Loss Of Identity: Gus by Nicola Collings (ereader ebook txt) 📖

Prologue

This tale takes place in the colourful, yet complicated City of Tyrell. Colourful because of it’s wide variety of people and complicated also because of it’s wide variety of people. It’s not an ideal place to live; in fact, if you were to move to the city, then I guarantee that within a week, you’d be looking at houses in another city! People don’t move to Tyrell City. People from Tyrell City move to other places in Tyrell City because other cities in the country would probably discriminate them for their origin.

                I shall explain; within Tyrell City, there are four regions. The city itself is built in a small but steep valley and it’s houses spreading right out to the surrounding highlands, but stopping and giving way to a vast desert beyond. At the centre if the city is, the quite astutely named City Centre. This is where you’d find the typical shopping centres, the schools, train stations, monuments and tourist attractions. It’s a shame that the only thing that the City Centre is missing is tourists. This is in the centre of the valley, deep in the heart.

On one side of the valley, the gold of the grey city, is Boundary. Boundary is filled with big, modern houses built from pale bricks, wide, tarmac roads, black, neatly paved drive ways, posh cars, neat, well-kept front gardens, trees and, most importantly, Horizon House. Horizon House sits at the top of Boundary, gazing over the surrounding Valley and it houses the Mayor and the people who govern Tyrell. Boundary is where you would find the successful business men’s houses, the policemen’s homes, the most expensive schools and the people who are most well off and can afford their electricity bill, along with taxes and gifts for their children at Christmas.

The opposite side of the valley is called The Wynde. Looking at The Wynde, you would notice the tall, dark brown-bricked, historical buildings built extremely close together, the narrow, cobbled roads running up the steep hill like black veins, the black, slate rooves, some which had ancient gargoyles nestled in the corners. This is probably the most historical part of the city, the only part with the original, iconic, gothic buildings from centuries ago. It is here you would find the people who live in small, confined flats down narrow streets, people who have no real jobs but get income by other, more shady means, people who dress in a certain way, people who are looked down upon by the rest of the city. Oh yes, discrimination is a big part of life in Tyrell City! People who live on The Wynde live in a tight community, look out for themselves, concentrate on surviving, not luxury.

The last region of Tyrell City is the Outskirts. People out here are middle-class, normal, in-between people who aren’t defined by where they live. They aren’t defined by money or status but go about their daily lives, rarely involving themselves in the conflict between the prejudice and the survivors.

There is another part to the city, a part that people learn about in their history lessons and are told about in the form of legend. The city’s Underworld lies beneath The Wynde and spreads out beneath the whole of the city and some of the desert or wasteland that surrounds the city. It is only legend, not many people speak of it. Years ago, in medieval times, the king decided to ‘cleanse’ the city of the vermin. To do this, he decided to build a wall around the section of the city where the peasants lived and dwelled. Doing this, he entrapped the peasants and effectively, ordered his men to build another city on top of their city. Their city was buried deep beneath, the only hope for them were the people who knew better, who knew that one day, the kings plan would fail him; vermin would find it’s way back into society somehow. So a secret group was created, people who were part of the kings court were given keys to secret entrances to their underground city. These people who were entrusted to passages to the Vaults, which in turn, would allow passage to what the people called The Warrens. These people were called the Descendents. People in league with the descendents, were known as disciples. Together, they believed that one day, the people of the Warren would once again, rise and punish the king for his actions. Of course, the legend was soon forgotten about.

This is who we are. We are survivors, living against the harsh inner rims of society who call themselves sophisticated but are really just tyrannical beasts posing as human beings. Or so I say; I’ve yet to meet someone who isn’t form The Wynde, who actually accepts us and isn’t a complete bitch. People say, however, that a Black Parade will soon rise and take back the city. What once belonged to the myths of the Warrens and what was once held in hands of black and gold, of The Wynde and Boundary will be reclaimed. Those who claim they are gods, who drove the warriors beneath the city itself, will fall to it. And all it’s descendents.

At the top of The Wynde is Duskgate Mansion. My house. It sits at the peak of the hill, surrounded by trees; it’s huge, gothic structure reaching above the tallest pine trees. My parents are dead, so I inherited it. The mansion itself is only the tip of the iceberg, there are more chambers running deep into the earth, reaching the Vaults through the Archives and the Cellars, through it’s many rooms. The mansion itself rivals the beauty that of Horizon House, the two houses stand face to face, forever locked into each other’s sights. It holds authority; as do I. As my parents died, I and the house inherited the secret of the Descendents. I know for a fact that the rumours are true. I am a key holder. I see the future from my bedroom window.  I can see almost all of Boundary from my bedroom window. It seems a shame that so few people can witness such a beautiful sight.

