Newcomers

 PART TWENTY
Three figures made their way cautiously through the entrance tunnel to the grand arch. In the lead was a woman, Iva, who had long black hair and a friendly face.

The others were men, Dione, Iva's brother, whose face and hair somewhat resembled his sister, but appeared less confident.

 Leon, Iva's husband came third. He looked decidedly grim. His hair was brown and mostly covered by a hat. His eyes were brown, unlike the others, whose eyes were blue.

 As they progressed they drew closer together until the arch was reached. It lit up on their approach, with a suddenness that made them jump.
"Ha! Told you so." Iva laughed.
"You did say the same thing about all the other caves." Her brother pointed out. Her husband said nothing. At one side of the arch was a uniformed man at a desk who beckoned them over.
"Good morning sir." Iva greeted him, setting down one of her bags.
"Good morning." The man smiled, blandly.  He clicked something on his computer and asked, "Are you new to Ivan?"
"Yes, we are. We're on the long march."
Iva grinned broadly at him while Dione smiled awkwardly and Leon remained expressionless.
"Are you planning on staying long in Ivan?"
"Uh..."
Iva hadn't expected this. No stories of the hidden city had been like this, she had always been told it was a wonderful land full of happy people and nobody ever thought of leaving or anything, that was why the long march was so important, it wasn't like a holiday.
"We're not sure." Dione broke the silence. "We'll have a look around first."
"I'll need your names, ages and relationship." The man slid a touch pad toward them, as if he were giving them a death contract. They all typed in the required information and handed it back across the desk. The man reached into a drawer and pulled out three bangles and three cards.
"These will get you into the palace if you want to stay in the city," pointing to the bangles, "and these are for purchasing the things you need." Holding out the cards. "There's 1000 centros on each one of those. You can't use cash."
They took the objects and pocketed them.
"Enjoy your stay." The man smiled his bland smile again and watched them around the next corner.

Realisation

PART NINETEEN
"So this is the hidden city."
"Yes."
Angele sniffed and felt her eyes, still hot from crying, fill again.
"What'll we do now?" She asked Ralf, who had his arms around her.
"I don't know."
She could hear the tears in his voice.
"What's going to happen to us?"
She tried hard to keep her voice calm. The thought of living a life in a cell, a life she had planned to do so much more with, was hard to look in the face without reeling back, trembling.
"I don't know, Angele." Despairingly, then calmer.
"One of the guards said we would probably be kept together so you wouldn't kill yourself."
Angele laughed, sarcastically. "Why would they care?"
Ralf shook his head wordlessly. They stood in silence while he got his voice under control.
"He said we would most likely be executed within a month."
Angele tried to smother a sob.
"Angele."
"Yes?"
"Their leader has the same name as your mother."
Angele tried to laugh again, but it sounded more like a sob.
"Mirabell came and told me she was my mother. I wasn't sure if I had dreamed it or not."
There was silence again, as Ralf gently stroked Angele's hair.
"Ralf?"
"What?"
"I'm going to have another baby."
He kissed her head and held her closer.

And Eighteen

Mirabell marched down the door lined corridor with a grim expression. He didn't want to do what Chrystal had ordered him to, but if he didn't then she would probably get someone else to do it. And if Ralf said yes, even though he'd never see Angele again, at least he wouldn't have to spend the rest of his life without sight. Mirabell opened the cell door and entered. Ralf, who had been lying down trying to sleep, now got up and looked at Mirabell. Mirabell had seen this look before, the look of the prisoner facing his captor, but this time was made harder, since Mirabell had known and made friends with Ralf. That made his task more hateful and despicable than ever.
"Ralf." He began. "My leader, Chrystal Sky Weaver inquires whether... you are willing to become a part of our force."
"Your force?"
Mirabell couldn't read Ralf's expression or tone.
"What does your force do?"
"We take from the controllers."
"How?"
Mirabell was feeling very uncomfortable.
"We attack and confiscate what they own."
He waited anxiously for a response.
"But the controllers own all the camps on the Frozen Plains."
"Yes." Mirabell hated himself as he watched Ralf consider.
"So if I say yes, I'll have to steal from the innocent people I grew up with because your leader doesn't like the people in charge of them?"
Mirabell had nothing to say.
"What will happen to Angele?"
Here it was, the question Mirabell had been dreading.
"She stays in the dungeon."
Ralf's expression didn't change as he said, "Well no then."
Mirabell wished he'd declined and someone else was here to do this, but he was here and nothing he could do would change that in a positive way.
"Ralf. If you say no, do you know what they'll do to you?"
Ralf looked resigned. "Kill me?"
"NO. They'll blind you."
"Well anything's better than living without Angele OR a clear conscience." Ralf's unnatural calmness was very unsettling, distracting Mirabell from the pointlessness of the remark.
"Besides, there isn't anything here that I'd particularly miss seeing."
"Are you SURE?" Mirabell was beginning to worry about Ralf's mental health; life in a cell could DO things to you.
"Yes, I'm sure."
Mirabell unhappily opened the cell door again and escorted Ralf away.

