Serial
66: Never surrender, baby!
June 8th, 12 S.D. 09:12 Velhast, Henron
Though they were in the midst of summer, the glare of the sun that day remained obscured by thick, gray clouds. Droplets of water fell upon the earth sporadically. It was too soon to rain, but eventually the skies would pour. After that, once the storm had passed, Velhast would get awfully humid tomorrow when things brightened up. Other places in Henron didn’t experience such harsh weather, but Velhast was mainly marshland after all. The air was always stuffy around this time of year. Rain would cool the small town for a while at least, and for that, Liveta was grateful. Her new uniform was a sharp sight, but it didn’t have any room to breathe. Her trip here would have to be short, else she’d melt before returning to the capital. Even if she wanted to stay longer - which she very much couldn’t - she wouldn’t know what to do with herself, what to say to those who needed her.
It had been years since she’d come down this path, but its wet and soggy trails were as familiar as ever. Liveta came into town on horseback that morning, largely unnoticed by all. Velhast had no soldiers present to serve as a police force. Only an elderly man acted as a sort of de facto constable. He’d been a career grunt for the entirety of his service, but he’d never been interested in making himself an officer. As with every stranger, he greeted them and asked their business in a cordial and gentleman-like fashion.
“Well, good day, Field Lead,” he said with a wide grin and a crisp salute. Liveta nodded and returned the gesture. “What can I do for you today?” he offered.
“I am here for personal reasons. Can you tell me where to find Ver Wesna?”
“Ver Wesna?” the man repeated. “Ah, she is fairly new here. Now I recall that name. Sa, her house is that way, the one with the stilted chimney.”
“Say,” he said, taking a more careful look at her. “Would you be that friend of hers?”
“Sa, my name is Liveta. I am she.”
The old man shook his head thoughtfully. “Glad to hear it. She needs all the help she can get.” He tipped his hat at Liveta and let her on through. She came upon Wesna’s residence a minute later. There were no posts around, so she simply tied her horse to a nearby tree. Afterwards, she walked up to the door and knocked. Liveta waited and heard nothing. Was she really home at that time? She tapped the door once more. Inside, someone stirred and shuffled about, moving closer towards the entrance. At last, the door creaked open. A young woman roughly the same age as Liveta stood at the threshold. Initially, she appeared disgruntled, but upon seeing her visitor, she grew a full smile.
“Sa! Liveta! You came so soon!” Wesna cried, leaping to embrace her friend. The Field Lead was taken aback, but she recovered a moment thereafter, wrapping Wesna in her arms.
“Of course I did. What else could I do?”
Wesna squeezed her tightly before letting go. She held Liveta by the shoulders at arm’s length, examining her from top to bottom. “Well, look at you. So you got the promotion after all.”
“Not officially. I have to return to Binfort to formally accept my rank.”
“And before you know it, you will be running an army of your own,” Wesna said with a wink.
“My commanding officer, Range Lead Govan, everyone thinks he and I are going places. You realize I am only 22, sa?”
“Oh, but think of the future.”
“That is why I came at your request, Wesna,” Liveta said, grabbing her friend’s hands into her own, softly lowering them. “I came here to talk about your future.”
Wesna never quit her smile, but something wistful lurked behind her eyes. “Sa, let us go inside for now.” The two women walked into the small house, sitting down in its sparsely populated living room.
“It is such a change from father’s house in the capital,” Wesna said, looking around, threading her fingers together on her knees.
“I am sorry, Wesna.”
“Whatever for? For staying with me while no one else would? I have been disowned by my family. They have made their choice.”
“Wesna...”
“Father is a minister in Heigon’s new court. He cannot afford a daughter who gets pregnant with the child of some unknown Asten.”
Liveta frowned, closing her eyes shut for a moment. “Why not say he was from a minor clan? Or Gandian even?”
“Because I truly do not know his clan or where he hailed from. All I know, Liveta, was that I loved him while he was alive. I will not lie about who he was. I shall not mar his memory.”
“Sa, forgive me. You know I am not adept with matters of the heart.”
