Beyond

Chapter 4

Listen while reading: Most Music Ever: "The Wolf and the Moon" by BrunuhVille

I am running again, somewhere near the woods, war is all around me. Where do I run? I can’t see behind the fire and smoke, until someone grabs my hand, it’s the little boy.

“Where is she!?!?” he asks with sheer panic in his eyes.

“Who?” I desperately look around in search of someone but I don’t know who.

"HER!!” the little boy points at me.

I wake up and sit up wiping the sweat off my head. Was that a dream or memory? I don’t like being unsure of what is real.I need to get my hands on that file so I can reassure myself that the rebel is lying to me.

I get up and ready myself. I put on a simple black shirt and training pants. I conjure ways to get into my father’s office without notice but every outcome gets me in trouble. I throw on my training boots and head for the training room. Need to gather some supplies.

What was that dream about? Why did the boy point to me? Always in my dreams the little girl appeared, but this one the little girl wasn’t there. I couldn’t feel her presence like I usually do. This makes no sense, my life makes no sense! My thoughts consume me as I walk to the training room. I come in there and Archimedes is there. Crap! What do I do? Wait, he has the key to my father’s office in his pocket. I need that key to get in.

He is concentrating on the assembly of a semiautomatic pistol. As trainees we are suppose to take apart and put it together. Archimedes always does this when he is going through something. I look at his perfectly sculpted body but quickly remind myself what I was here for.

“Hey, I think we should talk?” He turns and smiles at me even though I know he was sad. “I am sorry about how I acted today.” I come closer to him. I hover over him because he is sitting and I am standing. He looks up at me and I can’t help but feel my knees buckle. I hold myself together as I muster up the will to talk.

“I am not familiar with these feeling, Arch…” I stop because he stands up, towering over me and hugs me. At first I forget everything and want to give into his warm, safe, embrace but I know I need the key. I try to grab the key but he pulls away to look at me.

“It’s okay Ari. I know I came on too strong. I have always been your handler and friend. I guess I just thoughts after all these years you would want what I do.” He stares into my eyes. I should want this, shouldn’t I? He is now considered second in command to my father. All the girls swoon over him and he chooses me. Why can’t I seem to love him like he loves me? “I…” I am at a loss for words.I want to tell him the truth but he stops me.

“Ari, just think about it. I won’t push you. I love you and I want you to be my partner for life. My second in command. But I won’t push you to it.” He lets me go. “I am going to head to bed, I’ll see you tomorrow.” Before he goes I grab his wrist and pull him back for a kiss. He kisses me hungerly and I don’t push back. Once we come back for air he looks at me. His red stained lips smile. He is happy. He walks away looking back at me one more time and smiling brightly.

After he leaves I look at what I was hiding behind my back, the key. I can’t help but feel guilty. I should want this, any sane person would. He is perfect, but during the kiss. I felt nothing. I am horrible! I smack my palm over my forehead.

There is no time to dwell on this I need to get into that office. I quickly look at the pistol that Archimedes finished assembling. I take it and hide under my shirt. I walk down the hall to my father’s office. His office holds all the files. Only him and Archimedes have the key. It’s a good thing I have this key or it would be very difficult to get in. I look around quickly for anyone to be in sight but to my surprise there is no one in sight. Seems like lately I am in luck with the guards. A When I see the hall is clear I proceed to the office, taking every step one at a time slow and quiet.

I walk closer to the door and a John, one of the guards stops me.

“Hey! Ari, what are you doing here.” I hide the key in my back pocket and fold my arms over.

“Hey John! What are you doing here?” I try to hide my nervousness. “Oh wait.. you are on duty tonight.. that right!” I don’t think I am doing a good job. John looks at me with suspicion but it quickly turns to a sly smile.

“Oh Ari, I remember when you were born and now you are kissing boys in the training room.” I blush realising that he saw me and Archimedes kissing. I allow my embarrassment to show in hope of concealing the fear of being discovered trying to break into my father’s office. John winks at me “I won’t tell your parents, promise” he puts a hand on my shoulder and thankfully leaves.I need to work fast before Archimedes realises his key is gone and comes looking for it. After John leaves I open the door and walk over to my father's desk open the filing cabinet and looked for a few files. As I look through the files I see a file labeled “Levi J Adler” but right behind him there was a second file with the name “Blaze M Adler”. I grab the files and put them back before anyone realises they are gone. I pick up the file on Archimedes’ because now I am not sure who to trust. I keep searching for my file but I cannot find it. I look on the desk and shuffle,gently through the pile and find my file on the desk. I stare at the file and the name on it “Ariella Elizabeth Moore”.

I close the drawer and I hear somebody fumbling with the doorknob. My heart starts pounding and my hands start sweating I quietly run over to my father’s desk and pick up the other files. As I pick them up the door begins to open I drop to the ground and hide under the desk. I hear fast heavy footsteps. The footsteps begin to walk in and come around the desk. I am so dead, if I am caught I'll never know the truth, or life. The footsteps get behind the desk and there I see him. My father. He doesn’t sit down in his chair but turns on his keyboard, which activates a screen on the wall he taps away on the keyboard, than the phone rings. My hands are sweaty and I feel the anticipation raise with every ring.

