Fractured

By Adam Matlow

At sixteen, all Brin had ever known was the city. For his entire life he'd dreamed of crossing the walls that surrounded Arcadia, something no one in living memory had done.

Leaving the city was forbidden, a rule strictly enforced by the Overseers - Arcadia's self-appointed protectors.

They were told it was for their own safety.

However Brin soon discovers that the danger doesn't lay beyond the walls, but within them, and that he may hold the key to freeing the people from a hidden master

• Language: English
• Publisher: Adam Matlow
• Release date: May 8, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201710811

Adam Matlow

Adam Matlow is an indie author, with delusions of grandeur. He's currently working the follow up to his first novel, "Dark Sentinel". He lives in England with his wife, two boys and multiple cats and works full time as a software developer. When he's not busy breaking code, or tripping over cats, he likes to visit the archery range, where he misses targets with surprising consistency. And after all that, if he has any time left at all, he likes to spend it sobbing over a keyboard, trying to write.

Book preview

Chapter one

High Overseer Palus cast his eyes over the group of children who sat at his feet, patiently waiting for him to begin the lesson. In his official white robes, ordained with intricate patterns weaved with golden threads, he hoped to convey his authority. Certainly, the adults who watched from further back would be well aware of it.

It would be the only lesson he would personally give the children, leaving the rest of their education to those more fitting to the task. He always insisted on delivering the first lesson these children would receive though. Since his ascension to High Overseer twenty years ago, it had become somewhat of a tradition.

He cleared his throat, ready to begin the now well-rehearsed speech that he hoped the children would, if not understand, would at least remember.

Before he could begin a hand shot up from one of the children. He didn’t normally allow questions until the end, else he’d be here all day. On this occasion however, given the child in question was waving his hand and wearing a pained expression somewhere between excitement and momentarily about to wet himself, he relented.

Yes child?, he asked softly.

Overseer, what’s beyond the walls?

Palus sighed. It was not uncommon for children, especially the younger ones to be curious about what lay beyond the fifty-meter-high walls that surrounded the city of Arcadia. The question drew a gasp from some of the adults who sat nearby, as well as from a couple of the children, who recognised the taboo nature of the seemingly innocent inquiry.

What is your name, child?

Brin, beamed the youngster, Brin Oldswell.

Well then Mr Oldswell, haven’t your parents ever told you that such things are not for young children to know?

All the time, he replied. But I just figured that means they don’t know. So, I thought I’d ask you.

Palus crossed his arms, hiding his hands within the voluminous sleeves of his robes. The group fell into a hushed silence.

Do you trust the Overseers? asked Palus after a few seconds.

My mom always told me to judge someone on what they do, not what they say.

She sounds very wise, replied Palus. And of course, she is correct. A person’s actions say far more about them than what they say. So, let me ask you this: do you trust the Overseers to keep you safe in the city?

The boy paused, glancing over to an adult stood at the back of the room. She wore a grimace on her face and fidgeted nervously with a silver chain that hung around her neck. The boy’s mother no doubt.

I... I think so, came the unsure reply.

The Overseers have guarded this city, guided and helped its people for generations. Only the bravest and the smartest of those amongst us ever get the chance to join the order. He thought back to his own selection. Years of study, meditation and training. Only the strongest willed of all those who were chosen would ever get to wear the robes, and of those, even fewer would rise to the position he now occupied. None of those in lesser positions knew the real reason for keeping everyone behind the walls. It was his burden to bear, though not alone. There was one other individual, but their existence was an even greater secret. Previous High-Overseers had taken that knowledge with them to the grave. The position was for life and he’d be swiftly replaced when he finally succumbed to old age.

He snapped from his reverie, returning his attention once more to the boy who sat patiently at his feet, waiting for his answer. An answer he couldn’t give.

Know this child. The Overseers have watched over Arcadia for many generations. We guide you, protect you. This you can see with your own eyes. Trust in us.

A murmur of agreement spread across those assembled. Palus looked at Brin and smiled. Trust in us.

