Chapter Thirteen

The afternoon sun was sinking lower and lower in the sky, melting into the western horizon, as Ebony and her four fellow rescuers `hurried along the jagged shoreline, the thick sand frustrating them and slowing their progress. Even though they had left the Gaian village almost immediately after Panther had returned, Ebony still feared they were too late as she eyed the growing cloud of gray smoke that was visible in the distance.

“We’re nearly there.” Ebony cocked her head back, urging the others to hurry. They had been going all day long, but none of them showed signs of wearying, not even Panther who had been tracking Bray and his Chosen captors all night.

“Do you think we’ll make it in time?” Amber queried as she drew even with Ebony, her brown furrowed with concern, her eyes downcast watching her feet to make sure she did not stumble in the heavy sand.

Ebony hesitated, not wanting discourage the blonde and yet not wanting to give her false hope either. They had spotted the smoke nearly twenty minutes before, and though Ebony hoped it was only the smoke from a smaller fire and not a funeral pyre like The Guardian seemed so fond of executing his prisoners on, she couldn’t be sure.

“I hope so.” Ebony stated, her expression grim. “I don’t think The Guardian would have just executed him. He couldn’t have passed up an opportunity to rub his victory in Bray’s face.”

Amber nodded, her eyes still adverted. But Ebony did not have to see Amber’s face to know that the young Gaian leader was deeply troubled. Amber blamed herself for Bray’s capture, having been the driving reason that he had fled from the safety of the Gaian village. Despite Ebony’s assurances that Bray would have been taken captive no matter what, Amber refused to listen, withdrawing into herself through the whole journey.

Ebony wanted to say something encouraging, something that might bring a hopeful smile back to Amber’s face, but she could think of nothing, so she continued on their way in silence, Amber brooding beside her, the Gaians Pride and Panther along with Lex following behind.

“Ebony.” Pride halted them with his commanding voice. “I have a plan.”

Ebony turned around to face the tall Gaian, studying him intently. She knew he was deeply in love with Amber, and they had some sort of relationship, but Ebony could not bring herself to completely trust him. It was not in her nature to trust someone who had not yet proven themselves.

“What?” Ebony asked, placing her hands on her narrow hips.

“Our only advantage is surprise.” Pride stated the obvious as the other gathered around. “Surprise and Panther’s and my Gaian abilities.”

“Gaian abilities?” Lex looked at him dubiously.

“Yes.” Pride nodded. “Eagle has not yet mastered the skill, but Panther and I are the most skilled in the village.”

“What skill is this that you’re talking about?” Ebony interrupted, knowing that they were drawing very short on time.

“We can make a sound.” Pride stated hesitantly, his eyes finding Amber’s, looking to her for support. “A low guttural sound, almost like a wild animal.”

“How will that help?” Lex looked at him in annoyance, clearly thinking that taking the time to stop and make a plan was a wise investment.

“Panther and I can situated ourselves on two sides of the Chosen and make this noise. It has a terrible affect on people who do not know what it is.” Pride stated, Panther nodding confirmation. “It’s terrifying.”

“So you think we can defeat the Chosen with an animal noise?” Ebony frowned. “I don’t think so Pride. I think we need to hit them hard and fast with all we’ve got. It’s the only way.”

“No, Ebony.” Amber quickly countered. “Pride is right. Do you remember that night on Eagle Mountain, the wild animal we heard outside?”

Ebony nodded, a chill creeping down her spine as she recalled the bone chilling growl that had given her nightmares for weeks.

“That was Pride.”

Ebony stared at him in astonishment. “That was you?” She echoed, her mouth hanging open.

Pride nodded, his expression solemn. “Yes. With two of us it will be sure to at least confuse the Chosen long enough for you, Amber and Lex to free Bray and any other prisoners they may have.”

“You think The Guardian might have brought some of the others?” Lex looked at Pride with an expression mixed with worry and hope.

“It is possible.” It was Panther who answered. “More than likely he would only bring one, one to return to the others and tell of Bray’s death. Otherwise they might not believe him.”

“That makes sense.” Amber nodded, her face still unreadable. “I say we go with this plan. It’s the best we’ve got.”

“Agreed.” Ebony found herself saying. They looked towards Panther and Lex who both gave their consent. The small group broke and hurried on their way towards the growing cloud of smoke. The color was beginning to change and that worried Ebony more than she was willing to admit.

~*~*~

That mall felt deserted, vacant and empty like a tomb. Cloe had been stationed on interior cleanup once again while the other Mall Rats had been sent to the farm to harvest the ripened vegetables. Cloe wished she could go with them, but for some reason Luke seemed to want her to stay at the mall, disturbing her more than just a little.

“Hi Cloe.” Cloe’s one time friend Patsy interrupted the brunette’s gloomy thoughts.

“What do you want?” Cloe looked up from her soap and bucket to glare at the traitorous Mall Rat. Cloe couldn’t believe she had so easily forgiven Patsy when she said she had been duped by Trudy. She felt like a fool, seeing that Patsy had only been biding her time until she could join the Chosen again.

“I thought you might be hungry.” Patsy dropped to her knees, a tentative smile on her face. “I brought you an apple.”

