Hi all,
Game of Air and Lightning will be available for pre-order soon, so I wanted to share the first chapter with you. This will be a standalone Young Adult Fantasy book. Without further ado…
Chapter One
All eyes are on the large hologram in front of them; two people are shown flickering in the image, their hoods obscuring their faces. One is wearing silken blue robes with a silver trim. It's covered in silver markings that look like thunderbolts on the sleeves. The other is dressed in red robes, with gold stitches that have been sewn to look like clouds.
Reema's eyes are on the man in red, the one who translates messages from their god, Aerus. She's heard before that hearing the gods speak induces madness in those who aren't trained to hear them. That's why they speak only to priests, who are trained to withstand the mental barrage and spread their message across the world.
Her eye twitches as she glances at her family. Her mother and father are huddled together, each clutching a hand of a little boy. Reema would have held their hand too, but the twins had a meltdown when she asked to be included, so she's stood off to the side.
Their eyes sparkle with worry, and her mother's jaw is set, as if she's holding back a scream.
Please don't choose them.
Out of everyone in the world, Bolt doesn't need to pick her parents to play in the game. Others have spent years training for this, hoping to be picked. She crosses her fingers and prays that neither of them is taken away.
Both priests raise their hands suddenly, making all chatter fall silent. Reema is sure it's just the image, but she can see both of their hands shaking.
"Aerus has spoken," the man in red booms, his voice carrying across the street.
"Bolt has spoken," the man in blue says as well.
Both priests look towards each other before the one in red gives a nod. They then disappear and the man in blue is centre stage, his hologram growing to accommodate more space.
"The gods have decided on a different game this year. They grow tired of seeing their subjects play pitifully. Both of them have come to a conclusion."
Reema's eye twitches again and she bites her lip. The priest's face is obscured, but she wishes she could see his facial expression, to know what he makes of all this.
"It's okay." Her father murmurs to the twins, who have started to sniffle.
Reema considers moving closer, but her mother shoots her a look. She remains rooted to the spot, though she wants nothing more than to run into her mother's arms.
The distinct smell of old sweat becomes suffocating, and Reema wishes there was more room to move. However, everyone has decided to cram onto the street, packing her in like a sardine. Even though people are told to watch the hologram from their own street, some still wander over to others. It causes cramping and chaos as everyone tries to leave at once, but people never learn.
"The gods are disappointed in the behaviour of their subjects over the past few games," the priest continues, their voice distorting slightly. "They have come up with a new idea that will be put in place for this game. If it goes well, they will continue it."
Just get on with it.
He must repeat the words of the gods, but Reema wishes they wouldn't add so much fluff. She'd much rather be at home, curled up in bed.
"The adults are a disappointment. So, this year they will be taking those between the ages of fifteen and seventeen."
Reema's heart thumps in her chest, and she feels her eye twitch involuntarily. Many around her sag their shoulders in relief, including her parents. She looks to them for comfort, but they start fussing over the twins.
"They have picked these ages as they are shown to be independent enough to not rely on adult supervision. They are also the most in tune with the gods' chi at that age."
"It's okay, mummy and daddy don't have to go anywhere," her father whispers.
One of the boys, Ryden, points at Reema. "But she has to go, right?"
Her father looks up in panic before returning his gaze to his son. "That's right. But only if she gets picked."
"I hope she does," the other boy, Rylen, grumbles. "I want her room."
The twins are only four, about to turn five in a few weeks, but they hate any attention that isn't given to them. The two terrors decided early on that they didn't like her and would team up against her at every given opportunity.
"Having strong chi means they will be able to wield that gods' gifts more effectively. This year, they will be given a slice of power from the gods themselves."
Her thoughts aren't on what the priest is saying right now. Instead, she closes her eyes and takes a few deep breaths to try to calm herself.
I won't be picked. There are millions of people.
This thought calms her slightly, but she still ignores the priest as he continues to drone on. The muttering amongst people is even higher now and there are some who have already left. Her eyes bounce back to her parents, who are still tending to her brothers.
"Are we going home?" she asks.
Her mother's eyes widen. "No, Reema. We need to wait until the chosen ones are picked."
She resists the urge to roll her eyes. "Mum, what are the chances of me going? Aerus isn't going to pick me over the millions of teenagers across the world."
