What remains of an existence devoid of a yesterday to remember or a tomorrow to long for? When the past boils down to a vacuum and the future is nothing more than a sentence, the present ceases to be a gift. It becomes a kidnapping.
To live for the sake of another's purpose is to inhabit a carcass that responds to external hands. Each day is a harvest of pain, a monotonous cycle where fear and anguish are the only constants. This accumulation overflows into the physical; a bitter reflux that climbs the throat, threatening vomit, but which is relentlessly forced back down.
It burns. It suffocates. And it will return, day after day, beating against the wall of the teeth in absolute silence. Because what rots inside does not heal with time. It only finds an end when the nausea transmutes into a cut, and the evil is finally torn out by the root. And... when it is torn out, nothing else will remain.
Only a song.
...
The next morning, the clock marked the first hour since they had awakened.
Arthur and Alice occupied the main room, organizing backpacks with the vigor of those preparing for the inevitable.
— Hanna is taking a long time. Hasn't she woken up yet?
Arthur asked, anxiety pulsing beneath his skin. After all, that was the day: they were going after the key to the padlock of the long-dreamed-of "peace."
— She must be in her room. She refused to pack any belongings, said there was "no need." So I forced her to go back and get things ready. I recommend you take a look; I wouldn't doubt if she's fallen asleep again. As soon as she's ready, we leave.
Alice replied, sealing her backpack and tossing it against the corner of the door.
...
— I get it... I'll go see how she is. I just need to check if I forgot anything first.
... ...
— Hmmm... don daron daron... don daron darin...
Hanna hummed while she tucked clothes into her backpack. They were perfectly folded. Her expression was... serene? Haaa.. yes. It was exactly that.
— ... О, проглоти изжогу, пусть сталь поднимется, Никакие усилия не помогут нам вырваться. Мы фарш, Божьи лепешки, Танцуем в пепле планов, которые были Его...
... ...
The voice with which she intoned the chant resembled a lullaby... almost childlike. It was the image of a child playing house while murmuring her favorite melody. But... those lyrics...
— Din... don daron daron, don daron dorin.. doran.
She proceeded, folding the fabrics. However, on the last piece, the pattern broke. She didn't fold it; she just dropped it there, a messy heap atop the perfectly organized pile.
...
Hanna stared at the misaligned fabric without blinking. Her fingers froze on the backpack's zipper. Anyone looking into those eyes would find the void of a screen turned off after a sudden blackout.
"DAMN THEM! DAMN THEM! AAAAAHH! HOW DARE THEY? I WAS THE ONE WHO SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN THAT POSITION!"
The voice echoed in her skull, sharp, while the image of a disturbed man, struggling against a clinical table, gave context to the delirium. He was hysterical. Insane.
...
"AAAAAHH.... AAAAHH... ahn? Aaaah... Hanna, dear... you came early this time. Let's begin the session. You will be my... triumph."
The voice faded as quickly as it had appeared. What remained was the ghost sensation of skin being toasted, as if she were submerged in burning embers.
— ... Aaaah, yes, doctor. It's always good to have this... daily reminder.
She was completely absorbed.
Clap, clap.
Arthur's clapping brought her back to the surface and to her own eyes. He was watching her from the doorframe. Almost instantaneously, Hanna closed the backpack zipper.
— I swore I'd find you under the covers or rummaging through drawers. Eh.. who would've thought the lady of mess would leave the room so habitable.
Arthur commented, his eyes scanning the impeccably clean room.
Hanna didn't respond immediately.
— Hey, Hanna, is everything okay? Didn't sleep well? If you want, we can leave in half an hour so you can eat or rest more.
He still hadn't moved toward the girl, but his eyes remained fixed...
...
Hanna slung the backpack over her shoulders, sporting the smile Arthur already recognized as her "normality" shield.
— Relax, Arthur. I'm not used to housework, so I sweated a little bit.
she said, stepping forward and hitting his abdomen with a firm elbow.
— But nothing that my fanatic fan can't solve with a good plate of food! And plenty of flattery, of course, since I did you the favor of doing your job in this house.
Arthur forced an exaggerated expression of pain and, immediately after, smiled, returning the blow with the same intensity.