“An apple?” Cloe frowned suspiciously at Patsy.

“It was all I could sneak out.” Patsy explained apologetically as she fingered a strand of her hair nervously. “They would have noticed anything more.”

“Why?”

“Because I thought you’d be hungry.” Patsy shrugged her shoulders. “I told you that.”

“Well, you can keep your stupid apple.” Cloe looked away from Patsy, ignoring the tight cramping in her stomach. Alice had purposely spilled her gruel on Luke, loosing not only her own eating privileges for the day, but the rest of the Mall Rats as well. “I’m not hungry.”

“I don’t believe you.” Patsy stated, her voice stubborn. “Look, Cloe. It’s not what you think.”

“What’s not what I think?” Cloe shot daggers at her. “You betraying us again?”

“I didn’t betray you.” Patsy sighed heavily, her expression gloomy. “I took the opportunities that were presented to me. I made the only choice I had.”

“No you didn’t.” Cloe stated flatly. “You should have never renounced being a Mall Rat. It was a mistake, Patsy. A mistake you may not live to regret.”

Patsy shook her head. “Listen to me, Cloe. I have information for you. Information you could use.”

“Information?” Cloe arched her eyebrow suspiciously, not knowing if she could truly trust Patsy. Cloe always knew that Patsy was the weaker between them, being more easily swayed from her convictions, so in a way she had not been that surprised when Patsy went along with May and Salene when they agreed to join the Chosen. She had just been disappointed.

Patsy nodded, glancing over her shoulder nervously as she tugged her yellow robe. “I only went along with this so I could get food for you guys.” She whispered. “And to get a little closer to the Guardian. Maybe I can find out a weakness and then tell you.”

“And what could I do that you couldn’t do then?”

“Get the information to the rebels.”

“Rebels?” Cloe’s stomach tightened at the word. “Against the Chosen.”

Patsy bobbed her head up and down. “Before Bray was taken away he was threatening The Guardian, saying that no matter what he did the Rebels would strike back ten times as hard.”

“But who are they?” Cloe gasped, her breath catching in her throat. “Lex do you think?”

“And maybe Ebony.” Pasty stated.

A small smile crept up Cloe’s lips at the mention of Ebony’s name. If Ebony was involved then Amber had to be there too, and the Gaians. With the Rebels and the help of the Resistance that Alice and Ellie had started, the Chosen could be defeated, if only they worked together.

“So what do you know?” Cloe whispered, her eyes flashing with excitement.

“Not much. Not yet anyway.” Patsy twisted her lips. “Just that The Guardian is planning on sending out missionaries to the other provinces. He knows that he can’t attack every city like he did this one. He’s hoping to win converts through the missionaries.”

Cloe frowned, not liking the sound of The Guardian’s plan. Before the virus she would have doubted that the Guardian’s tactics would have worked, but now after all their parents were gone the children were lost and confused, looking for a leader. It chilled her to the bone to think that they might find that leader in The Guardian and his insane doctrines.

“So do you think that might help the Rebels?” Patsy asked breathlessly.

“I don’t know. And even if it could, how could we get them the information?” Cloe let out a long sigh. She could try and escape from the mall if they ever put her on an outside work force, but even then they were wore shackles and kept under heavy surveillance.

“I don’t know.” Patsy pouted. “I was hoping you might have an idea.”

“Let me think on it.” Cloe nodded, reaching inside her bucket. Her water had gotten cold and she knew she would have to reheat it soon. “You just keep your ears and your eyes open, okay?”

Patsy nodded.

“And be careful.” Cloe added. “You should get going, though. If they see you talking to me your little spy operation will go south real quick.”

“Right.” Patsy scrambled on her feet. She and Cloe exchanged a quick smile, then Patsy hurried on her way, soon disappearing from sight leaving Cloe very thoughtful and still very wary.

~*~*~

“It’s done.” Pasty stood before Luke, her lower lip trembling. “She doesn’t suspect a thing.”

“Good.” Luke grinned wickedly. “You have done well today, Patsy. Zoot shall reward you.”

Patsy nodded, her stomach twisting painfully. She wanted to run to her room and cry, but she knew she was being watched, and watched carefully. They would report back to Luke immediately if anyone thought she was having second thoughts.

“Remember, Patsy.” Luke patted her on the shoulder, his eyes ice cold. “You fail in this you will meet a similar fate as your great leader Bray.” He stated sarcastically.

Patsy nodded again, forcing her fear down as she looked up into Luke’s eyes. “You can count on me, sir. I will deliver to you both the leaders of the Rebels and the Resistance. Just you wait and see.”

“Excellent.” Luke purred. “Excellent.”

~*~*~

Once upon a time Bray thought he was pretty brave. Even before the virus he had done some pretty reckless things that earned him quite a reputation as someone who had no fear of death. And then, before his sixteenth birthday, he watched as both of his parents slowly began to waste away before his very eyes. If that did not make him stronger, Bray did not know what did.

But now he stood, his wrists bound behind his back, his back ridged and uncomfortable against the long narrow pole he was held by. The wind was blowing, whipping his long shoulder length hair in his face, drowning out the soft chants of the Chosen who were circled around him as they spoke their praise to Zoot, his brother.

