The Ones Who Lived

by Ashley Nemer

  "It isn't a big deal, I just heard that you're a little too uptight on some things and that Amelia should be in charge."

  "That isn't going to happen, she is too busy, Sam wouldn't tolerate it."

  "What do you mean, tolerate? Sam doesn't have a say in everything she does. You can't tell me what to do all the time."

  Anthony ran his hands over his face and through his hair. He dropped his head back to the chair and looked up to the ceiling, "I don't know Sarah maybe I am saying this wrong."

  "So, try again Anthony."

  "What I mean is, we all live in a social contract of some kind. In our community we offer food, water, clothing and protection in exchange for man hours worked and decent behavior towards each other."

  "Right, and have you thought about what would happen if someone doesn't follow those rules?"

  "That's what I have been spending the last hour thinking about. We all have to come to terms that things have changed and are never going back to the way they were. We have to accept that. So, given that constraint it is time we made actual laws for us all to follow."

  "Don't we still have the laws of the United States?"

  "Sarah, we don't even know if the country is still a country, or if it is just made up of teenagers wandering around. Do you even remember when the last time you saw an adult?"

  She didn't respond with anything she just sat there folding more laundry. He could tell she was thinking but didn't speak. He was going to let her come to the same conclusions he had come to earlier in the day. "Okay, so what are you suggesting?"

  "We go old school."

  "What like Moses and the burning bush?" She smiled at him and that made Anthony start to laugh.

  "No goof, I said old school not biblical." He took his finger and tapped his brain, "Remember how we were looking up philosophers, well I mean old school. Like John Locke. The whole social contract. We make one, well we have one, we just need to write it down and enforce it if anything ever happens.

  "Oh, well, okay I think that could work, once you run it past the community."

  Anthony stood up and walked over to Sarah, he sat down next to her and started folding some of the clothing she hadn't got to yet. "Here is my idea on that. You know how the Native Americans had tribal councils?"

  "Not really, but let's pretend I know what you're talking about."

  "Well they didn't just have a chief they had a council of advisors to the chief. I think we need that."

  "So, you want to be chief and you want others serving you with advice."

  Anthony nodded, "Yes, exactly."

  Sarah shook her head back and forth, "Nope that won’t' work."

  "Why won't it?"

  "Because no one voted for you, they will feel resentment if they are forced to follow someone as a leader. You need to have an election."

  "An election! So, fifteen out of twenty-seven people can run for office and everyone can have one or two votes! No way, that isn't going to happen.

  "So, then what if you have a tribunal? You know it can be the top three people. Maybe then it won't feel so one sided. Everyone has a voice. Like elections."

  "I don't want elections right now at this point I think we need directions. But I do like the idea of three solid leaders."

  "You realize it can't be you, Amelia and Sam, right?" Sarah stated.

  "And why not?"

  "Because it isn't representative. It would need to be one person per family. So, it would be either you, Sam or Amelia but only one since you are all in the same family now."

  "I guess, I'll have to think about it. But let me tell you what really has been worrying me for the immediate future and why I think we need to start stock piling guns."

  Sarah's facial expression was clearly in shock. She listened quietly as Anthony explained everything Sunny had predicted and why it was bothering him so greatly. After he had finished going into the details that Amelia had explained to him about witches he thought Sarah would laugh at him and call him crazy. Instead she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him.

  "Thank you, Anthony, thank you for wanting to do this job to protect us."

  "Of course, I love you Sarah."

  "No, I don't just mean me, I mean the community. I know it is a thankless job, so I am thanking you."

  "Just one of the many reasons I love you." Anthony leaned into her and gave her a soft kiss on the lips. "I love you with all my heart."

  "Then why do you run away when I mention us getting married."

  "You mean aside from the fact we are still teenagers?"

  "Anthony! Don't make this about age."

  He placed his palm against her cheek, "I know it isn't a joke or about age. I'm just anxious about it. I just, I don't want to make any mistakes or do anything wrong."

  "We are going to make mistakes, there is so much we don't know, but we can't always hide just because we are scared. We have to face it head on."

  "It is obvious you're right, but I don't know how to do that, I don't know how to be like you."

  "That's why we are partners, so when you fall short, I can get you across the finish line."

  "So, what are you wanting a big ceremony like we gave my sister?"

  She shook her head no, "I just want you and me, and maybe the little family we have."

  "I am not ready for babies." Anthony said.

  "Neither am I, just want you. I want you and me."

  "Okay."

  "What?" Sarah asked with a pitch of excitement in her voice. "Did you just say yes?"

  "I did not, I said, 'okay.' Which means," Anthony turned his whole body to face Sarah and had her sitting down in the couch with her back against the back of the sofa. "Sarah will you become Mrs. Davis?"

  "Tell me something, does marrying you mean I get special privileges in breaking the rules?" She teased.

  "Depends on the rule, I may have to give you a special punishment though, we'll just have to see."

  Sarah's face lighted up, her smile was ear to ear. "Yes Anthony, yes I will marry you."

