The Forbidden Plan

by Erika Starits

  Evander’s dominating stance and time earned wisdom, silenced Zander’s complaints. He quieted everyone’s curiosity regarding his gracious decision. I beamed at him sincerely and indicated gratitude with a nod. Yes, Chief Meadows was Jude’s father, but Jude was a different person. He was admirable, compassionate, and a much better man than the Chief. Jude had truly earned the antivirus! He saved my life multiple times, even as a flesheater in this relentless wilderness. Zander added one last curt retort.

  In a hushed tone he muttered, “He’s not one of us.”

  Evander boldly replied, “Yes. He is one of us. Technically, Jude Meadows is half drudge.”

  My head whipped faster than a mouse creature scurrying to its hole in fear of a deadly pursuer.

  I eagerly interrogated, “What!? What do you mean?”

  Evander mournfully expressed, “In Starosa, I created Jude’s real mom. I was never able to truly be her father, but I always loved her.”

  Upon mentioning the woman he created, his cane trembled beneath his unsteady hands. Jace gallantly rushed to help him sit.

  Evander disclosed, “Rykeir murdered his real mom, my daughter. Our current Chief Meadows is a man of secrets. As a younger man, he fell in love with a drudge. My daughter. I don’t know how or why, but she loved him. It was long before he was Chief. Before the weight of corrupt responsibility and his horrible choices altered him forever. My daughter became pregnant with Jude. Rykeir discovered the Chief’s dilemma and vowed to take care of the undesirable situation. Chief Meadows was heartbroken but fearful of being caught. Rykeir promised to help keep his appalling secret. In return, he insisted on an increase of power and influence, once Chief Meadows replaced his father. Our current Chief, anguished over the possible wrath of his wretched father, agreed to everything.”

  Evander’s countenance was brimming with sadness.

  He continued, “Rykeir immediately arranged the marriage to the woman Chief Meadows is currently wedded. She was compelled by threats to raise Jude as her own son. She despised the arrangement, but was stripped of choice in the matter. She would involuntarily agree to Rykeir’s conditions or he would execute her and her family. If she refused to comply, he would continue to threaten and kill until he found someone to agree to his terms. After Jude was born, Rykeir murdered my daughter.”

  I reflected on Chief Meadows’s mostly absent wife. It was rumored she was depressed and quiet, preferring to be indoors. It made perfect sense. She was coerced into an uncaring marriage and forced to mother a child she did not want.

  Evander’s voice cracked with emotion as he said, “Rykeir killed my daughter, but she gave him the scar on his face. She was a fighter. Her fire did not burn out without a blazing fight.”

  Tears poured down Evander’s cheeks.

  “I was unaware of the dreadful situation, until it was too late. Not living or working with her, being in different drudge lines, made it nearly impossible to know of her perilous dilemma. Although, I would have been powerless to help. Her death was demoralizing. I already lost my family in the Previous Sphere’s eradication, and she became another child devastatingly taken from me.”

  We were attentively focused on Evander’s depressing recollection. Nobody heard or noticed Jude stir and his bitter words were unexpected.

  “Rykeir killed my real mom?”

  Every person’s head quickly jerked his way as he weakly stood. He looked beautiful, alive, and human. I wanted to run to him, but something in his fierce glare and harsh tone kept me at bay. He could not contain his budding rage.

  He asked through gritted teeth, “If what you say is true, Rykeir murdered my mom?”

  Evander answered solemnly, “Yes, it’s true.”

  Jude’s eyes flashed an eerie, but familiar yellow and he sneered. He was seething hate, anger, and vengeance as he paced frantically. His actions frightened me and he did not seem like Jude…my Jude at all. Had being a flesheater changed him?

  He fumed, “Rykeir nearly beat me to death and tossed me outside of Starosa. I was hopeless against the ambushing flesheater, but was able to burrow into an earthy hideout and escape. I crawled my way through the wilderness. Eventually, I stumbled across a strange metal hatch. It opened and lead into a hole of safety. I had multiple bite marks and was bleeding everywhere. The next thing I remember, was a burning pain and blacking out. I woke to discover I…changed.”

