by Kip Nelson
Mack thought about Tristan’s words. He wanted to form a team to travel to the Lost Children and start bringing them back to normalcy, as they couldn't be allowed to stay out there by themselves. Yet, when he entered the settlement he saw before him a chaotic scene that made him reconsider his idea. It seemed that much had happened in his absence, and the settlement was preoccupied with something else. People were barking orders at each other and rushing around to reinforce the barrier.
“It looks like they're planning to defend an attack,” Maggie said, standing beside Mack.
“It does, indeed,” Mack said, and furrowed his brow, for it seemed as though he and Maggie had returned at just the right time.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
THE CAVERNOUS WAREHOUSE was mostly empty, although the sounds of the Lost Children could be heard in the distance. The younger ones were playing together, pretending to chase each other, using rules of their own concoction. If anyone had passed by and seen this unfolding they simply would have assumed it was children acting as normal, until they spied the guns nearby. For the younger ones, life was like a game, and they didn't quite understand what was happening. Everything was filtered through their young, still developing minds, and it was difficult for them to process it fully. That's why they were able to forget about the darkness of the world and fill the warehouse with smiles and laughter.
The sounds of this joy reached Peter's ears. He was sitting on his throne, an impressive structure made of old cardboard boxes and wooden pallets they had found strewn throughout the warehouse. On his head sat a cardboard crown, yet, despite enjoying complete authority over the Lost Children he wore a glum expression, leaning forward with his elbow resting on his knee, thinking deeply. For the older children, there was no place in this world for fun or games and, as Peter listened to the distant sounds of the faint giggles, he found himself envious of them; that they could cling to a piece of their old life while he and the older children had to tear theirs away and forget about it. Sometimes the memories came flooding back and he had to close his eyes, wincing as a sharp headache seared through his brain.
There was so much he wanted to do, so much he had to do with the Lost Children. Peter raised his head and looked at the high ceiling of the warehouse, at the tall windows that rested near the top of the building, letting the sunlight shine through. Behind him were stacks of boxes, like a cardboard city, and in them lay the Lost Children’s future. For now, the food supply was plentiful, but it wouldn't remain that way forever. Soon the Lost Children would have to move through the city for their own survival.
But that wasn't the main reason the self-appointed king brooded. Tristan’s betrayal still was on his mind and filled the young monarch with rage. He literally trembled with anger. Upon first being made aware of the news he had flown into a fury, kicking whatever was near him. Spittle flew from his mouth as he had cursed Tristan and the adults who no doubt had swayed him. So he immediately had ordered a task force to go look for them. However, their escape had been too quick and Peter couldn't risk sending too many people out into the city. Not yet.
Peter knew that Mack and Tristan's mom were dangerous, and he didn't want to risk them filling the other children’s heads with ideas about family and home. He cursed the day that those two walked into the Lost Children’s territory. Tristan had proven himself time and time again, and he was the last person Peter ever would thought would betray him. The king glanced over his shoulder to where Tristan used to stand guard. The spot was empty now, and Peter shook his head, turning back around to face the emptiness in front of him.
The floor was covered with blankets and beds. A few of the Lost Children were resting there because they had nothing better to do, but most were elsewhere. As he was thinking, the sounds of laughter and rapid footsteps became louder and closer until a whirlwind of children passed by him, rushing out the door. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he leaned back into his throne. They still were loyal to him, he thought, at least that wouldn't change. He hated the way adults could manipulate them, and was afraid the kingdom he had built would come crumbling down if the adults interfered. His hand curled into a fist. He felt a sharp sense of pain as his nails dug into his palm, but he didn't stop until his eyes began watering. Pain was all he had known for a long time, even longer than when the new world dawned. It was all he had left.
As the children ran out of the wide doors, a figure came in from the opposite direction. Peter lifted his eyes as he saw Sharon's long, graceful strides. She shook her head to sling the stray blond hairs away from her face, and dug her hands into the pockets of her leather jacket. One of the elder Lost Children, she had proven her loyalty time and time again, and had become something of a confidant to the king. Her blue eyes sparkled and he was glad he still had her by his side. She was one of the few people who could approach the king without asking permission. She came up to his throne and rested her hand on it.
“You're still dwelling on that fool?” she said.
“Of course I am,” he replied bitterly, “and can you blame me? I trusted him. I made him my right-hand man and he threw that back in my face and went off with them. He denied me my right to make an example of those two adults. Now he's out there somewhere, probably spreading lies about me, about us.”
As he uttered that last word his eyes flashed to lock with Sharon's. He admired her strength. Like him, she had been forged by pain and wanted to rise like a phoenix into the new world, wanted to take what was rightfully theirs and prove to everyone that they didn't need adults to survive. She was a kindred spirit, just as he thought Tristan had been, until that pathetic runt had up and left.
“I just can't believe I misjudged him so badly. I thought he was loyal to the cause, and never would leave us,” he added, sighing.
