A Machine Called Earth

“Who are you? Where are you from?” One of the people, who was a man, judging from his voice, ordered.

With both hands in the air, showing she was of no threat, Hope said. “My name is Hope, I’m from Maplestone. But I’ve just come via River-ton.”

At that moment, Jessy ran from his hiding place, and grabbed onto Hope’s leg. He was obviously still shaken from the rotting corpse that they encountered moments before.

“And this is Jessy. He’s from River-ton.” Hope then explained, placing her hand on Jessy’s head, comforting him. Hope thought it best to tell the truth, and hope for the best, than to make lies, and get them into any more trouble.

“River-ton? Well, this is no place to stay and chat, the sun is setting, and we should go inside.” That same man said, with slight angst in his voice.

The people then begun to move. They hurried towards the cemetery hall, the place that funerals were held. It was a large building made from cut stone. Its windows had been boarded up with wooden panels, and the people didn’t waste any time entering. As they all entered, one stood at the door, getting ready to close it.

“Are you coming, or not. It’s dangerous during nightfall.” The man at the door said.

‘Dangerous?’ Hope thought. Although Hope didn’t know these people, they seemed pretty scared of something outside of their walls. So Hope decided to go in and spend the night. Quickly Hope and Jessy entered the hall, which resembled an old church. As they entered the hall the door was shut and locked.

It was dark and with their hooded cloaks, Hope couldn’t really see these people’s faces. But not long after, torches were lit. Illuminating the hall with a soft, fluttery orange light. The man who had been talking to them earlier, removed his hood. His face was mutated and had a particularly large boil that overshadowed his right eye, along with a few other smaller ones along the side of his face. Hope winced when she looked at him, not expecting to see any kind of mutation.

Hope quickly apologized for reacting so harshly.

“I’m so sorry, I wasn’t expecting that.” She said, with her hands raised in front of her, in a defensive fashion.

“That’s quite alright. I’d expect nothing less.” The man said, with a hazy, sorrowful look in his eyes. “I’m Adrien, by the way.”

Hope was still very much uneasy, and obviously frightened by these strangers she and Jessy were locked in with. Hope kept her back to the wall, and kept a ridged stance, keeping hold of Jessy’s hand. However the other cloaked individuals paid no attention to their guests, and did what was part of their routine. Some continued lighting torches, lighting up the hall. Some circled around a large cooking pot, preparing food for everyone, and others went to lay down and rest.

“So what were you all doing, digging out there?” Hope asked, in a fluttery voice, still nervous.

“We were digging graves, for the deceased. Many have died, within this town, and we feel it out duty to give them a proper burial.”

“What about the corpse we came across, by the statue of the eagle?” Hope continued asking.

“Well that’s the corpse of the mayor. He was murdered out of hatred. And we are afraid that if we remove and bury his body, they will come for us. Anyways, there are bigger things to talk about.”

Adrien motioned for Hope to take a seat on an old bench, which looked like it once was used in a church. The bench was situated close to where they were standing, but at a distance from the others. Hope took a seat, and Jessy followed, nestling himself comfortably on her lap. Adrien then sat on an adjacent seat, where he began to enquire about River-ton.

“So what news do you have from River-ton?” Adrien asked.

Hope paused for a bit, then said. “I don’t really know what to say. The whole place was tangled in plants and vines. Everyone were unconscious, or sleeping, or something. It’s a ghost town.” Adrien seemed shocked to hear such news. Hope continued.

“Whatever happened, happened before we arrived? The town was silent and dead. Well except for Jessy, who climbed aboard our boat, as we sailed along the dock.”

“We? Who was with you?” Adrien asked.

“Well, I was being chased by some beastly men, who had chased me out of my hometown, Maplestone. They were capturing people and taking them away. What for? I don’t know. I managed to almost get to Tammerville, but they caught up with me in the canyon region. They attacked me, and I fell off the cliff-edge, into the water. When I came to, I was on a boat, with a man named Hector. He saved me, I would have drowned for sure, if he didn’t pull me out of the water.”

