Everything went silent. I was lost. I needed to find my way back. Back to where? Was I dreaming? Wake me up! I kept screaming those words in my head, but nobody woke me up. Where did the noises go? Where did the people go?
Something touched my leg, but I was still surrounded by darkness. I felt my body get propped up. I was in someone's arms. Someone was holding me. My head got tilted back. Liquid touched my lips, but I still couldn't get myself to open my mouth.
Someone parted my lips and poured a little bit of water down my mouth. Water. I remembered water. My tongue was dry. I wanted more. No, I needed more. I couldn't form the words. I think the person understood because they continued to feed me water.
"Wake up." The voice was the voice of an angel.
I had to be dead. The beautiful melody kept talking to me. Pleading with me. The angel sounded sad. I wanted to tell the angel everything was going to be okay, but I still couldn't speak.
I slipped into darkness again.
When the darkness faded again, I was on something soft. Cushiony. It felt too pleasant to be hell. Maybe I was in heaven. Where did my angel go? A familiar scent wafted around me. My angel was back. I wanted to beg my angel to never leave me again.
When my eyes finally opened, green orbs were staring at me. Watching me. A beautiful, perfect man stood in front of me. He spoke. I recognized the voice. It was the angel from earlier. His face was battered and bruised. I wanted to make the physical pain I knew he was feeling go away. He gently touched my face and I tilted my cheek into his palm.
A white soft blanket was draped over me. We were in a bedroom. There was a man behind the angel. He wore a white lab coat. Was he an angel too? He didn't look like one.
Again, my eyes drifted shut.
"Brianna."
Slowly, I awakened. Pain. I felt pain everywhere. My entire body was in pain. My head was pounding. My mouth was dry. Opening my eyes, I looked around. Seth was in a chair right next to the bed I was in. I looked at my arm. An IV was in it. By reflex, I moved to rip it out.
"No, you don't." He said, holding my hand in place.
I was confused. I looked around. "Where are we?" The last time I woke up in a situation like this, I wasn't where I thought I was.
Adam wrapped his big hands around my cold hands. "We are in a sanctuary." He responded, watching me closely.
A sanctuary? It took a few moments, but everything came rushing back to me. Being tortured, the battle, Stephan, the bomb. I burst into tears. I'm not sure why. I felt overly emotional. I should be dead. So many times I should have died, but I kept living. How did I keep living?
Adam shushed me and crawled into the bed next to me. He provided me comfort. I thought he was an angel. He basically was. He held me while I sobbed and broke down. He was careful not to move the IV in my arm. He kept telling me everything was going to be okay now.
Eventually, I stopped crying and I just laid there hiccupping.
"Sorry." I mumbled, embarrassed now.
"Don't apologize," he whispered, pushing my hair out of my eyes.
I looked into the golden flecks in his iris. "What happened?"
Adam opened his mouth, then shut it. "You need some rest."
I looked at the sunlight streaming through the blinds. The window was open. The room smelt like fresh air and cut grass.
"How long have I been out?" I asked.
"Maybe three weeks."
Almost a month. I've been sleeping for almost a full month. I attempted to sit up, but Adam pushed me back down. "Save your energy," he said.
We laid there in harmony for a while. I looked at Adam. His breathing was deep and even. Was it over now? Was Stephan dead? Were we all free of the chains he bound over us? What happened now?
I ripped the IV out of my arm and carefully got out of bed. Walking to the window, I looked out at the field stretching behind us. It was beautiful. The air was crisp and clean. A warm breeze drifted through the window. I took a deep calming breath. Spring was here.
I looked down at the white nightgown I was wearing. Someone had changed me. My body was covered in faded bruises. My left arm was wrapped in a bandage. I touched my cheek. I had stitches. I was a mess.
Where were we? He said a sanctuary. I walked across the fluffy carpet and opened the bedroom door. It led out into a quiet hallway. I saw a few doctors walk past and disappear into rooms. Was this some sort of hospital?
My stomach growled. I checked behind my shoulder to make sure Adam didn't hear. I didn't want to be in bed rest. I wanted to explore.
Quietly, I made my way down the hallway. Nobody paid any attention to me. Nobody questioned what I was doing out of bed.
Entering a living room, I looked around. People were standing around talking. Everyone appeared injured. Some of them had on military uniforms and others wore rebellion uniforms. Had we come together as one? I always found it odd how tragedy brought humans together. Why did we need violence to come together?
One man looked over at me. "You are awake." He stated.
I was suddenly embarrassed about the nightgown I was wearing. Heads turned and faced me. I was greeted with smiles. I couldn't remember a time when so many people smiled at me.
I nodded my head in agreement. Yes, obviously I was awake.
The man grinned more, brown eyes sparkling. He was a military soldier. He appeared carefree and happy. If these people were so happy, why was I so sad?
"You're our savior." He watched my facial expression like a hawk.
