The dome did not remain black for long, though. A glaring, red light spread in a grid across the dome ceiling. It was as if the heart of New Eden broke open and dripped blood. Even the splashes and streaks of bio-rain tinted red across the glass panes. Willow shuddered and took a step away from the latticed window. A woman’s voice, unnaturally magnified, began to speak and Willow clapped her hands over her ears with a cry.
“This is an emergency notification. Please exit the biodomes at the North entrance in a calm and orderly fashion. Medical teams are on standby. I repeat. Please exit the biodomes at the North entrance in a calm and orderly fashion.”
“Who is that?” a young woman shrieked. “How did she amplify her voice to such a volume?”
Skylar turned toward her and said loud enough for all to hear, “An emergency broadcast system. She is a computer and will continue to speak on repeat, I am sure.”
“Oaklee?” Laurel screeched as she paled. “We must go Outside?”
“I ... I am confused. The instructions seem to imply so.”
“But what about Leaf?”
Ember met Willow’s eyes, the fear behind her dark brown depths asking the same question.
“Leaf trusts us to lead and guide the community. He may be delayed for the very same reason,” Rain offered weakly. “He is safe, I am sure of it.”
Henry lowered his head as apprehension flashed in his eyes. The man was unwilling to share what the other men were charged to do with Leaf. Timothy had only smiled when asked. To Willow, receiving no answer was worse than hearing the truth, for her imagination was more than capable of forming its own conclusions. Playing with her mind was one thing. But playing with her heart, still scabbed over from grief, was entirely different.
Fists clenched, she marched over to Timothy and asked, in a low growl, “What have you done with my brother?” The slow smile crept along his face once more and he stared at her unblinking. “Tell me now!”
“Is this your illusory attempt at power?” He asked simply. Timothy tsk-tsked and shook his head. “I spent nearly thirty years of my life building toward this future. One you cannot even begin to perceive. I do not answer to a mere slip of a girl, especially a human product programmed to become psychologically conditioned to her environment. How does it feel to be cursed by science?”
“You are a monster!” she spat. Heads whipped their direction and bodies stilled. Shaking with rage, Willow slapped him. Sharp gasps circled around her, but she ignored everyone. The smile on Timothy’s face only grew wider and her self-control snapped. Willow hurled toward him with a guttural scream and clawed at his face. All thought left. The only emotion present was black emptiness. Thin, pricks of blood and red scratch marks surfaced on his face. Yet, the smile remained. He had robbed her. He had destroyed her family and her home. “Tell me where he is!” she screamed over and over again.
Hands, warm and gentle, pinned her arms at her sides with an embrace from behind. “Your Highness, please,” Skylar whispered near her ear. “Oaklee.” Willow fought against Skylar, hot tears streaming down her face. “Please, Willow Oak Watson of the Wood,” he quietly pleaded once again. It was her childhood nickname that dispelled the storm and the winds of injustice died to a low moan, matching the one she released. “I shall rectify this,” he said for her ears alone. “And we shall recover your brother.”
Then, she was turned over to the waiting arms of Rain.
“Timna? Joannah?” Skylar began again. “Please bring aid to my father.”
Willow peered over Rain’s shoulder at Timothy. The man’s face remained calm. Shame burned through her as thoughts returned. Although the anger had demanded justice, it could not be considered honorable to attack a bound man. She was sure of it. Inspecting her fingernails, bile rose and her legs grew weak. What had she done?
“Henry,” Skylar said, strong, firm, “I suggest you aid the Watson family or I shall ensure your family is permanently banished while you are tried as an accomplice for harassment and assault.”
“My Lord.” Henry paled as he stood with a bow and quickly pivoted toward the door in anxious, jerky movements.
“This is an emergency notification. Please exit the biodomes...”
Willow cringed against the blaring noise. The sounds of weeping, mostly the children, closed in all around her. Murmurs began as low whispers and quickly escalated into shouted debates. The Daughter of Fire moved through the distressed crowd to the stage. Her lips trembled and her eyes skipped around the room. Seeing Ember so shaken brought shadows to the edges of Willow’s vision and she gulped in a large breath. Then another. Breathe, she reminded herself.
