Part I

“The Criminal”

CHAPTER 1

“Tattered in mind, body, and soul, the tarnished man fell. As he watched red rain still in the sky, he finally accepted what had become of both himself, and the world. Unlocking the key that had long been absent, wings spread from his back, and he rose to repay humanity for what was lost.”

Ever since I can remember, those words have been etched into my brain with my father's voice. He and I weren’t close, but he used to read me the same story over and over, hundreds of times. The story was about a man named Nevis, who risked his life to save his people many lifetimes ago. Some would tell you that his heroic actions saved all of humanity. A savior, an angel. Those are labels that Nevis has been coined with.

All of that didn’t matter much to me though, I was just happy to be doing something with my father.

But to be honest, I never really understood it. Nevis may have saved his people, but at what cost? He slaughtered countless people, and yet his actions are seen as heroic? Even as a child, it didn’t make sense to me. One day, I asked my father about this. He didn’t give me an answer.

I regret asking. Ever since I asked that question, my father stopped reading to me. He passed away not long after. Nonetheless, I still wanted to know the answer.

So, to put my mind at ease, I came up with my own.

***

“Get back here!”

Looking over my shoulder, two Mako officers are right on my tail.

“I got eyes on the thief! Hispanic Male. Curly black hair. Over six feet tall and unarmed. Carrying a gray bag. Heading toward Pawnee Island!” radios an officer.

“Copy that, relocating to Pawnee.”

Making my way toward the edge of the island, a view of other floating islands at varying heights ahead, I begin charging my Defiantos with iris, my feet tingling with a fuzzy warmth.

So, you think you have me figured out? We’ll see about that.

Slowing my pace to draw the Mako in closer, I turn right onto a new street. With the island's edge now in sight, I focus on the sound of the officers’ footsteps.

“He’s getting tired! We can stop him here!”

“Take out his legs before he makes it to the edge!”

Hearing an officer draw his pistol, I glance back, smirking, “You guys never learn.”

Bending my knees, I release some of the built-up iris in my Defiantos and jump high into the air toward an adjacent building, barely dodging the officers' bullet. Striding out along the side of the building, I use more stored iris to boost myself off the wall. Flying over the pathway and officers below, I roll on top of the parallel building. Jumping off the other side, I slide down the wall onto an empty path and start running back toward the city center.

They won’t guess I’m going this way…

Just as I'm about to look back and ensure the two officers didn’t find a way to cross over, another armed officer suddenly appears before me.

Where'd he come from?!

Quickly expending a little bit of iris to leap to the side, I dodge the officer's bullet as I kick myself off the adjacent wall. Flying toward the officer, I drive my foot into his chest, knocking him off his feet. Seeing three more officers appear at the end of the path, I charge into a small alleyway on my right.

Running into it, I notice the alleyway is partially obstructed by a collection of metal scraps and boxes. Exerting more iris from my Defiantos, I leap over the large stack of boxes and knock them over behind me to block off the rest of the pathway. Exiting the alleyway onto the path I was on earlier; the two officers are gone, and I snicker.

Stupid Mako, I'm home free!

I’m suddenly struck across the face with a man's fist. Immediately crumpling to the ground, I struggle to maintain consciousness as the two officers from earlier come into view. One of them radios something while the other seizes my bag, stripping it away. I try to reach for it.

“No… you can’t…”

My arm drops to the ground as my vision spirals into darkness.

“Mateo Hernandez, age seventeen. Third offense for shoplifting in six months, now with an added charge of assaulting an officer. He’s got a few marks of petty theft on his record too, although none are serious.”

“Stupid kid. I know he’s from the Groundlands, but he’s going to ruin his life at this rate.”

Holding an ice pack to my face, I eavesdrop on the conversation between officers on the other side of the door. Sitting back in my chair, the well-lit room they left me in is one I’m familiar with. Two chairs, only split by a desk between them, an officer usually across from me.

Officers… it’s always the same thing with them. They will never understand what it’s like.

“I heard what happened. Is he still here?” asks a new voice. An annoying, familiar voice.

