When Everly had told him to stop, Obsidian had been alarmed but he would only ever do what Everly wanted. Then when he'd looked at her after, her face had been half shock and half disgust. It had wounded him. "Everly?" What's wrong? What did I do?

She turned away from him, burying her face in her hands. He hesitated to reach out to her. A light sob quivered her body.

Obsidian clenched his fists closed. Looking around their cell he realized it had grown quite dark outside. A small lamp on the desk across from their cell provided the only light left. He got out of the bed and strode to the opposite wall, sitting down against it. "It's late, we should rest. You can have the bed. I'll leave you alone," he promised, but the words broke his heart.

Everly looked up from behind her hands, her eyes a glowing ring of red. "What – no – I – Okay," she stuttered, her voice thick with tears. She obediently laid down in the bed, facing away from Obsidian, and curled into a ball.

For a moment, he watched her sleep. He studied the curve of her body as she lay on her side, the deep dip of her waist before it met her hips. Her hair had fallen away from her neck, and he could see the skin where he had kissed her. He swallowed. To have had her in his arms had been a thousand times better than his dream before. He burned with the memory. But now she was disgusted with him. It crushed him to remember the look on her face as she pulled away from him. He cursed himself for taking such liberties with her that she would pity him enough to kiss him when she obviously hadn't wanted to. Why did I grab at her so hungrily? I was a fool. Of course she's disgusted with me. I'm an animal, Obsidian thought, angry and embarrassed. He curled into a ball on the cold floor and begged himself to stop thinking about her. She doesn't want you, he scolded himself.

He suddenly found himself thinking of Fushcia. The way he practically ran from her. Did she feel this way about me? Did she know I didn't want her? He wondered. I was so cruel to her. It wasn't her fault the Regent assigned us together. None of his memories of her were especially fond, but she had never been uncouth in any manner. It was true that there was no way Obsidian could ever be with her, but he wished for her to find happiness, if the Regent allowed.

The Regent, he thought bitterly.

Of the many things Obsidian had discovered in the Outlands, the fact that the Regent was a liar was the biggest among them. People lived in the Outlands. He could live in the Outlands. He would take care of Everly in the Outlands, even if she didn't want him. He would make sure she would find happiness and everything she ever needed, even if it was with someone else.

The night bore on, and he finally fell asleep despite his mind contemplating all the ways he would be free and the one thing he couldn't have.

–

A sharp metal rattling woke Obsidian.

"Mornin'," the greeting came from a short woman with dark skin and black and white hair. Obsidian had never seen anyone who looked as old as her and he wondered how old she was exactly. She shook a ring of keys as she entered and tossed them onto the desk nearby.

"Good mornin'," Everly answered through a mouthful of food.

Obsidian had entirely forgotten about the food given to them the night prior. He had been too preoccupied. His stomach grumbled loudly as he pulled himself up to sit closer to the basket of food.

"Oh, look," the woman eyed Obsidian, "your boyfriend's awake."

Everly gasped and choked on the food as she swallowed quick and hard, "He's not my boyfriend."

Obsidian had never heard the term before. He reached for a portion of bread and slowly picked at it as the two women glanced at him. A boy who is a friend? No, surely, we are at least friends. But maybe that is why I am not a boyfriend? Maybe she is too disgusted with me? His mind raced for answers as he considered the context and tone of the woman's statement. Maybe it's an old coupling expression for love, like husband and wife? He thought hopefully. Obsidian had read about wives and love in some of the books in his collection. Many of them mentioned kissing and lying with a wife. He had done both with Everly. Laid to sleep in the forest twice and even kissed her. Would she not be considered my wife now? The thought only made him feel shame again. She doesn't want me. I am nothing to her.

"Whoever he is, the town wants to meet him. They know he's from the city and they want answers. There's gonna be a meetin' here in a bit. I've arranged for my grandson, Kai, to take you over to my place to get cleaned up and get a change of clothes," she explained. "Ain't nobody gonna bother you with him by your side. Mind you, he's the town's sharpest shot if you try to run," she looked pointedly at Obsidian.

The thought hadn't crossed his mind to run. He wasn't sure what questions they had about the city, but he had no qualms in answering them.

