“Of course. Now we know who you are there's no need to get you to talk. Ben has told us everything we need to know.” Brent held his hands behind his back.
I glanced towards Dad who gave me a narrowed look. I don't think Dad had told him as much as he thought.
“This way,” said Brent leading us back between the houses.
Seth and his friend rounded us up, guarding us from the back as though they thought we might take off again. We made our way past the building Vega had burnt the hole in.
“How did you do that exactly?” asked Brent.
“With my laser eye powers,” replied Vega in her snarky tone making me a little less angry at her.
Brent raised his chin and continued walking, not giving her sarcastic reply an answer.
As our group continued through the streets I got the impression Brent was leading us the long way around, parading us to the people of the town. People stopped on the side of the gravel pathways and stepped aside to watch us, and others peered through their windows or opened their doors.
“Did you find your friends?” A tug on my pants made me look down to find Alice's big brown eyes staring up at me.
“Yes, thank you,” I replied.
“Alice, what on Earth do you think you're doing?” Seth's friend ran up and swept her up in his arms.
“She's my friend,” protested Alice. “I met her yesterday when she was walking with Ebony.”
“You don't know her. What was Ebony doing letting you talk to her? She could be dangerous.” He ran his fingers through his short sandy hair.
“No, she isn't.” Alice said matter-of-factly.
“Yeah? And how do you know?” he asked.
“I just know. She's angry, but not dangerous.” Alice spoke as though she had no doubt.
“You'll be the death of me kiddo. Look there's Lula, run off now and stay away from this lot until I say its safe okay?” He pointed out a lady standing in a doorway.
“Sorry Tyler.” Alice pushed out her bottom lip.
Tyler planted a soft kiss on her forehead and set her down so she could run into the arms of a petite lady with long blonde hair trailing down to her waist.
I turned from watching Alice run away to find Brent glaring at Tyler.
“Sorry Prophet. You know what she's like.” Tyler looked between Brent and the ground.
“We'll talk about you and your sister later. Let's get to the church.” Brent turned and began guiding us again, but not before shooting Tyler another menacing look.
How could such a cute little girl be Tyler's sister? The guy who held me down while Seth poured nasty liquid into my mouth. I shuddered at the thought.
“You okay Rora?” asked Fletcher, prompting my dad to turn around.
“Yeah, I'm fine,” I replied.
He lifted his right eyebrow showing me he didn't believe a word of it, but now wasn't the time to tell him what'd happened. I needed time to sit on my own and work out what was going on. Each time a new piece of the puzzle was revealed I had no time to process it, work out where it fitted. Now my father walked in front of me, peering back at me after every few steps. He had all the answers I needed but somehow, I didn't think I was going to get them out of him easily. There was something off with Brent, other than the way he'd treated Braven and me. Seth and Tyler appeared scared of him, like he held something over them. And I was sure my dad was withholding information from him too which confirmed Brent wasn't to be trusted.
We arrived at the largest building I'd ever seen. It was easily five times bigger than any of the other dwellings built around it and was also twice as high. The front of it stretched up into a tall triangle of timber beams, sticks and mud. Seth and Tyler ran to the front of the group and swung open two large doors revealing a huge open room with wooden floors and a ceiling with wooden beams.
“This took us two years to build, and it cost us one of our dearest members, but it's the camps pride and joy,” said Brent as he led us up three stairs and through the doorway.
Inside, two older ladies were sweeping the floor with brooms made of sticks with long grass tied to their ends. They both stopped and looked up bowing their heads a little towards Brent. “Prophet.”
“Marg, Bess, would you be kind enough to help Seth and Tyler here pull out the pews?” he asked them.
Both women nodded before making their way through a large curtain and carrying out a long wooden bench. Seth and Tyler went to grab one between them as one of the ladies dropped her end. The bang shook the building earning her a nostril flare from Brent. She shrunk back into herself on the verge of tears.
