Rachdale, Nevara - 06:23 am
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Another quiet morning in the streets of Rachdale. A little too quiet considering it being one of the inner cities of Nevara, though giving it a couple more hours would probably solve the problem. Soft rustling of the wind and chirping of the birds were the only things that made the city feel a little less dead. From the master bedroom an alarm could be heard throughout the house, a sharp reminder of the start of what's gonna be a long busy day. Their father was the first to wake. He left the bed and went to get ready for the day. Their mother also woke up not long after, seeing the bed empty she figured her husband was already up and running.
With a little tired sigh she also got out of the bed and head to the bathroom to refresh. Having cold water on her body certainly helped with that. She dried her face and went to the nursery. Her 4 year old was sick since the last week and she wanted to make sure that little Rose was doing a little better than previous days. After seeing her sleeping with a peaceful expression made her heart ease as she checked her temperature again. It was certainly lower than yesterday's which was a good sign. With a soft kiss on her temple she left Rose to sleep soundly, closing the door behind her.
When she arrived at the kitchen she saw her husband in his uniform making som tea. She took a moment to look at him up and down, her eyes landing on his name patch at the right side of his uniform, "Dylan Jackson" written down with silver threads. She walked silently behind him resting her head on his back, still sleepy from waking up early. Dylan, already aware of his wife's presence, didn't say anything as they just let themselves be for a moment. He could feel the exhaustion radiating from her which made him turn and wrap an arm around her waist, letting her lean against him more comfortably. He spoke with a gentle voice as if he was afraid to startle her.
"Rose kept you up?"
She just gave a soft hum nodding her head. After a moment she lift her head to look at him. "...Poor thing was having aches all over her body since last week... But for the last couple days she's been getting better so... it's all good."
Dylan looked down at her eyes deeply and his lips found their way to her forehead leaving a warm kiss. Kathya closed her eyes in response. Even though it was a short kiss it lingered on her body for quiet a bit. After a moment they parted and started preparing breakfast.
In a couple hours the house started to feel alive as the rest of the household woke up. Cameron was the first to wake up and head downstairs to the kitchen following the clinking sounds that his parents were making. Not long after Avery also woke up but she had a harder time leaving the bed than her big brother did. Though now that she was awake she wouldn't be able to go back to sleep easily so she pushed herself on her elbows and sit up in her bed. She took her time to look around her room before finally getting out of bed and heading to the bathroom.
She freshened up and looked at her reflection for sometime. The bags under her eyes made themselves known subtly. She ran a hand through her short messy hair to fix it as much as she could but gave up after a couple tries, leaving the bathroom. The soft hum of the television could be heard from the livingroom, from the sounds of it a news channel was on. She head after the voice and saw her dad sitting on the couch. She looked at the television and saw the caption at the bottom.
'Authorities shut down Hexborn hideout in Ashfold. No survivors found.'
She stayed silent for a moment waiting to see her father's reaction. He kept a straight face but the tension behind his eyes could be seen if paid attention. When he felt a gaze on him he turned his face to meet eyes with his daughter. For a moment the tension in his eyes eased. Only a little bit. He gave a smile to Avery. "Good morning"
She nodded smiling back "Morning dad." Dylan didn't bother to change the channel now that she was there, this was the world they lived in. Keeping it away from her would only make her more vulnerable to how much damage it could do. She was 18 years old anyway, old enough to learn and understand how the world worked. Even the most brutal parts.
A moment later Cameron entered the room. He ruffled Avery's semi-fixed hair, earning a side eye from his sister as she shoved his hand away.
"You look like a mess" he said smirking while taking a seat next to his dad. She scoffed
"Better than looking like you."
"Ouch"
"Just the truth." She said shrugging and went to see what her mother was doing.
