Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ The Underground ( Title Pending! ) ❯ Chapter One: When all Seems Lost... ( Chapter 1 )

It was dark and dreary, the afternoon sky darkened with heavy, black clouds burdened with a load of rain that had not yet fallen. Mixed with the scent of the city- petroleum and engine oil- one could smell the rain about to fall. The buildings were all cloaked in blankets of gray ash and smaug that came from the coal mines not two miles away… it made the air stink in a horrible way, except when occasionally a breeze would pass through the buildings, bringing with it the scent of a world beyond, a world the citizens of the City were not allowed to ever see. A young girl stood alone outside the doorway of a run down grocery shop. The door shut loud behind her and she winced as she heard the owner of the store grumble loudly and get out of his chair to shoo her away. Quickly, the girl moved away from the doorway and down the sidewalk, to stand at the corner where the two main streets in the City met. She leaned against the wall of another building and with her eyes only, assessed the condition of the products the grocer had given her to purchase. As usual, it was the same old partially molded loaf of bread, dozen eggs (of which half were probably broken), carton of warm milk, and hard cheese. He hadn't given her anything extra this time; last time he had given her a stick of candy… but that was only because she lied and said she had a baby sister at home who was sickly.

 

 

The girl sighed and went slowly around the corner, reached the armed guard, and walked cautiously down the street. But she could felt the guard's eyes upon her. Though she was wearing long sleeves, she pulled the cuff down over her right hand. She was not numbered and did not want the guard to find that out. Warily, she tossed her hair, watching as the guard followed her with his eyes, but when she looked sharply over her shoulder, the guard returned his eyes to their state of immobility. Quickly, she rounded the next corner, hugging her bag of groceries close to her breast as she went into an alleyway (which were usually guard free), but unfortunately, she met a group of four or five guards all talking together in low, mumbling words. They did not move out of her way immediately for her, and so she had to push through them, for the alleyway was narrow and she had no other way to get to the other side. She utterly despised the guards, their stiff, ironed smell sickening to her. They had good food to return home to, good homes and warm beds, and yet here they stood, proud and snickering as they oppressed their fellow Citizens. But they weren't like the rest. They weren't human. They had money and wealth, and that was what they smelled of. The girl stifled her mounting wish to turn and strike them all in the faces as they snickered and let her pass through their midst. As she left them, tears came to her eyes as she thought of the meager supplies she pressed so dearly to her breast. Moldy bread. But she had not even gone two feet past them when something was said that struck her to the core; the girl stiffened as she heard one of the soldiers remark: “Have you heard? The Prime Minister has issued a legion of his Night Guard to patrol the streets tonight.”

 

 

“What's the occasion?” Another guard smirked, as the girl's heart sank even further than it already was, and she swallowed hard. She turned and looked over her shoulder as the first guard replied: “Someone's told him who's been planning all the attacks on the government buildings lately, though I do not know how reliable the source was.” At the guard's words, the girl gasped and dropped her bag of groceries to the ground. She scrambled to gather up her scanty amount of food, and she did not hear the sound of footsteps drawing nearer to her. All of a sudden, the sole of one soldier's foot caught her hand and half the moldy loaf of bread, pressing down hard as she cried out and tried to pull away. The soldier bent down to the girl's level, grimacing as she winced in pain and at the loss of her food. “Better stay inside tonight, girl.” The soldiers laughed and they all left, leaving the girl alone in the alley, clutching bits of the crushed bread in her pulsing fist, reaching to gather up the hard cheese that was now covered with mud, and the carton of milk that had not opened. The eggs were broken, though.

 

****************

 

 

“Tonight! Tonight we stand up against the bastards who have for so long drained us of our humanity and rights!” A loud, bellowing voice echoed throughout the abandoned halls of a crumbling warehouse, and it was followed by an eruption of vigorous cries and hollers. “Tonight, we seek the Prime Minister! Tonight we shall end the blood shed of his Officials and bring down the reign of tyranny he has held us captive beneath for so long!”

 

 

“Tonight! Tonight! Crush them tonight!”

