Writing Contest Prize: Short Story

The Window

“When God closes a door, he opens a window.”

Hoyland Virtue kneeled on the ground at the edge of the freshly filled-in shallow grave. He’d picked the prettiest place nearby, under a eucalyptus tree with a clear area around it. Before Axel had been bitten by the snake, they’d been swept down a river. It was stupid really - they’d been overconfident, hadn’t judged the depth properley. Anyway, the result was that their phones and Axel’s  laptop were now completely useless. 

There had been nothing Hoyland could do. He’d done all the first aid, of course, but he’d known from the start it was hopeless. It was a brown snake. He couldn’t call for help. Axel had died in his arms. 

He’d engraved the lid of Axel’s laptop with a knife.

Axel Wainwright, 2992 - 3011

Served the honourable Dictator 

Helmsworth with devotion.

Loving son and boyfriend.

That was all that would fit. He set the laptop at the head of the grave. Then he picked up their phones. Axel’s was an iPhone, which was very rare. It was about fifteen years old, yet still superior to the locally produced imitation Hoyland owned. Australia was protected from the outside world, but that meant everything had to be manufactured internally. The local companies had perfected the art of keeping ancient electronics running, but they struggled to produce similar products from scratch.

Hoyland put Axel’s iPhone and his AusTouch screen to screen, then tied them together with one of Axel’s shoelaces. He put them in his pack and stood up. It was going to be a long walk.

*

She was slight, with a delicate, childish face. She looked like the girl that was in all those old classic movies, the ones where everyone did magic and the dude wore stupid glasses. When she saw him, she looked surprised, shocked even. Then she smiled.

‘I - I didn’t know there was anyone else out here. So close to - you know.’

‘I - ’

‘But this is great. We don’t have to go it alone anymore. We can go together.’ She held out her hand. ‘I’m Sky.’

Hoyland hesitated. He had all but given up on the mission he and Axel had been sent on. But maybe - maybe if he befriended Sky, he could still succeed. For Axel.

‘Hoyland.’ he said, taking her hand. ‘Hoyland Vitrue.’

Her smile was infectious.

*

They’d gotten into a routine. Up at first light, then walking until the heat got unbearable. Then, they’d retreat to the shade, to eat and rest. They were running out of food, which worried Hoyland. Since neither of them knew how to navigate by the stars, they had to stop when it got dark. Sky ranted about the Government most of the time. Hoyland was appalled by most of the things she said, but he kept his disgust hidden. Apparently, her parents had pretended to support the cause, but they were actually rebels. They appeared to have fed her all sorts of horrible lies, before they’d recently been found out and imprisoned. This was what had prompted her escape.

‘It’s your turn to talk.’ Sky said abruptly as she set out their meagre dinner - crackers and dried apricots - and sat down next to him.

‘Talk? What about?’

‘You know, your parents, how come you’re by yourself - I don’t know, just I seem to talk all the time and you don’t say a word.‘

Hoyland sighed. Ever since they’d met, he’d been thinking carefully about what to tell her. He launched into his story - he’d decided to tell the truth, but disguise their mission as an escape.

‘I never knew my parents. They were imprisoned during the uprising.’

Sky put her hand to her mouth ‘I’m so sorry.’

Hoyland shrugged. ‘It’s okay.’ He paused. He knew what he had to say next, but he couldn’t bring him self to talk about Axel. 

‘Did you escape by yourself like I did? There was no one you could trust?’

Hoyland shook his head. ‘I - I escaped with my boyfriend. But he died. From snakebite.’

Sky looked stricken. ‘Oh - I, I don’t know what to say, I - ’

‘Stop.’ He turned to look at her, really look at her. Her eyes were a deep brown, filled with tears. ‘You don’t have to say anything. I just wanted you to know.’

Her tears started to fall. Then, the night air was pierced by a high pitched melodic tone. Hoyland jumped. It was the default AusTouch ringtone - but his phone was ruined, it wasn’t possible.

‘Oh - I’m sorry, I have to get this,’  Sky stammered, her voice full of annoyance and apology. To Hoyland’s amazement, she hurried over to her backpack and pulled out a working, ringing AusTouch. He’d had no idea she had a phone, she’d never gotten it out before.

‘Gareth!’ she said, wiping her tears away furiously. ‘Yeah, I’m okay.’ She paused, listening. ‘What? You have? That’s great! Where can I -’ another pause. ‘Okay, okay, text me that in case I lose signal. Wait, I’ve got something else to tell you. I’m travelling with someone - yeah, he escaped too.’ Sky smiled as she listened. ‘Yes, he is... a picture? No way. See you soon. I love you. Bye.’ She looked up at Hoyland. Her eyes were bright. ‘That was my little brother. He’s found the rebel camp.’

‘So how old are you?’ Hoyland asked as as he lay down beside her in the tent. His had been lost in the river, so they were sharing hers.

