Gravestone

By David Neale Iland Johnson

• A fantasy story spanning decades,
• A group of people brought together by chance or design,
• An artifact that has the power to create as well as destroy,
• A war fought long ago that erased history,

The secrets of the Grav

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mr D N ILAND JOHNSON
• Release date: Jan 6, 2022
• ISBN: 9780645484410

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

There’s something about those quiet moments just before you become fully awake. The moments when time seems to slow down, to almost stop while a melodic rhythm plays in the spaces between heart beats.

As though there’s just a small piece of something more waiting in between them.

Those pieces are always there, but it takes a special kind of person to see them for what they really are: moments - if only that - where one life stops and another begins.

Far on the east coast of the continent in a place called Reotora, the days were starting to get hotter and longer. The nights, too, grew shorter, with less darkness to cool the streets. The months that had come before were left in obscurity, as though they were never there.

The sun bore down on the city with the same name, bringing with it the smell of drying grass and flowers. It carried from miles away, from far beyond the walls that encompassed the city.

Those smells mingled with others as they drifted in like waves into the streets - the smells of oil being heated, of fires being stoked and of engines starting cold from their night time slumber.

But as they woke, so too did the people that lived there.

So too did Jack.

To him, these were the smells of home. They were comforting as he lay in bed, his eyes still closed. He could hear things from outside, too, and enjoyed the melody. But more than that, he appreciated them for what they were: moments. Moments to enjoy everything in all of its complexity and detail, as well as it’s simplicity and rawness.

Around eighty thousand people made Reotora their home. People came and went as they pleased through the gates, which for as long as Jack could remember had remained open.

There was no real need to distinguish between the city and the surrounding area. They were both part of the same place. The city was called just that, and everyone knew Reotora. The city however, was of course the most densely populated part of it.

To call the area tropical would not be quite right, nor would it be correct to say it was temperate. In the cooler months for example, you might still not be able to go a full day without breaking a sweat.

The heat of the summer seemed endless, and the people that lived within the city walls baked. But they endured, without even realising that they were doing so.

Anyone who came from afar would have called the place unbearable by most standards.

The walls that surrounded the city, seaside to seaside in a large semi circle, were nearly two hundred feet tall. They bulged towards the inland like a growth that had been halted since the walls themselves were first erected.

But they weren’t for keeping people inside the city, they were for keeping others out.

The days they had been needed for that reason were long gone. Whatever hostile forces had besieged the city were all but gone from memory. Now, all the walls served to do was trap the heat in.

Sweat was beading on Jack’s temple by the time he decided he needed to get up.

Every year the heat seemed to come sooner and last longer. Just one more week before it came would have been a blessing. But no one seemed to ever get that wish granted.

As he went to move, pain stabbed through his shoulder, and he groaned. It did jolt him the rest of the way awake, though. Lying still had been nice for a while, but his arms and legs had gone stiff.

Just thinking about moving had upset his injuries.

They were starting to heal, slowly. He’d had worse, Jack thought to himself, just not by much.

A knock came at the door to his room, distracting him although briefly from the ache.

Yeah…? he queried after a moment. His voice wasn’t deep, but there was a dryness to it. The kind you wouldn’t expect a young man to have - at least not at his age.

Still though, it was there, along with a touch of disdain. Just enough to be taken seriously.

Jack wasn’t ready to get up yet, but anyone that was knocking knew he was there. No point ignoring them.

Kicking the sheets off, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed, finding the floor with his feet.

The wooden flooring felt almost cool, but he knew it was just an illusion from being asleep.

Oi, you up yet? came the dusty voice of his friend, Luke. Jack sighed, and breathed deeply a few times before answering.

I’m up, he replied shortly, rubbing at his face and eyes, trying to clear the sleep from them, Why, what you want?

Just thought you could use some air, Luke returned through the door, Give those scratches some time in the sun, ya know?

Sure… Jack mumbled, still sleepy, Why not.

So, you gonna tell me how that happened? Luke asked pointedly as the two of them walked out into the street, Or you uh, gonna keep me in the dark about this one too?

Luke was much more energetic than Jack was. He flitted about, though not obviously, looking around the street as though he was trying to not be in the same place for more than a few seconds.

Jack waved dismissively, keeping his eyes forward as he took a bad step. The whole story was stupid enough with just him knowing the details, let alone anyone else.

Maybe another time, he answered, catching a glance from his friend, Just a bit beat up, that’s all.

Yeah… You gotta learn how to lie better, Luke said reproachfully, but held his tongue after that.

As good a friend as anyone could have, Luke was. He was reliable, resourceful and never far away. It was because he was a friend that Jack didn’t enjoy lying to him.

He would have preferred to tell the story truthfully, but for now it was just better if he kept it to himself.

Luke would understand. Both of them had already seen some of the harshness that life had to offer.

Jack watched his friend idle about, checking out the stalls and markets that had popped open with the new morning. It was good to get out early - before all the good stuff was bought up. But there wasn’t really anything either of them needed.

Except for Jack to stretch his legs. He’d been holed up in his apartment for two days now.

They left empty handed. Considering the sun was only now poking over the walls and bathing the city in its light, there were a lot of people already walking around.

With such a vast city, so many faces and so many different kinds of people living here, it was easy to get lost in a crowd.

