Chapter 13: The World we Built - Part 2

Esther stepped onto the creaking wooden planks of the dilapidated dock. Each step elicited a groan from the old wood, and she half-expected it to collapse beneath her weight.

Before her stretched a vast cavern hollowed out into a makeshift harbor. The space was large enough to accommodate nearly a dozen vessels at once. The dock extended towards a stone platform lined with concrete buildings nestled against the cavern walls.

“First time at a border station?” A familiar voice called from behind, startling her.

Holland leaned casually against the ship’s railing, both hands resting on the cold metal. A cigarette dangled between his fingers, its faint smoke curling lazily into the stale air.

“Yes…” Esther replied hesitantly, feeling as though she had done something wrong under Holland’s sharp gaze.

“Where are we now, Captain?” she ventured cautiously.

Holland took a slow drag from his cigarette before answering, the smoke curling from his lips as he spoke. “We’re in the middle of the African Confederacy, south of Giza.”

His tone betrayed no emotion, but Esther braced herself, expecting a reprimand or a strict order.

He’s going to forbid me from leaving the ship, isn’t he?

As if reading her thoughts, Holland chuckled. “I’m not going to keep you locked up on the ship for the entire journey.”

Relieved, Esther allowed herself a small smile, but before she could express her gratitude—

“Are you planning to go alone? Where are your friends?” Holland’s question came as though he’d only just noticed.

“My father’s been seasick since yesterday, so he’s confined to his cabin. Sonia caught the flu and has to stay in the infirmary,” Esther explained, her voice tinged with melancholy. “And I can’t find Rain.”

Holland raised his cigarette to his lips and glanced to the side. “You heard that? She’s looking for you.”

It was only then that Esther noticed Rain sitting by the railing, his legs dangling over the side. His chin rested on a metal post, and he seemed deep in thought.

Rain turned toward Holland, as if seeking confirmation.

“I’m not too comfortable letting a young girl wander around the docks alone. Why don’t you go with her?” Holland said, a peculiar smile playing on his lips that Esther couldn’t quite interpret.

And so, Esther and Rain stepped onto the stone ground of the border station.

Esther planted her feet firmly on the stone surface, relishing the contrast to the metallic floors of the ship. It felt good to have solid ground beneath her again.

All around them bustled with activity. The dock was home to a bustling market where sailors could stock up on supplies or purchase what they needed for long journeys. With five ships currently docked, the harbor was especially lively today.

Esther gazed around, excitement shining in her eyes, until she noticed Rain watching her. She cleared her throat and tried to appear composed, as if she hadn’t been gawking like a child. “Quite a crowd, huh?” she said, attempting to mask her embarrassment.

“Yeah,” Rain nodded in agreement.

“Is it always this crowded? I mean, compared to the other stations you’ve been to?”

“It depends on the station’s location and timing,” Rain explained in his usual low tone. “But it’s not common to see this many people. Something might be happening.”

Esther gazed into the bustling marketplace by the dock. Rows of vendors lined the narrow paths, their stalls a chaotic mix of wooden tables, fabric spread across the ground, and improvised displays. Merchants shouted over one another, vying for the attention of the thronging customers. As Rain had noted, the market was unusually crowded. Above, strings of glowing firefly lanterns illuminated the scene, casting a soft light that flickered on the wares and faces below.

“Where did all these people come from? There are only five ships docked here,” Esther observed, her voice tinged with curiosity.

Rain remained silent for a moment, his gaze sweeping across the crowd. “Refugees,” he finally said in a low voice.

Esther turned her attention to the people bustling around them, noticing for the first time that most weren’t wearing the uniforms typical of sailors. Some were dressed in faded, dirt-streaked clothing, their faces marked with exhaustion.

“The Soviets couldn’t have advanced this quickly,” she mused aloud. The Soviet Empire lay far to the north and had no apparent reason to declare war on the Confederacy. “What are they fleeing from?”

Rain’s expression remained unreadable, his face as impassive as ever.

“Let’s find out,” Esther said, a broad smile breaking across her face as she turned to Rain.

…

Esther wandered through the bustling market, her eyes alight with curiosity. The variety of goods on display amazed her—massive sharks hanging from cranes by the docks, a stall selling harpoons of all sizes, and even a couple of gun shops she passed by twice. She stopped in front of a fishmonger’s stall, captivated by a still-living anglerfish whose bioluminescent bulb flickered faintly.

