Chapter Three

Entry

I watched a fly slam itself into a window again and again and-

Should I open it? Give the fly some rest, as it so desperately desires? No, I sat there, and watched as the fly fell onto its back and kicked his legs on top of him. Like fly, like human.

Death brings calm for all, and leaves the rest of us-

Phoenix

--

"We need to talk, Phoenix," Felix said, holding up a hand to stop her escape from the Tournament.

Exhaustion gripped Phoenix's bones, it clung to her skin and sagged her body down. The fights were over and all she wanted to do was lay down and sleep. Please, let her sleep.

"It was impressive, what you did out there," Felix smiled wide. "Especially the championship fight against Magnus. That fight was my favorite. I always prefer a longer match testing endurance rather than brute force." His eyes snagged on her slumped shoulders, and she willed herself to stand up tall. "Looks like he tired you out as much as you did him, you just got the final punch."

Phoenix raked her scalp as the memory of Magnus' matted down hair flashed across her mind. His face red from heat, skin slick with shine. And that single strand of hair that stuck to the side of his temple, how it marked her final blow sending him to the ground.

Felix and she stood in the tunnel, the sound of shuffling feet resonating as people left the arena. The spectators' voices talked with their feet, disgruntled groans and curses about a girl winning. The sun had disappeared, and heat had melted into a crisp wind that sent chills through Phoenix's skin until cold crept in.

All the other competitors left, why couldn't she?

"All I want is the money, not a chat," Phoenix mumbled, gulping water. Her jaw stung in pain as she opened it, not happy with the beating she subjected it to.

"Well, you know what happens to winners. You'll receive the money prize, but you'll also be expected to work for the King in the castle doing a job he provides. There's a reason everyone but one person has accepted this, it's a great opportunity. The King-"

"Thank you for the offer, but I would like to forfeit my job with the King. I will take the money and go home," Phoenix said. There was no way she would leave her family behind to go pamper herself inside a castle.

"I must ask you to reconsider," Felix pushed, "the King desperately needs help and you have proven yourself to be the best-"

"Don't care, not interested," Phoenix interrupted again. "Can I get paid now?"

"You must remember that you have a long life ahead of you, this single Tournament isn't enough to support any one person forever. And you mentioned siblings before your first fight? This is a great opportunity to set an example for them about how we can serve our land."

"Can I get paid now please?"

Felix fumbled into his pocket and pulled out a small sack filled with coins. Phoenix grabbed it and counted, dropping one coin after another back into the sack with a clink. It was enough to keep her family going for the next few months. Perfect. Finished with the conversation, Phoenix turned, threw her towel and money sack into her bag, then shrugged it onto her shoulders.

"Phoenix, I must insist you listen-"

She stopped everything and went completely still, facing Felix.

"Do you have a family back home?"

He looked at her curiously. "A wife and a child, why?"

"Would you leave them to go live in the castle?"

"Well, I would consider my duty to the royal family."

"Screw the royal family," she spat, "we all have problems. I never saw them helping me out before this, why should I go out of my way to do them a favor? I don't get paid more for helping the King and I'd have to leave my family behind. I refuse to leave my family behind."

Without another word, Phoenix stormed out of the backroom.

"This won't be the last time you hear from the royal family!" Felix shouted from behind.

Phoenix scoffed. She couldn't work with the royal family- the closer she was to them, the more likely they figured out she was illegally in the Guard. That the kids were under her name, and she worked regardless. Plus, the King killed mom, Phoenix couldn't get close to him, she'd do something stupid.

Leaving the room, Phoenix melted into the crowd pouring out of the arena. The gates proved easy to slip through and she headed down the dirt path leading to the Highlands, dirt trampled enough to be hard underneath her boots.

Walk to Highlands, get on the train, walk home, rest.

The world blinked in and out of focus as exhaustion caught up to her, the black sky replaced with the darkness of shut eyelids. Long grass leaning from the side swayed with her steps and tickled her hands; focus on the jagged earth, not the soft grass. A spectator from the Tournament spat a curse after recognizing Phoenix. The harsh noise snapped Phoenix's eyes awake.

Her bag rubbed against her shoulders, back and forth, stinging her flesh. Keep the eyes open. Just make it home.

As she walked, her bones screamed at her to stop. Phoenix's whole body, really, if her throbbing arms, pulsing nose, and scratched eye from the final fight counted. A crowd of people walked ahead and behind her, heading home to the Highlands. She just had to make it to the train, then she could walk home and go to bed.