“Yes, but Kavi, you really shouldn’t be doing this. Bailing the kid out of trouble every time clearly isn’t helping. He even assaulted an officer today, I can’t just let him go.”

“Just put this under my name. I’ll deal with the consequences later,” says Kavi.

“With all due respect, Kavi, the boy needs to be taught a lesson. He’s old enough to be treated like an adult. I say let ‘im spend a night in a cell. The cold and hunger might make him think twice next time.”

“That’s not happening. Chief–” Kavi stops himself. “Look, Ben, I understand your frustration, but he’s young. Give him another chance. Give me another chance. Please.”

The chief sighs, “Don’t make me regret this.”

Opening the door a few seconds later, a middle-aged Indian man enters the room. He takes a seat in front of me, and I refuse to engage in any kind of eye contact.

“That punch sure left a mark.”

“Whatever.”

Kavi leans forward and extends his hand, “Can I take a look?”

I reflexively swat away his hand and Kavi quickly reels it back. Shocked at myself for what I had just done, I glanced at Kavi for only a moment to check if he was okay before shamefully looking away again.

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have," says Kavi, rubbing his hand.

An awkward silence fills the room until Kavi says, “Mateo, I’m taking you home.”

“I know, I heard you. I don’t need your help. You’re only making me look pathetic.”

“You think spending your night behind bars is less pathetic?”

I scoff and remain silent.

Taking that as my answer, Kavi stands up, “You hungry? We can get some food if you want.”

“No, I’m fine,” I quickly reply, only for my stomach to grumble in contradiction.

***

“Looks like you liked it,” says Kavi, finishing up his bowl of Shoyu Ramen as I sit back in my chair, savoring the rich taste of the oven-hot lasagna I just devoured.

I shrug, still avoiding eye contact, “It was okay.”

Kavi hides a smile as he cleans his face with a napkin, “You can get seconds if you want–”

“I’m fine.”

Kavi puts down his napkin and pushes his bowl to the side, “Hey, how are you? Really.”

I slump back into my seat, “I– I’m fine. Things are fine. Could’ve been better if that officer didn't knock me out.”

“And what about your mother?”

I squirm in my seat, “She’s fine. You know how she is.”

“And your older brother?”

“Who cares about him?!” I say louder than I intended, my brows twitching. “Why do you care so much about us?! We barely know you!”

Kavi pauses for a moment, “Kid–”

“Don’t call me that!” I yell, gaining looks from others seated nearby.

Nodding to himself, Kavi’s gaze drops, “Look, Mateo. I know that you’re going through a tough time. I want you to know… you aren’t alone. You’re not fighting in this world… alone. There are people who are willing to help you. I am willing to help you, but I can see you don’t want my help right now. Just know … I’ll be there for you whenever you’re ready.”

Not able to put thoughts into words, I once more remain silent.

Getting out of his seat, Kavi says, “It’s getting late. Let’s get you home.”

“I know my way back.”

“I’ll be damned if I let you go home on your own. If the police saw you alone again tonight, you’ll be spending more than one night in a cell.”

Kavi sighs and reaches into his pocket, “Tell you what. I struck a deal with the Mako. If you don’t argue on the way there, I’ll give you back the stuff you stole earlier.”

My eyes immediately light up as I genuinely look at Kavi for the first time all day. He clicks a button on a small storage device, and a hologram of my gray bag appears.

“How did you get that?"

“I owe the store some money,” replies Kavi, the hologram disappearing.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Relieved, I hurry out of the restaurant, “What are we waiting for?”

***

Standing outside my house, Kavi has my bag in his hand, “Once I hand this over, you’re in my debt. Pay me back by staying out of trouble. We got a deal?”

I nod multiple times, “Yes, deal. I promise I’ll stay out of trouble.”

Handing the bag over to me, I quickly check to see if everything I need is still inside. Kavi then hands something else to me. A piece of a napkin.

“What’s this?”

“I wrote down my address on it. If you need anything at all, please come stop by.”

“Sure, okay,” I say, heading toward the front door already.

“Tell Lucy I said hi!” says Kavi with a wave.

Already one foot in the door and forgetful of the promise I just made, I say, “I will! Thanks!”