Wesna eyed Liveta slyly. “Sa, but one would hardly know that given the way you write about Govan...”
“Digressing, dear Wesna,” Liveta said. “How are you doing here?”
“I am adjusting well. I think we are settled, and we have gotten to know the people of Velhast.”
Liveta looked around, peering down a narrow hallway. “Is he sleeping?” she asked.
“Sa, that he is.”
Liveta frowned slightly. “And what about your outlook? Money and all that? Surely you do not intend to raise a child by your lonesome and work to support the both of you. There must be someone willing to look after your boy.”
Wesna laughed lightly. “You worry more than I do, Livi,” she said, using the Field Lead’s old nickname.
“And rightly so. I cannot pretend your predicament is anything but... delicate, to put it mildly.”
“I assure you, Ver Manat across the way will see to me. She is a wonderful woman, raised a lot of six on her own. I am in good hands. Besides, you are here for me.”
Liveta sighed, slowly turning her head out to the window. The faint pitter-patter of a passing shower pinged upon the roof. “But only for a day. I wish I could stay longer, however, I...”
“You have your duties,” Wesna said cheerfully as Liveta faced her again. “You have your own life and tasks, as do we all.”
“Sa...” Liveta said, slowly rubbing the back of her neck. “But you and I are sisters, essentially. I was always welcome in your home. For a time, I really did live with you all. And now this mess happens. They abandoned you simply because of your boy’s uncertain heritage. All the years of love they showed you evaporated overnight. For what purpose? So that they may prove themselves true Henron in Heigon’s eyes? Pure-bred patriots?”
Wesna nodded, frowning only a bit. “Do not be too cross with them, she said, looking down into her lap. “This is just the way our world is. These are just the things we have to deal with.”
“That does not make any of it right or fair or justified. Wesna, it pains my soul to see what occurred. But, I vow I will be here for you. Not exactly in Velhast, of course, but in any way I can.” Liveta pulled out a small pocketbook from her uniform. “With my new pay raise, I should be able to send you this much every month. It is only half, but hopefully sufficient.”
She quickly scribbled down a number before handing over the book to Wesna.
“Livi!” she said, her eyes widening up. “I-I... I cannot ask for this... It is too much, I cannot...”
“It is the least I can do. Once I am back in the army, most of my needs are already taken care of. I can easily afford to split my salary for as long as it takes.”
“But...”
“Sa, Wesna, take it for your son, for Koter.”
Wesna folded the book, passing it back as she covered her mouth with her sleeve. “Thank you, Livi... I...” her voice began to break. All at once, however, from another room, tiny gurgling moans were heard. “Sa, Koter.” Wesna turned her head towards the rest of her house.
“Of all who could benefit the most, think of him,” Liveta urged.
“Of course.” Wesna stood up. “Would you like to see him?”
“I could not decline.”
The two walked down the narrow path into another room. A crib sat near the window. Inside, an infant began to squirm around restlessly. The women peered over the railing and looked down at the child.
“How old is he now?” Liveta whispered.
“Six months.”
“He is adorable...” Wesna chuckled at the remark. “What is so funny?”
“Livi, when was the last time you said that about anything or anyone? Besides a certain Range Lead, I mean?”
“H-how you prattle on, Wesna. You are a mother now. Put away gossip and rumor.” Wesna merely laughed again, as did the young Koter. “Even you?” Liveta asked, smiling down at the baby. Koter moved his arms about.
“Mmm... Mmmmm!” he murmured, reaching out for Wesna.
“Sa, he always wants to get up right away, as if he were tired of sleep more than anything.”
“I bet he will have a lot of energy as he grows up.”
“He already does,” Wesna commented, leaning over to pick him up. She cradled him on her hip as she turned around to Liveta. “Say hello, Koter! This here is your auntie Livi.”
Liveta bent forward. “Hello there, Koter. A pleasure to meet you.”
“Guuwah!” Koter cooed happily, grinning.
“See there, he likes you.”
“Indeed. After all, we are family. Your new family, just the three of us.” She pulled back and looked at Wesna directly. “I shall look after you both, to the best of my abilities. I will give you all the support I can. We are bound by bonds far stronger than blood.”