I was confused now. How did I go from enemy to savior?
A woman in all black spoke up. "You must be confused. Why he is saying this is because if it wasn't for you, we would all be dead. You spotted the bomb helicopter. You saved a bunch of lives that day." She smiled. "You will be remembered."
I was getting embarrassed with all the attention on me. I shuffled on my feet. Maybe I should have stayed in the bedroom.
"Thank you." I responded.
The man walked over to me and laid a hand on my shoulder. "No, thank you. It's because of you I get to go home soon and see my kids."
A weight lifted off of my shoulders. Instead of making it so a man never saw his family again, I made it so he got to see his kids. His wife. Maybe even his mom and dad. Instead of bringing pain, I brought joy.
I looked at him with hope in my eyes. "Is it over?" I asked, voice shaking.
I felt the atmosphere here turn grim. I had asked the wrong question. I looked around at the sad faces surrounding me.
"It's just the beginning." The woman dropped her head in her hands. Her jet black hair fell all around her.
I was puzzled. Stephan was dead. The Unit had no leader. How could it not be over?
The man led me to a couch and sat me down. "We've all heard rumors about you. You're not Evelyn. You are not from here. What was it like before? How did you end up here?" He looked at me with curious eyes.
I bit my lip and looked down. "I died in a car crash and woke up here." I didn't answer his next question. I didn't want to talk about a time they would never experience. I didn't want them to be sad.
"What does freedom taste like?" He asked, voice rough with emotion.
I didn't expect him to want freedom. He obviously worked under Stephan.
I licked my dry lips and stared at my hands. "It tastes like harmony." I offered.
He had puppy eyes. I looked at the ring on his finger and his boyish features. He appeared so innocent, but so did I. I think in a world like this, we all do things we're not proud of. He may have did what he has done to survive. Animals will do anything to survive.
I leaned back into the soft couch and watched the clock on the wall tick. It was so quiet now.
"Why is it not over?" I inquired, voice steady.
The woman lifted her head. "Stephan wasn't the only bad man. Just because they lost their leader, doesn't mean they lost everyone who wants to lead. Yes, the military is broken apart and in shambles, but that doesn't mean different squads
didn't have a leader. Before he had no states, now the county is divided. Some men left the military only to fight with their buddies. It's everyone against everyone right now."
I gnawed my lip. "How do we end it?"
"Nobody will ever agree to one thing. I don't think this can ever end." The man said.
We turned our heads when we heard a creak behind us. Adam stood there, arms crossed and face angry.
"I thought I told you to get some rest." His tone was accusing.
I mimicked his crossed arms and glared. "I'm not tired. I've been sleeping for three weeks."
Adam's green eyes glinted with a little bit of anger. "You had a roof fall down on top of your body. You need more sleep."
When did he become so demanding and bossy? I leaned further back into the couch to show I wasn't going anywhere. He was cranky. He was the one who needed sleep.
The man sitting next to me chuckled. "You should listen to your boyfriend. You're all sorts of banged up."
I started to say he wasn't my boyfriend, then snapped my mouth shut. I looked at Adam's burning eyes. I had told him I loved him moments before I thought we were going to die. He said it back. Did he mean it or was he just so caught up in the moment?
I looked at the way he looked at me. With so much care. I knew that I meant it, but I was unsure about him. I didn't want him to feel pressured. What if he only loved me as a friend now? I kissed his brother and he knew about it.
I stood on weak legs and walked over to him. Silently, he took my hand and led me back to the bedroom. He tucked me into the warm blankets and sat on the chair next to the bed. I wished he would lay down with me again. I wanted to be in his arms. He made me feel so safe.
His eye brows furrowed. "What are you thinking?" He asked.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "I am thinking about how fresh the air is here." Opening my eyes, I looked at him. "Where is here?"
Adam leaned forward and took my cold hands in his. "Before all this happened, here would have been Los Manolis. It's right outside of where Chico and Oroville used to be. Now here is Saint Pleasanton. It's a town that the rebellion won from The Unit."
I knew exactly where we were. I was born and raised in Sacramento. It wasn't that far from Los Manolis. No wonder it was so beautiful here. I wondered if the house I grew up in was still there. I had a silly thought that maybe my belongings would be there.
I looked at our intertwined hands. "What now?" That was the question that kept bugging me. What now? What did we do now? Where did we go now?
Adam's gaze roamed over my face. "Now we rebuild what we lost. We build homes, we make supplies, we make food, and we make farms."
I quirked an eye brow. "You want to be a farmer?" I was making a joke. I was trying to make light of the situation after everything that had happened.
Adam chuckled. "I have always wanted to know what it was like to ride a cow."
I made a face at him. "You don't ride cows. That's what horses are for."
Then he asked me a question that surprised the hell out of me. "What is a horse?" He said the word like it was unfamiliar on his tongue.