END SECTION

Part Seventeen

Sonia sat on the high legged bed, swinging her feet back and forth idly. She didn't feel inclined to leave the rooms again after what she had seen in the great hall. A knock on the front room door startled her. Without asking for permission, into the room strode Ivan.
"Sonia," Sonia looked at him expectantly, trying to suppress the urge to either scream and run or punch his nose again. Where was Etina?
"What do you want?" She inquired.
"I want you to marry me." He smiled condescendingly down at her. Sonia wasn't sure how to react. She was angry that Ivan thought she would accept, she was afraid he would force her, she was shocked he would go this far. It had never occurred to her that Ivan would ever consider this as a possibility.
"Why would I want to marry YOU?" Sonia snapped as she stood up from the bed
Ivan looked blank. He very obviously hadn't expected this. "Because I'm going to be leader after Chrystal." It was almost funny how badly prepared he was.
"Why do you think I would want to marry you? I hate you and nothing can make me stop hating you. Now, kindly get out of my rooms." She smiled coldly at him and turned back to her seat on the bed. Where on earth was Etina? But Ivan seized her left arm and dragged her toward him. "I'll make you marry me." He hissed, squeezing her arm. She tried to hit his face with her free hand but he caught it and held it. She stomped hard on his toes. Despite having no shoes on, Sonia had very hard feet and Ivan had on light, custom made boots for inside use only. He didn't express any pain, but his hold on her arm and wrist tightened. With her left hand she punched the arm holding it and kicked Ivan in the leg. Now he let go and she hit his nose. Ivan knew better than to stay after that. Outside he encountered Shine, who had taken to wandering around following him. He ignored her. "Lord Ivan." She curtsied. "What's wrong? You don't look happy." She was so annoying. Ivan continued to ignore her.
"If you don't want to tell me, that's alright. I don't mind." Ivan was too self absorbed at that moment to notice, or care, that Shine was trembling like a cornered animal. "If you do tell me what's wrong, I promise I will keep your secret."
"GO AWAY!" Ivan roared. Shine flattened against the wall and watched in terror as Ivan raged away down the stairs.Within the week it was announced that Ivan was engaged to Lana Kier. He did this to spite Sonia, to make her regret her decision and she couldn't change her mind now, that it was easy enough to get someone else. Ivan had chosen Lana purely for her looks, since she was pretty and blonde, a rare occurrence in that part of the world. (Many children were born blonde, but their hair usually darkened before they were nine). Lana had accepted him to escape prison life, and because she could see herself happily married to this man, at least, after she could get over what happened to Jermaine. When Shine heard the news, she disappeared. When the signal from her security bracelet was followed, all that was found was the bracelet and what was assumed to be Shine's hand.

Quiet

 PART SIXTEEN
Lana and Ralf had been allowed into Angele's cell. They clung together, silent and stunned. Tears trickled quietly down their cheeks. In ten minutes Ralf and Lana would have to leave Angele alone. Not a word had been said between them about Jermaine, each one being reluctant to remind the others. Now the guards came in and tore them apart, and Angele was again left to herself.

Shine

PART FIFTEEN
"Shine, what are you doing?"
Shine didn't open her eyes or move from her position on the floor.
"I'm tired."