Hard to spot anyone out of place, too. But that was the beauty of Reotora, in a way. You could live here, you could hide here, you could also never be found here if someone wanted you to disappear.

Thankfully, the Reotoran Guard - the RG as they were more commonly known - kept an eye on things. Jack never really agreed with their presence, it always made him uneasy. But they had their moments.

In years past, they would have been the ones to weed out any foreign visitors and make sure they were kept tabs on, or to soften the effects of dissidence that swelled from anarchists or crazies.

But these days, they were little more than glorified police for the city.

Not that they had any foreign visitors, not anymore. Maybe once, long ago. But that was before even Jack’s time.

Reotora could seem endless at times. It stretched inland from the sea with impassable mountain ranges to the north and long, arduous highways that were standing from before the war that led south into the deeper countryside.

But there had to be an end to it somewhere. Though even with all of Jack’s searching, he was yet to find one.

Luke wandered off, but Jack kept an eye on him. It was a hangover from travelling together so much recently. To know where your friends were in a crowd was a handy thing, even if there wasn’t any obvious trouble about.

Jack didn’t smile at passers by, but he didn’t frown either. Some of the faces were familiar, but most of them were strangers. He didn’t go out of his way to make friends or talk to people. They had their own lives, and he had his.

There were only a handful of people Jack would even consider to be friends. Luke was one of them of course, as well as Luke’s brother, Mike. Though Mike was one of those people that preferred the other side of the walls. Come to think of it, it had been some time since either of them had heard from him.

Who else though? Not many, but surely there were others. Jack pondered this for a short time as faces passed between himself and Luke. Most of them didn’t leave any impression - but for a brief moment, one did.

Jack's eyes caught them, and he lifted his gaze. The stranger's face was covered by a dust mask, their eyes obscured by goggles. Not common, but not unheard of, either.

But just as quickly as it had appeared, the face disappeared again into the crowd, leaving only a flash of bright, albeit dirty white hair in its wake.

Jack had gotten the feeling that whoever it was, they had been staring right at him. It was a strange feeling, considering there were hundreds, if not thousands of eyes washing over him now.

Familiarity. Just a fleeting sense of it, but familiarity nonetheless.

What’s up? Luke asked, now standing in front of Jack and noticing his expression, You see something you like?

No… Jack answered slowly, shaking his head and turning away, Nothing. Are you done? Let’s go.

Sometimes you just saw people that looked familiar. Jack put the event down to that, but it took some time before the feeling dissipated. Maybe he’d catch another glimpse of them later on. Even in a city as big as this one, it was surprising how often the paths of some of its inhabitants crossed.

Luke took the lead and headed back to the apartment building they lived in. It wasn’t a long walk, but Jack was starting to feel worn down even before they made it back. Maybe it was too soon to be out and about.

The two parted ways, Jack leaving Luke at his apartment and closing the door to his own. He locked it, too - more out of habit than anything - and took off his shirt to inspect the deeper cuts that were still healing.

Not his best work with a needle. Some of the stitches had torn and started weeping through his clothes. Another shirt he’d have to wash later. He didn’t have the patience to try and stitch them again, so instead, he re-dressed them and left them alone. They’d just have to heal up on their own.

Looking through his window, the city seemed extra lively today, and the sudden urge to go out again washed over him, the lethargy clearing up only now that he was back in his room. Typical. It felt like the streets were beckoning him, and he didn't fancy being cooped up here much longer if he could help it.

Another knock at the door. Probably Luke again, back to harass him.

Jack crossed to the door and opened it, expecting to see his friend again. Instead however, he was greeted with a much less harsh face.

He knew her straight away. Tan skin framed by fiery red hair. She stood a touch shorter than he did, but relatively speaking, was tall and slender.

Keira, Jack said, surprised, Uh, hi...

He was met with a disapproving look as her eyes darted to the poorly placed dressings over his lacerations.

You’re uh, still around, he stated matter of factly, honestly surprised to see her, How are you?

Better than you by the looks, Keira responded, her eyes meeting Jack’s face again, Can I come in?

Jack gestured for her to enter. Slowly she crossed the threshold and entered the room. Jack took the chance to re-dress himself, slipping his stained shirt back on.

Did you do that yourself? Keira asked, gesturing to the sutures as he tried to cover them. Her voice was soft, mostly gentle but it carried an inflection that indicated her disapproval. Jack hadn’t heard it in a while, so his ears took a moment to remember the sound.

It was a nice change from the gruff tones that he was usually surrounded by.

Yeah, Jack nodded, Pretty good, huh?

Keira frowned, visibly unimpressed. She didn’t even try to hide it.

I’m just glad you didn’t try to patch someone else up, she commented scathingly, It’s not good at all.

Jack frowned in return. He’d been quite proud of his efforts, considering it was probably only the second or third time he’d ever used a suture kit.

Keira’s voice seemed more meek than he remembered, more strained. Maybe she was just having an off day.

Sorry for the mess, he said, gesturing around the room, Don’t get many visitors.

Keira raised an eyebrow. Aside from the bed, small desk, a single chair and the kitchenette, the room was more or less bare.

Still living alone? Keira asked him curiously. Jack nodded.

Just me here, he answered simply.

You don’t need much for one person, I guess, she said with a small sigh, Makes sense. My room is far worse, don’t worry.

