Tukami

  I stare out at the apocalyptic scene before me, dusty and half ruined huts in the ground. The skyline is filled with a hard red, like a fire burning out as the sun descends, and cold wraps the world in its ice.

  The world was so different from what I remember, from what it used to be. I am sure that nothing, nothing at all is the same anymore. Everything, from the food we eat to the world around us, it was all very, very different. A jarring change from luscious green.

  Dust was common now, like the sun and stars. It is a fact of life. Everything gets dust on it, the dry land not habitable for most plants, with people relying on dusty potatoes, with only the rich and wealthy getting anything like bread. It is a miracle that the people here haven’t died from dehydration, however water abilities and water summoners keep the world alive, even while the dust fights back to quell life attempting to rise.

  The people were busy down below, their clothes a boring brown, nothing like the vibrant ones you could get before. It was a miracle that we still remember them, in this colourless brown town.

  I glance at purple hair, bouncing as they run across the grounds.

  Of course though, there is hair dye. Stupid but deserved, for suffering people.

  A little thud had me turning around, startled slightly.

  A boy, tiny and small, black wings outstretched like they might support the tiny child. It is obscene, looking at Kenku, but my lips betray me, curling into a soft smile.

  “Kenku, get down from the rooftop. It's dangerous.” I neglect to mention, that he might see the plans I have in motion, and rat me out to his pseudo mother. He makes a small chirp of sadness, and I sigh. “Come on, let's get you to bed.” I stand up, tucking the papers and pencils under a loose tile in the roof.

  A protest of flappy wings immediately start, and I just ignore it, grabbing the squirming bundle and start to go down the stairs.

  I descend with protest, struggling to keep hold of the kid in my arms, who tries to fall on the stairs. Finally, I get to the attic.

  A squawk, and then the black bundle escapes my arms. “Kenku.” I groan, but the little bird just ignores me, indignantly fluffing his wings. A chuckle, before another person enters the room. Her face is soft, and smile warm. I feel at ease when I see her, instantly relaxing.

  “Darling.” I say, as if my existence isn’t controlled by one man, as if all of this could be stripped away with one order, as if I have any right to even think of having any of this, with the people I've killed and the wrongs I've done.

  She laughs, that airy, soft laugh as if nothing in the world is wrong, as if this is a paradise and we are the ones who live there.

  “None of that. It's almost time for your shift, love. I sent Kenku up to get you, but clearly it didn’t work.” A little caw came from her shoulder, and she shushes him quickly. “Come on, we’re back in the house, you need to cover up.” He nods, and she struggles him into a sweater, the wings hidden by the strategically oversized cloth.

  I had gotten it bigger not only to disguise his wings, but because it would’ve been suspicious not to. After all, all the people in the slums knew that when you needed to get clothes, you got huge ones, especially for kids, so you could have them grow into it, and then they wouldn’t be needing clothes every few months. The way the world had fallen still astounded me sometimes, the way people, more people than ever, had to scrounge for food and money. And all on one deciding factor. Magic and abilities, something not even guaranteed in a bloodline full of it.

  I hate the way the world works, I really do. But as I think about it, it's really not any different from the world before, now just instead of money, it’s power, and there’s no opportunity to rise up without it, unlike money.

  Soft lips press against my forehead. “You’re thinking too much. Go, Goran will be mad if you don’t relieve him at the bar.”

  I nod, smile, and head off, ignoring the way my stomach twists with anxiety.

  Maybe today was the day I will be found out, maybe today will be the one time I can't hide myself any longer. Maybe today, I might kill the three hundred people living in the tunnels under this entire city, exterminated like rats to the powerful.

  The bar is boisterous and loud, people chatting and others laughing as everyone drinks and eats the night away, carefree.

  I go over to Goran, tapping him on the shoulder as he chats with clients. Looking over his shoulder, he grins. “Tukami!” He turns back to the people. “Sorry guys, but I better go, my home’s calling me!” They laugh, and he heads off, giving me a thankful look as he goes.

  I fall into place with ease, chatting with a fake smile and unreal happiness.

  People come and go, drinks are poured and drunk, food served and finished. It's a comforting routine, one that I repeat seamlessly, chatting with patrons and then, finally, swapping out. As I shrug off my top, no longer officially on work, soft lips meet my cheek, and I blush.

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  “You’re adorable, love.” She comments, my face going a deeper red. “Sari...” I manage to mutter out in protest, as she chuckles. “Come on, it's almost dinner time in the caverns.”

  I nod, walking closer to her as we slip down into the dark tunnels, bare stone greeting me with a dull light.

  Then, a smell of potatoes and stock permeates the air, and I grin. “Smells good, huh?” A bread smell wafts by. “Not as good as fresh bread!” Says Sari, as she tugs on my arm, and we start to jog. “Slow down, it’ll still be there!” “But it won’t be in that fresh warm state!” I laugh at the ridiculous combination of words, as we rush past other people, mostly older folk, who chuckle at us.

