grin-reapers

[grin-reapers]

ONE

Lumine wakes up to the taste of scourging metal on her lips.

Or rather, to Tobias’ slap across her face. “Glad to see you’ve woken up from your little nap,” he says, with his everlasting frown and taste for sarcasm. He presses a handkerchief against her mouth, which she realizes is now throbbing. When she draws the cloth back, it’s burned crimson red. Just great. As if the dull pain at the back of her skull wasn’t enough. She can blindly remember snippets of what happened before this; a chase, a glinting diamond, a girl with white hair, her landing on the cold hard pavement.

“Where are we?” Lumine asks with a wince, pulling herself up and taking in her surroundings. She had seemed to have passed out in an alley, the beautiful brick streets of Zenith still wonderful even when hidden between buildings. No signs of squalor to be spared even in the shadows; ridiculously divine.

“Near the city square. After that thief knocked you off your feet blind, she made a beeline towards the factory town.”

Lumine winces, one hand on the kerchief against her mouth, the other dusting off her black, two-sizes-too-big jeans. “North? Damn it. I know exactly where she’s headed.” 

Tobias yanks her up, his frown deepening. Lumine had never seen the man with anything other than a look of distaste on his face – excusing his varied displays of boredom, mild disgust, and outright disgust. It’s a shame; she’d heard rumors across the city that the prince of Zenith has a hypnotizing smile. “Don’t tell me she’s headed for Na-”

“We’re heading to Nadir.” Lumine grins, slapping the side of Tobias’ cotton sleeve with the bloody kerchief. His expression shifts to that of outright disgust. “Aren’t you excited, Toto! Your first journey underground! What joy it is for every Zenith citizen to finally descend into the dumps!” she said, whistling as she started walking towards the direction of the nearby factory town.

“I’m not heading down with you, if that’s where you’re headed. We’ve agreed on that.” said Tobias, catching up with her. He’d yanked his mask up his nose, a frail attempt to hide his identity. “I’ll do this crime fighting stuff with you, as long as I never step foot in Nadir.”

“Why? You scared?” Lumine said, flashing her teeth in a toothy smirk. “Should’ve just said so.”

“I’m not scared. I’m just not idiotic.” Tobias protested, as they dove into the city square. The sparkling city of Zenith was bustling with preparations for the annual ball to take place next month, with colorful, heavy streamers hung overhead, the center fountain adorned with decorative diamonds, and real, pure gold lining the very brick steps they’ve trodden upon. Lumine had tried to dig them up once; she’d gotten electric-shocked in return. 

“What? Isn’t going down to Nadir, like, a rite of passing for you folks? Oh rich people, come see the reality of the world outside gold pavement and castles!” Lumine said, with a mocking wave of her hands. “Or come get your dirtiest desires, your addictions, whatever your perfect city would sooner kill themselves over than to provide!”

“Keep your voice down, you fool,” Tobias said, shoving the kerchief against her mouth as he looked around to see if anyone noticed. Luckily, everyone was busy with either shopping, selling, or talking. The handful of nobles careening around are on their carriages, yanked by fat, gem-flecked show horses. “It’s like you’re trying to get caught.”

“What? Like they’d know I’m from Nadir.”

“You dress like a bum. Believe me, they’d know.”

“Oh, like they wouldn’t know you with that stupid mask on? You’re dressed in half the city’s economic value, get real.”

“It’s custom-made, they wouldn’t know that.” Tobias sniffed. “That aside, I can’t go down with you, alright? It’s dangerous, I might die, and if someone down there recognizes me, that’s the end of it. The entire city will rejoice in the scandal.” he shuddered at the mere thought of it; of his face plastered across newspapers and televisions all across Zenith. “I’d rather the Grim Reaper himself show up at my doorstep than embrace the shame of it.”

“Yeah, because a little scandal is the end of the world for you princesses. In Nadir, you wouldn’t even want to know what’s the worst that could happen to you.” 

“See? You’re proving my point.” They pass by a group of teenagers, who throw Tobias a curious look, heads scrambling to wonder why he seemed so familiar. He keeps his head down, pulling Lumine to a less populated alley. “Damn it. This is ridiculous at this point.”

“Oh, why are you so uptight about your shitty face? Acting like you’re some kind of prince or something.” Lumine said, taking off her cap and shoving it against his chest. “I’m pretty sure whoever your bigshot dad is isn’t that big of a deal, come on now. I know plenty of kids with merchant parents who aren’t as fussy as you. I bet half of these people don’t even know your name.”

With a scowl, he put it on and caught up with her. “For starters, I’m not fussy. I’m just being safe. I may just be some merchant’s son, but that doesn’t mean I’m allowed to roam the streets fighting people whenever I want.”

“You know, you wouldn’t have to worry about all that in Nadiiir.” Lumine teased, like dangling a carrot on a stick. “No one would give a damn about you down there. You could practically reinvent yourself! Name yourself Carlos and work at a random secondhand bookshop. Freedom.”

Tobias entertains the thought for a few seconds. “Tempting, but no.”

“Almost had you there.” Lumine sighs. “You know, it’s funny. We’re opposites. No one gives a flying crap about who I am up here, but down there, everyone loves me. Hey, you know what? I’m practically Nadir’s princess! Well, minus the wealth, castle, blatant authoritarianism, capitalism, slavery, and royal balls.” 

“They don’t love you. They love your superhero act, Little Miss Nightwalker. Stupid name, by the way.”

“One, rude, screw you, and two, who cares? Identity masked or not, I’m still their hero.” Lumine says languidly, a satisfied grin on her busted lip. “Nightwalker, Nadir’s number one crime-fighter, because the mandated police from Zenith don’t do shit! Phew, I’ve gotten so good at my job that sometimes, even Zenith itself needs my help!” she narrated, eyes starry with exaggerated sways of an arm. “Imagine that; the city of angels itself, needing the help of a filthy Nadirian! It’s practically a poverty-porn movie producer’s wet dream.”