Jack racked his memory, trying to remember the last time he’d seen her room. It would have been a few years ago, at least.

How about you? he asked in return, You uh... Still living in the same place?

Keira nodded. It wasn’t a short walk, but her house wasn’t overly far away, either.

There a reason you’ve come round? Jack asked her, trying not to sound like he was interrogating her. Jack was, for the most part, straightforward. It was one of the things Keira appreciated about him.

Well, I haven’t seen your new place yet, she answered, looking away, Figured I owed you a visit. Might be a bit uh… Late… Though.

"Haven’t been here that long," Jack said as she crossed the room and sat on his bed.

Three years, she reminded him, You’ve been here for three years already.

Yeah, Jack nodded casually, Not that long.

I had to find out exactly where you moved to from Luke, she commented, Felt like you didn’t want me to know where you went.

Jack shook his head. Nothing like that. Just been busy… With work and such.

Yeah… she cast her eyes down, I suppose I have too. Could have tried harder, though.

Probably, Jack shrugged, dismissing her comment for now, I heard you’ve been working at the clinic?

Keira nodded and took a deep breath, finally letting her shoulders relax.

It’s pretty full on, she replied, looking around in more detail, Funny though, this room looks like you’ve barely even moved into it.

I don’t spend a lot of time here, Jack explained, gesturing dismissively. That was partly true, but really he didn’t own much aside from the basics and even those were minimal.

The barely lived-in look kind of suits you, Keira commented.

Jack nodded and cast her a look, urging her to speak her mind.

Fine… Keira took a deep breath and let it out in a long sigh, Luke sent me in. I almost didn’t come in but… He spotted me outside. Convinced me to come and say hi.

Mhm, Jack nodded, What else did he say?

He also said… That you wouldn’t let anyone look at those injuries of yours.

Jack groaned under his breath, reminding himself to punch Luke later.

Luke can get… Dramatic, Jack told her, sitting down beside her, You know that. I don’t need checking up on.

Sure you don’t… Keira said, her eyes narrowing as she gestured to the array of cuts and lacerations he still had on display.

Jack nodded firmly, but didn’t say anything. Arguing with Keira had always been a recipe for trouble.

She had been looking after people for as long as he’d known her, so it figured that she’d found work at the clinic. In his mind there was no one better, no one more caring.

Let me at least have a look, she bargained, Fix up that… Terrible needle work and make sure you haven’t got any infections.

Jack nodded reluctantly and pulled his shirt off again. Keira retrieved a small suture kit from her pocket and opened it, setting out various needles and different types of medical thread beside her.

Those are the worst ones, Jack told her, pointing out a long cut across the back of his shoulder and another along the side of his chest, The rest aren’t really that bad.

Gently, Keira peeled away the dressings and muttered under her breath as she picked out fabric that had stuck in the cuts.

After she’d done that, she pulled out the stitches Jack had done himself, and cleaned the cuts. Whatever she used, it stung.

I always thought you were smart… she said quietly as she set to work, So why wouldn’t you come to the clinic for this?

Because you were there, Jack thought to himself.

He shrugged. He didn’t have any overly convincing reason why he hadn’t - at least not one that he wanted to voice. Though really, it was because he never had been one to ask other people for help.

You should know me well enough to answer that yourself, he said after a short while, We grew up together.

That was a while ago, she replied, Things change. People change. Why were you avoiding me?

I wasn’t, he said quickly, turning away, I just… I know you needed time to sort things out. That’s all.

Come on… Keira prompted him, You just said I know you well enough. That’s got nothing to do with it… To be left alone at a time like that, well… That was the last thing I wanted.

"But you did need it," Jack said, looking to her for a reaction. She didn’t reply.

You do seem to be doing alright, he went on, gazing at her. Truth was, she didn’t look that well. The dark shadows under her eyes told him she wasn’t sleeping well.

Keira remained silent until she was finished taping up the smaller cuts on his arm.

Maybe, she said, eyes still downcast, Not sure yet.

I’d say you got the better end of things, Jack suggested, thinking about what had landed him into a bed-ridden state for days, Feel like I’ve gone through the ringer. I miss the old days, things were a bit more simple back then.

Yeah, Keira sighed wistfully, I keep forgetting we aren’t that far apart age wise. You always seemed older, though.

A silence fell over them once Keira had finished. Admittedly, Jack felt better after receiving proper care. Everything seemed to hurt less, but he still felt lethargic from being in bed for so long.

Still can’t get my arm up over my head, he commented, testing his limits and lifting his arm to the horizontal where it stopped, Gets to about there, then goes numb.

Keira felt around his shoulder, prodding and probing it.

That’s because it’s dislocated, she said hotly, Fuck sake Jack… How long has it been like that?

Few days, he replied simply, Thought I got it back in.

Well you didn’t, she snarked, gripping his arm firmly with one hand and placing the other on his back, Count to three.

One-

Crunch.

Ow… Jack exhaled as the sharp pain shot through him like a knife before dissipating, That hurt…

Probably, Keira said, a blunt, almost uncaring expression on her face, You’re welcome.

Sometimes I think you like causing me pain… Jack grumbled, Anything you can do about this?

He pointed to the bruising along the side of his chest. Keira prodded at it. It was tender.

