by Jackie D
She heard her name being called but didn’t understand how Arrow was managing this feat. She was looking right at her perfect lips, which were just asking to be kissed, but they weren’t moving. How is she calling my name?
Then a hand on her back snapped her back into reality. Arrow hadn’t been speaking to her at all. It was Macy calling her to dinner. Her embarrassment thumped in her chest as she turned to sit at the table. A moment later, Arrow sat next to her and she was both grateful and resentful for the effect she had on her. She really needed to stop whatever this was. It couldn’t happen, and someone was going to get hurt if she kept stumbling down this path.
She glanced around the table, unable to believe that anyone could have their wits about them with Arrow in the room. It couldn’t just be her. It had to be an airborne illness of some kind. Her look around the table finally landed on Macy, who had a half smile and was watching her and Arrow closely. Perfect. That is just what she needed, the president to catch her lusting after her daughter when she should obviously be focused on a million other pressing issues.
Thankfully, Lily managed to take the attention off her with stories about the colony. The table fell into easy conversation about the state of the world, how to move forward, and the travel schedule of the soldiers. Lily took detailed notes and had found their pattern of travel, making it much easier to anticipate their next visit.
Kaelyn took the time to watch Arrow. The adoration she felt for the three other people sitting at the table was apparent in her softened expression and easy smile. There were the earliest indicators of age etched into the edges of her eyes. Her cheeks blushed easily whenever her mother heaped praise on her, which seemed to be more frequently sitting at the table than out in public. And Kaelyn thought she could almost see the remnants of the little girl Arrow had been before. Upon first impression, Arrow appeared to be confident, intelligent, articulate, and devoted. She was still all these things, but Kaelyn also saw the other more vulnerable side. Arrow was also shy when discussing anything besides military maneuvers. But the thing she’d noticed most was that Arrow was also kind and compassionate. She was concerned about the well-being of all the colonies’ citizens, not just as a concept, but how they were doing as people as well.
Kaelyn was caught up in her analysis of Arrow when she realized all eyes were now focused on her. She focused her attention on Lily, who had apparently been speaking directly to her. “I’m sorry.” She felt herself blush. “Did you ask me something?”
“Would you like to go to the town center? There are many people who’d like to meet you.” Lily’s expression was hopeful.
Kaelyn looked over at Arrow, unsure if that would be okay. There seemed to be no opposition. “I’d really like that, thank you.”
“We’ll just need to place jammers down so the drones can’t find the transport, and we’ll need to stay isolated to one area,” Arrow said.
“What exactly is a jammer?” Kaelyn asked, feeling out of place again.
Arrow pulled a device the size of a lip gloss from her pocket. She pushed a button on the side and it started to glow purple. “It masks any electronic pulses in a twenty-foot radius. It will keep the transport hidden from any passing drones.”
Lily stood, collected the bowls, and headed back into the kitchen. “Go ahead and put your jammers in, but we’re going somewhere the drones can’t see. We’ll be safe there.”
Chapter Fifteen
Arrow trusted Lily, but she couldn’t in good conscience take Kaelyn out without being prepared. She and Valor both put back on their tactical vests and secured their weapons in place. She needed to be prepared for anything.
Lily brought them back into the garage and asked Valor to push the large workbench to the side. Under it was a steel hatch that Valor pulled open upon Lily’s direction. Lights started coming on as they walked through the mysterious tunnel. In all the years she and Valor had been coming to visit Lily, she’d never mentioned this tunnel, and she wasn’t sure if she was impressed or insulted by the secret.
Kaelyn walked a few feet in front of her, next to her mother, and Valor and Lily were in the front of the group. She watched as Kaelyn and her mom fell into easy conversation, and she marveled at Kaelyn’s ability to adjust to her new surroundings. Most people would be overwhelmed by everything that was happening around them, but Kaelyn seemed to fall into place, like she’d been there all along. Her mom must have said something funny because Kaelyn reached out and touched her arm, laughing. And as was becoming her normal response to Kaelyn, Arrow’s chest slightly burned.
After about four minutes of walking, the tunnel opened into a large, underground communal space. There were people gathered in different areas talking, laughing, and there was one group gathered in front of someone who played the guitar. Arrow couldn’t believe her eyes. How did she never know about any of this? Apparently, people kept secrets from the Guardians, too.
Silence fell among the thirty or so people who were gathered, all attention falling onto them. Arrow instinctively put her hand on top of her weapon. She didn’t like walking into areas that were so unpredictable. Anything could happen, and she didn’t deal well with those scenarios. She hadn’t realized that she’d come to stand next to Kaelyn until she felt her hand on her arm.
“Lily wouldn’t have brought us here if these people were dangerous. But I think you’re scaring them,” she said quietly.
Arrow looked at the widened eyes focused on them and even noticed a small child duck behind her father’s leg. Arrow forced herself to take her hand off her weapon. She had never been in the village with her weapon drawn, on the alert. She was causing unnecessary unease.
Lily motioned to the benches near the center of the room, and they followed her direction, moving toward the seating area. A rather tall man walked over to them as everyone watched.
