Chapter Forty-One

The late afternoon sunlight streamed through the dirty panned glass of the school classroom, the fine particles of dirt that floated in the air looking almost like fairy dust in the golden light. The classroom was just as she remembered it, though a little more chaotic. The desks that had once been neatly lined up in a row were now strewn about the classroom, some turned towards each other while other was laying up on their end.

Ebony closed her eyes, allowing the memories of that last day to wash over her with painful remembrance. It seemed like such a lifetime ago, but in actuality, it had been less than two years.

“Oh how the years go by.” She murmured softly to herself, tracing her name in the fine dust that had settled on one of the few upright desks. She couldn’t help but think of how she had once traced his name on a desk, not with her finger, but with a pen.

“Places like these really bring back the memories, don’t they?” A voice interrupted Ebony’s sentimental thoughts.

“Hey.” Ebony turned towards Amber, a soft smile playing on her lips. She hadn’t noticed Amber before, but she wasn’t surprised. The longer Amber spent with the Gaians, the more she became like them. On several of their meetings Amber had been able to sneak up on Ebony without her even noticing. The first time she had scared Ebony half to death, but now she had grown used to Amber’s rather silent yet dramatic entrances.

Amber frowned a little as she glanced around the classroom, staring at the dusty chalkboard with keen interest. “This was your school, wasn’t it?”

Ebony nodded, swallowing hard. “Yeah. Briefly. I only attended here a couple months before all the teachers started getting killed off. How’d you know?”

“Bray mentioned that this was his school once.” A sad wistful look entered Amber’s eyes. “And then Trudy told me that you guys all went to school together.”

“Yeah. That’s true.” Ebony looked away from Amber’s face. She could already feel the hard lump forming in the back of her throat – the same lump that formed every time she thought about her carefree high school days. So much had changed so quickly. It all seemed like a dream now.

“Do you still love him?” Amber asked suddenly, jarring Ebony away from the unpleasant thoughts her mind had began to dwell on.

“What?”

“Do you still love Bray?” Amber repeated, sorrow reflecting in her dark eyes. “I know you two dated while in high school and I always felt that you had never quite lost your attraction to him. All I’m asking is if you still love him.”

“What do I know of love?” Ebony asked bitterly, a wave of pain washing over her as she thought of the way that Bray had rejected her, leaving her sobbing on the cold hard ground, uncaring that he had just shattered her heart.

“You know a lot about love, Ebony.” Amber whispered softly, reaching across and taking Ebony’s hand, squeezing it gently. “More than you give yourself credit for. I know you’ve built up a wall around your heart, your protection, your armor. But even the strongest armor has a few chinks in it. Did Bray manage to get into one of those chinks?”

Ebony bit her lower lip, feeling the salty taste of blood in her mouth. “I do. I did. I don’t know.”

“What do you mean?” Amber’s expression had not changed since Ebony had actually admitted to loving or having loved Bray.

Ebony’s gaze was downcast, not quite willing to meet Amber’s inquiring eyes. Her heart was pounding loudly in her chest, her palms sweaty. She had stared down the face of death many times, withstood torture, lived with Zoot, and yet, she was more nervous trying to be honest with the one person she truly considered a friend than she had any of those time.

“Amber, I have something I need to tell you.” Ebony hesitated, looking up a little. “It’s about Bray.”

“What is it, Ebony?” Amber looked at her with concern filled eyes. “Is he alright?”

Ebony nodded, gnawing on her lower lip. “Bray’s fine. It’s just, well, I told him that I loved him.”

“What?!”

Ebony mistook Amber’s exclamation for anger and quickly rushed to explain. “I’m sorry. It was a moment of weakness, and well, it doesn’t matter anyway. He laughed in my face. He thought it was just another one of my scams.”

“He laughed at you?” Amber’s voice quavered with emotion. “I can’t believe that. What a jerk!” She growled, her tone growing dangerous. “I can’t believe he did something like that to you!”

Ebony studied Amber curiously, realizing for the first time that Amber was not upset with her, rather she was angry with Bray. “What do you mean, Amber?”

Amber frowned, her hands forming into fists at her sides. “I thought Bray knew better than to do something like that to anyone… And to hear that he did it to you, well, my opinion of him just shot down. Geeze. I can’t believe I once fancied myself in love with him.”

“Hold on, Amber. You’re not making sense.” Ebony halted Amber just as she was about to let out a string of colorful explicits. “You’re not upset with me for telling Bray that I loved him?”

Amber slowly shook her head, a rueful smile on her lips. The anger in her deep brown eyes began to flicker and was replaced with the weary strain that the Gaian leader had been feeling for the past several weeks. “How could I be, Ebony? You’re my best friend. My only friend, really.

“Bray and I, well, we were just children. I had hoped that he would move on and find someone new, like I have, and I had wanted that person to be you. However, if I had had any inclination of what an arse he would have made of himself, I would have forbidden you to ever speak words of love to that idiot.” She finished sadly, her eyes clouding over. “I’m so sorry her hurt you, Ebony.”

Ebony frowned, furrowing her brow. “No, Amber. Don’t be sorry. Even if you had known and had warned me I probably still would have told him how I felt about it. Since the moment I laid eyes on him that guy has had a pull on me. I can’t explain it. But I hate it.”

Amber met Ebony’s gaze and offered her a weak smile, squeezing her hand gently. “Bray doesn’t deserve a girl like you.”

“Or like you, for that matter.” Ebony quickly put in. “Now, what’s this about you finding someone new?”

“Oh.” Amber colored slightly. “Well, remember how I was telling you about Pride?”

“Yeah.”

