by Anne, Melody
It’s just that in the dream, Vyco was laughing in triumph as John knelt at his feet. Vyco’s eyes were glittering as they looked into mine. The new boldness in the lord of the dark world was frightening. Jayden explained that dark magic wasn’t something to take lightly. He’d said there was so much power in it, that it was very easy for the good people to get lost in it. There was something very appealing about getting to do whatever you wanted without what appeared to be consequences.
Of course, there were always consequences, even if people didn’t realize it. The short-term power and darkness seemed appealing to so many, but the bad that came after wasn’t worth it. Take a Twinkie diet as an example. There was nothing bad in polishing off a box of Twinkies, or my old favorites, Ding-Dongs. It was pure heaven to eat one after the other, the yummy creamy middle coating my tongue.
But the consequence of eating all of those tasty treats were feeling sluggish and bloated after, and if it became a habit, gaining a lot of weight. Though having whatever we wanted in the moment seemed like pure heaven, it would always lead to our ultimate demise. Ugh. Life wasn’t in any way, shape, or form simple.
Back to Vyco and his master plan. Jayden informed me the strange weather we’ve been having could be coming from the dark lord. Apparently, he has power to control the elements, causing the ocean to rise up high in fury, or the land to crack open with wide crevices leading straight into the pits of hell, even tornadoes and floods that could consume everything around him. How he’d gotten that much power was beyond me.
How could the council that Jayden speaks of so highly allow Vyco so much control? Do they not care about our planet — not even the least bit? Were we nothing more than pests to them, or even worse, a form of entertainment? I guess these are questions I’ll have to ask Cassidy — whenever she and John return.
She answers my questions so much better than Jayden does. He can’t keep secrets from me, but his answers are often that he doesn’t know. He says he walked on the side of darkness for so long that he’s forgotten what it’s like to live in the light. I don’t know if he’s telling me the truth or not, but I do know I’ll find the answers one way or the other.
For now, I’ll continue to write down my thoughts and hopes. I want someone to know me someday even when I’m gone. That’s important to me. Maybe because I feel as if I could simply disappear at any moment to be forgotten in the blink of an eye. Maybe it’s my own vanity, wanting to think I’m important. I don’t know the reasons. I just think this world will never be the same again, and I want something left behind of what once was.
“Does that mean we’re going to leave the base?” Phoenix asked. The room was silent as everyone quieted down to hear Larry’s answer.
They were in the middle of an urgent meeting. A group of men had come into their base the night before with news from across the United States. There were survivors throughout the country who were fighting back. They were gaining control of their country, one area at a time. The soldiers fell back more and more each day. As the good guys gained more territory, more survivors came out of hiding, making them stronger and stronger.
There were still too many of the enemy, and with the power back on, they had a lot of resources, but the point was, the country was fighting back, no longer willing to hide away and hope for the war to pass. The rest of the world was now taking a stand — letting the enemy know they weren’t going to just sit back while their loved ones were tortured and killed. It filled Phoenix with hope that the people in their camp weren’t the only ones fighting.
“The council has to discuss more, but yes, Phoenix, this means we’re going to start moving forward again. We’ve come this far and we can’t back down now. We have scouts out and all the news we’re receiving leads us to believe this is our time to fight — and win!” Larry answered. Before he could add anything more, questions were being shouted out so quickly there was no chance for him to answer.
Phoenix watched as her father took a step back and waited for the people to calm. She was forever impressed with her dad, the way he remained calm, the gentle look on his face, confidence in his every movement. He’d make a great president one day. She had no doubt that they’d take back their land, and when they did, her father would be the first president of the new country.
She felt herself calm as she watched her father work. It would all be okay. It had to be. They couldn’t cower in the dark while the world fell all around them. She wanted to be useful, wanted to quit sitting idly by while her life continued and other people’s lives ceased to exist.
“If everyone can please quiet down I will be glad to answer questions. Let’s have a rational discussion and together we can figure this all out,” Larry said with a kind smile.
The room slowly started to quiet as the group faced Larry again to hear what he had to say. He’d kept them alive for years — they had complete faith in him to continue doing so. They were scared but hopeful now, and they looked to him to lead them.
Phoenix gazed at her dad as she blinked back tears. There were soldiers gunning for them, evil forces no longer satisfied to hide in the dark, diseases spreading through the streets, trying to wipe them out, but still, they had hope. They had a chance to be normal again, whatever that word meant.
Phoenix wasn’t sure she’d recognize what normal looked like anymore. Was it a house with a white picket fence? Was it a mother and father with two perfect children and a dog? Was it a band of friends on a farm? What would be normal to one person wouldn’t work for another. Maybe normal was being happy in your own way without judgment. No one knew those answers. It had been too long to know the difference between normal and utter chaos.
She listened to her father while hoping for the best. She’d learned that panic didn’t get any of them anywhere, so when she was unsure, it was best to step back and evaluate the situation, then wait until her nerves were calm before making any decisions.