Wesna turned towards Liveta with a warm gaze. “I am sure you will. Just... can I ask something of you?”
“Sa. Anything.”
Wesna stroked her son’s chin, causing him to giggle loudly. “Promise me that he will have some place to go, even if I am not here.”
“There is nothing wrong with your health,” Liveta said, as if her words alone could decide the truth.
“Is that a promise?” Wesna inquired, cocking her head. Even with such thoughts on her mind, her peaceful expression remained.
“You need not even ask,” Liveta said. “I will ensure that he is never lost in this world.”
Navaran had come to full alert status. Every available guard roamed the prison’s corridors, sweeping their heads from side-to-side. All throughout the facility, shouts were heard. With swords and guns, they rapidly cleared section after section. Despite the frenzy, however, the Wolf eluded their efforts. An ominous, dull fear crept into their minds, the sort of suspense that came from expecting the worst. It was only a matter of time before they found her, or vice versa.
Losha managed to slip past everyone quite easily though. While she consciously avoided serialization, she could still innately detect seras frequencies. Long before anyone could even hope to catch her, she fled away or dove into hiding. Various empty rooms and obscure nooks littered the facility, both of which kept her concealed as the Henron passed by. Knowing all of their positions and movements, Losha stealthily made her way back to the wing where her cell stood. She had no idea what Navaran’s actual layout was like; she’d only ever seen two distinct locations while awake. Even so, she sensed Liveta and Alant’s seras frequencies, and from that she could retrace her path.
Soon, having evaded all eyes and ears in Navaran, Losha came up to the door leading back to her dingy little holding pen. Pushing the heavy barrier aside, she made sure to close it before continuing. Slowly, she walked down the aisle. Ignoring the grand commotion happening elsewhere in the prison, Alant was soundly asleep in his cot. He’d been right next to her when Sansat had gassed her; the fumes must have gotten to him as well. Liveta, on the other hand, appeared caught in another fit of despondency.
Her back against the wall, she huddled into herself on top of her bed. With knees drawn close to her chest, she stared blankly ahead at the opposite wall. The Core Lead didn’t seem to register anything around her, not the ruckus of the past half-hour, nor Losha’s form stopping at the bars. As the Wolf’s shadow cast itself into her cell, however, Liveta gradually turned her head. At first she could but idly blink. Her mouth opened, but nary a word came forth. Curling her brow up in confusion, Liveta swung her feet over the bed’s edge.
“Losha...?” she asked, baffled by this unexplained encounter. “W-what are you doing out there? How...?”
“I let myself out,” Losha said as a smirk spread over her lips. Liveta shook her head.
“That did not answer my question.”
“I already told you, sa?”
“Told me what?” the officer demanded. Losha sighed.
“As I thought, you really were not listening.”
“You are too cryptic... Listen, I do not mind if you play these kinds of games with the likes of Sansat, but at least do me the courtesy of being clear.”
“And you can do me the favor of recalling what I have said before. Think back. Something to the effect of ‘nothing they have built can contain me,’ or a variation.”
Liveta stood up to her feet. Although she remained frustrated with Losha’s indirectness, her usually gloomy eyes held a bit of wonder in them now. “Sa, sa, I heard that. But what about details? What did you do?”
“Hmph, what do you care? You made this place your home practically. And you have already resigned yourself to the fate Heigon has imposed upon your head. Why would one without hope care about such a trifling incident as my escape?”
“Ksh!” Liveta scowled. “Must you be so difficult?”
“Liveta, you certainly are one to talk.” The Core Lead opened her mouth to speak but quickly shut it. Her head turned down and away for a moment.
“Hey, do you really want to know?” Losha asked. “Come close.” She beckoned Liveta with a nod. Within a few moments, the two women stood face-to-face; only the metal bars separated them. All at once, Losha’s hands shot into the cell. In one flashing instant, she grabbed Liveta, pulling her forward, slamming her body against the unbreakable beams. Since her wrists were tightly coupled to each other, Losha had to reach in sideways to fit. One hand gripped the officer’s shirt; the other pointed a sharp finger just above her nose.