“You look happy,” Rain remarked as he watched her inspect the strange fish.

“It reminds me of home,” she said, brushing her fingers lightly against the glowing bulb of the anglerfish. “I used to walk through markets like this every morning to catch the cable car to school.” She glanced at Rain. “Do you ever miss home?”

Rain remained silent for a long moment. “The ship is my home,” he finally replied.

Esther turned to look at him, unsure if he was being serious or just messing with her. “I mean your birthplace,” she clarified.

Still, Rain offered no response. The two of them continued walking in silence, weaving through the bustling crowd amid the cacophony of shouted deals and lively chatter.

“My birthplace doesn’t exist anymore,” Rain said at last.

Esther froze mid-step. It was possible Rain had spent his life aboard ships, perhaps even as Holland’s son, though she suspected she might be overthinking it. “I’m sorry to hear that,” she said, her voice laced with guilt.

Rain didn’t appear sad; in fact, he seemed slightly confused by the guilt in her expression.

“There’s no need to feel sorry. I barely remember anything about my birthplace anyway,” Rain said simply.

Esther searched her mind for a new topic to steer the conversation. “What kind of ship did you sail on before the Washington?”

Rain paused to recall. “It was me, Matthew, and Holland. We served aboard a military submarine.”

“Holland was the captain?” Esther asked, surprised when Rain shook his head.

“No, he wasn’t a captain back then.”

Esther had always assumed Holland had once captained a formidable warship, his name attached to legends of sinking enemy vessels by the dozens. She had never considered that Washington might be his first command.

“You said it was a military submarine?”

Rain stared absentmindedly at the firefly lanterns overhead, as though sifting through old memories. “We were sent to fight,” he said finally, offering nothing more. Esther chose to remain silent as well, though curiosity tugged at her thoughts. What war had Holland’s previous ship fought in? And against whom? She imagined his vessel sinking Soviet warships, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t picture Holland as anything other than a captain.

They soon stopped in front of a less crowded shop. A booming voice caught Esther’s attention. “Samurai swords from Saipan! Genuine! Prices negotiable!”

Turning, she saw a stall where swords lay scattered across a canvas on the ground. Beside the display stood a dark-skinned merchant with a bright smile, a scarf tied neatly around his head.

“Look, it’s just like yours!” Esther exclaimed as she approached the stall, intrigued by the swords. “Can I hold one?” she asked the merchant.

“Of course, miss! Just be careful with the blade,” he replied cheerfully.

Rain gave the display a fleeting glance but showed little interest.

“Are these really from Saipan?” Esther asked, picking up one of the swords. It felt lighter than she expected.

“Yes, indeed. I fetched them myself from the forge. This is the last batch, and once they’re gone, I’ll have to make another trip back to Saipan,” the merchant explained with a sigh. “Though it might take a while to get there this time.”

“Why is that?”

“You haven’t heard, have you?” The merchant glanced around, ensuring no one was listening, before lowering his voice. “War.”

“Here? In the heart of the African Confederation?” Esther widened her eyes, feigning surprise. “The Soviets would dare come this far?”

The merchant shook his head slowly. “It’s not the Soviets. No one knows for sure yet, but it seems the Egyptian government lost contact with their eastern upriver stations, including Giza. Nearby towns are already evacuating. Something big is happening. The government planned to send the army to investigate, but... another issue came up.”

“What’s the issue?”

“Separatists,” the merchant replied in a hushed, nervous tone. “The kind who want the Confederation broken apart, so every region can govern itself again. There are countless factions in Africa, each fighting for its own reasons. I don’t know what this particular group wants, but they’ve taken over the dam south of Giza and drained the Nile’s water levels. Now the river’s only shipping route is cut off, which has stranded the military.” He let out another sigh. “And the refugees. And us.”

At last, the mystery was solved. “Thank you for sharing this!”

The merchant’s smile returned, crinkling the corners of his eyes. “Not at all! We don’t get many young visitors here. Thanks for keeping an old man company.”

Esther and Rain resumed their walk.

“It seems we’re stuck here too,” Esther murmured.

Rain’s expression grew troubled. “There’s no other way. This is the only route to Alaska.”

