Page 7

Berserk

Elite: Alice

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T he trip back from the cave felt like an eternity. Even with my jacket, Master Azul’s room is too chilly, and not helping with my pounding chest.

“Did anyone see you besides the twins?” Master Azul asks. “Did they see the eggs?”

“No, they didn’t make it far enough to see. I–I’m terribly sorry, ma’am. I tried to defuse the situation, but they were persistent.” My back spasms. “I scared them away and secured the eggs in my bookbag.”

“You put all three eggs in your bag?” Azul’s blond brow rises.

“Yeah,” I croak, ignoring the gnawing pain in my lower back. I need to go to the infirmary. “They were heavy, but I managed. They’re safely secured with Queen Sophie.”

Master Azus rests her elbow on the arm of her chair. “I see. This is still a problem. I need to speak with Master Cedric about this.”

There’s a drowning silence, and all I want to do is lie down.

I didn’t mind staying on Topaz to investigate more, but when I mentioned Ultima to Sophie, she suggested I leave. The eggs were sufficient to calm her worries.

Master Azul nods, extending the silence. “Well done on the mission, but I’m afraid we’ll need to keep you hidden for a bit. Your outside privileges have been revoked.”

“What?”

“Alice, you did the last thing you were expected to do.” Azul drummed her long fingers against her desk. For some reason, this is amplifying the chill in her room. “How many times have we stressed combat first, powers second? Your report mentions nothing of combat, only that you tried to redirect and then jumped to the next extreme. Why?”

I shake my head, sweat building on my forehead as I gasp. “I panicked; I am so sorry. Please, you just gave me those privileges. I don’t wanna lose them.”

Azul raises her hand definitively. “No. We must keep you out of sight until I discuss the matter with Cedric. Let’s pause on proceeding, and I’ll touch base with Sophie.”

“W-With all due respect, Master Azul, I don’t think this is a matter we can pause on.” I bite my lip, taking a step forward to her desk. I try to shift my weight a little, but my back hurts more from it. “Please let me continue investigating. I met a girl who can talk to dragons. She ran away, but I think she’d be helpful in knowing what’s going on.”

“One more thing you failed to mention in your report.” Azul exhales sharply and clicks her tongue. “Do we have any idea where this girl would be now?”

“I checked back at the cave, but she wasn’t there. The eggs were.”

“Then she’s a dead-end,” Azul snaps. “Like I’ve said, you’re hanging tight for a bit.”

But I can’t let it go. I don’t want to wait around like a dog on a leash; I want to be free.

My ache increases. “What’s special about Garnet that their influence is so heavy? I thought the islands were equal.”

“The islands are equal, but that’s not to say their personalities are. Some monarchs are a little rougher around the edges,” Azul says. “With that come stronger opinions.”

I think of Evan from Sapphire, and Allison from Amethyst. They’re biological social hazards who need warning labels. If I expect anything, it’d be from one of them. Remington is such a teddy bear with a guttural laugh and a ginger beard that swallows his face.

Yet, despite six contrasting personalities, they all must be doing something right that the citizens haven’t revolted. They’re elected monarchs who serve for life or until they want to stop and open to a vote, but “stronger opinions” just sound like bullying. It’s the perfect excuse to be jerks to each other because they’re not allowed to overthrow one another.

“Can’t we just talk to King Remington?” I ask.

“No. You’re dismissed. Do not leave the base under any circumstances. Because you used your powers, you should drink some tea to recuperate.”

I can’t argue anymore. My back is on fire and my legs are going to collapse from underneath me. I trudge out the room without saying goodbye.

Rebecca is waiting outside of Azul’s office when I leave. She rolls her eyes and bumps shoulders with me as I walk by. I keep my back straight to descend the stairs back to my room. Right before I cut the corner, a line from the cafeteria stretches all the way into the lobby. One member groans and tells me the chefs are late opening for lunch.