Sharon pursed her lips before she answered. “We all were taken by surprise, although perhaps we shouldn't have been. Think back to the way he reacted when he first saw his mother,” she said, almost spitting out the last two words. “He was always the sensitive sort. There were times when he talked about home like it was some place he could go back to. I'm not sure he ever fully grasped the state of the future and what we were going to do with it. You should not miss him. He made his choice and he is gone. We're better off without people like that hindering us.”
“I know. Perhaps I am letting it affect me too much. It is just that I count on the loyalty of all my subjects, and for him to so easily and brazenly walk away from all of us, it hurts me deeply. It makes me wonder if others could do the same.”
The way he looked at her changed. He scrutinized her, and then looked past her at the other children sitting in the warehouse. Sharon's expression turned icy. She took her hand off the throne and her body became rigid.
“I never have shown any sign of disloyalty, and the fact that you even would consider it hurts me. Do not let what Tristan did color your opinion of the rest of us. We should not suffer for his disloyalty. We all are here, ready and waiting for your orders, eager to serve your will because we all have pledged our lives to you, Your Grace,” she said, emphasizing those last words to remind him of the position he held.
“But we cannot sit here idly forever, and you cannot spend all your time on that throne thinking of Tristan. He is gone and we must forget him. You always say we must let go of the past and move into the future. Perhaps it is time you take heed of your own words. And you should know by now there is nothing that could make me leave you. I am yours, forever,” she said.
Her face softened as she placed her hand back on the throne, but this time instead of resting it against the cardboard, she held it against the soft, warm flesh of Peter's hand. Their fingers entwined, they both smiled at each other.
“You are right, as always,” he said, “and I was only passing a thought. I did not mean to imply that I doubt your loyalty because it never has been in question.”
“Your subjects, especially the younger ones, are beginning to get restless and they wi
ll not be content to stay here forever. They need things to do, something to keep them occupied. They need their king, before they get distracted and forget about the grand plan.” Peter nodded solemnly before he pulled his hand away and stood up, standing tall on the throne.
Then began putting the plan in motion. He clapped his hands and summoned the children’s attention, waiting a little while for those outside to come back in. Soon the floor before him was filled with his loyal subjects looking up at him with devotion. He enjoyed seeing the uncompromising look of loyalty in their eyes, although Tristan's betrayal always would lurk in the back of his mind. Sharon smiled at him, then stepped away, fading back into the mass of his adoring subjects.
Clearing his throat, Peter spread out his hands and addressed them.
“I wanted to call you here today to remind you of why we are here. I don't just mean in this warehouse, but on this planet. We have been chosen to survive because we are strong, and we are the ones who have the destiny of the world in our hands. I have been saying this to you for a long time, and I am thankful you have been patient with me. I have decided we have been lurking in the shadows for too long.
“There is a world out there for the taking, and we have nothing to fear from it. No, on the contrary, they have everything to fear from us! The adults think they can take what they want and be done with it. They took Tristan from us, and if they had had the chance they would have taken others as well. They’ll try breaking us up because they're scared of what we can become. I will not let that happen. It's just another example of how adults ruined the world and now it is our time!”
His declaration was met with a huge cheer and he added that he would give them their orders soon. His eyes drifted over all of them and rested on Sharon, who wore a seductive smile on her face and licked her lips hungrily. The anguish in Peter's soul was quelled, but he still was aware of the empty space where Tristan used to stand, and the bitter taste that lingered on his tongue would not go away.
“THIS PLACE IS a lot bigger than what I'm used to,” Tristan said, a sense of awe in his voice as he entered the settlement with his mother and Mack.
Hundreds of people were roving about the area. A huge barrier had hidden the beauty of the settlement, so Tristan was surprised when he finally saw it. In the middle was a large park, beyond that lay City Hall and other buildings stretched high into the sky. It was like a real city in the middle of all this chaos, and as someone who had been living in a warehouse, it seemed almost like paradise. The sense of size amazed him, and made Tristan realize just how empty the lives of the Lost Children had been, since they couldn't have dreamed of living like this. Peter had filled their heads with delusions of grandeur, and because they hadn't known any better they went along with it, but now he saw how false it had all been. And yet, he still was feeling conflicted about having left, and his mind turned to those people he had left behind, those he had called friends, and Sharon. Oh, Sharon...
“I had the same thought when I first saw it,” Maggie replied, placing an arm around her son's shoulders, “and you know who helped create all this? Your Uncle Bob.” Tristan's eyes widened.
“He's here?!”
“I'm sure he's around somewhere,” she said, smiling.
Her son knew nothing of the difficulties between her and Bob. To him the older man had been a fun uncle who told him too many grisly stories about crime and murder for Maggie's liking, but they always had had a special bond. She was glad he would be there as well to help Tristan cope with the changing scenery.
At first, Tristan had been star-struck by the size of the settlement, but as he looked closer at the people he noticed the look of panic on their faces. He heard Mack and his mother comment that it looked as though they were planning for an attack, and his breath caught in his throat as worry seized him. They walked along as people rushed around them, until a man wearing the clothes of a preacher approached them. Upon seeing them his mouth widened into a smile. Maggie rushed up to him and hugged him tightly.
“Hank!” she exclaimed. Mack welcomed him warmly as well with a firm handshake.
