Mad Court: Ch. 6 The Gates of Sojourn

When Maira woke up after being knocked over by a displaced pipe of an AC conduit, she found an arm splayed over her waist. She winced as she tried to get up. Her shoulder was throbbing. She wondered if it had been dislocated or worse… fractured. She tried moving it and a jolt of pain channeled all over her body. She let out a growl.

“Don’t move it. It might be sprained,” The person whose hand remained on her abdomen said. Looking down, her eyes widened in surprise.

“Leon!” She frowned and marveled at his state. He looked terrible but at the same time ruggedly handsome.

He turned around, dragging his hand off of her and falling on his back. He grimaced as he collided with the small pieces of debris that had covered the floor. He twisted his neck to look at her. “Are you okay?”

She nodded.

Leon let out a breath of relief. She got up and dusted off the cement dust off her white slacks. She frowned as she stared at the mud spots on them. After she got on her feet, she helped Leon as well. She scanned the room and found the rest of the band were doing okay as well. And so was Alisa. August had moved himself and Alisa out of the way of the falling debris. Nerita was taking care of a barely conscious Brett. Blood had matted the right top part of his forehead, his blonde hair a shade of dark red.

“What the hell happened?” Alisa breathed as she nursed her ankle. Had she hurt her leg? Was it dislocated or fractured? Or worse, shattered? Alisa looked over at Maira and shook her head. “Before you overthink, nothing is wrong with my foot. I’ve just twisted it a bit.”

Maira blinked. “How did you…?”

Alisa smiled. “We’ve been friends for five years, sweetie. I could see the over-dramatic wheels of your mind projecting out of your pretty little skull. I’m fine.” Maira sighed in relief before her lips stretched in a small smile.

August helped Alisa up and faced the group. “We need to get out of here,” he said. The group agreed. Maira shouldered Alisa’s weight with Nerita while the boys helped Brett get on his feet. Out of all of them, Brett had been injured the most. His leg was broken and a huge gash had scarred his head. Even though Maira hadn’t liked Brett, seeing him that battered churned her insides. With his crappy behaviour and endless flirtation, somehow he had managed to grow on her.

And whether she liked it or not, she had started to treat him as a likable human.

“Guys, is anyone getting reception here?” Alisa asked as she lifted her phone, hoping to gather some cell network. Everyone wiped out the phones, praying that they weren’t damaged or broken.

“My phone is dead,” Nerita said.

“Same.” August stared at his phone as a frown graced his face. Pocketing his phone, he checked Brett’s pockets to search for his phone. “He doesn’t have any reception as well.”

Maira looked around for her missing bag. The latest model of iPhone that her mother had gifted her on her 24th birthday was in that bag. If she had managed to lose it in a month, her mother would have her head. She scoured the entire place but she couldn’t find it anywhere.

“I’ve lost my bag and my phone,” she murmured.

Alisa’s hand patted her shoulder. “I think Mrs. Ahuja will understand considering the situation?” Her forehead creased, unsure herself.

“Have you just met my mother?” Maira exhaled heavily. “Even if the world was nothing but molten lava and locusts, she would expect me to look like I’m on the runway of the International Fashion Week. I’m so dead.” Alisa looked at her friend with solemn eyes and she slowly patted Maira’s back in comfort.

Nerita looked over her shoulder at the boys behind her. “Hey Leon, you haven’t said anything? Does your phone have reception or is it dead like mine and August’s?”

Leon pursed his lips and averted his eyes. Nerita frowned and so did Maira. Admittedly he looked adorable while doing it but why was he doing that?

“My phone…” he mumbled.

“Your phone?” Alisa enquired.

“My phone cracked,” he murmured.

“What did you say?” Nerita asked.

“My phone cracked! It’s broken. Shattered.” He looked utterly devastated. “All those months spent to perfectly curate the Workout Playlist have all gone to waste.”

“But you don’t work out,” August commented.

“Exactly!” He threw his arms in the air. “The songs were so inspiring that I would have started working out any day now.”