  With shaking emotion, he asserted, “All I care about is going back to Starosa and killing Rykeir.”

  Zander scoffed, “Why is he acting this way? He is unhinged and raving mad. Is he a mutt now…half human and half flesheater?”

  Jude rapidly lunged at Zander. He furiously knocked him flat and punched him repeatedly in the face. His temper was out of control. He was outraged and eager to fight. Jude’s behavior was disheartening. Where was the thoughtful person who cracked jokes with ease and smiled effortlessly? Kylar and Tony aggressively pulled Jude from Zander. Jude continued to wallop in their strong grips. The entire episode was overwhelming and upsetting.

  I yelled, “Jude! Stop it!”

  After pushing my way through the gathered drudges, I grabbed him. He shifted swiftly toward me with frenzied eyes. I tugged his arm forcibly and clutched his tremulous hands.

  I spoke resolutely, “Jude, please stop.”

  His body relaxed and he regained composure. It took him a moment to register me.

  Jude whispered, “Ana?”

  I softly answered, “Yes,” accompanied by a slight nod.

  I was breathing heavily, despite the calming chaos.

  Jude abruptly snatched his hands from mine and asked hysterically, “What’s wrong with me?!”

  He scrutinized his human hands which impulsively turned into weapons of destruction moments before. He convulsed uncontrollably and an unsettling madness clearly burned inside him. He dropped to the ground and brought his knees to his chest. He buried his face in his hands and rocked back and forth, scratching at his head.

  Zander wiped the dripping blood from his nose and mouth and stared incredulously at Jude. He would have charged and punched back, if Jude did not appear so shattered.

  I sobbed, “What’s the matter with him, Evander? Please, do something. Help him!”

  Evander’s hunched frail form slowly made his way to Jude. He concentrated on each step and wobbled from the effort. He rested a weathered hand on Jude’s broken body and clasped his quivering shoulder.

  He offered assurances, “It’s going to be alright.”

  Evander lightly patted Jude until he stopped rocking.

  Evander’s calm and steady voice explained, “It appears as if the virus takes some time to fully leave the system. I am not sure how long it will take, but I’m positive you will eventually be yourself again.”

  His tone became stern as he added, “If not, you will learn to control it. Everything will be okay.”

  Evander kept his arm around Jude, holding him firmly together. I was afraid if he let go too soon, Jude would crumble to pieces. It suddenly struck me. They were family.

  After we ate an eveningtide meal, Zander came and sat next to me. He carried a damp cloth.

  “Sorry, about earlier. I am sorry I provoked him. I didn’t know…”

  His speech trailed off.

  I responded, “It’s okay, but can you please try to be less of a nuisance?”

  With a playful jeer I whacked him in the arm. My actions feigned a joking manner, but I was serious.

  Zander chuckled and muttered, “I can’t help it. It’s who I am.”

  He shrugged and faced me. Zander moved loose hair from my forehead and cheek. Using the cloth, he cleaned the slashes on my face, courtesy of Jude’s flesheater claws. Amidst the recent turmoil, I had not given the slight injury much attention. Zander carefully wiped and checked the lacerations. His touch was gentle and soft, but his behavior and attitude were more often the exact opposite. I grasped his tending hand and held it to my cheek.

  “Than
ks, Zander. But you are covered in these slashes as well.”

  I released my hand as he shirked from my concern.

  He nonchalantly alleged, “Yeah, but I am a big, strong man. You are not.”

  Zander ruined the friendly moment and I gestured exasperation. Suddenly, I recalled something from our past.

  “Zander, a few times on Remembrance Duty you called me Ana. It struck me odd because I never told you I went by the nickname. During your deliberations with Old Jake, he must have always referred to me by Ana, huh?"

  Zander was surprised and exclaimed, “Wow, I never realized I let it slip. I thought I was being conscientious. Old Jake warned me to use Analysse when we were together because I would not know your nickname unless you told me it. But you never did. Old Jake would be disappointed with my blunder.”

