Lights on the Horizon

My arms were weighed down with a heavy aching as I limped through the sand. My eyes were clouded with hues of rusty gold and a dull jaded green as I stared out at the bright horizon that seemed so close I could touch it, but so far away; the only dream keeping me alive. Pushing my shoulder blades back, I rolled my shoulders in a vain attempt to regain feeling as I stabbed another step into the ground, another stride deeper into hell, another meaningless pace forward.

I had been lost in the arid desert for two days - two days without food, without water and without another single living thing for miles. The lonliness was killing me, if the exhaustion didn't get there first. I pushed my hair off my forehead that was sticky with sweat as a dark thought crossed my mind.

How long could I survive without food for?

Casting my gaze down to my wrists, I let my eyes follow the smooth curve of the side of my hand and roll over the round bone that jaunted out of my skin hideaously. Turning my palms over I looked at the deep lines that had engraved themselves into my worn skin. Looking up, I squinted at the harshly vulgar colours that surrounded me; tones of burning amber and sordid scarlet, bright yellow and a faded blue overwhelming the scene.

"Damn." I breathed, the only sound I'd made apart from the desperate cries that rung out from my cracked lips during the night; the only noise for miles.

My feet tripped over fatigue and I fell onto the sharp rocks of sand, my eyes widening when they scraped and tore my bare skin so that a deep red glistened in the light. I fell to pieces again, tears rolling down my cheeks uncontrollably as I buried my face into my knees, my shoulders shaking.

I sat there for a short amount of time before the voice in my head spoke to me.

Get up.

I forced my hands over my cheeks roughly, wiping away the tears with force as my sniffling ceased.

Get up.

I stopped crying abruptly, and I pushed my palms against the floor to get myself up: shakily balancing myself on my two feet.

Now go.

I continued walking, the emptiness burning inside me as I gripped for my sanity against the odds. Unable to bring myself to the reality I was thrust into, I simply stared ahead towards the horizon expectantly - praying for a sign of settlement.

Lights. Small and flickering in the distance, bright white against the darkness that was beginning to drown the world as night fell.

I let my lips twitch quickly as an empty smile, and my feet picked up pace as if the lights would disappear if I wasn’t fast enough, slowly slipping away from my grip as every second passed by.

My body was weak and tired, barely managing to struggle along the flat plain I was making my way across now. My pounding heart thumped through my head as I pushed myself further, moving forward across the cooling desert as the sky darkened considerably; the two suns that had burned me during the day now burying underground as the pale moon shone over everything in their place. It was a full moon tonight, and I could almost feel the tide wash up inside me as hunger pains crippled my body - bright images of fire and screams drowning my mind.

I reached a large wooden gate that was splintering with age and wounds from attacks, held up by two great stone walls that run around and away from my vision. I ran a finger over the surface gently, my touch caressing the holes that dipped into the solid timber as I tilted my head in confusion.

“Bullet marks?”

My body was lost in the domineering shadow of the only thing keeping me from the town and I pushed my body weight against it, squeezing my eyes shut as I concentrated on opening it.

It unlocked slowly, silent as it revealed a sleeping city inside that thrived with empty market stalls and ghosts of days gone by. I almost collapsed there but I made myself walk further into the metropolis - quickly looking around for any signs of guards.

It was eerily quiet, each street silent as death as I slowly searched for somewhere to sleep. It was only five minutes more before I found a small and decaying shelter that reeked of animals. Turning my neck from side to side before I entered the hut, I took a step forward and collapsed onto the thick layer of dry hay that covered the floor.

My eyes shut and I ignored the hunger and dehydration crawling over me, assuring myself that I would find the things tomorrow.

That night, I wasn't plagued by bloodcurdling nightmares that I usually had to wrestle with, but was instead woken by a continuous droning noise. Slowly opening my eyes, I lifted my head high enough to see that the market that was silent last night was now overflowing with a strong stream of people.

I rubbed my head, and forced my weak legs to support me as I stood up, leaning on a wooden beam for help. I took a few steps forward, quickly looking around to make sure no one was watching me before losing myself in the noise.