Her mother presses her mouth into a thin line. "You don't know that Reema. Anyone can be picked. Until the last person is chosen, we'll remain here."
Ryden waves mockingly. "Bye, bye."
She glares at him, knowing it's not worth the verbal lashing she'll get if she tries to argue with him. She knows her entire family was disappointed when she was born as an Aerus follower. The red triangle on her forehead marks her as one of their own. However, being born into a family of Bolt followers hasn’t gone down well.
Apparently, her parents’ families had cut them off until they had the twins. Both came out with blue triangles on their foreheads. A clear sign of the Bolts.
The priest is still droning on, but then they raise their hands again for silence. "The chosen will now be revealed. You will know if you are chosen as the marks of Aerus or Bolt will appear on the back of your hands. This cannot be removed until the game is over."
For a few moments, nothing happens. Then Reema feels her hands getting warm and tingly. Her heart pounds so much that it makes her vision blur. She slowly turns her hands over and is horrified. Red outlines of clouds have marked her dark skin. The markings shimmer slightly under the light, making them impossible to hide.
The twins whoop and laugh, immediately starting an argument over who gets her stuff.
This can't be happening.
The people around them begin to notice her markings and either back away from her or offer their congratulations.
Her eyes well with tears, and she looks toward her parents but is shocked by the massive smiles on their faces. They're both embracing and whispering to each other with tears streaming down their faces.
"Mum? Dad?" The words come out as a hoarse croak.
Her mother notices her and pulls away from her father, wiping her cheeks with her sleeve. "Thank Bolt that your birth has been rectified. We no longer have to carry the shame of having you in our family."
Reema's mouth drops open. "But I couldn't help it—"
Her mother waves a hand dismissively. "It doesn't matter. As the first Aerus born in three generations to our family, you were a stain. Now, the chances of you coming out of the games are slim. You haven't trained for it and have no idea what to expect."
Reema can only stare at her, the tears spilling freely now. "You want me to die?"
Her mother shrugs. "If you do, it won't be a problem. If you do somehow manage to win, then maybe our family will accept you."
Someone steps in front of her, blocking the view of her parents. The first thing that Reema notices is the red triangle barely hidden by the woman's fringe. "Don't listen to them. You have as much chance as anyone else in there."
Reema shakes her head. "I have no idea what I'm walking into."
"Trust in Aerus." The woman places her hands on Reema's shoulders. "They never choose wrong. You were chosen for a reason. You just don't know what that reason is yet."
"The chosen will be taken now. They have been blessed with the opportunity to walk upon the home world of the gods. The games will be held there this year, and only one god will emerge victorious."
Reema swallows. "There must be some mistake. They always choose adults."
The woman smiles slightly. "I know, but the gods are fickle. They've made this decision because they believe in it. If you believe in yourself, with the faith they've bestowed upon you, you can get through it."
She wants to shake her head and scream. This wasn't supposed to happen. Adults were supposed to be chosen. All she had to worry about was whether her parents were chosen or not. But her?
Before she can open her mouth to say anything, everything flashes white.
***
It feels like no time at all before she opens her eyes. She's floating in nothingness, her hair swirling around her face. A coldness seeps into her bones and her heart slows down. There's a redness that darts in the corner of her eye. But by the time she looks, it's already gone. She wants to panic, wants to scream, but she's filled with a strange calmness. That she'll be fine where she is.
There's a tug in her chest, and for a moment, she believes that she's having a heart attack. But then a red light explodes out of her. She wordlessly watches the red light as it flows out of her and settles just in front of her face. The light dances before it begins to shift. It forms a ball, which then forms legs and a tail. In seconds, its body elongates and a head forms. The red light begins to recede, and a grey cat floats in front of her.
He, she somehow knows that he's a he, reaches a paw towards her and gently brushes her forehead. There's another flash and then darkness.
***
Something scratchy brushes against Reema's cheek, and she sits up with a gasp. The first thing that hits her is that it's dusk, evident by the slowly darkening sky. She's lying in a forest, surrounded by sweet-smelling grass. The trees however appear strange.
They're tall, their bark a deep brown dappled with shifting hues of blue. She notices them shimmering when the light catches them at the right angle.
