World Of Sand - Part 2

Written by Hannah Shapley

Lights blinded Tris, where am I? Voices overwhelmed Tris, where am I? Memories escaped Tris, where am I? Pain was uncomfortably distant, where am I? 

“Tris! Tris! Please, look at me! Speak to us!” Her eyelids felt like lead, impossible to lift,

“Tris! Come back to us please!” Water fell onto her cheeks, she felt it but not entirely, they weren't her own.

“Miss Song you will have to leave now.” Another voice cut in, a voice that had been coldly in her head for days now.

“This is my daughter! You cannot tell me to leave her!” Desperation was full in that voice, and Tris knew she would do anything to rid the pain that lay in that person's heart. Although it was hard she forced herself to open her eyes.

“Mother.” her voice was rasping and weak, but the woman gasped and ran forward, 

“Your father is outside, only one of us was allowed in.” The explanation wasn’t necessary, Tris knew Quinn and Zelma Song would do anything to see their child. 

“Miss Song, for the sake of your child I and all of the staff here encourage you to leave.” The person who spoke was a man around 43 years old, he had mousey brown hair and unforgiving pale blue eyes. Zelma shot a glare at the doctor and stormed out of the room, glancing lovingly at Triss' hospital bed. Although it hurt to move she forced herself to sit up, black splotches appeared in her vision making her dizzy. But she wouldn’t make herself appear weak, or weaker than she already seemed.

“Tris Song,” the doctor looked at her disdainfully, “Lets just say I know where you got those wounds from and you would be wise not to tell anyone about the World Of Sand.” Those were not the words Tris had expected, and she did a double take, surely I couldn’t have heard right. 

“What?”  

“The World Of Sand? You did go there right? The sandworms?” despite the fact that they were questions they still were threaded with disdain, empty of curiosity.

“Y-yes” Tris stammered.

“Well, you are free to go now, since you are awake then that is a huge improvement.” Since this doctor didn’t seem like a normal doctor Tris wasn’t sure if she could actually just leave.

“So I can just walk out there to my parents?”

“Of course.” It sounded a bit like he was trying to be soothing but it came across as menacing. She stood up and went to see her father and mother.

School started a few days after. The shock of school was unwelcome, and on the first day the teachers went soft on her. They gave her easier work and extra help. Her least favorite subject turned out to be first, English. They were studying a book about empathy. Tris thought the whole idea was stupid. For the next few days they were looking at the same book, and soon this prospect started to get to Tris. The memories of the children underground, hiding from the sandworms, resurfaced, even if they were safe. They needed help. By the fourth day of school Tris was desperate to get back to the World Of Sand, to help and save everyone there. The longing became too much to bear by day five, so Tris tried to find the door again; she had previously found the door on a bush walk when an animal started chasing her and her family. They had split up but the animal kept chasing her all the way to the door. It was easy to find it again, being only a few days ago Tris could still see where the dirt had been kicked up and where plants had been disturbed. There it was, the door that had brought on all her troubles. Why do I want to save the people who treated me so badly? She knew the only thing drawing her back was the image of that little girl, looking at her with awe. A rustle sounded in the leaves behind her, and Tris whirled around, but nothing was there. Her heart beat accelerated and beads of sweat ran down her face. Nothing’s there, it’s fine. Still she couldn’t help but remember the growls and the sound of trampling feet as she ran. Forcing herself to calm down and turn back to the door, Tris put her hand on the door knob. She was used to this longing feeling deep inside her bones and shook her arms out to make sure she stayed aware of her surroundings and not fall into a trance like before.

Opening the door, she did not fly headlong into the beautiful scene. Instead she stepped carefully over the threshold and fell. She only fell for one or two seconds, and her landing was padded by the sand -- no, quicksand. Tris groaned as once again she started to sink to the underground hideout. Someone grunted as she landed directly on top of them.

“Hey!” the person she was currently sitting on hissed. “Who are you?!” Tris got off the annoyed person, looking apologetically at them.

“I’m so sorry! I just want to help all of you defeat the sandworms, so I came through the door… I didn’t really have a choice” She was being sincere but the person just replied,

“No one would come back to this doomed world” and then stormed away. The scanning people came, scanned her quickly then left. Apparently strangers coming into this place was common because nobody seemed to pay any extra attention to Tris. All people but one.

“Did you find your way back to the city? Or are you stuck here?” She looked at the owner of the voice, it was the little girl she had seen on her first visit.

“Yes, I did find my way home. But I couldn’t leave all of you helpless to the sandworms, you need help.” The small humans eyes lit up.

