Chapter 4: Weiren Part 1

 

Its murky dark and damp. I can barely see.

It feels like the labyrinth but this is different.

I’m looking for something, no, someone. I call out his name but there’s no response.

I keep running and running. Twisting and turning through walls and more walls.

Leaping through them, I keep hearing a scraping sound behind me. Am I being followed?
My legs are so small, how can someone so frail travel through this. I cry out but my throat stings from all the salt in the air. I cry but the shadows smother my wails. I shout his name once more.

A silhouette behind me appears,

“You’re never going to find me.” he responds, as the silhouette slashed away.

Aria startled awake. Gasping for breath. She grabs a few pills and a special breathing device. She puts the pills inside the device which then vaporized. One of the trauma’s she has endured, night paralysis coupled with her nightmares gives her high fevers and headaches.

Today in particular already felt long, even though she had just woken. After her routine check in and rations, she gets prepared for her patrol. She tightened her harness with practiced precision, casting a glance at her partner, Kade, who leaned casually against the wall, twirling a small utility blade between gloved fingers.

“Another day in paradise,” Kade muttered, his tone laced with weary sarcasm. He straightened and lined up beside her, the weight of their shared silence heavier than the labyrinth’s oppressive air. “You know we have to---” BRRRUUUUUMMMM a loud brass like sound vibrated through The Core, interrupting Kade.

The Council's announcement echoed coldly, the metallic tone gnawing at Aria’s already-frayed nerves. Another Fungjo, and she was on detail. Entering the labyrinth before the Weiren or outsiders, ensuring the exiled would never return. Before the council had it’s iron grip on the people, a Chinese delegate created the Fungjo. A harsh punishment for those that deliberately disobeyed the Council, if re-education did not work then citizens would be labeled as Weiren and banished.

From the outside of The Core, it looks like a small black steel dome, the gates shift in curves from the Nanites. Walking out is always a harsh experience, the wind from the gulf feels like it could carry you away. Some stretches of rock 10 meters wide are man made, in a natural deep cave trench. They spider out from The Core like choke points leading to the abyss. Aria walks up to the edge and peers over, staring into what feels like eternity. For her it was an opportunity; for others it was a death sentence.

“You give me the chills just doing that.” Kade shudders.

Aria just rolls her eyes. She could almost perch at the edge, but she can overhear The Council give its charges. A young couple, a man's face is swollen, a woman is crying. One of the guards sneer and says something under his breath. The woman that was crying spits in his face. The guard shouts and charges his baton. Two other guards step into calm him.

“Hey lets keep it moving” Kade shouts.

The couple passes by. When they make it to Aria they freeze.

They always freeze.

Its natural really, living in The Core all your life to be tossed out with a small backpack.

Rumors of an outpost and communities are out there but no one has really seen anyone return, ever.

But the reality is when you step out past the trench, wide road and wind that leads to a cavern...yea. Who wouldn’t piss themselves.

“I know its scary, but you have each other. Stay close, ok?” Aria felt for them. Even though the woman’s eyes glared with no appreciation. The man’s eyes glinted and like a wolf Aria snapped to the cavern. Barely distinguishable, a hooded figure waving them in. 

 A flicker of movement shattered the monotony. Aria’s sharp eyes caught a figure—a fleeting shadow guiding the exiled with deliberate gestures. She froze mid-step.

“Did you see that?” she whispered.

Kade frowned. “See what?”

“There’s someone in there—guiding them.”

Aria’s voice carried an urgency Kade hadn’t heard before. He barely had time to respond before she took off, her boots a whisper on the labyrinth’s slick floor. Kade cursed under his breath and gave chase, the adrenaline sharpening his focus as he struggled to keep her in sight.

“Aria, wait! Protocol—damn it!”

 Chasing after the two Wairen who started slipping through the cavern. It looks small but it shifts to the body, what was once thought of as a cliff, is it nanites as well? Aria picked up the speed. 

Kaden trailing behind. “Aria!” His voice echoed into the void, swallowed by the salt-laden air.

But Aria wasn’t listening. She moved through the cavern and felt a familiar feeling. She moved quickly through but it felt like more had taken place.  ~~~

The figure darted ahead, weaving seamlessly through the labyrinth’s shifting walls. Her determination became a force of its own, driving her deeper into forbidden territory. Kade followed, but the labyrinth turned against him as though it sensed his hesitation. Walls slid into place, closing off paths, forcing him to backtrack.