“Here, let me help you,” I said jogging over to her.
“Oh, thank you dear.” The lady gave me a warm smile, reminding me of Edith who'd helped us in the undercity of Utopia.
I grabbed onto an end with my good arm and looked up to find Fletcher holding the opposite end. “Where do you want it?” he asked Brent.
Brent looked puzzled as he replied. “Just here. We only need the two.” He pointed to the opposite side of the room and Fletcher and I carried ours lining it up beside where Seth and Tyler had sat theirs.
“A bit crooked, but it'll do for this purpose,” said Brent. “Please, take a seat. Marg and Bess will bring us some water and something to eat while we talk.”
Marg and Bess disappeared behind the big off-white curtain again. We all looked at each other for reassurance before Lark led us towards the pew and sat. Domino sat beside him and the rest of the rebels followed suit. I sat myself between Fletcher and Braven. There wasn't enough room, and Braven had to move over a little, but I wasn't ready to be in close proximity of my father again. I wasn't sure if I would cry, scream, or lash out at him and this wasn't the time to lose it.
Chapter Five
Brent stood in front of our group peering down at us on the pews. He clasped his hands behind his back before he spoke. “First, I should introduce myself properly. I'm Prophet Brent, my followers call me Prophet. Through me God is able to lead the Freedom people to create a new life on our planet. He sent the fires and water to cleanse the Earth, but he spared us and our job now is to rebuild and spread his word. How I came to be a Prophet is a long story, and one I won't tell today, but here I am looking after these wonderful people with my beautiful wife Lula. We've been unable to have children of our own, but God has blessed us with the Freedom children.”
I glanced towards Tyler whose eyes narrowed as he spoke the last words.
Brent continued. “My two disciples here are Seth and Tyler. By God's grace I found Seth when he was nine years old wandering all alone in the bush. He was tired, hungry and thirsty and I took him in to our then small group, and have looked after him as if he were my own son since.”
Seth puffed out his chest at his words. Proud son by the looks of it.
“Tyler and his sister Alice were raised here in camp. Their mother and father were part of a team that scoured the land for anything of use, others who may be lost and need assistance, and to keep watch for the floating cities guards. Sadly, his parents went on a raid to the main city, where six left for the journey but only two returned. Tyler's mother was one of those two, she'd watched her husband die. She grew sicker each day and pulled away from the Freedom people. We prayed for her daily but a week later she took her own life. She hung herself in a tree and left her two beautiful children behind. So of course, Lula and I took them in and treated them as if they were our own. They had been punished enough by their mother's misgivings.”
The tightening of Tyler's fists made me think he wasn't impressed with Brent telling us his story.
“Now I've introduced myself I would be happy to know your names. Of course, I already know Aurora, Braven and Ben but the rest of you?”
He stood with a smile on his face, his arms spread wide, waiting for someone to reply. No one spoke for a moment then Lark rose from his seat.
“I'm Lark, this is my partner Domino. Then we have Vega, Maya, Fletcher, you kno
w Aurora and Braven. We've all come from the floating city Utopia and were ambushed by your people despite not being a threat.” He returned Brent's ridiculous grin.
“Not a threat?” Brent laughed to himself. “As I hear it, you trespassed in our cottage. When Seth questioned you as to why your group was there you would not answer. Then you attacked him while your people fled. Now would you not see that as a threat Lark?”
“Maybe you need to speak to young Seth about his questioning technique. I think being met by a wall of weapons as you set on the next leg of your journey gives warrant to keeping things to yourself and wanting to escape,” replied Lark.
Brent glared at Seth before thinking on what Lark had said for a moment. “Well, I'm sure we can agree both of our parties made mistakes. But I'm willing to put it all aside. Aren't you?”
Lark didn't answer. He sat back down between Domino and Maya.
“I guess I should tell you a little of what I know of this situation. Then I'm sure you'll be able to fill in the blanks. Isn't that right Lark?” he asked waiting for a reply this time.