“We’ve learned there are at least a hundred refugee camps, some as large, or larger, than ours. They have supplies, weapons, and resources similar to ours. If we can all band together, make a surefire plan to work together, we can eliminate the remaining enemies who aren’t backing down. We can move back into our homes, or to new houses for those who have lost theirs. We can start rebuilding our lives, open up factories, produce food and supplies again, and start anew. It all begins with one person stepping up, and there are so many more survivors than I thought would make it. We can do this — we can win. We’re going to continue sending out scouts to find all the information we can. This is a more dangerous time than ever before because we became complacent when there weren’t people directly shooting at our heads. So we need you to stay strong and vigilant. The other elders and I agree that the more caged the soldiers feel, the more desperate they’ll become. They won’t think about capture, only killing, so we have to be on high alert.”
Several questions were again shouted out, but Larry held up his hand and waited for the noise to die down.
“I don’t have all of the answers for you at this time. What we do know is that this is a very positive step in our future — a stride in the right direction. We’re going to be free — liberated from these monsters who thought they could take over the entire world.”
Larry looked around the room as he spoke, his eyes making contact with several people.
“Hopefully, we’re overreacting to the soldiers’ desperation, but I’d rather err on the side of caution. Your safety is the council’s number one concern. We need people to help rebuild this country, and if we stand together, stay strong, and keep our heads on straight, we will continue to make it through the tragedy our world has become. I’ll stay until all of your questions are answered, but please ask them one at a time so I can hear and address the entire group. Many of you most likely have similar concerns.”
“When might we leave?”
“I don’t have the exact time right now, not until our scouts come back. We
won’t do anything rash, because we have to be sure we can keep you safe, or as safe as we can while there’s a war going on. We don’t want to rush out blind and lose everything we’ve worked so hard to preserve over the last several years.”
“What if some of us want to stay here?” a woman asked as she held her young son on her lap.
Larry smiled. “There will be a group staying here. Part of our plan is to rebuild the United States. That means we need to keep strong bases somewhat close together. Not only for the security of those in the area, and for the many who still need rescued, but so the enemy sees we have a strong hold on our country and they go away. America was always the most powerful nation on this planet, and we somehow allowed it to fall. We won’t let that happen again. So a lot of us will stay behind in this location. Then we will move forward and start another base just like this one, and build it up, and more will stay there. We will do that all across the country. It will be a reverse from a couple centuries ago when they moved from the East to the West,” he said with a smile.
“It will be a new Oregon Trail in reverse,” someone said.
Larry nodded. “And this time we don’t have to do it in wagons,” he added with a chuckle.
“But unfortunately we’re just as vulnerable as they were back then,” a man said.
“Yes, we are. But we have far more knowledge now, and we have strong roads and many safe havens along the way. I’m not going to say we won’t lose people. There are always losses when fighting for our freedom. But we will do all we can to protect the innocent. That’s all we can do,” Larry said.
“I will do all I can for this group and for my family,” another man called out. Several more added their support. Phoenix loved how much they admired her father. He really was a great leader. He never let the power go to his head. He was made to lead their people.
She continued watching her father as he fielded question after question. He was so good at what he did. She didn’t think there was anything else she could learn that night, and she was starting to feel as if the building walls were closing in on her, so it was time to leave. She slowly rose and walked from the room, hearing Sadie's quick steps following.
“We’ve been hit with a lot, Phoenix, but this is good news,” Sadie said as they stepped outside into the cool air.
“I just don’t understand,” Phoenix said. “It almost feels as if it’s too easy. We’ve faced so much, and to find out that the soldiers are being defeated . . . it feels off. I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. It would really help if I understood more. I know this is a battle between the dark and light forces of the universe, but I don’t understand why. I don’t see how Josiah can stand by as his people are massacred and women are tortured. I don’t understand how those soldiers can kill a fellow human being while laughing. I don’t understand any of it. I feel so useless doing nothing but sitting here day after day — night after night. At the same time, I have to admit I’m afraid of crossing the country. I’m worried about getting captured. I know that’s selfish and terrible, but we’ve already lost so much . . .”
“I understand. Each time Brian steps outside of those gates without me, I really struggle to believe that he’ll actually make it back. I don’t fully breathe again until he comes home to me. We’re human, Phoenix. You’re too hard on yourself. We’re allowed to be scared. We’re allowed to have second thoughts, and we’re certainly allowed to think twice before jumping feet first into the middle of a battlefield. When the time comes, we will do what’s right. There’s no way either of us would allow them to leave us behind,” Sadie said.
“It’s time to meet with our group. The elders can make their plans, but we need to be ready too,” Phoenix insisted.
“I agree.”
Phoenix turned to her best friend, strength returning to her body. Of course, Sadie wasn’t willing to stand by while the world fell apart around her. She should’ve spoken to Sadie sooner and the knots in her stomach keeping her up at night would’ve been long gone by now.
