Descendence
The Catalyst Stories
Edge’s Story
The Rich Welcome
‘Day 2’
It was sunset when Edge finally arrived at Rich District. As he left the final canyons and made his way down the bright forest path, he was met with a crowd of people. Some of them were clamouring to be let into the District, and some were passed out on the floor, tired from the second day without any aid. Mothers cradling children telling them everything would be okay, and officers of no doubt the Human Legion, the military force, trying to calm down those who were too violent.
Edge made his way through all of them, trying to avoid any contact or communication with the crowds of people. There were masses of people at the gates of Rich District, desperate to be let in. At the very front was the head of security.
“If you are not a resident of this District, then you will not be allowed in!” he bellowed. There were protests, there were cries, there was complete and utter dismay. Edge still pushed through until he reached the guard.
“E-excuse me.” He was out of breath, and tired.
“Sorry, son. I’ve heard it all already, I can’t let you in-”
“M-my foster father, he’s a resident of this District. Sparda Zane, I’m his foster son, Edge Marvik.”
The guard stared at him for a moment and then sighed.
“Again, I’m sorry, son. But if you’re not a resident-”
“Can’t you at least look into it? Please? Can you try and find out if he’s here? I’ve got nowhere else to go.” Edge begged, almost falling to his knees.
The guard held him up, however, sighing. “I can’t make any promises. But you’ll be sleeping out here tonight if you stay. This whole thing...everyone is affected.”
Edge nodded and turned away. “That’s fine, I understand.”
He walked away, going over to the side of the forest path and sitting by a tree.
At first, Edge waited. He waited for many hours, hoping someone would come over and tell him Sparda was here and he could enter. If things didn’t clear up or get resolved soon though, he’d need to move on. Where would he go? There were admittedly a few places but he’d have a hell of a time getting to them. The Catalyst District was not an option, no doubt torn to pieces by now. He’d have to figure it out.
Sunset turned into a starry night sky, blocked by the barrier of course. Despite trying to stay awake, Edge had fallen fast asleep, clutching at the Unavenged Sheath he held in his hands tight.
In his slumber, Edge winched. Deep down in his mind, a nightmare was taking place.
He was running, running through darkness. Hands all around him, stretching out and trying to stop him. The sounds of screams and cries for help. The voice of his younger sister, Lunar, calling out.
“I was all alone, and you didn’t come and look for me!”
The voice of High Lord Catalyst Hinoros, his voice booming across the darkness.
“The Catalyst Challenge!”
”Twenty-five Catalyst-made machines!”
“Humanity is frail. You are frail!”
Edge shook his head in the darkness, as the hands grasped at his feet. He felt himself fall, onto nothingness. The hands slowly pulling him down into the endless abyss. The voice of Cinos Beckett made his head scream.
“I said you could come with me, but you only cared about yourself...”
Edge whined and groaned that it wasn’t true, and as he looked down, fear-filled his mind.
Karlos, laying there below, just ahead. But ten times bigger than he was in real life. He was crackling and screaming as Edge descended down to his agape mouth.
“If I can’t have it, you’ll die here with me!”
Edge felt himself scream out for help as Karlos’ mouth closed around him, locking him in death itself-
Edge felt himself wake suddenly, as he felt a hand on his shoulder. He made a move to grab it, but he was hushed down quickly.
“It’s alright, son. What did you say your name was again?” It was the guard from earlier, he had come over at last. Through his half-awake state, Edge stuttered.
“E-Edge Marvik.”
“And what did you say the name of your relative was?” the guard asked.
“Sparda Zane.” Edge replied quickly.
The guard looked at him for a moment, and then breathed out. “Just need your date of birth.”
“The twenty-second of April. Thirty seventy-eight.”
The guard blinked and then nodded. “Okay, up you get.”
Edge felt himself being helped up, and then escorted away from the path. He was taken to another entrance, further down the wall into Rich District. Waiting for him was a group of only a few other people. As the guard shifted Edge over to them, he looked back.
“Right. You can go in, as long as you stay there. You’re some of the lucky few, don’t waste this.” explained the guard.
He then escorted them all through a guard post door in the wall. They followed the tight gap through until they emerged on the other side.
Suddenly the world felt peaceful again as Edge saw the sights of well-built buildings, wooden works, and posh exteriors. He could hear distant sounds of crickets chirping in bushes.
