Another Life In The New World

Complications

We reached the previously locked path. Girly held out Artemis’ Deer giving us full access. We arrived at the entrance to Artemian Planas. Alternating limestone and gneiss formed the palace. Beams of lilac and purple colored the night sky.

Inside the palace, statues of women in various poses holding a diluted eye formed the pillars. Platinum white flags with a closed eyelid lined alongside them. People wore silk robes of silver, white and red. Then someone pulled us behind one of the pillars.

“What are you wearing? Ah, you must be newcomers,” a lean and aged man in red robes whispered.

“Who are you? Let go of us this instant!” I demanded.

“You cannot walk in here wearing that. For now, cover yourselves with my red cloak.”

“What is going on? Hey, get this off me.”

“Quiet! The guards are coming,” he cleared his throat. “Good evening sirs, how may I be of service?”

“What do you have there?” One of them blocked our path.

“Oh, this? Uhm, I am working on a new invention for the Shining Guardian.”

“Why does it have feet?”

“I prefer feet than wheels, for they are… efficient! Yeah, that’s the word. The Shining Guardian wanted to, uh, simulate something. You know, in case of an attack.”

“Hmm… Very well, you may proceed.”

“Thank you.”

“Wait a minute. You would not mind if I test it, right?” Said another guard.

“As long as you do not damage my raw materials.”

I saw the guard circling us a couple of times. Suddenly, a hard, cylindrical object poked my butt hole. I flinched and covered my mouth. The rush of pain was unbearable. I bit my hand and a small red blot reached the floor.

“It seems to be working well.”

“Does this satisfy you? I cannot keep the Shining Guardian waiting,” our handler sounded bored.

“Hey, we might get in trouble, let him be,” the other guard warned.

“I must work on my masterpiece, now. May I?”

“Sure. Just keep it down and do not disturb the residences.”

“I know. See you,” he tugged at us hastily. “Whew, that was a close one. We are almost there.”

He removed our cover when we entered a small room. A number of contraptions filled it. Various metallic cylinders and cones littered the floor. Tools and miscellaneous parts were scattered over the table.

“Can you tell us what is going on?” I glared at him.

“First things first, my name is Amictus. I am Artemia’s chief and sole inventor. What are your names?”

“I am Vampire, next to me is Girly, and that guy is Keita,” Vampire introduced us.

“What do you mean by that guy?” I shifted my gaze towards him.

“I meant nothing about it.”

“Back to the point, why did you drag us here?”

“I apologize for that. Let me explain. Artemia forbids entrance of foreign materials and people.”

“What happens when we get caught?” Vampire asked.

“You will be fed to the Artemian Lions. They are vicious felines, only nourished by flesh.”

“Why did you bring us here?” I touched a spiral structure made of metal.

“It fascinated me when you opened the door without difficulty. Most of the visitors evaporate upon contact with the gate.”

“I heard you mention this Shining Guardian a bunch of times. Who is he?” Vampire closed the door.

“He is the city’s protector and overseer. I work for him.”

“I see that, but it doesn’t answer why you have to drag us here,” I raised my voice.

“Okay, actually, I had to. Someone told me that three people are to be expected to come here. When that happens, I had to bring you with me.”

“Who told you about us?” I lifted his collar.

“Put me down. I-I do not know who it was.”

“What did it look like?”

“It was so dark that I could not see the face.”

“Did it have a deep croaking voice?”

“I guess so, but I was not sure.”

“I knew it. It was Orcana. He is tracking us,” I let go of his collar.

“Maybe he just wants his sapphire back,” Vampire thought.

“Maybe or maybe not. Either way, I don’t trust him. I have a bad feeling about this.”

“Let us stress about that later. Old man, what does he want from us?”

“I wish I knew. The voice only told me to bring you here.”

“Hey, I think I heard something over there,” footsteps rushed towards the door.

“Yikes, this is not good. Hide yourselves!”

He pushed us inside of a metal container. Repeated pounding struck the door. He pulled out the cloak he covered us with before which obscured our visual to the outside. It smelled like rotten tomatoes and garlic in here. It was so dark and we could only listen.

“What is it?” Amictus rushed to the door

“We heard someone’s voice aside from yours coming from this room. Is everything okay?” The same guard asked.

“It’s nothing. I was just talking to myself.”

“I am quite certain that there is someone else in here aside from you.”

“Do you see anyone else here?”

“You do not mind if I check, do you?”

“Fine, just do not break anything.”

“Hey, is this not the same cloak you used before? What is in here?”

“I, uh, it is my work in process,” I felt the machine rotate.

“I see nothing in here, but it is quite heavy. Don’t tell me you are stashing the Shining Guardian’s treasures.”

“Hey, you already saw nothing in there. Let go of it already.”

“I do not trust your words. We have to take this to the lab to make sure.”

“No! It is not ready yet,” Amictus’ voice became distant.

A few grunts and our hiding spot elevated. My head bumped a few times on the walls or something, I was not sure as I could not see anything. I leaned to one side to prevent any more bumps. I felt Girly and Vampire do the same.

“Did you hear something?” Asked one guard.

“Nope, it must be your imagination,” Replied another.