‘Eighteen. I know I look younger though.’

‘I’m eighteen too. How old’s your brother?’

‘Seventeen. I - I didn’t tell you about him because I didn’t know where he was, if he -’ she sighed. ‘I’m just really glad he called tonight.’

After a pause, Sky spoke again. ‘We’ll start heading more north from now on. That’s where the camp is.’

‘Uh huh.’ Hoyland replied, but his mind was elsewhere. If he could get a hold of that phone, he could contact his mission supervisor. Let him know he was about to discover the whereabouts of an entire rebel camp. But for some reason, he wasn’t very motivated to steal the phone. In fact, he was starting to like Sky. Which had not been part of the plan.

Hoyland woke with a start. He’d had a horrible dream which had ended with Sky being dragged away by his co-workers, screaming and struggling. It was still dark outside. He stared at Sky’s sleeping form, deep in thought. He’d never apprehended a rebel before. This was supposed to be his and Axel’s first scouting mission. Staring up at the inside of the tent, he thought of his friends back home. He hadn’t really been very close to anyone apart from Axel. Was there even any point in going back? And that dream... the images came racing back to him. He didn’t think he had it in him to do that to Sky. If he didn’t know her and had Axel by his side, sure. But now... now everything was different.

*

They were walking through the heat of the day, in hopes of crossing paths with Gareth, who was walking back towards them. Sky stumbled, and he paused.

‘Are you okay? Maybe we should stop.’

She shook her head. ‘It’s just my shoes. They’re not very good.’ She smiled at him. Her lips were very dry.

‘I think you should drink some more water.’

‘No, we have to ration it.’

‘Well I’m stopping.’ And he stopped.

Sky looked back and stared at him. Then she broke into a smile ‘You’re right.’

Hoyland sat down with her and watched as she took a drink, wetting her parched lips. She looked so fragile. And he knew it then. He knew that he couldn’t let anyone hurt her.

It was when they were setting up the tent that night that Hoyland heard it. A crunching, rustling sound in the bush. It almost sounded like-

‘Footsteps! It’s Gareth!’ Sky started to rush toward the sound.

Hoyland flung out an arm in front of her. ‘It might not be him.’ His heart was pounding. If it was anyone from work, they’d recognise him for sure. And then he’d probably be killed. An ordinary rebel was one thing, but a rebel Scout was another. Such a thing was unheard of. And yet, he couldn’t deny it. That’s what he had become.

‘Hello? Sky?’ called a voice from the trees. The footsteps were getting louder. Sky started forward, but Hoyland hauled her back. His pack was near his feet. Quickly, he unzipped it and pulled out his gun. Sky stared at it in horror.

‘Sky, it could be a Scout.’

‘But it’s his voice!’

‘She’s right.’

Hoyland turned towards the voice. A boy was standing there, looking very familiar, with dark hair and eyes like Sky’s. 

The stranger spoke again. ‘And you’re right too. I could have been a Scout. But I’m not.’ He smiled, as if he was amused.

‘It’s Gareth, Hoyland.’

Sky was so exhausted from the extra walking they’d done that day that she went to bed almost as soon as they’d finished eating. Gareth watched her zip up the tent, then turned to Hoyland.

‘Walk with me.’

Hoyland was apprehensive, but he followed Gareth away from the tent. They’d probably gone about thirty meters when Gareth stopped abruptly. He turned around to face Hoyland, a grim expression on his boyish face.

‘You’re a Scout.’

Hoyland stared at him in horror. How the hell had he figured it out?

Gareth seemed to read his mind. ‘Your gun.’

Hoyland swore as he realised his mistake. Only Scouts carried guns like his. Then, he frowned, realising something else. 

‘How did you know it was a Scout’s gun?’

Gareth smiled. ‘But don’t you remember me?’

Hoyland stared at him, memories of people at school, training, and work flashing through his mind. ‘Justin,’ he breathed. Gareth hadn’t just looked familiar because he looked like Sky. Hoyland had trained with this guy.

Gareth was still smiling. ‘A fake identity is highly useful when your rebelling against your parents. But I decided to step it up a little and rebel against the Government. Now look. I need to know you’re for real. I need to know we’re not going to have all our old buddies storming the place. I’m not really up for a reunion.’

‘I haven’t contacted anyone. My phone’s broken. I haven’t touched Sky’s phone. I - I want to stick with you guys. There’s nothing for me to go back to. Look, when I heard you in the bush, I was ready to hand myself over if you were a Scout. I didn’t even consider, you know, teaming up with them against Skye. Why would I have had my gun out if I was going to do that?’

Gareth stared at him. ‘You’re very different. Something’s happened to you.’ His breath caught, as if realising something. ‘What - What happened to Axel?’

‘He’s dead.’ Hoyland didn’t break eye contact.

They stared at each other for a long while, then Gareth held out his hand. ‘Come on.’

Hoyland took it.