• II (part 2)


    “Six years was not enough time,” Zac said with a sigh. Guarding his eyes from the sun with his hand, he looked up at the buildings that towered overheard. Many of them weren’t here last Zac remembered. Of course last Zac remembered most of the buildings laid in ruin.

    He clenched his teeth at the memory, but the reminiscing didn’t last long. A heavy force caused his body to lose balance, and he met the annoyed glance of a civilian. Now I remember why I left this place. With an irritated growl, he threw his bags over his shoulders and made his way out of the landing station.

    The streets were incredibly crowded, and Zac couldn’t help but wonder when this place had become such an industrial city. Granted he hadn’t done any research at all on Taleasin’s progress, but when he’d left, he had no intentions of ever coming back to this place.

    “Thanks a lot, Uric.” He still couldn’t get over the betrayal of the one man who he could truly call a father. Just the thought made his blood pressure rocket sky-high. God help anyone unfortunate enough to spare him a bad look.

    He suddenly felt a hard slap on his shoulder, and he couldn’t help it anymore. Zac’s elbow practically slammed back on its own. He heard a loud grunt from behind after making connection with a gut.

    Now I feel better.

    “What the hell, Zac?”

    Zac stopped abruptly, and his heart-beat sped up. It couldn’t be. When he spun around, he immediately realized that it was. Holy hell…

    “Laden?” Zac asked skeptically. The boy before him smirked arrogantly, and there was no mistaking those golden eyes. “Laden!” Zac laughed as he confronted the once-lanky, blonde-headed boy.

    Laden laughed, and Zac instantly recognized that signature sound. No creature in the universe could have as ridiculous of a laugh. Laden grabbed Zac’s arm and pulled him into a bear-hug. “I thought I heard a rumor you were coming back!”

    Ignoring the part about the rumor, Zac returned the embrace. He couldn’t believe how burly Laden had gotten. “What the hell’s with the muscles,” he asked holding Laden at arms length. The boy still had those soulful golden eyes and dark blonde hair, but his face was more chiseled and strong, and his muscles stretched prominently under his navy-blue v-neck shirt.

    He shrugged. “Not everyone was as built as you at fifteen. I’ve grown since then.”

    That he had. Zac would have never guessed in a million years that that scrawny boy with a bad case of acne could ever transform as quickly as Laden appeared to have done. Granted he still wasn’t as big as Zac…but damn!

    “So you hungry,” Laden asked. “’Cause I’m starving!”

    Zac laughed. “I see you still haven’t lost your appetite. What do you say we go grab a bite to eat?”



    “Mm,” Laden moaned as he filled his mouth full of fish. “This is so good.”

    Zac had to admit, one thing he did miss about Taleasin was the sea-food. “Just as good as before.”

    A strange emotion clouded Laden’s eyes as he set his fork down on his plate. “Yeah.”

    A sudden pang of guilt overwhelmed Zac, and his appetite suddenly wasn’t as severe. Although he had said good-bye to Laden before leaving town six years ago, he still failed to keep in contact.

    I never made any promises. But still…

    The two old friends sat in silence for several minutes before Zac couldn’t stand it any more. “So,” he began. “What have you been up to?”

    Laden’s eyebrows shot up as if surprised by the sudden question. “Oh”—he wiped his mouth with a napkin—“You won’t believe it. I joined the military.”

    He was right. Zac didn’t believe it. “The military?” he emphasized. Laden was just full of surprises. “Why the hell would you do that?”

    Laden cleared his throat before averting his gaze shamefully to the side. “I…I thought that it would be easier to find you that way.”

    Zac frowned, confused by his friend’s sudden confession. Laden was always the more sensitive one, but…Laden’s eyes slowly met Zac’s and they stared at each other awkwardly. A few seconds passed before Zac noticed the corner of Laden’s lip turn up slightly, and he couldn’t hold it in anymore.

    They both boomed with laughter simultaneously. It was just like old times except their voices weren’t quite as developed back then. “You almost had me there for a second,” Zac gagged.

    Laden had to catch his breath before speaking. His face still turned beat red whenever he laughed. “Yeah well…I couldn’t help it. The look on your face was priceless!”

    Zac shook his head unbelievingly, a hint of laughter still lingering. “So why did you join, then?”

    Laden sighed away the laughter and shrugged nonchalantly. “There really weren’t many other options. It was either work in the factories—which don’t get me wrong, I like fish but not that much.”

    Zac laughed at the joke.
    “Or there was continue school—which didn’t really interest me. But I didn’t want to leave town, so I just got myself stationed here as a local Watcher.”

    Zac made a skeptical sound. “You’re smart, Laden. You could’ve easily gotten through school.”

    Laden smirked. “I never said I couldn’t do it. I said I didn’t want to.”

    Zac nodded in agreement. It was true. Even though Laden was probably the most intelligent person Zac knew and always managed to ace testes, he was always skipping classes and failing to turn in homework.

    “So what about you?” Laden asked. “What have you been up to?”
    Zac cleared his throat. “I’m a Warrior obviously.”
    Laden arched an eyebrow. “Top grade?”

    Zac’s stomach shrunk at the reminder of why he was here and of his lost opportunity. “No…”

    Laden nodded, understanding the underlying tone in Zac’s voice and knowing well to drop the subject. “Well people are definitely talking about your return. I’d be careful…”

    “Please,” Zack scoffed. “If you’re talking about Thompson’s gang, I’m not worried.”

    “Well…I was thinking more along the lines of Tessa.”

    Zac looked up at the obvious hint of humor on Laden’s face. They’d sworn to never bring up Tessa again. “Tessa can kiss my a**,” he said with acerbic intent.

    “Hm,” Laden mumbled thoughtfully. “I’m sure she’d love that—given the right price. You hear what she’s doing these days? Working on the Ecstasy Block in one of the brothels.”

    “Debts?”

    He shook his head and took another bite of fish. With a mouth full, he said, “Nope. Voluntary.”

    Zac sneered. “Not surprised,” he replied, remembering all too vividly their night of sin not too many days before he realized what a whore she was. Tessa was the first girl he actually saw himself being with, but he was nothing but a good time to her. He laughed inside. Isn’t that the guy’s job?

    “Well I ought to get going,” Zac said.

    Laden swallowed his food and shot Zac a knowing look. “Are you planning on visiting your mom today?”

    Zac immediately felt the room shrinking around him at the mention of his mother. He wiped his suddenly clammy hands on his pants. “I don’t know,” he said lamely.

    Laden nodded wistfully. “Well if you do, you should probably do it soon. He usually shows up around this time.”

    Zac met Laden’s perceptive eyes and was touched by his friend’s thoughtfulness. He smiled reassuringly. “Thanks, Lad. I’ll keep that in mind.”

    Laden returned the smile. “No problem, man. I’m glad your back.”

    “Me, too,” he lied. He was, however, glad to reunite with his best friend.

    “Don’t be a stranger,” Laden said as they walked out of the café door.

    Zac snorted. “As if that’s possible in this town.”

    “True,” Laden said, slapping Zac’s shoulder. “Be safe.”

    “Always.”