Rose
Monarchy of Thilias, Achnologia, capital, year 2180, 5 years before the end of the World
The luminescent yellow of my eyes faded, and they regained their initial hazel color. I was immediately struck by the blue and purple-toned lighting of the city. Every building, all pressed against each other, had animated advertising panels, and neon bars decorated them. Keeping my hood in place to blend into the crowd, I ventured into the wide streets of the capital. Above my head, roads where cars sped by, leaving luminous trails behind them and making their engines roar. Hundreds of stores with massive signs stacked together, where their holographic advertisements competed for space, inhabitants dressed in dynamic and original clothing talking and laughing loudly, the music animating the grand avenue—all of it gave me a massive headache. I wasn’t used to so much stimulation at once.
Then, a motorcycle with glowing wheels grazed past me, and I barely had time to step aside. I was so absorbed by everything the city was offering my senses that I had lowered my guard.
— Hey! Watch it, kid! The road doesn’t belong to you!
He was the one who almost ran me over, and I’m the one who has to apologize? I sighed, a little bewildered. This time, I made sure not to stay too close to the road and reached the corner of the main street, in front of the gigantic sign of an Asian restaurant, the “Akai Hyōshiki.” Since this was the main alley, it was very crowded, and nightlife seemed to be very important to the inhabitants. At least, it would be easier to blend in.
Holding my compass, I discreetly glanced at the streets I had to take. My landmark was the massive building housing a shopping center, brighter than the others. Its facade displayed a giant advertisement animating a woman twirling in the middle of the galaxy, a jar of cream in her hands. Above her, the tagline read: “Be brilliant.”
Suddenly, my ears started ringing, signaling an imminent danger. A few kilometers away, I could hear rapid and determined footsteps and words that pushed me to flee.
“The deserter is around here! The tracker indicates she’s on the main avenue.”
My heart skipped a beat, and my gaze darted to my shoulder blade. How could I have forgotten about that chip embedded in my body? I needed to find a way to remove it.
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The rain pounded down on me as my quick footsteps splashed through the puddles. I dashed as fast as I could, weaving between pedestrians who only stepped aside at the last minute. My cape lifted when I leaped several meters to reach a sign attached to a building on my left. I swung, vaulted to the roof, and landed on my hands. Without wasting time, I continued my run, the map imprinted in my memory.
From up here, I could see black two-wheeled vehicles with bright red streaks, clearly visible from afar. Their riders numbered five. I clicked my tongue.
They didn’t take long to notice my disappearance and send in the cavalry. I just hope Felix didn’t open his mouth. Whatever, no time to think about that—I had to get as far away as possible and find a place to remove the tracker.
Two beams of light suddenly appeared behind me just as I jumped to reach the next rooftop. They hit a vehicle, which exploded before my astonished eyes.
So, they’re willing to hurt people just to get me back? Tch… I need to get away from the crowded streets.
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According to the city map I still had in mind, there was an abandoned factory not far from here. It was perfect. Given how fast I had run, I should have a good lead on them.
The place was very dark due to the night and the lack of lighting. The windows were shattered, the machines out of order. It had an additional floor, and graffiti enhanced its rundown appearance. The concrete slabs on the ground were coming loose. They must not have been maintained for quite some time.
I finally leaned against a pillar, my clothes soaked by the rain still pounding against the broken windowpanes. My chest rose and fell with my rapid breathing. I was still wondering how I was going to remove that chip. It was almost out of reach, fixed under my skin, near my shoulder blade.
As I pondered over what to do, screams echoed through the factory, and I saw a teenage boy, about the same age as me, dashing like a rabbit.
Our eyes and auras crossed for a brief instant in an explosion of colors. My heart leaped out of my chest and knocked the air from my lungs. My eyes began to shimmer, and I was seized with tremors. My canines extended, and I instinctively covered my mouth.
What’s happening to me? I tried to calm myself by counting to ten multiple times, fixing an invisible point on the ground.
— It’s no use running, idiot! As soon as we catch you, we’ll beat the crap out of you!
Three other boys, slightly older this time, were chasing him from the upper floor, hurling insults. They ran down after him.
I wonder what he did to end up in this situation.
I didn’t want any trouble, so I lowered my head and pressed closer against the pillar, my hood completely hiding my head. My senses had only just settled down. The warmth and the simultaneously sweet and sour taste of his aura had awakened my hunger. It was like a fruit candy. I ran my gloved fingers over my lips. What am I doing? Hopefully, they won’t come back this way.
I had spoken too soon. My eyebrows furrowed, disappointed to see that the boy from earlier had doubled back. Had he managed to shake them off? I went completely still, blending into the darkness. I silently prayed he wouldn’t notice me. Go away…
— What are you doing here, sitting all alone?
I played dead. With a bit of luck, he’d mistake me for a homeless person and leave me alone? I wasn’t entirely sure this would work, but I remained silent.
— What, cat got your tongue? he said with a slightly mocking tone.
— No. I replied sharply despite myself.
I didn’t mean to sound so unpleasant, but what was I supposed to say?
“Hi, I’m Rose, I’m on the run. My adoptive family is chasing me to throw me back in prison, will you help me?” I wasn’t that desperate…
The bag he was clutching tightly against him began to glow. A red light emanated from it. When he noticed my insistent gaze, he stepped back and pointed a finger at me.
— Ha! I see what you’re thinking! But what you see here is my hard-earned loot.
Does he take me for an idiot?
— You mean stolen, I scoffed.
His left eyebrow arched, and, trying to hide the fact that he had just been found out, he retorted:
— Y-you shouldn’t accuse people without proof!
I couldn’t help but smile. He was a terrible liar—it was obvious. I stood up, bag in hand.
— And you should learn to lie properly if you want to get by.
— I’m not lying!
— You want proof? Earlier, you were running from three men, clutching a bag with a mysterious content, and they seemed particularly pissed at you. And when I suggested you had stolen something, you started trembling and sweating. So, I was right, wasn’t I?
To my surprise, the dark-haired boy burst into laughter. Wide-eyed, I wondered what had amused him so much.
— What’s so funny?
He wiped away a small tear at the corner of his almond-shaped eyes and crouched down.
— Do you always talk like an encyclopedia when meeting someone for the first time?
Embarrassed, I pulled my hood further over my face. It was certainly proving useful.
— I…
I had never interacted with an outsider before, let alone someone like this. It was very unsettling for me. How was I supposed to act or speak?
As if that wasn’t enough, he leaned closer, grinning widely.
— You’re really cute when you hide like that.
My first reflex was to chop the top of his head with the edge of my hand.
— C-cute?! You really think you can charm me with those cliché lines?
He let out a small cry of pain and rubbed his sore head.
— Seriously, that hurts! You have a weird way of accepting compliments.
At that moment, the group of boys returned, and the stranger’s face fell. He suddenly grabbed my hands, making them tense.
— You have to help me!