One Spark of Hope

by Campbell, Jamie

  “I’m real, Rocky. I’m here.”

  He kissed both my cheeks. “Never leave again, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  It was impossible to consider ever leaving that room again right at that moment. I knew I would think differently tomorrow, but tonight it wasn’t a lie.

  “You must be hungry.”

  “Starving,” I admitted.

  As Rocky led me to the food preparation area and told me to sit down while he fetched me something to eat, I scanned the room looking at all the faces.

  There was one I wanted to see in particular.

  Reece wasn’t there.

  I tried not to be too disappointed, but the knot in my stomach worried about him. Anything could have happened in the days of my absence and Reece wasn’t one to back down from a fight. If I knew him at all, he would have run head first into the middle of the war against Stone.

  Rocky returned with a plate of food that I tried to eat slowly so I didn’t make myself sick. Even the simple meal of bread and jelly tasted gourmet. I would have eaten anything by that stage.

  While I was considering if licking the plate would be too rude, Joseph sat in the seat next to me. He wore a few more wrinkles on his forehead than the last time I’d seen him.

  “Hello, Wren,” he said.

  “Hi, Joseph. Thank you for taking me in. Again.”

  “You are most welcome, I am glad you managed to find your way back.” He smiled kindly. “Can you tell me everything that happened since I last saw you? I wish to know what happened to everyone in the bunker. I’ve been very concerned about the group.”

  Now I’d had some food in my belly, I could think clearly again. I recounted everything for Joseph, trying not to leave any of the details out. I told him about our escape from the bunker, the reasons we had to leave, and where we came out in the forest on the other side.

  I finished the story by telling him the others had gone on to find a town while I returned. He seemed amused with the way I had smuggled myself in through the wall.

  “It was very brave of you,” Joseph said with his eyes sparkling.

  “Or stupid. Will you tell me what’s happened here now?” I asked, needing to know all the details.

  One in particular.

  “We have been fighting.”

  “I’m sure you have more details for me than that,” I said. I was hungry for the details, needing to know everything I had missed. Surely in amongst all those details I would hear news of Reece and that he was okay.

  Surely.

  “I am sure you’re tired. The best thing for you now is a comfortable bed and we can speak again in the morning. Rocky will be able to show you to a bunk.” Joseph patted my arm and left me at the table, leaving no room for arguments.

  Rocky had heard it all on my other side, never saying a word as we spoke. He was always like that, taking things in and then processing them in his own time. It was so good to have my best friend back.

  Alive.

  And well.

  I could hardly believe it.

  A part of me roared back to life having him with me. Courage came much easier when I had Rocky by my side. It was like I could get through anything now, I could fight harder and was more determined to take down Stone knowing what her laboratories had put him through.

  “I’ll take you to the sleeping area,” Rocky said to quell the comfortable silence between us. I was dead on my feet, the thought of a safe bed was too much to refuse.

  I went to follow him when the door to the room opened and a few people stepped inside.

  Reece was at the front of them.

  I rubbed my eyes just to make sure I wasn’t already dreaming.

  He was still there when I blinked.

  He was really there.

  Chapter 8: Reece

  Wren.

  I had to blink my eyes a few times to make sure it was her. She stared at me until I realized I was staring at her too. It was like my eyes were playing tricks on me, showing me what I wanted to see instead of reality.

  My feet picked up their pace until I was standing in front of her. She looked real, exactly like the last time I had seen her. Except for the fact there was weariness in her eyes now. She was tired, but in a way that sleep alone wouldn’t fix.

  “You’re back,” I said. There were so many things I wanted to say to her but they all vanished from my head right at that moment. I was too shocked to say anything intelligent.

  “You are too,” Wren replied, her voice breathless and cute as hell.

  I was done with politeness. I threw my arms around her and enveloped Wren in a hug. Her body crushed against mine, feeling so right I wanted to keep her there forever.

  I somehow managed to stop myself kissing her. It was difficult not letting my heart bleed right then and there, telling her everything I felt for her.

  Letting her out of my hold was difficult but I managed to do it. This wasn’t the right place. “We should talk,” I said nervously, hoping she wasn’t about to abuse me for manhandling her like that.

  She nodded, her beautiful face so solemn. “Yes, we should. I’m sure you have lots to tell me.”

  “Not here, though.”

  “No, not here.” She glanced briefly at Rocky, standing quietly at her side, before returning her gaze back to me. “Rocky is taking me to my sleeping quarters. Maybe you could find me?”

  I would walk to the ends of the earth for the girl. Finding her in the sleeping quarters was nothing. “Definitely. But, if you need to sleep, we could catch up in the morning.”

  I didn’t want to catch up with her in the morning, I never wanted to let her out of my sight again.

  “Something tells me I won’t be able to sleep until I hear what you’ve got to say,” she said with a small, weary smile.

  “I’ll find you then. I won’t be long, I promise.”

  Her lips turned up into a grin before she allowed Rocky to lead her away. I wanted it to be the last time I ever watched her walk away from me.