— I'll think about whether I can do that, you little trouble-maker.
He held Hanna's hand afterward. She... felt something strange. Her body always seemed to react to Arthur's physical touch. Was it because they were anomalies? Or maybe—
— Let's go, Hanna. The sooner we go, the better.
He pulled her out of the room before any response could be formulated. The touch was comforting, dissipating the burning sensation. The reflux had stopped. But...
The song did not cease.
---
The door of the house had closed hours ago. They walked toward Morrow-en with tight, resolute steps. The scent of home still permeated their nostrils, a smell they secretly begged to feel again at the end of it all.
— Do you think we pay to enter Morrow-en the same way we paid to leave Lowden?
Arthur asked as they passed under the shadow of a viaduct.
— Most likely. But it won't be a problem, I'll pay.
Alice replied, looking at Hanna over her shoulder. She noticed the girl was too calm, too serene for her restless nature.
— I have one more mouth to feed, after all. But we'll manage.
The walk was peaceful, despite the tension of being recognized under the Vallum alert. There was a calmness in the air. A suffocating calmness.
— And what about you, Hanna?
Arthur called out, finding the prolonged silence strange.
— We've been walking for a long time and I haven't seen you complain about hunger or tiredness yet.
...
— Hanna?
He insisted, snapping his fingers in front of her. Hanna blinked a few times, waking up.
— Huh? Aaah... I forgot you guys can't go long without hearing my sweet voice. Worship me less, plebeians.
She quickened her pace, overtaking Arthur to align herself with Alice, only a bit further ahead.
— Sounds more like a cracked reed.
Alice murmured, without looking away from the path.
— Oh, okay! Said the sour lemon who is clearly eyeing my perfection with envy.
Arthur sighed, relieved to see that a fraction of the usual Hanna had returned. As for Alice... she remained an enigma.
— You've never explored Vallum like this before, have you, Hanna? You must be enjoying it.
Hanna stopped for a brief second, finger under her chin.
— ... To tell you the truth, I only did a few tours around while I was still at HU. You know that convenience store that has those damn tasty snacks? Well, I only walked around there!
— Aham... eh... yes. Super tasty.
"Actually, it's the nastiest snack I've ever eaten. Holy shit, what a terrible taste..." Arthur thinks.
— It's exciting to see Vallum as a whole, and not just piece by piece like a puzzle. Even more so with you guys. And that includes you too, Mrs. Bitter.
Alice stared at her for a few moments. To everyone's surprise, she replied:
— I hate to admit it, but... I say the same. Insufferable girl.
...
— Aaah... well, thanks... I guess.
...
Crrk.
Those words caused a crack in the mental chant. The melody was...
Silencing.
--- ---
Three hours of walking had passed. Sweat dripped down their faces under the setting sun, which gilded the horizon above the colossal walls of Vallum.
— How much further? It can't be possible that Vallum is this big... it's much bigger than Lowden. Fuck... I'm so thirsty.
— Ahn? There's no way you're complaining!
Hanna stops, turning to Arthur.
— I walked for hours on end, going through thirst and hunger! I was humiliated at the house of a stingy bastard and walked the whole way back! Now I'm repeating it all through a route I don't even know! And you just started walking now, and you're already complaining?
She rips the backpack off her back at the same time she makes a movement to throw it at him.
— Since you're thirsty, get water from my backpack. And take the opportunity to carry it for me, you moron.
— What is the need to carry so much weight? You practically put your whole room in here!
Arthur huffed, taking the bottle and taking a long gulp.
— Can you two stop?! Urgh, it's not enough that we're taking the longest way, I still have to deal with your indiscreet actions!
Alice intervened, her authoritative voice cutting through the air.
— And why are we going the most complicated way?
Hanna asked, crossing her arms and lifting her chin to speak to Alice.
— Because the two of us have already passed the same road twice in a row when we went after Azarael, and on the way back. We are being marked; if we slip up like that, we'll end up falling into misery, understand? I'm making sure our heads stay attached to our necks.
Alice informs, stepping toward Hanna while rummaging in her own backpack.