  “It only happened when you were under stress. So, you don’t have to be hard on yourself. It all worked out.”

  I nudged him in the arm.

  He playfully prodded me back and said, “I guess it didn’t end up being too big of a deal. Huh, Ana? Now I call you it all the time.”

  Instinctively, I shot Jude a quick glance. All of a sudden, it felt inexplicably wrong to be positioned so close to Zander.

  Jude was staring into the distance far too intently. Was he emanating a low irritated grumble? The perceived sound motivated me to subtly create more space between Zander and I.

  A massively built, creator drudge stood to speak, averting my attention. His skin was dark like Zander’s, but he was three times Zander’s size. He was the tallest man I had ever seen and his arm muscles were incredibly robust. He was not the friendliest of drudges. He was who you wanted nearby, if creatures lurking around the wilderness decided to ambush. I expected the ground to shake from his thunderous speech, and I was not entirely sure this did not occur.

  He rumbled, “We need to move on. We have been at this spot for far too long. We need a plan of action. Where will we head next?”

  Jace’s rough scratchy voice croaked in great contrast to the massive drudge’s smooth roll.

  He stated, “You are right, Lamont. We do need to move on. I say we stick to the original plan. Let’s investigate more of this land. Let’s see if we can find a permanent place of refuge. Then we should try to rescue more drudges.”

  Yes, rescue more drudges. I agreed wholeheartedly with this part of the deliberation. Jude spoke and the sound of his voice caused my breath to catch in my throat. We had avoided one another since his breakdown. I acknowledged that his unnatural temper kept me cautious and distant, but he seemed to want nothing to do with me. It crushed my spirit for him to avoid me, but intensified a growing resolution to ignore him as well. I did not need him to talk to me, we had not talked in months. Why would this circumstance change now? Unfortunately, it required more effort than I cared to admit, to continuously convince myself to not go to him.

  Jude spoke softly, “Why look for a new place of refuge when one already exists? A huge place, constantly surrounded by a buzzing fence of protective electricity.”

  Confused, contemplative faces filled the campsite.

  Lamont asked, “What do you mean, Jude?”

  Jude’s voice had a tense and bitter edge to it.

  “We already have a place of refuge. We just need to claim it. Let’s go back to Starosa and set things right. You should all be free. I’ll fight for you.”

  Zander grumbled, “I don’t think so, mutt.”

  I rolled my eyes in annoyance. Why did he have to call him this crass term? I feared Jude might come unglued, but he only stared irritably at the fire. The flames flickered and danced across his brown eyes. The surrounding smoke and this conversation made it difficult to breath. The discussion caused me to fidget.

  Zander continued, “First off, you are not really one of us, so how can we trust you? Second, we can’t march into Starosa expecting things to go our way. Third, maybe if we do search this land, we will find a better place to live than Starosa.”

  Jude glared at him and either his eyes flickered yellow or the firelight reflected the same eerie color of a flesheater. I could not be certain. The glowering glare caused me to immediately glance into the fire. Jude inhaled deeply. I noticed his fists were clenched, but he did not become aggressive.

  Jude responded in a clipped tone, “I am one of you. I was brutally beaten and kicked out by an elite ten. My real mom was a drudge. I hate the unfair conditions of the community. I believe every single person should be free. Free to be educated. Free to choose their own path and who to love.”

  His powerful, steady voice slightly cracked. I averted my gaze from the safety of flickering flames and looked at him. He stared directly into my eyes. A faint smile lifted his lips. The moment rendered me restless. A few drudges cleared their throats, reminding Jude he was talking. My cheeks tinged with embarrassment. Suddenly, the fire seemed too hot and I scooted further away.

  Jude resumed, “Let’s go and fight for this already established protection.”

  Lamont affirmed, “We can’t just stroll into Starosa. They would never let us in and will shoot our efforts. They have the advantage of guns.”