“We must leave,” Ember said in a loud, but tremulous voice. “All shall go save Timothy. He shall remain here bound to the chair and shall be removed by the Guardian Angels.”
“Please!” Emily Kane directed at Ember. “Have mercy.”
“I am being merciful, Madam.” Ember descended the stage and took Emily’s hands in her own. “My heart grieves for your family. I am so very sorry to ask this of you, for I know my own heart would break into infinite pieces if in your position.” Ember placed a trembling hand on Emily’s cheek with a look of compassion. “I cannot allow Timothy to be freed.”
Emily lowered her head and moaned, low wails shaking her body. Skylar turned his mother toward him and she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her head into his shoulder. “I shall care for Mother. Windy?” The eldest of the two sisters approached Skylar with skittish movements and silent tears. “Please take Gale’s hand and hold onto the back of my cloak so we do not separate.”
“Yes, My Lord,” Windy whispered with a small dip.
“For those who supported Timothy’s faction, go to your families.” Ember’s words echoed in the quiet-stricken room. “When all has settled, I trust each of you to behave as honorable men and come forward, confessing your deeds to His Majesty.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” several answered with sweeping bows.
“We cannot leave!” Laurel cried out. “How shall Leaf find us?”
“Lady Rain is correct, sweetling,” Ember said, wiping away a tear. “Leaf expects us to lead and guide the community. We gave oaths of honor to do so before all of New Eden.” Ember lowered to eye level with Laurel. “Leaf shall find us. I have a hunch, and—”
“And you are rarely wrong.”
“Indeed.” Ember attempted a brave smile, but Willow noted the strain in doing so. Rarely was not the same as never, and she tensed.
A short duration later, the Great Hall emptied, many with the prepared supplies, and they hurried toward the village. Chaos had seized the biodome. People dashed across the meadow in search of loved ones. Names were shouted in panic. Hands pushed. Shoulders bumped. Bodies were in constant motion. Laurel jumped into Willow a few times, clutching fistfuls of fabric. Edgy and wary of the whirring shadows seemingly coated in ash, the sisters clung to each other. It was as if the community had become leaves tumbling in the wind. Cast off from the mother tree toward an unknown future. Twirling about without control.
Bio-rain continued to fall, seeping through the wedding dress. Willow rubbed a hand over her arm as she shivered. She held Laurel’s hand, her eyes jumping from face to face in search of Leaf. But she could not locate his sturdy build nor crown of curly brown hair. Droplets ran down her face and into her eyes, and she brushed away the rain in furious motions.
The Forge lay in a heap, steam wafting past the thrumming rain in thin ribbons. Willow’s heart lurched at the sight. Memories of Coal—hair and skin gilded before the forge’s fire, hammering over the anvil—dropped like rain through her mind and evaporated in the thick film clouding the village. Connor, Brianna, and their two littlest stood before the remains. Their silhouettes sharp against the low, amber glow produced the illusion of chimerical beings from mythology.
The crowd gawked and keened before the rubble. Some fell to their knees and covered their heads. Some grabbed the arms of others and whipp
ed them around with hopeful expressions. Scattered and afraid, people moved in and out of focus. Faces burned red beneath the red light. Mud-splattered clothing and hair hung in damp clumps. Black smoke wafted between and round each person. It was as if even New Eden’s dead had been called from the ashes, rising to haunt the biodomes.
Her mind continued to leap from image to image to the rhythm of her galloping pulse. Ember broke free and reunited with her family, becoming a dark angel against the sparks and dying fires. Willow averted her eyes from those who openly stared at her and Laurel as they passed. She was helpless, just like them. If Willow and her sisters did not find Leaf, she would rather exit with the Hansens. And so she waited. The very thought constricted the muscles in her stomach, but she refused to crash. She refused to grow sick with grief, though the suspense was addling her senses. At times, she swore her brother’s voice lifted above the whirlwind of shouts, wails, coughing, and hissing steam; and she startled each and every time, even now.
