Phoenix Burning

by Anne, Melody

  “Our parents are going to be busy for the rest of the day. I say we grab a big picnic basket and some blankets then head to the lake for a few hours. We won’t get days like this for a while,” Brian said. Sadie smiled at him and stood on her toes to softly kiss his cheek.

  “That’s perfect, Brian. You grab the basket, Phoenix and I will get the food and blanket,” Sadie said. Phoenix nodded her approval.

  A few kids overheard and asked if they could come along. Phoenix had no reason to keep her secret spot a secret any longer. She invited anyone who wanted to join them.

  They reached the lake, and within an hour, there were hundreds of kids there, lots of food, laughter, and spirit-lifting. Some of the kids complained they didn’t know about the spot until then, but no one was angry. Phoenix watched everyone splashing each other in the water, noticing the pure joy on their faces, and she didn’t want it to end.

  “I wish we could make this moment last forever, somehow stop the world from turning, and stay here. This is what summers are supposed to be like: fun at the lake, gorging on food, and laughing with your best friends. I can’t believe we’ll all be at war soon. I don’t want to think that any of us could die,” Phoenix said.

  “Okay, if we refuse to leave this spot, the rest of the world will disappear and we can just be fairies, living the rest of our lives in the forest, eating berries and tree bark,” Sadie said. Phoenix loved her even more at that moment.

  “Sounds like a plan,” Phoenix said with laughter. They spent the next hour mapping out their magical world, acting more like children than the serious soldiers they’d have to turn into the next day.

  “I hate to be the voice of reason, but we should get back. Almost everybody has left, and we want to spend time with our parents,” Brian said as he stood and helped Sadie to her feet. The girls knew he was right, but he’d burst their bubble and they weren’t too happy.

  They turned and started walking back, leaving the guys to gather their belongings. They heard them slightly grumble, but they didn’t complain too much.

  “All kidding aside, I’ll miss our magical spot. When this is over we have to vow to come up here as often as we can, just to remember the good times,” Sadie said.

  “That’s a promise I will gladly make,” Phoenix said. They made a pinkie swear, then strolled to the cave, the boys quickly catching up to them. They wandered down the long, dark hallway for possibly the last time and headed to the dining room.

  Supper was quiet as reality set in. The council meeting was canceled that night so families could be together. Phoenix and Sadie parted in the hallway and Phoenix headed to her parents’ room. John was already there.

  “Let’s take a walk, Phoenix,” her mom said. The Light family slipped from the room and strolled down the hall together. They could hear bits of heartfelt conversations through the open doorways as they walked the hall as a family.

  “It’s so heart-wrenching for us to send you both off into the world, but I know you’ll be safe. We want you to know how very proud of you we are — we could never send you off if we didn’t have total faith that we’ll all be together as a family again. If your father and I weren’t needed here so desperately, we’d be there beside you,” Janet said with a tear-choked voice.

  “I love you, Mama,” Phoenix said, reverting to what she’d called her mom when she was a little girl. “I know I’m in safe hands with John. I’ll miss you so much, though.” Phoenix was barely able to speak. Her throat was closing up as emotion swelled.

  “I love you too, baby. You and your brother have grown up, right before our eyes. I keep looking for that little girl with pigtails, and all I see is a beautiful woman before me,” Janet said as she stopped and pulled Phoenix close.

  “Promise me you won’t do anything risky. I won’t rest until you do,” Larry said as he interrupted them. He grabbed Phoenix in a bear hug so tight she could barely breathe. She loved every second of it.

  “I promise, Dad,” she managed to squeak out.

  They walked to the animal quarters and fed them while visiting, making sure they said everything they needed to say. They hoped everything would turn out for the best, but there was no doubt the situation was dangerous for all of them.

  The evening quickly passed and too soon it was bedtime. Phoenix lay alone in the dark, tears dripping off her chin. She’d see her parents in the morning and then it could be months before she saw them again. She had to stop thinking about it or she’d never get any rest. As she lay there, her thoughts turned to Jayden, and it made her realize she could survive anything. She would be with her parents again — she was determined to make it happen — just as she knew she’d be with Jayden as well. He’d come back to her if he could. She knew it with her whole being.

  After hours of tears, she reined in her emotions and snuggled deep into her bed. There were no dreams that night — she had a powerful angel watching over her. Unknown to Phoenix, John guarded her door until he heard her wake. He wouldn’t leave her alone until he was assured no harm would come to her. Vyco might be powerful, but he underestimated the power of the good forces in Phoenix’s life. She had a legion of angels willing to lay down their very souls for her.

  What most of the people in the cave didn’t realize was this battle wasn’t just against some foreign enemy force. It was also a battle of good and evil. That battle was much more important to win than anyone could comprehend. It meant the difference between living in eternal light or eternal darkness.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Goodbyes were never easy. Phoenix’s tears fell as she sat in the back of the truck and waved goodbye to her parents. Her mother didn’t hide her emotions as tears washed down her face.

  “I love you, and I’ll see you soon, sweetie,” Janet called as the truck slowly started down the forest path.

  “I love you too, Mom,” Phoenix called back. John waved as he fought to control his emotions.

