would burn its scales, and it would shed that layer. It was then Liam heard a rustling and looked up to the trees. The silhouette of a kid hid among the canopy. Silently watching. Liam wanted to scream. Were they really just going to watch him die?

           "Please!" Liam cries out to them. "You have to help or- or find someone who can! You can't just leave me to die out here!"

            The silhouette shifted a bit, but no one came down.

            The snake drew less than a few meters away from him and it unhinged its jaw, ready to take the killing bite.

               "PLEASE!" Liam screams.

             Finally the person in the trees  grabs a loose vine and jumps off their perch, the tree bending with effort to bring them to the ground, while the person's arm was wrapped tightly around the vine, lowering them down gracefully.

             It was a girl he'd never seen. Several years younger than him, with dark hair braided back neatly. She held out a hand in front of Liam and the snake stops. It didn't move, but its mouth was still open, displaying its wicked set of fangs.

            The girl gave a wave of her hand and the snakes jaw drops back and it sulkily slithered in the opposite direction.

           Liam was dumbfounded. The smaller girl gave him a look, as if she was trying to assess if he was a threat or not, her brown eyes darkening in complete focus.

          "How'd you do that?" Liam asks.

            She shrugs. "I don't know. Just something I could do for awhile. Went into a coma for a few days and when I woke up I had... changed, I guess. The first thing I did was hug my dog and it was like my whole mind was burning. He seemed upset and I just wished I could speak to Tucker, let him know I was okay. I don't know what happened, but I could speak to him. And many others." She gestures to the snake still slithering away.

              Liam almost gasps in surprise. A girl who'd gone through her Transformation? Here? And what Trial had she been in where there was a dog..."

               "You've gone through... a Transformation?" Liam asks.

              The girl seemed confused. "You know what it is? Have you gone through it too?"

               Liam didn't say anything. It was a story he'd never share with anyone. Much less a stranger.

            The girl changes the subject. "That snake was just grumpy. It had a nasty burn above its eye from something and was ready to take his anger out on anyone. I told him to go. He won't be back anytime soon. What's your name?" She asks.

         Realization suddenly hit him. Was this the girl the Silent were after?

          Liam held out his hand cautiously.

         "Liam, Liam Rainforest,"

          The girl flinches. "Odd last name. Kind of ironic being here too."

          "Well this is an odd place." Liam chuckles.

          The girl laughs as if it was a joke.

           She holds out her hand and shakes his.

           "I'm Sarafina." She tells him. "Or Sara. Whatever."

           "Sara... what?" Liam asks.

          "What do you mean? I mean I guess Martin but a I haven't seen my family in so long so... so yeah, Sara Martin." She replies.

          Liam shakes his head. "What? No. What's your Trial name? Because you obviously don't belong here."

            "Trial?" She asks.

           "Oh for heavens sake! Do you even know where you are!

           She looks down. "No," She admits.

         This was the girl the Silent were looking for. The girl outside the Trials.

                                                                                             . . .

            Liam somehow convinced her back to camp with him, not saying anything as thoughts pour into his head. She gave a curious, but nervous, glance to him, but didn't reply.

             "There are others?" She had said, trying to remain calm.

           Liam hadn't a response yet as he led her back. He'd decide what to do with her there.

           Liam tried his best to weigh out his options. He'd have to hide her himself because it was obvious she was a bit too young for this Trial. Maybe about late thirteens or early fourteens. Even though he could likely persuade them, he wasn't as sure that his Trial would really be able to keep a secret if the Silent barge into camp. It was what he'd do with her that had his gears turning.

            On one hand, the Silent would owe him a great favor if her turned her in. But, they already owe him many favors. He could press information from her. But, she didn't seem to have much information to give. And of course there's always he could use her as a last resort weapon, after Blue of course. But, seeing as she barely understood her powers, it was yet another risk he probably shouldn't take. So it was something he'd have to think on for a real use of her. But there was one little thing she could do-

            Liam and Sarafina- Sara- approach the camp from the side and Liam led her into the medical hut where most of the medical remedies had been already packed and distributed to each hut in case some emergency may happen during the storm.

         "Why's the sky so dark?" She asks after they enter, looking around at her unfamiliar surroundings with curiosity sparkling.

          Liam ignores her. "Wait here," He instructs.

         She stands puzzled for a second, but sits down on one of the leafy cots anyways.