Shutting the door behind me, I walk inside and toss the bag on the kitchen table, causing some items inside to spill across the table. Grabbing a particular container amongst a pile of food, I throw the napkin in the trash as I make my way to my parent's bedroom.

Unsure if Mom is asleep, I quietly open her door until her voice says, “You can come in. I’m awake.”

Entering the room, I notice Mom knitting something. Knitting has always been one of her favorite hobbies.

“Hi Mom.”

Walking over to her bedside, I grab a plastic cup and the filter off the nightstand and pour Mom a cup of water.

“Mateo, you’re home late," she wearily says, putting down her knitting needles. "Your face... did you get into trouble again?”

“No, no, my Defiantos malfunctioned,” I quickly lie, trying to find something to switch topics to as I unscrew the container of pills. “I actually ran into Kavi today. He said hi.”

“Really? How is he?” asks Mom as I hand her some pills.

“Yeah, he seems to be doing well.”

She clears her throat, “I’m glad.”

I place the medicine and empty glass back on the nightstand.

“I think… I’m feeling a little better today.”

Hearing those words, my body freezes. It’s the first time Mom's said something like that since she fell ill. Slowly looking at Mom, tears begin to flood. Being careful not to cause her pain, I slowly wrap my arms around her and break down on her shoulder.

“I’m so happy to hear that. I’ll take care of you, Mom… I’ll make sure you get better.”

***

History has it that many years ago, one massive landmass split into six separate continents following a strange catastrophe. Each of the new six continents were affected in weird ways, but Opuree, the continent where I live, is the only land that was altered gravitationally. With Nevis’s protection, the people of Opuree were kept safe as the once intact land broke apart into thousands of floating islands, each one rising to a different altitude in the sky. Nowadays, the islands are split into three main regions: the Groundlands, the Midlands, and the Skylands, and they are all strung together by a mysterious energy force called iris.

My family lives in the Groundlands. The Groundlands are the islands closest to sea level– the bottom of society. It’s home to the country’s poorest people; ‘Grounders.' There are far more grounders than the shelters can house, and we don't get even half the financial support from the government we need to sustain ourselves. People starve, crime is high, and only a handful of those born here get lucky enough to have even a chance at climbing the ladder of society to live decent lives.

Located above us, the Midlands are more or less a meeting ground between the rich and the poor. Only a few people live in the Midlands, but most businesses, restaurants, and other establishments are located there. With both Grounders and Fliers in the same place, it’s not uncommon for us to experience a fair share of discrimination, and hate crimes.

The Skylands are home to the rich; the ‘Fliers’. I used to visit a friend there a while back. The sky is like night and day compared to home. There are mansions owned by sole individuals and luxurious foods that I’ve only ever been able to imagine. It’s a world I don’t think I’ll ever understand.

And lastly, above the Skylands is Grant Castle, home to the Clover Trine, our theocratic leaders. The members of the Clover Trine are people voted in by the nation’s citizens and have remained the figures in power. Often referred to as being a “Clover”, most elected Clovers were once religious leaders called “Teprans” who devoted their lives and faith to Nevism, the religion dedicated to our savior, Nevis.

With Nevism as our country’s heart and soul, faith is a fundamental part of our society. In every region of Opuree, buildings of worship called “Tirikas” can be found wherever you look. Considered a gift from Nevis himself, Grant Castle is considered our most sacred of buildings.

***

“How long are you going to lie around being useless, Eric?!”

My brother rolls over in bed, groaning, “I don’t know.”

Ripping off the covers, I smack him across the face and lift him out of the bed, “If you care about Mom even a little, you need to snap out of it! I know you’re still upset about Dad, but Mom’s gonna die if we don’t help her!”

Eric shoves me away, “You know? How could you possibly know…? You were never close with Dad! You didn’t love him like I did!”

My chest boiling with rage, I storm out of my brother’s room. Slamming the door behind me, I head to the front door and put on my Defiantos.

Our country's distinct habitat is recognized worldwide as the most beautiful, with waterfalls flowing down from island to island and each island's nature different from the next.

