Chapter 20
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Zalantha
I felt beaten and defeated. My back and shoulders ached from the relentless barrage of punches endured by Mesothraxus and his destructive pals. Each blow reverberated through my bones, leaving a throbbing, persistent ache that refused to dissipate.
I tried to get up, but my muscles protested with every movement as if each fiber had been stretched beyond its limit. And amidst this physical torment, my heart weighed heavy, burdened by the emotional toll that they had stolen my Lyra. God only knew what they were doing to her.
Part of me wanted to close my eyes and rest more, but I knew I had to push myself through this test and find Lyra. I couldn”t give in after everything I”d put myself through, everything I had battled against to get to my current state.
As I lay aching on the damp cave floor, my mind drifted back to those early days on Mesoterra, where every corner seemed to confine me further. I remembered being trapped within the padded rooms behind the imposing purple doors with silver hinges.
Meeting Mesothraxus for the first time felt like stepping into a prison cell of despair; his brutal beatings and relentless demeaning shattered any semblance of freedom. In my youthful innocence, I failed to grasp the depth of my imprisonment, but with each passing day, the realization of my captivity weighed heavier upon my soul.
And then, being forcibly submerged into the pod, feeling the icy tendrils of liquid wrap around my body, constricting like chains.
My wrists were bound, and needles pierced my skin. Each jab sent waves of nausea through me. The relentless pumping of my blood, the extraction of alcohol, felt like a violation, a draining of my very essence. With each cycle, I felt stripped of my vitality, left hollow and depleted, as if my existence was being sucked dry along with the alcohol.
In a way, it was good to cleanse my soul and be rid of the poison, even if it was to feed Mesothraxus” army and his entire universe.
I thought about the transformation into my current self, a metamorphosis that unfolded gradually over time, and my heart ached. The slow process saw my skin turn purple as it endured a remarkable change, evolving into a more resilient barrier against the world. With each passing day, my muscles swelled, growing bigger and stronger, as if fueled by an inner fire ignited by the ordeal in the pod.
Eventually, Mesothraxians pulled me from the trap. I emerged from the liquid, weak and vulnerable at first. But then they took me to another room with other purple beings. That was when I witnessed my new self. Standing before a mirror, I beheld a reflection of strength and determination, a stark contrast to the frailty of my former self.
”Not bad, eh?” said a male voice. I turned to see an older purple being who looked energized, even happy.
”Could be worse,” I said, gazing at my hands. My fingers were chunkier than before, and my forearms were thicker. A fine layer of muscle covered my entire body.
I was still a prisoner, though, still under Mesothraxus” grasp.
”Who are you?” I asked.
”I”m Malantha,” he said. ”You”ll get your new name soon.”
”My new name?” I asked, frowning.
”Sure, those who survive the alcohol depletion are ready to join the masses and work in the fields, but first, you”ll get a new name.”
”I see,” I said, frowning. ”And how do they choose?”
”You”ll see. Let”s get you some food; you must be starving.”
”Yeah, I am.”
”Come with me.”
”Sure.”
We shook hands, and an instant friendship was born.
Later that evening, I was christened Zalantha in a weird ceremony that involved random chants from the Mesotraxians and other purple prisoners.
Over time, Malantha took me under his wing and became a solid friend. We toiled together in the vast expanse of the fields, our days beginning with the first light of dawn and ending with the fading hues of dusk.
Armed with scythes, we ventured into the fields, where rows of wheat and barley stretched endlessly. With each swing of the blade, we harvested the golden grains, sweat mingling with the earthy scent of the crops. Under the relentless sun, our muscles strained as we carried heavy bundles to and from the grinders, the rhythmic thud of our footsteps echoing across the landscape. This grueling routine became our existence, a cycle of labor that consumed our days and defined our existence.
Until one day, Malantha turned to me.
”I”m getting out of here.”
”Good one. Have you made a spaceship out of wheat?”
”Not quite, something more solid. Do you want to come with me?”
”No, I want to stay on this purple shit-hole for the rest of my life.”
He told me about his plan, of how he would steal a shuttle and escape back to Earth.
”I”m going to back there to stop as many people from drinking as I can. That way, Mesothraxus”s world will slowly cease to exist.”
”Good luck with that one,” I”d said, even if I did like the idea.
”Trust me, we can make a difference.”
”Then let”s do it.”
Once we”d studied the Mesothraxian”s movements and developed our plan, it was time to take action.
We discovered that Mesothraxus kept his spare shuttles in a warehouse. So, one night, we began our great escape.
After evading some vigilant guards, we seized spears to arm ourselves for the inevitable confrontation. Then, we broke into the warehouse.