When she saw the breakfast almost ready she could hear her stomach grumbling. Kathya heard the sound and took her head out of the fridge to look behind. She gave a soft chuckle seeing Avery standing with her eyes on the kitchen table. Hearing her mother chuckle made Avery feel a little embarrassed as she looked away for a moment and quickly composed herself. "Hey mom"
"Hey sweetheart" she said with a gentle voice. "Hungry?"
Avery nodded her head slowly. Kathya put a hand on her shoulder.
"Can you call your brother? I need him to buy some things for me." That statement made Avery roll her eyes.
"Can't I also leave home for once too? I'm tired of being stuck here all the time. And no, the backyard doesn't count"
Kathya stood still for a moment, thinking over it. She turned to Dylan and they shared a look between eachother though she quickly looked back at Avery again. She gave a sigh.
"Promise to stick with your brother the whole time, okay? I mean it."
Avery's eyes lit up in excitement as she nodded roughly "Promise!"
Kathya just gave a soft smile seeing her daughter's excitement and turned to Cameron. "Just go get 4 loaves of bread from the bakery and some pasta. It's been a while since we had some. You can choose which kind."
Cameron nodded his head and went to get his jacket as his dad gave him some money. Avery also quickly went to put on her coat. When they were wearing their shoes at the doorstep Dylan came to the door and looked at them with a stern face. "Do you have your ID's on?"
They both nodded. He continued, this time they could hear the fatherly concern he held in his voice.
"You already know the patrol routes that the enforcers take. Don't talk to anyone unless they talk to you first." He then turns to Cameron. "Don't let her out of your sight." Which he gave a firm nod in return as they left.
The streets were crowded and on the move, most people on their way for work. A few could be seen out for a walk. As they made their way to the bakery Avery looked around. It's been a couple years since she left home at all but regardless, the city looked the same as she remembered. Same posters and slogans everywhere. 'No mercy for the Hexborn plague' , 'Hexborns are a threat to Nevara's future' and so on. Even after all this time she couldn't help but clench her jaw seeing the posters unlike her brother who was oddly unemotional about all this. Then again she reminded herself that he has been outside more than she has, so it would make sense for him to be numb to it. She took a deep breath and composed herself, releasing the tension in her jaw as they continued to make their way to the bakery.
As they were getting closer, they could see the big screen on the side of a building broadcasting The Apex Union's official news channel. They could tell that by looking at the symbol on the right corner of the screen, the letter A in a circle of chains. The chain circle was suppose to represent the strength that comes with uniting but for Avery it represented absolute control that The Apex Union had over the people. The repoter that was on screen had a calm and practiced tone but it was edged with an underlying tension.
"-has confirmed another operation in Ashfold. Over the last month, new safety measures have been implemented to ensure public security following the recent Hexborn disturbances in the eastern districts. Authorities urge citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity. The Apex Union reminds us all that vigilance is not just a duty, it is the foundation of a secure society. Together, we will ensure a safer Nevara."
The words lingered in the air, loud and clear. A promise. A threat. Nearby they heard an old mans grunted approval. "About time" he muttered. "They Should've done this ages ago" A mother could also be seen tightening her hold on her child who looked no older than 5. Avery kept her face blank, her hands forming fists inside her coat pockets while Cameron continued on with a straight face. They both knew better than to react so they kept walking, the sound of the broadcast falling behind them.
As they moved they could see some workers cleaning up the walls of another building. She could make out the words since they haven't managed a good job of removing it yet. It said "Apex's peace is built on chains!" When she looked around she could see more of them. "We are the voices of the voiceless!" , "Resist, Rebel, Revolt!"
Every single one had the same symbol under them. A phoenix. The meaning was clear. Avery knew the rebels existed but seeing these graffitis and hearing the recent news, she could tell they were growing. Seeing their efforts made her feel hopeful. Nobody deserved to be murdered just because they were different. She never understood the logic behind Apex's actions but a part of her told her that they might not even need a reason for this. They were the one's running the country anyway, they could do whatever they wanted. But even then the rebels were making themselves known, getting bigger and not shying away from getting louder. They'd rather die on their feet than live on their knees.