        Liam strides across camp to the biggest of the huts, one made from the trunks of jungle wood.

         He raps aggressively on the door to see a shy face unlock the hinges and peer through.

         Liam glares as Rynn recognizes him and nearly jumps back.

         "L-Liam!" She exclaims. "What a surprise!"

         Liam gives her a hard stare and lifts his chin a bit higher.

        "Why do you disobey my orders and cower here instead of sending a patrol to double check the count of kids, Rynn?" He sneers at her venomously.

         "I-I got scared. A-a-and I was... was helping everyone." She stammers.

         Liam growls, eyes fuming. "I'll deal with your cowardice later. But now, I have a job to do."

          Liam pushes her out of the way and steps up to the crowd of kids that grow silent on his command.

           "Josh, Nathan," He calls out.

           Both boys poke their heads up and step forwards.

         "I need to speak with you two, outside, now."

         Both the boys gave a nervous glance at each other and Nathan set down Mya's jaguar cub, bundled up in his arms, but Liam shook his head. Josh scoops up the cub and retreats obediently after him.

          Once they were out Liam clears his throat.

          "I just need the jaguar." He demands.

         "Zeus?" Josh says. "But we need to take care of him. For Mya. What if he got lost in the storm?"

         Liam sighs in frustration. "I'll have him and I'll give him back. I just need him, at least until the Trial's over."

          The brothers exchange a glance and Josh nods.

          "Ok. But you'll need to give him back. Oh, and we can't really keep doing this "borrowing Zu", ok?" Josh offers.

         Liam nods once as the boy places the cub into his hands gently and Zu gives a nervous mew. Liam gives an awkward wave as he dismisses them and they go back to the hut, Rynn giving him one last apologetic glance before closing the door. Liam carries the mewling cub to the hut and he watches as Sarafina jerks back in surprise.

          "Speak with him," Liam commands her, showing no emotion.

          Her mouth opens slightly and she swallows in surprise.

           "Y-you don't think I'm crazy? How-how come you believe me!"

           Liam scowls at her. "Listen to me. Yes, I believe you. Consider this a test. I want to know if you're like me-"

            "Or anything but." She mutters under her breath.

            Liam glares at her again and she looks away.

            "Never mind. Just... I believe you. All I need you to do is ask this jaguar cub a question. I need him to tell me about the girl who cares for him, Mya."

           She looks incredibly uncertain, but nods with straining confidence. She locked eyes with the cub and Liam watches as a silent conversation unfolds between them. She made a few gestures here and there, the cat ushered in a few mews, but Liam didn't know when it was over until the girl taps him on the shoulder and nods.

            "He says that the girl fell asleep and wouldn't wake up. That he's worried about her and wants to see her. And that there's someone in danger."

            "Who is it?" Liam asks.

           Sarafina nods back to Zu and he gives a small meow.

           "A boy named Noah."

           Liam was about to ask for her to speak to Zu again, to beg the little animal to tell him the location of Noah, but all movement froze when he heard a knock at the wooden door.

         He reaches for the handle in annoyance, ready to send Rynn away or tell Josh he'd be done with Mya's cub in a minute, but he met a face there as shocked as his.

         It was the same stubborn face, freckles, and curly blond hair he'd recognized from so long ago. Mack Houston. The one person he wanted dead even more than Noah.

          "L-Liam" She gasps. "Wuh- uh- you're here."

          He didn't know what to say to her. His jaw fell open.

          "I-I'm glad that you're- okay." She grins nervously. "H-how are you here?"

          "I could say the same for you." Liam chokes. NO!

           Mack shifts uncomfortably. Liam narrows his eyes. What did she know? DID she know?

          "W-well... umm... Jordan? The- the plan?" She reminds him.

          Liam froze. He pauses for a long while. "You should come in." He tells her.

          Liam's thoughts were melting inside of him. His mind buzzed uncontrollably. He knew she was gone. She was encased in a frozen pod, and yet, here she was. In the flesh. Standing in front of him, tucking her blond curls behind her ear nervously. The old habit.

            He'd almost forgot about the girl sitting alone on the cot.

           "Oh!" Mack exclaims. "Who is this?"

            Liam opens his mouth to speak, but his tongue was dry, his vocal cords severed.

           The girl flinches away in distrust, but Mack's hostile confusion wavered to a small smile.