  He leaned into her and kissed her. At first it was soft but then it became fiercer. He did love her, and he did want her. His fears were just that, fears, and he needed to find a way to push those aside.

  "Stop thinking Anthony and just kiss me."

  "Yes ma'am."

  After spending the evening celebrating just the two of them Anthony went out into the community with a new jaunt to his step. He surprised himself by feeling excited, but he didn't want to jinx it so he just didn't think about it. Today was Thursday and everyone had their vegetable reporting due on Thursday, so he knew he could find most of the heads of each house in the vegetable homestead. Which, of course, was ran by his sister.

  Walking into the room he looked around to see who all had shown up on time for their delivery and reports. He sauntered in past a couple people and took his seat that had been assigned to him since the start of the community vegetable reporting. Each house had a seat at the table. After everyone arrived and some general conversation had subsided he decided to call the meeting to order.

  "Everyone, I want to thank you for coming today. Before we get on with our weekly reporting I think updating all of you on some issues I have discovered is most prudent."

  "What's going on Anthony?" Sam asked from his left. Since he had moved out of the house Amelia had let Sam take over in representing their house in the meetings. She felt he was best suited for the role and Sam loved it.

  "I have been assessing our assets and our buildings, it occurs to me that if we were ever under attack that we would be ill prepared. I think we need to start hunting parties for livestock, like horses, and guns."

  Everyone in the room was a man except for Natalie. He hadn't anticipated any backlash from Natalie or he guys. Sam raised his eyes and looked straight at Anthony. They mentally shared the same thought about Sunny and Anthony nodded at his lifelong friend.

  "I think it's long overdue." Natalie said.

 
Someone else seconded her comment and within five minutes they had worked out a schedule for 'hunting parties' to focus on ammunition and guns to bring to the community.

  "While we are on the planning topic there is one more thing I want to bring up. Since we are essentially the leaders of the community I felt it was best to bring it up here first."

  It was John's turn to look over and question Anthony, "There is more?"

  "This one isn't an imminent threat, it is more of a, how do I put this, future for our little colony. Have you all heard of John Locke?"

  "The philosopher from government class?" Sam asked.

  "Yep one in the same." Anthony went into his idea about the social contract and his idea about the governing body. After a few minutes of silence with no one talking he had the thought that maybe he had pushed it too far. Then someone spoke up.

  "You're right, we need this. But I don't know if I like the idea of a tribunal." Natalie said.

  "Why not, it seems fair, there won't be any tiebreakers on issues. Could be like our own little government." Anthony had promised Sarah he wouldn't be defensive if someone didn't agree with him, but he was struggling with it. He felt very defensive.

  "Because what if people try to bribe one another?" She questioned.

  "There would have to be clear moral and ethical rules that must be followed when being in the leadership role. And that isn't saying there aren't other places for more leaders. I just think if we had clear direction on the foundation it will help us grow."

  "Are we taking in more people?" John asked.

  "Not that I know of, but that will change in the future it’s bound to."

  "Let's do it." Sam declared confidently.

  Natalie looked around the room, "So pretty much the people who will make up the tribunal are in this room, except for Amelia."

  "She can't be on it." Anthony said quickly which caused Sam to turn his head and look defensive for his wife. "She and I are family only one of us can be."

  "Amelia is my family now, not yours."

  Anthony shook his head at his brother-in-law, "We are family too. Only one of us can be on there."

  "What about Sarah?" Sam retorted with.

  "What about her?"

  "Are you planning on marrying her?" Sam's stare was dead set on Anthony's face, it was almost as if he was taking a laser beam and slicing his face in half.

  "I am .... But not right this exact minute."

  "Whoa, so now you and I are going to be related too?" John said holding his hands up.

  "Didn't this just get interesting?" Natalie said laughing.

  Others in the room began talking and now no one could hear anything going on.

  "Guys come on." Anthony tried getting peoples' attention. He finally had to resort to yelling, "STOP!" When everyone silenced their voices, he continued. "Okay so clearly there are some logistical issues on who will lead but we all agree overall, we need to put some type of social contract into place, right?"

  Everyone nodded and agreed to table the topic until after they all had the chance to think about it on their own. After the meeting was over Sam walked over to Anthony and pulled him into a corner where no one could hear them.

  "It's a good thing we're going to start getting weapons, Sunny had another dream and this one was more specific. The guy is coming, and we know his name, Laken."

  Chapter Thirteen - He Who Casts Stones

  SAM STARTED PACING up and down the hallway while Sunny explained to Anthony her latest dream. He had listened closely the first time she told it, and the idea of her knowing this strange guy’s name bothered him. How had her powers grown to such a point that she could detect names? What really got under his skin was that she was able to do all of this and he couldn't do anything. Amelia kept wondering how many other people were able to do stuff similar to this. She also was certain there must be others in the community who could. She didn't think Sunny was the only one.