 

 

A short, pudgy, round man with a stubbly black beard, and scars lining the creases of his eyes and mouth, stood at the head of a long table, a cup sloshing around in his hand, filled with some alcoholic liquid. He tipped the cup to his lips, and swallowed hard, grinning. Slumping to his seat, he held his brow in his hand as if he were troubled. He was Nicolaus, simply named, a leader of a small rebel group… one of the more organized rebel groups. He had led many missions, with his eldest child, his son, at his side, and for the most they had been successful missions. But they had always been smaller than this. They had never tried to bomb Prime Minister Alberic's quarters, his car or any other sort of thing related to such an important dignitary. But now the time was come. They had to do something to stand up against his reign and the reign of the King, Lazarus. Quietly, to himself, Nicolaus chuckled: “God be with us… grant us peace at last, tonight. Amen.” But the man started as he felt a hand rest upon his shoulder. He looked up to find his son smiling reassuringly down upon him as he took the alcohol from his father's hands and set it far away on the other side of the table. “Now father,” The son said, “It's not best to drink before war, you know that. You should do your best to stay in your right mind tonight.” The young man turned to the rest of the men sitting around the table, drinking. “As should you all.” He continued, “If you want to end Lazarus' rule over your families, you'd all best be in your right minds.” He paused, lowering his eyes. “We can't afford another…” his voice trailed off as memories of a failed attack from long ago flooded his mind. He had been punished for that, though not killed, no matter how greatly he had wished to die. “… Let us not witness a repeat.”

 

 

“We meet tonight at midnight at the far eastern corner of the Wall.” Nicolaus said, massaging his brow as he tried to shake the slight drunkenness that had overcome him. “There are never any soldiers down there that late at night. They're to busy lounging around in their money and expensive things while we-“

 

 

“That's enough father!” The son said hoarsely, “They shall get what they deserve…tonight.”

 

 

“Tonight! Tonight!” There came a second eruption of enthusiastic cries from the rebels, and when they had finished, they rose from their seats, set their unfinished drinks upon the table and scattered throughout the warehouse, each man leaving by a different exit to deter any prying soldiers' eyes from the main entrance, and from thinking there was anything suspicious going on inside the condemned old building. Nicolaus, and his son, Wynn, both left through the main entrance, Wynn's eyes heavy and burdened, though his father did not see. “I must go home to sleep.” Nicolaus said, patting his son on the shoulder. “Go find your sister.” He looked down to his rusty wristwatch that had a broken face, and sighed. “She should be getting out of school about now.”

 

***************

 

 

The girl walked with her grocery bag beneath one arm as she tried, in vain, to wipe away the mud that had spoiled the cheese. She sighed heavily and wiped away a tear from her cheek. But she was not weeping because the cheese had been spoiled, and she could not go back for more till the next afternoon, she was weeping because Prime Minister Alberic had, supposedly, found out who her father was and what he and her brother were in charge of. She had known this would happen! The poor girl cursed herself for not ministering better, more diplomatic ways to her revenge hungry father and brother… it was all her fault, or so she felt. She stuffed the cheese angrily in the grocery bag and hurled herself against the wall of a shutdown clothing store, holding her face in her hands as she wept bitterly and fell to her knees. The people on the streets, however few there were, paid no attention to her, and she was glad of that, but after a moment, she felt a soft hand lay upon her shoulder. She looked up to see Wynn standing over her, smiling his kind, reassuring smile. “Come now, Aine,” He said, kneeling down before her, wrapping her in his arms. “What's the matter?”

 

 

The girl lifted the grocery sack and gave it to him. He reached in and pulled out the crushed loaf of moldy bread, the muddy, dry cheese, and carton of milk. “He gave me eggs, too,” Aine sobbed, “but I dropped the bag and they all broke.” Wynn looked a little disappointed, but not at her. He returned the items to the bag and stuffed the bag beneath his arm as he lifted his little sister to her feet. “What happened?” He asked as he took her hand, leading her down the sidewalk. Aine was hesitant, saying it was nothing, but her brother knew better. “Aine, what happened?” Aine looked up at him, and she saw his eyes were stern, like they rarely ever were, and his reassuring smile gone. “It was just some guards…” She began, but her voice trailed off. She knew this would lead to her telling him what she had heard, and she wanted to forget it, for it to become just a bad dream. But Wynn stopped and cupped her face in his hands. “Aine, did they hurt you? Is that why you were crying? I swear, if they-”

 

 

“No, no-”

 

 

“Aine, tell me the truth! I can't help you if you don't tell me the truth!”