August’s jaw dropped as he stared at his friend in disbelief. Maira chuckled while Nerita and Alisa laughed loudly. Leon looked away while he pouted. A blush tinted his cheeks. He turned his head and found Maira noticing it. The blush deepened. He began walking, dragging Brett and a dumbfounded August with him.

As the group stumbled out the door of their mishap dressing room, the sight before them seemed worse. The easy vibe that coursed through them a moment ago deteriorated in seconds. The light fixtures had smashed on the ground, wind sweeping into the building through the gaping hole in the ceiling, and the tens of bodies lay underneath the wreckage.

Nerita gasped. “Oh my God!”

“We need to get out of here,” Leon spoke. Everyone turned to look at Leon. The blush on his face no longer lingered and an eerie coolness took its place. “We need to get Brett to a hospital as soon as possible. And then contact the authorities about this situation,” said Leon, the Always Rational Boy. “The nearest exit is the back entrance but it seems blocked. We have to go around and head to the stage to the main entrance.”

Everyone stayed silent as they mulled over Leon’s plan.

“Maira?” August called out. She turned her head to look over at August. “Do you have your car keys?”

Maira searched her pockets and felt the familiar bump of her favorite anime character keychain. She pulled it out and tried not to get embarrassed by the keychain as everyone was staring at her and her set of keys.

“Although the plan seems logical, Leon, everyone here is equally important as Brett. Everyone is priority no. 1,” August said. He raised his free hand and grabbed the keys from Maira. “Nerita and I will take Alisa and Brett to the hospital. You and Maira search for any…” he trailed, grasping the situation before him. “Hell, I’m going to say it, survivors. If we find any on our way who we can help, we’ll take them along too. Maira, do you remember what we had learned during the First Safety Workshop?”

“Obviously,” Maira said, nodding.

“Good. Because I don’t and I’m sure Alisa doesn’t either. So, you need to help them out here.”

“Me? How can I?” Maira looked at her friend who smiled with solemn eyes. “Fine. But be careful. Send help as soon as possible.”

August grinned. “Always. Call us once you get reception. Now, go!”

Before she and Leon could take off, she leaned in and kissed Alisa on her forehead. “Take care.” Alisa nodded.

“I wonder if Jade Maniacs are fine,” August mumbled.

“You know they say Gods are difficult to kill.”

Maira gasped. Though Brett’s head hung low, the humor dawdled in his tone.

“Brett! Are you okay?” Leon asked.

Brett nodded slowly. “Just need some water.”

“Guys, we’ll handle Brett and Alisa. You go and find survivors,” Nerita said.

As Maira and Leon strolled around to find survivors, Maira couldn’t help but ponder about why she had seen the miserable dream? The memory of her heartbreaking and losing her first love and then waking up to find that man’s arm wrapped around her. Protecting her. To think back, the weather was much like the one they experienced that day. Was it related? Was it truly the end of the world?

She groaned loudly as she scratched her head in annoyance. But then immediately smoothed it out. She tilted her head slightly to find Leon watching her intently. Though he no longer made her heart run and jump hurdles, the sight of him would always be breathtaking.

“Is something bothering you?” Leon asked.

Maira shook her head. “Just wondering what happened here.”

Leon nodded slowly. Maira watched him. His expression might have not given away what he was thinking but his body language rumored. His back was stick-straight. He kept clenching and unclenching his hands. Even his walk was a bit off. A little bit too robotic.

What had been bothering him?

Maira didn’t dare to ask him. It wasn’t because she was afraid. She just knew he wouldn’t answer her honestly. Over the past few years, she had come to understand that Leon Sharpe was a very private person. He didn’t like sharing anything about him with people. He knew everything about everyone. He was at times capable of giving sound advice. But he was not a people person. And everyone respected that and didn’t indulge in overstepping those boundaries.

“Let’s split,” Leon suggested.

“Split? Why?”

“I think we can cover more space that way.” Leon stuffed his hands in his pockets and turned towards her.

“That’s exactly what people in horror movies think too. We’re not splitting.” Truthfully, Maira was scared. She was scared of what she would see.