The memory of his father's trial flashed quickly through his mind, and he placed the bread he had been eating back down in the basket, suddenly losing his appetite.

"Mornin', Nan," the young man Obsidian had seen in the woods before everything had gone black, greeted the woman as he came through the door. His clothes were more casual than what he'd worn to blend into the forest. Something else about him seemed different to Obsidian too. He seemed cheerful, certainly less feral, and much more groomed. The man glanced over at Everly where she sat on the bed hungrily devouring another piece of bread with a smile. His face lit up with a mirrored smile that he tried to hide as he gave his attention back to the woman he called Nan. "I'm all ready to take them over to the house. Paul's outside though and he is not happy."

The woman let out a sigh and rolled her eyes, "I'll distract him. You just get these kids over to the house and help them get cleaned up." She grabbed the keys on the desk and handed them over to him before leaving the room.

The man nodded and proceeded to unlock the cell door. "You can bring the basket if you're still hungry," he offered Everly. "I've got more at the house too."

Everly blushed as she scooped up the basket to follow him out of the cell, "Thank you, Kai. It's Kai, right?"

Obsidian felt his heart sink as he watched Everly smile softly. He stood up quickly to go after her.

The man smiled more broadly with a look of surprise, "Yeah. And you're Everly? That's what my Nan said."

She nodded.

"It's a beautiful name," he opened a door in the back of the room that Obsidian hadn't noticed before.

Everly smiled again as Kai held the door open for her, "Thank you."

Obsidian found his heart had begun to race and it felt like fire was bubbling through his veins. He swallowed hard as they all continued out the door into a narrow path between buildings. They came to the end where it let out into the open and Kai turned back to stop them, placing a finger over his lips.

"I don't give a damn if there ain't enough commodities for the prisoners, Nanette, you can't be lettin' 'em out to run amuck in town." Obsidian could hear the loud growling of a man arguing.

"They ain't running amuck, Paul," the voice of the woman Obsidian had just met argued back. "They're just gonna get cleaned up. Who knows what they've been through out there in the woods. That boy was covered in blood. I doubt you did that to him. Plus, they're both absolutely filthy and starved half to death. Just give 'em a minute and they'll be right back here for the meeting."

Kai motioned for them to follow him around the corner of an adjacent building and the argument faded into the distance. They continued to snake around corners and through narrow paths until they came to a small building with a thriving garden of vegetation Obsidian had never seen before. He had spent some time in the horticulture labs but had avoided it entirely once Fuchsia had been assigned as a nutrient specialist.

Smoke billowed down from the roof and wafted the thick smell of carbon-coated wood through the air. Kai opened the door and offered them entry into the warm building. It was vastly different from the cell they'd spent the night in. The interior was simple and cozy. A small table and set of chairs sat next to a kitchen that consisted of a wood-burning stove and pantry shelves that doubled as a cupboard for the dishes. A space further inside held a set of cozier-looking seats covered in animal pelts and woven blankets.

"I started a bath for you. This way," he motioned Everly to follow him to an open door. Obsidian watched as Kai led her to a room with a large metal tub. Steam rose from the water inside it. "There's a change of clothes in there too." Kai took the basket of food Everly had been clutching tightly to herself. He leaned against the door frame, "I'll be right outside if you need anything."

Everly hesitated, "Thank you." She stepped inside and closed the door behind her, leaving Obsidian alone with Kai.

They exchanged narrow glances as Kai walked back into the kitchen and placed the food basket on the table. "There isn't time for the both of you to get a bath in," he said, tossing Obsidian a clean washcloth. "There's a wash-bin outside. The water's cold but it'll wake you up," he smiled.

"You're not worried I'll run?" Obsidian asked.

Kai straightened his back, standing taller and crossing his arms over his chest, "Not in the least bit," and gestured to the door. "I'll let Everly know you've gone back to your precious city."

The heat in Obsidian's veins had returned and he flared his nostrils, "I would never leave her."

Kai scoffed. "We'll see about that, city boy," he said, rolling his eyes.

Obsidian clenched his fists, taking a step toward Kai.