 

 

“Wynn! Stop it!” Aine nearly shrieked, her sadness and frustration at herself and her brother exploding at last as she wrapped her arms around Wynn's waist and buried her face in his chest. “ I don't want to say! I can't say… I know I should, but I don't want to! It can't be true! Not now, not now!” She bawled into his jacket. Her shoulders trembled, and her knees locked together as she felt her brother wrap his arms around her as well. She didn't want him to get caught. She didn't want either her brother or father going to the Prisons, just to face a death sentence… “Wynn, it's all my fault… I should have tried to…” Wynn pulled away and lifted her chin so her eyes met his steady gaze. “Aine, what are you talking about?” He asked, bending down and laying her head upon his shoulder. “Tell me, you know you can tell me anything.” Aine lifted her head and smiled faintly. She still trembled. “Wynn, They know.” She said bluntly, and burst into tears once more.

 

 

Wynn's eyes grew wide as he came to realize what it was she meant. They had been ratted out! He released a breath he did not know he had been holding and sighed long and heavy. “T-the truth…” He murmured, but he took hold of Aine's hand and pulled her arms from around him, leading her behind him once more as he began to run. “We must go warn father! He is home already!” Aine was still weeping, trying not to, but she could not help it. Her world was crashing down around her so quickly and so suddenly, and she knew this was only the beginning of the pain. She could see the fate her father and her dear brother faced if the Prime Minister's night guard caught them. Death. They were the unnumbered, the unnamed, the unregistered Citizens of the City who posed as the greatest threat to the government, for by the hands of revolutionaries like them, the government would fall. Death was all that awaited them, no matter what they did… Aine soon came to that realization, and it was at the moment she realized this that her tears ceased to fall and she became totally numb. She could hear her brother speaking urgently to her in low whispers as they passed the guards at the street corners, and the guards that waited atop the roofs of inconspicuous buildings, but she could not understand him. She started as she heard the whine of a police siren whiz down the street past her… it was not coming for them. Aine realized that if she and her family were not killed, then they would be living in fear all the rest of their lives. Aine realized that now she would never marry, she would never lead a normal life or fall in love… she realized that all her hopes and dreams for the future were dwindling away, bit by bit, painfully slow.

 

 

At last, Wynn and Aine reached their home, which was a condemned apartment building that was soon to be torn down by the City Demolition Crew. They lived on the very top floor, in the smallest room that had one single window, no space for a real kitchen, or beds, or mush furniture, and it had a front door that was dilapidating, like the foundation from underneath the building. But, it was the only room that had direct access to a fire escape right inside the room, and this fire escape was their only means of escape should they be found in their home. Wynn leaned against the door and shoved until it opened. It creaked open, but they heard nothing for a moment. “We've beaten Them here, evidently.” He said quietly as they both listened intently. After a moment of silence, they were both relieved to hear deep snoring coming from within the room, and they knew their father was safely asleep within.

 

*************

 

 

Wynn sat alone on the fire escape, one knee drawn up to his chest, the other leg dangling down into the air, his arms behind his head as he leaned against the outer wall of their apartment. The sun was beginning to set. Midnight would come soon… revenge for the people, for all the huddled masses would come soon. That was, if They did not find he and his father and sister. Wynn sighed heavily and closed his eyes. He could hear father inside, mumbling about, talking to himself in low tones as he went over everything in his head, every now and then turning to the despondent Aine to give her a tight, loving hug. She would smile and pull him close. Wynn held back tears, watching the skies blaze red as the sun set over the Wall that surrounded the City. A long moment passed, though it might have been more than just a moment. He did not know, or little did he care, for time was a precious thing now, as soon he would be out of it. He let the moments; the hours sink in, cherishing every one of them as a tear trickled down his face. “It's a red sun that's setting tonight.” Wynn gasped and started as he heard a small voice speak quietly behind him. Aine stood near to him, clutching the ribbon she had worn in her hair that day to her breast. “Wynn,” She said sadly, “I want to give this to you.” She handed him the ribbon, though he saw that it was considerably shorter. “I cut it in half… one for you, one for father. I want it to protect you… if They find us tonight.”