A warm breeze bathes her face, and she shuts her eyes briefly to enjoy the sensation. It's only then that her brain catches up to everything that's happened.
"Where am I?"
The cobbled streets of her home are gone. The crowds have completely disappeared, and the thick, sour smell of the city isn't around. The air is the freshest that she's ever breathed.
She looks up at the inky sky and almost chokes on a gasp. There are now twin suns in the sky. One is much smaller than the other and appears to be dimmer. She's on her feet in a second, staring at the suns as they slowly descend.
"What is this place?"
A blaring horn blasts her ears, and she cups her hands over them instinctively. It only lasts a few seconds, but it's enough to leave a high-pitched ringing in her head.
A hologram materializes above them, the head of someone in a red robe. A shadow is cast perfectly over their face, obscuring their identity.
"Welcome, the chosen of Aerus. You will be playing the Game of Air and Lightning. Both factions have an equal number of players. To win, all you have to do is outlive the Bolts. Violence is encouraged, except in the designated safe zones. You can find a safe zone by looking towards the sky."
The sky?
Reema looks around, and her eye catches a white beam of light. The beam is stable and seems to be lit from the ground.
"The game can take weeks, so supplies can be found at the safe zone. The game will end when one faction is eliminated. You cannot run. You must fight. When you hear a horn, the game will begin."
Reema's mouth drops open. "What? What do you mean?"
The floating head ignores her. "The gods have bestowed gifts upon you. One is a piece of your soul that will assist you. The other is the power of air. Use this against your enemies or to ensure your retreat. Again, you cannot run. Do not use this as a strategy, or you will be punished."
A piece of my soul?
For whatever reason, she's compelled to look at her feet. There sits the grey cat she saw earlier. He looks up at her with sparkling yellow eyes and opens his mouth in a silent meow.
"Are you my soul?"
The cat doesn't answer, instead he closes his eyes and purrs.
The sound of a horn makes her jump again, and she's instantly filled with fear. When the blaring noise has died out, the hologram flashes out of existence. Her instincts scream at her to run, but she remains rooted to the spot.
The cat headbutts her bare legs and drags his tail across her skin. When she just watches him, he headbutts her again.
Both jump at the sound of a twig snapping behind them. A boy, no older than sixteen, stumbles through the trees. He has a bright blue triangle on his forehead, which pulses with a glowing energy.
"Hello?" Reema relaxes at the sight of another person. "Do you know where we are?"
His face morphs into a scowl. "Did you not hear? We're in the game. To make the gods proud."
She shakes her head. "Yes, but... how? Why?"
He rolls his eyes and scoffs. "Why you've been chosen is a mystery to me. But at least you'll be easy."
"Easy?"
The boy lunges for her, his strong hands wrapping around her throat. She claws at his wrists as he squeezes, but he refuses to let go. Her throat closes with each squeeze, and her lungs cry out for fresh air. His grip is too tight for her to fight off, and she instantly feels herself getting tired.
She tries to tell him to stop, but it comes out as a pained gurgle. His brown eyes are locked on hers, and a sinister smile grows on his face.
Black spots sprout in her vision with each heartbeat, and the last of her energy is slipping. Just when she thinks she's about to faint, he lets her go. The sudden movement causes her to fall back with a gasp, her hands flying to her bare throat.
The boy screeches in pain, and as her vision clears, she can see the grey cat sinking his teeth into the boy's leg. His sharp teeth have pierced the thin fabric of the boy’s trousers and are tearing them apart.
"Little shit! Get it!"
She thinks he's talking to her, until something darts out from behind a tree. At first, she believes it's a cat as well until she notices the rings on its tail.
A raccoon?
The raccoon grabs the cat's tail with its tiny hands and yanks until the cat lets go. The feline hisses and swats at the raccoon, who manages to dodge at the last second.
The boy's murderous gaze goes back to Reema, and she turns and runs. The trees are packed so tightly together that she can barely squeeze through them. Their leaves are thick and larger than her head, slapping her as she goes past.
For a moment, the white light above is visible before it disappears again. Upon looking over her shoulder, the boy is following her. He's not too far behind her now and is quickly gaining on her in her panic.
The safe zone. I need to get to the safe zone.
