25.1
I saw the bullet—I followed it with my eyes.
And then I was gone
My mind could no process what I just saw
An involuntary short scream left my throat as I moved from my position against the wall the wall and rolled on to the ground to my side. I felt no pain and just as whole as I always had. None of the thoughts rushing through my mind made sense, I couldn't reason or think. I did the only thing I could do to save myself.
I made a dash for the basement door as 2 more gunshots rang out, I climbed the stairs 3 at a time, the scenes that were unfolding in my peripheral vision didn’t matter to me. With some luck I made it to the door and into the empty living room I headed across the room and towards the front door, I was relieved at the ease as the door opened.
Not even Caine bothered to lock his doors on his commune.
My feet scrambled as I reached the unexpected steps on the front porch, I to the ground, thankful for the thick cargo pants I was wearing. I quickly picked myself up and stood in the fresh air of the open lawn; there seemed to be a deafning quiet, I took what felt like the first breathe in the last 5 minutes and decide what I was going to do next.
I could head for the communes entrance or to my parents house and see if I could meet with everyone else. I had to warn them that Rhett had turned on us.
I looked in the distance to see the lights in my house were turned off.
Had they left already ?
Before I could make a decision I heard a hard grunting behind me and manic indecipherable yelling, I turned to see Rhett coming behind me.
With no time to think I began to run again, I cut across the massive perfectly manicured lawn and down the empty road. As I ran I hear relentless gunshots. I had never been a physical person but I propelled myself as fast as possible as I got further down the empty road I could feel my legs numbing and giving up underneath me. Finally after a few more strides my legs gave up on me and I tripped over myself, I used my hands to break my fall as I hit the pavement. Before I could pick myself back up, Rhett was tackled me.
“No !” I yelled at him, “Please ! Don’t touch me ! How could you do this ? How could you make this happen ?!”
Tears were streaming as I yelled and kicked at him. He placed his whole body over mine his chest collapsing over my face.
“Shut the hell up !” he said in an ironically loud
tone. He grabbed my shoulder and prepared to drag me off.
I bit into his hand and pushed Rhett off of me just in time to see a red
pick up truck unlike any other car I had seen on the commune. I prepared to run from it but, the car door opened and I saw
Raleigh at the door with a rifle in hand motioning for me.
I was being saved after
all.
I quickly made my way to the car and Rhett followed close on my heels. Before I could close the car door on him he pushed me out of the way and came inside.
“What the hell is going on ?” Raleigh asked,”We heard gunshots and took this truck to see what was going on.”
“Where is my dad and—“ I began
“ They are with Sam and Greg.I told the rest of them to go ahead, Cecelia shouldn’t put the babies health at risk,”
“What happened ? “ Raleigh asked.
I leaned against the seat of the car panting, trying to take in as much oxygen to my brain so, I could process what was going on. I turned my head to Rhett who had a thin stream of blood coming from his lip and nose.
“It’s Rhett he—“
Raleigh quickly pointed the rifle at Rhetts head.
"Give me a reason," Raleigh said
“No he--,” I said calmly as the scene from my peripheral vision played back into my head.
I had rolled over but, I didn't have to.
Caine had fallen to the ground grasping his knee where
Rhett’s bullet went in as a spurt of blood covered the wall. The TL’s at
his sides were stunned for a second but before they could see what was going to
happen they were on the ground with shoulder wounds.
“---Rhett saved me,”I finished.
I didn’t understand why but there would be time for that
“Then what—“ Raliegh began but Rhett interruped
“I can explain later but it was just a wound, " Rhett said, "We
have to go Caine is going to alert every TL out here, he is out for blood."
“No I don’t trust—“
But,before I could get the rest of my statement out I realized a pair of headlights were right infront of us.
“Everyone down,” Raliegh ordered.
He opened his window so it was just ajar and pointed his weapon the edge of the window. He took a shot at the other SUV, that only resulted in short sucession of quick pops as the tires whistled out of life. It was followed by a series of shots and we all got down to the ground as shattered glass rainined down oun us
After what seemed like forever there was a cease fire.
The bullets had created a small gaping hole in the side of the car. I could see the doors of homes opening as families came out to see what was going
on. People were peaking out from their windows at the army of TL's taking shots at the lone red car.
“Everybody back in. Dissenters are attacking
everyone stay in. Prepare for further instruction.”
I pushed my eye as close as I could to the hole to see Rieter on top of a truck with a blow horn in his hand.
In the distance I heard a wailing I was used to hearing from the city streets .