  Jude grinned and declared, “This is where I come in. I know the gate code. I will let myself in and go to my father. He will undoubtedly be thrilled to have me returned. I will pretend I ran away, but decided to come back home. There are only two guns in Starosa. At night, they are kept at our house and locked away in a metal box. My father sleeps with the key tied around his neck. He and the elite tens would never take the chance of them falling into the wrong hands. Once they are secured, I will retrieve the only key...and give it to Evander. This will make it a fair fight. It will reduce the bloodshed on both sides of the conflict. I will let you into Starosa and we’ll demand things change…or else. I’m the perfect one to get the job done, nobody would suspect me.”

  Zander growled, “You are far from perfect, mutt.”

  Jude heatedly glared at Zander. He was about to speak before he was cut off by Evander.

  Evander said, “All humans are far from perfect, Zander. Including you. Our character is defined by what we do with our imperfections. Jude deserves the chance to prove his integrity and this strategy will not succeed without him. He has a point. He’s the only one here who could even get close to the guns.”

  Lamont openly contemplated Jude’s suggestion as he rubbed his prominent chin.

  He affirmed, “Removing the guns, does make things fairer.”

  Lamont swung a large stick and confidently hit the end of it against his opened, massive hand. Anybody contending with Lamont would be at an extreme disadvantage because of his powerful frame. Having his strength on our side, would be beneficial to our honorable cause for liberty.

  The older woman with silvery hair, the sustenance drudge, spoke next.

  “It sounds like a decent idea, but I still think we should explore the land, just in case.”

  A few of the drudges signaled their agreement. We all turned to Evander and awaited his wisdom. He scratched the springy hairs still left grasping his bald head.

  Evander announced, “This is what we will do. Let’s travel further into the land heading north for one day and see if we find anything. Then we will journey east for another day. Afterwards we will head into the direction of our community. Maybe we will find something useful along the way, maybe we won’t. But our ultimate goal should be to free the rest of our people.”

  All of us motioned concurrence, including Jude. Zander seemed irritated, but did not argue. He was grumpy and brooding, which was not unusual behavior for Zander.

  Evander urged, “Let’s all retire for the night. We have some long, difficult days ahead of us.”

  I rested staring at the stars and moon and searched for reassurances. I was excited and nervous for what was ahead. I tried to relax feeling both Zander and Jude watching over me. I refused to look at either of them. Finally, I fell asleep.

  Chapter 27

/>   Our riveting journey commenced. It was surprisingly hot, humid, and sticky. Yet, we were surrounded by many shade bearing trees. The sun was ripping through my pale skin, despite the sheltering leaves. I was turning a pinkish tinge of color, and perceived it was not a favorable occurrence. I strode forward, wielding an extra knife the group lent me. We were instructed by Lamont, to become as comfortable as possible with a weapon. We needed to acquire extensive combat skills. This would increase our chances of succeeding in our mission to free the drudges in Starosa. Each drudge carried a different means of defense from bows and arrows, swords, knives and hatchets.

  Jace practiced maneuvering his sword and attacking the air as he went. Andrea walked in close proximity to Jace and practiced with her knife. Her flesheater wounds were healing nicely. The drudges holding bows, arrows, and hatchets practiced throwing or shooting their weapons and hitting targets in the distance. As the day wore on, their accuracies were improving exceptionally. I worked on my speed. I pulled my knife from the crudely crafted sheath around my waist, and attacked the surrounding vicinity as rapidly as possible.

  Jude was not provided a weapon. The group did not trust him or his unpredictable temper yet. Along our journey, he acquired a large branch. After awkwardly asking to borrow my knife, he fashioned what resembled a club. By the time we neared eveningtide, he did have a weapon. It was a massive one he created himself. I secretly watched him work. Had the flesheater virus made him stronger? The way his muscles bulged from underneath the black shirt he wore, did not go unnoticed. I could not recollect being as aware of this in the past.

  As we trekked, the air became increasingly hot, humid, and wet. The moisture penetrating our skin was short of taking a shower. Heavy winds and blaring sounds were encompassing. We were in an extra thick blanket of trees. A roaring and continuous smashing grew louder as we pushed forward. The strange noises would quiet and then crash through the trees with a loud and powerful force. This happened over and over. We all glanced curiously at one another. None of us could place the noise.