The child, perhaps thinking better of it, and to the visible relief of his mother, didn’t push the matter any further.

Palus’s thoughts returned to the lesson and he took a deep breath. The child’s questions, though not entirely unexpected were non the less distracting and it was time to return to the task at hand.

Perhaps it was just the exuberance of youth mused Palus. Certainly, there was nothing to worry about now. He’d have to keep a close eye on this one though. Such thoughts could not be entertained, not when the lives of everyone depended upon it.

ELEVEN YEARS LATER

Brin looked back through the undergrowth to Terrel trailing behind him, stumbling over a tree root.

Keep up! shouted Brin. Terrel stood, dusted himself down and shook his head.

We shouldn’t be here, he replied for at least the tenth time. His dulled tone reflected the acceptance that Brin wouldn’t turn back. Despite his misgivings, Brin was glad to have someone with him. After years of trying, he was finally going to see the wall.

I don’t know what you’re expecting to find here, said Terrel glumly. It’s just a wall. How interesting could it be?

If it’s just a wall, then why is it off limits?

Maybe to prevent idiots like us from trying to climb over it. Terrel craned his neck to look at the top of the wall, which towered over them at this distance. And just for the record, no.

Brin laughed. Don’t worry. We’re just looking. This time.

No. Not this time. Any time. Just get on with it so we can get home before someone misses the auto-car.

As far as anyone knows, it’s in its charging station – and it will be back there soon enough. Stop worrying.

Just for future reference: when someone tells you to stop worrying, that’s when you worry.

I just want a look.

At what? The wall. It’s fifty meters high, you can see it from here. Can we go home now?

Stop worrying, there’s nobody around for miles.

Yeah? So why are we whispering then? Look, If the Overseers catch us they’ll—

They’ll do what exactly? We’ve not broken any laws. We’re still inside the city. They said we can’t go beyond the walls. Nobody said anything about not being allowed to go to them.

Yeah, but nobody does though, do they? It’s an unwritten rule.

Well then it’s not a rule then, is it? said Brin.  Doesn’t anybody have a sense of adventure anymore?

Brin shook his head in frustration. The trouble was, Terrel was right. The Overseers obviously didn’t want people to make it this far, hence the method they had used to get here. The longer the auto-car was out of service, the bigger the risk.

For as long as Brin could remember, he had been fascinated by the walls and what lay beyond. Arcadia was a marvel, for all intents and purposes a paradise. Nobody wanted for anything. Nobody worried about where their next meal would come from. Everyone had a purpose, a job. Something to contribute to the city.

For Brin this was all just a little too easy. Where was the challenge?

Existence in Arcadia was easy, but Brin wanted to do more than to simply exist. He wanted to live and for him that meant venturing into the unknown, and the more he was told he couldn’t, the stronger that desire became until it consumed his every waking moment.

Brin had for many years tried unsuccessfully to reach the wall. Despite the city being a little over twenty kilometres in radius and thus he was never more than ten kilometres from any part of it, he’d been frustrated at every turn.

When he was younger, all he could do was beg his parents to take him, which being the loyal citizens they were, refused to do so. Later, when he was ten, he packed a small rucksack, picked a direction and began walking. He made it less than half-way before he was stopped by an Overseer. Other attempts ended in a similar way.

It became apparent that not only were people discouraged from visiting the walls, they were being actively prevented from reaching them. If you tried to walk, you’d be stopped, either by an Overseer, or by a drone and sent back the way you came. The auto-cars, the main method of transportation in Arcadia, would take you anywhere, except where Brin wanted to go.

Nevertheless, Brin had continued to try. After numerous failed attempts he’d turned his keen intellect to the automated systems that ran everything in Arcadia. A sophisticated network that controlled everything from the auto-cars to the security drones to the weather manipulation stations. If he couldn’t get around the people, perhaps he could get around the technology? Access to a drone, with its powerful cameras, even for only a few minutes, would allow him to peek beyond the borders and see what had been denied him all this time.

