Arialas by Brian Duvall (good books for high schoolers .TXT) 📕

"That's wonderful. Though I'd expect no less from such a talented young lady."

"Anyways.. I better be off before mother starts to wonder where i am. See 'ya Freddy!" She ran off giggling as Frederick waved. A frown fell upon his face. She was so innocent and naive, as were all the residents of Airalas. 

"What a shame..." He spoke softly, "It'll all fall tomorrow..." He sighed and sat down. The ground shook and the sounds of screams traveled through the air. Frederick closed his eyes as he felt the air rushing through his hair. The city began to crash towards the Earth below. It was the Day of Returning.

 Her eyes glew a bright blue as she tried to maintain the protective field around herself. Rosalyn grit her teeth. She looked around as the buildings crumbled, the city's citizens screaming in fear and agony. What happened? Terrorists? She had heard of such monsterous people in her history lesson, before their world below became a wasteland. The Earth. They weren't rising into the Black, but rather falling! She let out a pleading scream. The surface of Earth was a land of fire and death, or at least that's what the teachers told everyone. This was the accepted fact, the reason Arialas existed.

Maxwell gripped onto the railing for dear life. With a free hand he dug around his work bag, "I have one somewhere..." He grunted as he pulled out a silver liquid. He quickly popped the top and consumed the liquid within. His skin turned to a gleaming metal. Maxwell, who was now a statue of iron, fell across the ground. His pathway interrupted by Rosalyn's barrier.

"Maxwell!" She shouted, seeing the metalic body, "Oh you clever boy!" She turned her head as she saw Frederick suspended in the air by a heli-pack. His gaze met hers and his made his way to her.

"Ah, you two are alive!" He smiled, "Good to see some of the youth will see what they took us from."

Rosalyn looked puzzled, "What? You knew about this?!" She shouted.

"Why of course my dear.." He smirked, "I caused it. Let the Day of Returning commence!" He announced as he flew off into the sky, letting the rubble of the copper city fall to the ground.

Rosalyn jerked awake. The old bed creaked under her movement. Sweat dotted her face. Maxwell rose slowly, awoken by her movement, "Another nightmare?" He inquired.

Rosalyn nodded, "I was dreaming of the Day." She sighed, "I still can't see why he would this..."

Maxwell sighed, "Frederick was a madman. Now get ready, we have to make it to Crane by sunset." He stood up and went to prepare himself for the journey.

Rosalyn sighed and made her way to the bathroom. She looked at her face in the cracked mirror, "It's hard to believe it was only a few weeks ago.." She muttered as she put her long hair into a braid. She ran the cold water into her hands and washed her face.

When she walked outside, Maxwell was preparing the Riders. The barren dirt around their dwelling spotted no greenery. Rosalyn set her pack on the back of her Rider and strapped it on tight, "How many people can get hurt in a single town?" She sighed as she got onto the leather seat.

"Doctors are rare 'round these days. I'm just glad I can be of service to some people." Maxwell got on his and lowered his goggles.

"I have some trade to do anyways..." Rosalyn lowered her mask, which expanded in a sound of clicks and covered her entire face, "Race you there." She darted off, shooting loose dirt into the sky. Maxwell chuckled and zoomed after her.

They Riders jerked as they transitioned from dirt to sand. The deserted land, nicknamed No Man, was once a towering city known as Las Vegas. Rosalyn had read a few books on the Life Before. Ruthless conflicts over land and beliefs, known as wars, forced the Earth to become unfit for their society. She never fully understood why they would say such things when the Earth, as she saw for herself, was full of fertile soil and fresh water. Rosalyn looked up and saw the sun centered above them, noon. She throttled the engine and shot off, beckoning for Maxwell to follow her.

By five they reached the Wall. The Wall surrounded a section of the land that used to be known as California. There was a single gate that towered into the sky. Rosalyn and Maxwell came to a hault as they approached the opening, "We need to hurry and get past, Crane is a good hour's ride away." Maxwell said as he stepped off his bike. Two men in skin-tight tactical attire stood by the scanner.

"Why if it isn't the Ol' Doc'." One chuckled, "You know the fee to use the scanner." 

"And when did you vagabonds acomplish official business?" Maxwell looked at the two, "I'm sure the Crown would love to hear about this."

The two men looked at each other, "You little piece of-" The gaurd was cut off by Rosalyn.

"Are all men this utterly useless?" She smirked and held two curved blades, one in each hand. The weapons were attached by a long silver chain.

"Who the Hell do you-" One of the gaurds was stopped by his partner.

"Aye, that's the girl. The one with the eyes." They looked at each other and nodded in a silent agreement. They stepped aside as Rosalyn waved her ID over the scanner. The large doors opened up, "Coming Maxwell?" She said as she hopped on her bike. The two sped off, leaving the gaurds in a trail of dust.

