Scars ran down the side of the hand that was held out toward her. The second finger was missing, its joint gnarled and pitted where the skin had been folded tight over the existing bone.

Silla stepped back triggering distorted transmissions through the filament. The infrared sensory device picked up her sudden movement and zoomed in. The Watchers were alert, searching her perimeter.

When the intruder had come through the barrier, he had said nothing, just fitted the hasp with a pin to secure the egress. He remained outside her instruments demarcation, his hand held out in front of him indicating she should remain still.

His dark brown eyes went to the sensory device. It continued to focus on Silla as his remaining fingers danced and flicked, speaking a silent language the Watchers would not hear.

She knew now, he would have no tongue.

The Runner had come.

She had always known he would. The language his fingers spoke had been embedded in the recesses of her mind. Eugenia, her female forebear had spoken of this time.

Had spoken of a time for freedom.

Had spoken of another way of life.

Had spoken in the silent language.

Silla listened to his fingers.

'Please remain calm. I will not hurt you. My life is now in your hands. You must keep the Watchers contained.'

Silla spoke into the transmitter. "Your forgiveness, Your Eminence, I keeper 01 have stumbled and will receive your reprimand with subservience."
Her eyes searched the Runner's.

He was gratified. His fingers filled the silence once more. 'Your willingness to fulfil your forebear's solicitation is requested. Are you, the last of your kith, willing to cross over to the dark so we may overcome it?'

Silla's gaze flicked from his hands and warily searched his face for prevarication. She could see none. A feeling of foreboding engulfed her.

This was her time.

Her time to evince the free will bestowed upon her at birth. This thought of free will brought images of a childhood lost in separation.

Lost in the framework of a perfect existence.

She was part of this world of twenty-one sixty-two. Everything was exact here. In place, as was her blonde hair drawn tightly back so no strands had a chance to escape. Her white suit, a sign she held no marks of imperfection. Now this intruder was asking her to do what was most foreign to her. Never before had she violated the code. To do so now would mar her character. Questions turned over in her mind. If she were to be seized by the Watchers she risked having her tongue dismembered.

For what rewards?

Dreams.

Dreams of a distant time, told by the elders, until there were none with their tongues intact. The core of her stomach churned. The room condensed, enclosing the surrounding space. A weight on her chest pressed hard. She struggled to breathe. Her fingers dug into the console. Silla's body oozed moisture and her head spun. Daggers of light seared her soul but she did not move.

Images of a woman holding her. Cooing and singing ancient songs of flowers and birds.

Hands jerked and fingers talked rapidly. His stance was rigid, his face calm.

'What you feel is panic. Defined by the ancient wordbook, as a sudden overwhelming feeling of terror or anxiety. Panic is an emotion as is anxiety. You are in a state of unease caused by our request. It is a normal emotion in times of apprehension, an emotion quashed by your conditioning to keep you operative. If you breathe slowly the panic emotion can be contained. Do as I say Silla, breathe slow and deep. You will feel much better.'

He read the question that crossed her face.

'I know your name. It is within the scriptures. You are the preferred one. The only 'She' who can give us ingress to liberty.'

Silla, more at ease, flicked the switch on the tele screen so it transmitted the images of the new sector. The sensory device zoned in on the movement of her hands. She would be unable to communicate to the Runner. Only the movement of her eyes would not be detected by the Watchers.

The Runner must surely know this.

'We need you to separate the barriers. There are others of course who have been selected. They are willing allies, but it is only you who are the gatekeeper. Without you others can never find their freedom.'

Please continue to the next chapter for more of Silla and then onto the third to meet Tarn. ♥

Copyright © 2017 by Donna Fieldhouse. All rights reserved.

Thanks so much for taking a look. Comments most welcome ♥