by Anne, Melody
After the masks came off, Janet stood behind Phoenix and braided her hair like she used to do when she was a little girl. Phoenix closed her eyes and imagined for one moment that the world was back to the way it was before the war and this was a nightly ritual with her mother.
When she slowly reopened her eyes, she peered around at the smiling faces of her friends and pushed the thought aside. She regretted all of the lives that had been lost, but she loved the people she’d grown close to in the caves and couldn’t regret her time with them. She missed her childhood home, but she loved their secluded cave family and all of the friends she’d made along the journey.
“Well, isn’t this just the coziest scene ever? You’re all giggling, doing hair, and having spa treatments, the whole works, huh?” Jessica sneered as she stepped into the room. Phoenix glanced dismissively at her. Jessica had always been bitter, but there was a new animosity she carried that somehow turned her personality darker.
“Jessica, why don’t you get on your broomstick and fly away?” Sadie snapped, being the first one to recover. Jessica’s eyes narrowed further.
“Ah, Sadie, can’t you come up with something wittier than that?” she mocked. “Why wasn’t I invited to your little shindig?” She circled the group like a predator with her talons out for the weakest link.
“Because, for one, you wouldn’t have wanted to be here, and for two, you’re mean all of the time. Why the heck would we want you to be here to ruin it for all of us?” Phoenix fired back. She was ticked that Jessica dared interrupt their special day.
“That really hurts, Phoenix. I thought all was forgiven between us,” Jessica snarled. She couldn’t fake being nice anymore. The girl was horrid and she obviously didn’t care who thought so. She’d even stopped putting on her pretense in front of the elders.
“Jessica, I’m sorry if your feelings got hurt by being excluded, but you’re not being very nice right now, so I’m going to ask you to leave. If you want to do something similar with a group of friends, we can arrange for that later this week,” Janet said, quickly stepping in before a brawl started.
“How very kind of you, Janet, but no thank you. I have much better things to do than waste my time putting green crap on my already perfect features and braiding hair while we all sing campfire songs,” Jessica said with a bitter laugh.
Phoenix was completely taken aback by Jessica’s complete disrespect to her mother. Jessica had never been so outright nasty to one of the adults. A shocked gasp escaped Janet before she managed to close her mouth.
“Don’t worry, I’m leaving now,” Jessica said as she turned around. Phoenix blew out a relieved breath. Before Jessica made her exit, she turned back with another sneer. “Don’t get too comfortable; bad things happen to those who do.”
Janet stood at Jessica’s obvious threat.
Jessica threw her arm out, and with the wave of her wrist, one of the bowls across the room flew from the table and shattered on the floor. Phoenix looked from the bowl to Jessica’s stunned face. Her shock quickly turned to delight as she turned and practically flew from the room. All the girls looked back at the shattered bowl in disbelief. It had to be a coincidence. There was no way Jessica made the bowl fly from the table.
“Don’t let this spoil your day of fun, girls,” Janet said in an overly bright voice, regaining their attention. They soon got back to what they were doing, but Phoenix couldn’t forget the look on Jessica’s face after the bowl had crashed. It was as if she was concealing a powerful secret.
The rest of the afternoon flew by and Jessica was forgotten. When evening came, Phoenix was exhausted and worry crept in as the time approached for her conversation with Jayden. The evening meeting had been canceled, but she’d make sure to find him in the morning and get some alone time.
Once she reached her room, she pulled out her pajamas and lay down, staring into the all-consuming darkness of the caves. If it wasn’t for the very dim lights throughout the halls, it would be unbearable. She should’ve asked Sadie to stay with her but she was hoping Jayden would show up and they could talk.
Phoenix accepted that her life was never going to be the same again, but what she couldn’t accept was letting go of the peace she’d managed to find with Jayden. She couldn’t give him up any more than she could let go of Sadie, John, or her parents.
She now knew there were bad men in the world who wanted to destroy everything good, but she’d never imagined such evil existed. A shiver passed through her as she thought about the monsters lurking in the dark. Could one of them be in the caves at that moment? Were any of them truly safe? In record time she slipped into her pajamas and pounced on her bed and under the protection of her covers. Her thoughts kept her from sleep.
She’d always dreamed of a quaint little house with a white picket fence and laughing toddlers traipsing about. But how unfair would it be to bring children into their messed-up world? Some of the people in the cave had babies, but not often. Everyone was scared to have a child and then either be killed or have their child ripped from them. The elders constantly assured them they were well-guarded, but they couldn’t stay in the cave forever. She might have to let go of those dreams. But even if her vision of a future was changing, she could at least be with Jayden and live a decent life.
With only a few hours until dawn, Phoenix’s eyes shut and she finally fell into a restless sleep. When morning arrived, she knew she’d be worthless, but she wanted to black out reality for a bit. Once she and Jayden spoke again, she’d feel much better. They could figure it all out if they stayed together.
She remembered when she was young and her mother had first talked to her about boys and the feelings she’d have toward them. She’d thought her mother was crazy at the time. But one thing she’d said had stuck with her through the years; she’d said to never lose herself in another person. She’d told her real love was about growing together and appreciating each other for your differences. She’d told Phoenix if someone became a need, if you thought you couldn’t live without the other person, there was a problem.