Evangeline and a recovered Billie are already waiting in our room when I walk in. Billie is buried in her covers on the top bunk and Evangeline is on mine. In her lap is a shiny red book bigger than her head. I toss my backpack in the corner before joining Evangeline.

“Hey, we weren’t expecting you back so soon!” Evangeline says.

“I can say the same,” I sigh, extending my hand. “‘Sup, Billie?”

Billie’s head pokes upside down from her bunk and slaps my hand. “Hi! Omigosh, I’m so glad you’re back! I woke up in the infirmary so confused and ...”

I tune out Billie’s rambling and sprawl out on the bed thanks to Evangeline scooting over to give my legs room. The sun from my window beams hazily on my legs. Evangeline has her legs crossed, stealing glances at me and then back to her obnoxiously big book.

“How was the mission? Can you talk about it?” she asks, keeping the book cradled in her lap. The sun hits her, revealing blond strands that attacked her pants.

I vaguely talk about some loose details of the mission, prompting Billie to somersault off her bunk and throw herself onto us. Somehow, we can all squeeze on the twin-sized bed, with them sitting upright and me lying down. I wince from shifting my back as the sun dims likely from an invasive cloud. The mention of literal glittery, pastel dragon eggs doesn’t seem to faze either of them, so I continue to the part about attacking Ultima.

“Wait, Ultima showed up? WHAT.” Billie’s wide-set blue eyes somehow stretch open even more.

“Yeah, I know we’re supposed to follow combat first and powers second, but it was crucial they didn’t see the eggs. And honestly, it was none of their business.”

Billie makes an exaggerated face, lighting up like a little golden retriever with her bushy, tangled hair. “That’s WILD , Alice! Gosh, I can’t believe it.”

Evangeline leans forward with intensity in her eyes.

“So, you...used your powers?” she asks.

I adjust my head on the pillow, so I don’t have to crane my neck to look at them. Evangeline is by my feet and Billie sits right by my head. I’m an easy target if she farts.

“Yeah. I wasn’t thinking clearly, but it was the only way to spook them enough to not come back,” I explain. I toss my arms out and stretch as far as my body lets me, gaining some relief in my back. “Because of that, Azul took away my outside privileges.”

“Ruthless, but totally, TOTALLY understandable,” Billie says.

I frown. “You’re taking her side? I’m a cooped-up chicken here!”

Billie raises her pointer finger, appearing ready to lecture me on something ridiculous. Evangeline scoots to the edge of the bed.

“Yes, but only because something strange has been happening the last two years since their new Commander started, like SUPER STRANGE,” Billie gasps. “We’ve speculated this before, remember? Missing members? Decreasing staff? More auditions? Yada-yada-ya?”

Evangeline smirks, bringing up her ears. “Ah yes, the mystery of the missing members who suddenly reemerge and discharge themselves from Elite with no reason and ‘join’ Ultima.”

“So, basically Azul is right to keep you inside. You attacked their members; what if you suddenly disappear?” Billie asks. She wiggles her fingers at me, emulating a zombie.

I bite the inside of my cheek. “Well, now I’m horrified.”

Billie snickers. “As you should be!”

Evangeline checks her phone. “Oh! Oh! Rachel just texted that the cafeteria is launching a new lunch special! Let’s go check it out.”

I roll off the bed before Billie gets a chance to push me since I’m blocking them both. We leave the room and head for the cafeteria. Billie and Evangeline chat about the menu, but I get sucked into my thoughts about Ultima. For five years, I’ve done well at minding my business and staying under their radar. If Azul clears this up with Cedric, I should be fine.

I grind my teeth. After everything that bastard has done to me, he should give me a pass.

Smells of garlic, soy, fish, and spices fill the halls. The line to the cafeteria is gone now, so we go in and grab our maroon plastic trays. A few years ago, Billie told me Ultima has silver, stainless steel trays and it still pisses me off.

