Daggers and Roses

Chapter 3

‘It’s so warm here. Maybe staying here wasn’t such a bad idea after all.’ Jay stretched out stopping as he pushed into the chest behind him. Maybe it was just his imagination, but…something…was rubbing against his back. He tried to shift out of the bear hug that Moses had him in. Realizing what…something…was his face turned a bright red. ‘Nerifes help me…’ Suddenly Jay was convinced that sleeping in the same bed with Moses was a bad idea. For once, being a morning person had its advantages. ‘I think I would have died if I woke up to him…taking care of his…problem...’ Jay shuddered from the mental images this was causing. Sliding out of the bed he walked into the adjoining room. The rain still pounded heavily. Eyeing a bowl of fruit he reached down and picked up an apple. As he took the first bite Moses walked into the room stretching and grunting something that sounded like “Mornin’” Jay nodded in response not taking his eyes off the window. A few moments of silence passed but were soon broken by a knock on the door. A man, not much taller than Jay but dressed in brown and red, came in with a tray of food. “Mornin’ boss. Csaba is having me take food to everybody ‘cuz the eatin’ area is all wet.” Moses let out another grunt that sounded like “Thanks” and the man turned to leave, but not before looking Jay over once. Their eyes met and the man turned and left. ‘What was that about? He was probably just another idiot like Moses.’ While Moses was eating, Jay changed back into his own clothes and walked toward the door. “I’m going to go for a walk, I’ll be back later.” And before Moses could say anything he was out the door. Normally Jay wouldn’t be walking through the rain, but he needed to clear his mind of the mental pictures he had been having since this morning. Finally after a few laps around the town he decided that he should head back. His outfit, even though it was water resistant, was soaked and his hair which he had carelessly forgotten to put up was plastered to his body. Just as he was about to reach the camp he was assaulted by a red and brown blur. The man grabbed him by the neck and pinned him against the wall. “You know, I saw you last night.” Jay immediately recognized him as the bandit whom had brought breakfast this morning. “He’s mine, do you hear me? MINE!” the man yelled while tightening his grip around Jay’s throat. “I won’t let you go back to him. I’ll kill you and then I’ll be the one he holds at night. ME, not you!” Fortunately for Jay the man had severely underestimated him. Even unarmed this would be a breeze. He managed to shove a leg into the man’s groin and break free of his grip. Knocking him to the ground, he slammed his knee into the man’s back and snapped his neck letting the now lifeless body slide out of his hands. Shaking, he backed against the wall and pulled his legs tight against his chest. Every time he was forced to kill another human being it reminded him of the torturous days he spent under Solon. The voices of the innocents, the women, and the children he was forced to assassinate echoed through his head. The feelings of fear and loneliness slowly began to set in once again. Jay pulled himself up and began run. In a blur he found himself back at Moses’ house. He threw open the door and stormed into the room. Moses came out with a start. “What’s wrong? Jay?” Before he knew what he was doing Jay embraced Moses and began crying. “Talk to me!” Moses looked down and noticed the bruises on his neck. “Who did this to you? ANSWER ME!” Jay looked up at the redhead. Before he knew what he was doing he pulled him down into a kiss. Moses stood there, shocked and unreceptive for a moment until Jay pulled back. “I’m sorry” he said before he ran out the door. Tears and rain stung his cheeks as he ran past the city gates stopping as he reached the duct. Not caring where it went, he stepped into the light.


Time stopped. Everything else seemed unimportant except that moment. And then, it was gone. It was gone with the boy who had just run out his door. The events after that were a blur. He vaguely remembered running after him, yelling for him to stop, but to no use. When he caught up with Jay he had already left to who knows where. Cursing under his breath he ran to Will’s house to gather the others. He ran into Will’s house yelling at the top of his lungs. He called on everybody and they all gathered quickly. “I need y’all to help me find Jay. It’s an emergency!” Will looked at him, “I thought he was with you?” Moses began talking faster and pacing the floor as he talked, urging them to hurry up and help him “Apparently he was attacked or somethin’ and when I last saw him he was all upset and … please, just help me find him.” Just that moment another person burst into the house trailing water everywhere. “Moses! I’ve been looking everywhere for you!” Moses ushered everyone to the door. “Sorry Csaba, but it’ll have to wait ‘till later.” “But…” He was ignored as everyone rushed out of the house. “Hey! Wait up! Damn…”