           "I'm- Mack." She says, reaching out a feeble hand.

           She reaches out to shake it. "I'm uh- Sarafina. No, no- Sara. No- actually-"

           Mack sits with her and puts a steadying hand on her shoulder.

          "Just Sara, actually. My brother called me Sarafina. Sorry." She whispers back.

            Mack nods and turns to Liam again.

          "So how do you know each other?" She asks calmly, regaining her confidence.

           "He-" Sara starts, but Liam cuts her off.

           "Not important. Sara how about you take the cub and have a- conversation, in the back." He snarls back.

          Mack's expression changes to confusion.

         "The cub- oh!" Zu purrs as he rubs against Mack's pant leg.

         She grins and lifts him up under his arms.

         "Well aren't you the cutest thing!" She coos. "Yes you are!" She rubs noses with him and Liam feels his throat run dry in disbelief.

          Liam glares at them both and Sara lifts Zu up in her arms and goes to the back of the hut.

         "So," Liam finally says.

         "So," Mack murmurs. She stares at him with begging eyes. She still believed in the mission. How naïve. He probably should've ended it there. Killed her on the spot or called the Silent. But then the opportunity appears before him. Could it be Mack who was the girl the Silent were so desperately searching for? Was that fear he saw in her hazel eyes? Perhaps even anxiety? She knew something. And until he knew what it was to, how she got into the Trial, or how she came back after trapped so long in an icy prison, she was a potential valuable.

         "Where have you been?" He asks. "It's... been awhile."

        Mack looks down with a depressed laugh. "Honestly Liam, I don't think you'd even believe me."

         Liam bites back his frustration. Mack narrows her eyes as if she sensed his game, but quickly turns her gaze.

        "I see now. You've given up. So you left me and Jordan." She hisses back at him.

       "What? Oh! Oh-oh no- it's not like that I just..." Liam struggles to find the words, he was too relieved.

       "Liam. Don't lie to me. You know very well what we came to do. And we were to get-" Mack pauses. "Noah. This was his Trial." A slow fearful look crosses over Mack's face. "You saw him. And his sister. Didn't you, Liam?"

        It took all his strength to keep a straight, unflinching gaze with her. She knew. How could she have known? He couldn't do anything but remain eye contact with her.

        Mack stood up, her breathing heavy.

        "No, no. That can't be possible. They came for me before-" Mack took a wide step backwards. Her face lifting with a certain poisonous recognition.

       "You were the only one who knew where I'd be..."

       Mack stares at him in utter fear.

       "Liam!" She begs. "Tell me it isn't true! PLEASE! Say something! Say anything!"

       He couldn't get out now. He wasn't in control anymore. He needed to be now. He had to.

       He gets up and takes a slow step forward. Mack's fear turns to anger as she grabs a broken wood panel from the ground and holds it up to him menacingly.

        "Another step-"

        Then Sara burst in holding Zu. She looks from him to Mack and her concern transfers to anxiety.

       "What!" Liam snaps at her.

      "Umm- I think there's something you really should see..." She mumbles.

      Then a sudden pain throws him back at his left cheek as Mack hits the wood over his face. Liam snarls in anger as his vision is blurry with blood. Hazily, he spots Mack grabbing Sara by the arm and sprinting for the door. It took him a moment to recover. A moment to see that she'd taken Sara and Zu and fled. He thrust his arm under himself and crawled to all fours, resting a moment to clear the pounding headache she'd given him and think. This time he couldn't lead with his growing thirst for revenge, but instead the only way to bring her down was to think his plan through tactically.

                                                                                           . . .

          That's why when he felt his luck strengthen when he found a Silent roaming the outskirts of the deep forest, separated from the group, in search of "the girl". It didn't matter to him which one the girl was anymore. In fact, he didn't care anymore how both of them got here. All he cares about was watching Mack burn.

           "Hey!" Liam snaps at him.

         The Silent nearly jumps in surprise in sight of him, but remains in position either in curiosity or defense.

         "I know where your girl went-" He grins.

          Yes. He was back in control. And Mack was right. He had ordered a Silent party to find Mack. He had even watched from a distance as she slowly froze in that ice chamber. A sharp prick of anger found him when he realized he'd failed that plan. Well, it was obvious she'd gotten through it. So Mack made it through the ice. Well good luck trying to make it through gunfire.