2030: Forces

Bleeding Hearts II

     "It's a cold night

where the jungle beasts had come to fight

Trails of blood are left behind

and of sorrow and hopelessness, in the air

The dead and the living converge to mourn one another

For none of the two seems better off

while the dead's sad, not to live

The living's sad not to be free.

None of the two envies the other

And they'd rather stay with fate

And move with the wind of destiny

Towards directions of every possibilities possible

Nothing to live for, but no reason to die

Every purpose of dying creates a reason to live

Every reason to live is trashed, alongside belief...", Odogwu muttered, loudly. Everyone seemed to be listening, silently.

There was a mourning tune in the song and a sorrowful smell in the air. Joe and Chuma had been made to bury Stanley's corpse. A tear had dropped from Joe's eyes and that was the first time Chuma ever saw him show emotions.

Most of them gathered together, for the first time, and Idris made a fire with stones and sticks.

"Stanley was a good man", Alex stood up and addressed them. "He didn't fight for his freedom. He fought for us.... It might not have been a good idea but he took the irrational decision... for our sakes. It took his life... and we should honor him."

Ada layed her head on Joe's shoulder, brooding. Her eyes were already red.

Chuma stood up. "I don't know what to say.... Stanley made peace, showed concern, and was hopeful. I'll like that hope to be in us, too. He didn't die in vain. He must not."

Surprisingly, Don, Kalu and their mates joined the gathering. They sat, meekly, and we're noticed by everyone.

A girl stood up and spoke. "I didn't get to know Stanley but I saw something, earlier today, and I can say I know something about him. He got up to fight, knowing the soldiers might not set anyone free. He fought because of us. He was probably trying to tell us to fight but his death....", She burst into tears. "His death says something. We will all die here".

"I'm known to be a clown", Idris started. "I used to wash plates and hang out with thugs, in slums. Many of my folks were daredevils. They could do almost anything to get their desires. They'd go miles and put their lives on the line. They'd go out, hustling, day and night. The little time they get to rest; we sit and chat. We joke and play around like we are satisfied with our lifestyles, but deep inside, they're stressed out. Some of them would risk their lives to protect the secrets of one another. No snitching, no betrayal. They died....... Stanley's display gave me the hope that good still exists, and that the good will save us but... he died... just like they died.... Chuma already spoke and I'll try... I'll really try to force some hope in me".

Idris walked back and sat. Don stood up and addressed them, reluctantly. He was expecting their disapproval, due to his past actions. "I'm sorry if I've been a b***h to many of you. I know I have. When I was in the ghetto, I was just a boy they'd send to get things done. I worked for everyone just to get fed, twice daily. At times, I'd never get the second meal for the day. I watched many people die and many people get brutalized because of the failures of the leaders. When Stanley approached one of my boys to prevent an assault, I saw defiance and leadership. No one ever stood up to us but he did. Again, even in his death, he has led us to converge here. I want you all to know. Stan has led this unity among us and we have to value it. This must happen often. We'll live, normally and happily, while discussing how to get out of here safely. The hope lives!"

"The hope lives!", Kalu said and people joined in.

"The hope lives"

"The hope lives!", they chorused.

Joe raised Ada's head, slowly off his shoulder, and stood up to address the people. "The hope lives!..... I wasn't a good person. I have a dark past which haunts me now. Somehow, Stanley has returned the emotions in me. I'm making a promise to the dead and to the living to do all I can do to get us out of here. I'm making a promise never to take a life. Never again... Stanley stays alive in our hopes and determinations. The hope lives!".

"The hope lives", they chorused.

Joe sat and Ada put her head, back on his shoulder. Everyone was listening to Odogwu again. He had been chanting his poem since they sat together.

"Smiles and laughter, tears and frowns

Now convey a single emotion that never seems to change

All come together in unity of sadness, never to fade

Even hopeless hopes are doubted 'fore they mould

Stains of blood and oil on hearts of gold

A resolution for limitless hope may be reached

But many may live while many must die

While one's already dying, drowning in the only toilet that runs water..."

"Uhn?", one of them said. "Who else heard that?". Only one toilet didn't require them fetching water, unlike the other toilets that required getting a bucket of water elsewhere. Whatever Odogwu said might not be gibberish. Even if it was, they had to confirm. About twelve of them ran to the toilet. The others seemed confused and Odogwu, who had kept his distance from them, remained there, still chanting poems.

"The ghosts return with a solution

And the seer embarks on a mission

As deadly as death, itself

As horrific as the underworld

Every thing, everyone, fails.

The war comes after the jails..."

They got to the toilet but it was dark. They entered and one of them stumbled on something. It was someone. A young man had dipped his head in the water and choked himself to death. It was a horrible thing to see. That was the fourth death for the day.

Toby appeared and called Joe from the gathering. Ada raised her head off his shoulders.

"Where are you going?", Chuma asked but got no reply. Joe walked to Toby, who no one else could see, without looking back.

"Hi, killer!", Toby said.

"What do you want?", Joe said, remorsefully. "I'm sorry!!!"

"You killed me!", Lola appeared.

"I'm sorry", Joe repeated, softly. "....If you are going to kill me, do it. I deserve it. Just get it over with"

"We don't want you dead", Toby moved closer and Lola disappeared. "We want to help you".

Joe didn't believe that. He wasn't expecting them to forgive him.

"I'm serious", Toby said, casually. "We can help you if you'll help us".

"What do you want me to do?", Joe asked.

"Before I tell you, I'll show you why you need my help", Toby said and put his hand on Joe's head. Joe's expression quickly changed. He broke free from the grip.

    "What was that?", Joe asked, panicking. Something had been revealed to him.

   "Your fate", Toby replied. "You are all doomed, very soon, but you can prevent that.... Only you"

     "What do you want me to do?", Joe asked, curiously.

    Toby smiled. "Kill Soko".