Cameron looked up from the building they were on.
Cameron
The hostages are in the basement. Velis, you have higher levels, Malic, you have the entire building.
He looked at them both.
Cameron
Are we ready?
Velis
When aren’t we?
The large building in front of them was 42 floors tall.
Malic
And here I go.
Malic’s back burst open as hundreds of silver cords flew out and towards the building.
Soldier
When do I get my break?
Soldier 2
When I say so.
Soldier
Well, can ya say so?
The glass broke all around them and the silver cords flew through their bodies. Every window on the building was being shattered by them. They ran towards the entrance of the building.
Velis
Seya
Velis jumped up into the 4th floor.
Iris
I take it you have a plan?
Velis jumped on the shoulders of a soldier while he shot forward.
Ilias
Of course.
Velis snapped his neck.
Iris
Will you kill him?
Velis' foot hit the chin of another soldier from behind.
Ilias
No, not yet.
Cameron stopped in front of two soldiers.
Cameron
Please, drop your guns.
The soldiers aimed to fire but one silver cord went through one next through the others head.
Ilias
We cannot allow him to interfere with our plans any longer. This boy wants chaos while we strive for order.
Cameron opened the double doors and down the stairs he could see over one hundred and fifty people sitting, waiting for their savior.
Iris
Don’t you think he is smart enough to see through deception?
As Cameron’s eyes adjusted to the dim lights he saw all the people were boys at the age of 8.
Ilias
Not when one is lead by their heart.
Cameron fell to his knees.
Malic
All done.
Malic’s silver cords all returned to his back. Velis’s feet grabbed a soldier’s neck and she spun the air, snapping his neck.
Velis
Done.
The bottom floor exploded and the entire building shook.
Malic
Exploding from inside? That explosion wiped out the first three floors, what is Cameron doing?
Three Gears appeared behind Malic and began firing.
Malic
Wait, Prince Cameron is still inside!
They fired. Velis appeared next to Malic.
Velis
What the fuck is going on?
Malic
I don’t know, the bottom floor was leveled, and I believe it was Cameron.
Velis
That was him?
Malic
Yeah, and now these idiots are firing.
Velis
That means Cameron’s still inside!
They turned around to see the building fall to the ground.
Velis
Cameron?
The dust and ash filled the air.
Gear 1
Prince Ilias is ordering you two to the palace.
Velis
Cameron!
She turned and moved forward.
Malic
It’s no use.
Malic’s silver cord wrapped around her torso.
Malic
He probably survived the explosions, but not the fall of the building. He would be here already. You know that Velis.
Velis stopped struggling.
Velis
Malic, you know Cameron would not go out like that!
Malic
I know, but we were ordered to go back.
Velis
Fuck orders, let’s go.
Malic
Fine.
They moved forward.
Gears 2
We were ordered to shoot, if you chose otherwise.
Velis turned around.
Velis
Well, shoot.
They did not move. They turned and ran towards the building.
Cameron
Damn.
As he stood up he was hit in the back of the neck by a dart. Cameron yelped in pain.
Iris
Relax, resisting will only cause the drug to flow faster through you.
Cameron
What are you doing?
Ilias
Acting on orders.
Ilias smiled. Cameron fell to his knees.
Cameron
What orders?
Ilias
You are under arrest, former Prince Cameron.
Cameron
What are you talking about?
Iris
You killed over 150 of our followers, that would make you a War Criminal.
Cameron tried to get up but fell onto his side.
Cameron
What are you talking about?
Iris
Your orders were to rescue the hostages, and you murdered them.
Cameron
You don’t understand!
His saliva was running out of his mouth.
Iris
We don’t care to.
Ilias’ smile grew to its peak.
Ilias
Looks like your dreaming days are over, brother.
Cameron looked up.
Cameron
I told you not to call me broth-
Ilias’ foot smashed into Cameron’s face.
Ilias
I don’t think anything you say matters anymore.
Iris picked Cameron’s body up with her powers.
Iris
To the palace?
Ilias
Yes.
Just as she was about to send his body away, Velis and Malic appeared.
Velis
What’s going on here?
Ilias
Weren’t you given orders to return to the new palace?
Velis
I must have missed them.
Iris read the mind of the soldiers in the near distance.
Iris
You didn’t, you chose to disobey them. I believe your exact words were well and shoot.
Velis did not reply.
Iris
That is a war crime, old timer.
Ilias
Return to the palace and we will forget about it.
Iris
If you’re lucky.
They disappeared.
Malic
Fuck that.
Velis
They have Cameron, he’s still alive.
Malic
He must have been injured badly.
Velis
Most likely. I can’t help but feel like we’re missing something though.
Malic
Maybe.
Velis
Let’s go home.
Amros sat as Hayden spoke while standing.
Amros
Hayden, put together your plan to retrieve Arkain.
Hayden
I shall. I only ask that you allow Roselyn to accompany with me on this mission.
Roselyn
I will do my best to return Arkain.
Amros
Permission granted.
Fallen entered the room.
Fallen
May I come too? I feel like I’ve been left out.
Amros
If you must.
Fallen
Thank you.
Fallen left the room.
Suri sat in the grass by the lake with Nicholas, and Conor,
Conor
Feeling any better?
Suri looked up from the grass.
Suri
A little.
Conor
It’s okay to cry, Suri.
Suri looked up into the sky.
Suri
I don’t do that.
Conor
Really? I thought we all did.
Suri
I didn’t say I’m not capable, I just don’t do it.