  “Don’t forget to keep us updated,” Megan Sting called.

  “We won’t, Mom — love you,” Sadie answered. It was almost a relief when they turned the corner and their parents disappeared from view. It wasn’t easy to leave, but as they drove away and the tears dried, anticipation mounted for the journey ahead.

  “That was a lot harder than I thought it would be,” Sadie said, being the first to break the silence.

  “Agreed. I hope we only have to do that once. Hopefully, the military base is perfect and we’ll get to stay in one place after it’s ours,” Phoenix said, giving Sadie a reassuring hug.

  Brian was driving, Leah and Scott sat next to him. He’d pouted that Sadie couldn’t sit by him, but she was excellent with a bow and arrow and it was better to have her as a lookout in the back of the vehicle.

  The two girls snuggled together, leaning against the cab of the truck. Devon sat next to Phoenix. She stayed warm nestled between the two of them. John and Jacob sat on the wheel wells and kept watch. They had their guns at hand, which freaked Phoenix out, making the imminent battle much more real. It seemed wrong to have John holding something so deadly — he’d always talked about peace and love, not death and destruction — even more since he’d taken on the magic that had always resided in him.

  Four soldiers rode ahead of them on quads, making sure the path was clear. If they spotted trouble, they’d radio back. They hoped to make it all the way to the base without losing use of their vehicles. They’d have to take precious time finding others, while hauling one of the gas cans with them. It was time they couldn’t afford to waste. There was no way they could march all the way from the mountains in Oregon to the top of Washington.

  “Do you know how much respect I have for the both of you? The way you two go above and beyond in every situation is impressive,” John said after they were well into their journey. Sadie and Phoenix looked at him, hoping to not get weepy again.

  “We aren’t doing anything that anyone else isn’t doing,” Sadie said self-consc
iously. Phoenix nodded her agreement.

  “Of course you’re doing more. You’re braver than any other girls I know. Both of you strive to work harder than the rest. You don’t complain; you just act. I’ve watched other teams and that’s not normally the case. I wouldn’t choose any other team than the one I have. We’ll be successful on this journey,” John said. His statement earned him smiles from Phoenix and Sadie. They would’ve jumped up and hugged him if they weren’t in a moving vehicle, surrounded by boxes of food, fuel, and camping gear.

  “I have a surprise for you.”

  “What is it?” Phoenix asked, unable to imagine what he could’ve done. He reached beside him and pulled out her blanket. Phoenix’s eyes filled with love at his thoughtful gesture. Her blanket was the one thing she’d truly been sad to leave behind, but no matter how hard she’d tried, she hadn’t been able to get it into her bag. John passed it to her and she wrapped it around Devon, Sadie, and herself.

  “You really are the world’s best brother. Thanks, John,” Phoenix told him. The quilt blocked the wind and the familiar scent comforted them. Phoenix knew it wasn’t possible, but it still smelled like her original home.

  “I try,” John said. He gave the girls a wink, breaking the emotional moment and letting them laugh for the first time since they’d left. Phoenix stared at the blur of passing trees. The vehicle began to slow considerably due to uneven ground, not conducive for vehicle travel.

  “John, if something happens, you need to know that you’ve done everything right,” Phoenix told him.

  “Don’t talk like that, Phoenix. Nothing is going to happen to any of us. There will be no goodbye speeches. Only positive thoughts from here on out,” he commanded. She smiled at him. He was certainly stubborn, and that’s where she got it.

  “Okay, nothing but happy thoughts,” she agreed. He relaxed.

  “What’s the plan for today?” Devon asked, quickly changing the topic. Phoenix nudged him with her leg, thankful he was there.

  John spent the next half hour going over their route. The guards ahead of them stayed in contact and they traveled about three hours without any issues. They found a shaded area and decided it was a good place to stop for lunch and stretch their legs. Sitting in the back of the cramped truck wasn’t going to be pleasant after a few days.

  “How close are we to home, John?” Phoenix asked as she looked around. She was afraid to see her old home, but at the same time, she was almost desperate to know if their house was still standing.

  “We’re going to pass by it, but I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to go near our house, Phoenix,” John said.

  “Please, John. I know it’s stupid, but I want to see it,” she pleaded. John had a hard time saying no to her. He nodded his head reluctantly.

  “We’ll be near there tomorrow morning so you have time to think about whether you want to stop or not. I think it would be better for your morale if we just passed on by,” John told her.

  “I’ll think about it,” she promised, but her mind was already made up. He looked at her for a few moments, then shook his head and went to talk with the soldiers. He knew she was going to insist on stopping. It was foolish, but it might be necessary for her to be able to let go.

  He wouldn’t admit how much he wanted to see their home. But he also wouldn’t admit how afraid he was that it was burned to the ground. His family had owned it before he and Phoenix had been born so it had been the only home they’d ever known. Leaving it had been more difficult than he’d ever admit.

  He wasn’t sure how he felt about stopping after all of these years. But he wouldn’t say no to his sister. He feared the day he truly would have to deny her something she desperately wanted. Would she look at him differently after that? To lose her love and faith in him would be the greatest loss of his life.

