The Fall

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Chapter Zero, Chapter One

Chapter Two - "Guardian"

Part I, Part II

Part III

Ellie placed her apple on the table and shifted her back against the arm of the couch, turning her body to face Nathan. She lifted her bare feet onto the couch, took hold of her ankles, and tucked her head behind her knees, showing only her eyes peering over the top of them. "How?"

"Safety's an illusion." He explained. "As is security." Directing his attention towards the curious girl, he continued. "While those inhabiting the lesser districts might spend their time worrying whether they will be murdered for their shoes or fail to feed their loved ones, the majority here in the heights waste theirs terrified by the notion of exile, and the potential loss of comfort they've been too preoccupied to enjoy."

"Does that happen often?" Asked Ellie. "Exile, I mean."

"Every day." He replied. "And with the daily duty increasing as often and as much as it has been, the one hundred thousand living in the heights will be fifty at best by the end of the year."

Ellie collapsed her forehead onto her knees in despair. "This world is so shit." She muttered.

Nathan laughed amidst an involuntary nod.

"But at least you guys have a proper police force up here." She argued. "You'd never have to worry about serial killers like that."

"Ellie." Nathan called, prompting her to lift her head up from behind her knees and look at him. "We don't have to." He corrected. "But again, you are wrong."

Nathan rose to his feet and walked over to the bar, pouring himself a generous glass of bourbon. "The keepers are not police." He explained. "They're mercenaries that work solely at the behest of the governor." He sat back down on the couch facing Ellie and took a sip of his drink. "And believe me, there are plenty killers here too." He continued. "Only they pick their targets far more wisely."

A look of fear washed over the girl's face.

"You don't have to be afraid though." He added, hopeful to abate her discomfort.

Ellie lowered her knees and crossed her legs, placing her hands on her stomach and leaning forward towards Nathan. "Are you afraid of exile?" She asked. "Like the others."

Nathan took another, larger sip of his bourbon. "It's highly unlikely that I will ever face exile." He said with assurance. "But even if so, I'm quite certain I would not be." He added. "The only thing that really frightens me lately." His voice lowered, and he downed the rest of his drink before finishing his sentence. "Is the fact that so little frightens me anymore."

"What does that mean?" Ellie inquired.

Nathan looked at her. For a second he considered explaining what Eldridge had done to him, but he decided against it.

"I don't believe you." Ellie exclaimed. "I could hear your heart pumping when that live stream was on."

"Trust me." Nathan pleaded. "That was not fear."

The girl leaned backwards again onto the arm of the couch. "Then what was it?"

As Chloe's face popped back up on the screen, Nathan was rescued from the need to respond.

Part IV coming soon.