The sound of people and community put my mind at ease, the constant isolation that had gnawed at me silencing itself quickly as I breathed in a large amount of city air.

There were houses scattered around the edge of the market area, but it was obvious that the stalls were an important feature. Deep coloured rugs blew in the gentle breeze, rare animal skins hanging up from wooden poles placed between alleyways: decorating the shadier areas of the place. Food was obviously a plentiful topic too, with many varieties I had never seen before blinding me as the light danced off their smooth edges, inviting as much as they were attractive.

Someone bumped into my shoulder, sending me back a few steps and another hit almost pushed me to the ground. Tensing my muscles, I waded into the crowd and looked over people's heads to try and find some food and water.

A stall, adorned with jewel coloured fruits caught my eye and I walked over to it, ducking away from the line of vision of the owner. The man behind it was short in height, but a swollen stomach threatened to burst from his cream shirt; the buttons clinging onto the fabric loosely.

"Get your supplies 'ere! Before the picking!"

Picking?

I waved to try and get his attention but he was set on growling out to the people of the city, and I rolled my eyes before plunging my hand into a woven basket of fruit.

Turning my head side to side, I wiped the sphere on my shirt before returning into the haze of people, disapearing into the sea of bodies.

I bit down on the flesh, my sharp teeth piercing the surface and forcing sweet juice to ooze down the sides, tempting and tasty. I pulled away a large bite of it, and chewed the flavour greedily; my eyes fading with the overwhelming feel of food quenching my unsettled hunger.

I'd finished in a short time and I wiped my rough sleeve over my mouth, attempting to seem civilised.

"That was so good." I breathed to myself, the relief calming my insides.

Then I remembered.

I tapped someone's shoulder and forced them to turn around, her eyes piercing with the distinctive strike of a feline scored down the centre.

"What's the picking?" I asked, trying to sound as polite as I could.

She sighed, her crooked nose scrunching up with dismay or disgust as she surveyed me - much to my annoyance.

"You know - the army?"

I stared at her blankly, forcing her to sigh again; this time deeper and louder, as if the frustration was too much to hold in.

"War was declared three days ago after the attacks, so of course we need some soldiers. Is that all you need to catch up on, or do you need to keep me from buying supplies for another five minutes?" She spat and I shook my head gently as I replied to her, barely opening my mouth as I spoke.

"Oh, thanks." I muttered before turning away from her and walking through the crowd, my head spinning as I felt compressed between all these people, fear overwhelming me.

My home must of been one of the places attacked - burned down to the ground - and I guess we’re fighting those people I saw…

I reached the edge of the commotion and threw my hands up to my head, clutching my hair in desperation before I saw a corroded iron tap rising from the ground.

Throwing myself at the cobbled floor beneath it, I skidded across the sand coloured stones and turned the knob; cooling water flowing out.

I pushed my hands underneath and held it up to my lips as my pink tongue flicked the water into my mouth, swallowing it down greedily.

After a few minutes something pushed my shin curiously and I looked up, spinning my head around to see a small child staring back at me with a scared look in her eyes.

"Why are you drinking from the animal tap, lady?" She asked, and I tried to wipe the moisture from my chin as quickly as I could.

"I was thirsty."

She looked up at me as I stood and a beautiful grin appeared across her face as she lifted a small fist up to me, clutching a miniature flask that glistened in the sunlight.

 

"This has water in it that's for people." She informed me, and I crouched down and took it into my hand - my eyes following the swirling pattern that had been engraved into the gunmetal surface, small circular bumps teasing my fingertips.

"Thank you." I said, trying to smile warmly for the first time in what felt like years.

"Your welcome."

"Where are your parents?"

"My mummy is shopping but she'll be back soon."

"You should go, I don't think she'd like you to be talking to strangers." I told her, placing the flask in my trouser pocket protectively so her mother wouldn't ask for it back.

She stared down at the ground, a dissapointed frown plastered onto her face.

"What's your name?" I asked.

"Lyra." Lyra nodded proudly before tilting her head.

"What's your name?"

I smiled, touching her shoulder and turning her to face the direction she'd gestured her mother was.

"Kira. My name's Kira."