The First Task and the Oblivious Girl

Ryne woke up before dawn, the room still cold and dark. The old-world alarm clock beside his mattress ticked loudly, each sound amplified tenfold in the silence.

Good. I woke up early again.

He glanced at the clump of shapes beneath the blankets opposite him. Cassie's small frame made it look like an animal slept on the mattress instead.

Quietly, he rolled out of his bed and stood up, careful not to make any noise that might wake his father in the next room. He tiptoed around the squeakier floorboards that he'd memorised and over to Cassie.

Her face peeked out from beneath the edge of the blanket. Her quiet snores set him at ease. Ryne sighed at the shame of waking such a peaceful creature and gently shook her shoulder.

"Cassie, wake up. It's time to get ready for school," he whispered.

She groaned and rubbed her eyes, still half-asleep. He helped her sit up and reached for her clothes, which were neatly folded on a chair nearby. He helped dress her quickly, closing his eyes as she removed the last garments from her body.

Cassie leaned on him, her usual action to tell him she was dressed decently enough for him to help her with the rest. Her underwear hugged her body, at least one or two sizes too small for her.

I'll have to bring her to Nova City to shop for some more clothes soon.

She rested her head against his shoulder as he buttoned her shirt.

"You're already seventeen, can't you dress yourself in the morning?"

She grumbled, her words incoherent, but he caught her rolling her eyes.

Ryne shook his head in response. Once Ryne dressed Cassie with limited assistance, he led her to the joined dining and kitchen space.

The kitchen and dining area was a cramped, cluttered mess. Empty bottles littered the table and old holoreports flicked through their father's holopad, and the sink overflowed with dirty dishes. The once-bright patterns on the cracked and stained linoleum were now dull and worn. A flickering overhead light cast eerie shadows on the peeling wallpaper.

He hobbled over to the fridge and looked inside. Nothing but a half-finished six-pack of premium beer, brewed and distributed from Nova City, and some half-eaten rations.

The limited funding we get from the insurance company pays for his fucking vices while we go without.

He carefully grabbed a dining chair and placed it in the opposite corner of the kitchenette before opening the nearest cupboard. On the top shelf, from the far back corner, he took out two protein blocks, their standard breakfast ration. They were bland and tough, but they were usually all they had.

"Here, eat this," Ryne said, handing one to Cassie. She took it without complaint, nibbling on the edge after removing the wrapper.

They ate in silence, the house still shrouded in the quiet of early morning. Ryne kept an ear out for any signs of their father stirring, but the only sounds were the faint creaks and groans of the old house.

After breakfast, he grabbed their school bags and guided Cassie out the door. They walked down the narrow, crumbling street, the first light of dawn casting long shadows. He tried his best to walk straight and tall, forcing his body to ignore the pain throughout his body, just so Cassie wouldn't worry. Fracture woke up around them like bees leaving their hives, residents emerged from their homes, yawning and doe-eyed.

We reached the junction where Cassie would continue on to her school. I hugged her tightly.

"Be safe, Cassie. I'll see you after school, okay?" Ryne said.

She nodded, her eyes still heavy with sleep. She turned and walked away, her small figure soon lost among the others, making their way to school, work, or something less noble. Ryne watched her go, a knot of worry tightening in his chest. He could never shake the fear of leaving her alone in this place, but he had no choice.

With a deep breath, Ryne adjusted the straps of his bag and headed toward Nova City. As soon as Ryne was clear of her sight, he relaxed, and his limp returned. His body complained constantly for the rest of his journey because he failed to listen to its needs while walking with Cassie.

The border guards let him through without much fuss. With a quick I.D check and statement from Ryne, the gates to Nova City opened.

They're always too tired this early in the morning to bother with me.

As he crossed the threshold into Nova City, the atmosphere changed immediately.

The streets bustled with a throng of people, their faces grim and determined, the rough cobblestones vibrating beneath their feet. Ryne blended into the crowd, his pace quickening as much as he could while he navigated the maze of streets. The morning—one of the rare times of the day where people weren't in their work cubicles or at home.

Ryne's thoughts drifted to Cassie as he moved deeper into the heart of Nova City. He hoped she was safe, that she hadn't faced the same dangers as he did in Fracture. His resolve hardened.

For her, I'm willing to withstand any trial, any pain. She's the vibrant splash of colour that brightens my otherwise grey, arduous existence, my hope for a better future.

The early morning grew warmer and lighter. The rays of the sun warmed his face he smiled.

As he continued on his way, a sudden commotion startled him. A chorus of panicked screams drew his attention to a young girl crossing the road, her head bobbing up and down, left and right. The walking indicator repeated a single sentence.

"Don't walk. Don't walk. Don't walk," the female robotic voice repeated.

His heart skipped a beat as he watched a cargo truck barreling towards her, its speed increasing, rather than slowing.

"She's listening to music through her implants!" He realised, overwhelming panic surging through him.

His eyes locked onto the girl, oblivious to the danger, and without a moment's hesitation, an instinct deep within him took control.

A voice, reflecting his inner thoughts, thundered inside his skull.

[Save her now!]