The skies were as blue as ever. The sun stood on edge, muffled slightly by the misty clouds. The ocean seas rushed to the sea shore before running back. The ship stood, perched in the water, the glorious salty air tangling with its assortment of sails.
Like a few days ago, the entire population was once again overlooking the bright ship. All of the members of the chosen six stood by the pier as Tarrick relayed information to them. Maya looked around her, breathing the saltiness of the air. The last two days had gone by in a flurry of packing bags and trying to push away the tears. Her neck prickled at the absence of the locket over her neck. First time in five years. She could barely look at it after she'd settled down. All of that companionship and love had been a lie.
She swallowed. Her heart prickled. The reason she'd decided to change. The reason she wanted to torment the supreme leader. The reason she did not take her life. The reason she continued to act better. Just to find out that whole person's love was nothing but a facade.
"I want to say something." The king's voice rung through. He stalked forward, stopping beside Tarrick. He breathed in. He turn to the chosen six, that stood behind Tarrick watching them. He exchanged a glance with Maya. She took in a breath, her shoulders tensed. He turned to the crowd and raised his hands, the signet ring of his royal status being the only difference between him and the rest of the islians.
"As agreed by the I and the council, we have decided Maya will be banished from this isle if she decides to join the chosen six!" Gasps and confused stares passed around. Chatter began to resound among them. Whispers danced and delved into another as the noise increased. Maya heard a couple of laughs to her side and she could feel a couple of pitying stares. Her body shook in anger. Her fingers bit into the skin of her palm. She bit her cheek, strangling the angered tongue waiting to lash out.
He turned back to the chosen six, his hands pointed at Maya. "As such, if you chose to stay and deny this. position, Gunther will be given this position and you will have an isle you can call your home. So, what will you decide to do?" She felt the confusion rage on and on. Isn't this what he'd wanted? Why propose this when he very well knew that at least he wouldn't have her around. Her fists clenched tighter. Going was so much better. She had nothing to return to. Nothing. The hollowness pushed within her.
"I will go." She said loudly, her eyes clinging to the dark wood of the pier.
"As such, by the power vested in me by the Supreme leader, Rhett Renold Issacar. Your merit of belonging to the Western isle has been denounced." The king made a hand movement. Two men came up, one holding something that looked like a quill but with a very sharp end and another holding a rag. Mayas eyed the instruments wearily.
"You may proceed." They both came to her. The one with the quill pulled the sleeve of her undershirt up revealing muscled arms with almost pale scars. She tried to move away but the other grabbed her and bound her with thick twine that she hadn't seen. She watched the other man place the quill like object above her hand barely.
A stillness swept over the crowd, anticipated whispers had died down. Soon its tip crashed down on her arm. Maya's eyes widened. A searing heat shot through her, her body jerked from side to side. She felt her body convulse, her vision swimming out of reach. Her limbs wobbled as the mist thickened. Her mouth frothed with foam, her body barely concealing the reeling of the contact.
Numbness washed over her, her senses flagging the confusion over. Her body twitched suddenly, her senses coming back once again. A loud commotion resounded a little distance away from her. Her eyes took in the haze of colors, grunts and arguments filled her ears. She shook her head, now noting the scent of herbs that lingered around her. She shifted her hands slightly, her arm pulsed with pain. A small yet complex o and t intertwined with each other. She breathed in shakily, the pinkish skin still pulsing from the contact. A sign of the outlanders.
"Your banishment has been reinforced. You are no longer among the islians of Western. You will now live and fend for yourself. The consequences of any decision you make is on you. Despite you representing our isle in this competition, you have no other ties to us. The rest of the shortcomings of being an outlander will manifest." The king said, stilling the crowd once again.
"And since this decision has being made, your relation to my family, to the Clover family of the Western isle has also been denounced. You may pick whatsoever surname you desire. And, knowing this, you are hereby disallowed from stepping foot into this isle. If you do, you violate decree 23 of the islian code of conduct. And punishment will be carried out swiftly. You may leave and may the supreme leader, Rhett Renold Issacar have mercy on you." With that, he turned away. Maya's eyebrows were dropped. She shuddered.
The storm of arguments and whispers grew as the crowd began to part. A few came up to greet the others good bye. Maya looked to the side, her heart burning with so much anger and pain. She felt a hand on her shoulder. She shook it off.
"Maya I- " Alia was cut off when Maya raised her hand. Maybe she knew of this secret for so long. Her body quaked at the anger. So, she'd suffered this long for nothing. At least, she was leaving.
"This-"
"I just w-"
"Goodbye." With that, she carried her single satchel and walked up the ladder. Away from the pain. Away from the terror. Away from the anger. Away from the confusion. Away from her old life.
I want to thank God for giving me the Grace to write this. So, how was the chapter?