“Huh, I thought I heard something.”

“Dang it, this is so heavy and smells rotten. What do you think is inside this junk?”

“It may be left over food, bombs or people.”

There was a momentary silence before I heard a laugh, “Nah, that is just crazy.”

“Hey, we would not get in trouble for this, right?”

“It is not like we stole anything.”

“You are right, but still, what if he tells on us?”

“We will be fine. We are just doing our job.”

“Right, our job,” there was a nervous chuckle.

So this is what it felt like being inside a washing machine. We all cycled, crashed our heads and stabbed ourselves. Finally, the spinning stopped. The rotten smell got worse as it mixed with our blood. The oxygen depleted slowly inside this torture device.

Then I heard something creak open from the outside. The movement stopped momentarily, then moved again. I leaned my ear to the wall, but I heard nothing. Then I felt us being dropped. We waited for the footsteps to become silent.

“So… What are we to do after this?”

“We can do whatever it is that you want. We can drink, watch movies or something naughty altogether.”

“Rawr. I pounce like the Artemian Lion. You should be ready when I get back.”

“Filing a report again? Can I come with you?”

“This is going to be fast. I promise.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

“Okay then, hurry back!”

I heard the door close. I pressed my ear against one side. Vampire gasped for air as did Girly. I found it difficult to breathe inside this thing. Sweat rolled down to my chest. I felt pinned on my back by a Boarger or something heavier.

“Is it over already? I don’t feel so good,” Vampire asked.

“Vampire, get off me. You are crushing my lungs,” I pushed against him.

“I am quite sure that isn’t me.”

“Are telling me that I am fat?” Girly raised her voice.

“No, I didn’t mean that. I am losing breath, Girly. Please have mercy on me,” I pleaded.

“I would but you have to promise me something.”

“Anything, just let me breathe.”

“No, never mind. Forget about it,” the pressure suddenly lightened.

“Thank you,” I puffed some air.

“Hey, I think I see an opening. Can you break it open with your sword, Keita?” Vampire peered through the hole.

“Use your claws on it, Vampire. I cannot even feel my arms.”

Vampire grunted, then I heard some screeching noises. A small fragment of light shot through, pushing in some air. I could see that my sword got stuck in my chest. Girly plucked it out with all her strength, but she flopped to my chest instead, pressing the sword deeper.

“What are you doing, Girly?” I groaned.

“Ah! S-sorry! Oh my goodness, Vampire. What do I do?”

“Sigh. Can’t you see that I’m busy? Deal with it,” Vampire pushed the crevice further.

“But I might end up killing him.”

“Good riddance, then. There will be two less lonely people after that.”

“Don’t forget your promise with me, Vampire. We formed a truce, remember?” I reminded him.

“Sigh. Alright, step aside, Girly. Get ready to suck it all in, Keita,” Vampire swiftly took out the sword with one hand.

“Gaaah! Ack! I think I am dying,” I spat out chunks of blood in his direction.

“Get a hold of yourself. I am almost done with this,” he returned his attention to the crevice.

“Drink this potion. I will pour some of it to your wounds,” Girly handed me a circular bottle.

“I can do it myself. Go help Vampire.”

“Please, this will be quick,” she pressed me down.

“Why are you helping me, anyway?”

“Because this is what I should do.”

“You don’t have to.”

“But I want to. Be quiet and let me do the healing.”

“Whatever you say, commander.”

She pulled out my tattered shirt, exposing my bare chest. I drank the potion before settling down. She touched the hole in my chest. If it were a centimeter closer, it would have been my heart. I slowed my breathing as she tended my wounds.

Her touch was as gentle as bathing a child. Her soft hands traced my wounds. A stinging sensation rushed to my head as the potion took effect. I resisted my inner urge as much as I can. Then our eyes met again. The urge pushed stronger against me.

I suddenly remembered her story about the stars. The lost stars kept calling at each other. I felt my body moving closer to her. She did not move an inch as if she is waiting for me. I reached my hands out for the stars that ended up in her eyes. Then our lips met again.

My heart wanted to scream, to dance and to laugh. A mountain of emotions washed over me. I heard my inner desires crying to set them free. I have to conquer this desire of mine before my heart gets eaten up by it. Then I pushed my feelings down into the abyss.

I pulled myself away from her meeting her brilliant gaze again. Words scrambled in my mouth and tied my tongue. My heart beat erratically like Bugseye’s wings. The light shining above us shifted my attention to Vampire. I caught him looking at us, cursing as he stretched the crevice further.

“I shouldn’t be doing this. I didn’t know what got into me,” I flushed as I sunk deeper on one side.

“You are right, we shouldn’t,” Girly faced away.

“I should probably help Vampire.”

“No thanks. I already got out. Now quit stealing my girlfriend,” he retorted.

I wanted to banter at him, but I closed my mouth instead. My mind divided itself into two, refusing to cooperate with each other. My heart did no better, it wanted to jump out of my chest. I sat there dazed for a moment.

Girly offered her hand to me. I gladly accepted the gesture. I felt my lips stretch to my ears. What is wrong with me? It would just be fair to steal her from him, right? What am I thinking? I shouldn’t take what is not mine.