Avery raised her head when she felt Cameron stop her. When she looked she saw that they came to a pedestrian crossing and the light was red for them as the cars moved on across the road. Cameron looked at her. "Bakery is right there" he said pointing at the building across them. She nodded quietly. Seeing her sister deep in thought like this, he knew she was thinking about the hexborns. Especially being out for the first time after almost 2 years must have made her feel overwhelmed, he thought.
He took Avery under his arm and pulled her close playfully as his arm rested on her shoulders. "Thinking is a dangerous hobby"
She raised a brow and quickly put a sassy face on. "Oh, and how would you know that? I thought you had nuts for brains" this earned a chuckle from her big brother.
"Good to know you're still in your spirit" he ruffled her hair again. "But I'd be careful with what i say, we're still related after all so you'd also have nuts for brains."
She rolled her eyes. "Ha ha very funny, smartass."
"I've been told, yes."
They both chuckled. Even though her big brother was annoying most of the time she knew that he cared for her. He sucked at showing it but its the thought that counts, she thought to herself. Cameron's attempt to lighten up the mood seemed to be succesful as they continued their walk when the light turned green for pedestrians.
They arrived at the bakery, the sweet smell of the freshly cooked goods wrapping them in a warm welcoming embrace. Cameron approached to the lady behind the counter while Avery went to see what they had on display.
"4 loaves, please." He said as the lady nodded smiling, leaving to fetch the order. Meanwhile he watched Avery looking at the displays with a watery mouth. He smirked and got a few more things from the display for her. When the lady was done with the order he payed and they left to head to a nearby market to get the pasta. Suprisingly it took shorter than they expected because both of them chose the same kind of pasta so they just bought it and head back home.
The way back was somehow shorter and faster as they arrived after 5-10 minutes of walking. Avery opened the door for them with her key. Cameron went to leave the bags on the kitchen counter while she took off her coat and hanged it. When she walked through the livingroom she saw her dad holding Rose in his arms tightly as she curled up like a ball, still a bit weary from sickness. Her face softened as she looked at the 4 year old and sat next to her father. She caressed the hair of her little sister who seemed to be falling asleep. But even so she lifted her head, her eyes sparkling as they noticed Avery.
"Sissy?" Avery smiled at Rose's innocent voice.
"How are you feeling Rosie?"
Rose seemed a bit more energetic after seeing her big sister as she tried to sit up on her fathers lap. "I'm good. It doesn't hurt anymore." She said as she showed her arms and stretched them out.
Avery ruffled her hair earning a giggle from Rose. When she turned to the tv she saw that it was now playing a cartoon instead of the news channel. She knew her father changed the channels for Rose since she was still too young to be exposed to the harsh realities of the world outside. Avery leaned back into the couch, watching Rose as the little girl slowly drifted off again, her tiny fingers gripping their father's sleeve. Dylan gently adjusted her position, his expression unreadable. Avery could tell though, he was still thinking about the news, about hexborn, about what the future had for people like her.
Kathya soon walked in from the kitchen with Cameron by her side, wiping her hands on a towel. "You two were quick." She said with a small smile, looking at her children.
"Didn't wanna stay out longer than necessary." Cameron replied casually, taking off his jacket. "Besides, Avery was starting to look suspicious just glaring at all of the posters"
Avery shot him a glare of her own. "I wasn't glaring. I was just... observing."
"Observing angrily." He corrected with a smirk.
Kathya shook her head. "At least you're back safe." She said, but there was a hint of worry behind her eyes.
Avery looked between her parents, the tension in their expressions unmistakable. This was how it always was. The Apex Union breathing on their necks. Never truly being able to relax. Never forgetting that at any moment, they could be next. For now though, the house was warm, the smell of the breakfast still lingered in the air and they were safe with their family. Avery decided that this was enough for her.