The Foundry | Part One | Chapter Five
the next chapter of my forthcoming novel
The Foundry
by Daphne Garrido
Part One | Thrice Bled Heart
Part Two | Rebuilt; Refound; Reclaimed
Part Three | Dominion
Chapter Five
Simply walking the hallways of the initiate barracks once more had caused Echo to feel as if she was travelling through time. Nothing was changed except the faces. Cameron and her hadn’t missed a thing in their excursion to the simulation hall. No one had seemed to notice their absence either. At least, none of their fellows.
Bunkrooms were pre-assigned, private to each individual, and a chosen pair would always be situated across the hall from each other.
“This place is amazing,” Cameron kept saying.
She was right. Echo recognized that through her eyes, remembering back to how she’d seen this place upon her first arrival. This just seemed normal to her now, it felt like home. Compared to any living environment she’d known elsewhere, it was extravagant, elegant, spacious, and provided far more comfort to the mind.
No matter what form of vessel Echo found herself aboard within this growing, sprawling civilization to which the people of Atreya had become bound — known itself as Elaria — they had all paled to the makings of The Foundry in every way. It was one of the many signs she’d recognized, then followed, leading her right back here.
“This was really cool,” Cameron beamed when she’d caught Echo’s eyes, walking the length of the hall together, noticing the comment brought a light into their smile.
Echo simply said, “Thank you.”
She’d been working a long time at taking compliments better. For most of her life she would shrug them off, either deflecting through honest reflection of the worth of that person who’d bestowed them, or making jokes about her great failures to ensure she’d not be seen as full-of-herself.
She’d been learning it wasn’t egotistical to accept the love others gave her. It now seemed like the only right thing to do. She deserved it, as would that other, who’d be most worthy to receive her affirmation of its acceptance. This felt like a matter of honor.
While striding past the open doorways of bunkrooms sporting rowdy conglomerations of initiates, after squeezing past that dreadful girl with the face-tattoos, Echo noticed herself most focused on Cameron.
There was a way about them she’d found surprising. Some form of grounded stoicism within the woman which drew her in. They held it with more gentleness, warmth, and compassion than she’d ever known to come from a single source alongside it, and with how hot they were on top of that, Echo wanted to jump them badly. It was a tactile notion in her body, and she was allowing herself to enjoy it as they’d come upon their rooms.
After a bit of time in exploration and revelry in the quality found of her new quarters, Cameron led Echo back to the doorway, and they’d found a spot nearby.
Echo was leaning onto the wall, taking in the sight of this woman before her, reeling a bit. Not only from her beauty, but the waking-cycle of such significance which had only just passed. She’d remember every bit of it for for the rest of her life, each moment, forever burned into her mind. Although, she might not wish to admit which solitary sight had gotten into her the deepest.
There’d been talk between Cameron and Echo from the start about what this was, and all that might become between the two of them — recognizing they’d be working together as teammates regardless, but acknowledging the reason behind their coupling came from more.
There was an interest in Cameron to finding a partner beyond that of piloting companions, an excitement to the possibility it could be with Echo, and they were very forthright about that, more than anyone Echo had ever met. She didn’t trust it.
“I’m looking forward to getting to know you better.” Echo gushed, unable to contain herself from filling such wonderful silence with her words. As usual, too impatient to let someone she’d wanted this badly to take the lead how she would actually prefer.
Cameron was glowing when she told her back, “Me too.”
Echo pushed off the wall with a deep breath, taking gentle steps through the doorway, before spinning about and find them right in front of her.
“See you soon,” Cameron said.
There was gratitude in Echo for their restraint. That which she’d not have herself. Maturity was something found in specific situations for this woman long repressed, and standing calmly on the precipice of something this appealing would prove itself a greatest challenge.
“See you soon,” she’d eked through her teeth, letting the last syllable linger as she finally turned to her door, catching a broad recognition of her awkwardness forming upon Cameron’s lips.
Once inside, Echo had needed a breather. She’d taken off her pants — always the first thing to go — wishing them good riddance.
Echo found herself sitting on the end of her bed, looking at that dumbest smile she’d not felt able to contain reflecting in the mirrored door of her wardrobe. She hadn’t seen herself this happy since she’d last sat in one of these rooms.
It had been just like this. See had been in this very spot, just before she’d gone off to face The Gauntlet; before losing Alice forever.
There was a knock at the door.
Those surging waves of sorrowful remembrance faded. ‘See you soon, indeed,’ she’d thought, seeing back to that knowing look in Cameron’s eyes, neglecting the need to throw on pants, figuring they wouldn’t be necessary anyway. She’d gone right to the door and swung it open.
Alan looked mighty surprised to see in her such a state.
He’d blushed, jolted, smiled, and then laughed a bit. Echo had been so enjoying his reaction she hadn’t realized the trouble this could bring, nor the fact her chosen was directly across the hall.
It was the red in his cheeks, the way she’d felt his beating heart in her own chest, and mostly how he’d pushed her back into the room and shut that door so forcefully. Those were the things that really got Echo going.
For the plot. ✊🏼