Call of Freedom

Chapter Five

Deanna and Zion are walking in the woods not talking to each other, since the anxiety of the what they'll face has taking over their minds. Zion is looking at the ground; probably processing all the things he went through at such a small age.

They had a long talk before, about the world they live in. Each one expressed completely different world views, oddly connected. Deanna is looking around carefully before taking any step. The further one goes from his Area, the more dangerous traps are placed by the Army. In case any evader magically manages to survive in the forest, they have to make sure he dies trapped in it. Most of the evaders die from the cold, hunger, thirst, bleeding; until the give their last breath and some patrolman burries them.

Before moving any further, she abruptly kneels down and puts her arm in front of Zion, preventing him to move. Her eyes move from one corner to the other, her lips parted and breathing fast.

"Don't move or say anything," she hisses and both of them crawl to reach a bush and hide. Zion's body is tensed, she can sense that he's shaking even without touching him. Or maybe it's the tremor of her own heart, she can never know. She looks across her, holding her bow tightly.

The leaves start trembling, only to reveal two men strolling around the forest. Those are the patrolmen. Casually, with one knife on a small pocket attached with their belts. Zion remembers them pretty well. Sensing the fear in Zion's breathing, she takes his hand inside her palm. The patrolmen sit at the ground leaning their backs at the trees and one of them lets out a sigh.

"Where are we?"

"Over there is Area 21," he points at his left. "We won't go there, though. The Army has gone for clean up."

Clean up? Their eyebrows furrow together and exchange a short glance.

"How many?" The other one asks like this is a typical conversation.

"About a hundred. It has a large population there."

"The number is constantly decreasing..."

Deanna shakes her head. They won't be able to leave if they fall asleep and the sun is about to fall. Letting Zion's little hand she grabs a heavy rock from the ground and with all her power she throws it to the opposite direction of where she wants to go. At the sound of the thud, the patrolmen jump up like robots running to that direction.

Wasting absolutely no time, she and Zion sprint towards left to get away. The surroundings pass by like shadows. Sweat starts to make its way on her forehead. Her feet are burning. Every sound suspicious. Her speed reduces as the heat in her lungs is burning her insides. The air comes out sharp and hot. The adrenaline pumps inside her veins even after jumbing over the despicable fence. And finally she collapses. Both of them lie down panting. There's no energy left to go further. It takes a couple of moments to cool that heat on their bodies. And when they finally succeed they remain silent.

A sudden chuckle breaks the silence. A chuckle that turns into contagious laugher until the danger becomes an adventure. A common experience they both loved, still printed on their glowing eyes. The sun is down, a few bright stars twinkling. That greenish darkness has occupied their surroundings in a way where you can distinguish shapes, but not details.

"We should go to the village."

Getting closer to the houses, she starts noticing the torches being lightened up. But something's quite odd. Despite being filled with the light of fire, it seems dead. No chatter or giggles. Instead the sound of cicadas fills the air. She sniffs in. The air smells, and almost tastes, like slow poison that's here to stay. That smell that seems to follow the Army wherever they go. A small piece of joy abandons her. In her mind there's one to blame; the supposed Master that everyone respects.

"Dea."

Deanna jumbs up a little. The irritating voice, slightly scarier in the dark path, comes from behind. Zion raises his chin, hiding behind Deanna's body and she clenches her hands in fists. A dark figure seems to move in the shadows, getting closer.

"No need to get angry, Dea. It's just me."

Just him...

She pushes softly Zion's shoulder and he moves with hesitant steps towards home, staring at the ground. Mars doesn't bother looking at him, his face is targeted on Deanna's.

"Did you legged it out of the Area to play with your bow again?" Something different in his voice, somewhat filled with pride. Even as a shadow, it's obvious that he has adopted the posture of a peacock in mating season, trying to impress everyone.

"What do you care?"

He chuckles, making a few steps closer to her something that sends an unpleasant feeling in her guts.

"Let me inform you that owning a weapon is illegal. It's for our peace," his tone stable but his body posture aggressive. "The Army is here."

"Let me inform you that I don't care who's here," she takes a step to escape from him but he grabs her arm tightly, bringing her closer to his face. The uneasinness on her guts growing.

"I do as everybody else, your father included! If they figure it out, I... we're screwed. What will your father say?"