“People must have heard all the gun shots,” Rhett mused
I saw large gun barrels pointed the windows and I saw
Reiters face. He opened the door and pulled me out by my hair.
"Out of the car !" he yelled as Raleigh and Rhett both walked out: we all never lost eye contact.
We were surrounded.
As Reiter positioned 2 TL's at each of our sides, a young TL
came ran up to him looking nervous as ever.
“There are outsiders . . .trying to come in.”
Reiter seemed to be a mix of confused and annoyed at the obvious breech in protocol. Although I knew from experience there was no protocol for this situation.
Reiter motioned over to a large group of armed and older TLs and with one look said it all.
Do not let them go.
“ I knew we never should have trusted you,” Raliegh sneered under his breath at Rhett
“I was scared” Rhett said,” I did not know he was going to kill her,”
“What did you think he was going to do ?” I questioned sharply.
In the middle of the road I could see TL’s going from door to door pulling families out and into cars towards the town hall.
“Important meeting, urgent ! To town hall” the TL’s said
From the middle of the road we watched as they piled families in cars and headed for the community center. Guarded by the armed TLs we were lead to the community center in a long silent walk. Once inside we were brought around back to an area I knew was behind the stage. There were young TL’s all around us many of their faces I recognized but, I could see they were disorganized. It could work for an advantage.
The TL motioned for us to sit in a group of chairs that were facing back to back. We could not see each others faces.
A breath left my body as I watched Caine walk past us, his leg bandaged , wincing in pain. He was moving quickly,like he was on a mission. He seemed to be arguing with a panicked Rieter
“Authority is a concept not a reality. Let them know where their loyalties lie,” Caine said to him harshly.
From behind the curtain, I could hear the sounds of chairs being pushed back, footsteps and cries of children as people began crowding into the lecture hall.
“My friends” he began, “We know that we are truly enlightened but darkness is quite liteally at our door. We must ensure our survival with this little meeting. Remember, I have saved you all, protected you all and I expect you to remember that no matter what. I am asking every man,woman and child to put a life on the line for your community. Do not fall into temptations of lies. You will all stay here for now, however some of you may be asked to help. Just obey and we will all make it out.”
There was an awkward applause as Caine came back through the curtain to where we were.
He stared down at us like we were part of the floor. He kneeled down on my level and placed his lips on mine I pulled my head back in disgust. He pulled my head back to face him with his hands.
"Juliana, you could have had everything, you could have been happy. Now look what you've done."
He stood back up and motioned to a group of TLs.
“Kill them all but, make it quiet and quick and
dispose of the bodies with no attention. I want no mistakes I want no blood on my hands."
A TL grabbed my arm and I was forced outside,following the others.
Our hands were tied and we were pushed into the back of a van as it lurched slowly forward. I could hear the sirens getting softer, were were moving away from the commune entrance.
“Where do you think we are going ?” I asked
“Most likely back to Caine’s basement, it’s the only place you can’t hear a gunshot. This guys don't know any other way to kill a man” Rhett said, " Look, I'm sorry I turned on you, I was just . . . being impulsive"
It didn't really matter to me anymore
“Okay,” I said as tears rolled down my face
“Hey, come on don’t get upset," Rhett said.
“Leave me alone I should be upset . . . I feel like I am actually about to die,” I admitted,”I’m scared, I mean what is next ? What happens when you die anyway ? I don't know maybe it’s better.”
“Well, my folks believe in heaven,” Rhett said,"Where I like to think my dad is at,"
“What?”
“Right, it’s like when you die It's real peaceful all unity and no pain or fear. You like live in clouds above everyone else and watch them and stuff. And you live forever,”
“It sounds nice. It kinda sounds like how UL was supposed--,”
Suddenly the car stopped hard and the force shifted us all forwards against the door, a forgotten pen rolled to the front.
I could hear the muffled noise of the TL driving giving orders to a family
Rhett suddenly flashed me a mischievous smile and grasping the pen he began to create leverage to open the back door of the car.
Raleigh and I watched him intensely until finally the lock popped and the door opened. We rolled out of the car and down to the ground. Using all of our forces put together we closed the doors back.
“Oh, no” I breathed
I looked into the distance and I could see Caine’s house going up in flames, if he couldn’t win did he really think he could make it all go away ? For once Caine was powerless to what could happen.
“Retreat let us in,” a voice said over a loudspeaker,”Or we are coming in,”
I looked to my left to see where the phantom voice was coming from and I could see the back entrance to the commune, the one I had snuck out so much as a young teen
“Men,Men !” Reiter shouted,”Show your loyalty now,”
The boys arms held the weapons
but they were quivering unprepared what to do with what Reiter was asking for them.