No, she answered shortly, Probably broken your ribs, torn something. That will just have to heal on its own, so take it easy for a while, alright?

No promises… he replied. Small talk was never his strong suit. There were still some issues hanging between them, and he didn’t like that. But fixing them was easier said than done.

Keira seemed to be the only person he didn’t cross paths with naturally. He’d always had to go out of his way to find her before. It was a challenge sometimes, too. She had been right before, though. He could have tried harder.

Twice maybe in the last three years had they actually seen each other, and only in passing from across the street. Never enough to do more than wave.

"Maybe I should have made time, he suggested, breaking the silence I just… didn’t want to interfere."

Reotora was a big place. Easy to lose yourself in if you weren’t careful. But to go years without seeing the same person more than twice? That was much harder to do.

Me too, Keira admitted after a long moment, I wasn’t avoiding you either. Just… a lot going on.

Jack nodded. He’d had that impression from her for a long time now.

You… got anything else to do today? Jack asked her after a few minutes of silence had passed.

Nothing else, she answered, I worked the night, so I’ve got the day off.

Alright, he nodded, I’m pretty hungry, do you wanna go out to eat?

Sure, she smiled, I could eat.

CHAPTER 2

Getting a good meal perked the two of them up quite a bit. It had been too long since they’d shared a meal together, so at first it had been awkward. But after deliberating on what to eat for far too long, the tension started to ease.

I can’t say I’ve ever come here before, Keira remarked, looking more deliberately around the cafe. She was more talkative now than she had been earlier. I’ll have to come back again.

Only place I know that doesn’t serve fish… Jack muttered quietly, grinning wryly. Even though the city sat on the waterfront, the cafe primarily served land based meals.

Jack didn’t like fish. Being so close to the ocean, it seemed counter intuitive. Nonetheless, he had a taste for proper meat. Thankfully, so did Keira.

Luke mentioned you’ve been working together? she asked, taking a drink and looking at Jack expectantly.

The docks? It’s alright. Not the hardest work I’ve done, Jack answered, gazing around at the faces of the people sitting nearby. No one he knew.

No, not the docks, she shook her head, lowering her voice, The other stuff...

Oh, right… Jack shifted in his seat uncomfortably, Yeah, I guess so. Not really the kind of thing to talk about in the open…

Keira raised an eyebrow at that. Jack was frowning as he spoke, looking off to the side. She knew enough about what he did to know that something had happened, something he didn’t want to talk about.

Part of her wanted to get to that, to bring it out from him. But she could see there was a pain, still fresh behind his eyes. So at the same time, she didn’t want to press the issue.

Alright, Keira replied, Is that how you got hurt?

Jack hesitated then shook his head.

Yes and no, he answered, Kinda related, kinda not.

That’s vague, Keira commented, decking she wanted to know, Gonna tell me about it?

No, Jack shook his head again, Another time, maybe. But it’s not important… What about you, what else have you been doing?

Not as much as I’d like to, she answered plainly, slumping down onto the table, Just working.

Not sleeping much though, are you? Jack countered.

No, she sighed, No I’m not.

You still look pretty good, Jack commented, Despite that.

Yeah, thanks... she smiled faintly with a slight chuckle, Well, the sleep thing is one of the reasons I came to see you…

Jack raised an eyebrow and leaned forward, listening closer.

I don’t really know how to start, she admitted, It’s hard enough to wrap my head around, let alone talk about it.

Give me the short version, Jack prompted.

Okay, she answered, and sat back up, I don’t think I can live at home anymore.

Keira’s family home. There always came a time when the younglings had to leave the nest, but still, it felt like there was more to her desire than just that.

Jack pondered, watching her. Was she talking about her father? He’d been estranged for most of her life. Neither Keira nor her mother saw much of him - when he wasn’t on deployment outside the city, he preferred staying at the garrison.

He only came back into the picture when he retired. That had happened as a result of Keira’s mother suddenly passing due to an unexplained illness.

Jack shuddered. He’d only met the man a few times, but he was the kind of person that no one actually liked having around. He sucked the life from any room he entered, and most people - Jack included - felt more than a little uncomfortable around him.

My father, Keira said, confirming Jack’s suspicions, Until I met him, the stories I heard about him didn’t seem quite real… There weren’t many good ones.

Jack watched her thoughtfully.

Hard to get along with, I take it? Jack asked her.

I’ve been handling it on my own so far, she answered, "It’s just… Like I said, it's hard to talk about.

Doesn’t matter, she added quickly, "I’ll be leaving soon - really soon - just as soon as I’ve got a place to stay.

Got somewhere lined up? Jack asked her.

I did have somewhere, she answered, tilting her head to the side, But there’s not a lot of places for someone like me.

Jack wondered what she meant, but didn’t question it.

The last six months I’ve been trying to find somewhere I can afford, she told him, That was when he started… I dunno... Getting more and more difficult. I thought, maybe it will pass.

How so? Jack queried her.

I thought It was me, she sighed, "Not doing things right, or whatever. But no, that’s not it… It doesn’t matter what I do, I can’t get anywhere with him. Probably sounds like I’m being difficult but really I’m not. It’s not my fault I work so much, I’m the only one there who does work, that does anything except from lounging around and…"

She trailed off, a bitter expression on her face.