“We're mighty glad to see you back. People were starting to get worried. I thought you'd have known better than to run off without telling anyone, and I'm surprised you went along with it, Mack,” Hank said with a twinkle in his eyes. Maggie twisted her foot into the floor as she looked away, slightly embarrassed.
“It was either that, or let her go on her own,” Mack said.
“And who do we have here? Hello, son, I'm Hank.” Tristan took the preacher's hand and noticed how warm it was. He shook it firmly and said his own name.
“I'll make the proper introductions later,” Maggie said, and Tristan noticed a look shared between the adults, but he did not know the meaning of it.
He started realizing his mom had been through a lot as well, and he wondered about all the new people in her life. But he also saw that she had left this place to find him. She must have known that she may never have returned, and it filled him with a strange sensation to know she was willing to lose everything just to find him again. And Mack...he still knew little of the man, but it was clear he went with Maggie because it was the right thing to do. Was there something going on between this man and his mom? He didn't think so, but then he never had been good at reading those sorts of signs. He suddenly burned a little inside as he realized his mother had had an entire life without him.
“What's going on here?” Mack asked.
“You'd better follow me,” Hank said, and led the three of them away.
CHAPTER TWELVE
WHILE THEY WALKED to City Hall, Hank filled them in on what had happened in their absence. Mack and Maggie raised their eyebrows upon hearing how there had been a coup and Bob had been usurped. Hank mentioned that other, better things had happened, though, and on a personal note, he mentioned how Freddie had opened a counseling practice. Maggie was pleased to hear the news. Upon hearing that Grace was the one who largely had taken charge, Mack raised an eyebrow. Hank elaborated and said she had done quite well, especially for someone of her age, and that she had tried to stay true to Mack's ideals. Mack was pleased to hear this, and he looked forward to seeing Grace again, although he was saddened to hear that her efforts to initiate communication with the other faction had failed.
Mack listened to Hank intently, a little guilty that he had not been around to help the community in such a time of crisis. He also wished he could have been there to have given Grace some words of encouragement as well. She was a smart girl, and he had seen great potential in her ever since the beginning, but he didn't want her taking on too much too soon.
They passed various people who stopped in their tracks, noticing Mack and Maggie were back. They looked with curiosity at Tristan as well, and the boy remained close to his mother, almost hiding behind her. In return, Mack offered hints as to what he and Maggie had been through, although he didn't go into too much detail. That was a story for another time, and he wasn't sure how much of it Maggie and Tristan wanted him to reveal. However, Hank was a smart man and surmised what must have happened since he saw the resemblance between Maggie and her son.
“It seems as though a lot happened to all of us,” Hank said.
“It does, indeed, but I'm glad to be back here,” Mack said.
“You'd better be careful or you'll start thinking of this place as home,” Hank said, chuckling a little as he opened the door to City Hall and let the others walk through before him.
They ascended the stairs. Tristan looked wide-eyed at the impressive building that, even after the rest of the city had fallen into ruins, still could inspire awe. They walked into the office where Grace, Luis, Saul, Freddie, Bob, and Will all were waiting. It was fortunate the office was rather large as there were so many people in it. Mack was filled with pride to see Grace sitting behind the desk, commanding the attention of everyone else. He had come to think of her as a surrogate daughter, and now that he saw her again he realized how much he h
ad missed her, and how much he had missed all of them, really. They had come to be his close friends and, by default, his family. Maggie had risked everything to try finding her son, and Mack knew he would do the same if any of these people went missing.
Grace was sitting behind a large desk, and a ring of chairs had been placed around it for everyone to sit down. Behind her were large windows, and on either side of her were flags, one the Stars and Stripes of the United States of America, the other the local state flag. It struck Mack how anachronistic these flags were since the nature of territory had changed. As far as he was aware the government hadn't survived, at least not in a way that it could drive any change, and the state didn't exist either. Instead, there were just disparate groups of people trying to make it in a world that had grown much, much smaller. But as he looked at her, he noticed the changes in Grace as well. No longer did she dip her head or turn her eyes away when forced to make eye contact with someone. The dye in her hair had faded as well. No longer were their rainbow strands cascading down, but a dark brunette hue framed her heart-shaped face.
As they entered the room, all eyes turned to them and delighted smiles appeared on everyone’s faces. Mack noticed they all looked drawn and tired, perhaps apart from Saul, and he was glad to be back with them. They rose and hugs and handshakes were shared all around. Maggie introduced them all to her son. Tristan greeted them awkwardly, finding it strange to be with so many adults and strangers once again. To Mack, Bob always had been a hard man. Yet, when he saw Tristan, he hugged him and had to hold back tears. He hugged Tristan like a father would hug a son. He also greeted Maggie warmly as well, and it was clear that whatever tension had resided between them now was fading due to present circumstances. Maggie noticed it was proving to be too much for Tristan, so she excused the two of them, saying she wanted to get Tristan acclimatized to his new surroundings. Mack couldn't blame her. He had tried staying out of their way during their journey through the city. It was clear they needed time on their own to get used to being with each other again.