“I'll do my best,” Lark answered.
Brent continued. “When I found Ben he was passed out near a river east of the cottage. He was starving, sick, and had sustained multiple injuries from what he explained as a beating from the Utopian guards. With the help of medicines and prayer we healed him, and when he came to after three days of being unconscious we began to ask him questions. Turns out all Utopians are as stubborn as each other, because we were forced to use the Nightshade elixir on Ben too. Using it we discovered he was not a threat but instead an ally. He told us he was in trouble with the Elites and the guards of the floating cities. They believed he had information he didn't have. His scientific genius has been helping us ever since.”
I looked towards my father who kept his eyes on Brent, with a smile on his lips that didn't quite reach his eyes. He hadn't told Brent as much as he thought. He hadn't told him about the pendant at least. Why was he holding back from him? If he didn't trust him at least the discomfort clenching at my stomach was warranted.
“Then, to my surprise, I get a report of a bunch of floating city guards using our cottage. We haven't had the guard sniffing around our parts for years, so I sent our team to engage with them. Of course, they turned out to be your group, and after an altercation we were able to capture two of your team members. Both of which were placed in the hole until we could find out why they were here and what information the Utopian Guard wanted from them. Unfortunately, despite being able to get a name from each of them, neither could tell me what it was you have on the Elite. So, Lark, would you be so kind as to advise what said information might be?” Once again Brent clasped his fingers behind his back.
Lark looked towards Braven and me, a proud sparkle in his eyes. The pride seeped inside me and I sat a little taller. They may've drugged me, but I'd fought it and kept our secrets.
“I'm afraid it was all a ruse. Domino said we had something important to distract your team and give us time so we could escape. We are here merely because we were unhappy with the controlled lives we were living on Utopia and had been led to believe there may still be a chance of surviving on Earth,” said Lark.
“So you came to a place you'd been told was dangerous and uninhabitable on a hunch?” questioned Brent.
“A well-educated hunch. The man who told us and brought us to Earth was named Alber. He died when our aircraft sustained damage and crashed.” Lark looked towards Dad whose eyes widened before going glassy.
He and Alber had been friends. He'd received the news two people he cared about had died in a matter of hours. My heart ached as I watched the sadness creep back over him, but focused back on the smugness of Brent. What did my dad expect when he'd been away for so long? If it wasn't for the people around me I may've been added to the list myself. Would he have carried on his life on Earth believing he'd saved us when in fact we were dead?
“And what of the pendant this girl was wearing when she was captured? Seth here had the impression it was important somehow, and yet, now it's missing. If only he had the foresight to remove it from your possession earlier.” He glared towards Seth who bowed his head and gulped.
“I told you,” I looked him straight in the eyes. “I didn't have a pendant, I've never owned a pendant.”
“She's right.” Domino added. “Utopians are given the rations they need. There was no way Aurora and her mother could've afforded such a luxury.”
“So then why is Seth here so confident you were wearing one when you were captured?” His eyes didn't leave me.
I shrugged. “Maybe being overpowered by Lark and losing most of our team made him realise he'd failed and he decided to make up a story to make himself look like he didn't screw up?”
Lark's smirk was a stark contrast to the way Brent's scowl deepened.
“Despite your insistence there was no such pendant, we commenced a thorough search of the hole.” He searched me for a reaction and I did my best to meet his gaze. “We found nothing. But Seth isn't one to see things and make up stories.”
“Are you implying my daughter is lying?” asked Dad.
“Ben, of course not.” Brent's stern demeanour changed, and his expression softened as he looked towards Dad. “I'm simply saying she received an awfully hard knock to the head when she fell and she may have forgotten she'd had it. Personally, I'd like to leave this all behind us and invite you to stay here in our camp. We will allocate you a family to stay with while we organise additional homes and will get you all fed and clean with new clothes. We don't want anyone else mistaking you for the guard now do we?” he laughed.