As they road through, they saw settlements. The various housings had various people. They all shared one quality. Hardship. Children starving, people coughing their blood, structures falling. Crime was sewn within every aspect of the new life established by the survivors. Gangs of vagabonds attacked travellers and raided settlements. The government that was set up was weak at best. The Crown was composed of those who acted swiftly and formualted their wealth. They built off the pain of the citizens.

Rosalyn's thoughts were cut off as they arrived in Crane. The town had earned its name from the large crane that rested in the center. Maxwell stepped off his bike and parked it. Rosalyn followed and lifted her mask, "You head to the clinic, I'll find us a place to stay." Maxwell nodded and grabbed his bag, running off into the town.

Rosalyn slammed her fist on the counter, "Five-hundred Caps for a damned night?! This is highway robbery!" She shouted, "Without me being here, you wouldn't have the damn high horse you sit upon!"

The man at the desk groaned, "Ma'am, five-hundred is the price. Take it or leave it."

"I'll show you take it.." She smirked as her eyes filled with a midnight blue. Maxwell ran in, "Rosalyn!" He grabbed her by the arm.

 She groaned as her eyes returned to normal. Maxwell looked at the man at the desk, "We'll take the room, kind sir." Maxwell placed a pouch on the counter and the man nodded.

Rosalyn collapsed onto the matress, the springs creaking under her weight. A small oil lamp emitted a faint golden glow around the gloomy room. Thin sheets of metal connected by bolts and small support beams seperated the indivisual hotel rooms. Flies buzzed around, barely breaching the bustling sounds of people hard at work. Maxwell emptied his pockets onto the small end table, "You need a job, Rosie.." He spoke softly.

The two had had multiple arguements on the subject, "What the Hell can I do?! Do you want me to go out and sleep with the pigs in the Crown? Arcane arts aren't exactly welcomed talents!" She groaned and sat up on the bed.

"You could be a scavanger. You know how to hold your own in a fight." He sat down and sighed.

Rosalyn looked at him with a face of misbelief, "You're suggesting I go out there?!"

"I don't like it anymore than you do, but we need the money! And scavangers are given free housing." He looked at her with a soft gaze.

"Whatever, I'm going to bed." She groaned and let her body fall into the bed. She closed her eyes and let sleep overcome her body.

"Frederick, why?!" Rosalyn slammed her fists on the blue orb that contained her. The burning city fell around her as Frederick smiled at his handy work. She saw the burning bodies, hear the screams of agony, smelt the ignited oil. Frederick was replaced with a creature of red skin and a forked tail. Long and leathery wings stretched out of its back. The creature let out a wicked laugh and charged at Rosalyn.

She quickly sat up, sweat covering her forehead. The covers were tossed off the bed and onto the ground, Maxwell slept peacefully in the bed parellel to hers. She looked at the clock and squinted in the faint light. Four-thirty. She stood up and shivered as her bare feet touched the metalic floor.

Rosalyn walked to the bathroom and brushed out her hair. She grabbed a rubberband and put her hair up into a ponytail. Maxwell leaned against the wall, "You look more mature." He spoke and she turned around with a jerk.

"Damn you, you almost gave me a heart attack!" She rushed across the room, trying to hide her crimson cheeks.

 "That's athetlic wear... you're joing up aren't you?" Maxwell looked at her tight clothing with multiple pockets and velcro straps.

"Yeah... I'm joining up with a group of nomadic merchants... You'll be ok, right?" She looked at her with soft eyes.

"I'll be just fine, you be safe. I'm sure we'll run into each other again anyways." He rested a warm and welcome hand on her shoulder, "You're growing up too fast, and I'm sorry about that.. but you're doing good. Now hurry off, nomads leave early." She smiled and hugged Maxwell, before running off outside.

Maxwell smiled and returned to his bed, letting a peaceful slumber replace his consciousness.

Rosalyn ran up to the group of men and women in dark clothing, "Sorry I took longer than expected." She was panting from running.

"Ah, if it ain't our own Mover!" One of the men smirked and raised a jar of a shimmering clear liquid, "Welcome!" The men and women whooped and hollered. Rosalyn smiled uneasily.

"Maxwell, we need a sedative ASAP!" One of the nurses shouted. Maxwell rushed and handed her a needle with a green liquid inside. The clinic stunk of blood and sweat. Maxwell wore a red-stained white gown. The latex gloves that covered his hands were just as bloody. The scene was horrific. Bodies of injured and helpless flesh whailing in pain. Diseases spreading like a wildfire. Blood covering every inch of the small tent. Supplies were wearing thin, any sedatives were being saved for life-or-death situations. 

Maxwell slammed his palms onto a table, "I need assistance, now!" He shouted at whoever was around to listen. Screaming patients were rushed in one by one. Bullet wounds, stab wounds, cuts, infections, fever. This is what life was now. Arialas had fallen, utopia destroyed. Poverty and death were the foundations of this new society. A dictatorship that did nothing but sap its