Router

 The router had been strategically placed as high up as possible, at a height that would be perilous to reach. 

With the right equipment; ladders, grappling hooks, and all else used for climbing, the task would be much easier. Almost do-able. 

But all useful materials had been snatched from the common long ago, leaving us with a few torn garments, and enough food to fill a half-baby.

The irony of the whole situation was almost suffocating. 

But with my mind set dead straight on the feat ahead of me, I pushed all other notions from my crowded head. I needed to pull all my focus, and all my strength, into completing the desperate task that glared at me menacingly in the face. 

Deep down, at the bottom of all my determination, and false hope, I can feel the weight of everything sinking me, pulling me down, engulfing me in its depressingness. 

I know the odds of me leaving this mission alive are as slim as my shackled wrists. The thought sends shivers down my spine, so I try to forget about the notion, as much as you can forget about the fact of your approaching death.

Sighing, and standing to my shivering feet, I look around me; People of all ages slink around in circles, aimlessly moving around in order to keep warm. On the outside, they look as if they are at peace with the way things are.

But I know what's inside their minds, and I know the carnivorous waves that the router produces are eating away at their brains. Controlling their every thought and move.  

But it’s not the people’s router-controlled minds or their sorrowful faces that send chills down my spine..

It’s their eyes. 

Hollowless, emotionless eyes, that seem to have lost purpose long ago. 

With a sudden rush of feelings, dieing in order to save these people doesn't seem so bad. For the third time that day I mutter a prayer of thanks, grateful for mine and my sister's immunity to the power that radiates from the router.

I nervously glance up at my target: the router. It must be a kilometre of the ground, and even the thought of such a height makes my stomach churn. But then the memories of those eyes hit me, and I refocus myself all over again. 

Chancing a last look at my fellow friends - all of which have been enslaved by our Ruler, a deep and angry sorrow swallows me. 

I have to save them.

“So, what's the plan sis?”

A small smile tugs at my thin lips, something only my sister can make me do. 

“Get to the router. Destroy it. Free everyone.” I almost whisper, stating the obvious. My sister - Malia - scans the surrounding areas, before whispering back.

“Alright then, let's do this.”

I give Malia a terse nod, a squeeze of the hand, and a smile that's as loving as I can muster. 

“If anything goes wrong…” I begin to say, but she cuts me off.

“Nothing will go wrong.” 

                                                                          *

 

I peer below me. 

The earth swims at my feet, shifting and swaying as I clasp for dear life onto the slippery metal pole that shoots towards the star dusted sky. Towards the router.

“You good, sis?” I call down bellow me. 

My question is met with a grunt, as Malia hauls herself upwards, sliding herself up the pole, streaks of sweat dotting her forehead. 

“We’re almost there! Just...don’t look down!” I scream, trying to be heard over the wind that ravegious the land around us. 

Again, all I hear from my sister is a murmur of agreement.

I clasp the pole tighter, inching myself skyward bit by bit. 

The router swims in front of me, looming ever closer. 

“Destroy the route. Everyone will be set free from whatever is trapping their mind once you do.” I spit at myself, forcing my reddened fingers to keep working their way up the pole, my body following suit. 

A small hammer swings from my hip, bouncing around and weighing me down like a small brick. The hammer was my Dads, and I still remember him hiding it. Swearing that the Government wouldn’t take it from him. The pang of sadness that hits me almost sends me flying down the pole to my death. 

But I hold on. 

No matter how much I miss dad, I wasn’t ready to meet him again just yet. 

“I made it!” I shout down to Malia, as I kneel down on the small platform that is held up by the giant pole.

It’s a small platform, barely room enough to fit two people along with the large, sleek, black router. 

An arm pops up from below the platform and I haul my sister up, the movement draining every last inch of strength left in me. 

“We..did..it!” Malia pants, doubling over. 

I shoot her a weak smile. 

“Brutal climb, that was! Now this should be easy. A couple swings…”

“And then..everyone’s minds will...be free!”

I grin, it was all...too easy. 

But I shake the thought away, reaching for the hammer, and holding it in front of me, as if we were about to face battle.Maybe we were. 

“Let's do this!” I say through gritted teeth. Pulling the hammer back, I lunged at the innocent-looking machine. A defiant scream of metal hitting metal fills the air, as the hammer collides into the router, sending shards of black metal flying everywhere. 

A flashing red light that illuminates the machine dies down, and for a second, it seemed it was finished. 

Then it happened. 

A piercing shriek drummed against my ears, and the router exploded into flames, sending tongues of fire shooting all over the small platform. 

Screaming. 

Spinning on my heels, my eyes catch a fleeting glimpse of my sister; 

Falling. 

More screaming, some coming from my own mouth, and I find myself lunging for Malia - fingers outstretched in a desperate attempt to hold onto her. To save her. 

But her dainty body slips from the platform - and from my reach - pummeling down to the green mass of land below. My mind tries to process it all, but its attempts are spent in vain, as fire creeps behind me, sending heat shooting up my spine. 

I have to jump.

With a last sideways glance at the router, which had destroyed so many lives, I lunge from the platform. 

Air whipps at my hair, and stings my eyes. Below me, I watch the aftermath of my endeavour. People bustle around, purpose filled once again, picking themselves up, and dusting themselves off. 

Finally, free.