"Oh, you're a brave one," Kai laughed, stepping closer to Obsidian as well. "Do you honestly think you could take me on in a fight?"

A fight? Obsidian thought. He had read about fighting but never experienced its savagery. Kai made him feel like fighting. He made him feel hate that boiled behind his eyes, threatening to blind him with its red glow.

"Excuse me," Everly called from down the hall.

Both boys snapped their immediate and full attention to her.

Obsidian saw that she was still dressed and dry.

"I was about to get in the bath, but then I realized I didn't see a towel. Is there one I could use?" She asked Kai.

"Of course," he smirked with a sideways glance at Obsidian.

She doesn't want me anyway. . The water in it was as cold as freshly melted ice. He plunged the washcloth in and began aggressively rubbing at his hands and face. As he dumped the cool water over his hair, the burning hate he had for Kai began to lessen and turn into something else.

She doesn't want me anyway. Maybe I should just go back to the city. Maybe Kai will make her happy? I just want her to be happy. He had stopped scrubbing and clung to the sides of the wash-bin with bone-white knuckles. A sick pit weighing in his stomach. The water inside had gone placid, reflecting back the image of his pained expression. He watched as water dripped from his hair, down his face and into the basin, distorting the image with tiny ripples. No, I can't let her go so easily. It has to mean something that I was the one that found her in the woods. I'm meant to help her. "Gah!" Obsidian kicked at a nearby ball-shaped vegetable on the ground, sending it flying across the garden, and rubbed at his face. It felt selfish to want to stay by her side when she'd made it clear he had disgusted her but leaving her was not an option he could bear.

"What my lettuce ever do to you?"

Obsidian ducked his head abashedly, "Sorry," and turned to find the woman called Nan, or Nanette, glaring at him with her hands on her hips.

She tossed him a dry towel and raised an eyebrow, "Kai make you wash up out here?"

He immediately understood what she meant and cursed at Kai under his breath. "Yep," he answered through gritted teeth.

"Well, come on in. I'll get you a warm bowl if you need to finish up. I got a change of clothes for you, too."

Obsidian followed her inside.

Kai sat at the kitchen table next to the stove that continued to burn with heat. "Oh, Nan, you ruin all my fun," he sarcastically lamented.

She rolled her eyes, hiding a small smile as she ushered Obsidian into a bedroom. "The wash basin is on the dresser. Change of clothes is on the bed. I've got a few questions of my own before we head back to the meeting, so if you could hurry it up. Thanks, hun," she quickly shut herself out of the room.

He rubbed the dry towel through his hair and walked over to the warm bowl of water, testing it with a fingertip. It was substantially warmer than the water outside. The difference thawed him and made his tense shoulders relax their stiffness. He was still covered in aches and pains all over between the crash and all the walking through the woods. The head trauma certainly hadn't helped any. Obsidian rubbed his face again. He had never realized his body could ache so much.

The warm water had done as much as it could, and he slowly changed his clothes with sore fingers that stumbled over buttons. The clothing that was left for him was newer than he had been used to in the city. Most of his own clothes had been frayed with time. Clothing was only to be recycled when it no longer functioned. These new clothes fit him better than he was accustomed to as well. He pulled on the simple jeans and a buttoned up black shirt. When he finished changing, he took a quiet moment to himself before he would have to no doubt be interrogated. Besides, he had never seen a true bed in person. A few of the books in his collection had illustrations that depicted beds. Seven small ones or ten stacked all up on top of each other. He found it very amusing. The PODs were all he had ever known of a bed. They were soft as far as he had read beds to be, but they enclosed you in glass at night. They moderated the temperature, so blankets weren't needed. You simply got in and went to sleep.

The last few nights had been a new experience for Obsidian. He'd fallen asleep to sights and sounds and a world all around him. He had felt that sense of freedom he longed for. He sat on the bed and patted its dense material, running his hands over the blankets to feel their softness. So strange and amazing, he delighted. He imagined himself wrapping himself up in the warmth of the blankets and nestling into the cushioned mattress. The soft figure of Everly sleeping soundly beside him. Obsidian sighed heavily and stood up, eyeing the mattress one last time before leaving the room.