“Hector! What more do you know of him?” Adrien said with an excited look on his face.

“Well, after we found Jessy, Hector gave me his boat, and he said he was going towards the southern region. He wanted me to tell your mayor what had happened to River-ton.”

“Our mayor is dead. Killed.” Adrien said sadly. “The curse has affected this town greatly. There are ones who’s minds have gone pure evil. We can only hope Hector can fix things. For we are the ones who sent Hector.”

Adrien continued. “We here, are the ones lucky enough, to realize the types of behavior that feeds the curse. We strive to flee those things, and pray for forgiveness from our maker, for what we have done. But I’m afraid that it’s too late for the rest of the town, they are corrupt, and no longer can be called human. They lay in wait, and hide during the day. Their shame is the only thing on our side at the moment. Once night has fallen, they come out, and... Let’s just say, you’re lucky we found you.”

Hope was stunned to hear such things. She then remembered the last thing Hector said to her. About his sister. Hope then asked. “What about Hector’s sister, what has happened to her?”

“Ah yes, Jane. She’s fine. She’s a smart one. She spends her days either at the school park, or near the bridge by the creek, in the fields. We tried to get her to come with us, but our, umm, faces, caused her to flee from us. Maybe you can talk to her tomorrow morning.” Adrien explained.

“Yes of course.” Hope said.

As night fell, Hope found a place to lie and rest. Jessy had fallen asleep long ago, once he filled his stomach with food, he was out like a light. The hall was now warm, the dimmed light was soothing, and Hope too, was satisfied with a stomach full of warm, comforting stew. Hope hadn’t felt warm like this since she left Maplestone, and who knows how long since Jessy had filled is stomach with warm, home-cooked food. However, Hope was still wary of these people, and hoped that daybreak would come swiftly.

Night had gone by rather uneventful. A few time Hope had woken up, startled by some mysterious rustling coming from outside. But other than that, at first light, Hope and Jessy woke feeling well rested, and refreshed. The sound of a makeshift chime, made from scrap pieces of metal and string, was heard to signal that it was safe, and that it was the beginning of a new day.

As Hope assembled Jessy and made for the exit. (They were on their way to find Jane, Hector’s younger sister.) They were stopped by Adrien, with a warning. He said, “Stay away from the shadows, and never enter a building. The ‘beasts’ lurk in such places.”

“Thanks for the heads up.” Hope replied.

Now Hope and Jessy went from the old cemetery hall, and walked through the cemetery itself, looking at all the newly dug holes and freshly disturbed soil, Hope was quite amazed at all the death that must have taken place. However, Jessy was climbing onto mounds of dirt and jumping off, whacking his sword into tombstones and kicking clumps of earth into new and still empty graves. If he knew what he was doing, it would be quite disrespectful.

“Jessy! Get over here. Stop being so troublesome. I can hardly bare it if you were to get into any danger.”

“Those people were ugly. I didn’t like them.” Jessy said, looking back at the hall, which they stayed the night.

“That’s hardly a nice thing to say, Jessy. They were quite helpful, and fed us. But I know what you mean, I’d like to make some distance between them and us, before nightfall.”

They then made their way down the hill, through the empty marketplace. As they walked through the silent streets, they heard a squeaking sound. The sound that was made when pieces of rusted iron rub against each other. They both followed the sound as stealthy as they could.

When they followed the sound around a corner into another street, they saw a little girl playing on a swing set. Hope looked across the street, through the fence into the school playground.

“Look Jessy, there she is. Jane.”

Jessy kept silent, as Hope assumed he had become wary of all strangers, and as Hope approached the playground, Jessy stayed behind her.

“Hello, Jane?” Hope said loudly, in a gentle tone.

The little girl turned towards them and said, “Yes, I’m Jane.”