Just as we were about to enter a space shuttle, the shutters came up, and the lights pinged on. Suddenly, dozens of reptile beasts descended upon us like a swarm of locusts. Mesothraxians emerged from the shadows with a ferocity that mirrored the unforgiving landscape. With adrenaline coursing through our veins, we engaged in a fiery battle, our blows fueled by a burning desire for freedom.
Yet, despite our determination, we found ourselves outnumbered and outmatched. The beasts slowly pushed us back until Mesothraxus cornered us, his presence casting a suffocating shadow over us.
”You silly fucks,” he said as he grabbed Malantha and took him in a headlock.
”Leave him,” I shouted.
”Or what?”
”Or you”ll die.”
”Bullshit.”
I grabbed my spear tightly, let out a primal roar, and thrust it with all my might. Its sharpened tip sliced through the air like a vengeful arrow. The weapon found its mark with a sickening squelch as it plunged into Mesothraxus”s abdomen, the force of the impact driving him back with a guttural grunt of agony.
”You bastard,” he squealed.
I was expecting Malantha to struggle free and run towards me, but if anything, Mesothraxus held him tighter.
”Go, escape,” cried my friend. ”Someone has to.”
”I can”t leave you alone.”
”Do it.”
Malantha turned his body in a violent flip and kicked Mesothraxus to the floor. Hope filled my heart, but within seconds, Mesothraxians had surrounded him and were beating him to a pulp.
I glanced at the shuttle. I had to escape. Malantha was right; someone had to.
”Go, just go. I”ll see you one day on Earth.”
I tore myself away and, miraculously, escaped and returned to Earth.
Now I was back where I”d started, in the cave where I”d left the shuttle, but unable to move and without my Lyra.
Ignoring the pain shattering up my spine, I rolled onto my back. It felt broken, but I managed to sit up and push myself against the cave wall. I looked around, desperate to find the shuttle, but all I could see was darkness. And then, the crunching of distant footsteps echoed in the cave. Panic swept over me. I had the will but not the energy to fight.
I kept still, breathing slowly.
But then hope filled my heart as a familiar face emerged from the shadows.
”Malantha?” I gasped, my voice barely a whisper after my mauling.
”Long time no see, my friend,” he replied, his voice a reassuring balm to my frazzled nerves as he crouched by my side. ”I”d hug you, but you look like you”ve taken a beating.”
He stared at my face with a look of concern.
”You could say that,” I said. ”Fucking Mesothraxus.”
”Oh, so he was here, was he?”
”Too right, and he took my Lyra.”
”Your Lyra?” he asked, smirking. ”You didn”t hang about, did you?”
”Not at all,” I said, chuckling. ”What happened to you, by the way? I thought you were dead.”
”I nearly was, but after you left, Mesothraxus spared me and put me back to work harder than ever. But I escaped. Those bastards will never break my spirit.”
”Nor mine. Not until I have Lyra in my grasp again.”
”Oh boy, you”ve got it bad,” he said, sighing. ”So, are you saying we have to go back there?”
”You don”t have to come, but I”m going. The only problem is, I”m not sure I can move.”
”I”ll see to that.”
He reached into his pocket and retrieved a small, sleek syringe, its gleaming surface catching the faint light filtering through the murky surroundings.
”What”s that?”
”You”ll see.”
With practiced precision, he thrust the syringe into my leg. The sharp sting of its needle piercing my skin sent a jolt of electricity coursing through my veins. As the potent elixir surged into my bloodstream, a surge of vitality swept through me like a tidal wave, banishing the lingering ache of exhaustion and revitalizing my weary limbs. It was as if every fiber of my being had been infused with newfound vigor, each muscle pulsating with renewed strength and resilience.
”Holy fuck, that”s good.”
”Isn”t it just?”
”But what is it?”
”Don”t worry; it”s not alcohol or addictive, just a natural remedy for when someone has received a battering.”
With each passing moment, I could feel the transformation effects of the mysterious substance coursing through me, revitalizing my senses and sharpening my focus with an almost otherworldly intensity.
As I rose to my feet, a newfound determination burned bright inside. I knew that whatever trials lay ahead, I would face them with unwavering resolve.
”Now, can I hug you?” I said to Malantha.
”Be my guest.”
I man hugged Malantha, slapping his back hard.
”God, I”m glad to see you.”
”Me too, now, let”s get outside. I have a shuttle waiting for us.”
”Seriously?”
”Deadly. If we have to go back, then I”m flying. You sure about this Lyra woman?”
”Totally. There”s something different about Lyra. She used to have drinking problems, but I can see she”s coming around. Plus, she wants to help people, so we need her.”
”Okay, if you say so.”
”I do. Let”s go because I”m not sure how long we”ve got before Mesothraxus has his wicked way with her.”
”Then let”s get a move on.”
As we made our way out of the cave, adrenaline buzzed through my veins. I never thought I”d be excited about returning to Mesoterra, but now I had my companion by my side, I knew anything was possible.