  Eventually, we get to the line, where Nulls are lined up, bowls in hand, all eager for some food. Sari sighs with relief as we get in line, finally slowing down to a walk.

  _______________________________________________________

  Tukami

  Two years later.

  Sitting on the same rooftop, I gaze along the streets, at the carts and food going by, cars a true myth these days to everyone that was not me and Arto. I still haven't been found out, and my jobs have lessened to just one a year.

  I was suspicious, but happy. Suddenly, a thump, and a mildly swollen bellied Sari sits next to me, a grin on her face. “What’s got you thinking up here?” She asks, a warm smile gracing her lips. “Not much.” I say, gazing over the people. “Just thinking about the food storage this month.” She winces. “Yeah, it's taken a hit, hasn’t it?” I nod. “Food is going down as Null numbers ramp up. We barely have enough food for all those who really need it.”

  She then brightens up. “But hey, so many more people are being saved.” My lips tilt up. “Yeah, it's good.”

  She kisses my forehead. “Come on down in a minute, okay?” I nod. “I won’t be up long.” Flashing me her signature beautiful smile, she stands up, wobbling a bit off balance. “You really shouldn’t go up here anymore.” I worriedly state.

  “I don’t plan to anymore.” She comments after regaining her balance.

  “I’ll just send up Kenku.” I pull a face, and she chuckles.

  “Not the ten year old.” I despair jokingly, as Sari descends the ladder with a laugh.

  Once she is gone, I pull out paper documents, looking them over with reverence. Guard patterns, changeover times, as well as the laziest soldiers, and when their duty starts.

  It's been years of planning, but finally, next year, we’ll be able to start.

  ______________________________________________________

  Artos

  The sadistic man grins, mad behind the mask of a well meaning mayor, his face twisted with cruelty.

  “I don’t think death is good enough for Nulls, people. After all, they’re like street mutts. You can’t easily exterminate them if death is your goal. No, no, you need to break them too, until they no longer even think of trying to disobey their masters.”

  I shudder at the words, at his face, at everything about the man I was once a friend with.

  To think I stayed with him after he developed his powers. I was too stupid to realise his controlling habits.

  “Now, good people. What do we do with mutts?”

  “Throw them out!”

  “Break them!”

  “Make them know their places!”

  “Kill them!”

  “Control them!!”

  “Well you heard the good people, my dear, dear dog. After all, you are my First Servant, and I do what the people ask.” My body stiffens, and then goes pliant, marching unwillingly towards the other Null.

  Everything, from my mind to my nerves, resists, screaming to not move, to not do this, to stop the command.

  But I don't.

  My feet draw closer and closer to my wife, her stomach still slightly swollen from where our child rested just two months before. I internally scream, crying and wanting and pleading, just needing, needing to be anywhere but here, doing anything but what I am doing.

  “Lead them out, First Servant.”

  The wall loomed heavy and foreboding, the terror in my heart reflected on their faces, some crying, others angry, but all of them silent.

  It was creepy, to see people so clearly emotional, completely and utterly silent, not saying a word. As if they were dolls or a statue, one that had an emotional facade, but no voice.

  Sari, my wife, beloved, and half leader of the Null, has her face like stone, emotions carefully blank to resist everything that Arto throws at her, from commands to orders, and emotional debacles. She knew this was a possibility. I had always made sure to tell her, to tell the Null, to tell my people, that this might come one day, might happen when we try to rebel.

  But we had just gotten to be happy, our daughter had just been born. Surely, surely, if we just had more time!

  It was hopeless to think of, and hopeless to dream of. Now is happening, and it's happening fast. I’m kicking thirteen of my people, my Nulls under my protection, to the monsters, outside the wall, where they have no powers, no ability to protect themselves from the brutality that life beyond will throw at them. No food to keep them full when they have nothing but dust and unbeatable monsters to eat.

  Nothing but death lies beyond those walls.

  A silent tear manages to slip past Arto’s control, trickling down my face in sorrow.

  Finally, we reach the gates, and they’re pulled open, the thirteen marched by soldiers outside, before pandemonium erupts.

  Once outside the wall, their silence turns into desperate screams, cries to not let them be stuck out here, to plead for safety, and finally, with sobs and cries as the gate slowly closes, acceptance. I want to rip my heart out, tear it to pieces so that nothing survives, so that I die, just like I sent my wife to, just like I sent my people to, alone, afraid, and without the person who got them all into this mess in the first place.

  Then two crystal clear eyes land on my own, her lips forming a small, brave smile despite everything, despite all the tears around her, and she gives me a look, one of knowing, and forgiveness, and want, mouthing a single sentence. “Survive for Taki, please Tukami.” And it feels like my heart has been torn out, and crushed one time too many, like I may never recover from this one, unlike the million before.