Conor
Why’s that?
Suri
I made a promise.
Conor
That’s one hell of a promise.
Suri
Yeah, it’s really hard sometimes.
Nicholas
I could only imagine. You know Suri, it’s okay to fall down sometimes.
He put her hand on his shoulder.
Nicholas
It’s okay to crumble.
Suri
Why’s that?
Nicholas
Because you have people who love you who will put you back together. The things that happen, should be lessons that strengthen who you are.
Conor
What he said.
Suri smiled.
Suri
Thanks, but I still have to keep this promise.
Conor
Who did you promise anways?
Suri
My mom.
Conor
Where is she?
Suri
Not here.
Conor
Oh, I’m sorry.
Suri put her hand on his knee.
Suri
Don’t be sorry, I’m not.
Conor smiled.
Nicholas
Do you believe in heaven?
Suri
No, not really.
Conor
I don’t.
Nicholas
What do you believe in?
Suri
I don’t really believe in anything, really.
Nicholas
You don’t believe she is watching you from a better place?
Suri
A better place? How great could that place be? It has more people in it than this one does, and they are all supposed to be good? I don’t believe in heaven. I can’t imagine a place where everything is just good, or the opposite.
She shrugged.
Suri
It’s just like here. We can be good, or we can be bad. It’s up to the person to weigh in on their options. But a place where things are only good? Bad is not even possible? Well that place just doesn’t exist. Even if it did at one point, it no longer does.
Conor
Well what if when we die we all turn into robots incapable of doing bad?
Suri
Sorry, but I’d rather not.
Nicholas
You are a wise girl, Suri. You’ve just now allowed me to review what I’ve believed all my life.
Suri
Well, I don’t know what happens after we die, but I’m sure it’s not that. I don’t have evidence, but neither does anyone else. Is it hard to believe that once we die we no longer exist, period?
Conor
That’s what I believe! We were nothing for billions of years before our births, and now that we are living, we think we are entitled to life after life? It just doesn’t make sense.
Nicholas
Good point, young ones. I see what you’re saying. I never thought of it like that.
Nicholas shook the Goosebumps off of him.
Conor
So, you believe your mom is just gone?
Suri
Well, she’ll never be gone.
Nicholas
What do you mean?
Suri
I don’t think anyone will ever be gone. As long as we hold someone in our memories, they’ll always be here. Isn’t that what pictures are really for? Proof of existence?
Conor
That’s amazing.
She put her hands on their shoulders.
Suri
My mom and your families will always be engraved in our hearts.
She pointed to her heart.
Nicholas
It’s not always a good thing, for some the memories of the ones they loved can be poison.
Suri
I can’t imagine that. A poison that drives you to do things you wouldn’t do if they were with you. It’s terrible, no one deserves that.
Conor
No one really deserves anything, it's life. Things just happen. One moment you’re here, and the next you’re gone. No such thing as fair or unfair, that’s just a human way of looking at it.
Nicholas
And the meaning of life?
Suri
I don’t think there is a universal meaning for life. Just because I believe my life has a certain meaning, doesn’t mean that meaning pertains to everyone.
Nicholas
Well said.
Conor
Maybe, the meaning of life is just to live. I’d say that’s pretty universal.
Suri
I don’t know. I’d love too, but it doesn’t really matter. It’s not like knowing will do anything to change my life. It would be nice to know all the answers, but once you got them, who cares.
Conor
I wish there were people this smart in school.
Suri
I wish there was someone to talk to my age growing up.
Nicholas
You both are two intelligent young people. I realize now that the older folks have a lot to learn from the younger. We don’t know everything, and you might know some of the things we don’t. Tradition should be broken, when it’s a menace to society. You two have given me a lot to think about.
Suri
Thank you, Nicholas. I’m glad I could have this conversation. I mean, after last night, this brought me a little back down to earth.
Conor
Well, now that you’re here, stay.
Suri stood up.
Suri
Nicholas, you said that there are people living with poison memories of their lost loved ones.
Nicholas
I did.
Suri
Do you think that if one of those people were to meet another person with the same problem, they could be cured?
Nicholas
What do you mean?
Suri
What I mean is they have relatable situations, the same options, but they are making different choices. Do you think that if those two found each other, the one living free from the pain, could persuade the other that they don’t have to live that way?
Nicholas
It’s possible.
He stood up as well.
Nicholas
I believe there are words everyone wants to hear in order to be pulled out of the darkness. The question is, what are they and who must say them? True change is in the moment, and once the words are said, the person won’t be able to resist it. One can only hope those two run into each other and stay long enough to change each others lives for the better, as hearts collide.
Two soldiers set down Cameron’s body in the small cell and chained his foot to the wall. They shut Cameron’s cell door and left. A voice came from the cell next to Cameron’s.
Stranger
Hello? Who’s there?
Cameron
What does it matter?
Voice
I was just wondering who else would be in here, since I’m the only one.
Cameron looked around, the drug still made his body weak and vision blurry.
Cameron
Are you on the drug too?
Stranger
Yes, I can’t see anything. Come to the edge of your cell. Yes, your chain will reach.
They both crawled across.
Stranger
My names-
Cameron
I don’t care for a name, it might be better for us to remain nameless.
The drug messing with their vision made it impossible to see each other, other than a blur in the already dark cells.
Stranger
Okay. Well, I’m the boy in the cell.
Cameron
I’m also the boy in the cell.
They shook hands.