"I think there’s something wrong with him," she stated.

Like what? Jack asked, curious. He’d never grown up with a mother or father, so he had no frame of reference.

I got home late from a shift, a few weeks ago, she told him, I went to bed, but in the middle of the night, I woke up. He was there, in my room, standing over my bed - closer than you are now - just staring at me. It looked like he wanted to kill me, that’s the only way I can describe it. It scared me… I started locking my door after that.

Jack listened to her, watching her expression change as she spoke. It told the story better than her words did. The way her eyes darted off to the side, the sudden shiver despite the heat. It painted a darker picture.

I keep to myself, she continued, Do my job, come home… Locking the door didn’t work, he’d just break it down. I don’t feel safe, not at all…

She paused and glanced back at him, obviously uncomfortable. Jack leaned back and watched her for a moment before responding.

My parents weren’t around when I was growing up, he stated, shrugging, So I don’t know what’s normal.

He could tell she was unnerved by it all. Something in the way she spoke gave that away.

It probably sounds trivial… she muttered under her breath, Selfish, even. I should be thankful I even had parents to begin with.

It’s not selfish to want to feel safe, Jack argued, his voice soft.

There’s other things, too, she told him, Things I can’t really… I don’t know if I can talk about… Anyway, it doesn't matter - I’m leaving, that’s my fix. That’s how I get out - I just leave. My plans got screwed up, though.

You mother was nice, Jack stated, memories rushing through his mind briefly. I do miss her.

Me too… Keira sighed, Anyway… I honestly don’t know who I can trust to ask so, the reason I came to see you was to ask if I could stay with you. Maybe for a while.

Jack didn’t answer right away, instead looking out from the cafe, taking a moment to think. From here he could see a large slice of the cityscape - from the docks all the way to the far wall in the distance. The sun was falling closer to the horizon now, marking late afternoon. The day had gone by quickly.

Keira was awaiting his answer when he turned back. Her expression reminded him of when they were younger, running around the streets and getting into trouble. They’d waste away the days, talk endlessly - just like this. But about what, he couldn’t remember.

Jack didn’t feel the changes as much as he saw them in her. She had grown a lot and seeing her now, it was hard to tell if she was still the same person.

She’d been fourteen years old when her mother died. Three years later and that sadness had softened, but it was still there.

Sure, he answered plainly. He’d never been one to turn down a favour asked of him. The spare key is above the door. Just come over when you’re ready. If I’m not home, I won’t be far away. You let yourself in.

Thank you… she said sincerely, sighing with relief, I’m not just asking you because I don’t have anywhere else, I really have been wanting to… catch up again.

Jack nodded, smiling thoughtfully. Yeah, he said, Me too. But try to get some rest, you look like shit.

You said I look alright before, she said, frowning.

Yeah, Jack answered, I lied.

Is it that obvious? she asked, looking worried for a moment.

Yeah, Jack nodded again, frowning slightly, It is.

Well, when I get out, it’ll be like the sleepovers we used to have, she jested as Jack stood to leave, I always fell asleep first.

Maybe a bit different, Jack replied, waving back at her, Hey I’ve got to get back. But I’ll see you soon.

He caught Keira nodding from the corner of his eye and walked off, leaving her at the cafe. He slowly started to head home but was feeling the pain of his injuries again. As much as he’d have liked to spend more time with her, he didn’t want her seeing him in pain and he could only hide it for so long.

The evening was humid. Even though the sun was setting, it would be a while before things cooled down. The walls trapped in the heat, and the stones in the old buildings did the same, radiating it back into the streets.

A lot of people preferred it on the other side of the walls because of that, though they did have other reasons too. Jack didn’t mind it so much. He would just climb up somewhere high and let the cool breeze find him.

He made a detour to the docks and found himself sitting atop the old shipping crane, breathing in the sea air. It was one of the things he liked about his job here. It was never really hard work, though some days were better than others.

CHAPTER 3

Jack went back to work the next day. It was a nice change to get out, and Keira’s needlework had held up well overall, though he was still suffering from the after effects of his injuries. He still wore the bandages, though more for protection than anything.

He eased back into his more recent routine - nothing too strenuous or demanding. Just carting a few boxes here and there and organising stacks using the truck as best he could.

Jack was often on the truck, much to Luke’s dismay. Luke was the driver whenever they went travelling - he was very good at it.

But Jack had an aptitude for anything technical or mechanical. Not in the way that he could fix them when they went wrong - that was Luke’s forte - more so he understood how they behaved when they were working the way they should.

As he dropped off another container, he paused, thinking back to the strange dreams that had plagued him the previous night. They’d made sleep elusive, but when he did manage to keep his eyes closed, the dreams didn’t make any sense.

Not that dreams really had to, they were just ramblings of the mind after all, your heart and head speaking in riddles, often at odds with one another.

It was up to the dreamer to listen to what the dreams themselves had to say, but in Jack’s case, there wasn’t much of anything.

He’d never been bothered by such things before, but they’d slipped back into mind more than once today. He knew why they were happening, or at least, he had his theories. A lot had happened to him recently, and he knew that one way or another, his mind would have to deal with those realities.

That night, after his shift ended and he went to bed, those same dreams visited him again. Then again the night after that, and the one after that.

