Chapter 30 - Across the expanse (1)

The next two days passed uneventfully. Erik didn't show up, so I had the house completely at my disposal. Not that I took advantage of the situation to do anything particular, since I spent my time like a recluse, leaving my room only to go to the kitchen or the bathroom. During these two days I discovered that apparently I didn't need to sleep anymore. I tried to close my eyes more than once in order to make time go by more quickly, but I couldn't fall asleep, nor did I ever feel tired.

On the dawn of the third day someone knocked on my door. Immediately after knocking I heard the visitor's heavy footsteps beating against the ground, betraying his hasty escape. I waited until I couldn't hear them anymore, as I had no interest to get them more scared than they already were. As usual, rumours spread quickly.

I opened the door and on the ground there was a letter waiting for me. I opened it and found a message instructing me to reach a defined location on the outer edge of town. I left the house that I would maybe never see again, carrying with me as luggage only the clothes that I was wearing and I set off. I crossed the campus, reached the main square and walked the streets, which were more deserted than usual. Furtive glances from the few people surrounding me landed on me, but they retreated as soon as they realised I was returning their gaze.

I finally reached the last line of houses and shops, the same place I had arrived the first time I entered the city. Waiting for me there was just a car with an envelope in the driver's seat. Inside it there was a small map of the entire Perimeter and another letter with further instructions, pointing to a meeting place at the edge of the Perimeter. While this pseudo treasure hunt wasn't particularly exciting, I had no other options but to participate in it.

I got on board of the vehicle, I positioned myself in front of the steering wheel and got ready to shift into gear. Before leaving, I opened my mouth.

<<Show yourself>>, I intimated with a reverberating voice to the presence that had followed me through the alleys since I had arrived in the square.

Although whoever had been following me had been attentive, keeping a good distance between us, they had not been able to hide their presence. Their heavy footsteps and heavy breathing had betrayed them.

<<Wait for me!>>, Faye shouted, emerging hastily from around the corner of a house with a pair of luggages that apparently were very heavy.

Her unexpected presence surprised me. She ran towards me and in a few seconds she reached my position. Before speaking to her, I scanned the surrounding area, looking for any further unexpected or unwanted presences.

<<What are you doing here?>>, I asked in a stern voice. After all, we had separated two days ago after having reached the agreement that I would undertake alone the journey awaiting for me.

<<I want to come with you>>, she replied with a breathless voice. I had kept a brisk pace while walking along the streets, so she had to move rapidly to keep up.

<<We have already discussed it: it is not an option. The "plan" has too many unknowns, it would be stupid if you also took the risk. If I'm able, I'll come back once everything is done. You must stay here>>

I had explained the very same concepts during our previous meeting. She initially had tried to protest, but her resistance hadn't lasted for long and, after thinking about it for some time, she had finally given in and accepted my words.

Traverse the endless wastes, reach the new Perimeter, fight in the tournament, find a patron who could shield me from the influence of the Sloan Household and come back. This was the current "plan".

I was the only one who could bring it to fruition and I had to do it personally. With all the uncertainties ailing it, her presence could prove a liability. After all, in the space between the Perimeters, you never knew what could happen, and if her genai heritage were to be recognized, even the inside regions could prove incredibly dangerous. I wasn't sure I would be able to keep her safe. Although I knew she was full of resources, at least in most cases, this would not help her, as in this world it was always brawn over brain.

Faye looked at me fixedly. In her eyes, I could see a strong resolution, mixed with a tint of something else that I was unable to identify.

<<I want to come with you. We are a team, remember? I have to go with you. There is no place for me here>>, she said.

The last few words didn't seem to be directed at me, as they were spoken in a muffled voice, but I still managed to catch them. Something had happened, something that had deeply shaken her and pushed her towards this decision, which she certainly knew was a bad one. However, I could not understand what this "something" was and in the end I decided not to investigate: she was the one who had to choose what to tell me and what not to.

Nevertheless another question arose in my mind.

<<Does Marnie know you're here?>>

My words seemed to catch her off guard and distract her from the negative thoughts that were going through her mind.

<<Oh, not really. In reality, I had reassured her that I would stay here with her and I would not follow you...>>, she replied with a voice betraying a slight sense of guilt.

<<But it seems you have changed your mind>>

A guilty smile appeared on her face.

<<I changed my mind. I went out with an excuse and headed to the city, waiting for your arrival>>, she confirmed.

<<You mean, you hid in the city and then you stalked me>>, I corrected her.

She replied with a small nod. My gaze remained fixed on her. Faye began fidgeting, waiting for my decision. After a few minutes of deliberation, I came to a conclusion.

<<Get in>>, I told her.

With a radiant smile, she rushed to my side, taking the passenger seat. After another few minutes, the smile was replaced by a look of confusion.

<<Why aren't you starting the car?>>, she asked me.

I turned to her.

<<I can't drive>>, I had to admit.

Her eyes widened. Before she could speak, I answered his question.

<<I took some lessons, but they were not of much help>>, I tried to explain.

Marnie had tried numerous times over the past year to teach me how to drive, but her attempts had been a complete failure. It had not been her fault. The few times I had managed to get the vehicle started I had ended up crashing into something and after the umpteenth impact she had decided to stop giving me lessons. Although the reason for my incompetence was unclear, I personally traced it back to the sense of estrangement I felt every time I tried to drive. I was sure that this feeling had the same roots as the one that had led me to avoid using ranged weapons and that made me feel discomfort while wearing clothes, but it had been much more severe than the latter.

<<What… what was your plan then? Hoping the car would go by itself?>>, she asked me in an astonished tone.

I shrugged. Even if worse came to worst, I would simply end up in a field once I left the city. My previous plan of action had been to try to drive and abandon the vehicle once I would eventually fall into a ditch and then continue on foot. However, I did not consider it necessary to inform her of this.

<<All right, all right. All these strange things you can do, and yet you can't drive. Step aside, I'll take care of it>>, she said, giggling.

I obeyed and we swapped places. Within seconds, Faye set the vehicle in motion. I began to give her directions, checking the map and the directions written on the letter, guiding her through the roads in between the fields. Along the way, I could see Faye's gaze linger on the cultivated expanses and grow more and more melancholic as we went on.

A few hours later the obsidian pillars that made up the enclosure delimiting the Perimeter appeared on the horizon. After another stretch of road, we reached an area on the edge of the safe zone. We stopped and got out of the vehicle.

A few feet away from us was the man in yellow, Rios, with what looked like a large metal wagon behind him, and another individual who seemed strangely familiar. It took me a moment, but I finally recognized the figure who was wearing elaborate and colourful clothing similar to the one he had donned the first time I had seen him: he was the guard I had spotted when I entered the perimeter with Johanna and Charles, whose gaze at the time had seemed so heavy and which now seemed so much lighter.

Despite this, I became alert. Something inside of me was telling me to keep an eye on him. His eyes moved quickly between Faye and me. For a split second, apparently too short for Faye to notice, an eerie smile appeared on his face.

<<Welcome, my friends. My name is Marcel Sloan and it will be my pleasure to escort you two to the Alpha Perimeter. A delightful trip awaits us>>