Yes, you wanted your significant other to be your soul mate, wanted them to be by your side no matter what, but nobody should have the power to take away your identity or make you feel as if you couldn’t survive without them. She was beginning to feel that way about Jayden, and she wasn’t sure how to stop that train of thought.
She had time, she assured herself as she tossed and turned in her bed. It would truly all work out in the end. One way or another she’d be fine. That was what she kept telling herself. Hopefully it would be true.
Chapter Six
Phoenix couldn’t seem to catch a break. Every time she managed to locate Jayden, there were hordes of people surrounding him. She tried to catch his eye and drag him away but the elders were one step ahead of her and always got to him first.
At one point he’d winked at her, then followed her father from the room. The wink had made her want to pick up a chair and throw it at his retreating back. She heard him laugh as he left the room, and she glared even more. If he knew her thoughts, he certainly wasn’t upset about them.
“Phoenix, how did it go?” Sadie asked as she snuck up behind her. Phoenix jolted at the sound of her best friend’s voice. She’d been so busy watching Jayden she hadn’t noticed anyone else.
“I haven’t had a chance to talk to him. My brother took him earlier, and before I could get to him, my father came in and they went somewhere. I think it’s a conspiracy or something,” Phoenix said with a frustrated sigh.
“You can sneak out after the meeting tonight. Don’t stress about it. Let’s get out of here for a while. Brian isn’t back yet, either, so we’ll make the boys find us,” Sadie said as she placed her arm through Phoenix’s.
They went to the kitchen and helped prepare dinner. Busying herself kept Phoenix’s mind off her troubles, plus she was able to snack on food, so by the time dinner was ready for everyone else, she and Sadie were s
tuffed and decided to head to the meeting hall early. They were sure to have a nice warm seat in front of the fire. She and Sadie jogged out of the kitchen before someone could ask them to do anything else.
In the meeting hall, Phoenix and Sadie found their favorite spot. They chatted for a while, but it wasn’t long before the cave filled to overflowing. At least ten more people arrived every day. Phoenix knew they had to be running out of space, however she saw nothing but joy in the elders’ faces. They were thrilled as their numbers grew stronger. More recon missions were sent out.
It wouldn’t be long until they went out in force and started taking back parts of the country. She looked around the crowded hall and felt a twinge of sorrow at the thought of leaving. She knew it was a bit absurd to be upset about departing, but she’d come to love the caves. The close perimeters forced the people to depend on each other, unlike they had in prior circumstances.
She’d miss the hours picking outside and the nightly meetings. She’d miss people she knew and wouldn’t get to see as much once they got back to their normal lives. She wanted the war to end but she didn’t want things to go back to the way they’d been before it started — at least not completely.
She knew, when they got out of the cave, people would go their separate ways and live their different lives. They might try to stay in touch, but it never worked that way. They’d remain close for a while, but as families grew and jobs became important, they’d slowly drift apart.
“Are you in your own head again?” Sadie asked, nudging her. Phoenix snapped out of her depressing thoughts. Neither Brian nor Jayden were there. She was growing concerned.
“Where are the guys?” Phoenix asked. John wasn’t in the room yet either.
“Can I have everyone’s attention, please?” one of the elders called from the podium before Sadie could say anything. The room slowly quieted as everyone cast their eyes to the front and gave their full attention. Another thing Phoenix would miss was the total respect people showed the elders. When they spoke, the crowd listened. They knew their lives depended on it.
“Thank you. I know you’ve seen the council members running around the last few days and disappearing behind closed doors. There’s a reason for this. We’ve discovered another camp,” said Phoenix’s father, Larry. Soft murmurs went through the crowd.
“This camp is large, not compared to ours, but large enough to make an impact,” he said. As his words sank in, the crowd started whispering excitedly. Another survivors’ camp as large as theirs would double their numbers, making them huge.
“How far away are they?” someone asked.
“They’re about fifty miles from here. It is out of our perimeter and that’s why we never saw them. They’re in caves as well, not nearly as well equipped as ours, but still self-sufficient. One of our new arrivals came from there. He was out gathering when he ran into our troops. When he discovered we were on his side and not a threat, he radioed back to his camp and agreed to come here and fill us in on their camp,” Larry said with excitement.
“We’ve been in discussions for the last several days to figure out how best to combine the two camps. Their numbers are large, and they will run out of supplies, but they all know how to hunt and gather and supplement themselves. They’ll be an asset to our group. We’re far better equipped, with much better facilities. We need to combine so we can all train together. With additional people, we can start putting plans in motion for taking back our country,” Larry finished, almost giddy in his excitement.
Phoenix felt her heart pound with dread. They were going to go to full-scale war sooner than she wanted. She knew it was the right thing to do; they couldn’t stand idly by while the rest of the world was destroyed and lives were tortured and taken, but she was scared. There was nothing wrong with feeling that way, she reassured herself. Sadie gripped her hand, having a hard time containing her fear as well.