At first, he’d felt fear from them. He was unable to move, feeling like he was awake. That made it hard to distinguish the dreams from reality. It was only when he realised that nothing from them could hurt him that the fear turned to curiosity.

The fear felt familiar. He knew where it came from. A place far away, that he’d only visited once.

But once in Kannikar was enough. Besides, It wasn’t there anymore.

Still, not a day went by that he didn’t have to remind himself of that fact.

In the dream, his eyes felt like they were half open, like he couldn’t quite see properly. They were fixed though, on something that was waiting just outside his window. He couldn’t see what it was, but he knew it was there. Like he was staring it down.

It had no form, no shape - not even an outline. But it was there.

Eventually, as the week dragged on, the fear lessened. But whatever it was, it instilled a sense of dread, yet never seemed to make a move or show itself.

Jack was beginning to think that Keira wasn’t coming back. Maybe she’d found something else, some other arrangement that was better than what he had on offer, which arguably, wasn’t a whole lot.

He thought about going to look for her, but seeking her out was hard enough at the best of times.

Jack had a few days free from work after the week ended. So did Luke. But since he hadn’t been sleeping well, Jack declined his friend’s usual invite over for drinks and instead finally gave in to his instincts, opting to head out in search of Keira.

He took a walk to the clinic, inquiring with the other staff members at reception if Keira was there.

She wasn’t. The officer on station at the clinic mentioned that Keira had been scheduled the previous night, and that by all accounts, she’d worked her hours then headed home. She wasn’t due for another shift until the new week started.

Jack didn’t want to disturb her at home, so he went back to his apartment alone, wondering what might have changed in her life to stop her returning. He wasn’t really cut up about it, just maybe a little concerned. Things had seemed more dire than she’d let on, though maybe he’d just been imagining it.

Swore I locked this… he muttered to himself, finding his door ajar. He kept nothing of value there, so he wasn’t too worried.

But the hair on the back of his neck stood on end the moment he crossed the threshold. The door clunked against its backstop, casting light from the hallway across the floor to his bed.

Someone was lying there.

Cautiously, he approached, but relaxed upon seeing Keira’s fiery red hair. She was lying still, facing the window. Probably sleeping, he guessed.

Jack placed his bag down quietly and leaned over. She was dead quiet.

He didn’t want to disturb her, but as he leaned closer he heard her breathing. It was shallow.

Keira? he said quietly, trying to rouse her, Keira-

The metallic smell of blood filled his nostrils and he knew that something was wrong.

He called her name again, nudging her with his hand, but she didn’t stir.

Jack crossed the room and switched the light on, his hand leaving a crimson smudge on the switch. He realised then why she was so quiet.

The light revealed fresh marks on her face. Deep lacerations were seeping blood from her arms and legs.

What… Jack said aloud, feeling his heart rate quicken.

He reacted, crossing to the kitchen and grabbing his medical kit from the cupboard. A faint groan came from the bed as he returned; Sorry I’m late.

CHAPTER 4

The sky glowed an early morning blue by the time Jack sat down beside the bed, his fatigue reflected in Luke’s face. They’d done all they could do.

Not the first time we’ve had to stitch someone up… Luke muttered, frowning.

Jack nodded, and the two exchanged a glance. Luke crossed the room silently and walked out into the hallway, closing the door behind him.

Jack listened to his footsteps as they receded back down the hall, and turned his attention to Keira once more.

Between the two of them, he and Luke had removed more than a dozen pieces of broken glass from her arms and tended to deep cuts as high as her shoulders. She’d woken up a handful of times throughout the process before finally falling unconscious. She’d lost a lot of blood, but it was hard to tell exactly how much.

Jack made a note to thank Luke properly later. He’d done a much better job of fishing out the fragments than Jack had.

You wouldn’t guess that of him, but to Jack it made sense. Luke was good with his hands, always tinkering or pulling something apart - usually some old vehicle or engine. He was used to working with small things.

Small like Keira looked now, lying on her side, arms in front of her face, knees bent slightly and surrounded by dark patches on the sheets.

The superficial injuries looked better now, though she’d taken a solid hit to the head. Jack knew from experience that was a bad thing, but trying to keep her awake had proven impossible.

How she’d managed to get here by herself in that state was a mystery, too. Jack stood and opened the door, checking outside. Sure enough, the signs were there. The dust above the door frame was disturbed and the spare key was missing.

He let out a deep sigh and closed the door behind him. He didn’t bother locking it.

He sat down against the bed, leaning on it. They’d just have to wait and see now.

********

Keira woke suddenly, her head pounding violently the moment she tried to sit up. It took a few minutes for the room to stop spinning, and even longer to work out where she was.

Jack was there, leaning against the bed. He was the first familiar thing she saw, his head slumped forward and his eyes closed. He didn’t look very comfortable.

Hey, she croaked, her throat dry, Jack.

Keira swallowed hard and tried again, Jack, wake up.

It took a lot of effort, but she managed to raise her hand and put it on his shoulder.

He woke with a start, his eyes snapping open, unfocused, darting about the room. He blinked and took a deep breath, staring up at her.

You’re awake, he said with relief in his voice, Are you okay?

Keira nodded, though it ached to do so. Are you?

Me? Jack asked, bemused and still half asleep, I… I’m fine.

I’m really thirsty, Keira said after a few moments.