“We could turn back and detour past the Aztecs, heading through the Southern Sea,” Esther suggested, though she knew it would be an incredibly long journey.

“That would mean circling the entire world. It’d take a year, maybe longer. And the Southern Sea…” Rain shook his head. “It’s dangerous.”

Esther fell silent, lost in her own thoughts.

The Egyptian government had lost contact with its capital and the Nile's eastern river stations for reasons cloaked in mystery. To investigate, they organized a military force, only to be thwarted by separatists who cut off water flow from the dam. With the river rendered impassable, their journey to Giza was abruptly halted. Logically, the military would first need to retake the dam before proceeding, which meant she and Rain would likely be stranded at the station until then.

This meant they were stuck.

Esther wasn’t sure how to feel about it. Part of her was annoyed by the delay—she wanted to keep moving. Yet another part welcomed the pause, happy to spend more time on solid ground. The station’s lively market evoked memories of home, filling her with a bittersweet longing she didn’t know she still carried.

It was only then that she realized they had wandered past the bustling market into a quieter area. The rows of concrete buildings ahead looked like makeshift hotels or restaurants. The vibrant lights of the market faded behind them, replaced by dim, flickering bulbs shining through the windows of the buildings.

“Should we head back?” Rain’s voice cut through the stillness behind her.

“I think so. Let’s go.” A shiver ran down Esther’s spine as the shadows pressed closer. She hadn’t noticed the growing darkness until now, and suddenly, the comforting glow of the market felt very far away.

A voice echoed from behind them.

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"What are you two doing out here?" Turning around, Esther saw a group of five men emerge from the shadows of the buildings. "Sneaking off, are you?" They were all tall, middle-aged men, dressed in tattered, faded clothing. A few of them clutched beer bottles in their hands.

“Sorry, we were just leaving,” Esther stammered, her voice trying to sound calm. She wasn’t sure what they meant, but it was obvious they were drunk. She began to step back slowly as she spoke, trying not to provoke them.

One of the men stepped forward, his bald head gleaming under the dim light, tattoos sprawling across his scalp. “These rats think they can run,” he sneered, his malicious grin fixed on Esther.

“I think there’s been a misunderstanding,” Esther said, panic creeping into her voice as the group began to spread out, encircling them.

“Misunderstanding? Don’t talk nonsense,” the bald man barked, his voice sharp and angry. “We bought you. You do what we tell you, or else.”

Her heart raced as his words sunk in. Bought us? It had to be a mistake—a terrible one. But she didn’t have time to figure it out. If she didn’t act quickly, this situation would spiral out of control.

“I think you’ve got the wrong people,” she tried again, her voice trembling but steady. “We just arrived at the station last night.” She hoped logic might work, even on drunkards.

“Shut up and come with us!” Another man, his unkempt beard stained with beer, lunged toward her. The stench of alcohol hit her as his hand reached out, closing the gap between them.

A sound tore through the air.

The man’s hand was no longer attached to his arm.

Out of the corner of her eye, Esther saw the severed hand skitter across the ground. The man clutched the stump of his wrist tightly, staring at it in disbelief.

Rain stood between them, gripping the hilt of his katana with both hands. She had no idea when he had drawn it. “If you won’t listen, the next strike won’t aim for your hand,” he said, his voice calm, chilling in its detachment.

The one-handed man screamed in agony, his cries snapping his companions out of their stupor.

“Where the hell did these brats get a sword?!”

“They cut Rodrick’s hand clean off!”

“Get ‘em!”

Esther felt herself shoved to the ground by Rain. From where she lay, she saw the drunken men lunge at him all at once. One, wearing a cap, raised a broken bottle high, while another, blond-haired, moved in from behind to grab him.

Rain crouched low and spun, slashing his sword in a sweeping arc. The blade carved into the chest of the man in front of him before continuing downward, its tip angling back toward the man behind. With a powerful thrust, Rain drove the blade through the blond man’s torso.

The blond man staggered backward, his arms flailing like a puppet with severed strings.

Two more men charged. One of them was the one-handed man, clutching a machete in his remaining hand.

Rain yanked his blade free from his last target and swung it horizontally. Steel met steel with a resounding clang as he deflected the machete. But before he could recover, the other man slammed into him from behind, driving them both to the ground.

“Rain!” Esther’s panicked shout was all she could do. The two were locked in a vicious struggle, their forms a blur of movement.

One figure pinned the other and began stabbing repeatedly at his throat.

Relief flooded Esther as Rain rose to his feet. Blood smeared his face, and he clutched both his katana and the knife he had wrested from his attacker. Behind him, the man on the ground choked on the blood pouring from his neck.

Rain turned to face the two remaining men—the bald one and the one-handed man. Both stared back at him, their expressions frozen in terror.

“What… what are you?” the one-handed man stammered, his voice trembling as he dropped the machete from his grip.

The bald man, however, fumbled to pull a handgun from his coat pocket. His hand shook as he pointed it at Rain. “Hey! Drop your weapon!” he barked, attempting to sound commanding, though the quaver in his voice betrayed him.

Esther stood frozen in fear, her heart pounding as the scene unfolded. Rain was less than five meters away from the men. No amount of skill could outmatch a gun. She silently prayed for him to comply, to lay down his sword before it was too late.

“One!” The bald man began counting when Rain remained still, his feet planted firmly.

“Two!” The tension in the air grew unbearable. Rain didn’t flinch, his eyes locked unwaveringly on the man.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you! Three!” The bald man pulled the trigger.

Bang!

The gunshot echoed across the docks, louder than anything else in the chaos. Esther flinched, squeezing her eyes shut as the sound jolted her to her core.

When she dared to open them again, the bald man lay sprawled on the ground. A gaping hole marred his forehead, blood and fragments of bone splattered around him like a grotesque halo.

When she turned and saw the surprised expression on Rain’s face, Esther realized that this wasn’t his doing.

“Well, isn’t this admirable?”

The voice came from the direction of a concrete building, which Esther had assumed was a restaurant. Standing in the doorway was a figure shrouded in shadow, aiming a smoking revolver in their direction. “For kids like you to put up a fight,” the figure added.

The revolver fired again.

This time, the one-handed man dropped to the ground. His head snapped backward unnaturally, a clear sign that the bullet had struck its mark with deadly precision. Esther flinched as fragments of skull and brain matter splattered across her.

Turning toward the newcomer, Esther saw that they wore a long trench coat that reached their ankles, paired with camouflage-patterned jeans.

To her astonishment, the figure was a woman. Her jet-black hair cascaded down to the middle of her back, framing a pale face with delicate features. The woman was undeniably beautiful. On closer inspection, she didn’t even seem much older than Esther herself.

“Who are you?” Rain asked, his voice devoid of emotion.

The mysterious woman spun her revolver with practiced ease before holstering it at her side. “No thanks for saving your lives?” she asked with a playful smirk.

Rain stepped beside Esther, his grip on the katana firm and unwavering. “Thanking someone who’s been tailing us since the market and just killed a man in front of us seems a bit... off, don’t you think?”

The girl’s grin widened. “Sharp senses and impressive skills. You’re quite something.” She took a step closer, stopping just before them. “I like that.” Though it seemed her attention was solely on Rain.

“Who are you?” Esther asked warily.

“My name’s Kyle,” the girl replied without glancing her way. “And you?”

When neither answered, Kyle let out a laugh. “Why so paranoid?”

“You’ve been following us, and you just killed someone in front of us,” Rain said flatly. “Forgive us for being cautious, but we’d like to know why you’re here.”

“Because I want to invite you to join me.”

Both Esther and Rain shared a look of confusion. “Join what?”

“The fight against the old world.” Kyle’s tone suggested it was the most obvious answer in the world.

Kyle sighed at their blank expressions. “Do you know what’s wrong with this world? Adults. The ones in governments, waging selfish wars. The elders teaching us to follow outdated manners and traditions inherited from their own predecessors. Adults built this broken world for us.”

“But adults also raised us, didn’t they?” Esther countered hesitantly.

Kyle sneered. “They had us for selfish reasons. To carry on their lineage, inherit their businesses, take care of them when they’re old, or achieve the dreams they couldn’t. They had us to make us like them.” She paused, her voice dripping with disdain. “To become adults.”

“That’s not true. They can have expectations, but they don’t force us. My dad didn’t stop me when I decided not to study linguistics and use encyclopedias instead,” Esther argued. “Aren’t you generalizing a bit too much?”

“You don’t understand,” Kyle snapped, turning to face her for the first time. “You didn’t grow up in a family that had to sell a sibling for passage on an evacuation ship. You didn’t lose your parents to a plague because there was no money for treatment. You weren’t sold into slavery.”

Rain stepped between them, his presence cutting the tension. Esther felt a wave of relief.

“The only way to fix this world is to dismantle the old governance, depose the ones in power, and let the new generation take their place. Only when the old generation is eradicated can we begin to address the problems of this world.”

“That’s utter nonsense!” Esther’s voice rose. “Are you seriously saying that killing off eighty percent of the Sunless World’s population is your solution to fixing it?”

“If we don’t, they’ll control us for the rest of our lives. If we don’t destroy their world, we’ll never build a better one.”

“Or maybe you’re deluding yourself into thinking it’s better. The world is the result of generations of learning.”

“That learning gave us war, starvation, and survival at all costs.”

“But it also gave us technology, submarines, and medicine, didn’t it?”

Rain, still silent, slid his katana back into its sheath and placed both hands between them, gently pushing the two apart. The argument came to an abrupt halt.

“So, you’re with the separatists who took over the dam, aren’t you?” Rain asked, his gaze steady as he studied Kyle’s expression.

Kyle arched a brow, clearly impressed. “You figured all that out?”

Rain’s eyes shifted to the shadows behind her. “I didn’t guess.”

Kyle followed his gaze, letting out a resigned sigh. “You really don’t miss a thing, do you?” She turned toward the darkness and waved someone forward. “You can come out now, Sven!”

A shadow shifted in the darkness, emerging silently into the dim light. It was a figure of a young boy, though his face was obscured by a hood and mask, making it impossible to confirm. Still, he was smaller than Esther. The boy was clad head-to-toe in black camouflage and carried a single-shot sniper rifle in his hands.

"Why take the dam? Why lower the water levels? Don’t you know the Nile is a vital trade route?" Esther asked, deciding to voice the question burning most in her mind.

The smile vanished from Kyle’s face. "To protect the rest of us."

"From what?"

Kyle glanced at Esther, her empty expression more unnerving than any glare. "Something in the river. No one knows for sure. We’ve lost contact with the children to the east, too. Stories from refugees who’ve made it here vary, but one thing is certain—there’s something coming down the Nile, killing everyone it encounters." She paused, her voice tinged with something darker. "I lowered the Nile’s waters to protect the children that remain."

"If you let the military through, they could investigate and deal with whatever’s coming." Esther offered a solution, but Kyle only responded with a bitter laugh.

"Giza has a military. So does Eastern Nigeria. And New Morocco. Think about it—why are people panicking and fleeing in droves if this was something the grown-ups could handle?"

Kyle’s reasoning was sound, yet Esther couldn’t shake her frustration at the choice to address the symptom instead of the root cause. "But still..."

"Listen," Kyle began, her tone laced with exhaustion. "I’m not asking you to agree with my methods. But if I hadn’t acted, this station would have been overrun by that... 'something' long before the military ever arrived. And even if I raised the water levels now, the government forces would still attack the dam anyway." She sighed deeply, a hint of frustration creeping into her voice.

"I’m not forcing you to accept my offer. If you’re not interested, just walk away."

"And get shot in the back?" Rain asked flatly.

The boy named Sven pulled back the rifle’s bolt, ejecting an unused cartridge before catching it deftly and slipping it into a pouch. He engaged the safety and slung the weapon over his shoulder with an air of practiced efficiency.

"Sven’s here to cover me on this mission," Kyle said casually, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "I could have had him shoot you anytime, but I didn’t." She turned to head back toward the concrete building. "Don’t worry. I don’t kill kids. I’m not one of the grown-ups."

As Kyle stepped inside, Esther caught a glimpse of a group of children huddled together in the dim interior of the concrete structure. The door closed behind her, leaving Esther and Rain alone with the boy sniper.

"Sorry about that," Sven said softly, bowing his head politely. His voice, light and boyish, revealed his age. "Kyle can be a bit... intense. And that invitation? Don’t worry about it. Kyle wasn’t being serious."

"Who are those kids?" Esther blurted out, nodding toward the building Kyle had disappeared into.

"They’re children sold off at this station in exchange for tickets on the evacuation ships heading west," Sven explained with a quiet, even tone. He gestured to the five bodies sprawled lifelessly around them. "Those people were buyers—they either planned to sell the kids elsewhere or force them into labor."

Esther froze, the weight of Kyle’s words pressing down on her. Families forced to sell their children for survival—such cruelty was beyond her comprehension. The fragments of earlier conversations began to slot into place: the sword vendor’s comments about rarely seeing children at the station, and the drunken group’s delusion that she and Rain were runaways.

"We bought you. You follow our orders."

“Stuff like that...” Esther searched for the right words, but they eluded her.

“It’s common,” Sven interjected, his tone surprisingly gentle. “In times of war or plague, the youngest and oldest are the first to be abandoned. Human trafficking becomes the norm in isolated stations like this. I was sold into slavery too, until Kyle rescued me.” His voice carried a note of gratitude. “Our force was formed to protect and care for children like these. We’re here to take them somewhere safe.”

“To that dam of yours, the one about to be attacked?” Rain’s voice was cold. “How do you plan to hold off a government army?”

“The dam’s a stronghold,” Sven replied confidently. “And we’ve drained the river. No boats or submarines can approach. Without naval support, the army can’t breach our defenses. The kids will be safe there.”

Esther bit her lip, her chest tightening. If the army attacked, Kyle and her group were essentially leading those children to war. And if they lost…

She opened her mouth to protest, but Rain raised a hand, silently shaking his head.

“You’re still children too,” Sven said softly. “Even if we grew up differently, I hope you can understand what we’re trying to do—and choose not to stand in our way.” His gaze lingered for a moment before he turned and melted into the shadows. The faint click of bullets sliding into a chamber echoed behind him, a wordless warning.

“Let’s go back to the ship,” Rain said, breaking the silence. He started walking toward the market without waiting for a reply.

“Will they be okay?” Esther’s voice was small, almost lost in the night.

Rain paused mid-step, considering. “The army will stop at nothing to reopen the Nile. The attack will happen, that much is certain.” His tone was as even as ever. “I don’t believe a force made up of children can withstand trained soldiers and military hardware. Eventually, they’ll lose.”

“Then shouldn’t we stop them?” Her voice rose, trembling with urgency as she gestured toward the concrete building. “They’re marching those kids straight to their deaths!”

Rain stared at her, unblinking. “Those kids were abandoned. The slavers are dead. Who’s going to look after them? You?”

Her arm dropped to her side, fingers curling into a fist. She didn’t know how to respond.

“Leave them here, and they’ll starve—or worse, be enslaved again. And that would be merciful.”

The words ignited a fire of anger and frustration in Esther.

“Better a slave to someone than a corpse in the dirt.” Rain’s voice was devoid of emotion.

Esther clenched her teeth, her body trembling uncontrollably. She couldn’t pinpoint why she was so furious or even what exactly she was angry at. “Stop talking like this is normal!” she shouted, her voice quaking with indignation. “Doesn’t it make you angry? Is this really all we can offer those kids—slavery or death?”

Rain shrugged, indifferent. “That’s just the way the world is.”

It was then that Esther realized what she was truly angry about.

She was angry because she was no different from Kyle.

Kyle couldn’t accept the raw, brutal nature of humanity. She just chose to confront it in ways Esther thought were wrong.

But what about her? She hadn’t done anything. All she did was point out problems without proposing solutions, insisting only that they were wrong.

She was angry at her own powerlessness to fix what was right in front of her.

"I want to learn about this world because I want to change it."

The words she had spoken to the soldier on the ship’s deck echoed in her mind.

What if that was the answer?

The world is just the way it is.

Esther didn’t know how long she stood there. She stared at the market bustling with people, their footsteps and chatter filling the air. She watched merchants smile as they hawked their wares to passersby. They must have heard the gunshots and sounds of fighting, but no one paid any attention. It was as though she existed in a different world from them. The five bodies lying in pools of blood and viscera might as well not exist.

"The world is the way it is because of the adults who built this terrible place for us."

Kyle’s furious voice reverberated in her thoughts. This time, her words didn’t seem so absurd anymore.

Maybe if she could channel her anger at the state of the world into someone, like Kyle did, she wouldn’t feel this way.

Finally, she turned to Rain, who had been waiting for her patiently.

“Let’s go back to the ship.”