Transgressing the Boundaries

[Dogs231]

The sun rose again over the island.

It formed a shadow in the wake of an empty building—a place forbidden—where few would dare to tread. It was raised a full story above the ground, with a bird's eye view of the surrounding area. To enter, all of them knew, meant certain death, or, at least, such was the claim. To most, that was a sign to leave. To one, though, it was an invitation to enter.

S061: ALEXANDER HAWTHORNE — CONTINUED FROM "Tetradic Number"

Alexander stood in the long shadow of the free-standing building. The chilled air bit lightly at his skin, in the gaps where it could infiltrate his clothes, the winter's chill no stranger to him. In the distance, the storm clouds gathered, a foreboding prophecy of the weather yet to come. But he was not deterred by any proclamations of peril—warnings, unheeded.

From his pocket, he drew the map and eyed it. This building was, in fact, the location he believed it to be; of that, there could be no doubt. Raised one story above the ground, it oversaw the rest of the mine like a prison watchtower. In a way, it was thematic—how all of them felt like the captives of fate. But there was a weakness in their façade, he knew.

On the other side was the path he had trodden to make his way to the beach; if he followed that trail long enough, he would arrive at his true destination, the island's research station. It was a course set on the third day—one made not far from where Alexander stood at that very moment. There, Valentin awaited; his ally, with whom he was desperate to connect.

They had arranged to meet there on this day, the fifth, two announcement cycles from their last meeting. If he failed to arrive, consequences would follow, their trust broken. As Valentin had put it, that was non-negotiable. But he had no intention of breaking the promise he had made. He had given his word to his friend, and so, he would keep it; that was that.

He could easily tread across the invisible lines they drew across the land. That came with the risk of death, of course—he was not so stupid as to believe otherwise—but there was also an advantage to gain. Trespass would allow for greater mobility across the island—something he would need if he intended to make their meeting at the agreed-upon time.

But still.

He felt his resolve waver in his heart. Something that had taken root in him when his father had passed from the world began to bloom. There was an unease in his body, from his esophagus to the pit of his stomach, and a dizzy, light feeling in his head—fear. He felt the fear of death. For a moment, he faltered and fell back from the invisible boundary before him.

Then, Alexander took a step back toward the edge of the line. Not just fear, it was something else as well—weakness. Weakness was something to pull up at the roots, as he had once done for hope. If he sought to slay that beast—to root out weakness where it lay deep within his heart—he needed to take that ultimate step across the line. To venture and to dare.

He just needed a second: a second to think, a second to breathe, a second to act, a second to let his hands stop their shakes, a second to let his feet make their motion, a second to let his heart halt its infernal beating. A second to make a choice that he could never take back. A second that could define his life—and a second that could end it forever.

His heart thumped like a drum in his chest. A bead of sweat formed on his head. His legs froze. His breaths halted, and the air tasted like poison. Then, with another breath, Alexander took a step, another step, then another again; then, he broke out into a run, as fast as possible, towards his ultimate destination—and as far away from this place as he could.

S061: ALEXANDER HAWTHORNE — CONTINUED IN "The Physical Limits"