The Guardian, a boy Bray had once tormented back in high school, approached him, an ugly sneer adorning his lips. His pale blonde hair had grown much since high school and was now fashioned in a mullet style that Bray had thought gone out decades ago.

“Bray.” The Guardian spoke to him, his eyes hard as flint, “The Holy Brother. You have denied the deity of Zoot. You have spoken heresy and for that you must die.”

Bray gritted his teeth, the ropes biting into the tender flesh of his wrists. “Zoot was not some god!” He spat, his eyes flashing with anger as he struggled against his binds. “He was my brother! Just a normal kid! You know that, Jaffa.”

The Guardian stared at him, his expression passive, almost sympathetic to Bray’s plight. “Jaffa no longer exists, Bray.” He stated, his tone condescending. “I am The Guardian now.”

Bray glared at him. He wanted to shout at him, make him see sense, but he knew it would do no good. Jaffa had always hated him. Jealousy, Bray had chalked it off to. But never in Bray’s worst nightmares had he dreamed that Jaffa might snap and want to kill him.

The Guardian turned his attention away from Bray and to the frightened young woman standing behind him. Trudy, dressed in the royal blue and cream satin robes of the Supreme Mother, shifted nervously under The Guardian’s intense gaze. Bray couldn’t understand what was going on inside her head, but it was obvious she was very ill and not completely in control of her actions.

“Supreme Mother,” The Guardian addressed her, using the same tone he had used with Bray. “It is the will of Zoot that his brother be forever joined with him at his side. He has instructed me to have you light the pyre.”

The Guardian motioned to one of the guards standing off to the side, beckoning her to come forward carrying the flaming torch. Bray watched in morbid fascination as the wild danced wildly with the blaze, threatening to extinguish the light, but never having enough force to put it out entirely. It was going to be a very slow and painful death.

Trudy nodded slowly, accepting the torch from the girl. Even from the distance Bray was at, he could tell Trudy’s hands were shaking from fear and nervousness. Her eyes were downcast, watching her feet as if she was afraid to look up and meet his gaze.

“Trudy.” Bray whispered softly as she neared him. “Don’t do this.”

“I have no choice, Bray.” Trudy’s voice wobbled dangerously. “If I don’t, they’ll take Brady away from me.”

Rage swelled up inside Bray’s heart as he digested Trudy’s words. Was his life so unimportant to her that she would flippantly exchange is so that she could see her daughter? At least Trudy would know that Brady was still alive. And yet she was willing to murder him by her own hand. Bray could not believe it.

“No.” Bray whispered, the heat from the torch warming his face and bare arms uncomfortably. “Please no.”

But Trudy did not listen as she stooped down, the flame licking at the kindling that had been strategically placed on Bray’s pyre. Once aflame, she looked up, their eyes locking. Tears were flowing down her cheeks, her eyes speaking volumes, but Bray turned away. He would not let his final thoughts on this earth be of Trudy.

The heat was beginning to grow unbearable as Bray began to focus his thoughts, blocking out the Guardian’s cruel maniacal laughter and the sounds of what he thought was Trudy’s tears. Instead, he centered his thoughts on her. The precious young woman he had believed to be ripped away from him forever.

“Amber.” He whispered her name reverently, almost as if it were a prayer. She was alive. And yet, she no longer loved him. The thought of having to live his life without her in it, without her love, made it unbearable. And that was why he did not seem to mind the flames that were beginning to scorch his boots.

He couldn’t help but begin to wonder if anyone would actually mourn over his death. If there would be people gathered around his graveside, quoting beautiful words saying what a wonderful friend he had been. He knew Amber wouldn’t. She had made it abundantly clear that she wanted him out of her life forever. But Danni would. That is if she was still alive.

Bray choked back a painful sob at the thought of Danni. His beautiful Danni. She had been a godsend. He didn’t know how he would have survived the past several months without her by his side, loving him, supporting him, encouraging him…

Thinking about the gorgeous brunette was dangerous, though. Bray was flooded with feelings he was not used to experiencing. Guilt. Betrayal. The moment Amber had stepped back into his life he had forgotten all about the tender young woman who had pledged herself so loyally to him. It made him want to weep, but there was nothing he could do. Danni was gone, and Amber was right there.

But it wasn’t just Danni. Or just Amber. There were so many girls that Bray had loved. First there had been Ebony. He had loved her passionately. Or at least loved her as much as a confused fifteen-year-old could love someone. She was so beautiful. Fun, vivacious and full of energy. How could he have not fallen for her?

But she wasn’t the same Ebony any longer. Bray hardly knew the woman he saw now, the woman with a dark bandit streak across her beautiful hazel eyes. She, like his brother, had become someone completely different after the adults began to fade away, and a horrible nagging feeling told him that part of that had been his fault.

Bray closed his eyes, leaning his head back against the slender wooden stake, preparing himself to die, his last thoughts of the intoxicating once leader of the Locos. “Forgive me Ebony.” He whispered, then let his head drop as the smoke overwhelmed him.