Chapter
9
Reliance
Itisn’t long before I realize it’s already morning…
Beamsof sunlight slit through the gargantuan, overly sized, window blinds,stabbed right in the goddamn center of this room. I groan and rise.
Irub the back of my neck and glance to the area where Mindy slept, butjust a neatly tended side remained where her body laid.
Iget off the bed and stretch. My eyes trail to the chair where an openduffle bag is set.
Istare inside at the content and notice new clothes are inside. I flipthe bag upside down and let the clothes spread on the chair. Aturtleneck, long-sleeve, teal shirt, some shorts, socks, and regularlaced running shoes.
Istep out of myroom…
Andmake my way towards the dining area.
Ifelt separate emotions… the overwhelming guilt, and a sense ofrevulsion against myself. The pain smoldered against my soul, asthough I did something I shouldn’t have, yet in that moment ofaction, I felt whole, and complete… what the f*ck is this? Why thehell would I feel this way?
Lastnight I didn’t have any dreams… only a blank cavity ofnothingness disoriented by the sheer emotion wrought by the comfortof Mindy.
Irub my head and pass my fingers through my hair.
Istep into the dining area and peer over to the empty dining table.
Footstepsarouse my senses. I glance to the double doors leading to the kitchenand see two men walk out with large silver platters over theirshoulders.
Istudy their movement. I didn’t feel at ease. Paranoid,confrontational. I’m alone, no Mindy, nor Chris… f*ck.
Igulp and take a step back, my hands behind my back, and head lowered.
“Noneed to fear.” Says one.
“Thisis breakfast. Please sit and enjoy.” Says the other.
“Therest will be with you shortly.”
Ismile and nod at their kindness… guess they aren’t here to killme after all… not like that son of a bitch from that other placewho banged me over my head and knocked me unconscious.
Theyset the platters down on the table and remove the cover.
“Enjoy.”They both say and make their way back.
Iglance at the table and examine the content on the table. Biscuits,scrambled eggs, bacon, gravy, and small treats. On the other platter,coffee mugs, and three gallon jugs of orange juice.
Thesmell makes my stomach grumble.
“Thefood isn’t going to eat it’s self Wesley.” Mutters Chris as hewaltzes around the corner. “Come, sit, and enjoy.”
Hewinks at me as he pulls a chair out and takes a seat.
He'sa jolly fine mood this morning.
“W-Where’sMindy?”
“She’llbe back shortly.” He answers.
Itake a seat next to Chris and he glances over as he bites a chunk offa biscuit.
“Didyou have any dreams last night?”
Ishake my head.
“Nothing?”Chris says.
“I’mas surprised as you are.”
Ireach over grab a plate and put some scrambled eggs and bacon on it.
“Canyou tell me more about these dreams your having?”
Ibite a chunk of bacon and saber the crunchy, mouthwatering flavor,and bathing in the nostalgia.
“Yourinformation is important to us Wesley.” Chris says.
Andhe continues to persist… can't a man enjoy some breakfast?
AfterI finish chewing I set the fork down and glance over at him.
“Y-Youseek to extinguish my race don’t you?”
Chrisremains silent, staring at the plate of food in front of him, andeyes not blinking. After a minute I see his eyes connect to mine.
“Forevery action, there’s a reason. We don’t act on ruthlessness asyour race does. We have a goal in mind and that’s what we’re hereto do. Perhaps not now, but when we know our trust is safe with you,we’ll expose the truth behind our appearance, but until then, ourlips are shut.
“We’regrateful we have you. It’s a blessing, of course, in all honesty,I’m ashamed that we have to result in this, in you, and to takeadvantage of you, but we’re also doing you a favor in return. Agift, a gift that no body in our humanity’s history shall receive…and we’ve salvaged your life in order to accomplish the goal ahead.So eat with us, share your emotions, we’re not enemies, we’rebrothers. The ones that seek ruthlessness that long to extinguishlife, to bring famine to our Eden, they’re the enemy.”
Iclose my eyes and arch my head forward. “These dreams I’ve beenhaving are in a sequential pattern. I’m twenty-two. I see the cityof Birmingham, Alabama, rest in shambles. I went to college there. Aman, a United States Soldier named Ronald, saves me and then escortsme. He told me that transports were taking civilians to Mobile Bay,Alabama, in order to take them to Alaska. I recall asking him thereason, but he couldn’t give me an answer because he too was in thedark.”
Istop there. I open my eyes and continue my course of breakfast. Iwant to enjoy this… I’m tired of debrief. I just hope I shut himup for a little while longer.
Mindynever did show up for breakfast…
Instead,I remained with Chris, where we’re now on route to go speak withthe Prime Minister and his Heir Council.
“Bepatient. After this we’ll finally commence operations concerningyour vigilance status.”
Ipeer back down the hallway and long to catch sight of her, to breathein her intoxicating scent, but emptiness is the only thing comfortingthese dim corridors. I turn back to Chris.
“Isthis the hospitality you give all your guests?”
“Onoccasion.” Chris snickers. “You’re our first guest, and you’rea special case too, so we’re using extra precautions.”
ExtraPrecautions? What the f*ck? