Arcadia

by L. J. Higgins

  My throat clenched at the thought of those poor girls having to marry such a horrible man.

  “What do you want me to do?” asked Seth. “What will me going back do to change what's happening?”

  “He trusts you, Seth. More than any disciple he's ever had. The other disciples and I think if you came home he might listen to you. Might start to see how he's hurting his people.” Sean's voice wobbled as he spoke. “You know I'd never speak poorly of our prophet, but I'm worried how far he'll go.”

  “Does he know you're here looking for me?” asked Seth.

  “Yes and no. I convinced him to let us come and at least find your body if you hadn't survived your mission. That we owed you for everything you'd done for your prophet. But in truth, I wanted to see if the prophet's favourite was indeed dead or captured. See if I could take you back to camp to help make things normal again. Never did I imagine you'd be happily travelling with the group who escaped the camp with Tyler and Alice.”

  Seth was silent for a long moment before speaking. “I appreciate you coming to find me. You've always been a loyal and good friend, Sean. But now I have to ask you to give me some space to let this all sink in.”

  “You want space to let this sink in?” snapped Vanessa. “What is there to think about? Your prophet needs you in his darkest hour. Your fellow disciples have travelled miles to find and save you. You swore an oath to your prophet and fellow disciples.”

  “Like I said it's complicated.” Seth looked over Vanessa's shoulder at me.

  Vanessa swivelled around to glare at me before turning back to him. “Is she holding something over you?”

  “No, you're getting it all wrong. And to be honest it's not important,” said Seth.

  “It's important if it's making you pull away from the prophet. You know what happens to those who fall away from Prophet Brent,” Vanessa's voice trembled as she spoke.

  Sean placed a hand on Vanessa's thigh and she took a deep breath. “You have to understand Seth. This goes against everything we've ever been trained to do. We wouldn't be here going against the wishes of our prophet if it wasn't important.”

  “Like I said, I need time to think,” replied Seth.

  “Whatever your complication is, is it worth facing an eternity in hell? Is it worth living an empty life?” Vanessa asked.

  Seth looked at me again but didn't reply. Not long ago he would've spouted those words himself and I was proud he wasn't caving to what Brent needed and taking time to work out what he needed instead.

  “Are you in love with her?” asked Sean. “How does poor Ebony feel about that?”

  Seth nearly choked on his own tongue, coughing out into a laugh. “Oh goodness, no. I'm definitely not in love with her. Ebony has nothing to worry about.”

  Sean relaxed. “We've told you why we're here and what we need from you. Let's go back to camp and sleep on it overnight. You can think about what you want to do and tell us in the morning.”

  “You're going to let him go?” Vanessa hissed at him.

  “In the morning I have something I'm sure will change your mind about returning with us,” said Sean as he rose.

  We all followed suit and I brushed the damp sand from my pants.

  The walk back to the camp was quiet with Seth, Braven and I following behind the other two. They exchanged a few looks that could only mean they were up to something and part of me wanted to pack my bags and get my friends as far away from them as possible. But looking to Seth, the way the mere presence of these two intruders drained him, emptied his eyes. He needed us to be here to support him despite needing to make the choice for himself. I hated how badly I wanted him to choose us over Brent. To choose me.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Our friends looked at us with wary glances as we approached the camp behind Vanessa and Sean.

  “Is everything okay?” Vega asked, eyeing over Braven who gave her a reassuring nod.

  “We've discussed what we needed to.” Vanessa shot a sideways glance towards Seth.

  “Which was?” asked Fletcher.

  “None of your business,” snapped Vanessa.

  “Let's leave it for tonight,” I suggest and Seth gave me a thankful smile.

  The camp fell quiet except for the background noise of the waves rolling in and the cool wind rustling through the trees. Fletcher took my hand and guided me to wear our bed rolls were rolled out and we sat down.

  “Is everything okay?” whispered Fletcher.

  Drawing a deep breath I couldn't shake the uneasiness settling over me during the walk along the beach back to the camp. Brent was out of control and I could tell Seth felt it was his duty to return to the Freedom Camp and keep the people he'd grown up with safe. Part of me wasn't even sure if the story was real. Perhaps Sean had created it to guilt Seth into returning? It didn't help calm my nerves that Sean was confident what he was going to show Seth in the morning was going to make him return with them. Would he threaten him? Hurt him in some way? I shuddered at the thought, remembering the serum Braven and I had endured and the fear in Seth's eyes when he'd mentioned being put in a box.

  “Aurora?” Fletcher's eyes softened.

  “I don't know. Seth has to decide by the morning if he wants to stay with us or go with them, but I don't think they'll let him leave easily. We need to be on alert,” I replied.

  “Hey,” Braven came up beside us. “Let's do a watch rotation to keep an eye on our friends.”

  “I'd feel much better,” I said.

  “Fletch, you want to stick with me first? Aurora, Vega and Maya can do the morning shift,” he suggested.

  “What about the other two?” I asked.

  “While we're with Brent's followers I don't trust Seth and Ebony to watch us,” he replied.

  “Make sure you wake us up when you're tired,” I said, gripping Fletcher's hand and giving it a squeeze before he rose from his bed.

  He bent over and planted a kiss on my forehead before he went to Vega and Braven to begin a hushed conversation.

  Sean narrowed his eyes in their direction, his eyes scanning the area until they landed on mine and I returned his stare with a scowl before he was interrupted by Vanessa.

  While watching Sean I hadn't noticed Seth approaching. He crouched down beside me and spoke as quietly as he could. “Whatever happens tomorrow promise you'll keep Ebony safe.”

  “Of course. She's one of us now.” I let my words soak in before I spoke again. “Do you think he's telling the truth about what Brent's doing at the camp?”

  “It crossed my mind that they could be manipulating me, it's a tactic they've used before. But there was a sadness and fear behind both of their eyes that couldn't be faked,” he replied.

  “What do you think he meant when he said he has something to change your mind?”

  He swallowed hard. “I have no idea. But he seemed certain it'd convince me to go back to the Freedom Camp. Whatever happens to me, Ebony can't go back with them. She has to go with you.”

  “She doesn't want to be with you?”

  “Of course she does. But I want her to be happy, and being with you and your friends is the happiest I've seen her in years. She'll follow me wherever I go, but you have to help me convince her to stay with you.”

  “It'd be easier to convince her if you just stayed with us,” I said.

  Seth looked over to where Vanessa stared at him. “It's more complicated than deciding to go with you. I swore an oath to Brent, to protect the camp. If they need me…”

  “An oath you were too young to understand at the time. I know you feel obligated to help those at the camp. It's horrible what's happening, but maybe it's about time they stood up to him and stopped letting him treat them like he does. What we're doing. Going to Elysium and trying to reveal the truth. In the long run, that'll benefit the people from the Freedom Camp along with everyone else. Those on the floating cities and the survivors on earth.”

  Silence fell between us for a moment.


  “Have you organised a night watch?” he asked.

  “Braven thought it'd be best to keep you and Ebony out of this one,” I replied.

  “It makes sense. Until we find out what they're up to tomorrow you need to be on high alert. I was thinking… maybe you guys could sneak out through the night? Leave me to deal with whatever Sean has planned.”

  “No. You're one of us now and we stick together no matter what. We don't leave anyone behind, got it?” I said.

  “And if I choose to go back with Sean and Vanessa?” he asked.

  I hated the empty hole forming in my stomach at his words. I didn't want to think about how his leaving would affect Ebony, would affect me. But I wanted him to make the choice on his own, not out of guilt, but because he genuinely wanted to be with us now instead of them.

  “We continue to Elysium without you.” It was all I could say.

  * * *

  I rubbed at my grainy eyes and stretched my arms above my head before using them to prop myself up and lean back. It was awkward keeping watch when the people you were supposed to be watching were also keeping a close eye on you. Vanessa sat across the camp leaning against her bag, eyes never leaving Vega, Maya or myself for too long. Maya leant against a tree beside me, staring up into the early morning sky through the trees and Vega sat up straight beside her, always vigilant. The boys had woken us before sunrise, and now the suns light was chasing the darkness from around us. As an orange glow began to fill our camping area Vanessa rose to her feet and strode towards the edge of the trees where the hill turned into pure sand and dropped toward the ocean.

  She stilled as she reached the top, peaking my attention, and I rose to my feet dusting sandy dirt from my hands on my pants.

  “What's she doing?” asked Maya, distracted from her staring.

  I shrugged, remaining quiet. Watching, waiting for what was to come.

  “Sean,” her voice made me flinch, loud against the quiet of the morning.

  Sean sprung awake, jumping to his feet in no time as if he hadn't been asleep at all. “Is he here?”

  A smile spread across Vanessa's face as she turned towards him. “Yes.”

  Her loud outburst had stirred the others, and they all sat up rubbing at their eyes, yawing and stretching.

  “Seth and Ebony, I think you'll want to see this,” said Vanessa.

  Seth helped Ebony to her feet and the rest of us followed behind them to where Vanessa stood beside Sean. Deep oranges and yellows sparkled over the water and poured over the sand, silhouetting the dark shape of a person, hands raised towards the sky, close to where the water licked at the shore.

  “Whose is it?” I asked, walking up behind Seth.

  Seth sighed. “It's Brent isn't it?”

  “Our prophet has come to take you home Seth, you should be honoured! It's by god's grace he is here, here to bring his people home,” Vanessa's smile stretched wide across her face.

  “So everything you told me was a lie?” asked Seth.

  “No. But when we told the prophet we were coming to look for you he said if we found you alive he wanted to be there to bring you home. Please, don't say a word about what I told you,” said Sean.

  “I promise your words are safe with me,” said Seth.

  “Then you and Ebony better get down there. You know the prophet doesn't like to be kept waiting,” Sean motioned towards Brent who still had his hands raised in the air as though he had just materialised out of thin air.

  “Seth, I'm not sure,” fear crept into Ebony's voice.

  “We're all here Ebony,” I assured her.

  “We can do this,” said Seth. “Together.”

  Her expression relaxed a little. “Together.”

  Seth and Ebony strode down the sandhill and I stepped to follow but was cut off by Vanessa and Sean.

  Brent stalked forward, his long hair blowing over his face. He tucked the loose strands behind his ears, revealing his dark features, accentuated by the dark circles around his eyes. He looked older than the last time we'd seen him, sicker, like his own evil doings had finally caught up with him.

  “My son and daughter,” he held his arms out towards them.

  Seth walked tentatively forward, stiffening as Brent wrapped him in his arms and hugged him tightly with a grin wide across his face. He stepped back and held his arms out to Ebony.

  Ebony exchanged a look with Seth before stepping forward to be enveloped in Brent's arms. Her body quivered as she stepped back clasping her hands in front of her.

  “It's such a relief to have found you. I must admit we feared the worst,” said Brent, his voice booming as though speaking to his entire camp.

  “We're fine,” Seth swallowed hard to stop his voice from hitching. “Things got complicated and we were unable to complete our mission.”

  “And you choose not to return to your people? To your prophet?”

  “It's more complicated than you think,” said Seth looking behind him, his eyes meeting mine.

  Brent's eyes widened as though seeing my fellow rebels and myself for the first time. There was something more dangerous in his eyes, more menacing than the feigned kindness behind them when we'd been at the Freedom Camp.

  “I see… have these people been holding you prisoner?” he asked, casting a dark stare my way.

  “Not prisoner, no,” said Seth. “When we found them Tyler and Alice were no longer in their company. They were being cared for at the Eden military compound and there was no way to access them to complete our mission.”

  “Continue,” said Brent.

  Seth paused for a moment gathering his thoughts, or perhaps finding the courage to tell Brent what had happened. How he'd discovered I was his lost twin sister. “They told us they were visiting Arcadia and we asked to join them, pretending we wanted to join their group and escape the camp. They believed us, and Ebony and I followed them in order to get them to trust us. When they returned to the Eden military camp we planned to get close enough to Alice to carry out your orders.”

  My jaw clenched tight at his words, my hands balling into fists at my sides. I wanted to believe he was lying, but maybe I'd been blinded by the fact he was my brother, maybe he couldn't change.

  “This is true?” Brent stared at Ebony.

  “Yes, Prophet. We weren't sure how to get word to you,” she added.

  “We didn't want to lose them Prophet. Not after everything they'd done and how long it'd taken for us to find them,” said Seth not daring to turn back around and face me.

  “That's why you were telling us you didn't want to come back to the camp,” Vanessa said stepping forward. “We blew your cover story. I'm sorry, Seth. If you'd have told us.”

  “Enough!” Brent bellowed, his stare making Vanessa cower. “He's lying.”

  “Prophet… I,” stammered Seth struggling to remain composed.

  Brent stalked towards him, looking him in the eye. “I've raised and trained you since you were a nine-year-old child, how dare you make me come all of this way, risk the lives of two of my disciples, all for you to look me in the eye and lie.”

  Seth remained silent, staring down at the sand.

  “The truth!” Brent yelled into his face.

  “Prophet,” pleaded Ebony.

  In one swift movement Brent lifted his hand and slapped Ebony across the face, dropping her to the sandy ground. She squealed out in pain holding her cheek. Brent didn't take his eyes of Seth. Not once.

  Maya moved to help Ebony but she was cut off by Vanessa who'd drawn her gun and held it towards her. Maya backed away with her hands in the air.

  “The truth, Seth, or maybe some of this will loosen your tongue,” Brent pulled a small vial from the pocket of his long cloak.

  Nightmare serum. I shuddered at the memory of what it'd put Braven and I through. “Tell him, Seth,” I called out drawing Seth's attention.

  Fletcher slipped his hand into mine beside me giving it a reassuring squeeze, or maybe to make sure I wasn't abou
t to do something stupid.

  Vanessa pointed her weapon my way but I paid no notice, holding Seth's eye contact, trying to give him the courage to stand up to this man.

  “Seth,” whimpered Ebony.

  “Get out of my sight.” Brent waved his arm away from him and Ebony scurried away to where Maya wrapped her in her arms. “What is it you need to tell me?”

  “It's about Aurora,” said Seth.

  “The little harlot who invaded my camp, took my good will for granted and stole my child?” he bellowed.

  My teeth ground at his lies, but Fletcher's firm grip kept me in place. This was Seth's battle, his demon to face.

  Seth nodded. “When Ebony and I found her and her friends and discovered Tyler and Alice weren't with them we were going to go back to the camp. But she had something…”

  “The pendant!” he said.

  My free hand sprang to the weight on my chest, gripping tight onto the three pieces we'd risked so much to acquire.

  “No, not the pendant. Something else.”

  “Spit it out Seth,” Brent massaged at his temples.

  “She's my sister,” he blurted it out as though he couldn't hold it in any longer.

  My breath faltered at his words and Fletcher inched a little closer to my side. Brent's eyes widened and Vanessa gasped. Sean remained poised, his gun aimed at Braven's chest.

  “How could she possibly know? She's lying to you Seth. She's deceiving you like she deceived me,” said Brent.

  “She had proof.”

  “Proof? What proof?” Brent asked.

  I stepped forward as far as Fletcher's firm grip would let me drawing Brent's attention. “My father had a test done while we were up on Eden. I didn't know he had his suspicions, but he tested a sample from Seth against a sample from me and it came back positive. Seth's my twin brother.” I couldn't help the amusement lacing my voice.

  “It's why I stayed with them, to find out who my sister was,” said Seth.

  “And where was she while you and your family were down here on Earth barely surviving? Where was she when I found you half dead in the cabin? Where was she while your parents were being tortured and killed by the city folk?” demanded Brent.