The glass shield displays options for fried rice, dumplings, sushi, ramen, curry, and fish. My mouth waters as I wait for the servers to give Evangeline her vegetarian spring rolls. Billie asks for pad thai which makes my stomach growl. I can’t decide what I want but choose samsa and shorpo since I haven’t tried either. I balance a piping hot mug of hibiscus and pomegranate tea on the tray.

I weave through the sea of maroon lunch benches of chattering Elite members to the table closest to the exit. Rachel is sitting there reading a book, having not touched what looks like roasted duck on her plate. Her black curly mane is pulled from her face by a red headband. She looks up and sets the book aside, making room for Evangeline to sit next to her while Billie and I sit across.

“Hey, y’all! Thanks for joining me.” Rachel’s eyes settle on me. “Hey! Happy belated birthday! Looks like I still have a ways to go before I join the nineteen club.”

“When is your birthday?” Billie asks, stabbing and twirling a fork in her food. “If it helps, Tyler is FINALLY turning eighteen in August. Finn turns nineteen next year in March.”

I bite into my samsa, savoring the hot texture and flavor of the minced lamb and cheese. I don’t want to stop eating ever again.

“How do you know this?” Evangeline asks with one arched brow.

Billie slurps the noodles from her plate. “Birthdays are my little obsession.”

“In December!” Rachel props her elbows and leans forward on the table, lowering her voice. “So, I’ve been doing a lot of patrols on Emerald, and rumors are circulating about a giant emerald gemstone stuck in a field somewhere.”

Billie chokes and grabs a napkin from her tray.

“Really? How ironic,” I murmur. My eyes draw to her glowing white Trace Mark on her right forearm, complementing her warm, sepia skin. It resembles freckles forming an exclamation mark. “What jurisdiction does a giant gem fall under?”

Rachel straightens up. “I’d think maybe the Guards. Rob is so sweet and concerned about it.”

Billie recovers but is wheezing with red, watery eyes. “Rob is...sweet?” she croaks, reaching for her glass of water.

“I know. I know. His powers act up which activates the demon. We’ve done constant patrols at nearly every station we can,” Rachel explains. She finally touches her roasted duck, cutting it into smaller pieces with a flimsy knife. “I can tell he’s exhausted. It’s gonna catch up to him and awaken that dang thing.”

“That sucks,” Billie breathes, still not fully recovered.

“Did you mention the gem to anyone else yet?” Evangeline asks. She has one spring roll left. Her soy sauce cup is empty, and her annoyance is showing.

Rachel nods. “Yeah, we told Rebecca and she’s giving it to Natasha Redly as an investigative mission. She’s apparently gonna check it out sometime this week.”

“Natasha? No offense, but she’s useless,” Billie scoffs. “She’s like the wannabe version of Nick Hardy. A total fiery badass.” Everyone around the table grins.

“Have you seen anything weird on your patrols, Rachel?” I ask. “In connection with the homicides or dragon murders?”

She meets my gaze and frowns. “Not really but that’s precisely why Rebecca has Rob and me on patrol. That’s as much as we can do while technically ‘not doing anything.’ It’s so sad. Did anyone hear if the Guards got anywhere with either issue?”

Billie snorts with a crazed smile. She digs back into her food and doesn’t say anything. Evangeline shakes her head and pushes her tray to the center of the table. I finish my last samsa and slurp on the shorpo.

“Sadly no,” I finally reply, with a tentative sip of the tea.

“Can’t dragons just mate and make more?” Billie asks.

“How fast are you hoping for that to happen? Dragons carry two eggs for a year. The balance is tipping toward death, so we’re better off stopping the killer,” Evangeline laments.

Rachel checks her watch and shoots up to her feet, grabbing her book and uniform jacket that was draped over her legs.

“Gotta go. I have a tight deadline for cleaning Elite’s library and donating books, then I have patrol later on Emerald. I’ll let y’all know if I hear anything more ‘bout that gemstone.” Rachel grabs her tray and sets it on the long counter near the exit where piles of plates and trays remain until the servers collect them to clean.