I stopped fidgeting. I couldn't tell if he was kidding or not. Who didn't know what a horse was?
I gave him an odd look. "Horses. You know, those things you ride on with a saddle. Cowboys rode them all the time. You can heard cows or sheep with them..." I trailed off at the blank look in his face.
Was I even on planet Earth anymore?
Adam tossed his head back and burst into uncontrollable laughter. Heat rose in my cheeks. Obviously, he knew what a horse was. How could he not? He continued to laugh and soon I was laughing too. I'm not sure if we were laughing at the horses anymore. Maybe we were laughing because we were alive, breathing, and well. Or maybe we were laughing because we made it. Things didn't feel as gloomy as before.
Eventually, we stopped laughing and we kind of just watched each other. I could heart chatter out in the hallway. I was surprised when Bret, Adam's brother walked into the room. Her surveyed our red cheeks from laughing so much and offered a small smile.
"I think you guys woke the entire house up." He ruffled his bed head. What he was really saying was that we woke him up. I was glad to see he was still alive too. I forgot how much like Adam he looked. He appeared just as bright as Adam. Seth was the dark brother out of the three. Dark hair, tan skin, and dark eyes.
He walked over and sat on the corner of my bed. "I am glad to see you are okay, Brianna." He was testing my name out on his tongue.
I thanked him and followed his gaze. He was looking at Adam's and my hand intertwined. Self-consciously, I pulled my hand away.
Adam leaned back into his chair with ease. "You plan on staying here?" He asked his brother.
Bret tapped his fingers on his thighs. "Actually through the rumor weal, I heard that Susan, Mare, and Mr. Walker are back and at home. I planned on staying with them and helping out on the barn."
I stiffened at the memory of that barn. Soldiers had come in, raided the place, and planned on killing us all. That was the first time I had ever taken a life. I suddenly felt sick to my stomach. That was the day my heart had changed. I breathed through my nose. How was it, I was able to forgive Stephan, but I couldn't forgive myself for all the things I had done?
"I think I plan on floating from place to pace. I don't want to go into battles anymore. Instead of hurting people, I want to help them. I want to help everyone rebuild all that they have lost." Adam looked over at me.
He had a plan. I didn't. Where was I supposed to go? What was I supposed to do? I broke eye contact and looked at my bruised hands.
Bret patted my leg and stood up. "Well, I will let you two love birds get back to your laughing. See you guys later."
It was quiet when he left the room. Was this the part where Adam and I went separate ways? Was he looking for a way to say goodbye? I picked at a hangnail and didn't speak.
Adam stood up and came over to me. He grabbed onto my hands and bent down so that we were eye level. I didn't look at him. He waited. Finally, my eyes turned towards his and he offered me a small smile. "What is going on in that beautiful brain of yours?" He pondered out loud. He looked into my eyes as if that held the answers to all of his questions.
My voice was small. "Where will I go?" I didn't want to be dependent and rely on him, but he was all that I had.
Adam tilted his head to the side. "I automatically assumed that you would go with me, but if that's not what you want then there is no pressure."
I slumped in relief at his words. He didn't plan on abandoning me. I bit my lip and looked up at him through my eye lashes.
"Did you mean it?" Adam randomly asked.
I knew what he meant. He wanted to know if I meant it when I told him that I loved him. My palms got sweaty and my heart beat picked up. I had an urge to lie and tell him that I didn't mean it. I didn't want to be so vulnerable. I looked up into his eyes. I couldn't hurt him, though. I swallowed my pride and nodded my head. From the look on his face, I knew he wanted a verbal answer.
He was making this harder than it needed to be. Adam waited patiently. I physically could not bring myself to say those words out loud. I kept trying, but it wouldn't leave my mouth. He just waited like he had all the time in the world.
Finally, I said it. "I love you." It was a statement. I was astonished that my voice didn't break. It came out clear and steady.
A huge grin broke out across Adam's face. "And I love you," he responded.
I didn't have time to process what was happening. Adam dropped one of my hands and used his other hand to pull my head closer to his. He tilted his head just the right way and kissed me. It was nothing like his brother's kiss. It didn't fill me up with instant desire and make me go crazy. Instead, the desire slowly built up. Heat spread across my entire body in slow waves, driving me insane. I couldn't get closer and I couldn't get enough. He knew just what way to tilt my head. He put his hand on my jaw and brought me cl
oser. It was the best kiss I had ever received in my life.
This kiss made me feel warm, loved and safe. I didn't care that I had no idea what tomorrow would bring, where we were going, or what we were doing. All that mattered was, I would always have Adam by my side. If I always had Adam, I knew we could get through anything and everything. The people down stairs had called me their savior but he was my savior.
We could accomplish anything as long as we had each other.
Epilogue
"I can't believe we are here!" I screamed in joy spinning around.
Revolutionary Love (The Revolution Series Book 1) Page 28