Suddenly lound rampant gunshots broke out from the TL’s followed by retalition shots.
Not caring who saw us Rhett, Raleigh and I ran, staying as close to the ground as possible. We headed into the darkness
behind the empty houses opposite of the war zone.
“What are we doing ?” Rhett asked
I headed as quickly as I could for the only place that looked like a sanctuary.
My house.
I lead the way and we headed inside through the back door and I immediately went into my room. Despite having someone else live in it, it looked relatively the same
“Now what ?” Rhett said, “You think they wont look for us in here ?”
“I just think we can wait it out. Those police will come eventually come, right ?”
"I'm going to see if you have any water," Raleigh said and staying away from the window headed for the kitchen.
"We should stay in my room," I said," It has a back window in case we have to escape,"
I pulled the comforter off my bed and on to the floor and layed down on it. Rhett layed down next to me but, I chose to ignore him
Raleigh came back in the room with a bottle of water.
"It's lukewarm but, it's all I could find," he said.
He registered Rhett and I but opted to sit with his knees to his chest underneath the window.
All I heard was guns and shouting in the distance.
With each second I found myself moving closer to Rhett, we came closer until we were holding each other silently staring into each others eyes if for no reason but because . . . well because we could. This was better than the alternative. Better than being out there. Better than being alone.
"Holy shit," Raleigh cursed, he was looking out the window.
Flying through the sky was a trail of white smoke attached to a grenade, it was flanked by 4 more.
“Is that a bomb?” I said,”We should leave,”
We quickly headed for the back door not realizing the bomb had landed just feet from the door. As soon as I saw it it was to late and Raleigh was mere inches from it when it exploded. He dropped the water bottle in his hands and with his hands over his eyes ran for the street.
I braced for the worse but,I heard the clacks of weapons dropping and panic all around. Suddenly my body tingly all over. I looked at Rhett to see if he was okay. He had taken off his jacket and was dousing it in water. He held it to my face and motioned for me to hold on to it. He then Rhett pulled off his white T-shirt and held the thin fabric over her own face.
I took in a
deep breath as we headed out of the door, I immediately felt all the fluids in my body draining out of me. I barely made it off the front yard before I slumped to the ground and Rhett was coming down
with me, his breath was just as harsh mine.
“Where should we go ?” I managed but Rhett was already on the ground, his thin short letting in to much air, he was screaming in pain every muscle contracting.. I looked up to see the streets littlered with police men thick black uniforms their faces covered in gas masks. I went against my basic instinct and screamed pointing at Rhett . My lungs quickly filled with the putrid gas and I felt like I was on fire but I ignored it.
The men quickly lifted him and I followed them blindly, Rhetts jacket fell from my head
and big globs of tears formed on my eyes, I could not see but soon the air thinned and I saw
lights ahead. We were on the edge of the commune, what was usually a grassy
area was littetred with firetrucks, lights and cars.
The trees had lights.
“Ma’am, stand over here,” a male police officer yelled at me pointing to his right.
I saw he wanted me to stand in a line in front of a big blue tent. Not wanting to upset anyone I stood in the line.
“What is going on ?” the woman in front of me asked me. I recognized
her face but her name was lost on me as I wiped my face with the inside sleeve of my shirt.
“I don’t know,” I said honestly.
“I mean, they just took him, How could they ?”
“What do you mean ?”
“After those bomb things-- those men came in and took everyone with a weapon and they-- they--they took Caine,” she weaped.
She seemed sad but, I had no pity, I just stood in the line silently, wondering where exactly it went to.
After half an hour I could see the line led to decontamination showesrs. I was nearly out of the line when I looked up to saw the police leading Caine off. He looked to be in such distress limping on his injured leg. Pathetic almost but, his face still seemed arrogant and perfect.
I pulled up every ounce of energy that was suddenly inside of me I ran out of the line and scratched my nails across his face digging to tear his skin.
"Now look what you've done !" I shouted before I was pulled off by the police and forced back into the line but, I felt as though they hesitated.
After another 15 minutes and feeling much calmer , I was finally at a decontamination
shower. I was given a pair of white scrubs to change into and escorted to a tent where people were milling around trying to find one another. I looked around
the tent.
I saw Rhett, his hair wet and also in scrubs.
I walked up to him and smiled glad he was okay but, suddenly feeling like I had nothing to say to them.