Nan and Kai sat at the kitchen table. Both looked up at him as he entered the room.

"It looks like Kai's clothes fit you quite nicely," Nan commented. "Now, why don't you take a seat, and we can talk," she offered the seat next to her.

Obsidian complied and sat down.

"My name's Nanette. Yours?"

"Obsidian."

"Now that we're acquainted ourselves, where abouts are you from, Obsidian?" Nanette began her questioning.

"The city of Gemini," Obsidian answered.

"And how did you find the girl?"

He hesitated, unsure of how much he should tell them. He would have to leave out the creature in the woods. There was no way anyone would believe him. "I was in an accident and crashed out in the woods. I was on my way back to the city when I found her in cryostasis, still in a POD. I waited for it to release her. She was suffering from shock and hypothermia at first, but she managed to pull through. I was going to take her back to the city for further assessment," he lied. At the time he hadn't been sure what he was going to do. He was just blindly travelling into the depths of the forest with her, completely unprepared and naively hoping for a miracle.

Kai had been sitting quietly until then but suddenly scoffed, "Thank God I was there to stop you."

The boiling hatred returned to Obsidian. "If I hadn't been there, she might be dead," he seethed.

"Boys, stop," Nanette commanded. "Kai, it is a miracle that this boy was there when she woke up. He's right, she could very well have ended up dead if he hadn't been there."

Kai rolled his eyes, "He was walking them straight to a mountain beast den. If me and Paul hadn't gotten there when we did, they'd both be dead."

"I said stop, Kai! There ain't no reason to argue 'bout it now," she shouted.

He stood abruptly, forcing his chair to screech loudly across the floor, and stormed outside.

The pit in Obsidian's stomach grew heavier. He didn't know what a mountain beast was, but he would've never forgiven himself if harm had come to Everly. During the time they spent travelling through the woods, he had forgotten about every murderous creature the Regent had taught him resided in the Outlands. Being with Everly made him forget a lot of things.

Nanette sighed, "He's just tense from all this craziness." She looked thoughtfully at the door where Kai had exited. "I'll be honest with ya," she said, returning her attention back to Obsidian, "I ain't ever seen someone from the city alive before. And never have I seen someone as young as you come outta there."

Obsidian's eyebrows furrowed, "What do you mean?"

Her smile was a sad and gentle one, "You ain't ever notice how the folk in the city don't look as wrinkled as me?" She lightly chuckled.

He shook his head. It wasn't something he had thought about until he'd met her. And he'd thought she was some oddity.

Nanette's smile faded as her face turned serious, "The Regent's been getting rid of the ill and old for as long as the cities have stood. Dumps 'em right outside and waits for the beasties out here to get rid of the bodies. One reason our spies keep their distance from your ivory towers. Too many beasts patrol it waiting for their next meal."

Obsidian's vision waned; the room spun around him. "What? No," he sputtered.

"I'm sorry, son," she placed a hand on Obsidian's shoulder.

He buried his face in his hands. Part of him had always wondered why there were no grandparents in the city. He had read about them. Something in his head had told him it was simply a thing of the past, that it was an old phrase from Earth. He had never thought of it beyond that. But his mother and father had mothers and fathers of their own that he had never known. Had the Regent told them of their passing in the same way he had been told of his own father's passing? Did the Regent lie about my father's passing? Was he simply tossed outside and fed to the beasts?

He stumbled from his chair and ran outside, falling to his hands and knees as his stomach turned out everything he had consumed recently. His body shook with each endless heave until finally there was nothing left. Beads of sweat dripped down his face and neck, they mixed with the tears that spilled down his cheeks. He shouted and cursed, punching his fist hard into the ground. As sick as he felt, his anger at the Regent was greater.

More lies, he thought, disgusted. I can never go back. He thought of his mother, now all alone in the city. Someday she would grow old, and the Regent would dispose of her. No, I must go back. I must stop the Regent.

Obsidian rose to his feet, and staggered over to the ice-cold basin, plunging his hands in. The cool water soothed his knuckle where he'd just split it open on a rock hidden in the ground. He shook the water from his hands and wiped his face and neck, riding himself of the any sign of being sick.

I will go back, and I will kill the Regent.