Fletcher's fingers reached for mine and he clasped my hand in his.
“If you would stay here, Marg and Bess will fetch you something to eat and drink while I organise families who have room for you. Seth, you stay here and watch our new friends. Tyler follow me.” Brent left the room closely followed by Tyler.
Seth moved to the double doors at the front of the hall as Brent and Tyler left. He turned to stare across the room, his expression stern. Each of us rose from the pews and stood looking at each other, unsure what to do next.
“Water and bread,” offered Marg pulling my attention from the redhead at the door.
“Thank you,” I replied taking a slice of warm bread and a mug of water.
The bread was so soft it melted in my mouth. I devoured it in a few bites.
“More?” offered Marg.
“Yes please, this is delicious thank you,” I said taking another piece.
“Fresh made this morning. I'm happy you like it.” Her eyes wrinkled at the corners as she smiled.
“By the amount of groaning you're doing I'm guessing you like the bread?” laughed Fletcher taking a bite of his own slice.
“This is amazing. So much better than the dry stuff on Utopia.”
“And the rations we've been living off since being on Earth,” added Vega.
“Small things amuse small minds,” he said.
“Easy for you to say. I bet you ate delicious things like this all the time being an Elite,” said Vega.
Fletcher's face became solemn and he lowered his voice. “I think maybe we should keep the whole, Elite's son thing quiet for now.”
He was right. The last thing we needed them to find out was one, no, two of us if you included Maya, were the children of Elites.
“You should always keep it quiet.” My father had snuck up behind us and I jumped at his whispered voice. “I can't say too much. But keep your cards close to your chest here. Do you understand me?”
Fletcher and I both nodded. There was more going on in this survivor's camp than we'd seen so far. I could tell behind my dad's stoic but frightened eyes. And Brent had spoken of a person named God and of being a Prophet. I had no idea what either of those things were.
“Dad…” I began, unsure what to say.
“Now isn't the time,” said Dad, looking towards Seth manni
ng the doors. “For years I'd imagined our reunion and I thought it'd be… well, under happier circumstances. We need to talk, but where there are no prying ears. I have so much to explain.”
“Yeah, you do.” I narrowed my eyes at him. My constant change in emotions was giving me whiplash. All I wanted to do was hug him and never let him go. But I also wanted to yell at him for lying to me and leaving mum and me behind believing he was dead.
“I know it's a shock,” started Dad.
“Benjamin. She knows,” said Domino walking up behind us and placing a hand on Dad's shoulder.
“Knows what?” he asked, concern in his eyes.
Was he serious? Would he have ever told me himself if I hadn't found out from Alan? Would anyone have told me? “She means I know you aren't my real dad,” I snapped at him before storming off towards Braven and Lark.
“Aurora, what's wrong?” asked Lark as I approached them.
“Nothing new. Just more people keeping more secrets. What's taking Brent so long? Preparing more of the serum they gave us?” I asked, loud enough for Seth to hear.
Seth cleared his throat from the doorway narrowing his eyes at me when I turned in his direction.
“The redhead dude can't keep his eyes off you. His eyes follow you everywhere you go,” said Braven.
“Yeah well if he doesn't start keeping is eyes to himself I'll gouge them out and stuff them up his…”
“Rora,” said Fletcher as he approached.
“What?”
“Chill out. What's going on with you? Take a breath,” he said.
He was right, my mind was racing as fast as my heart and my body was tense all over.
“Sorry, it's just weird,” I confessed.
“Your dad?” asked Lark.
“Everything. These people acting like we've done something wrong. Dad being alive. Everything.” Sighing out a long breath I sat down on a nearby bench. “What's God anyway? And why does he keep calling himself a Prophet?”
Fletcher shrugged.
“It's religion,” said Lark. “Before Earth was destroyed there were a number of them. And many believed there was a God or creator of humans and Earth. Brent thinks he's a messenger from this being.”
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