Leon cracked a smile. “Come on, Maira. You know what I’m saying is logical. You know what, I’ll look into the rooms and you can check the passageways. That way we aren’t too far from each other.”

Maira nodded in agreement. “Fine! Let’s take this corridor. You go left and I’ll go right. You call out when you find someone.” With that Leon and Maira went their designated ways.

As she strolled, she noticed a boy under a huge piece of fallen rubble, groaning loudly. Nearing him, she saw blood and grime painted the once white polo T-shirt he had worn. “Hey, hey! Let me help you out,” she said as she prayed for her Winsor Pilates class to not fail her. With a little help from the boy itself, Maira and he managed to unstuck his leg. “Are you okay? Is it hurting anywhere?”

The boy shook his head. “I’m fine. Thank you.”

Maira smiled. “That’s good. My name is Maira, what’s yours?”

“Ira. Ira Gathegi,” he replied.

“Hello, Ira. My friend and I are looking for survivors. We're planning to make a make-shift shelter for them. Can you help us?” Maira asked. After Ira agreed, she quickly notified Leon about her plan. Without any objection, the trio walked backstage. Leon stayed close, often watching Ira.

As they walked closer backstage, they heard a girl scream. Surprised, Maira rushed to the scene. A girl with long silver hair stared seductively at a boy adjacent to her. Was that Kai Scott? Maira looked around and saw the rest of Jade Maniacs on the floor. A girl with short spikey hair adorned with embellishments, a large man with orange hair, and a lanky boy, immersed in a book that he was reading, stood on stage. She backed away slightly, hoping to stay away from sight. She motioned Leon and Ira to stay back as well.

Maira sucked in air when she saw the silver-haired beauty suddenly appear in front of Kai. Had she even walked? She raked a claw-like nail against his face and spoke, “We are conquerors. We take worlds and their resources. Living and non-living alike, and this world will be just like others. Unless,” She began to trot backward. A smirk stretched upon her lips.

“We beat you,” Kai stated.

‘Conquerors? Were they aliens? Is this an Alien Invasion?’ Maira’s jaw dropped. ‘And what did he mean by ‘beat them’?’

The girl hopped back on the stage and joined her band of people. The smirk on the girl’s face was unmoved. “You are smart for an earthling. No wonder you’re the undisputed champions, the reigning Mad Court,” The girl said. Kai frowned. “Yes, we have heard of you. Undefeated, three years in a row. Known as Devils of Rock. Curious how you’ve done that.” Her toothy grin widened wickedly. “You have till the end of the Festival to save your planet. I'm looking forward to our battle.”

The light beamed again and zapping them away. As soon as they were out of sight, Kai dropped to the ground.

Maira turned towards Leon and Ira. “What the hell just happened?” Ira asked.

“End of the Festival to ‘save’ the planet? Their battle?” A figurative light bulb shone in her head. “Is he planning to fight these aliens?” Maira’s jaw dropped.

Just then, a phone began to ring loudly. Maira jumped in fright, taking a step back. “I’m sorry, that’s Brett’s phone. I took it before we left. I told August to try and call him.” Leon picked up the phone and began talking.

Maira watched Jade Maniacs huddled together near the steps, speaking animatedly but Kai Scott sat quietly.

“What do you mean you can’t leave?” Leon asked. Maira’s attention came back to Leon. He gestured Maira to step away from Ira and motioned her to follow him to the other side of the room. Excusing herself, she followed Leon. “Hold up, let me put you on speaker. Yes, Maira is with me.” He quickly pressed on the speakerphone icon. “August, you’re on speaker.”

“Something is going on here. People have been trying to leave but there seems to be some kind of an invisible barrier around the amphitheater that’s preventing us from leaving. We don’t know what’s happening,” August said.

But they knew. Leon and Maira. Though they hadn’t fully grasped the situation, they knew who could. “Guys, you might have to come back. Something did happen. There’s something we need to tell you,” Maira said.

END OF VOL 1.