“Now, what ?” he asked
I wasn’t listening to him, I was walking through the crowd
of scared people in the woods. I wasn’t sure if I would
see him but, I was going to look until the sun set.
He was leaning against a tree looking alone among
friends.
Words escaped me as I ran towards him.
My father looked frail and I expected him to stay in the same positon and wait for me to come to him, but he ran forward and opened his arms, I wrapped my arms around him and we collided in a hug .
Running down my face where tears of joy which he quickly wiped away.
“No more tears, no more tears sweetheart,” he said,"It's over"
I’d never felt closer or more loved by anyone before.
I could feel my father eyeing Rhett from behind me
“Sir, I’m sorry," Rhett began "I was just trying to help your daughter I just—“
My dad just nodded his head in understanding.
“It’s over for all of us. I see no point in taking old rivalries.” My father said shaking Rhett's hand. “Where you going to ? After they question us all we have to go our separate ways, we can’t exactly go back into the commune for a while, not that I would want to.”
“I think I’m going to do what every person
here wishes they could do,” Rhett said looking at me.
I stared at him unable to decipher
“I’m going home,”
----------
25.2
I placed the white coated pill as far to the back of my throat as possible before taking a sip of the ginger ale that burned down my throat. As I swallowed the bus lurched forward and I nearly choked letting out a loud cough as the liquid went down the wrong hole.
"Are you okay,sweetheart ?" my dad asked
I nodded and took another sip of the ginger ale.
I let my head fall into his broad shoulder and I put my hand in my pocket to make sure the piece of notebook paper hadn’t fallen out.
He wrapped his arm around me and turned back to his copy of the Georgia Herald trying to
finish the crosswords.
“Crosswords sure aren’t easy, are they ?” He
grimaced as he stared at the one empty space on the puzzle
“I don’t know Daniel, I got this one,” said Greg from the seat behind us as he threw the Alabama Junction back to my dad with the entire crossword finished
"I helped with like 4 of them," Cecilia said from next to Greg
My dad laughed playfully.
“Well, I’m just one away,” Dad said, " all I need is is 12 down, ' a berry found in the woods 11 letters'. Blueberry is to short, so is raspberry and juniperberry to long”
Through sleepy eyes from just waking up from a nap, I looked over at the constant scratching and quickly knew the word he was missing.
I took my dads pencil from his hand and started to scribble on the crossword.
Doing the crossword was something so normal despite the odd circumstances.
Greg, Cecelia, Sam,Mrs. Winston and Dad had just barely made it out of the commune when they were forced to stop by police for questioning. They had watched as the police went into the commune and shot the CN gas bombs.
After the commune had been evacuated into the woods and everyone accounted for nearly
everybody was forced to go to various overcrowded shelters through out the city
to be questioned and evaluated. Raleigh who had taken the brunt of one of the gas bomb was doing well enough after a few showers to come with us.
We were asked question after question, from everybody from social workers to police. I could not speak about the things Caine had done to me but, I wrote it down and signed my name to it. I made sure my father was not around . . . there were somethings he did not need to know. I was told I should go to therapy and even given anxiety medication which actually made things a little better, it helped me make sense of everything. After 3 days of being taken care of we were given bus tickets to wherever we wanted to go.
I took the pen and began to scribble the missing word in the crossword. I had been reading the word all day. I took the paper out of my pocket to make sure I had spelled it right. I searched the handwritten note for the word.
Juliana—
I hope this finds it's way to you. I am leaving it with one of those social workers, she said she'd find you.
Anyway,--it is really weird, I barely know you but, I
felt like I should give this to you and tell you what is going on with me. I
went home and my family welcomed me back.I’m so glad they did. It’s like things
didn’t changed I’m back eating my moms okry and huckleberry pie, being with my
little sisters and even talking to people about United Light. United Light is
all over the Freeport news but, no one asks me much about it. They got him on all sorts of legal troubles and a couple of murders.
I’m trying to be a better person and make the
best of my situation like you did when Caine kidnapped you. If you think you
didn’t have an affect on my life you did.
Crazy thing --I got my acceptance letter from Coast Guard Academy—I’m real shocked I got in. I honestly thought I hadn't. I'm leaving in like 2 weeks for New London. Guess I didn’t need UL to get out of Freeport. I’m going to give you may home address and phone number if you ever want to contact me.
Rhett Clark
Huckleberry
As soon as I wrote the Y into the crossword the bus lurched to a final stop. I turned to my dad and the others and smiled.