Soon, the Highland's electric streetlamps glowed in the night sky, and the dirt path grew paved with stone. And there, the tallest building, her ticket home.

The station was built of sturdy brick, blending in with the rest of the city. It was perfectly symmetrical, with enormous arched windows lining the walls and a pair of double doors leading inside. The ceiling towered high above and was composed of rounded glass that revealed a cloudy sky. Lights hung above the platform and cast a small shadow below Phoenix's feet.

Her shadow always followed her.

The cry of an engine's whistle, steam rising from the pipes, let her know the train was ready to go. Soldiers littered the place, guarding the train to make sure no civilians boarded. Only soldiers and tax collectors were allowed on the train.

Phoenix tripped over her tired feet as she weaved her way through the station.

"Damnit," she cursed.

In seconds, her badge was checked, and the bright station was visible only through the train's windows.

The interior of the train was deathly bleak.

Three exit routes stood out- two doors and a row of windows with opening latches. Always keep track of the exits.

The train rolled forward, slowly gathering speed, rocking Phoenix's body enough to remind her to widen her stance. The train station soon slid away until streets lined with homes and garden beds shone light onto Phoenix's face. When she closed her eyes, the image of a bright streetlamp imprinted itself on the back of her eyelids.

Minutes passed by, and soon, the golden hue of the Highlands disappeared behind grassy hills. Maybe one day, she should explore the Highlands, not just rush from the station to work and back, eager to finish the day. Maybe one day, the family could live in the Highlands.

The view turned so dark only her reflection stared back. Although it was blurry, Phoenix knew what she looked like. Mom had the same clean golden locks, the same braid style, and straight-cut cheekbones, all worn with infinitely more confidence than Phoenix could ever possess. Phoenix's hand reached up to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

She turned away from the window. The sparse seats scattered around the car were usually reserved for tax collectors, but the one other soldier in the car made himself comfortable nonetheless.

Keep moving, don't sit down, or it could be impossible to get back up.

The floor rattled with the movement of the train. Phoenix roamed her hand along the rough wall, crossing over seams of windows leaking cold air, until she found herself standing in front of a mirror tucked in the back corner.

The mirror's image was clearer than the train's window.

Dried blood crusted Phoenix's nose. Purple spread from her cheek up to her swelled eye. She rolled up her sleeves and saw her forearms were such a deep shade her blue veins blended seamlessly. Her hair was nothing but loose strands falling out of its hold. Had mom looked like this after the Tournament?

Phoenix couldn't remember. She only remembered trailing mom around the training grounds to learn how to fight.

Remembered taking this very train to head home. Now, Phoenix had to do as mom did. Phoenix had kids eagerly awaiting her return. Phoenix had won the Tournament.

The money rested heavy in her bag.

"Lowlands," a voice announced with noticeable distaste.

Phoenix stepped out and walked around the inside of the train, maneuvering until she stood at the door. The wooden station, beggars' cries filling her ears, told Phoenix she made it home. She shaped herself within the crowd begging for a spot on the train back to the Highlands. Phoenix moved through the main floor of the station and headed home eagerly, her legs throbbing with soreness.

"Pardon me," she muttered as she wormed her way through the crowd.

The streets were a spider's web of confusion, the spider being the train station perched in the middle of the city. The second Phoenix walked outside her noise wrinkled at the smell of dank swamp and people not bathing, with a hint of dead animals piling in garbage. She minded her step, avoiding obvious pools of mud.

Here in the Lowlands of Domum, nothing was big enough. Every home was too small, every meal unsatisfying.

Taking a left at the Pancake Palace, the cute name obtuse to its rotting shell, Phoenix recognized a rock pegged into the ground with a sign attached. Her gaze lowered. "Rose Walker, survivor of the Burning. May she find calm." Find calm, in this chaotic after-world? The grave dated back decades ago. Everyone from that generation was long dead, along with any hope they once carried.

Phoenix bet Rose had dreams of seeing the two-land system abolished and everyone finally integrated as one. Phoenix bet every refugee after the Burning was hoping for new place to call home. Phoenix knew she thought the same- if the royals just didn't tax them for being Lowlanders, for being refugees, then maybe things would get better.

Maybe.