“Do you mean you will help us?”

“Of course!” Tris crouched down to meet her eyes and asked,

“What’s your name?” The girl looked away as if embarrassed,

“I… I don’t have a name.” 

“What? Why?” She looked up at Tris, tears clouding her eyes.

“My dad died before I was born and my mum didn’t live long enough to give me a name, kids like me are seen as useless because we will never learn. People don’t need to call us anything.” The answer shocked Tris, why are humans here so cruel? She decided that this poor girl needed a name, and perhaps if she survived all of this she could come and live in the city. Away from these horrible people.

“What about Ebony?” 

“Yes, I love that name!”

Ebony followed Tris as she leapt up and out of the underground home. Ebony had found some food and supplies for their journey. Tris was holding the bag. An idea was already forming in her mind but she wasn’t quite sure yet -- it involved a certain bird often known as a bin chicken.

“Hey Ebony, do you have normal worms here? Like not sandworms?” The smaller girl nodded and said,

“Yes, but we don’t really pay attention to them, all our focus is on the sand ones. They are probably thriving --  we used to eat them, ut now we have found much healthier food.” Tris grimaced at the thought of eating worms.

“So.. nothing eats them now?” 

“No, but what I’ve learnt from the books about the city, your world does have things that eat them, right?” Ebony taped her chin thoughtfully,

“Um, ebisis? No. Mibis. No. Uhhhh, oh that’s right! Ibis!” Tris didn’t want to overwhelm this young child, so she asked just one more question.

“Are sandworms basically the same as normal worms? Besides the life sucking?” Ebony looked a little surprised to have been asked that question.

“Well yes! Take the common earthworm and the sandworm, they both have no eyes, no legs, and have 5 hearts.” Tris couldn’t help a little quizzical start at the last fact and Ebony giggled,

“Tris, I may be young but you must understand that kids in this world have facts about sandworms and generally everything about the land drilled into their brain!” She’s smarter than me! A 6 year old who’s lived in a cave her whole life, smarter than me! Wow, Tris thought.

As they walked Ebony yanked some worms from the ground to show Tris. And of course as she had said they were exactly the same as the ones in her world. She glanced at Ebony, she didn’t want to risk this girl's future, but she also feared she wouldn't have a choice.

“Do you think you would make it through the maze if you had to?” Ebony looked up, her round brown eyes meeting Triss pale green, she’s so innocent, why did I have to bring her into danger like this?

“I would prefer to not go against the maze but if I really had to I guess I could.” Finally she was ready to share her plan with her partner.

“I want to tell you my plan,” Tris was hesitant, “I want to bring ibises from my world here so they can eat the sandworms.” Now she was getting stronger, “I know what I’m up against and I now know why the weapons aren't enough -- the sandworm numbers are just too great,” Ebony’s eyes were sparkling as Tris continued, “In my world a single ibis can eat hundreds of locusts -- I just hope they will do the same for worms.” Ebony nodded. 

“I think they will.”

Having someone who grew up in the World Of Sand helped enormously. Tris remembered the giant squirrel from her first visit and asked Ebony about it.

“Oh yeah, the proper term for them is Gor. The sandworms tend to avoid them, too much fur. We can ask the one who lives at the orchard and for the right price he should carry us to the castle.” Tris scrunched up her nose.

“Carry?” she asked, which earned her an eye roll from the other girl.

“Yes carry, do you know how incredibly strong Gors are? They could knock your head right off these thin necks of ours.” She thought back to when that Gor hit her in the face, It must’ve been going easy on her. As they walked they talked more. Triss' head was starting to overflow from all of this new knowledge, apparently all the humans in the World Of Sand came from the city in an attempt to lower the population. When they came the sandworms were controlled because they never duplicated, they didn’t die. But then when the sandworms started to kill the people the people retaliated, killing the sandworms. Their numbers only grew from there and soon the humans had to escape. They had started to call the World Of Sand ‘Grain’ as a joke, claiming that even though its troubles seemed big, in the span of the universe they were as tiny as a grain of sand.

Finally the two reached the orchard, as expected the Gor was not pleased to see them,

“You again,” it said, looking at Tris with pure hatred. “I thought I told you to leave!” Fortunately Ebony came to her rescue. “She comes from the city, please excuse her rudeness.” The Gor looked suddenly bored,

“Another city folk ‘ey? Why there so many o’ you?” Tris couldn’t help herself,

“Another city folk? Who else was there” Its dark red tail swished the leaves with impatience,

“That weird guy in a white suit, ‘e had blondy-brown hair. Kinda freaked me ou’ he did, really serious in a sorta polite way.” I must be wrong, it can't be him, he’s just a doctor who knows a little about Grain!  Tris thought, but the Gor wasn’t finished. 

