Storm Clouds

By Ari Beck

Author’s Note: This is a spinoff of my fantasy short story “Raindrops” featured in a previous Mosaic issue.

I grin as I think to myself, I’m glad I’m a fast runner.

Those Night Watchers must have been ancient for how easily I leave them in the dust. The people of the Scarlet Order may just see me as a common thief, but I only steal what they stole from us first—which… is everything.

They took everything from all of us. They stole from my clan, the Dustwalkers, but they also stole from the Homeliners, from the Plainbloods, from the Ashfolk, and from (the most desperate of all) the Lowlings.

As a Dustwalker, it’s my job to collect and house the Dreamroot dust. This dust gives people the power to have dreams about the future. The dust used to be only for the Seers, because they were the only ones who could interpret the dreams. But now, the Night Watchers steal it all for the Scarlet Order, who abuse the power of the dust for their own advantage.

If the dust is misused, it can begin to drive people mad, haunting them with unknown messages. But others use it as a form of escapism. As soon as the midnight blue powder is harvested, the Night Watchers are there to snatch it up. They are always patrolling my village, Crackstone. They walk up and down the streets day a night making sure we listen to their patronizing rules.

Occasionally, I steal back some dust for Old Man Melgor, who is the last seer left in Crackstone. And while I’m at it, I try to steal some food for the hungry children in the village. Since we can no longer sell the dust, Crackstone has become almost penniless, and many people can barely afford to put food on the table. But, I must confess, we are still better off than the Lowlings.

The selfish Night Watchers have more food than they know what to do with—which is why I steal it—which is why they are chasing me now. The smile vanishes from my face as I screech to a halt. There are almost 50 Night Watchers running straight towards me. Quickly, I turn and run down the alleyway on my left.

I’ve been chased after by Night Watchers before, but not this many. I guess I’ve stolen from them one too many times. I run down the cobblestone alleyway with my hair flying behind me. I keep sprinting until I see a Night Watcher in front of me.

“I got you now boy!” He snarls, drawing out his hand-crafted silver sword.

I draw out my bronze dagger. The broad Night Watcher scoffs. He thought this was going to be an easy fight. I grip my dagger and run at him. He swings at me, and I swiftly slide under his legs. Before he processes what just happened, I dig my weapon into his shoulder. He yelps in pain and drops his sword. As quick as a flash, I grab the tool and keep running.

This is the first time I’ve ever physically harmed a Night Watcher. Harming them is a crime, and the penalty is death. I pull my black hood over my head and keep running. I need to get out of here. It is the only way I am going to save my head. I can hear the pounding feat of the Night Watchers behind me. I push myself to run as fast as I can. I need to escape—at least for a little while.

I can see the end of the alleyway. I just need to disappear into the trees. I am almost out—until two Night Watchers cut me off. With fifty more behind me, I can’t stop, but I have an idea. I pick up my pace a little more. The two guards run towards me. I angle my body slightly so I run towards the wall. Using the brick wall as a mount for my foot, I flip over the two watchers. Immediately following my landing, I run into the trees.

I run for a long time. I am tired, but I need to confuse the Night Watchers. I stop for a second. I can hear their voices in the distance. I climb up the tall tree next to me—high enough so I can see the stupid guards without them seeing me. Their once quiet footsteps turn to thunder as they get closer. I can see them under me trying to find what direction I went.

Then, a thunderclap. Rain starts pouring down as storm clouds cover the once bright sky. The Night Watchers start to retreat because the rain is so heavy. Once they are gone, I climb down from the tree and head away from where the Night Watchers retreated.

The rain is so thick it is difficult to see where I am going. My hair clings to the sides of my face. I walk for what feels like forever until I see the outline of a house in the distance. I run closer. It looks like an abandoned log cabin. I sprint towards the door, swing it open, and jump inside. As I close the door, I hear a click behind me. I whirl around. There’s a girl behind me. She looks about my age, and she is soaking wet. Her dark brown hair clings to pale face, and her dark eyes are terrified. Her black cloak looks like one made by the Lowlings. She must have been running from the Night Watchers too.

“Night Watchers?” I ask.

She nods. I smile. She is very pretty. I relax, and I move towards a chair and sit down. She stands as still as a statue, just watching me. Eventually, she sits down in the chair opposite me. She looks tired and scared. Her eyes dart around the room. I start to talk to her to try and calm her down. Soon she locks eyes with me. I notice her body stopped shaking.

I introduce myself. She tells me her name is Annavira.

We both are headed north, away from the Night Watchers.

“What if we travel together… you know, for protection?” she asks me shyly.

I smile back at her. There is no harm in keeping someone company. And the last thing I want is for anyone to be captured by the Night Watchers.

“Sounds perfect,” I reply.

For the first time in the past hour, a smile spreads over her once terrified face. I look out the window and notice the rain has stopped.

“Let’s go before the Night Watchers find us,” I say.

She nods and we get our things. We quickly scout the surrounding area. When we decide it is clear, we head north. I’m not sure what is going to happen next, but I know I’m not going to let anything happen to Annavira. She seems like she has been through a lot. But she also seems to be stronger than she realizes. I know I want to be there when she finds that strength.

As we walk, the sun shines down upon us. For now, we can just walk, and we don’t have to be afraid of the Night Watchers. But this peace won’t last for long…

The End.