Project Kapok

Day 27—When I share another extract from the Vault on my laptop.

An explosion would be a good way to die. It would be instant and painless. At least that’s what Kiah assumed. Being shot with an arrow would be the worst. The settlers dip the tips in poison and your whole body experiences convulsions for up to an hour before you die. No, definitely an explosion. You don’t even hear them coming so at least there’s no fear before you die. The settlers have the power to launch an explosion silently to directly hit their target—usually the village school or medical huts. Kiah’s medical hut hadn’t been hit yet, but it was only a matter of time.

“Are you even listening to me?” Nassandra’s voice sliced through Kiah’s thoughts, the irritation confirmed by the scowl on her little sister’s face.

“Sorry, Nassy, you were saying?” Kiah readjusted her satchel, holding the whole bag against her chest. If she dropped the vials of healing sap, Althia would rant at her for weeks.

“I was saying,” Nassandra stared again, “that you should come with me to the river. It’s really fun.”

Kiah nearly dropped the satchel as she spun to face Nassandra. “The river? What have I told you about that? It’s forbidden! What if you’re caught?”

Nassandra simply rolled her eyes, completely unperturbed by Kiah’s alarm.

“Relax. The river is massive. They haven’t got the manpower to patrol the whole thing all the time. And we have lookouts.”

“That’s not good enough, Nassy! Why would you even risk it? You’ll get shot on sight!”

Nassandra just shrugged and bent down to pick up a diamond-shaped leaf from the ground, examining it closely. “They are looking for any excuse to shoot us anyway. May as well live while they do.”

Kiah watched her sister, barely 12 years old, talking about the need to live freely before she dies. Kiah felt her shoulders droop and she tightened her arms around the satchel, as if hoping for comfort from the healing sap inside.

“I don’t like you talking like that,” Kiah said quietly.

“I know.”

They continued to walk in silence, Nassandra’s eyes never leaving the intricate swirling designs on the leaf in her hands.

“ON YOUR KNEES! NOW!”

Kiah’s blood instantly froze and she squeezed the satchel even tighter in her arms. Her heart pounded wildl against her chest as she swivelled on her toes to find the soldier.

A wave of relief quickly engulfed her as she saw the fellow villager up ahead being forced onto the ground by three heavily-armed soldiers. The relief quickly soured into guilt at her selfishness, but she pushed it aside and turned to Nassandra, ready to grab her hand and run.

“Demons,” Nassandra hissed under her breath, eyes narrowed at the scene unfolding just metres in front of them.

Kiah suppressed the nausea as sounds of fists on flesh pierced the air, soon followed by shouts of pain from the man on the ground. Kiah pulled Nassandra behind one of the trees. The last thing they needed was to attract their attention once they got bored of beating up their prey.

“What are you doing?” Nassandra demanded. “Let’s stop them.”

“With what?” Kiah snapped. “Just stay quiet and they’ll go soon.”

For several minutes, the sounds of beating echoed around the forest, even the birds and monkeys stopped their twittering and chattering. Everywhere was still.

The man’s shouts slowed into grunts of discomfort.

Kiah knew the sound too well—he was loosing consciousness.

Eventually, the soldiers could be heard laughing and jeering breathlessly, clearly exhausted from the activity. Kiah kept a grip on Nassandra’s arm as the voices of the soldiers faded. She didn’t loosen her grip until she was sure they were gone.

Giving her a furious glare, Nassandra snatched the bag from Kiah’s arms and rushed to the man’s side.

Kiah took a deep breath, scanned the area, and cautiously followed.

He didn’t look good. The gashes across his face were gushing with blood, the swelling around his eyes forcing them closed. His body curled up pathetically in the soil, his arms pointlessly around his chest and stomach as if trying to shield himself from further attack.

Kiah felt her gut twist in despair and her healing instinct took over as she sank to her knees to help. Nassandra was already uncorking a vial of healing sap and Kiah quickly knelt beside her and got to work covering the poor man’s wounds in the thick, blood-red liquid.

As soon as it touched him, the sap fused with the edges of his cuts and solidified in a matter of seconds causing scabs to form all over his face. Kiah lay him down, relaxing his limbs as Nassandra held some water to his lips, cradling his head.

He slowly began to drink, his head falling back onto Nassandra’s knee from the effort.

“Thank you,” he croaked.

“You don’t need to thank us,” Nassandra said and Kiah was sure she heard a choke in her voice.

Kiah busied herself checking the man’s ribs and whipped her hand back as he winced sharply at the lightest touch.

“I… I think they’re broken,” Kiah said, glancing around as if a solution would appear etched into the trees.

“So we take him to Althia,” Nassandra said.

“How?” Kiah gestured wildly behind her. “How are we supposed to carry him?”

Nassandra looked up at her and raised an eyebrow without a word.

Keyara glared at her and shook her head pressing her lips firmly together. She wasn’t going to argue about her gift right now. They’d have to find someone to help—without magic.

Kiah pushed herself to her feet and dusted her jumpsuit down. “Stay with him. I’ll get help.”

She walked away feeling her sister’s eyes piercing her back, just as she could feel the voices in the wind trying to force themselves into her mind, coaxing her to respond.

She clenched her fists and shoved them away firmly.

Just like she always did.

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Day 27 of my challenge to write every day for 30 days! No matter what. The aim is to break through my writer’s block, perfectionism, and procrastination. This extract was from an early draft of my fantasy novel. Now, the plot is different and the characters have changed, but the setting and magic system is the same.