“He said he had a real good job in his world, like a uhh, a doca’ or somethin’ strange. Excep’ he used to live ‘er." What is he doing back here? I thought he said not even to mention it. If he said not to mention it wouldn’t he also mean not to come here? 

“Oh, well um…” Ebony spoke but was stunned by Triss reaction.

“We came to ask for a ride to the old castle.” The Gor chuckled.

“Yes I will carry you, but obviously not for free!” Ebony looked at Tris and she pulled the sack of supplies off her shoulder and reached in. Most was food and water, some was spare clothes. Tris grabbed a dress with blue sparkles, really it was horribly ugly. They could get rid of this one. The Gor studied it,

“Hm, I think I’ll cu’ it up. Yep this’ll pay well.”

The ride was not comfortable, it was like a piggy back. Holding the sack was wearing Tris down. Everytime their ride took a step they jolted and Tris had to make sure she and nothing else fell out of the squirrel's grip. 

“So why are you goin’ to the castle?” Tris spoke this time.

“Why we are going to certain places is none of your concern. You have been paid to take us there not to ask nosy questions about it.”

“Well, per- aps I’ve decided I don’t want to take ya all there, per - aps that payment wasn’t enough to ma’ likin’.” Even though the 2 girls couldn't see the Gors face they were both sure it was grinning ear to ear. Around an hour later of crunching sand, the castle finally came into view. Ebony gasped and nearly dropped the piece of bread she was holding,

“Oh! It’s so beautiful! Why was it ever left to crumble like this?” As they neared Tris could tell something had changed from last time. She looked over to the maze -- that was it, there wasn’t a sandworm in sight. Where are they? Tris thought, why aren’t they guarding the door? Ebony leaned over toward Tris, whispering in her ear, “I thought you said the sandworms were everywhere on the maze walls. Where are they?” Tris shook her head, thoroughly confused.

“I’m not sure, they were everywhere last time.” The Gor must’ve overheard because it said,

“Sandworms? Everywhere? Well this is where your ride ends, as they can’t hurt me, they are still really disgustin’ little critters.” It plonked them on the ground and ran off shouting behind it, “So long soon to be dead people!”

Tris started to walk forward but Ebony touched her arm to get her to stop,

“No, Tris, something’s wrong. We shouldn’t just run in, who was that man the Gor was talking about, you know him don’t you.” She ignored the question instead saying,

“We don’t have any time to waste, we should go now.” and she walked confidently forward, the younger child following more slowly. Suddenly a man stumbled out of a thick bush, collapsing in front of them on his knees. Tris drew in a sharp breath. 

“You!” she hissed through gritted teeth, “I thought you said not to even mention this world, why would you come here?” He looked up, narrowing his eyes at them.

“I would ask why you are here too my dear, but I already know. And to answer your question, I’ve been wanting to get home for hundreds of years. Going through that maze was the worst decision I ever made.” Ebonys eyes widened.

“Hundreds?” she squeaked. The man Tris knew to be a city doctor threw up his head and let a deep hollow laugh.

“Of course a mortal like you would think it impossible to live as I have. People say I’m a genius, but they have no idea the length my brain will go to get what I want! And I know your plan with the ibis, I have your ibis. When it was only me and a few other humans here we bought a few animals with us. We didn’t mean to bring ibises, but they followed us through the door. Not many but enough to have bred and lasted this long, I know where they are.” The two girls were thinking the same thing, but it was Tris who spoke,

“Why are you helping us? What do you want in return?” The man smiled grimly,

“I simply want The World Of Sand as it was when we first arrived.”

“Fine then, where are the ibises?”

The man introduced himself as Faheem Randal, Faheem meaning intelligent, he had boasted. Faheem walked towards the castle but took a sharp left to go down a path that Tris had not seen before. It led to what looked like stables and to her surprise, a bin. The nick-name, bin chicken, did suit the birds well because on top of the large brown box was an ibis, sticking its head as far down into the bin as it could go, coming back with a worm wiggling around in its beak. The worm it held was not a sandworm, just a normal one. Faheem’s thin smile spread across his face, not reaching his eyes,

“As you see I have led you to the thing you desire, see? You have no reason not to trust me.” Ebony was staring at the white bird.

“This is an Australian white ibis, I’ve seen pictures but I never thought it would be this big!” Tris remembered that Ebony was very small, despite her large brain and that ibis must seem huge to her,

“Oh my dear Eboy, you will have to get used to new things!” Faheem chuckled.