“Willow Oak!” A deep voice called from behind.
She closed her eyes, attempting to find nature’s music to comfort her grief-stricken state—a silly notion, really. She was on the verge of declaring herself delusional. Her eyes were stinging from the caustic air and she coughed. But the voice persisted and called her name once more. So she turned toward the sound.
She whispered, “Leaf,” in disbelief and bit down on her knuckles to stifle the forming sob. Shocked statements of concern and cries of alarm sprung up from those Leaf passed in the hazy darkness, assisted by Henry. Blood and bio-rain streamed down her brother’s face, the blood flowing from a laceration on the side of his head. His left eye had swelled, made more pronounced by the dark bruise that had begun to form. Then, she noticed he walked with a limp. When close, Leaf turned to Henry and spoke, but she could not hear him. The man bowed and walked away, head hung low and shoulders dramatically slumped forward.
“Willow. Laurel,” their brother said, a catch in his voice.
Willow rushed to him, and he staggered back a step when she wrapped her arms around his neck. Laurel squeezed into their tight embrace and Leaf circled his arms around them both. “I was so scared,” Willow said over and over again. “I thought they had killed you.”
“I fare well, ma chère. I am but a little roughed up. I shall recover.”
“Willow attacked Timothy!” Laurel said, eyes rounded with the memories.
“Laurel!”
“Well, you did. He refused to say where you were, Leaf, and Willow slapped him and scratched his face.” Her sister beamed at her with a form of pride. “She fought for you.”
“I am most ashamed of my actions.”
“He wished our family harm,” Leaf said quietly, clearly uncomfortable. “Although violence is not recommended, do not hold onto the shame.”
Willow pulled away and studied her brother. “What have they done to you?” Leaf pressed Laurel to his side with a slight shake of his head. Understanding the cue, Willow asked, “What is happening?”
“I believe the project has been shut down.”
“No!” she cried, the panic finally breaching her attempts at composure. “I refuse to leave our home!” The horror leeched into her bloodstream and a scream formed in her gut, slowly worming its way up. But it never released. The anxious, crawling feeling tormented her for several heartbeats until she thought she would go mad. “I shall not take another step!”
Leaf covered his face with his hands and his fingers lightly plowed down his cheeks. “Willow Oak,” he whispered and stopped. Her name was spoken with such sorrow, such misery, her heart began to weep, although her eyes remained dry. “Please.” His eyes brimmed with pain and fatigue. The shadows on his face grew darker as he surveyed the destruction and heartsick people.
“I am terrified,” she said.
“I am as well.” A weak half-smile appeared, a gruesome look with the blood dripping down the side of his head. “I could benefit from your indomitable spirit this moment.” Before she could reply, his gaze traveled over her head and fixated on another. His chest rose and fell, as if he held back a flood of emotions. “Please excuse me,” Leaf said, akin to a whispered ache.
Willow and Laurel pulled away as Leaf hobbled toward Ember. Awash with fear and confusion, the community drew closer to Leaf. He only had eyes for Ember, though, and she for him. Dread knotted Willow’s stomach, uneasy with the desperate looks and frenetic motions of the villagers.
Before he reached his wife, the crowd converged on Leaf, and Willow shrieked. Hands flocked to touch him. Fingers tugged at the tattered hem of his tunic and sleeves. They shouted his name as a plea, begging, crying. Many chanted for him to have mercy on them. She was confused by their request at first. But quickly, Willow realized the foundation for their hysteria was the same as that of her very own apprehensions and sentiments.
For a horrifying moment, Willow feared the community would trample Leaf and Ember in their frenzy. However, men stepped forward and pushed the crowd back, with orders to give berth so their King could speak. Ember ran into Leaf’s embrace, pressing her face to his chest. People did not struggle long against the self-appointed guards. But they were coiled tight, ready to spring into action, eyes darting around, feet shifting.