“I should be going too,” Evangeline sighs. “I’m helping with second interviews of the finalists we’ve chosen from auditions. The last thing I need is Rebecca barking orders up this tree—” She points to herself, “—on how to do my ‘other duties as assigned.’”

“Good luck with that,” Billie chortles.

Evangeline half smiles and pats my shoulder before leaving.

I turn to Billie, who is still scraping what’s left of her pad thai in the bowl with a spoon now. She licks her lips and looks at me.

“And then there were two,” I say.

“As if! I got an assignment at an animal shelter that burned down. Their animals went wild and fled. I gotta help track ‘em down. Fun, right? It’s totally gonna be the rest of my day!”

“You’re kidding, right?” My phone vibrates in my pocket, so I pull it out and read a text from Azul asking me to stop back at her office again.

“Nah. Time to let this hair loose!” Billie shakes her hair and I’m confident my food isn’t edible anymore. Thankfully, I finished the tea and ate all the samsas and half of the shorpo.

M aster Azul’s door is cracked open when I return, the chill oozing out through the thin sliver it has to escape her pink hued room. She’s staring at the surveillance screens when I walk in, blond hair up in a messy ponytail.

“Ah, thank you for returning,” she states, facing me. “I spoke with Queen Sophie. She will keep the eggs under high security to ensure no one tries to destroy them. The last thing we need is someone further tipping the scales to world destruction by slaughtering three babies in one go. They look ready to hatch and can help recover the state we’re in.”

I nod, placing my hands behind my back. “That’s good.”

Her eyes flicker for a moment as her lips tighten in a straight line, her face shrouded in ambiguity.

“I haven’t heard back from Master Cedric yet, but I’ve been thinking about your outside privileges,” she begins. “We look more guilty keeping you hidden, than expressing humility and regret. I believe a peaceful approach will help our image and keep them out of our business.”

“Are you asking me to send a card or something?”

“No. Go to Onyx Island and apologize,” she demands.

I stare at Azul, almost the same exhaustion I had five years ago when I arrived on Elite’s steps. Tired. Small. Afraid. Sad. I want to be free, and I can be, but that means leaving Elite behind and I don’t want that. There’s so much growing left to do, and I refuse to let Ultima continue operating with Cedric.

I swallow the frustration vibrating in my throat. “If it keeps the peace.”

Azul nods with a slight twitch of a smile surfacing. She rests her hand on her hip, tapping her heel on the steel floor. “Good. I’ve been reading mission notes with Rebecca, and many members have reported that Onyxians suspect Queen Oona is following the other monarchs. If there’s any place that raves about dragons, it’s Onyx. See what you can find while you’re there.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

After all, there won’t be an Ultima or Elite if the world ends.

O nyx looks like it’s straight out of a wicked sci-fi movie of the future. Everything is desaturated compared to the brilliance of Topaz this morning. It’s a little...jarring.

“Back home,” I murmur, stepping off the train platform before I’m mauled by hyper, hasty commuters.

It’s eerily quiet while still maintaining traffic, houses, apartments, and a standard downtown. Somehow, all the crammed gray, white, or black modern buildings can meet the needs of healthcare workers, alchemists, and scientists. I guarantee I’ll see each one in this fifteen-minute walk.

Hints of color come from the grass belonging to homes or parks. Nothing in between. The occasional alchemist wears a warm brown or terra cotta robe with matching boots, but everyone else seems to hate colors. Ultima’s colors are silver, navy, and black, so it makes sense.

The maintenance of the flora is stiff. Most trees were cut into the shape of a ball rather than their natural form. Same with all the bushes. Everything is controlled here.

I probably inherited some reserved characteristics from Onyx because people are just not approachable here. No waving, no smiling, no eye contact, no physical touch. Most keep their heads down and mumble to themselves as they speed-walk along the sidewalk. The people who do engage are the outliers from elsewhere who will save this wretched island.

