"... wherever my eyes go, he is!"
The Missionary from the temple of Anksh shouted in reverie, oblivious to the side glances that followed. His belief burned fervently within him—no matter the cost, he would bring more souls into the fold of Anksh's gaze.
Though his voice rose in joyful clamor, singing verses from the Holy Bible at the top of his lungs, Alicia's patience wore thin.
Who would tolerate such disruption during their peace time?
She had been remarkably calm, almost patient, enduring his incandescent ravings for over an hour. But now, her temper began to simmer. She had never cared for Anksh, after all.
Rising from her chair, she stormed down the stairs, her steps quickening with every second. There would be no more of this.
She flung open the door and stepped into the street, her energy crackling with purpose. But then, something stopped her.
A girl passed by, moving with quiet grace.
Alicia froze, the sudden rush of emotion caught her off guard. With a softer tone, her voice called out,
"Atis!"
---
Grey seemed to have become permanently imprinted upon the air as the chimneys of the factories faraway smoked out toxins. The air was thick with it. Though the intensity of the color might also have been a result of the eclipsing sun but it'd be hard to contradict, seeing people coughing on the side of the walkway. Their faces weary with the everyday struggle.
The trams clattered down the tracks, carrying a few late passengers, hanging on for the last ride of the day.
As the evening crept in, the darkness seemed to deepen earlier than usual, a shadow that hung over the town as the curfew loomed closer. It wasn't an unfamiliar ritual, but a daily one, imposed by the temples for reasons known only to the gods. The murmur of voices swirled through the streets like a constant hum.
Atis disembarked from the horse carriage and began her walk home, taking the long way around the edge of town. Her rented room sat away from the market, beyond the bustle, just far enough to be an escape, though not too far for comfort.
Her footsteps fell in rhythm with the dangling telephone lines overhead, recently strung between wooden poles, their presence a stark reminder of the divide between the city's elite and those left behind.
"Atis!"
She halted mid-step at the sound of the voice. Turning, she saw a girl, slightly older than her rushing towards her with open arms to embrace her.
"Alicia..." Atis murmured, her expression faltering, a crack in her composed exterior. She smiled faintly.
"How are you, sweetheart?" Alicia asked, her tone soft and motherly.
"It's alright. How come you're here? Didn't you go to the Capital?"
"Needed a break from the drama," Alicia replied with a wink.
"And... where's aunty?"
"She's resting inside," Alicia gestured back toward her house. "And what about Markiv?"
Atis stiffened at the question, her face betraying a sudden unease.
"...He's gone."
"Gone? Where?" Alicia frowned.
"..." Atis spoke not.
"What happened, sweety?" Alicia asked, noticing her perturbed self.
Tears welled up in Atis' eyes, her throat choked and words refused to leak.
Alicia's eyes widened in disbelief and her heart tightened. She wrapped her arms around Atis again, gently, as the girl trembled in her embrace.
"Sweetheart, who told you about this?" Alicia asked, her voice steady, though a flash of something dark stirred within her.
"Police..." Atis whispered, her voice barely audible.
"Police..." Alicia's breath caught, her mind racing. She hid her reaction behind a mask of calm, her lips tight. "What did they say?"
"They said... Markiv... Northern Uruk..."
Alicia clenched her fist, but she said nothing for a moment. Northern Uruk. A cursed place. A purgatory. What could escape there apart from news itself?
"Alright, sweetie," Alicia said, her voice soothing. "He's only gone for a short while. Believe in him, alright?"
"But he hasn't come back for so long..." Atis' voice was small, resigned.
Alicia's gaze softened. She knew the impossibility of what Atis had just said. Northern Uruk was a hell on Earth. No one left there.
She clenched her jaw, holding back the storm of emotions threatening to break free.
"Bastard, was that note a lie?" she thought bitterly.
Her smile returned, forced but bright.
"It's okay, sweetie. If he doesn't return, I'll marry you."
"Wha…wha?" Atis blinked in confusion as she swiftly slithered out of her arms.
"Well, your brother asked me to marry him, but then the bastard had to run away after my mother agreed. What do you expect me to do now? Stay single, waiting forever? Not a chance in a thousand years."
Atis stared at her, speechless.
"So, I've decided. I'm going to marry you!" Alicia finished, grinning mischievously.
"Pft..." Atis almost laughed. "What sort of play are you preparing this time, Alicia?"
"Ha... Nothing new, sweetheart, just the same…" Alicia chuckled, but was cut off by Atis.
"Thank you..." Atis murmured, wiping away the last of her tears. Her smile softened, the tension in her shoulders easing ever so slightly.
"For what?" Alicia asked.
"Nothing..." Atis said quietly, though the unspoken gratitude in her eyes was clear.
Alicia's heart lightened. She watched Atis' smile, the first real one in a while, and felt her own burdens ease just a little. She knew what Atis was going through—losing her parents, and now, the only family she had left. The guilt, the grief... it was a weight Atis carried silently.
Looking at Atis' visage that was visibly paler from the last time she had seen her, she spoke -
"Want some cherry tomatoes, Atis? Mother got them afresh from the fields today."
"Nah..." Atis replied, "I still have some leftovers to finish."
"Ah come on, let me bring some for you ..."
As she turned toward her house, something caught her ear—hoofbeats in the distance. Slowly, two figures on horseback came into view.
They were draped in a black robe, that had embroidered on itself, with gold, a symbol of an eye with arms coming out from the sides. Forming, vaguely, an image that somewhat resembled a Sun.
The Inquisitors of Anksh!
Alicia froze, her eyes narrowing.
"I think I should head home," Atis said, her voice quieter.
"Hmm..." Alicia nodded, the sudden tension in her body betraying her calm demeanor. "Be careful. I heard from a friend that the inquisitors are taking people, calling them heretics."
"It's not that bad, is it?" Atis asked, a flicker of uncertainty in her voice.
"I don't know. Just a rumor. A beautiful actress from the theater I work in went missing the same way."
"Really? Then if they ever come to me I'll have to run to my beloved husband," Atis joked, her tone lightening.
"Haha, sure, dear!" Alicia laughed, mimicking a man's voice, earning a genuine smile from Atis.
After a final wave, Atis turned and walked toward her home, her footsteps receding into the distance.
Alicia stood still, watching her go. When Atis was out of sight, her smile faded. She couldn't shake the unpleasant foreboding that was gnawing at her. One of the Inquisitors had looked at Atis in a way that made her stomach twist.
Maybe she was just overthinking it.
She returned to the doorstep and turned to close the door, but noticed.
The missionary—his shouting had ceased.
She peeped outside, hoping he had finally gone, but there he was, still, motionless, his gaze fixed upon something in the distance.
Alicia's heart stilled, a cold chill creeping down her spine. The direction he was looking at…
Her eyes widened as the truth began to sink in. She prayed.
Please, Atis... Please be safe.