It was a relief for my cramped legs when I got out
of the bus. I stretched and breathed in the humid air. Sam helped Cecelia off
the bus, she seemed to be smiling as usual and quickly tended to her mother who
seemed to be hiding a buried resentment. She was still adjusting to not having United Light.
“Everybody good ?” Greg asked as we walked away from the bus and out of the station.
“I could use some lunch,” Cecelia admitted,”I think we all could,”
“Wonder what the best way to get anywhere here is ?” my dad asked
I took the lead and counting out all the change we had, I got us all to the local bus that went to a little spot I knew was great.
The Sunset Diner
The bus stopped where it always did and I stole a
glance at the apartment building across the street. I looked at my watch, it
was just around 11PM and Sawyer never had lunch until afternoon and I knew
Elisa would be back at school by now.
I knew I would have time to figure out how I was going
to explain this all to Sawyer and Elisa. Part of me wanted to never see them, it could just make things easier. I was grateful for the time to adjust without them, I didn't know how I would feel around Sawyer.
We walked into the air conditioned diner and It didn’t take too long to see who was sitting at the counter with to go coffee in hand.
I gravitated right towards him and he stayed planted in the seat probably in disbelief. Every feeling I had toward him flooded back to me. I loved everything about him; his shocked expression, his big smile and his curly hair I expected a hug as I got close to him but I got a lot more.
He moved his face towards me and kissed me.
Our lips touched for more than a brief second
before he stopped and just hugged me. I could tell he was noticing my dad Raleigh and the Winston-Hills for the first time
“I thought you were—“
I just shook my head.
“I should have known he lied . . . I just knew it.” Sawyer said, he looked on the verge of tears, “You have no idea how many times I wished you would walk through those doors.”
The embrace felt as familiar as my fathers but he let it go and for the first time I saw Elisa sitting behind him at a loss for words.
Elisa gave me a quick hug as well as Cecelia.
I looked towards the back to see a new face coming from the bathroom in the back, joining our mini reunion.
Rosa
“Logan !” she squealed but as she got closer her face fell "Raleigh I’m sorry I thought you were—"
He took her hands and hugged her. The look on her face said everything. She seemed to know before he even said anything.
“We need to talk,” Raleigh said and led her outside
We pushed 2 tables together (something the owners hated ) and sat down, As I opened the menu something caught my eye on the menu
The Juliana . . . white chocolate brownie with walnuts and chocolate chips served with ice cream
Named in honor of a dear friend.
I looked up at Sawyer but it was like he knew what I was thinking
“Oh, yeah I forgot to tell you,” he said,”I got the restaurant from the owners. They were ready to move on and I couldn't say no to this place.”
"I say," said Elisa,"It took them long enough."
I smiled.
We finished ordering drinks as Rosa came in with Raleigh, she looked upset but holding strong.
“Are you okay ?” Elisa said. Even though she did not know the exact details I knew she must have gotten the gist of what happened to Logan.
“Yeah,” Rosa said,”No, I don’t know. . . I’m going back to Louisana with Raleigh for a memorial and to get my mother.”
Elisa looked down crestfallen
“And then I am coming back here," Rosa continued, "I like working for the Miami boutiques . . .I like it here. Raliegh has even agreed to stay with me.”
“What about you Cecelia ?” Elisa asked, “I mean I don’t mean to pry but what are you going to do about um, everything ?”
“My mother has family in the area, we are going to try and get in contact with them until we get back on our feet,” Cecelia said, taking a sip of water. “ I am sure Greg and Sam and I will figure something out. I’m going to have this baby and I want both of these men in my life,”
"I know we don't acknowledge it but, Cecelia you are like family and I would love to help you out," Sawyer said
Cecelia took his hand and smiled, "Thanks, I appreciate that a lot . . . we may need it,"
“You know Juliana, Mr. Reese,” Sawyer said, “My landlady hasn’t leased my house. You may be able to get it for a good deal.”
“Thank you, Mr.Miller but, I’m not sure if this is the place for me,”
I had come around to telling my dad about the
terrible past I had in Miami and the choices. I didn’t think I could stay in that city despite the people that were
pulling me there, there would be to many weight from my past on me. As I watched the chemistry that Sawyer and Elisa had--the way they held each others hands the nonverbal cues the idea that she would stay with him through all of this-- it
was something that could last forever. I had come to Florida expecting to fall
in love and I had, but he hadn’t. That was the biggest weight on me of all.
I listened as everyone tried to figure out how to restart their lives and didn't feel as different from them as I thought I did a few months earlier. I could go anywhere at this point and had the opportunity to do anything.
And I wasn’t afraid.