"Well you're in the way. I need to put your tea on the table."
"I don't want to move."
"Well you won't get any tea, then."
Shine grudgingly moved her legs out of Rhoda's way. Rhoda was her nurse, since her mother, Chrystal, hadn't wanted her. Chrystal hated girls, and had gotten rid of her first daughter, replacing her with Ivan. After she had Shine, she threw her away like a bottle cap, for Rhoda to salvage. They lived in the lower ground floor of the palace, in a small area Rhoda had done up to function as a house. All the furniture was taken from various places where no one would miss them. Their food was provided by the palace kitchen, since although Chrystal had decided to pretend they didn't exist, the kitchen workers hadn't. When Shine was seven she had been ordered to train with the palace dancers and through that she had met Ivan. Well, not so much met as seen, as he frequently was brought to watch with Chrystal. From that time on Ivan was Shine's hero (they were both about ten at the time), she would dance better so he could see and notice her. Even when he didn't act very heroic Shine always made up excuses for him. But Ivan didn't like Shine; he'd been brought up to look down upon her, although the reason for this had never been revealed to Shine. Despite this, Shine would not hate him. Rhoda knew all about it but said nothing to encourage or discourage Shine. She didn't have a high opinion of Ivan, but she kept that to herself. Rhoda was not from the Frozen Plains, but from Tree Land in the warmer regions.


She had told and retold stories of her former life before she was forced into slavery to pay off a family debt. Rhoda loved Shine as if she was her own daughter and had tried to bring her up well, but life in the dancing school had spoiled her- for life perhaps, Rhoda worried.
"Rhoda?" From the floor,
"Yes, twinkle?"
"Who is my real mother?" This was an often repeated question which popped up anytime Shine was upset.
"I think you know the answer to that, sparkle." Said Rhoda, calmly, without turning around.
"If Chrystal was my real mother, she'd act like it. It's not fair!" Muttered Shine, fiddling with the security bracelet on her wrist.
"I'll tell you what's not fair, me making your tea and you not eating it, that's not fair." Rhoda warned.
"Oh fine!"
"You watch your tone young lady."
Shine got up and trudged to the table, her brows lowered. Rhoda sat down opposite.
"What's the matter, Shine? You've been lying on the floor all evening."
Shine's face crumpled. "I have no friends." She managed, before bursting into tears.
"Do you know why?"
"Because, (sniff) nobody likes me."
Rhoda passed her a hankie. "That's not true, I like you, and Walter likes you." Walter was a palace kitchen worker. Shine blew her nose on the hankie.
"Nobody else does." She looked down at her plate. "Rhoda,"
"Yes?"
"Sonia's back."
"Aha?"
"I hate her!"
"Why?"
"She's mean!" Shine was almost shouting.
"Those are not nice words, Shine."
"I don't care! I hate her!"
"Calm down, Shine. Eat something and you'll feel better."
Again, Shine burst into tears.

The Walk

PART FOURTEEN

“How long have I been here?”

Etina held up three fingers. Sonia sighed. It felt like a lot longer than three days.

“I wish we could go for a walk or something.”

Etina smiled mysteriously and opened the door, beckoning for Sonia to follow.

“but we're not allowed out.” Sonia hissed, unsure if this was a trap. But since it appeared that Etina would go, even if Sonia didn't and Sonia didn't fancy staying behind, she left the room with Etina. A young guard met them outside and informed Sonia that Lord Ivan had ordered that she could go anywhere she wished under guard. This information almost made Sonia want to stay there and not go out ever, but she decided it wasn't important enough to get worked up over. They would go first to one of the lower galleries overlooking the great hall. Sonia was allowed to lead the way while Etina and the guard brought up the rear. Etina appeared to know the guard, whose name was Evan, as evidenced by their whispered conversations which were silenced if Sonia turned around. Sonia was just a bit jealous that Etina would talk to a guard and not to her, but she supposed Etina had known Evan longer than she’d known Sonia. The gallery was dark and deserted when they reached it, which made the unusual light at one end of the great hall easier to see. Sonia, being more curious than the other two, decided to go into the great hall itself to investigate. She didn't notice for some time, however, that the others weren't following her. She didn't give it considerable thought, as the scene in front of her was much more riveting. Facing the platform stood seven figures: two guards, Ralf, Angele, Lana, Jermaine and a girl who Sonia recognised as the one who had fallen out of the dance. On the platform stood Chrystal and Mirabell. It appeared he had risen in rank, otherwise there would be some other official with him to make sure he did what he was told. The whole group on the floor excepting  Jermaine and the guards were in tears. Sonia was surprised he wasn't comforting Lana, for their behaviour at her hut and certain things Ralf and Angele had said suggested they were engaged, and surely something which would bring tears to Ralf’s eyes in front of Chrystal and Mirabell should not leave Jermaine as indifferent as he appeared. Then Sonia remembered a horrible piece of technology which had not been perfected by the time she left but was still used, at the risk of terrifying side effects. It was for wiping people’s memories almost completely. She desperately hoped this device hadn't been used on Jermaine; too many terrible things had happened to these people already, she was sure. But as she drew closer, keeping hidden from sight, saw the confused expression on his face, the heartbroken longing and disbelief on Lana’s, she realised it had been used. Why? What had they done? There was no reason Sonia could think of that could make up for it. And what was the other girl doing there? At a word from Chrystal the guards came forward and tied the girl's hand to Jermaine’s. Sonia hid her eyes so she wouldn't have to see the rest of it, but that couldn't prevent her from hearing it. The cries of Lana and Angele, sobs turning into screams of the girl as she was dragged away with Jermaine to the labyrinth to die. Despite the size of the great hall, Sonia felt suffocated, as if her lungs and throat were being squeezed and walls were closing in from every side. She wished she could wake up in her hut and this had all been a dream, but the hard truth was that it wasn't. She heard the others being taken away. Sonia had to get away from that place. She headed back to the gallery. She found Evan and Etina dancing.

