Defying Freedom

Rye had always been aware that her burden was much heavier than others'. That had been clear from the lifelong training she had endured under countless teachers, whom her parents had sent her to as soon as they could. These teachers taught her how to fight, how to pickpocket, how to blend in and be invisible. Yet, even though Rye despised the attention without the need to hide, she always managed to find herself at the center of attention, inducing drama. Whether it be her saving a girl from some old creep who had been following her, or battling a group of trouble-making fools choosing to cause a fuss in the market space. Rye knew she had been practically raised to be heartless and cold, but she couldn’t help but yearn to protect those who had no idea of the atrocities that hid just under their noses.

Rye dreaded her upcoming birthday; she was turning 25 in a few hours, and unfortunately, with that came a challenge that would determine the path laid ahead of her. Either she would prove to be the machine this system had built her to be. Or, she would fail their test, showing how weak she truly was, and be terminated as protocol called for.

Her chest burned against the frigid air around her. She had stepped away from her campus that day, needing to be away from the overbearing gaze of the countless trainers and teachers. None of the staff on campus knew of her escapades when she would intermingle amongst civilians, though many of them speculated. She had always been careful to hide the identifying tattoos that were etched down her back and along her arms. Her cloak manages to allow her to hide her long, curly, dark purple hair. The mask hugging her cheeks keeps her face warm from the cool air, while also keeping her anonymous to civilian prying eyes.

Rye had needed this walk, though; it could be her last, after all. In just mere hours, her final act might be that of defiance or that of someone who has long been gone. She had never spoken to anyone outside of campus, even on campus, she would simply mumble words as needed, but would avoid interactions at all costs. When civilians who witnessed her feats when she was on her walks, she would do her best to disappear, while they had all been distracted by attempting to figure out what had occurred to begin with.

Rye gazed up towards the stars, a few of the closer planets clear in the night sky just behind the moons.

Rye knew about the history of this world, how glued to its destructive cycles it had always been. She had snuck into the teachers’ libraries when they would go to sleep. There she would sit for hours, until the morning horns went off declaring breakfast would be ready in fifteen. As soon as she heard the bells, she would scramble to put the books back where they were meant to be and sneak into her room before her caretaker would arrive to wake her. She had learned many things in those forbidden books.

Much of the history led her to feel the hopelessness that had set within her heart. Yet, despite it, she couldn’t help but see the glimpses of beauty when she would step away from campus. Her fists clenched in her cloak as she thought of the true history in comparison to what had been taught to her all her life. She knew this would inspire how she would do at her upcoming challenge.

Somehow, as if the universe had known what she was to face, the night had been dead. Not a misstep had taken place; there was no one for Rye to save. Her final walk was coming to a close, and she felt even more empty as she made her way back to campus. Just as midnight was approaching, she planted her feet on the stone steps as she leaned against the heavy campus doors. She took one final deep breath as she pushed her way through the doorway.

Freedom is found in defiance.