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This Is Eliziner Lane

Living in a world where peace is an illusion

By Samirra ElsaiehPublished 3 years ago 10 min read
5
This Is Eliziner Lane
Photo by Kevin Kandlbinder on Unsplash

A small beam of sunlight seeps into a dusty room through the broken window as a soft breeze blows a loose wisp of hair across Reine's cheek. She starts to rouse as the air horn sounds in the distance. She begins rubbing her eyes in an attempt to wake up fully as she sits up. Sounds of other Seekers waking up fills the air. Everyone fold up their bed mats and blankets to put away.

Reine picks up her wash bag and stands up. The sounds shift from stuff being tossed in lockers, to quickly shuffling feet as the Seekers begin to make their way to the Wash Room line. Reine's eyes widen then she jumps up and bolts for the door.

"No cold wash for me today!" she thinks to herself.

As she makes it to the door, one guy gets there just before her. Second on line is good. Much better than being 29th like last time. There's 30 Seekers in total.

The Wash Room only has 6 areas to clean up in. Being in the first group to go means you will get the hottest water. But even in the first group, you can't stay that long but it's better than icy cold water. A buzzer sounds and the first 6 Seekers file pass a Goliath Guardian and into the Wash Room. The sounds of squeaky shower knobs echo and pipes clank and then warm water dances on the shower floors. Everyone sighs as the soothing water rushes over them. The first group is done before the buzzer and they head out as 6 more go in. Reine gets to her spot, closes her curtain and get dressed for the day.

Heading down the stairs of the old Brook County hospital still creeps Reine out, but this is her new home now. After the Great Fallout, nothing is the same anymore. But when Reine, her brother Jerem and sister Nini became Seekers, life has gotten much easier.

Nini and Jerem catch up to Reine on the ramp to the Seeker's Lounge where they wait for their assignments. Lounge is an extreme understatement, as paint and plaster crumble from the walls at the slightest touch and rusty nails stick out from every bench and table. Gotta maneuver just right or you'll have a new hole when you leave.

Nini already wrapped her arms around Reine's as Jerem says hi to them in his usual way: a fist bump for Reine and a cheek pinch for Nini. Nini hates it but it makes Reine chuckle a little. Nini rolls her eyes at Jerem as he smirks and walks off to get some grub and find a seat.

"So it's my turn today right?" Nini says, eyes filled with excitement.

"Sure is, lil sis" Reine says. "Please make sure to keep it safe. This is all we have to remember him by."

Nini nods and then looks down a little. "I know sis. And I miss him too. But I think he's still out there. At least I hope so." Her tears start to well up and fall.

Reine gently brushes Nini's tears away with her sleeve, "This locket is what will keep us strong and continue to think about him. Don't cry, Nini. We'll find him soon." Reine reaches into her pocket, opens the clasp of the chain and puts it on Nini's neck. "Remember, keep it safe."

Nini nobs and holds the locket in her hand and examines it as if it is the first time she's ever seen it as she always does. She runs her fingers over it, feeling its delicate details. It is about the size of a half dollar and is heart shaped. It is made of mostly white gold with rose and yellow gold accents. It has three birthstone gems set in three tiny flowers as well. Their father made it for their mother after Nini was born and wanted to include their children in it, hence 3 different golds for their 3 children.

Nini carefully opens the locket to look at her father's picture. "Soon, Father. Soon." she says.

At the sound of the Announcer's loudspeaker feedback, Nini quickly closes the locket, tucks it into her shirt and takes a seat with her group. Assignments are about to be given. Or so she thought.

An average height medium build woman with long blue hair with black streaks and black leather-like jacket, pants and boots enters the room with the busted up loudspeaker. She steps up onto a chair and then up on a table. There are still some murmurs in the room, so she presses a button to cause feedback again and everyone either cringes or covers their ears, but all fall silent this time.

"That's better" she says looking around and then continues, "Seekers of Eliziner Lane, I thank you for returning today. I know it was not an easy choice to do so. Especially after yesterday's fiasco." As the Announcer says this, she and multiple Seekers face palm, sigh or shake their heads.

"However, in following the commands of the Great Leader, I have to ask you all for your assistance again." The Announcer pans across the room and observes the confused looks on all of the seeker's faces.

"Allow me to explain." she says. "The Great Leader would like to create a gift for his 12th wife since she is going to give birth soon." (Nini, Reine and Jerem cringe. Their Mother was forced to be the 12th after their Father didn't return from a seek over a year ago.)

The Announcer goes on, "Bearing this in mind, the Great Leader wants you, our Seekers, to find and/or "donate" any precious metals you can for this gift." When she says the word "donate", she used an air quote, so everyone knows it's not voluntary. However her next sentence caused Jerem, Reine and Nini's hearts to stop for a sec.