  What they didn't know was how to determine if this was a truth or just a hopeful thought. Amelia wanted to speak with each of the families’ one on one to discuss what Sunny could do, see if others could as well. Sam was concerned that would cause ridicule towards his cousin and that he wasn't willing to risk.

  Anthony walked out of Sunny's room, Sam could see his friend was stressed out. Anthony had his right hand running over his face and through his hair, he always carried the weight of the world on his shoulders, and this new development wasn't any different.

  "It's all crazy right?" Sam walked over and put his hand on his friends' shoulder. He knew what he was feeling because Sam and Amelia were experiencing it too. Sunny and her powers were a lot to take in and it made everything harder knowing that conventional beliefs didn't support any of it.

  "She says there are two main guys heading straight for us. Sunny thinks we have two months max to prepare."

  Sam gestured with his head, "Yeah and that there was about twenty-five of them too, she said there are adults with them."

  "Actually, she said the leader, Laken, and his second-in-command, Collins, she believes are adults. That half of the people with them are adults and that they have vehicles."

  Shaking his head back and forth, Sam sighed out loud. "How can she possibly know any of this?"

  Anthony shrugged his shoulders, "Who knows but she does. And while I am not completely convinced that she is right, she had enough details that make me believe her. We have got to start preparing."

  "Amelia wants us to tell the group about Sunny and see if anyone else has abilities too." Sam's stomach churned as he said the sentence, he felt deep inside that doing that would cause more problems than it would help.

  "Sam, she's right, the people have a right to know how we know all of this."

  "But what will they do to Sunny? I can't have everyone hating her or being scared of her."

  Amelia stepped out of Sunny's room just then and said, "I have an idea about that, why do we have to give them Sunny's name? Why can't we just tell them we have someone who can do this, and they are helping us? We don't have to be so specific that we give Sunny away like that."

  Anthony moved his shoulders up and down again, "I don't know sis, and I don't know these people well enough if they will just take our word without any proof."

  Sam's head turned towards Sunny's door, "What kind of proof do you think they will want?"

  Anthony said without missing a beat, "If I were them I would want to see her perform something."

  "Great so we are going to make a freak show out of her, parade her around like some sort of act people can pay admission to. No, I don't think so." Sam said boldly. His arms were crossed over his chest and he was standing protectively in front of Sunny's door.

  "I didn't say we would make her a freak show, Sam." Anthony retorted.

  "That's exactly what would happen if we told them what you're saying we should tell them. I can't do that."

  "Sam, stop." Sunny's voice came from behind him. All of the adults turned to look at the young witch. "I want to do it. I want to do what Amelia suggests."

  His heart broke as he looked at his cousin. He knelt down and looked her square in the eye. "Sunny you don't have to do that, you can stay behind the scenes with just us."

  Her hand reached out to touch his hand, "Sam I love you, and I know you're protecting me. But I can handle it."

  "What if people start to hate you for being different?" Sam held his cousin's hands in his own, looking into her innocent eyes.

  "Then they hate me. But what if they believe me and it protects all of us? It isn't just the four of us, it's everyone." Sunny looked over at Amelia, "I was jealous of her, I hated that she took my only family member away from me. But you made me give her a chance. And now I have a sister." Sunny leaned into Sam and wrapped her arms around his neck and held him with all her might. "I have to do this Sam. We have to do this. To save everyone. To save your future, my future. We have to."

  "Sunny is very wise beyond her years
." Amelia said in a low toned voice.

  Anthony nodded his head in agreement with his sister, "Sam, we need to let the girls do this."

  "No matter what you're my family and I will always want to protect you, Sunny," Sam wiped a tear from his eye as he looked at her. "But okay, I will support this. So long as either Anthony or I are with you both when you tell people, you have to promise me that."

  "Deal." Sunny smiled and hugged Sam again. The two of them stayed embracing for a few minutes before Sunny laid the next bomb down. "Laken is the leader, but his son Collins, he is the one who killed everyone."

  John and Sarah had finally had a few minutes to themselves. Today at the weekly meeting had left John uneasy with Anthony's comment about marriage. He wanted to see or rather hear for himself from his sister on what was going on between the two of them. He had walked straight to her house after everyone departed the garden production meeting.

  "John, I don't know why you are so worried." Sarah handed him a cup of tea and they were sitting in the living room together. The awkward tension in the room was making it harder for him to feel safe in talking about something that could potentially cause any problems.

  "I am worried because we don't really know them that well. It hasn't been very long."

  "What are you afraid we don't know? You supported Sam and Amelia getting married."

  "That's totally different Sarah, Amelia wasn't my sister. And they all grew up together. We are not that close to them."

  Sarah shook her head back and forth, "Maybe you're not, but I am. We have been living together forever now and I really like him. I love him. This is what I want."

  John sat there silently for a few minutes absorbing everything that this implied. His mind wandered to their parents and what they would want him to think and feel, and how they would expect him to act. He fully knew his parents would like Anthony. He was well mannered, extremely responsible and above all else loyal. That was what every brother wanted in the man who would marry their sister. So why was he so hesitant?