Dark Side of the Moon

• Chapter 2 || The Black Sheep •

The Overseer, at a quick glance, looked to be no older than his early twenties, but the man had appeared that way for nearly forty years. He was dressed lavishly in stark contrast to the dirtied mine workers, which made it easy for Kane's eyes to follow along with him as he worked his way along the edge of the crowd. Once he stood before the mine workers at the entrance to the mines, the Overseer turned to address them, sending a wave of whispers permeating throughout the group. The clamor started to grow progressively louder, voices demanding an explanation for the day's events. The Overseer's eyes narrowed, lips curled down in a scowl as he lifted his hand sharply to insist silence. "This isn't a question and answer session," he huffed, glaring at his workers as if they were misbehaving children, "I will tell you what you need to know and only what you need to know— no more, no less."

His words seemed to draw outrage from the more aggressive, but most remained timid and silent. After all, this man held their lives in his hands as their employer. Pau let out a small shocked gasp beside Kane, and Kane felt himself starting to simmer, his own frustration rising as the Overseer cleared his throat to speak again. "Late last night, the mine guard was attacked." Terrified cries broke out amongst those there, and Kane could see the Overseer's jaw tighten, his teeth clench. "The Aulund has been tampered with, so at this time, we don't have much information as we cannot access the mines. To ensure the safety of our workers and to allow for further investigation to be conducted, we will be suspending mine work for the day." With a curt air of finality, the Overseer closed his eyes and bowed his head slightly to the crowd as a dismissal. "That is all. You are free to go."

For a moment, Kane stood dumbstruck as a few people expressed their displeasure at the Overseer's fleeting back while others simply accepted his words and began to disperse. "Is this for real?" Pau's brows drew together as he spoke in a whisper.

Kane pressed his fingers gently against his temple and let out a short puff. "He seemed pretty serious. Guess we have the day off then?"

"If I'd known this was going to happen, I would've slept in." Pau gave him a half-smile in a feeble attempt to lighten the dark mood.

Kane dropped a hand to Pau's shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. "Hopefully we'll be back to work tomorrow..."

"I hope so too." Pau nodded. "Thanks, Kane. I'll see you then." After saying his goodbye, Pau headed away, leaving Kane to stare up at the sun, which had now fully risen above the mountaintops. He stood there silently for awhile, observing the early morning sky as most who had gathered returned to their homes, but it wasn't long before his eyes sought after the crimson stained ground. All that blood— he couldn't even imagine what had happened. Lujein was normally so peaceful. Brutal murders such as this were rare, almost like tales concocted to keep children in their beds at night, but this... this was very much reality. A reality that, as Kane decided, he would very much like to forget. With that resolve, he was determined to go home himself, but a swaying flash of silver, iridescent and twined with a soft blue like that of first light, danced in across his vision and arouse his curiosity. As the silken fabric whipped around the corner of the mining building, Kane caught only a glimpse of long straw-colored hair being blown back by the wind.

Questions filled his head, but the most perplexing to him: What was a woman like that doing here? He hadn't truly gotten a good look at her, but her clothing clearly presented her as an upper class woman, certainly not someone who would be wandering the alleyways around the mine for her own pleasure. Could she have been there as part of the investigation? If that was the case, maybe she would be able to part with some information that would bite back some of irritation at the Overseer's vague explanation. He took care not to be suspicious. He didn't want to frighten the woman, after all. That would just draw attention to his self-righteous prying. But much to his surprise, as he rounded the corner, he came almost nose to nose with that woman, stumbling back and barely managing to catch himself with an outstretched arm as he did. The woman blinked at him, her eyes dazzling and mesmerizing like beads of lapis. Breathtaking blue like no ocean or sky he had ever seen.