ch 4 - more bodies

Zara woke up the next morning with one thought in mind: she was going to find out why a Ures thought they were better than a Santzan. Her encounter with Kaiden was not far from her thought, and she began to wonder if what he’d said had any truth in it. Releasing a long yawn, she got out of the bed and went to the bathroom. Judging from the silence that welcomed her as she began brushing her teeth, she figured Melina had returned home late last night from the bonfire. After brushing her teeth and taking a quick shower, she decided to get out of the apartment. Maybe spending some time outdoors would do her mind some good. As she began making her way into the woods that covered most of the area around her apartment complex, her thoughts went to last night, to her conversation with Kaiden.

“That annoying Ures. Who does he think he is?” 

She continued to question as she walked past a tall tree. Immediately stopping, she looked up and then shook her head before looking away. What had she been expecting? To see Kaiden? As if he would just up and randomly be in the woods feet away from her apartment. She wondered if people like him even came to this part of town. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't know when she stumbled upon something big and…hard.

She quickly looked down to find the body laying still beneath her feet.  Jumping away, she stood in attack mode, looking around and releasing the small air she could manage right now.

“What -” she paused when she noticed the blood trail just a few feet away from the dead body. Following it, she swallowed, and swallowed again when she noticed the lineup of bodies ahead of her. Raising her forefingers, the leaves ahead of her began to give way as she continued to move along the blood’s path until she got to the end of the trail to find absolutely nothing.

She sighed in frustration and turned around before beginning to run back to the apartment, letting herself think as she did so. Who was responsible for these dead bodies? Should she call the cops now?

When she reached the apartment she shared with Melina, She finally felt like she could catch her breath. Pushing the door open, she was met with a startled Melina in the kitchen.

“Girl, what’s wrong with you?” Melina asked as she came out of the kitchen,  her hair tied in a high bun as she regarded her best friend. She was wiping her hands as she continued to eye Zara whose face spelled contemplation.

“I think we might need to alert the police. I -” Zara swallowed again. “I just saw a bunch of dead bodies out in the woods.”

“What?” Melina asked as she dropped the counter towel she’d been holding before walking with Melina to the living room.

When Zara didn't immediately start calling on her phone, Melina grimaced.

“Won’t you start calling them?”

Zara shook her head and sat down on one of the couches. Looking up at her friend, she answered, “I think we should call the others. Maybe we can figure this thing out before it gets out of hand?”

“Are you serious?” Melina asked, astonished. “It could be the Ures. The sooner we let the cops know, the better for all of us. We won’t have to deal with this mess for too long. There are bigger and far more important things to deal with, you know.”

“What if it’s not the Ures?”

At that moment, Melina slowly sat down next to her friend. “What do you mean? We all know the Ures can be unpredictable at times. They are far too dangerous.”

“I don’t think so,” Zara said, looking up to meet her gaze again. Then she cleared her throat and continued, “I met Kaiden last night after I was done practicing. Well, I sort of ran into him.”

Melina looked uncertain. “So, what happened? Did he try to -” she began raising her friend’s arms and looking around.

“What are you doing, Mel?”

Melina paused. “I’m just making sure he didn’t hurt you.”

Zara pulled her arm and eyed her. “And where is this coming from? Tekena? Come on, you guys need to chill. He wasn't as bad as she said.”

This time, it was Melina who made a face at her. “That’s what you say with everyone. Okay,” she stood up. “What did you two do? What happened last night?”

“We talked, that's all.” Zara said before standing up. “I’ll call the others. We’ll figure this thing out without implicating the Ures.”

Melina just stared at her best friend and shook her head as Zara began making the calls.

~~

Alexander Brinns knew that he wasn’t alone. And even before he got downstairs to see his guest, his senses already quickened. He shook his head, and in one zeptosecond, he was downstairs facing the younger man who looked like he didn't want to be bothered in the first place.

“A memorable entrance, son,” he began as he rounded the living room and sat on the couch. Kaiden was still standing, his face an unfriendly demeanor as he stared at the older version of himself, wishing things had been different.

“You asked to see me, Alex.” he simply stated, not in the mood for his father’s sarcasm this morning.

When Alexander didn't say anything yet, Kaiden continued, “I don't have all day. I have things to do before school tomorrow.” 

Alex cleared his throat. “It wouldn't kill you to go back to referring to me as father, you know.”

“Why am I here?” Kaiden asked, ignoring him.

Alex shook his head and released a sigh before speaking. “The dead bodies -”

“I’m aware,” Kaiden cut him off. If this was why he asked to see him, he might as well have spoken to him over the phone or something. He released a sigh. “I know about the bodies, Alex.”

Alex ignored him and continued. “There were a lot more the day before yesterday. About seven or eight more. We spoke about it at the council meeting yesterday. The cops are suspecting something but they aren't saying anything yet.”

Kaiden sat down then, and Alex followed him with his eyes until his son was meeting his gaze again. “Why not? Don’t they feel their precious city is getting attacked?” Kaiden asked as he continued to stare at his father, hands clasped in front of him as he leaned in.

When Alex saw the look on his son’s face, he quickly added, “I don't think they think it’s us.”

“It’s not normal for the police to be silent about this.” Kaiden argued.

“Yes, but the Santzans apparently have been the ones discovering the dead bodies.”

Kaiden squinted his eyes. “They think the Santzans are responsible?”

“I didn't say that,” Alex defended.

“What are you saying then?” Kaiden asked, a muscle clenched in his jaw as he leaned even closer with every muscle in his shirt threatening to burst through.

“Easy on the tension, son,” Alex warned. But Kaiden stood up instead. “I don't think it’s them.”

“Why are you defending them all of a sudden?” Alex asked as he stood  up too.

“I’m not,” Kaiden answered. Raking his fingers through his hair, he repeated, “I’m not.”

“Well, that's good. Remember they are our enemies, son. I don’t need to remind you about your mother and what -”

“I know that!” Kaiden barked and turned away from his father. Then before  his father could say another word, he had sped to the door.

“And where are you going?”

“Out of here.”

{To be continued…}

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