“Off with you all. Stay home, and stay safe.” he finished. The guard now vanished back through the guard post door, leading back out into the world. In a matter of seconds, Edge was alone as those who had also been allowed in rushed away to their homes. Who they were, why they were here, Edge didn’t care. He couldn’t run, he was still too tired. But now he just had to make his way to Sparda’s house, and hopefully, then, everything would feel better.
* * *
Edge trudged through the strong brick stone paths, he knew this District like the back of his hand. It was so quiet, just the sounds of the night. Given the situation hanging over him, he had expected some more panic. But two days had gone by now, so for all he knew, the panic city-wide had subsided. He was certain that wasn’t the case, but the Rich District had had strong security measures. A lot of people must have made their way here in hoping for safety, only to be turned away. The majority out beyond that gate too, they weren’t even from this District. The whole city was a mess, and Edge was lucky that something good had finally come his way. All he wanted now was a comfy bed and-
His stomach rumbled.
He hadn’t eaten in over a day. The sudden surge of hunger caused him to go into a light jog as he searched for his former home. He followed the street, by the old bakery, that alleyway was a shortcut through the market stalls. He took a left, up tot he splitting two-directional path. He remembered the old saying to find his way home. ‘Left is always right.’ He took the left path, heading up the incline, took another left, and then a right.
He was on his old home street.
Walking down that peaceful road, it bought back so many memories for Edge. The days where he used to play in the streets with other kids, his little sister. Days walking to school with his best friends. Edge spent so much time in his nostalgia trip, he didn’t realise himself halt outside Sparda’s home.
The family home stood tall like some sort of shining beacon in his eyes despite the situation everyone was now in. Yet all the lights inside were off.
Opening the metal front gate, walking into the small front garden, Edge could see the yellow flowers, Sparda’s own personal garden, blooming in the night. He walked up the pebbled path towards the front door. He had no key to insert into the lock, but if memory served him well, Sparda always kept a spare key nearby.
Moving over to the flower bed, Edge crouched down and pried the dirt between the second and third flower from the right. He hoped the neighbours wouldn’t see him and mistook him for some sort of thief.
Upon separating the dirt, a dirty small silver key. Picking it up, Edge couldn’t help but smile. “Same place as always.” He made sure the dirt was placed back over where he had dug, and then proceeded back to the front door, slotting in the key, and turning it to open the door.
He made sure to enter slowly, as to not draw any noise or attention. Closing the door behind him, Edge stood in the dark hallway. The silence already made him feel uncomfortable. He moved down the hall, his boots making tiny patting sounds against the woodwork floor, and when he found the light-switch for the hall, he flicked on the lights.
As the hall now became clear to him, he looked up the flight of stairs and called up.
“Sparda?” There was no answer. This was slowly becoming the worst-case scenario. Edge walked up the cream coloured carpet stairs, ascending to the first floor of the house. There were four rooms on the top floor. From left to right, Edge’s old room, Sparda’s room, Lunar’s old room, and then the bathroom.
All of them were closed, and Edge knew Sparda never slept with his door completely shut. He closed his eyes as he entered the master bedroom, only to find it empty.
Sparda wasn’t here.
Edge felt himself slump against the doorway. For a moment part of him thought of the possibility that Sparda was out there right now, travelling to Northern District to find Edge and Lunar. But Edge knew already deep down, Sparda wasn’t here, he wasn’t in the city. The only family member left and he wasn’t here.
The past two days had done too much to Edge, and as he slid down the doorway, into a sitting position, Edge began to cry.
He was all alone now, his journey had meant nothing. He had lost all freedom, had almost lost his life multiple times, and now his family was outside the city, no doubt worried sick about him, with nothing they could do.
Tears streaming down many people’s faces that night as the Catalyst Challenge began to loom over Convexity. After an hour of wondering what the hell to do with himself, Edge had gone back downstairs to check the rest of the house.
There were supplies, stocked up on food and essentials for a little while. But right now Edge had no idea how long any of this would last, and what would happen after it all ran out. After managing to make a quick meal for himself, Edge simply retired to his old room, lay down in his old bed, and fell asleep.
When he did, it had been two o’clock in the morning. Three days and Edge already felt broken, lost, no answer on how to cope or proceed.
But he could take some reassurance that now, he was safe and sound in this house, in this District, for now.
‘Day 3’
Next Time
Crystal & Alex’s Story
The First Day
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