“We’ll talk more tomorrow, and let you know our plans,” Larry said before he adjourned the meeting. Phoenix and Sadie stayed seated as the room cleared. They both craned their heads, looking for any sign of Brian or Jayden.
Sadie spotted Brian and jumped to her feet, crossing the space and launching herself into his arms. Phoenix watched as he twirled her in the air. They looked so happy together. She was glad for her best friend. She was starting to feel an ache at the thought that maybe Jayden was pulling away from her when she was snapped out of those thoughts.
“Do you want to go for a walk?” His voice was the sweetest sound. Phoenix turned to find Jayden kneeling beside her. She wanted to melt into his arms but thought better of it due to their uncomfortable tension.
“I’d like that,” Phoenix replied when she could find her voice.
Jayden stood and helped her to her feet like the perfect gentleman he was. When she was standing, he kept her hand in his and made his way out of the cave and down the long hallway. To her surprise and delight he led her outside. She’d assumed he’d take her to the car cavern, as he usually did. Maybe he wanted more privacy than anything inside the cave could offer. Her stomach tied in knots thinking about it. She missed their casual kisses and his strong arms around her.
“I’ve tried to give you time to think, but it’s destroying me. Have you made any decisions?” he asked, sounding more vulnerable than ever before. It made her heart squeeze.
“I wanted to talk to you yesterday but you were busy,” she answered with a pout.
“I’m sorry. I thought you needed more time, and there was a lot going on with the elders. They’ve kept the situation under wraps until they figured out the best way to move forward. They didn’t want to get anyone’s hopes up in case the other camp didn’t want to combine, so they had us in constant meetings,” he said.
They made it out of the cave and she shivered in the cool night air. Jayden immediately pulled her into his arms, his body heat warming her from the outside in. It felt like being home — nestled in his arms. He rubbed his hands along her back and a sigh escaped her mouth. She felt his body relax as she cuddled deeper into his grasp.
“I missed you,” she said, fighting back tears.
“You can’t imagine how good it is to hear those words,” he told her. Placing his hand under her chin, he brought her face closer, looking deep in her eyes. She didn’t try to hide how much she loved him.
“You’ve forgiven me.” It wasn’t a question. He could tell by her body language and the look of adoration on her face.
“I was just shocked by everything. I love you. You’re the same Jayden who’s always been so good to me. I don’t understand any of what is happening, and it’s hard to keep it from my family . . . but I do trust you,” she told him.
“The world may never know of the greater evil out there, but some things can’t be hidden. You’re incredibly brave and I couldn’t be prouder to be standing right here, with you,” Jayden said. She didn’t understand why he’d chosen her, but she was glad he had. She’d never felt anything like what she felt with him. Yes, she’d felt unwavering love before, especially with her family and Sadie, but this feeling was so different from that.
“Promise me you’ll protect my family,” she begged. She knew she was probably asking for the impossible, but if he told her he’d protect them, she knew he would.
“Phoenix, you’re my first priority. I can’t lie to you and say I can guarantee the safety of everyone you love. I’ll protect them to my own death, but you’ll always come first.”
“I wouldn’t want to live if it were at the cost of my family,” she said, trying to convince him.
“Phoenix, there’s something else I need to tell you,” he said. By the sound of his tone, she didn’t think she wanted to hear it.
“I don’t want more bad news,” she said almost crying. She knew she couldn’t shut out the world and expect it to go away but she didn’t want to hear anything negative now that she was back in Jayden’s arms.
“It’s not really
bad news. It’s actually great. It happens so rarely that it’s a real honor,” he said, though his voice betrayed his words. She snuggled back into him, trying to block everything else out.
“I’ll tell her, Jayden,” John said. She looked up, startled to find her brother standing next to them with Cassidy at his side. They both had solemn looks on their faces. Jayden seemed to let out a breath of relief. Phoenix looked from Jayden to John, and back again.
“I didn’t hear you come out, John,” she said a bit nervously.
She was waiting for John to get all brotherly about her being wrapped around Jayden. She tried to pull away, but Jayden kept her close, and John didn’t say anything. He finally loosened his grip, but only to turn her so she could more clearly see John in the full moon’s light. He wrapped his arms back around her, her back snuggled against his chest. She looked up, through the gap in the trees, and saw the full moon shining brighter than she’d ever seen.
“Phoenix, this is important,” John said. She slowly lowered her eyes and faced him. If he told her he had some illness and only had weeks to live, she wouldn’t survive it. She needed John too much.
“Something happened in that last battle we had. I need you to promise not to fall apart. Listen to the whole story before you ask questions,” John said. She was afraid to agree, but she needed to know what he had to say.
“Okay,” she barely whispered.
“During the last battle, I almost died,” he said. She gasped. She wanted to run to him and check for injuries, but she knew he hadn’t had medical treatment after the battle. He’d seemed fine, better than fine, as if he was almost invincible.
“I—” She started to say something when he interrupted.
“You promised,” he said sternly. She closed her mouth and glared at him. She should’ve never promised to be quiet. She wasn’t patient enough.
“You understand that Jayden is different from you,” John said before he glanced at Cassidy. “And though you don’t want to face it, you realize Cassidy is as well.”