Jay looked around but everything was shrouded in darkness. The ride through the duct had been…unpleasant to say the least. Wherever the duct had taken him it was unbearably dark. Jay deduced that he must be inside of somewhere since he could no longer hear the rain, which was odd, since most ducts leading to Werites Beacon were outdoors. There were no outstanding sounds or observations he could make as to identify his location either. He stumbled around searching for the duct hoping to make his way out, but froze at a sound behind him. “It’s no use. It won’t open unless they want it to.” Jay flipped around, reaching for where his weapons would usually be. “Who’s there? Show yourself!” The person made no movements. “Now, now, don’t work yourself up so quickly, we just met. My name is Hugo. Yours?” Jay reluctantly spoke. “My name is Jay.” Hugo chuckled slightly before speaking. “Well, I never thought that I would run into Jay the Unseen in a place like this. Although if you stay in places like this I can understand why people would call you ‘the unseen’.” He chuckled to himself. “Where is here, exactly?” Jay asked. “I feel flattered that you would ask me so simple a question. We’re below the Ruins of Frozen Light.” Jay thought for a moment and then got into a fighting stance. “Are you the one who’s been sending monsters through the ducts?” Hugo burst into laughter. “If I was, I sure as hell wouldn’t be down here! But a good guess, nonetheless.” He chuckled again “I think I may be a poet and didn’t know it!” Jay cringed at the clichéd line. “But I guess if you’ll keep me company I’ll tell you anything you want to know. Ask me anything! Shoe size, sister’s middle name, a good recipe for curry, anything we got all the time in the world here!” Jay sighed. Things already seemed like an eternity.


It was useless. They had searched everywhere that Jay might have possibly run off to. But apparently fate was not against them. The rain had finally stopped and along the way they had recruited more help in the search. The Oresoren were more than happy to search for Jay, the BBs went along singing some random song that crossed their minds, and several of the bandits from Moses’ camp tagged along at his request. By the end of the day they had searched most of the Legacy. Finally it became dark and everyone decided that they would have to continue the next morning. But Moses wouldn’t give up. After everyone had left for the night he still searched. He traveled fro place to place never even stopping to rest. When the sun rose he returned to Werites Beacon to wake the others. “Moses, are you all right?” Senel asked. “Where were you? Nobody saw you come back to town last night.” Will added. “Aww, Red’s just worried about JJ! I know I couldn’t sleep easy last night either!” Norma finished. Moses laughed “Aww, y’all! You know nothin’ ain’t gonna stop me when my family is in trouble!” “You know that Jay can take care of himself, right? He can fight just like the rest of us. You shouldn’t be so worried.” Chloe said. “Fine then! I’ll look for him myself!” Moses yelled and stormed out of the room. Everyone’s eyes widened in shock as he left.


“So, you’ve been down here for a while I guess.” Hugo stopped laughing. “About three months I think. The only time I’ve been able to speak to another person is when the man who brings me food comes in, and he usually doesn’t make much in terms of conversation.” Jay thought for a moment and then spoke up. “So a person actually comes in the room to deliver food to you?” Hugo paused a moment and caught on. “So if they only think one person is in here…” “…Exactly” Jay finished. “Genius!” Hugo yelled. “So, now that we have a plan of action, who exactly are…they?” Hugo became quiet for a moment. “I’m not sure what country they’re from, but they are a group of political activists from the mainland.” “Do you know what their goals are?” Jay asked. “No, I used to train monsters for the circus not far from here. One day they kidnapped my daughter and told me if I didn’t cooperate that they would kill her. They made me capture wild monsters and train them to attack people for them.” Jay thought a moment. “So then, why are you down here?” The man answered with a solemn voice, “One day I asked to see my daughter before I went to train the monsters. They said that I ‘shouldn’t worry about such trivial things and should get back to work’. Then I refused to work until I saw Elise, and here I am. If those bastards killed my beautiful Elise I’ll kill every last one of them!” Jay remained silent. The monotony was broken by the sound of someone walking not too far away. Jay noiselessly moved closer to where the noise was coming from. Pressing himself flat against the wall he waited as the metal door slid open and the unsuspecting victim entered the room.


Moses was pissed. Unbelievably pissed. He knew that what Chloe had said was true, but still. She hadn’t seen the agony on Jay’s face when he came in that morning. The desperation in his voice and most of all…most of all that kiss. The mind blowing kiss that had left him dazed and confused. He could still feel the electricity the shorter boy had sent through every part of his body. He wanted to let Jay know that if he needed a shoulder to cry on, his was there. That if he was afraid, he could confide in him. Most of all he wanted to know that he didn’t need to be sorry. If anyone needed to be sorry it was Moses. He decided to go back to Will’s house and apologize to Chloe. As he went in he was pushed aside by a woman who ran in first. Following her inside he listened to what she had to say from behind the door to Will’s living room. “Please help my little boy! We were on a picnic and suddenly hordes of monsters came running from out of nowhere! My husband stayed to attempt to fight them off, but they were too strong. Oh please, you’re the sheriff, you have to do something.” Will stood up, “Where are your husband and son at?” The woman stopped crying for a second, not too far from the duct at the Ruins of Frozen Light, please hurry.” Everybody stood and began to leave. They stopped briefly when they noticed Moses standing there. “What are y’all staring at, we gonna go help that kid or not?” Everyone ran ahead except Moses and Chloe. “Sorry for snappin’ at ya Chloe.” Chloe sighed, “And I was about to apologize for being inconsiderate. Friends?” Moses laughed, “I couldn’t stay mad at family!” Moses ran ahead to catch up. “Family…” Chloe sighed and ran after him.