— It's not much further, have at least a shred of patience. We should be near the entrance by now. Here, eat this.
She held out a bag of chips to Hanna.
— There. Arthur quenched his thirst and you, your hunger. What will be the next excuse for me to have to stop and scream at you?
— I wasn't hungry, yet. But thanks anyway.
Hanna began to devour the food, her impatience softening.
— Great. And you, Arthur... do you have anything to complain about? Speak up, I want NO interruptions from here on. Or I'll break both your faces myself.
— I'm cool, you said we're close, didn't you? So let's just go.
Alice remained static for a moment, probing the air for any sign of hesitation.
...
— Okay, let's go.
She adjusted her backpack and resumed the march, with Hanna right behind.
— Hey, wait! What about your backpack? I'm not gonna carr—
The two were already meters ahead. Arthur was left behind, overburdened.
— Urgh, this girl is gonna pay for this...!
---
Tap, tap, tap, tap.
...
They reached the edge.
Where the perfect asphalt of Vallum ended, a colossal structure of steel and raw concrete rose: the Descent Belt. It was an industrial elevator and ventilation tunnel so large they seemed to swallow the horizon.
— We're here.
Alice stopped at the edge of the abyss.
Arthur approached, looking into the depths. Hanna watched over his shoulder.
— An? Where? All I see is an elevator. And... it stinks of burnt oil.
He says, bringing his fingers to his nose and pinching it with his thumb and forefinger.
Hanna, leaning on Arthur's shoulder, noticed a switch accompanied by a lever that resembled an oar.
— Well, just press this and we'll see much more than an elevator.
Before she could get close to the switch...
Thump!!
— IDENTIFY YOURSELVES!!!
The voice was from a man shouting at them right after having pushed Hanna with the butt of his rifle.
— I WILL NOT REPEAT MYSELF!! IDENTIFY YOURSELVES!!!!
Hanna growled, eyes narrowed in fury. In the figure of the guard, she visualized a white coat that—
— Forgive my friend, she's nervous. My name is Alice. This is Hanna and that is Arthur. We are from the Aethel area. We came here to access Morrow-en.
Alice grabs Hanna's shoulder and pulls her close.
The guard continues with the rifle aimed at Hanna's chest.
— Oooh... Aethel? What brings faces from there all the way here?
A female voice appeared beside Alice. A woman stepped out of a nearby cabin, closing the door with a sharp snap while reaching for the gun in her holster.
— Just a common little visit? You must have very dear friends to walk so far.
— Not really. Aethel isn't that far from the Belt.
The officer stopped beside her colleague, signaling for him to lower his weapon and dismissing him afterward.
— And even if it were, you are young. You can handle an adventure. Pleasure, my name is Vaelith. I am the one responsible for who enters and leaves Morrow-en. And, of course, I am the one who negotiates around here.
She stared at Hanna, who was still trying to break free from Alice's grip, grumbling.
— Pardon my colleague's aggression, he's an intern. And your friend tried to trigger the emergency switch.
— No, I'm the one who asks for forgiveness for not identifying ourselves right from the start. Well, you mentioned you're the one who "negotiates" here, how do we go down?
The question hung in the air. Vaelith's eyes evaluated Hanna and, soon after, landed on Arthur.
— Three people... the disposal fee will be heavy, my dear. Especially with this luggage.
She takes a piece of paper from her uniform pocket and pulls a pen from behind her ears, starting to scribble on the paper while murmuring.
... ...
— Here it is, this includes the discount I applied due to the... previous treatment.
She smiles.
Arthur takes a few steps forward and leans in to look at the paper, his eyes widening and brow furrowing immediately after.
— You want us to pay twelve thousand for three people and some luggage? You can't be serious.
— You are entering Morrow-en, sweetie. From here on... you are treated as someone in need of rehabilitation. By paying the disposal fee, your return climb is guaranteed. It's a fair cost-benefit.
The woman's response did not please them at all.
— Twelve thousand for a creaky elevator and air that smells like petroleum.
Alice says, giving a small smile, taking a small envelope from her bag.
— How about we close at six thousand, huh? I guarantee it will be more worth your while...
The tone in her voice betrayed the politeness of her smile.