“We sort of pledged ourselves to one another.” Amber told her quickly, then seeing the shocked expression on Ebony’s face hurried on. “It’s not like that. It’s not even as serious as an engagement. It’s more like a commitment to see only each other. The Gaians are a bit freer with their love than most of the city tribes.”

“I see.” A wicked smile spread across Ebony’s features. “So that handsome bloke with the dark brown hair would be, ahem, free with his love too?”

“You mean Hawk?” Amber chuckled, shaking her head. “I think three minutes alone with him and you would go positively mad. He never shuts up.”

“Oh.” Ebony scrunched up her face, then shrugged her shoulders and laughed. “Oh well. I guess I am just destined to be alone, huh?”

“No, not alone.” Amber shook her shoulder playfully. “You’ll always have me. Besides, who has time for love in days like these?”

Ebony sucked in hard and nodded, realizing the rather grim truth in Amber’s words. An attack on the city loomed in its future and it seemed that all the city leaders were more concerned with winning favors with one another than defending against the emanate attack.

“You’re right.” Ebony grimaced a little, wishing that she and Amber could discuss far more pleasant tidings. “Did the Gaian council reach a decision?”

Amber nodded slowly, her eyes revealing nothing. “Yes, they did. But it is not exactly as we had hoped. They are willing to help, but only you.”

“Only me?” Ebony looked at her in puzzlement. “But why not the city tribes?”

“They don’t trust the city tribes.” Amber began to explain, but was quickly interrupted with a sharp laugh from Ebony.

“They don’t trust the city tribes, but they trust me?” She chuckled, shaking her head in amazement. “Wow. You don’t know how good that feels to hear.”

Amber smirked a little and nodded. “Understandable, but not exactly helpful for our cause. I had hoped that the Gaians would be willing to assist the city tribe leaders as well, possibly convincing them that attack is drawing neigh and they need to beef up their defenses.”

“That’s not going to happen.” Ebony scowled. “They have grown fat and lazy under the Mall Rats reign. There is food for all and they feel that they are safe. It’s stupid really.”

“Yes, it is.”

“Especially with the disappearances that have been happening the past couple of days.” Ebony continued, hoping that she wouldn’t alarm Amber too greatly.

“What do you mean?”

“People have been disappearing… Vanishing without a trace. So far there are at least half a dozen reported cases. Billy Boy of the Demon Dogs is missing as well as several other insignificant tribe leaders. The kids are scared. Terrified, more like it. And of course Bray and Danni are blaming me.”

“You’re joking?” A scowl crossed Amber’s face. “I can’t believe those two. Can they at least keep their hands off one another long enough to look up and see logic staring them directly in the face?”

“No.” Came Ebony’s humorless response.

“I see.” Amber arched an eyebrow, but did not inquire further. “Back to business. The Gaians have agreed to assist you in any way possible. We will continue to scout the forests, report the Chosen’s movements to you, and other such activities. We will also try and rescue any prisoners we find.

“All this until the Chosen actually attack. When they attack, a small number of us will join with you to develop an under ground resistance of sorts. Better to eat them from the inside out like a cancer than to attack them with our small numbers. I am going to send part of the tribe to the southern province and see if they can recruit any help. The Chosen aren’t going to be happy with just the city once they have it. They will want more.”

“Agreed.” Ebony nodded grimly, realizing the wisdom of the Gaians plan. It may even work better than what Ebony had been planning herself. “Anyway,” She cast a glance out the window and noted that the sun had begun to set. “I need to be going. I have to be back at the hotel before dark. I don’t want to disappear.” She winked.

“Right.” Amber nodded. “I should go as well. I have to get back to the village tonight.” The two friends quickly embraced and smiled at one another. “When do you want to meet again? Tomorrow?” She inquired, dusting her hands off on her snakeskin print trousers.

Ebony hesitated, thinking of the double Mall Rat wedding that was scheduled for the next day. “Probably not. Tomorrow is not such a good time. Ryan and Salene are getting married tomorrow.”

“Seriously?” Amber’s face lit up. “That’s so wonderful. They were always such the perfect couple.”

“Well,” Ebony made a disgusted face, “It’s a bit strange. I think Salene really had a thing for Bray, but from what I could pick up he rejected her and she ran away, returning later with some girl named May.”

“Salene too?” Amber let out a heavy sigh, shaking her head sadly. “Bray always had the girls coming at his beck and call. What a jackass he’s become.”

“You said it, not me.” Ebony stated quietly. “Anyway, Salene and Ryan are getting married, but so are Tai-San and Lex.”

“What?” Amber was startled by Ebony’s revelation. “Tai-San and Lex? You’re joking, right? I never saw that one coming.”

“Most of us didn’t. But in a way they’re perfect for each other. Tai-San really keeps him in line. Though,” Ebony trailed off for a moment, thinking of her recently acquired trusted friend, “They really hurt Alice in the process.”

“Alice, she’s the farm girl, right?” Amber queried.

“She was. After her sister, Ellie, came down with the virus and took the antidote they sort of became part of the Mall Rats.” Ebony explained. “Ellie’s the one who produces The Amulet with the help of Jack.”

“Oh, that’s right.” Amber nodded, recalling the copies of The Amulet that Ebony had brought to her. They were all about how The Chosen were defeated and there was no longer a reason to fear. Amber had felt sick to her stomach when she read the story, but there was nothing she or the Gaians could do about it.

“So…” Ebony frowned, once again looking to the window. She had to go soon or else she would not make it back to the hotel. “Day after tomorrow?”

“Yeah.” Amber smiled softly. “Day after tomorrow, but remember, if you ever need anything, just let me know. And you don’t always have to wait for our meeting times to come to us. You know the way to the village.”

The friends embraced again then quickly went their separate ways, melting into the fading sunlight, both heavy of heart and mind.