Quick travel between the islands used to be very difficult, but that changed with the invention of the Defiantos. Defiantos are shoes that draw on the iris encompassing our country. Like a machine using electricity to run, Defiantos use iris. With iris acting as an energy force, Defiantos are able to help people hop from island to island, making travel much more manageable.

The whole sequence is kind of a blur. I hear fliers shouting at me as I make my way to the Skylands. They were probably insulting me, telling me I didn’t belong there.

They’re right. I don’t.

Landing on Sycamore Island, home to a large park, I entered into the woods. When I was younger, Eric and I would meet a friend at what we liked to call our “secret spot” in these woods. His name is Ray. In order to get to this secret spot, you have to go off the path and through a batch of bushes, but on the other side is a large clearing with a small pond fed by a waterfall.

Entering the clearing, I deeply inhale the rich, earthy aroma.

The earthy smell hasn’t changed… it never did.

Walking over to three tree trunks placed close together, I take a seat. Our hand-made swing, zip-line, and fort are all still here, untouched. Closing my eyes and listening to the sounds of nature, I begin to feel relaxed.

How am I going to get more medicine now?

“Is that you, Mateo?”

I quickly turn around, “Ray?!”

Standing up, I greet my friend. I hadn’t seen Ray in over two years, as he rarely had the time anymore to come. Extending my hand, we both do the handshake we made up when we were kids, finishing off with a quick hug.

“How are you, man?” I ask.

“I’m good, almost done with university. You’ve changed—deeper voice, taller. Way taller,” Ray trails off, looking up at me.

I laugh, “Yeah. What’re you doing here?”

“Needed to clear my head. Been studying for a test. This whole lawyer thing is a pain, but I don't really have a choice. Runs in the family n’ all that. You still playing basketball?”

“Nah… we can’t afford it anymore.”

“Oh,” Ray says. We both take a seat. “I didn’t want to mention it, but what happened to your face? You’re not still getting into fights, are you?”

I shake my head, “Not recently, got into trouble with the Mako.”

Concerned, Ray asks, “What happened?”

Besides Mom, there’s nobody I trust more than Ray. I explain everything to him, starting as early as when my father died four months ago.

“The Mako said my father plummeted to his death. My theory is that he must’ve taken off his Defiantos at work and somehow fell over the edge while on the job. Maybe they malfunctioned. It’s rare but that kind of thing does happen, you know? We weren’t allowed to see the body… They said he was too disfigured to be recognized. While mom grieved, my brother disappeared. I don’t know where he went.”

I take a slight pause, “Mom got sick a few days later. She’s bedridden now, can’t walk or talk for very long. The doctors have no idea what it is… I mean, the doctors in the Groundlands can hardly be called doctors, but they are still something at least. The only treatment plan that seems to be helping is the Herisin. It’s not like we can afford better treatment anyway.”

“Herisin? I was prescribed that when I got sick last year. Doc said it uses iris to accelerate the production of new cells to heal the human body.”

“Yeah, said the same to us too. She’s still alive, so something must be working.”

“Just make sure you’re getting the right stuff. I heard Herisin has been working its way around the junkies in Opuree. They lace it with other drugs, stuff to get you addicted to it. Doesn’t help people already crave the rush it gives them.”

“I always make sure to get some from the store. Anyway, Eric reappeared a few days later, and he hasn’t told me where he went. In fact, he refused to talk at all for a while. He was in his room often, and the few times I saw him, he had this… empty … look in his eyes. He really took Dad's death hard.”

“They were close…”

“Yeah, definitely closer than I was. Eric was supposed to go to university, but he dropped out before ever really starting. Couldn’t handle it... he tried to deal with his feelings in other ways. He began stealing Mom's medicine. I’ve told him off about it so many times, but he won’t stop. And every time we run low and I can’t afford to buy anymore, I have to steal some. That medicine is the only thing keeping Mom alive.”

“Why didn’t you reach out to me about all this? I could’ve helped.”

“Nah, I know you already have a lot on your plate.”