“Hello…….. Yes…….. You saw what?........A girl?.................. How old?............... Young…….. Do you think she’s a rebel?............ Keep an eye on it and prepare troops to move in………………. Alright………” he hangs up the phone shuts the keyboard off and walks around the desk. Before I can even control my hands a file slips between my fingers and the files drop to the ground.

Papers fall to the ground and one of them falls from underneath the desk right in front of his feet. He stops; he bends down, picks up the paper and begins to observe what it is.

I hold my breath and then suddenly the phone rings again. My father picks it up.

“Yes………..Be right there.” Again he hangs up the phone but he runs out of the room and out the front door. I sigh of relief, get up from underneath the desk and continue to read the files.

Archimedes Louvre

Age:21

Status: Living

Position:

Previous: Ariella’s Handler

Current: Head of Rebellion Control

Assignment: To capture Levi Adler for the crimes against Vetrima and to be sent over the wall with the other rebels.

Comments: Will be leaving Nov 15

Notes: Permission to bring back any rebel alive or Dead.

I open my file again skip over the information I already knew and read a new page

Ariella is to never know about her parents under any conditions. (See attached file for more information) I look past a few more papers and see another file

Battle of Vetrimia

The King and Queen have been captured and sentenced to death. Decision made by Robert McDevitt.

I need more answers. I quickly remember that I still have the key. I run to the training room to find Archimedes looking under the assembly table I quickly place the key under the gun safe.

“What are you looking for Achie?” He looks at me flustered.

“My key, did you see it?” I pretend to look around and bend down to pick it up.

“Is this it?” He looks relieved.

“Thank you so much! If I would have lost this, I would have lost my promotion… and life.” he gives me a nervous smile. He comes to me and kisses my forehead.

“Thank you, love. See you at training.” I feel sad and nervous all of a sudden. I think it’s the last time I will see Archimedes for a while. I savor the moment and let go of his hand.

I come to my room and begin to pack the essentials. I’ll have to pack light and get food before heading out. I finish packing and shove the files into my bag.

“Ariella?” I hear a knock at my door. He knocks again pounding harder. I quickly try to hide my bag under my bed.

“Ariella!! What’s going on other there??” I unlock the door. My father storms in quickly, seeming unsettled and scans my room, as if looking for something.

“Everything alright?” he says still scanning the room. I turn my focus on the backpack sticking out from under my bed. Oh crap! My dad begins to lecture me.

“Ariella, when I tell you to open this door, you open it. You don’t know what dangers lay out there.” He gives me his stern, concern look. Dad has begun to show signs of grey, through his light brown hair, it's starting to match his eyes. He seems stressed, and somehow I can’t believe this man who has been with me for as long as I can remember, could lie to me. Maybe this is all a misunderstanding.

I nod giving him a weak smile. He kisses my forehead, and I feel a rush of guilt run through me, he is still my dad. I still love him, but I need to know the truth.

After he leaves the room I quickly duck under my bed and get my bag. I turn around to see Archimedes.

“What are you doing Ari?” He sees me holding the bag.

“It’s not what you think Archimedes.” But I know he is suspicious

“Ariella,” he never calls me by my full name unless I am in trouble or in danger. And right now I think he is warning me. “I can’t let you go, again. I can’t understand what brought this upon you. I thought you were done running into the woods.” He looks angry now.

“Archimedes don’t you understand I need to go. I can’t explain why.” I come to him and place a kiss on his lips. He brings me closer and kisses me passionately. “I am sorry Archimedes.” I whisper in his ear and knock him out by hitting him hard with my knuckles. He becomes limp and heavy in my arms. I drag him to my bed and kiss his forehead. “I am really sorry.” I look outside my door to see if anyone is there. No one is. I get my jacket on begin to walk. I head to the kitchen to grab some bread and water. The kitchen staff is there and I ask if I can have a canteen and some bread. They look weird at me and I tell them that I am going to train with Archimedes out in outside training fields.

“He wants me to be ready for any kind of weather. Hot or cold.” They don’t question me when they hear Archimedes’s name. They give me extra thinking Archimedes would want food and water. I gladly take it knowing I will need it. I thank the kitchen staff and hurriedly leave. I feel a little overwhelmed and begin to run, avoiding any specific areas, until I run out of the center, the place I used to call home. I hear the siren, and then I know, Archimedes woke and they are all after me. I run faster to the forest, almost hitting trees. As I approach the rose garden I can feel them on my trail close behind. All of a sudden I feel pain in my arm. So much pain that I fall to the floor and barely get myself up,but I keep moving. I can not move my arm and know I have been hit by something. I quickly look back and see an arrow. The pain is overwhelming, I know the arrow is deep in my arm. I start to feel dizzy, I am losing a lot of blood. When I come to the rose garden, there are two horses and Levi is grooming them. He turns when he sees me, and comes running to me when he sees me collapse on the floor.

“Darling what happen?” He begins to examine the arrow in my arm and lifts his head to look around.I struggle to get the words out because I am so out of breath. I attempt to get up and he begins to help me up. He knows what he is doing. I begin to panic.

“We… don’t have!... time!!!!!” I point to the squad running towards us. We begin to run to the horses, we mount the horses and ride off, I turn back to look, and see Archimedes looking at me, and stopping his men. He knows I am injured. I see the pain in his eyes and wish I could comfort him and tell him I am sorry. I look back as the place I once called home fades away from sight.