Dust (Of Dust and Darkness) - By Devon Ashley Page 0,19
That’s why we’ve given structure to the line. If we didn’t we’d all be dead on the floor by now. The back end is our day off,” she says, adding air quotations around the last two words.
“Once an hour the spriggans will walk through the cave to check on us. When they do, those working the fires up front will pretend to cough over the smoke. That’s our warning to get up on our feet and begin sifting through the dust on the table. Any other time during the day, we’re meant to rest our bodies.”
I look apprehensively to the pixies nearest us. They all seem so exhausted. Yeah, I’m tired, but my problem is more starvation than exhaustion. “I feel so bad, Holly. So many of these pixies look like they’re ready to drop dead on their feet.”
“That’s because they are.” Those words disturb me. I cringe and drop my head. Holly lays her hand softly below my neck. “Don’t feel guilty, Rosalie. You just spent four days in the hole without food or water. You’ve earned this spot. Anyways, every new pixie starts here on day one. No one in that line will have ill thoughts over you being here today. So just sit back and try to relax. Sleep if you can. Ivy and Lily will wake us if we’re asleep when the spriggans come through.”
I nod my head and her hand disappears from my back. I lean into the wall, squirming until I find a comfortable spot. I have so many questions but can’t deny I’m sleepy too. I roll my head sideways, thinking I’ll get in a quick question or two, but Holly has already closed her eyes. In fact, by the sound of her breathing, I think she’s already asleep. Dang. Only utter exhaustion could get me to fall asleep upon impact.
I close my eyes too, wishing that when I awake, I’ll be blinded by the sunlight seeping in through the thatch of my tree house.
“Get up!” a voice yells in a hushed tone, hands grasping my arms and shaking me violently. Scared out of my wits, I jump to my feet, completely freaking out. My breaths are fast and panicky, and it takes a second to remember where I am. Holly pushes me toward the table and immediately sifts through the dust.
“Rosalie,” she says quietly, “be meticulous as you go through the dust. Literally make it look like we examine each particle before we bag it.”
I nod, examining the brown powder on the table. I’m not quite sure what it is I’m supposed to be separating, but I don’t dare ask since our corner of the cave is quickly becoming illuminated with additional light. I keep my head down and sift the dust with my fingertips, dividing the dust based on shades of brown. Luckily, Ivy or Lily moved our lanterns to our side of the table during my panic attack so I can actually see what I’m examining. My heart pounds so hard and loud, just like those hide-covered drums the male pixies beat on during celebrations back home in the Hollow. I’m sure the noise will give me away and the spriggan will beat my guilty conscience-self silly for not working this last hour. But the light begins to fade, and my heart slows down the dimmer it gets.
Holly releases a long sigh and stands erect, rubbing her eyebrows. I follow her lead and the other two pixies relax a bit as well, relocating the lanterns to their end of the table again. We fall to the floor and transfer the burden of our weight to the cave wall.
I suddenly realize how hot it is in here. I can only imagine the heat coming off the fires and the poor pixies working beside it. Tiny beads of sweat are seeping out my skin and reflecting what little light we have. “Holly, is there any water?”
Her head rolls toward me with closed eyes. She nods and murmurs, “Mmm-hmm. Someone should have left us a bucket in the corner.” I search our tiny back area and find the bucket. I gulp several times and splash a bit on my face and neck. It barely lowers my body temperature but I do feel a little cooler. Unfortunately, adding more water to my system backfires on me. My bladder suddenly becomes aware how full it is. All the water I drank this morning has finally gone through my system.