The Onyx Island Bus Transit is a disappointing graphite box on wheels, towing away people in white lab coats, scrubs, robes, or aprons with satchels strapped over their shoulders.

Well, would you look at that, I spotted all three.

I wait for the next bus to arrive going in that direction. As expected, the inside is scattered because no one wants to sit next to each other so there are a ton of empty seats next to people. I sit in an open spot between an elderly man and a teenager. They both give dirty looks and turn away. They don’t even care that I’m in my Elite uniform and I serve them. I hate it here.

The bus stops further than I want to go, but I walk a short distance to my old street from my childhood. Seeing an empty lot makes the blistering afternoon sun burn my neck so coldly.

I dig in my pockets to pull out a folded photo. My dad looks to be in his early thirties, crouched beside six-year-old me. I’m cheesing absurdly hard, showing the gap from the tooth that came out. I hold the photo up, blocking my view of the empty lot. How sad a burned down house can wipe all traces of memories this photo can keep.

I stroll out of the neighborhood, wearing through the soles of my shoes in a tireless attempt to not make it to Ultima from fatigue. I can’t apologize if I’m too tired to make it there, right?

What if they’re on high alert because I attacked their members? One look at me through their rumored thermal vision goggles or whatever and they’ll tackle me! I’ll miss Billie’s high-pitched voice drowning me as Ultima keeps me captive.

And yet, somehow, I still make it to their street.

Posted on a busy main road, I stand across the street from Ultima’s headquarters, watching their members filter through the doors, in and out, until there’s a quiet lull.

This is it. They’ve spotted me.

My chest tightens from the tense anticipation. Sweat gathers in my armpits and under my nostrils as I ponder what to do. If they come out, I’ll surrender and apologize. Or maybe I still have time to run away. Maybe I should ask Azul if she told Cedric to expect me so I wouldn’t be perceived as a threat.

Images of birthday candles and flames shudder through my thoughts.

Nope. I can’t. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope.

I turn on my heels and dash in the opposite direction, right toward the park. It’s the infamous Green Park, well known for its blue grass. It’s a shining example of what happens when scientists and alchemists become besties and do things without prior approval.

Turns out I’m still the same, weak coward I was when I was fourteen. Here I am, begging to be free and I can’t even extend an apology to the organization I “accidentally” attacked.

In my sprint through the park through a blurred state, I flip right over something that hits my legs and land on my side. I cough and roll over, spotting a boy with an awful bowl cut hairdo slowly rising to his feet. My back spasms from the fall as I get to my feet.

“Sorry, kid. You okay?”

Much to my dismay, the boy approaches me, tilting his head once we make eye contact, but he’s looking through me. I was hoping he’d nod and move on.

“Y-You...okay?” I ask again. He blinks a few times, staring absently. I wave my hand in his face, getting his attention again. “Oi! Do you need medical attention? I didn’t mean to run into you.”

He shakes his head. “I can’t find daddy.”

I scan the area of people sitting in their controlled sections of the park grass and benches. The tree leaves and branches are shaved to form triangles, and I just spotted a pink-furred dog.

I look back at the kid in his simple denim overalls. Green, blue, and purple bruises cover his small dangling arms. I find a bruise on the side of his neck.

“So, uh, where did you last see your dad?”

“I don’t know.” He looks tiny. “Are you looking for dragons? I stared at the lady and saw her killing one.”

My eyes widen until they nearly bulge out of my sockets. I crouch to the kid’s level. “Wh-what did you just say? What lady?”

The boy scratches the back of his head. “I saw her here. Then...she killed dragons. Daddy said to run far away if I ever saw her again. We hide from her.”

I sigh, head hanging low in defeat. “You’re not making any sense here, kid.”

“HEEEY! That's my son. Leave em alone!” a man slurs as he’s stumbling toward us. Gray tank with sagging dirty pants and torn up black shoes. This man is living the dream, having not become a worshiped researcher, or doctor, or whatever.