  The team from today’s mission were assembling in Joseph’s room, I had to hurry to catch up with them. I leaned against the wall once inside, itching to get finished before it even began.

  Joseph listened to everything Samson reported, nodding as he took in the information. For someone without military training, he did a good job. Joseph had trained his followers well, at least in some areas.

  I couldn’t keep still, everything in me screamed to get to Wren. I wanted to speak with her so she could get some sleep. I had no idea what she’d been through to return back here but I wanted to know everything. It would all have taken a toll on her.

  “Get some sleep, we’ll talk about your next missions tomorrow,” Joseph finally said, dismissing us.

  I hurried through the rooms to reach the sleeping quarters. Wren was in a bunk, choosing the lower bed like I had. The bunk above hers was empty.

  Only a small amount of light filtered through the makeshift walls of tarpaulin but it was enough to see the expression on her face. Wren was sound asleep, her features relaxed and her beautiful lips slightly parted as she breathed steadily.

  Pulling the blanket up to cover her, I whispered, “Goodnight, Wren.”

  She didn’t stir.

  I crept out and almost ran directly into Rocky as he lingered outside. His hands were shoved into his pockets as he paced. He stopped when he saw me. “We need to talk.”

  “Okay,” I said, following him into the recreational area. There were only a few people still scattered around the place, most had retreated to the sleeping quarters. “What’s up?”

  “You like Wren.”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “I have known her for her entire life,” Rocky said. I wasn’t entirely sure where he was taking the conversation but I had a fair idea.

  “I know you have. And I wouldn’t do anything to come between your friendship.” With emphasis on the friend part. What Rocky and Wren shared was strong, I wouldn’t deny that. But I di
dn’t want a friendship with her.

  I wanted more.

  I loved her.

  Rocky licked his lips, obviously having trouble staying calm. “I would die for her. I love her more than anything else in this world. I can’t have her being hurt.”

  “I don’t plan on hurting her.”

  “So you think having a relationship with her will be okay? That people will just accept a human and a Def together?”

  “Honestly, no,” I replied. “But I can’t control how other people feel. All I can do is protect her and I would easily lay down my life for her too.”

  “Nobody is going to approve and she’s going to get hurt.”

  “I appreciate your concern, but I’m not going to be scared off just because some people are racist. It’s not enough to keep me away from her. You have my word, Rocky. I am going to protect her in any way I can.”

  He shook his head, from side to side and then up and down. “If anything happens to her, I’m going to kill you. That isn’t a threat to scare you off. That is a promise.”

  “I understand,” I said. And I meant it. If the situation were reversed I would smash in his head for getting too close to Wren. I knew Rocky had strong feelings for her himself, he made that clear in everything he did.

  But my feelings were strong too and I wasn’t going to ignore them any longer. I’d already lost Wren too many times, this time was for keeps.

  As long as she wanted it too.

  I really wished I had been able to speak to her before she went to sleep.

  Rocky and I locked eyes once more before he nodded and took off toward the showers. Maybe the cold water would cool him down a bit.

  I was too tired to do anything more myself so I retreated to my own bed and was asleep before my head hit the pillow. I fell into a deep slumber, not remembering any of my dreams.

  In the morning, I lingered around the food area, waiting impatiently for Wren to get up and join me. The moment she stepped into my sight, I waved her over. I shoved a plate of food in front of her as she sat at the table.

  “You didn’t talk to me last night,” she said, her voice still gravelly from sleep. “You should have woken me.”

  “You looked so peaceful, I didn’t have the heart.”

  Her smile was worth a million dollars. “I probably looked like a mess. I didn’t even get a chance to shower before I went to bed. Everything was just so tiring.”

  She’d obviously showered already that morning, probably the reason she had been late to breakfast. There were still some soap bubbles behind her ear, I had to resist the urge to brush them away.

  “Do you have the energy to tell me what happened to you?” I asked carefully. She seemed even more fragile than when I had last seen her in the bunker.

  Since I had kissed her.

  That moment was enough to make me smile.

  “I was on the outside,” she said, before proceeding to tell me everything about the last few days spent outside the Aria City wall. I listened on incredulously, regretting that she had to do everything alone. If only I hadn’t left her in the bunker, if I had let her come with me or refused to go…

  Guilt crept over me, threatening to take over. I pushed it down, focusing on her words. She was there, she was okay, and I wouldn’t let anything hurt her again.

  When she was finished, Wren asked me about my missions. I told her everything while she ate, taking the food slowly into her mouth as if afraid it would choke her.

  She listened intently, paying attention to everything I said.

  When we were caught up with one another, there was something else I wanted to tell her. I could still feel the softness of her lips against mine, I wanted to taste them again.

  But she looked at me so innocently, her eyes open wide and her teeth biting her lip. If I told her how I felt about her, would she reciprocate?

  Or would she reject me?

  Rocky’s warning was still echoing in my head, telling me he would kill me if I hurt her. His words didn’t scare me, but the thought of hurting Wren did.