“Mateo–”

“Sometimes I get away,” I say, cutting Ray off. “Sometimes I don’t. Been arrested a few times. Whenever I do, Kavi shows up and bails me out. Besides myself, Kavi was the only other person to go to Dad's funeral. I guess he feels the need to look out for me or something; I don’t know. Maybe he should just mind his own business.”

As I fill Ray in on the rest of the details, Ray listens attentively.

Only after I was done did he speak up again, “I’m sorry… I didn’t know about your dad.”

“It’s not your fault, I didn’t tell you. Funeral was lame anyway.”

After a pause to study me, Ray says, “You know Mateo, it seems to me like Kavi is only trying to help you.. is your Dad the reason you keep pushing him away?”

“My dad–?” I mumble, thrown off. I hadn’t ever thought about Kavi like that.

“Maybe… I guess Kavi does kind of remind me of him.”

Ray stands up and pats me on the back, “I think you’ll figure it out. And about that food and medicine, do you want me to buy you some?”

I quickly reject his proposal and tell him that I have enough for two weeks now, even though, in reality, the medicine will probably only last the next couple of days.

“If you say so. I gotta get back to studying now. It was nice catching up.”

“Yeah, you too Ray,” I say as he walks off.

“And Mateo, you should give Kavi a chance. Seems like he’s a good guy,” says Ray as he ducks into the bushes.

I fake a laugh, “I will! Catch ya.”

***

Returning home, I walk in to see my mother collapsed in the kitchen, having a coughing fit.

Rushing to her aid, I frantically ask, “Why are you out of bed?!”

“Wa– water,” she feebly croaks.

Hurrying to the sink, I grab the closest glass I can and fill it with water.

She knows she’s not strong enough to walk! Why was she so desperate to get water?!

Bringing the glass to her lips, I help Mom drink as much water as she can manage. She coughs some of it back up, but I stay with her until she is okay. After carrying her to her bed, I refill her filter. As I return it, I notice the container of pills is gone.

Rushing into my brother's room, I find him staring at the ceiling with his arms sprawled out, his shirt drenched with water or sweat. The container of pills is empty next to hand, and his headphones are so loud that I can hear the music he’s playing.

I tear off his headphones, “What the hell are you thinking?! Mom almost died because you–!”

Hearing my mom start to cough again, I rush back into her room. Helping her drink more water, I put it together. My eyes well with tears, not knowing what to think.

Without more medicine quick, she’ll– Mom will die!

Racing out of the room, I understand I’m against the clock as I put on my Defiantos.

Do I try to steal more? No… security everywhere will be extra wary for the next few days! What can I do?!

‘And Mateo, you should give Kavi a chance. Seems like he’s a good guy.’

Recalling Ray’s words, I run over to the garbage bin and dig through the disgusting heap of trash until I find the napkin. I reel it out and can barely read the splotched address.

12 Stubbs Island.

Nervously ringing the button on his front door, I step back.

“Just a second!”

Waiting outside, I try to work through what I’m going to say, but I cannot figure it out by the time Kavi opens the door.

“Mateo? What– what brings you around?”

I try to retain my composure, but I just can’t, “I– I uh– Kavi, I’m so sorry.”

“What’s wrong, Mateo? Are you okay?”

I wipe my face, “I feel horrible for asking you this. I know you gave me my bag back yesterday, but my mom’s going to die if I don’t get her more medicine. Eric… he took it all… mom collapsed… I don’t know what to do–”

Confounded, Kavi steps outside and closes the door behind him. He places a hand on my shoulder, and I resist the sudden reflex to push it off.

“Hey, hey, try to calm down. You’re not making much sense.”

“I’m so sorry for everything. I don’t deserve even a fraction of your kindness, yet you’ve stuck around. I’m begging you, Kavi, to please help me! I’m begging you…”

There’s a short pause, the only noise coming from my sobs.

“Everything's going to be alright, Mateo. I promise your mom will be fine.”

Hearing those words, what little guard I have fades away. Wrapping my arms around Kavi, I begin to soak the front of his shirt with tears and snot, sniveling like a baby. At some point during my breakdown, I feel Kavi’s arms wrap around me, and I think he begins to cry too.

I don’t know how long the two of us stood there, but for however long it was, it was nice.