He hugged Lily first and then turned his attention to her mom. “Madam President, it’s an honor to have you here.”
Her mom smiled and took his hand. “Thank you for having us.”
He looked past her, his eyes fixated on Kaelyn’s wrist. She felt Kaelyn tense beside her for a moment but then relax, apparently falling into old habits honed from being the First Daughter.
He came closer, and Arrow suppressed her desire to step in front of Kaelyn. He looked awestruck. “Phoenix One. I can’t believe it. It’s really you. My name is Samuel.”
Kaelyn extended her hand to him, keeping part of her body pressed against Arrow’s side. “It’s nice to meet you, Samuel.”
He turned and waved over a small girl. The girl came as she was asked and stood in front of them, chewing on one of her thumbs. Kaelyn knelt on both knees and touched the little girl’s arm. “Hi, I’m Kaelyn.”
The little girl stared at her for a moment, seemingly trying to decide if she recognized her. The man leaned his head down. “Dorothy, this is Phoenix One.”
The little girl’s eyes lit up with recognition, and she removed herself from her father’s leg and threw her arms around Kaelyn. Kaelyn seemed caught off guard for a moment and then returned the embrace. “Dorothy, that’s a very pretty name.”
“She’s named after your mother. My father used to tell me stories about her every night as I fell asleep, and now I do the same for my daughter,” Samuel said.
Dorothy pulled out of her arms and looked at Kaelyn. “Stories about your mom are my favorite.”
Kaelyn smiled at her. “She was a very impressive woman, and I’m sure she would’ve liked you very much.”
The little girl’s face lit up and she hugged Kaelyn one more time. Then she released herself and took off running for the group of children she’d been playing with, undoubtedly to tell them about her triumph.
Several other people came over now, wanting to see and talk to Kaelyn. Kaelyn took it in stride. She sat as people came over to her, tossing questions like little flowers at her feet.
A short woman pushed her way to the front. “We’ve heard whispers of
you and the Phoenix Project for years. Some people were convinced it was real, that you’d come back. I must be honest, I was never one of those people. I thought it was a myth we used to give ourselves hope, to help us keep pressing forward. But now that you’re here, sitting in front of us, it all seems surreal.” She wiped her hand across her face, seeming to bring herself to the realization. “Do you think it will really work?”
Kaelyn paused before answering, assumedly giving the question consideration. “That’s certainly our intention. I don’t know what the future looks like, but I’m going to do everything I can to help all of you.”
A woman came and sat beside her. “How long will you be traveling for?”
Kaelyn glanced over at Arrow and then looked back down at the woman. “I’m not entirely sure. The major says it should take about a week, but that’s assuming everything goes as planned.”
Arrow noticed that Kaelyn touched each of the people she was speaking with, helping them to feel connected, heard, and so they knew they had her full attention. She was impressive with her ability to reach people, and Arrow thought, not for the first time, everything was going to be okay.
Arrow was watching Kaelyn carefully when her mom appeared next to her.
“She’s everything we knew she would be, isn’t she?”
Arrow continued to watch Kaelyn. “She’s more.”
She could feel her mom’s eyes on her, and she shifted under the scrutiny, unsure what her mom would think. In true Macy Steele form, it didn’t take long.
Her mom spoke quietly but firmly. “Arrow, you need to be careful.”
“It’s never going to happen, Mom. We know our places in the world.” Saying the words, as true as they might be, still hurt a little.
“I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about you being careful with your heart. Just because something can’t happen doesn’t always register with someone’s heart. I don’t want to see you hurt.”
She would’ve loved to promise her mom that she’d come out of this without any scars, but she knew it would be a lie. As if she knew she was being talked about, Kaelyn looked over and smiled at Arrow before going back to her conversation. Her smile was warm and kind. Arrow felt her stomach flip, and her palms began to sweat. “I won’t let anything interfere with the mission, Mom. You have my word.”
* * *
Kaelyn leaned back in one of the chairs, listening to a group of colonists play a guitar and sing a variety of songs she’d never heard. The environment was welcoming and happy, despite their current set of circumstances. People were laughing, dancing, and joking. The human spirit was alive and well in this makeshift underground meeting space, and it was exactly where she wanted and needed to be. She’d felt so emotionally depleted after the day, she was grateful for the reprieve.
Arrow was in the corner of the room talking to Valor and a man she’d met earlier. It was a weird feeling, knowing where Arrow was without intention. She wanted to walk across the room and take her by the hand, pull her into the group of people who were dancing. She wanted to be near her, wanted to press up against her, feel her breath on her neck. She pushed down the feeling, willing her body to ignore its impulsive thoughts.
Lily sat next to her, drinking a form of moonshine they had created. Lily was much older than the woman she’d once known. There were deep lines etched around her eyes and mouth. Her skin seemed paper thin, like it would tear if you touched it with too much force. Her eyes had lost a bit of their shine, the product of decades of change and survival. But her laugh was the same. Kaelyn was comforted by the fact that there were certain things you could count on, even when time and wear bumped up against you.
Lily handed her the glass. “You can’t leave here without trying this.”