As much as it pains her to do so, she turns her back on the boy and continues forward. There are the occasional yowls and hisses from behind her, which she can only imagine is the cat that might be a piece of her soul.
She pushes the cat out of her mind and continues. Her lungs burn, and her legs feel like they're turning to jelly, but the trees eventually start to thin. Between the trunks, she can see beams of white light and almost shouts for joy.
The boy is still following her, evident by his heavy foot falls and occasional curses when the leaves catch on him. This motivates her to keep going, knowing that safety is just ahead.
More voices hit her ears, and she prays to Aerus that they're friendly. She can't deal with anyone else trying to kill her.
The light gets brighter until she has to squint to keep moving. Rough bark catches on her clothes as she stumbles, but she refuses to stop. Just as the light is getting too bright for her to look at, it blinks out. She grabs the nearest tree and stops momentarily. The voices are louder now, but there are so many people that she can't make out what they're saying.
As she sprints toward them, she stumbles into a grassy clearing. It's surrounded by trees on all sides, with a large log cabin sitting in the middle. There are several people arguing on the steps of the cabin, pointing aggressively at each other and trying to talk over each other.
"Help!" The word tumbles out of her mouth before she can stop it.
Everyone turns to her as she rushes to them, her forehead glazed with sweat. The two girls on the steps move to block her from the door, and she notices with dread that they both have blue triangles on their foreheads.
"You aren't allowed to do that!" the girl [S.K1] in the doorway snaps. Reema is relieved when she notices the red triangle on her face. "This is a safe zone."
"It's not a safe zone until she gets inside. Until then, she's free game."
"What are you talking about?" Reema wheezes, forcing air into her lungs. "There's someone chasing me. He tried to strangle me, it's not safe out here."
"Oh, it's perfectly safe for us," one of the girls says with a sneer, brushing greasy brown hair out of her eyes. "But for an Aerus, that's where it gets dangerous."
Reema glances at the girl in the doorway for help, but she shakes her head and closes the door behind her.
"Oh." The other girl laughs, her blonde curls bouncing on her shoulders. "I guess that solves the argument we were having. You're not getting any help from your faction, Aerus."
The two girls advance on her, and Reema takes a few steps back. That's when the boy who was chasing her explodes into the clearing, his eyes full of rage.
“Eel!” One of the Bolt girls exclaims. “There you are, we were wondering where you wandered off to.”
The boy, Eel, sneers. “I went hunting. You know, instead of running for the safe zone, Gaza. Some Bolts are braver than others.”
Gaza grits her teeth. “You’re lucky that you’re my brother, or I’d be stabbing you myself.”
Reema tries to take the opportunity to move to the door, but Gaza spots her. She points at Reema with a scowl, and all three close in on her. Reema feels her eye twitching uncontrollably. Just when panic starts to take over, a loud gong sounds off in the distance.
"What the?" The other girl’s attention is now on the sound. "What was that?"
Reema bolts toward the door, catching the three of them by surprise. She launches herself up the wooden steps and yanks on the doorknob. To her shock, it swings open without much force needed. She falls inside, splaying out on the floor like a starfish.
The girl who closed the door earlier offers her a hand. "Are you okay?"
Reema whacks it away and jumps to her feet, her eyes still wild with panic.
The girl holds her hands up, in an attempt to give her space. "I'm Sam, what's your name?"
"Reema."
She ignores Sam momentarily to take in her surroundings. The two of them stand in a large hallway; one side is painted red and lined with pictures of clouds, the other deep blue and crackling with painted lightning. Several doors line each side, though they’re all shut.
The footsteps behind her make her flinch. Gaza, Eel, and Ember make their way inside, grumbling to themselves.
"You had a lucky escape, Aerus." Gaza chuckles. "Next time you won't be so lucky."
Reema presses herself against a wall, her body trembling. "Leave me alone!"
"Reema!" Sam steps in between her and them. "It's okay, they aren't allowed to hurt you in a safe zone. You're safe."
Gaza lets out a booming laugh. "Aerus won't last long this year if all their chosen are like this one!"
The three of them stomp down the hallway, laughing as they go. They enter through a door on the lightning side and slam it behind them.
***
That’s it for this week, I hope you enjoyed reading! Keep an eye out for the Game of Air and Lightning pre-order! See you next Sunday.
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