 She stood in the doorway, watching. It was refreshing to see two people enjoying themselves. She didn't want it to end, but eventually they noticed her and stopped, looking somewhat shame faced.

“I want to go back now.” her voice sounded hoarse and shaky. The prison rooms would be a relief to return to. On the journey back, Sonia wondered if she was a coward, if it was cowardice to fear Chrystal. There was no one she could ask.

cold

PART THIRTEEN
It was bitterly cold in the solitary cell Angele was now in.
To make matters worse, she had been forced to leave all clothes but her dress and undergarments at the door. Apparently warm petticoats and socks didn't count as undergarments.
She sat in the corner, shivering miserably. Through her chattering teeth she wept. Great sobs of self pity, stress and bereavement.

In another cell, right next door, in fact, sat Ralf, thinking. Everything was a mess. Either they'd be killed, or they would stay in these cells for the rest of their lives.
That wouldn't be such an unpleasant prospect if Angele had been there. But even if she had been, there was no chance they would ever get to the hidden city which was where she had wanted to go in the first place. And Connal, their son, had shrunk away from his mother. What had happened to him?

Far from these two cells, but in the same situation, was Lana’s cell, where she sat, bemoaning the fact that she and Angele had fought and she couldn't apologize. She too, had only her dress and undergarments on, and so was pacing the floor in a vain attempt to warm herself. Her attention was caught by the entry of Jermaine. Lana ran to him and tried to throw her arms around him. To her surprise and disappointment, Jermaine held her back. She looked into his face to discover the cause, and found only confusion. She spoke his name but got no answer. She thought this must be some kind of nightmare and screamed, holding onto his arms and sobbing. He shook her off angrily and said she was mad. This was too much for Lana, she thought Jermaine loved her, he had said he
would always love her. She couldn't take this on top of all the stress of the last few days. The release of unconsciousness came swiftly and she collapsed on the floor.

Chrystal

Ivan strode down the corridor to Lady Chrystal's room. At the door he listened out of habit and hearing nothing, entered. Lady Chrystal was sitting on a sofa holding the cup Ivan had thrown at Shine. She looked preoccupied, but Ivan had something important to say.

"Mother."
She looked up. "Ivan." She smiled with her lips only. "You have a sister."
"I know. Shine is my sister."
"Oh. Yes I forgot." A look of hatred briefly darkened her face.
"I meant another one. I thought she was dead or far away from here."
Deciding that what he had to say was more important than the information being passed on to him, Ivan tried again.
"Mother, do you think-"
"The prisoner you showed me last night, she's my daughter." Chrystal spoke through gritted teeth, clutching the cup with white knuckles. "I will make her miserable."
"I'm not exactly sure how all this is important to me, Mother. I want to ask-"
"Don't you see that if you have an older sister, she will be leader instead?"
"Well yes”

“Well then?”

“I suppose it makes sense. But Mother, l need to ask you something.”

“What is it?”

“Do you think I should marry Sonia?”

“Marry whoever you like.”

“Alright.” at the door he turned, “I think I'll wait a bit, though.”

Chrystal nodded and smiled