— Six thousand? Hahahaha... I'll accept if you leave one of the two behind. I don't think you need all this escort, do you? Morrow-en isn't as dangerous as Lowden.
Alice continues with the envelope held up in her hands, waving it against the air.
— Come on, Officer Vaelith. I know how the Belt's administration works. You charge the fee that Humans Upper imposes, register the descent and the value...
She pauses, playing with the envelope between her fingers.
— ... with that, you receive a pathetic percentage. It's like crumbs. To get around this, you inflate the descent value... registering the base value and pocketing the excess to fill your pockets. I'm right, am I not? HU wouldn't like to know about these deviations at all...
...
— So, we'll do it like this: you keep these six thousand, don't register our descent... and we'll go up anyway, as if nothing happened. And as a bonus, you keep the raw money just for yourself... no pathetic percentages. What do you say, officer?
Silence hangs for a moment.
— Audacious, isn't she? Blackmailing a Vallum officer. Very well: for eight thousand, I'll let all three go down. With only one piece of luggage. And with a guaranteed ascent. What do you think, dear?
— How about if I cut your throat, wipe you off the map and we go down and up without paying A GODDAMN THING?
Hanna spits on the ground next to Vaelith, being immediately restrained by Alice.
— Threatening authorities isn't prudent, kitty.
Vaelith takes a step forward, crushing Hanna's spit and rubbing it with the sole of her boots.
— If I were you, I'd retract those fangs...
She pointed to the overhead cameras, where automatic weapons and guards watched the area.
— One signal from me, and you go down six feet under never to come up again.
She threatens, staring fixedly into the depths of Hanna's gray eyes.
— Sorry, she's my younger sister. She's just stressed and hungry. The trip was exhausting...
Arthur intervened, placing his and Hanna's luggage on the ground, kicking them toward Vaelith.
— ... It would be terrible to go back empty-handed. So, officer... seven thousand? Nobody loses.
— And even so, it would be much more than what you'd make from the HU.
Alice complements Arthur's move.
... ...
Vaelith's expression falls, becoming more tempestuous. She makes a few "clicks" with her pen, her feet tapping to the same rhythm. Thinking... her eyes alternating between each of the three... and...
— All right. Deal closed.
She scribbles something on the paper with the same pen and holds out her hand, waiting for the money in the envelope.
Alice hands it over, still reluctant. Arthur sweated with relief...
Vaelith counts...
...
— Very well... position yourselves in the center of the elevator.
Arthur stepped forward first, leading Hanna by the shoulder. Alice followed him. But...
— Wait. That on your waist... it's a katana, right?
...
— Yes... it is.
Alice responds like a raindrop dripping into an ocean.
— Oh my God, how unprofessional of me! I forgot to say that: Weapons are not allowed in Morrow-en.
Vaelith's words pass through Alice's ears like a needle without anesthesia.
— Excuse me? You've got to be kidding me...
Alice tightened her grip on the Seraphim.
— Rules are rules. I couldddd consider letting you go down with that weaponry... but we've already closed the price. So, unfortunately, it stays.
She held out her hand again.
...
Trrrling...!
The plates of the Seraphim's blade tinkled.
...
— Alice...?
Arthur called, already positioned.
— I'd appreciate it if you'd hurry up, it's almost my dinner time and—
PAF!
A wad of bills hit Vaelith's chest. Alice walked to the elevator, stopping in the center.
— Don't expect anything more than that. Eight thousand and you keep your mouth shut, understood?
Her thumb smoothed over the Seraphim's trigger.
...
— Sure. Deal's a deal.
Vaelith makes a sign of reverence with her hands before triggering a device on her chest.
— Exile Protocol: Confirm Disposal. Destination: Morrow-en.
...
CLONK!
"Disposal fee processed. Initiating rehabilitation descent. May order prevail."
Rrrnk... GRRRRROOOM!!!!
The elevator began its drop. The smell of rust, oil, and burnt wiring flooded the senses. Hanna looked up, seeing Vaelith counting the bills with a cynical smile.
— First-class passengers... good luck on your explorations.
...
"... Don daron daron... Don daron darin."
...the song began to echo again.