 

 

“What about you?” Wynn asked, but Aine only smiled. “It's not the ribbon, really, that's keeping you safe, it's what's behind it. I've got plenty of that.” Her brother smiled and pulled her to him, kissing her brow tenderly. “You've got a hundred guardian angels watching over you.” He said quietly, “Thank you for giving me one…” but he stopped when he felt her trembling in his arms, and when he looked down, he saw that she was weeping again. He looked up to the sky. Not knowing what to say, he turned her chin to the deepening dark of night. The pinks and reds that had once enveloped the sky were dying now, only to be consumed by blackness. But the dark wore a cloak of shining stars that twinkled and danced in the void and the abyss, and they shone for everyone, they gave hope to Wynn and Aine as they sat huddled together on the fire escape, and they gave hope to the others who's hearts were troubled. Aine smiled, the light of the stars dancing in her eyes. “The stars are in your eyes, Aine…” Wynn said tenderly, “… that light will never die, no matter what happens. It's shining in your eyes, but also in your soul. Aine, the stars are in your soul, your soul is you… you shall never die.” Aine smiled faintly, but jumped when a loud crash emitted from within the apartment. It was just father, fumbling around for random items he would need for later in the night. It was as if he did not care what the guards had said about Them knowing where he and his family were. He was confident, Aine guessed, that he could protect she and her brother.

 

 

 

The hour was drawing near. It was ten thirty at night, the moon was high in the sky, and the stars were shining bright. Nicolaus summoned his daughter to his side, while she toted a heavy bag of food and clothing behind her, swinging it over her shoulder. “You know what you're supposed to do now, right?” Nicolaus asked urgently, taking his daughter by the hand. Aine nodded her head definitely. “You have your fake id? Good, remember, stay in the eastern part of the city. It's the slums, but I have friends there that know who you are and will shelter you tonight.” He chuckled, wiping away silent tears that were falling fro Aine's grieving eyes. “We're running out of places to hide in this City, eh, sweetheart? Don't worry, after tonight, we'll work on leaving this place! We'll run away to the World beyond. Now…” He paused and kissed her cheek; “… go tell your brother goodbye for a while, okay?” And Aine turned to Wynn with tears in her eyes. Her brother opened his arms and she ran to them, hugging him tight around the middle. “I'll see you in the morning, alright?” Wynn said, but Aine knew he was just trying to be brave “Yeah, goodnight, Wynn.” She said, stiffening her lip. She kissed him on the cheek, but when she turned to bid farewell to her father, Wynn pulled her back. Lowly, he whispered in her ear: “Seek Aodhan the Green… father would not want it, but it is for the best.” He released Aine from his gentle grip, her confusion nearly blocking the warmth she usually felt when he smiled his deep, reassuring smile. But she nodded her head, and mouthed the strange name on her lips. “Everything will be fine in the end… you'll see!” Nicolaus pulled his young daughter into his arms and embraced her once last time. Stroking her cheek, he bid her a sweet farewell, and got her to the door. But they had not gone a few steps before he stopped, hissing a sharp intake of breath as he tightened his hold on his daughter's shoulder. Curious, Aine looked to the door, the knob of which her father's hand lay motionless upon. “F-father?” She stammered, but he held a finger to her lips. She listened, and Wynn fell breathlessly silent.