“Get over yourself!” Losha said slowly. Liveta could but watch all of this happen to her; her body was far too stunned to react. “You want to know how I got out? It is simple actually. I never lost faith in myself, not for an instant. I never stopped waiting, watching, or listening, not for an instant. I gave them nothing, no trace of surrender or defeat. I was captured and cornered, but that was all. In the end, I was still the Wolf of Sventa.”
Liveta looked at her angrily, however, both fell silent for a time.
“No one is going to let you out. You have to take opportunities for yourself. I do not care if no one has ever escaped before. I do not care if they have sentenced me to death. They will have to fight me every step of the way. And I do not lose, Liveta. I did all of this without an ounce of serialization, so you have no reason to mope around in despair, thinking everything is lost.”
“What do you want me to do?” Liveta breathed. “What did you expect me to do? To pull off some crazy scheme? I do not know how you did it, but no normal person could have, Wolf.”
Losha let go of the Core Lead, taking one pace back from the cell. “I expected you to at least put up some resistance. Instead, you caved in right away. You feel nothing but anguish; yet that will not set you free. You ought to feel outraged, indignant, scornful even at what your fellow Henron have done to you, Ano especially. You ought to be willing to make them realize the errors of their choices, by force if you follow me.”
“It is not that simple... I-”
“Do you not have things you wish to fight for? Your life? A future? Those you love and want to see again? If so, the answer is in fact quite simple. You need only wait.” Suddenly, Losha looked down the hall at the heavy door.
“They will come in roughly 40 seconds. Here, take this.” The serialist pulled out one of the pistols she’d confiscated and shoved it through the bars. “Hide it carefully. I doubt you will need it next month, but this is a precaution of sorts.”
“What...?!” Liveta said, finding herself handling the weapon.
“Make it quick, somewhere out of sight. Alant!” Losha gave the bars of his cell a good kick. The noise jolted him awake. “Say nothing, take this, hide it. Do it, fast.” She passed along the other stolen gun. Afterwards, she swiftly walked into her own cell. The guards had kindly left it open for her. Turning around, she pulled the gateway shut, locking herself in.
“Hey! What is this?!” Liveta cried as she dropped the pistol into the hole that constituted her toilet, looking across the way at Losha.
“Exactly what it looks like,” she said, stretching out on the bed, once again gazing up at the ceiling. “I can get out at any time. What is the matter, you disbelieve me?” She threw a wry smiled over at Liveta. Neither could say anything further, for two guards stormed into their wing of the prison. With hurried footsteps, they ran down the hall. As they came past Losha, they slid to a stop.
“Baaaaah!” they cried, jumping back. Though they’d been searching for her, they hadn’t prepared themselves for actually finding her.
“Shrieks!”
“She is here!” they clamored.
“Sa,” Losha said. “I have been here the entire time.”
One of them raised a saber, pointing it at her, though at a distance. “H-how did you get back in there?!”
“Back in here?” Losha repeated, tilting her head towards them. “I never left.”
“But the doctor took you, and then you broke out-”
“Ksh. That Sansat fellow is a madman, what they call a crackpot. Why trust anything coming out of his mouth? I have been here. Let me ask you this. Why would I return to this cell? Moreover, how did no one manage to spot me?” As Losha leisurely crossed her legs, the two guards but looked at one another. Try as they might, they couldn’t explain it themselves. “The simplest answer is that I never left. Go with that.”
The Henron exchanged glances once more before walking away slowly. “Come on, we have to report this.” They cast an eye of suspicion on Losha before heading out, but eventually they left the prisoners, firmly shutting the door. The three of them but quietly held their peace for a brief while. Alant was still drowsy from his chemically induced slumber. Liveta folded her arms as she leaned against a wall. Thought her eyes remained distant, her face bore a pensive expression.
“All we have to do is wait,” Losha said aloud. “Only 42 more days stand between us.”
Share This
Email
Facebook
Twitter
Read Request
My Library
Subscribe
Flag Writing