But that’s just the way things work.

My name is Cynthia, and I can see The Black Parade rising in the east; we are ready.

Part 1: Knowing

                Gus was waiting in the lobby of the building, his eyes fixed on the elevator. He stood, leaning against the wall, looking somewhat incongruous in his surroundings; he was dressed in skinny jeans, heavy boots and a denim, sleeveless jacket with a hood, and no top beneath. His hair was a deep brown and the fringe was pushed into a small quiff above his pale forehead.

                He looked around, briefly at the businessmen, dressed in suits, carrying brief cases hurrying on their way. He didn’t care, though. He was only here for one person. And if that meant braving the Boundary to come and see her, perhaps even meet her father, then so be it.

                He glanced back at the elevator and it opened and out stepped a tall, thin-looking girl with golden hair that fell down her back like a waterfall. She has bright green eyes that shone when she saw him.

                Amelia!

                He went to her and pulled her into a long hug.

                “Gus, this is my father.” She said, turning to a man behind her. Gus looked at him and held out his hand.

                Amelia’s father was a tall man with a bald head and a grey moustache and beard. The way the other employees shied away from him, or gave a quick, nervous smiled and then hurried away immediately implied he was in charge. Of course he was! He was possibly one of the richest people in Tyrell!

                Amelia’s father looked at Gus’ outstretched hand and a slight look of disgust flickered across his face. Gus frowned, confused.

                What had he done wrong? Had he offended him?

                “So, you’re the boy that my Amelia is so taken with, hm?”

                “Mr. Princeton, you’re daughter is an amazing person. I’m very pleased to meet you.” Gus replied, with all the politeness he could muster.

                “I know she is. She’s my offspring.”

                “Then she must have inherited it from you.” Gus smiled. “You’re a very successful man; I’m honoured to meet you.”

                “Politeness won’t get you far on the Boundary, Gus. Where is it you’re from?”

                “The Wynde, sir.”

                “I thought as much. No last name. The way you dress. The way you look too small and out of place in a place like this. Now, what makes you think you’re good enough for my daughter?”

                Gus paused. Why did this feel like an exam? “Because I love her. I love her purely and completely and I would give up my life to make her happy.”

                “And how can you make her happy?”

                “Dad! Stop it!” snapped Amelia.

                “I can give her everything she wants; a home, money, a life.” continued Gus.

                “On The Wynde? What kind of life can anyone have on The Wynde?”

                “I’ll move away from The Wynde. I’ll buy a house on the Outskirt, or in Boundary.”

                “And who would sell you a house after finding out where you’re from?”

                Gus paused. This was going nowhere!

                Despite the fact he knew her father was intimidating, Gus found himself strangely unafraid.

                “Dad! Stop it! You’re not going to stop us from seeing each other. It’s my choice!” snapped Amelia, taking Gus’ hand.

                Her father smirked.

                “You are my daughter, you are mine, to do with as I wish.” He spat, then turned and walked away.

                Gus turned to Amelia. “That went well.” He knew her Father was not to be trifled with, especially as he was head of one of the most successful businesses in the whole of Tyrell: Wyvern Industries. He practically had the whole of the city in the palm of his hand, able to get away with anything – even murder!- and get away with it. Somewhere in his mind, Gus knew he should be scared, and without Amelia next to him, he was terrified, but she gave him the strength he needed.

                “Don’t worry, he’ll come around.” She looked straight into her eyes, her words strong and confident.  There was no reason why they shouldn’t have been.

                “How about I buy us lunch? I think we need it.” Laughed Gus, taking her soft, white hand and pulling her from the huge, glass building that smirked it’s reflections of sunlight and advertisements.  The pair of them floated through the City Centre and towards the Wynde. The floated along the border of the two sections of the city, not really caring about anything but their feelings for each other. The war meant little to them.

                “So, Gustav, where you gonna take me?” Amelia laughed, her hair shimmering. She loved using his full name. Gus didn’t know why. It was a stupid name.

                “I know a place.” He knew they were dangerously close to The Wynde and if her father caught them here, then he’d be in for it- her father’s eyes were everywhere.

                He didn’t care.

                Gus lead Amelia down an alley way lit up by fairy lights and had walls covered by soft, yellow ivy. Sunlight cascaded down in shafts on a tiny courtyard where iron chairs and tables were set out. Gus offered her a chair and sat opposite her, the only thing in his way was a wine bottle with a red rose sat inside it.

                “This is beautiful! How did you know about it?”

                “I know a lot of things about the city that no one else does.” Gus winked.

                “Hello, what can I get you?” asked an old-looking woman holding a note pad and dressed in an apron.

                “Two house specials please,