  He sighed. He couldn’t go down that road. Their journey was only just beginning and they had a long way to go.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  They drove out of the mountains and Phoenix began to recognize the area. They weren’t far from her old home. Her stomach was full of butterflies as she looked at the familiar farmland. Not much about the area had changed, except the roads were free of moving cars, and the fields were overgrown. The farmers should’ve been harvesting wheat, and tractors should’ve been slowing down traffic. It was eerie how quiet everything was — almost like something from the Twilight Zone.

  She shuddered as she looked around anxiously. They were basically sitting ducks. Their soldiers were scouting ahead in different directions, making sure they were safe, but something could easily be missed. Burning anxiety rose the closer they came to her neighborhood. She was going to see her house for the first time in many years.

  “We can pass right on by, Phoenix. We don’t have to do this,” John reminded her. She didn’t have the strength to speak so she just shook her head and ignored his exasperated sigh. Brian and Sadie were unsure if they wanted to go to their homes. They were afraid of what they’d find. They’d probably give in since they all lived in the same neighborhood. It would be hard to resist.

  As they drove through the outskirts of town, they started to see abandoned cars with slashed tires and broken windows. Phoenix gasped when she noticed skeletons of all ages through the dirty car windows and more decayed bones on the sides of the road. Enemy soldiers had killed people and let them rot wherever they’d fallen.

  “We’re going to witness some horrible sights, Phoenix. This all has happened over the past four years. You had nothing to do with it, but there’s no way it won’t affect you. In order for you to get through it all, you have to remember that we’re trying to make the world better now. We won’t let them keep getting away with this,” Devon said as he wrapped his arm protectively around her. She buried her face in his chest, not wanting to see such horror. After a few minutes they slowed down, and she lifted her head. She’d been the one to ask them to stop — she wouldn’t hide.

  As they approached the residential areas, there were homes in various stages of destruction. Some were burned to the foundation, while others looked as if they hadn’t been touched. They all had one thing in common, though — they’d been sadly neglected. She was so afraid of what her house would look like. Had they left it standing or would it be nothing but a huge pile of ash? She almost told John she’d changed her mind but stopped herself at the last minute.

  They pulled around a corner and she breathed a sigh of relief when she saw her house was still standing. The yard was hideous, with weeds overtaking the once perfectly manicured lawn her dad had worked so hard on. The beautiful flowerbeds of the past were nothing but weeds, and the cherry tree in the front yard held only dead branches.

  Garbage and rubble scattered the streets. A piece of paper floated by on the wind and she wondered if it was an old lost pet flyer. If it was, had the child ever found his or her beloved animal? It was hard to imagine the loss of so many lives, both human and animal. They pulled up beside the house, not wanting to park in the driveway in case they needed to leave fast.

  Phoenix stood for several moments on the porch trying to work up the courage to enter. Finally, she stepped through the doorway, unable to stop her legs from trembling. Not much had changed. It was obvious someone had come in and gone through their belongings, but other than loads of dust, it was the same couch she remembered, her dad’s favorite chair, and her mom’s knitting basket in the corner.

  She climbed the stairs and opened her bedroom door, tears streaming down her cheeks. She didn’t notice the wetness on her cheeks as she looked at the faded posters of her favorite movie stars and singers. She ran her hand along her desk, leaving a line. A pair of socks were wadded up in the corner, and a bottle of body spray was on the floor.

  Everything was dirty, but other than that it looked as if the room was waiting for its occupant to step through the doors and take back ownership. It was the room of a naïve, young girl. It didn’t in any way
fit her anymore. When she’d left this bedroom she’d been fourteen, dreaming of boys and a future of college and jobs. She’d tested out makeup and had been fascinated with changes in her body. When she’d left this room she’d been an entirely different person.

  She moved over to the mirror she’d spent many hours in front of. There was a picture of Sadie and her, laughing at something. She didn’t remember what they’d been doing when that picture had been snapped. She picked it up and wiped the dust away. Both of their eyes were sparkling with pleasure. Phoenix didn’t recognize the image staring back at her.

  It did make her wonder who she’d be right then if the world hadn’t fallen apart. She did some math in her head and realized she’d be starting her freshman year of college in a few months. Would she have been accepted to the University of Oregon? Or would she have followed in her mother’s footsteps to become a vet and attended Oregon State? She’d always known she wouldn’t go too far from home for school.

  Maybe she would’ve taken a term abroad to see the world, but she’d return and stay close to home. She hadn’t needed to travel the globe to find something. Her family was right there and that was where she wanted to be. Some people needed to find themselves, but she had known then who she was. She knew now, as well. The two parts of her were like oil and water. They circled around each other but didn’t mix together.

  She wasn’t that little girl anymore, but maybe some day the world would go back to normal, and maybe, just maybe she’d find that piece of her again. Though the pieces might not mix together, maybe they could safely reside side by side.

  “Phoenix, we should leave,” John said from her doorway. She turned, almost in a trance as she looked at her brother. She didn’t see him as the man he was now, but as the teenager she’d loved and hated before they were forced out in the middle of the night. Out of all the changes in the past four years, John’s transformation was probably the most noticeable.