“What happened to you, Your Majesty?” asked Kyle, a fellow gardener and one of the self-appointed guards. His wife, who had assisted in the Great Hall, pulled a hemp cloth from a basket and handed it Leaf, who pressed it to his head wound.
Her brother’s eyes roamed over all the soot-covered, rain-soaked residents, and shouted above the roar of the bio-rain. “I was assaulted when I refused to abdicate power, with threats that the violence would continue until I relented or I no longer drew breath.”
Sharp gasps circulated as eyes widened in horror. The whites of each eye appeared ghostly in the dark smoke, ghoulish images that elicited a shiver through Willow’s body. Laurel snapped her eyes to Willow’s in fright, returning attention to their brother when he continued.
“My wife negotiated for my release, I understand. The attackers resisted, however, determined it was a trick. They only relented when the biodomes shut down, followed by Henry Sparrow’s announcing that the faction, led by Timothy Kane, had lost.” More cries of alarm rippled through the village as the news spread. “Those responsible are returning to their families per my command. I shall pass judgment once our community resumes as before.”
Kyle placed a hand upon Leaf’s shoulder. “I am beyond grieved. If there is anything we can do for your family, Your Majesty, you have but only to ask.”
“Thank you, sir. I am honored by your kindness.” Leaf dipped his head, his face tensing with emotion. “New Eden! Please hear me! I wish for everyone to ignore the emergency message and return to their homes. We shall not disband this night, nor will I allow the poor choices of a few to ruin the future of many. I shall personally leave the biodome and meet with Hanley Nichols and fight to defend project continuation.”
Willow’s heart stopped. She knew this was not the time to challenge her brother nor give in to her darkest fears. Still, what if he never returned? What if Hanley finished what others had started this evening? She looked around at all the faces, who gazed at her brother with respect. Tears of relief streamed alongside the bio-rain on their cheeks. Her parents had died in service to their community. She could not lose another she loved as a sacrifice for New Eden.
The protests and groans from her soul were overwhelming. But it did not matter how she felt. She knew the truth, although acceptance of such knowledge slayed her. With unsteady legs, she stepped forward and took Leaf’s hand, imparting whatever remnants of her indomitable spirit remained. His shoulders relaxed and he squeezed her hand in reply, with an appreciative look her way.
Kyle turned toward the community and shouted, “I speak for our Aether! Please gather your families and return to your homes. I repeat. Return to your homes! Do not exit! Our community shall not disband this night.” Pocke
ts of cheers erupted in a slow-moving wave as the news traveled through the gathering. The gardener said to Leaf, “Focus on settling your wife and sisters before you leave. I shall appoint others to assist me in caring for any needs that arise.”
Leaf blinked back emotion. “I am humbled, sir. Thank you.”
Kyle bowed and then trotted through the village, ushering small groups toward the apartments. The mysterious voice echoed through the domes again, and many ducked and raised hands to their ears, looking around wildly for the source.
Willow’s heart throbbed as her mind wandered toward the Son of Eden. Was Fillion safe? Did those from Timothy’s faction assault him while he was alone and vulnerable? A slow panic began to rise, making her wish she could dash to the apartment and find him. But the crowd was thick, and fear gripped her at the thought of running off into the forest without protection. She willed herself to be patient, telling herself they would be home soon.
Squinting against the burning air, Willow studied the dome and shivered. Red light saturated the growing pools of water near her feet, sanguine sprays erupting with each droplet. Dark shreds of smoke cut through the air despite the rain. The scathing orange glow of embers glared back at the stares of passersby with the memories of their fiery destruction.
New Eden had transformed into a nightmare—a haunting, shuddersome sight to behold. Perhaps it was what Fillion uttered in his delusional state: an eco-hell.
***
The willow is my favorite tree. I grew up near one. It’s the most flexible tree in nature and nothing can break it—no wind, no elements, it can bend and withstand anything.
— Pink, musician, 21st century A.D. *
***
Elements (The Biodome Chronicles series Book 2) Page 61
