Prologue Chapter 1-1 Chapter 1-2 Chapter 2-1 Chapter 2-2
Chapter 3
Riots can have strange audiences
For the next few years, Audrey spent every waking moment she could in her father’s study to the point that it was concerning. Her mother had given up trying to have at least supper together. It was only Tinble who was able to talk to both her and their mother. He was basically the only person that held their family together since their father’s passing. He was also the only one that would force Audrey to eat her meals. He would always make sure that she was eating the food cooked and he would make sure that she would leave her new room once every few days.
The routine continued until she started studying with her father’s old colleagues. Having her follow in her father’s steps ruined her relationship with her mother yet she could care less at that point on. She was 16 and should be independent at that age. Or at least, that was what she hoped for. Her mother just kept insisting that she stayed in their household so that she would worry less about Audrey. She was still worried when she found out Audrey started participating in the machine riots held on a weekly basis.
Those riots caused a larger strain on their relationship yet her mother was fully aware that her daughter had become one of the youngest robotics masters of that era. It wasn’t her place to stop her anymore.
People would often tell Audrey that if her father would still be around, he would be proud that she had surpassed him in every way at such a young age. But the praises and the comparisons meant nothing to her. What mattered to her was the reputation she had established in the underbellies of their society. On the surface and in broad daylight, she became known as a respectable lady and a brilliant inventor. At night, she was someone people feared, especially those that loved a good fight.
She became known as the queen of riots. Through her Automatons, she had reigned as the queen since the riots for the past 5 years already. It had been that long since she first heard of those riots. And in all that time, she became a force to be reckoned with. Ever since the riots were established, she had always been a prominent figure in the scene. At the age of 11, she had already managed to overrule the scene. Her automatons were enough to tell people what she was fully capable of.
Originally, the leader proposed the riot idea to find the strongest people that would, later on, become the heroes that would fight for their freedom. Yet for some, they treated it as a pastime, like those that were still not of age yet. And what was amazing was that it was showing results. For the past 5 years, there had been minimal deaths in the yearly battles with the witches. It was either that or the heroes sent would be capable of eliminating towns and villages the witches lived in. They honestly thought they were making progress with the new steps they were taking.
Audrey, on the other hand, was just happy that she could make use of the machines she was building. They weren’t made to be exhibited, to begin with. She was sure she was taught how to build machines for a reason and perhaps fighting, was it? Helping was also one thing. Of course, she tried to help and teach the other participants of the machine riots to the point that she knew everybody. Yet nothing fueled her more than to see her machines come out triumphant in the matches.
She fought so frequently that she knew each of them by face, she knew by name, after all, it had been 5 years together. The only time someone would disappear was when they were selected for battle. And new people would only appear when someone introduces a newbie who became fascinated with fighting or machines. Those were the only times there would be new faces. So it intrigued her when a cloaked figure wandered into the riot grounds.
It reminded her of herself when she was still sneaking out of their house to attend these riots. Yet there was something about this new figure that made her curious so she approached them.
“I’ve never seen you before” She was leaning in pretty close to getting a better view
“Ye-yeah- I got lost and found this place” The figure took a step back and tried to keep his face covered by the hood “I was just looking for someone but it seems like he isn’t here”
“Maybe it’s someone I know. What does the person look like?” Despite her curiosity, she knew when she was overstepping her boundaries so she took a few steps back
“He’s just a short little lad, about yea tall? Messy brown hair? And bright eyes? Maybe around 9 years old?” He gestured to a height estimate but it didn’t seem like anybody matched the description when he looked around the arena “But I don’t think he would be here so I’d rather take my leave”
“You just got here though. Best look around to see if he ain’t here” Without being allowed to protest, Audrey took him by the arm and dragged him deeper into the arena where she showed him around. “What’s your name, by the way? I’m Audrey. Audrey Greames”
“Cooper. Cooper Holte is my name” He muttered shyly while he just followed her around the area.
She introduced her to some people who were her age. As well as a few other people she had come to know in the arena. One look and everyone could tell that he was not from around these parts. Yet they still welcomed him and even encouraged him to try to drop by if he could in the following week. That night, Cooper got a glimpse of what being an inventor entailed. He saw the machines try to destroy each other in an arena. Then on another side, there were half-human, half-machines that fought each other until one of them gave up. The highlight of the night, of course, was something that shocked him.
There, at the center of the arena stood Audrey, fully equipped with a mechanical suit. Her opponent was a half-machine being too. Cooper honestly thought Audrey had no chance yet he was surprised when the battle didn’t even last a few minutes. As soon as the bell signaled each contender to start, Audrey already had her hand raised. She fired out a metal net which soon sparked with electricity. Not powerful enough to kill, but enough to paralyze her opponent to admit defeat.
After that match, she immediately ran up to Cooper, who she spotted among the crowd
“So how’s your first night here at the riots?” She was ecstatic after winning her last match
“It’s simply amazing! These machines are just amazing!” He reached a hand out towards her while she was wriggling out of her mechanical armor “And your suit is amazing as well!”
She offered him a warm smile and accepted his hand. She hoisted herself up then sat next to him on the spectators’ seats “Isn’t it? I have a new suit I want to try out next week. Will you be there?”
“I’ll see if I can… my parents don’t let us go out so much at night” He soon lifted his hood and ruffled his hair just a little “We’re not from around town either so hopefully I can find my way back here”
“Hopefully you can. It would be fun to see you here again” She offered him one of her best smiles.
As dawn set in, the people that enjoyed the riot left one by one. Each one heading in different directions. As for Audrey, she just walked Cooper to the last place he could remember before she walked back home.
Maybe After this chapter, I'll put up something different for a change of pace since this is a real long book ;;-;;
Did I smell romance? I hope it ends well.