He’d soon found however that those systems were heavily protected and after years of study and experimentation, he’d only managed to gain access to the auto-car network.

Still, this was a massive development. Since the cars were programmed to only take people to approved locations, the Overseers ignored them. With Brin’s newfound access to the network, he could program in any destination he pleased – which is exactly how he found himself here now.

He was meters away now. Behind him, Terrel huffed as he followed in Brin’s wake. He picked up the pace and a few moments later the undergrowth gave way to the pristine white of the wall.

It was unnaturally quiet, as if the wall absorbed any sound that hit it and the air was still. The only sound came from Terrel as he clawed his way through the thick bushes to stand next to him.

Brin’s hand shook as he reached out and touched the wall. He recoiled back. It was much colder than he was expecting. He reached out again, more slowly this time and ran his hand across its perfectly smooth surface. It appeared as neither metal or stone, or perhaps it was something in between or entirely different.

One thing was for sure – climbing it wouldn’t be an option.

Terrel sat on a fallen log a few meters away and tossed rocks at the wall.

Why don’t you and that thing get a room or something, said Terrel sarcastically.

You have no idea what this is do you?

All I see is a big, dumb wall.

It’s more than just a wall. It’s an adventure waiting to be had. A mystery to be solved. Who built it? When? Why even? I’m tired of being told that I can’t ask those questions. What are the Overseers so afraid of telling us?

They’ll have their reasons, replied Terrel.

Well maybe if they saw fit to tell us we might understand.

There is one way you could find out.

Not a chance, snapped Brin. And just whose side are you on anyway?

"I wasn’t aware there were any sides. We’re all just one big happy family here in Arcadia."

You just keep telling yourself that. Besides, if you’re not here to help me then why did you bother coming along?

To keep you out of trouble. Or at least try to. I don’t know why I bother. You never listen to me.

You worry too much. We’ve done nothing wrong.

The hacked auto-car back there begs to differ.

Nobody will miss it. It’ll be back on station before anyone even notices it’s gone.

You know they can track those things, right? asked Terrel. He put his hand to his eyes and looked up into the early evening sky. There’s probably a drone on the way here right now, coming to find out what’s going on.

Trust me, they’re not tracking it. Not after what I’ve done to it.

Great, something else to get busted for.

A chill in the air made Brin shiver. He looked towards the sky where the sun was quickly setting. A few more minutes and it would vanish behind the western walls, casting huge shadows across large portions of the city. Even the sunset was denied him.

Terrel sighed. He dropped the few remaining stones and dusted off his hands.

Just what are you looking for? he asked.

Well, a door would be nice.

Something tells me that it wouldn’t be that easy.

For once I agree with you.

He ran his hands across the wall one more time. Terrel was right, they shouldn’t push their luck. Now that he knew he could get here, he could come back again another time and do a more detailed search.

He was about to turn and follow Terrel when something caught his eye. The wall. Something had changed.

Where his hand had been a moment before there was now a small, raised section. Brin traced the outline of it with a finger. It made the shape of a circle, with two parallel lines cutting through it from top to bottom, about the size of a fist.

What are you doing?

Terrel’s voice made Brin jump. He pulled his hand away from the wall and looked over at Terrel.

Did you see— he looked at the wall. The raised section had gone, leaving only the perfectly smooth stone that had always been there.

See what? his friend asked.

Brin pressed his hands against the wall where he had seen the symbol a moment ago, but nothing happened.

There was something there, on the wall. I swear it - but now it’s gone.

It’s probably your eyes playing tricks on you. Now can we get out of here before we get caught?

Reluctantly Brin turned away from the wall - making a mental note of his surroundings to ensure he’d be able to find this place again. Despite everything, his first trip had been a success, but it would be all for nothing if he were caught now. He doubted there would be any real consequences. A slap on the wrists from the Overseers perhaps. But certainly, they would put a stop to him being able to use the auto-cars.

"Come on, let’s