“I’ll gather Leah and Brian — you get Jayden.”
“Jayden will stop us. You know he’ll try and convince our parents to keep us locked up while everyone else joins the battle,” Phoenix protested.
“We both know you won’t get two feet outside of this base without him, so it’s better to include him. He’s probably in there with your dad right now trying to figure out a way to keep you behind. You have to make him see that you’re doing this with or without him.”
“I’ll try . . . but this could come back to bite us in the butt,” Phoenix said as she turned back toward the entrance of the meeting hall. Before she opened the door, Jayden stepped out, his eyes narrowed suspiciously as he took in Phoenix’s expression. Sadie had been right — as usual.
“What’s going on? Why did you leave?”
“We need to talk,” she said before taking his hand and leading him to one of the big warehouses where food was stored and a group of them had turned into their meeting space.
“If you’re planning on running off and placing yourself in—”
“I said we need to talk, not just you,” Phoenix interrupted.
“Fine, I’ll listen, but I can feel you’re up to something.”
“Jayden, I love you very much. However, you frustrate the crud out of me. Don’t leave Sadie and me out of this. Don’t think you can plan on taking the world back by storm, while Sadie and I are left twiddling our thumbs. If the elders are meeting tonight, our group of friends is also meeting. We’re sick of sitting behind these locked gates while you, John, Cassidy, our old team members, and just about everyone else around us gets to leave. It’s our turn to help — with or without your blessing or consent.”
Jayden’s mouth was practically hanging open by the time Phoenix was done speaking, which gave her a great feeling of triumph. She truly loved him, but she was done being coddled.
“This base needs protection too. Don’t you think you’re doing your part?” he asked.
“I know exactly what you’re doing with those words. Yes, I know this base is a valuable asset to our team. But get this through you head,” she said as she poked him hard in the chest. He would barely even feel it, but it felt good for her to do it. “I started fighting back last year, and I’m going to continue. You’ll either support me in that, or you will lose me because I’ll resent you.”
He gazed at her for a long moment. Finally, he let out a sigh. He knew she was dead serious. You couldn’t love a person and not respect them. Love and respect went hand in hand. Maybe it was a lesson he was learning.
“If I can’t stop you, I’m dang well joining you,” he insisted. “I do love you, and I love your passion to do what’s right.”
She’d won — and it felt damn good.
Plus, she loved him more than she had a second before. It didn’t get much better than this. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him like it was the first time. She was a very, very lucky young woman.
Chapter Fifteen
*** Drake ***
Walking slowly, Drake heard scurrying little feet on the floor near the foot of his bed. He sat
up, trying to see in the dark room, the morning sun just starting to break through the dirty windows. Mice! He really hated the disease carrying creatures. He’d be thrilled if they’d simply drop off of the face of the planet. Reaching down, he cautiously grabbed his boots, turning them upside down and banging them against the metal of his cot several times. He wasn’t taking any chances that one of the mice had climbed inside, looking for a warm spot to hide.
When he was assured there was nothing in them, he pushed his feet inside before standing. He wouldn’t walk to his dresser without the thick leather protecting his feet. He gathered his belongings and made his way to the shower, grateful no one else was up yet. It didn’t take long for a couple of the other guys to join him, though, stealing his moment of solitude in an instant.
“It’
s supposed to be a cold one today, Stephenson.” Drake looked over his shoulder at Ron, who wasn’t such a bad guy.
“It seems like it’s cold every day,” Drake replied.
“Yeah, but today more than usual. The captain wants us to bundle up. Not that he gives a crap about us, but he can’t afford to lose any more men with the way the attacks on our camps have been going lately.”
Drake nodded, not turning his head in Ron’s direction. He liked Ron. They’d been stationed together since the beginning. Both of them had been eager, ready to serve their country, and then completely disillusioned. Drake wanted to tell Ron about his plans but had strong reservations.
If he told Ron, he could either get his friend killed, or Ron would feel he had no choice but to report Drake. As much as he wanted to take him, his gut told him if he did, it would end in disaster.
As others climbed in the eight-man shower, it became too crowded for Drake. He rinsed off, gathered his towel, then went to the small locker room to change. He was ready to get off the base for a while.
The refugees were banding together, acquiring weapons, and finally taking a stand against the enemy. Sadly, Drake knew he was a part of the enemy force. He’d been fighting them from within, but his job was done with them. He no longer had an excuse to delay his departure. He needed to move. If he could travel across the country and let the other survivors know what was happening, maybe they’d all come together.
They’d take back their beautiful country.
He couldn’t approach them in uniform. They’d shoot first and ask questions later. He wouldn’t be much help to them if he were dead. As miserable as he’d been the last few years, he didn’t want to die. He simply wanted a normal life. He had no family or friends left, but eventually that would change — it would get better as time went on.
The survivors of the tragic war would band together. They’d have no choice but to join forces if they wanted to continue in a better America — in a better world for that matter. Those who chose to try to make it on their own would likely perish.
