Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 4-7 2019 | Page 264

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‘We’re here.’ breathed Lexi. After her training with Dave, she was alert, and being alert in the land of Lydia
wasn’t a good thing.
Just being here was an agony. There were kids sitting closely to each other as they didn’t have the strength
to stand up to run. The elderly were lying on the ground, too sick too move. Just a few step away, people
were mourning over their dead relatives, yet they didn’t have the power to bury them.
‘Oh God, here’s disastrous. Let’s find the one in charge.’ Dave tucked Lexi, who were staring ahead blankly.
She just nodded her head, too stunned to say anything.
The both of them went deeper and deeper into Lydia. Just after a while, they arrived to the lair of the
leader, or the queen, Lydia. Lexi frowned where she looked at the place. It wasn’t the same with the
description of her mother. mentioned a treehouse. She wasn’t expecting the grand palace just like the one
back in China, her homeland.
‘Wow, looks like we’re back home.’ Dave raised an eyebrow to Lexi, looking as confused as her.
‘Oh, here’s the mighty warriors of Alice.’ A woman came out of the grand palace, with two tough-looking
men beside her.
‘How do you know who we’re?’ Dave asked, stepping forward and pushed Lexi behind him.
‘Of course. You dress like her. Chinese.’ She looked at Lexi. ‘And you look like her.’
She descended down the stairs. ‘I’m the leader of Lydia. I remembered your mother wanted to help us since
the last time she was here. Come. Give me your gold and treasure.’ She extended her hands to them.
‘No way.’ Lexi brushed away Dave and went face to face with Lydia. ‘You’re here, living peacefully in the
palace of yours while your people suffer. I’ll return to the coast and give the gift to the ones in need. They
won’t receive gold and treasure, only daily necessity will be given. Sorry your majesty, we’ve to go.’ She
grabbed Dave’s hand and started to walk away, only to notice to be surrounded by Lydia’s men.
‘Not so fast. With Alice’s daughter here, I believe I can get what I want. Fight if you want, you can’t go
far.’ She said in an airy voice and went back into her dan.
‘You ready, Lexi?’ Dave said under his breath.
‘We don’t necessarily have to fight, dear.’ She looked at the confuse Dave.
‘Our men were already giving goods to the poor. I told them to do so after we went deep into the land so as
to save time.’ She looked at the sun, which raised high in the sky. ‘They should’ve done their job.’
‘You mean, we can just escape? How?’
Dave looked around. There’re just trees.
Trees, he thought. The ruler here once lived in a treehouse. They should have a route up in the trees for
the ruler to move around the land without difficulties. He looked at Lexi and saw she was smirking at him.
‘Fine. I hope you remember today’s lesson. Put the central of your focus on your shoulder.’ He looked at
the soldiers around them, relaxing as they thought they had them trapped.
They didn’t.
‘Three. Two. One. GO!’ Both of them ran up the tree beside them, leaving the shock soldiers behind them.
‘Look. Over there.’ Lexi pointed breathlessly. There’s a road built out of woods. It led to the sea where
Alice parked.
‘Come on, Lexi.’ Dave pulled her hand and together, they went back to Alice and wait for another
adventure awaited.