Tobias rolls his eyes. “Like hell we do. You just like sticking your nose in everyone’s business.”

They took a left into a dark tunnel, leading up into the factory town of Zenith. As the manufacturing hub, it was filled to the brim with busy laborers hollering at each other, dragging items across the street. Lumine headed away from the hubbub and ducked into a dilapidated building, seemingly forgotten in the midst of rising towers of smoke and concrete dust. Once they were both inside, she let out a loud huff, echoing throughout the dark interior of the run-down factory. “You work out, right, Toto?” she said, mapping a path as her gaze traveled upwards, scanning the broken stairs, wobbly bricks, and splinting wood. 

“None of your business. Why?” Tobias said, watching as Lumine started to tie her long dark hair up in a frazzled ponytail.

Lumine grinned. “Try to keep up, then.”

And then she was off, hoisting herself up and climbing upwards to the second floor, using concrete bricks sticking out the wall to support herself. With a loud sigh, Tobias followed suit. The duo leapt over obstacles and ducked underneath metal beams, leaping across broken gaps between floors and stairs. Lumine, used to maneuvering the broken-down city of Nadir, was effortless in her stride, keeping a steady rhythm with confident movements. It’s only been three years ever since she started fighting crime in Nadir as a personality, but her dexterity and skill almost matches that of a trained Zenith general. Perhaps even better, thought Tobias, pulling himself through a broken window. I wonder if anyone has ever trained her?

Tobias and Lumine haven’t known each other for a long time. They met six months ago, and they’ve worked together ever since; both for their own benefits. Lumine needed a cover up in the big city, and Tobias had enough of his boring routine. Despite their easy banter and teamwork, however, they rarely know much about each other. All Lumine knows is that Tobias is some kind of rich merchant’s son in Zenith, and all Tobias knows is that Lumine’s some Nadir rascal who acts as a hero called Nightwalker. They’ve been able to pursue their personal goals with their easy, surface-level relationship so far, but he wonders how long they’ll be able to keep this up.

He cuts his arm on a shard of glass on the wall, and he flinches. The blood oozes out brown skin, staining the cuff of his coat sleeve. “Damn it,” he murmured. Mother will kill me. 

Even more so if she finds out I’m running around town like this.

“Tobi! What’s taking you so long?” hollered Lumine’s voice from above.

“Just a second.” he said, pressing his sleeve against the wound to staunch the bleeding. He can’t remember the last time he’d bled. Perhaps when he was a child. The pain shoots up his arm, like crackling sparks, and it’s so terribly unfamiliar that it makes his heart race in excitement. When was the last time he’d ever gotten to get out this much? To put some sort of meaning in his life again?

But I can’t possibly go down. All this crime-fighting business in Zenith is dangerous enough as it is. If he goes down, that’s a whole different story. Excusing Nadir’s adamant penchant for chaos, it’s infested with Zenith nobles. The very nobles I exchange smiles with at masquerade balls. Tobias mouth draws back into a straight line, weighing his options. Either he does the right thing and turns back now, or he jumps off the deep end.

Neither are particularly inviting.

He’s not even sure if he can trust Lumine. Lumine, who showed up on his window pane on a stormy midday. With her wild, wavy mane of obsidian hair, and eyes as grey as steel, she asked him to join her. And although it was completely out of character for him, he found himself saying yes. The reason behind his sudden impulsiveness is still for him to ponder, although he finds that he doesn’t regret the time he’d spent with the delinquent. These past six months have been the most alive he’d ever felt in a long time.

“Tobias!”

“I’m here,” he said, hoisting himself up the final step. They found themselves in a dark room, filled with nothing but a run-down elevator in the center. Lumine scampered over and yanked open the grate, inspecting the broken lock on the floor.

“Well, now we certainly know where our little thief went.” she said with a sigh before punching the elevator button. “But luckily for us, she unlocked it already. I won’t have to dial up someone I know to get the elevator up and running again.”

“I thought the bullet trains were the only ways to head underground,” said Tobias. 

Lumine shook her head. “Bullet trains are only for the Zenith folk, cause they’re the only ones who can afford it. Everyone else is forced to the bridge, which is rampant with checkpoints. Even if you get there, they catch any Nadirian who they deem suspicious and turns them away.” she said. “And it takes hours to get there. It’s literally impossible. That’s why these elevators were made. Secretly. They’re illegal, but that’s how the select few of us rascals get between cities easily.”

“And how were you able to find one of these-”

“Shh. Nadir princess, remember?” Lumine grinned, just as the elevator arrived with a shaky halt. The doors opened, leaving a cloud of dust and dirt in its wake. “Well, let’s go.” she said, stepping in.

Tobias stood in place, staring at the broken-down elevator. His ticket to the underworld. This may be his only chance to enter Nadir; to truly see it, aside from the stories and nightmares illustrated to Zenith children by their parents and mentors. It’s said that once a Zenithan entered Nadir, they don’t come out the same ever again.

Is he willing to risk that?

Lumine noticed his doubt, crossing her arms. “Hey merchant boy, we don’t have all day. Make the choice. You gonna go to hell, or stay in paradise?” she teases, knocking the rust-addled grate.

But what Lumine does not understand is this; Zenith is already his hell.

“I’m coming,” he says, ignoring Lumine’s wide grin, “as long as we’re back before dinner.”

“Okay, kindergartener. Any more demands?” she says, pressing the broken button down.

“Just one.”

“Yeah? Shoot.”

“I’m not naming myself Carlos.”

It took Lumine a second before she burst out laughing, just as the elevator rumbled shut.