  And I would hurt her.

  If not directly, then just by being with her.

  Nobody would accept a human being in love with a clone. We were raised to regard them as little more than created creatures. They weren’t supposed to be real and complete like humans. They were nothing more than walking organ donors.

  Those definitely weren’t my beliefs and I was right when I said I had no control over what other people thought. The moment people realized we were together, they would start their judgments and shun us as unnatural.

  I didn’t want to put Wren through that.

  I couldn’t put her through that. It was selfish and wrong, I knew it with my whole aching heart. I would just have to accept the fact that I couldn’t have her.

  That Wren would never be mine.

  I swallowed down everything I wanted to tell her and put a smile on my face that was friendly and nothing more. “I think Joseph wants to speak with us when you’re finished eating.”

  “Okay.” I couldn’t read the expression on her face as she stared at the food, tearing apart little pieces before popping them in her mouth.

  We joined the other members of the Resistance in the meeting room. Our faces were just as grim as everyone else. Joseph was splitting everyone into groups for their individual missions. Some were working on recruiting targeted people in the government departments, others were working on the destruction of the labs.

  My mission was the same as the previous one. I was to rally people to our cause, speak to people and convince them to join the Resistance.

  Yesterday had gone well, I would be more confident now when I stepped in front of all those people. And this time I would have Wren with me too.

  We bustled into a nondescript black van and were taken to the warehouse district. The area made me particularly nervous, mainly because it was a popular place for the troopers to patrol. They always suspected Defective Clones to be hiding in the large buildings, being harbored by the owners and being put to work when nobody was looking.

  But, from a strategic point of view, it was a good place to recruit. If the warehouse owners were already familiar and comfortable with clones, then we wouldn’t have to convince them of their plight too much.

  Once again, Samson came with us. When the van stopped, he jumped out of the front seat and pulled open the side door for us. “The group has been assembled in the commons. Are you ready to do your thing? It should be easier than yesterday’s crowd.”

  “I’m ready,” I confirmed.

  I helped Wren out of the van, her concern written in her eyes as they darted everywhere. She was worried about being captured, as well she should be. Every time we took a breath it was one more than Stone wanted us to have.

  One more than I thought we’d get.

  Joseph had a lot of pull in the city but we still weren’t strong enough to go up against her yet. I would only relax when Stone was gone and her parliament and troopers were replaced with elected officials we knew and trusted.

  Then I would freely breathe.

  Until that happened I would continue to hold my breath.

  The commons were a large courtyard area, surrounded by warehouses on all sides. It was a meeting place for the community there, holding a central place in the middle of the district. It wasn’t as contained as the hall yesterday which made me nervous. I could practically feel the eyes of the troopers hiding and waiting to pounce.

  Just like the earlier meeting, Samson took the podium first to garner the attention of the people gathered. Individual conversations quietened the longer he spoke before handing the microphone over to me.

  I stood at the front and hoped they would listen to what I had to say. I went through the same spiel as before, explaining who I was and what I hoped to achieve.

  People shuffled around, moving impatiently from foot to foot while they inched toward the exits. I was losing them. They were finished giving me attention.


  I spoke louder. “I know some of you protect Defective Clones and they are at the top of our list, our highest priority. We want them released so they can be free to live amongst us. You know they are good workers, you know they are just as human as we are.”

  Some stopped their movements but a few actually left through the exits. My eyes pleaded with Samson, begging for him to tell me what I needed to say to keep them there.

  He shrugged.

  So much for his help.

  “We are tired of the troopers patrolling and disrupting the lives of innocent, ordinary people,” I continued, the strain and panic evident in my voice. “You deserve to go about your business without fear of harm or being searched without notice. You deserve that freedom too.”

  Wren suddenly stood by my side. She adjusted the microphone so it was closer to her mouth, her little hands closing around the edge of the podium until her knuckles were white.

  “Excuse me,” she said quietly, the microphone making her words bounce off the surrounding buildings. “My name is Wren and I am a Defective Clone. I know you don’t have to listen to us or anything we have to say, but I wish you would anyway.

  “We have been led to believe that we are all different. That the troopers are more important than ordinary people, that the rich have superior genes, that clones are not worthy of our time. In fact, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

  “We are all the same. Humans and clones alike, we all feel pain and anguish. In difficult circumstances we try to make the most out of what we have. We experience joy and love and friendship, we show it in the same way as you do.

  “Clones are also born by a mother, brought into this world the same way as humans. The lies you have been told about our creation is not true. I have a mother out there somewhere, just the same as you.

  “Samson and Reece are asking you to join the Resistance and fight alongside us. I am asking you to believe in the compassion of the human race. We are all the same and we deserve to be treated that way. Please help us make real change, permanent change so that we can all live together and look forward to the future. Thank you for listening.”

  She stepped down and resumed her position next to Samson. The entire commons was completely silent. I was speechless, ready to crumble in front of everyone just by her single speech. She might have been tiny but her words could bring a man to his knees.