“It’s Ebony, not Eboy.” Ebony hissed under her breath, just loud enough for Faheem to hear, Tris winced at his poisonous expression.

“Please, we all have the same aim right? To defeat the sandworms?” 

Ebony scowled, “I think that his aim is to annoy us till death!” Tris shot a glare at Ebony but she had turned back to the ibis,

“So how do we lure them out to eat the sandworms?” Faheem pulled out a strange contraption that looked like a metal helmet, 

“This, my companions, is a cerebrum nexus, or brain connector. One person shall wear this silver helmet and the thing you wish to control will wear the black helmet.” he handed one the silver one to Ebony,

“Why don’t you try it?” He put the black one on the ibis. The girl let out a pained cry and fell to her knees,

“What’s happening?! How do I stop it? Help me!” Tris ran forward, trying to pry the shell off her head but every time she tugged Ebony screeched with pain until eventually Tris gave up.

Tris’s sobs came from her heart, her tears carried memories of the girl, her life gone far too quickly. She could have lived a long life, a happy life. I took that away from her, she was only six! Six! Her brain forgot her aim, right now. The girl lying slumped on the floor was her only concern. She ran forward searching everywhere in the girl's face for any sign of life, but her wide, brown eyes looked up blankly, looking but not looking, seeing me but not seeing me. Tris reached down and closed her eyes, she couldn’t bear to look at them any longer.

“Would you like me to start digging a grave?” Her eyes radiated heat and she spat,

“Why did you do this? Why did you kill her?!” Tris leapt forward, grabbing Faheems collar and shoving him backward. His eyes were cool and bore into Tris.

“That was a prototype, sacrifices have to be made for the greater good.” Her arms shook,

“It didn’t have to be that way, you could have found another way! But you don’t care about people do you?! You're just a greedy know it all!” Even though he was pressed against a wall by someone who would gladly get a Gor to punch him hard in the face, he suddenly seemed to be looming over Tris. 

“You are no longer useful like this, you can be disposed of now!”

The ibis turned its head to face Tris, I don’t think ibis beaks are usually that sharp, Tris thought. It rushed toward her and as it came closer Tris saw it was shiny, not feathery, its eyes showed circuits hidden underneath, this is not a true ibis. She dodged out of the robot's path and it crashed into the far wall, carried by its momentum. 

“I will control the sandworms and therefore all of The World Of Sand! The robot ibis will eat any disobedient  sandworms!” He’s crazy, thought Tris through her panic, disobedient sandworms? They are worms!  Faheem cackled, 

“Hah! I can see the look on your face, you think sandworms are like normal worms but man are you wrong. They can understand every word we speak! I will make them my slaves, they will all bow to me.” Tris kicked out a foot, connecting with the long hard beak of the ibis, a horrible cracking sound followed and the end of the beak broke off. The ibis fell to the ground, all the previous energy in its circuits dead.

Out of nowhere someone- or something screeched,

“Wants to control us?!! Unacceptable! Kill him!” A giant sandworm appeared, even bigger than the one Tris had previously seen. It towered over the tops of the castle, millions of sandworms together under one mind again. It swarmed forward, crushing the castle in its wake,

“Kill the man! The man who wants to control us!” Faheem tried to run, but there was nowhere to go. He kicked and screamed like a young child having a tantrum when the sandworm wrapped its mighty tail around him. Then he disappeared. It was so quick Tris wondered if she’d imagined it, but then she heard his terrified yelps for mercy. He would get none. He was already dead.

“What is your name?” despite what it had just done the sandworms didn’t make it sound as if anything had happened.

“Tris!” She called up at it.

“Well, Tris, were you in league with that evil man?” She shook her head,

“No! I would never serve that wicked person!” 

“Then we will grant you safe passage through the maze, and you will be safe from us forever. If not for you we might all be under his command right now.” Tris nodded,

“I thank you very much for this, but may I ask for one more thing?” The sandworm grunted -- she took that as a yes.

“Can you please stop killing the humans? They are stuck underground, slowly dying out!” The creature took that in for a moment.

“Yes we will do that, to keep the peace and to stop death. As the lack of food may lower the population it will be as it was before people.”

“Thank you so much! I must bury the body of my friend before I leave.” as she turned back to begin digging a sandworm popped out of the ground on her left,

“We will help you” and hundreds more came up to dig further and further down. They dropped Ebonys body carefully into the hole, making sure she was comfortable.

“Goodbye Ebony, however your story ends, whether it continues or has finished, I wish you luck” and then the sand closed over her lifeless body.