Kaelyn’s first instinct was to decline. She wanted to have a clear head for what was to come, but another part or her told her to indulge. She didn’t know when serenity like this would be obtainable again, and she wanted to enjoy every minute. “Thank you.”
Lily laughed as she coughed out her first sip. “It grows on you.”
Kaelyn took another sip and recoiled as the liquid burned her throat and warmed her body. “That’s terrible.”
“It gets the job done.” Lily laughed.
“I believe you.” After only two sips, she could feel the repercussions flowing through her body. Her limbs felt heavier, and her brain became slightly fuzzy. “What will you do after?”
Lily took the glass back and took a sip. “You mean if Phoenix works out?”
“Yeah. You won’t need to host any underground parties. Where will you go?”
Lily handed the glass back to her and chuckled when Kaelyn choked on her third sip. “I’m ninety-one years old. I won’t be going anywhere. I’m perfectly happy to stay here for the rest of my days, however many that may be. I’ll just be happy to see that family finally removed from your father’s old place.” She sighed. “But what about you?”
“What do you mean?” Kaelyn asked.
“Well, once everything is as it should be, what do you intend to do about that?”
Kaelyn followed her line of sight to Arrow. She was still laughing with Valor, and Kaelyn realized Arrow was never fully relaxed. Even through her enjoyment, she kept scanning the room, intermittently placing her hand on her weapon.
“Arrow has made it clear she intends to return to her colony. Her people need her, and we may be able to take back the government, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be met with opposition. We’ll have to continue to strengthen our forces and prepare for a long battle, if not war. This won’t end quietly.”
Lily sat back in her seat and took a deep breath. “Doesn’t seem fair.”
“Some things are bigger than two people. This is one of them.”
“You sound like Valor and Arrow.” Lily tilted the glass toward the two.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” Kaelyn watched Arrow laugh, and she shivered at the way it made her pulse race.
“You want some advice from a very old woman?”
Kaelyn put her hand on Lily’s leg. “I would like some advice from an old friend.”
Before Lily had a chance to answer, the whole room shook with a strength Kaelyn had never experienced. Dust shook loose from the ceiling and walls, lights flickered like candle flames struggling to stay lit, and a second shockwave sent parts of the roof crashing to the floor. She heard children cry while adults hurried to quiet and console them. Cries from areas she couldn’t make out in the dark echoed with people in pain. People started running toward different tunnels, disappearing into the dark.
Kaelyn quickly got behind Lily and picked her up from where she lay on the ground. “Are you okay?”
Lily nodded. “We need to find out what’s happening.”
Valor rushed over. “Are you two okay?”
“Yes. Where’s Arrow?” Kaelyn couldn’t see her, and fear started to grab at the inside of her throat, wanting to drag her down.
“She’s helping one of the guys who was hit by a falling rock.” He pulled a small device out of his pocket and pushed a few of the buttons. A view of the street in front of the garage came into view.
Macy was next to them a moment later. “We have several injured people. They need medical attention.”
“Can we get them to my house?” Lily asked.
Valor was staring at the screen. “I see one vehicle. It looks like they just bombed a few buildings. I don’t know if they were picked randomly or purposefully. I don’t know if your house is safe.”
“What the hell is going on?” Kaelyn asked. “I thought they left you alone for the most part?”
Lily ran her hand over her hair. “It’s hard to say. They’ve harassed us in the past, just for the fun of it. It could be just one of their games, or it could be more.”
Macy grabbed his arm. “If they find the transport, they’ll know we’re here and all these people will be in danger.”
Valor looked as if
he was ticking off possibilities in his head when Arrow ran up beside him. She had blood coming from a cut in her head that was threatening to run into her eyes. She swiped it away, leaving a smear of it behind. “Report.”
“Unknown bombing for unknown reasons. If they find the transport they’ll know we’re here. If we move it and they catch us, they’ll know we’re here. Some of these people need medical attention, but we can’t put them in more danger.”
Arrow looked around. Her eyes were calm, and Kaelyn noticed her hands weren’t shaking, unlike her own.
“Mom, I need you and Kaelyn to get all these people into one area. There are a few first aid supplies in my vest. Do what you can.” She looked at Valor. “Let’s go see what we’re up against.”
Kaelyn wanted to protest. She didn’t want Arrow taking off into a tunnel where she had no idea what was waiting for her at the end, but the decision wasn’t hers to make. Instead, she did what she was asked. She held out her hands as Arrow began to hand her several first aid items. She felt her heart speed up, not with fear for her own safety but for Arrow’s. She wanted to tell her to be safe, but that seemed ridiculous in this situation.
Arrow gave the items to Kaelyn and Macy. “You can do this. We’ll be back before you know it.”
There was that confidence Kaelyn found so mesmerizing. “You better come back. I can’t do this without you.” If she’d said it to someone else, Kaelyn would’ve been worried about sounding dependent. But in this instance, it was the truth. She didn’t think she could survive this without Arrow.
Arrow handed her a weapon and a transmission device. “Valor’s frequency is the first number in there. If things get bad, let us know.” She grabbed her hand and held her gaze. “And, Kaelyn, I’ll come back for you. I promise.”
