The steel tentacles loaded me into my unit, likely for the last time. I suddenly felt claustrophobic. As soon my machine hummed to life, I took control and made my way to the Tower's soaring inner chamber, taking my place among the other stilt striders.
I had one more task to finish before the mutiny commenced. Each stilt strider had an untethered connection to the Obsidian Tower's data well, allowing them to track and target any Thrall suspected or previously convicted of committing crimes against the Privus. After tapping into the well, I skipped my mind across the sea of information until Daun's face flashed in front of my eyes. Knowing my time was limited, I copied her records into my stilt strider's repository, including everywhere she had traveled since being captured as well as her last confirmed location.
Not satisfied, I scanned the archived security footage, praying Daun was still alive. My heart jumped when I found her. She was living in a palatial white tower within The Walled City, attending to a lanky woman confined to a bed.
I had what I needed. I knew how to find Daun, but she might as well had been on the moon.
YOU ARE READING
The Ashen Wrath (Watty's SHORTLIST recipient 2018) CHAPTERED VERSION
Science FictionA science fiction novella in 76 chapters. (CHAPTERED VERSION FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE) The Privus live a life of safety and luxury in The Walled City, while the Thrall are forced to labor in isolated fields and factories. Menacing machines keep the work...