The occasional candle behind a window illuminated Phoenix's way home. A light mist of rain fell onto her, a heavy rain promising to come.

Two lefts later and she was back at her own quiet dwelling. It was a modest shack supported by stilts. The front door leaned permanently ajar as she had yet to fix the hinges. The windows were broken in a few places and flies took full advantage of that fact, swarming their home and nesting on the jagged cuts of shattered glass. None of it mattered right now.

She was finally, home, home, home.

But as she took that first step up, her head throbbed, and eyes couldn't focus. Why was the door so far away, so high up and out of reach? Her legs gave out below her, and her body crumbled to the steps, eyelids slamming shut as she hugged her stomach. Rain poured down, the sheet of water penetrating her leathers and soaking her skin. She should call for help. Cole would happily help her.

No, it was late, he shouldn't be bugged.

Mere steps away from the front door, Phoenix's exhausted body took over, and everything went black.

#

"Bird?" a loud voice woke her up. Phoenix peeled her eyes open and saw Cole, running down the stairs, kneeling down right beside her. "Bird are you okay?"

Phoenix pushed her way off the step and tried to present herself. She figured her soaked clothes weren't doing any favors. "Sorry, I must have passed out. I was just coming home, that's all."

He scanned every inch of her body, and she nodded; she was okay. Cole looped his arm around her, supporting her body weight, and gently guided her up the stairs.

"I knew something was off when I didn't hear the door open last night," Cole frowned. "Why did you just stay out here, injured, bruised, and in the rain, without even calling our names for help?"

"I didn't want to wake you up. I know you value your sleep."

Cole scoffed in disbelief. "You think I'd rather spend the fifteen minutes it would have taken to help you in bed sleeping? Are you insane?"

Phoenix winced. "What time is it?"

"It's early in the morning, Daisy and Lucas won't wake up for a couple more hours. We are not done with this conversation, but you need rest and food first. You've had a long day."

Phoenix's head bobbed up and down until she was inside the house. She moved past Cole as her stomach dug holes in her skin. She opened the food storage and stuffed her face with the last food item: a small piece of bread and leftover cheese. Phoenix glanced behind her and noticed Cole staring.

"Did you win?" he asked.

"Yeah."

Cole's lips tugged down deeper.

"I'm glad those bruises aren't for nothing," he said. "So, you're moving into the castle?"

"What? Of course not, I'm staying with Daisy and Lucas. I just wanted the money."

"No," he declared firmly, "you're being stupid."

"I'm stupid for wanting to be with my family?" Phoenix whispered as harshly as she could.

"You're stupid for always following mom's footsteps. She decided to decline too, and that led the royals looking into her paperwork. She's dead for a reason-"

"Yeah, because the royal family is a pile of shit."

Cole sighed, long and deep. He walked up to her until their faces were close, demanding her attention. He stood over her, those blue eyes of his half-hidden behind narrowed lids, black eyelashes stretching to his tense brow.

"What are you going to tell our siblings about your bruises?" Cole asked.

"I'll tell them that I got into a fight or something, I don't know! May I please go back to bed?"

Cole bit his bottom lip, as though keeping himself silent.

"I'm sorry, I'm just exhausted from the Tournament," Phoenix sighed. "I'm not mad at you, I promise."

Cole merely nodded in understanding. For the first time today, Phoenix felt a sense of calm wash over her knowing that Cole was still the same understanding person he's always been.

"Good night, Cole. Thanks for taking care of the kids all the time."

"Of course. You know I love them; I'll always take care of them. Do you need help getting back to your room?"

Cole extended an arm to guide her back to her room, and Phoenix shook her head no. She could get to her room just fine.

Her head gestured to Cole's room- leave, go back to bed.

Cole nodded and she sent him a reassuring smile.

Once Cole disappeared back into his room, Phoenix was unable to stand, and her shoulder collided into the wall to keep her upright. One step at a time, she eventually got to her room, where she stripped off her leathers and ducked into an oversized shirt and loose shorts.

Upon reaching her bed she laid down, eyes collapsing in a heavy landslide, body two steps ahead. Phoenix just needed some sleep before work started in a few hours. Work starting later so that people like Felix had time to tear down the Tournament arena.

She felt like she'd walked a thousand miles. Her eyelids weighed so heavily she feared never being able to open them again. Forever trapped in an unconscious body.

Exhaustion blanketed Phoenix to sleep.