Hold on… Jack stood, his feet were unsteady. He crossed to the kitchen and poured a glass of water, drinking deeply before refilling it. He took the glass back to the bed and handed it to her.

Keira reached out and took it, noticing the bandages on her arms.

How… What happened? she asked him bluntly, How’d I get here?

Jack pulled the curtain open slowly, squinting at the light that came through the window. Rain was falling now, so it was hard to tell how much of the morning was already gone. The light did, however, reveal the aftermath of the previous night.

I was hoping... You’d tell me, Jack replied after a few moments, scratching at his head as he looked her over.

Keira was still groggy. She swayed slightly as she sat up, trying to hold herself steady. She looked back at her arms, then around the room, as though looking for an answer.

It’s all… she started saying, her arms beginning to shake, but trailed off before speaking again, I don’t know…

That’s alright, Jack said softly to her, Get some more rest.

He took the glass and set it aside, watching her as she fell asleep again. The room felt warm to Jack, but Keira was shivering.

When she woke again, the light hurt her eyes. Was it day or night? She couldn’t tell, but the sound of the rain soothed her, even if the echo in her ears from it was grating.

A deep, distant rumble of thunder rolled by. There must have been a storm nearby. Maybe that’s what had woken her.

Sleeping had helped, though she still felt incredibly weak, and a dull throb was coursing through her arms.

She spotted Jack, sleeping once again, this time with his arms folded in the chair by the bed. He was frowning and looked exhausted. She decided to leave him be for the time being.

He’d taken care of her so readily. It really spoke to his nature. Some fragments of what might have happened were starting to come back now. Not the details, but enough to let her know that her injuries could have been much, much worse.

She was lucky to be alive.

********

The smell of wet grass, of rain. It filled Jack’s senses. But suddenly it disappeared, replaced by the dampened dustiness of the sodden city. He must have been dreaming again.

As if on cue, a faint knock came at the door and shortly after, Luke’s head peeked through the doorway, his hair and shoulders damp from the rain.

How’s she doing? he asked as Jack beckoned him inside, I’ve told the guys at the docks you’ll be away for a bit longer. Didn’t go into details though.

Thanks, Jack said, nodding. Until the two of them knew what had happened, it was better to keep this quiet for now.

She’s better, he added, remembering the question, I’ve been keeping an eye on her.

What about you? Luke frowned, keeping his voice low, You don’t look too good, mate.

Jack smiled faintly and shrugged. He didn’t know. It felt like he’d slept, but also felt like he was missing something important.

Luke dropped a bag on the counter and unpacked it. Jack’s eyes followed his movements.

Bandages, Luke explained, glancing back, And some food. I figure you’ll be staying put while she’s here.

Jack nodded. Thanks, he said sincerely, I appreciate it.

No worries, Luke replied, Look, I gotta go again. Don’t worry about anything else for now, okay?

Yeah, yeah… Jack muttered. Luke made his way out and left them alone again.

Who did this… He said under his breath as he looked at Keira’s sleeping face. It didn’t look like a face that deserved this.

CHAPTER 5

As Jack tended to Keira and the rain fell over Reotora, rain was also falling over another place; a place called Milner, soaking the earth and trees.

Nadia had strayed out of town, wandering mindlessly, the gears of her mind turning. She’d left the streets behind and climbed halfway out of the valley, too far to turn back before the storm came.

She was caught out as the rain poured, turning to a torrential downpour from a drizzle. It seemed to come from nowhere, and was falling throughout the whole valley, as far as she could see from where she was.

Nadia found refuge in an old stone building, tucked within the hills - but not before she was soaked to the bone and the chill from it was starting to set in.

Dense overgrowth covered the building. Years of neglect, probably. It seemed like it hadn’t been disturbed for a long time. At least the heavy wooden doors were unlocked. The hinges were old, but aside from some creaking, they opened up for her.

Hello? she called out as the door clunked to a stop, Anyone here?

Inside was a similar story to the exterior. But instead of foliage, there were layers of dust covering everything - some old furniture, maybe couches and piles upon piles of rugs and blankets.

Nadia shivered as a sharp chill followed her through the door. A fire would be nice, she thought to herself, but everything around the building had been saturated, so even that was wishful thinking.

It shouldn’t have been so cold. Sure, winter had been on the horizon, but the tropical warmth of the valley had held out, at least until today.

The rain had felt like tiny needles of ice, though. Not something she’d usually worry about, but it had just been so piercing.

At least she was out of that now, she thought to herself as she closed the door and sat in a corner, huddling under a pile of dusty blankets, shivering.

It was then that she decided once the rain stopped, she would turn back and head home. Now, it felt like a stupid idea to run off like she had, but that was what she’d done, and she was paying for it now.

********

Rain clouds still darkened the skies of Reotora as another day came. Keira looked dazed even though the night had been kind enough, and her eyes still weren’t focusing quite right.

She managed a few mouthfuls of soup Jack had heated up for her, but not much more than that. Jack was there to help her to her feet as well. While she was in the bathroom, he took the chance to change the sheets, pulling the blood stained linens from the mattress before flipping it over. It was a write off.

He dumped the sheets into a corner and waited for Keira to finish. She was shaking, and clung to the doorframe. Jack took hold of her and helped her hobble back over to the bed, and she grumbled something about being useless.