As two Goliath Guardians walk up to either side of the table the Announcer is standing on, her air quotes ready, she grins on the left side of her lips and says,

"We will be "inspecting" the Seeker's Resting Quarters to retrieve "donations" starting today in Section 3. Sections 1 & 2 will go out to find more supplies and possible gift materials."

Jerem and Reine shoot a look at Nini who's eyes are wider than two coffee mugs. She is in Section 3. She... has.... the... locket! Before Reine or Jerem could get over to Nini, the Goliath Guards usher the Section 3 seekers towards their Quarters. Jerem and Reine watch helplessly as Nini turns her frightened face away and disappears around the corner.

"What do we do now?" Reine asks Jerem without breaking her gaze at the corridor. Tears of sadness and fear stream down her face.

"Trust her." Jerem says. "She's smarter than you give her credit for, sis. She's gonna keep her promise."

Reine looks ad her brother, nods her head and wipes the tears away. "Let's go then." she says. Jerem nods back and they head to the Equipment Bay to suit up.

When Jerem finishes putting his gear on, he waits for Reine, puts his arm around her and says, "Let's go sis. Everything will be ok." Reine nods and they both head out into the sandblasted, dusty landscape that is Eliziner Lane.

Meanwhile back in the Seeker's Quarters, Nini is literally biting her fingernails trying to figure out how to keep their Father's memory safe. Being number 18 out of 20 in the group gives her plenty of time to think. She has to be careful, because although the Seekers work together and usually get along, they won't hesitate to snitch if it is to their benefit.

Nini looks around and starts rubbing her temples to help her concentrate. She takes her shoes off and wiggles her toes around. And then she remembers something. There is as little space behind her locker that is perfect for hiding stuff. She pushes the locker corner forward a little, finds the "sweet" spot, puts her treasure inside then fixes the locker before the Announcer and Goliath Guardians get too close. Nini didn't even notice that she had a pair of eyes watching her every move 2 beds ahead of her.

Finally, they reach her bed and Nini stands up out of respect. She winces a little as she put her shoes back on. Her right heel is a little sore.

"What's wrong little one?" the Announcer asks.

"Nothing, Ma'am." says Nini. and she looks down to the floor.

"Well," Announcer says, as she raises Nini's face to hers with one finger under her chin, "Your 'friend' in spot 16 says you have a secret stash that I would be very interested to see." Again with the air quotes and left side grin.

Nini shoots a dagger glare at the snake in spot 16, Ahkalah. Her glare was met with a shocked look from Ahkalah, as she wasn't expecting to be exposed. She sat on the edge of her sleep mat and put her head in her hands. Too late for regrets now.

The Announcer rolls her eyes and sighs, "Oh enough with the emotion already. Goji! Gio! Move the locker.... NOW!"

They move the locker as the other seekers look on. None of them know about Nini's treasure except her sister and brother. Now everyone will.

The Announcer sees a funny dent in the wall and something shiny. "Oh! What a clever place to hide something!" she says. As she goes to take it out, the other seekers, including Ahkalah the Snake are peering over trying to see what it is. The Announcer lets a gasp of exasperation.

"Aluminum foil?!" she shriek's. "This is crap! what a waste of time. On to the next!"

Goji and Gio put the locker back as Announcer walks towards spot 19 but then she stops, does an about face and goes back to bed 16. She leans down to Ahkalah who still has her head down and says, " I want to check behind your locker too." Half grin again.

Ahkalah jumps up in an attempt to protest, but it was too late. Goji and Gio had already moved her locker and a pouch fell down with a thud, spilling everywhere. The announcer's eyes gleamed as she saw all of the gold, silver and coins.

Gio picks it all up. Then in her most sarcastic voice, the Announcer turns to the snake and says, "This will certainly do! Thank you for your contribution number 16!" She then turns to the other seekers that weren't searched yet and says, "This is your lucky day, huh? Toodles!" She and the guardians leaves, as Spot 16 quietly sobs. No one even comforted her.

Nini heads back down to the Seekers Lounge to wait for her siblings return. She falls asleep in the corner where the furniture has the least rusty nails sticking out, only to be awakened 3 hours later to the gentle forehead kiss from Reine. Both Reine and Jerem look at Nini thinking "Well, what happened?!" Nini yawned and said, "I'll tell you all about it later. I'm gonna go back to sleep." She takes she shoes off and says, "Can one of you take my shoes back upstairs? I don't feel like putting them back on."

"EWW! No!" Reine says and was about to throw them at Nini until Jerem grabs her arm. "Let go, Jerem!" she yells.

Jerem says, "Look inside them!" with a chuckle. Holding her nose, Reine looks inside Nini's shoes only to see the shape of the locket under the sole of her right shoe. She looks at Nini, gives her a big hug and whispers, "You kept it safe."

"I told you I would." Nini whispers and squeezes Reine back.

"OK, enough with the mushy stuff. I'm going to bed" Jerem says.

They all laugh and head up to get rested for the next day.

Short Story
5

About the Creator

Samirra Elsaieh

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