Her face clouds over and she gnashes her teeth. The idea of being judged, exposed in front of her father is terrifying. She manages to release her hand from his tight grip and takes a step back.

"There you go, the girl you always should be. Go get ready for the night. Dress in white. The Army wants to celebrate," he gives a half-smile, watching her with a mischievious look. "And avoid bringing the bow with you."

She goes away not reacting to any of his words. As soon as she gets inside her house, the smell of olive trees burning in the fireplace fill her lungs. A wave of safety finally settles within her. It won't last for long, she's aware. After all, safety won't give her what she wants.

~~~

Her batteries recharged, her mind clear and alerted. People in white walk around her, all to the same direction. Their eyes staring at each other, filled with stress. Inside the group is Deanna. Her clothes nowhere near white, her chin high. And finally, they reach the village square. Filled with flowers, dining tables, candles and beasts.

The soldiers are everywhere and the leader right across Deanna. It takes him a while, but he spots the darkness inside the white clothing. They hold each other's stare, and the square turns into a silent battlefield. His green eyes have stared at her before muttering the words 'nice piece' like she is a trophy. Her heart jumbs in hatred, limbs tensed. The cool breeze blows and Deanna proceeds, nestling herself inside the familiar faces and finding a chair to sit.

An energetic hand taps her shoulder, appearing it to be Naya's. They smile at each other, two completely different expressions. They wait and wait, time ticking like an atomic bomb. At least for her. Because people have grabbed instruments, others dance to the rythm and laughing with each other. Some are enjoying the food while soldiers patrol and do the same. Everything around her makes her dizzy, angry. The same soldiers who destroyed a kid's home, who took away her peace and house, dare to dance with her people. Something doesn't add up. The poisonous smell give them away.

"Deanna!" Naya's voice echoe from behind. It's good to see her excited for once, yet she can't share the aloofness.

"Why are you sitting here alone? Don't you dare find an excuse! Get up, Deanna," In a matter of seconds, she is dragged alongside her cousin in the group of people who dance.

At first she tries to escape, but this girl tries everything to stop her. And succeeds. For one short period of time, her mind is distracted. Influenced by the music and happiness of her friends. She laughs with them, like she used to before... The thought cut in half as the knot in her stomach returns.

The earth shakes abruptly. Everyone loses their balance and falls down. Loud voices and screamings are heard, instead of the music in the background. She stands up dizzy, her eyes heavy. The view in front of her, even more puzzling than what it used to. Soldiers hold some black things that are producing loud noises and light comes out. Whoever is pointed with this, is killed. First one is down. The second falls as well. Her jaw drops, standing still observing what is happening around her. The people run. The blood increases. And the square is an actual battlefield. Deanna's father rushes towards her, shouting to run. His eyes burning with fear. She doesn't want to run, she wants to fight. But she has no choice.

Little kids are crying. Mothers mourning before laying dead over their children's corpses. The white clothing laying on the floor is now bloody red. And she runs with the others. Gunshots hurting her vulnerable ears, thinning out the crowd of runners. And one of them is what makes her limps freeze.

Naya. Her eyes are half open half closed. Blood is running over a hole in her chest. Her hand tries to reach her out, but fails the attempt. Her lips are parted and then exhales. Slowly, terminally.

And Deanna only runs.

So many dead, familiar bodies. Everything happens so fast, everyone is falling down so fast, blood comes out of everyone's body and flecks her face. And she starts realizing.

Her people are cleaned up. Area21 had a large population.

Running to a god knows where, with tears in her eyes as everybody else around her, the fire light starts to disapear, but the loud noise of the soldier's weapons is still audible, navigating where to not go. She can recognise her father in the front, giving glances at the mess behind him while running.

About a hundrend people are with them, few survived. After a while she understands where her father brought them.

They reached the safehouse. It's underground, a little further from the Area limits. It is made for animal attacks or for extreme weather conditions. Some men help her father remove some woods of the large hole and the rest of the people get inside. She stays behind. Her bow is hided somewhere near. She can try and fight. Reality holds her back.

The enemies don't have knives but black killers. Her father stares at her. Dirt, sweat and blood is all over his face and clothes. With a voice as a dying whisper, he begs

"Please come inside Deanna."

Her father, the only person that truly understands her. The only person she cares about. In the background one last gunshot, one last scream. And her world falls apart.

"I will take revenge dad. I will."