I frown when I look at the boy’s bruises again and stand up. “This is your son? What’s with the bruises?”

“That? It’s nothing!” he replies, wiping his nose. He’s closer, swaying and reeking of fried food mixed with dark beer and stale coffee. My stomach turns from the combo.

“Did you do this?” Now my heart is racing. Since when did I get the sudden courage to be this confrontational? Billie is rubbing off on me.

“Listen, Elite loser, look the other way if you know what’s good for ya,” the man says. His scraggly face and missing teeth look punchable right about now.

“I’m afraid I’m going to have to take this boy into custody for further investigation,” I retort. An elderly lady comes over to move the hiding boy from behind my legs.

“No! Hand him over or I’ll—” The man’s eyes twitch in different intervals as the reek of alcohol overpowers the fresh yet chemical smell of air. His fingers flicker at his sides as he grinds his stained, chipped teeth, still audible and trying to utter some kind of sentence he can’t form.

I’m doomed if I cause a scene, but I must intervene in domestic issues.

I slowly back away with my hands up. Lightheaded from the brief, heated exchange, I turn to confirm the boy is still nearby so I can take him, but it’s my biggest mistake.

The man takes me down to the ground and pins me there, aiming for my neck. My skin rolls from the urge to use my powers. Behave .

I smack and scratch his face, but he aims for my neck and squeezes. Dark spots cloud my vision. I dig my nails into any exposed skin I can reach but he doesn’t flinch. I shove my thumbs into his eyes but he squeezes harder.

It’s a shame that so many people are watching, yet no one is stopping him. The little boy screams for his dad to leave me alone. Combat first, powers second. This warrants powers, doesn’t it? I refuse to die here.

I stare into his eyes as his pupils turn white and realize this is the end for him.

I inhale my last tunnel of breath, but before I summon my savior, the clouds disperse, letting narrow rays of sunlight beam down on the scene. The man’s eyes return to normal, pupils and irises visible again. He loosens his grip and stumbles to his feet as I sit up and gasp for air. The bystanders watch with hollow eyes as he gazes at the sky.

“I’m...I’m so sorry,” he gasps, drool leaking down his chin. His jaw is slack as his mouth hangs open. A column of light rises underneath him, surrounding his body and sparkling in a soft gray hue as he opens his arms. “Please don’t let her find him.”

Wait...what? Who?

My face is on fire from the excessive coughing that I can’t make out words. His body slowly disintegrates inside the tunnel of light. Particles of what’s left of him rise in the column to the sky until it grows thin and disappears. The clouds unnaturally proceed back to their prior positions. The boy runs up to me with downward brows and quivering lips.

“Daddy’s gone?” he asks. His question echoes in my mind but in the voice of my younger self.

“What’s your name?” I croak, still clearing my throat and gasping.

“Wren,” he mumbles, face red. “Where’s daddy?”

I cough. “It’s something you w-wouldn’t understand right now.” No way can I explain that his dad succumbed to Berserk and was taken by our deities and expect him to totally get it.

I scan the murmuring crowd when the lady from earlier approaches us with soft wrinkles, a warm smile, and a smoothie of gold and silver hair stretching down her back.

“Are you okay, honey? My name is Vinyl Steed. You can call me Lady V.”

“Yeah.” My throat vibrates to unleash another cough. “Thanks for your help.”

“I must thank you for stepping in. I forget how disinterested the citizens are to help...”

My thoughts whiplash back to where I am. Onyx Island.

I haven’t apologized to Ultima and I’m not going to. Ultima is just through the trees. I don’t want to be here when they come out to inspect what happened. There’s no time to heal Wren’s bruises or get him to safety.

I raise my hand to cut Lady V off. “I’m so sorry, I need to go. Please bring Wren to Ultima. They’ll contact the Guards and take it from there.”

Lady V blinks, raising her dusty blond eyebrows. “Oh, okay.”

I force myself up and weave through the crowd, leaving behind Wren, Lady V, and Ultima.