 

 

Footsteps. Her heart leapt to her throat as the girl watched a shadow appear beneath the door. The footsteps stopped. “Quickly! Get down the fire escape!” Aine had not even enough time to realize what was happening before she was thrown into her brother's arms, rushed out of the window, and partially down the fire escape ladder. “Don't worry.” Wynn said hoarsely, “And remember, Aodhan the Green. Now climb down! Now!” But he had hardly enough time to finish before there came a loud, terrifying crash from inside, followed by a cry of agony. Wynn's startled face, stricken with worry and grief was the last Aine saw of her brother, ever, as he vanished from over the windowsill. Aine stifled tears from falling, and sobs that she knew would give away her hiding place. She was supposed to be climbing down the ladder, down to safety, but her legs would not move. She was torn between a longing to help her family, and a longing to escape and live. She did not know what to do. She could hear Wynn shouting. She could hear her father screaming… not just shouting. There came a loud thud and a spatter of blood against the windowpane that had been left halfway drawn up, and then there was only Wynn's voice and the voice of a stranger, just one man, or so Aine guessed.

 

 

“Vampire!” Aine heard Wynn's voice mutter. Vampire? Aine's blood froze, her eyes widening in terror, but still she could not force her legs to climb down the ladder of the fire escape. She had heard tales from the other youths in her school grade talking of `special weapons' the Prime Minister issued on certain occasions, vampires, or some creature of that sort, but she had never paid much mind to any of that. She had never thought a human being could be so cruel as to deploy bloodthirsty killing machines on truly innocent people. Aine hunkered down even smaller than she already was, hiding her head in her folded arms, wishing that tears would fall, but she was to terrified. She swallowed hard and gathered up enough courage to look over the railing of the fire escape floor, lifting her head just high enough to see into the window. But when she had done so, she wished she had not, for she saw Wynn staggering past, a gun pointed at some figure that remained out of sight. Then there came an explosion of gunfire and cries of both enthusiasm and pain, though the frightened girl could not tell from which being which cry came. There was a rush and whirl of black cloth, which shrouded the window for a second or two, but then revealed a windowpane literally sheeted in blood, through which Aine could see her brother fall to the ground, his body mutilated so that it was nearly unrecognizable. But his eyes fell upon her, weather by coincidence, or on purpose.

 

 

Aine's jaw dropped. She could contain herself no longer and she let forth a single, blood curdling, clear pitched shriek that would have deafened a deaf man. “OH GOD!! NO!!” She covered her mouth and quickly began to climb down the ladder, but no sooner had her legs regained movement than she felt a sharp tug at her wrist. In a flash she was wrenched up the ladder and onto the fire escape floor, a cruel hand around her neck as she gasped for breath and looked into the eyes of her enemy. “Well, what do we have here? A young girl…” The creature chuckled. “And what a pretty face…”

 

 

“M-monster!” Aine gasped, not caring now what her fate was, so miserable was she. The vampire only laughed and tightened his hold around her neck.

 

 

“You humans use that term so lightly.” He grinned. “But I am no more than a creature standing up for what I think is justifiable… doing the same thing you have lived your life doing, or rather your father and brother. See?” He threw the girl through the window, shattering the half opened windowpane. As she fell into a pool of blood, her father and brother's killer followed after her, taking her by the hair and lifting her head up as she clutched her aching side. “See how nice of a job I have done? It's an art, really!” Aine's jaw dropped once more as the vampire forced her to look upon the slain, mutilated bodies of her beloved father and brother. Blood covered the walls and the floor… she could hardly recognize the once warm, loving faces. Aine's breathing quickened as her heart raced in terror, and though she wanted to cry, to collapse and break down… she couldn't. “Thanks for the compliment. The name's Wilhelm,” The creature hissed, grinning once more, “and I shall be your escort tonight.”

 

 

“Where are you taking me?” Aine gasped, her voice coming back to her all at once so that she nearly shrieked. “Let me go!”

 

 

Tsk, tsk… “Oh, but I can't just let you go! No, that wouldn't go down well at all with Alberic. No, not at all! You're much too valuable of an asset to have just running around the City. Master Alberic has better plans for you.”

 

 

“Please, release me or let me die!” Aine wept, “I have no wish to live!”

 

 

“Well,” The vampire chuckled, “After Master Alberic's finished with you, that could be arranged!”