Jack didn’t hear exactly what she said, but got the feeling she’d been talking about herself.

It took most of the day before she was able to focus enough to talk coherently again.

I’m still so dizzy… she mumbled, taking another drink. It was important to drink a lot of water to regain her strength.

But feeling better? Jack asked her. She nodded after a moment.

Bruises were coming out all over her body, but Jack didn’t comment on them. She had enough to worry without adding that to the list. He knew Keira wouldn't openly admit just how helpless she felt, but she must have been feeling it.

My whole body hurts, she stated, Probably the blood loss… she muttered, frowning.

Do you remember anything? Jack asked her, About what happened? How you got here?

She looked up at the ceiling as though trying to remember.

Bits, she answered, Not much, though. I remember running… Getting wet from the rain. And the glass…

She trailed off, brow furrowing, her mouth opened slightly as she took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

From the… the door. At home.

Yeah? Jack prompted her. Theories rushed through his mind of what might have happened. But he didn’t voice them, worried that doing so might stir up the wrong reaction.

The cuts on her arms he could explain, but the bruising and the hits to the head… That wasn’t simply from falling over. Someone had attacked her.

Jack may not have seen as much as he’d liked of the world, but seeing people knocked about by others was a pretty solid part of what he had experienced.

Did I bring my things? she asked him, looking around the room and not seeing them, Shit...I must have left them back there.

She frowned again.

What things? Jack asked her.

Keira shook her head.

Clothes, she answered, My mothers old…

She trailed off again.

I can get them for you, Jack stated, Sounds important.

It’s all I’ve got left of her, Keira said sadly, I don’t know what I’d do if I lost that.

Like I said, Jack repeated, I can get them for you.

Thanks… she mumbled, taking another drink.

Jack still knew the way to Keira’s house. He was happy to collect what she needed, but less than thrilled about the prospect of running into her father. He had his theories about what - or who -  had caused her such injury, but it was still too soon to jump to conclusions.

Getting the chance to look around her place might also help with getting some answers, so there was that, too.

When Jack looked back at Keira, her hands were shaking again. Maybe it was better if she didn’t remember what happened.

I’ll get your things, he told her with a nod, reaching out and taking the glass then setting it aside, Don’t worry.

Jack called Luke into the hallway. They stood there together for a few minutes, enough for Jack to tell his friend what he was planning.

I don’t like it, Luke stated bluntly, shaking his head, The whole thing just seems off, don’t you reckon?

Jack shrugged. Luke was right, It didn’t make sense - not yet. But that was no reason to bury their heads in the sand.

I dunno what to make of it yet, he said, smiling grimly at Luke, Not sure what to do either. Suppose getting some help is out of the question?

Like pursed his lips, sticking his tongue between them slightly as he often did when he was thinking.

I’ll see what I can do about that, he answered after a moment, Just… Don’t piss off the RG. You know what they’re like.

Jack got the feeling the comment was more than just a simple caution. Luke had good sense, so Jack trusted his warnings when they came.

See if I can get a hold of Mike, Luke said quietly, You still got your short wave?

Jack nodded. Yeah, but it’s not got much life left in it.

I’ll see if I can get it working, Luke returned.

Right, Jack nodded, I shouldn’t be long. Look after her while I’m gone anyway though, hey?

Luke nodded, and Jack left him, walking along the hallway and out into the street.

CHAPTER 6

It was a long time before the rain in Milner finally started to ease back into a steady drizzle. Darkness was overtaking the valley. Nadia got the feeling that it was only a short reprieve before another storm came, so she took the chance to head back down into the city again.

She’d cop plenty of heat for running off the way she had, but that had to be better than freezing to death.

As Nadia descended from the hills back into the valley itself, so did the clouds that loomed overhead, settling into a dark, dense mist by the time she reached the city outskirts.

The thin clothes she wore weren’t helping, either. They were summer clothes, but still, she’d never felt the cold before like she did now.

She walked through the streets, shivering as she made a beeline for home. It was getting harder and harder to see and even though she walked by memory, she got turned around a few times, almost getting lost.

It was unusually quiet for the time of day. There should have been people out, even if it was poor weather. The more Nadia walked, though, the more she began to realise that there was no one around at all.

A feeling of unease had settled in her stomach and by the time she rounded the last corner into her street, she had started to get very worried.

Suddenly, instinct cried out for her to run, to get away from this place. At first, all she did was stop in her tracks and look around, listening to the sounds the city should have been making.

Her heart beat faster, ears pricked up.

But there was nothing.

The feeling lessened, and she took a step. Then another, and another.

Everything here too was quiet. No people on the streets, seemingly no one making noise inside buildings and no lights coming from the windows. What could they have all been doing?

All that she could hear was the occasional breeze that pushed the mist around eerily. The city was silent, and completely devoid of life.

Nadia opened the door to her home, finding no one. She looked around, expecting to see some explanation - a note left or something. But there wasn’t anything to account for the sudden vacancy. Cooked food sat on the bench in the kitchen, made and left. Not even flies were disturbing the abandoned meals.

They were cold now. Probably had been for a while. She had been gone for most of the day, after all.

Nothing seemed to be disturbed and Nadia’s own room was no different to how she had left it. Her family - her parents