Chapter 10

Zipping through the streets of Rhod offered Zark a blissful freedom. The warm air was pleasant on his skin. The uniquely manned vehicle drew the gaze of pedestrians as he zoomed by. Many reacted with a double-take, unsure if what they saw was a reality.

Zark navigated the number 49 highway northbound, leaving their downtown loft far behind. Skyscrapers towered around him as obelisks, rising from unseen depths below the elevated highway. Shadows grew deeper the further he rode. Ahead, at the terminus of the highway, the flat tops of two great wind barriers caught slim strips of sunlight filtering through the skyline in his wake.

Zark took the last exit before the highway’s end. He followed the line of the northern city border, finding an antiquated paved road which led further north. It had no median, lights, or boundaries and retreated far into the Red Mountains. Next to the road, a forgotten wind-advisory sign flailed wildly. He had little experience driving in a city, let alone with environmental hazards afoot. He tried not to think about the strong western winds. They’d been known to topple larger vehicles than his, caught in the open fields north of the city.

Zark’s GPS took him through the foothills of the northern countryside, passing between deep canyons and across an enormous windy basin. He knew he shouldn’t have left without telling Zedd, but he couldn’t return to his father without clues as to Lena’s whereabouts. If he could find her, possibly help her, then he could justify breaking curfew.

After an eternity of blistering winds, he reached Red Lake. The serene lake welcomed him, nestled between surrounding mountain peaks. He paused as the wind died down beyond a tall narrow peak to the west. Only the top of the sun was visible from here, glistening across the shards of Rhod’s skyscrapers in the distant seaside basin. It was breathtaking.

Zark studied the route ahead. Following the mountain pass north, a questionable service road disappeared into the wilderness. The main path continued west, but according to the map, dead-ended a few kilometers away. From what he gathered; the service road led to where Ellis’ location had last synced. He was glad he’d taken the time to inspect Ellis’ OS. Otherwise Zark wouldn’t have had the necessary tools for his hunt. The last update hadn’t moved since he left the garage. Thankfully, Zark’s GPS still had a signal in this remote area. He hoped Ellis was somewhere near the marker as he continued onto the unmapped road.

The service road climbed higher into the pass. Some sections crumbled from years of negligence. The last rays of sunlight baked the surface of the southern mountain slope where he picked his way around two switchbacks. The road finally leveled out somewhat, succumbing to the shadow of the mountain. More foliage appeared. How it survived with so little sunlight was beyond him. The further he followed the road, the thicker foliage became, growing ancient and undisturbed in the sunless vale.

He came to a split and consulted his map. He took a moment to determine the best route. The roads in this area did not adhere to a gridded pattern as they did in the city. It was easy to get lost. He could tell the sky was a shade lighter behind him, assuring him that he was still facing north. The topographic version of his map showed him a river near Ellis’ location. He needed to go downward if he wanted to find it. Zark turned right, and sure enough, the road gradually descended, winding endlessly around cliff sides, each shining with broken waterfalls.

After a time, Zark came to a stop. He saw no sign of the river, but decided to locate it by sound. The drone of his bike rang in his ears even after he shut it off. He sat motionless, adjusting to the silence.

The echoed drone of the bike eventually gave way to the far-off sound of rushing water. He checked the map. Ellis’ target location was only a short distance ahead. He needed only to follow the road a little longer to reach him.

He switched his headlight off and darkness overcame him as he lifted the visor of his helmet. The air was thick here, but cool and refreshing. Once his eyes adjusted to the darkness, shapes materialized. Some plants glowed dimly in a beautiful bioluminescence of blues, pinks and greens. Never had he seen something so grand or alien. The botanical gardens on the Duskrider were a pale comparison to the immensity of this place. His old home seemed like a prison in retrospect. He was beginning to understand the appeal of living under an open sky.

He switched his headlight back on and forged ahead. He kept half an eye on his map as he approached the location. He passed it and was forced to double back.

Did I miss a turn? He backtracked slowly, this time finding a small pathway he had overlooked. It had been paved once, but now lay in ruin. It was overgrown and broken with cancerous potholes that made continuing on foot his only option. He walked his bike a short way and parked it before removing his helmet and clipping it to the handlebars. Ellis’ location was just ahead, he was sure of it. He rummaged through his backpack, retrieving a small flashlight.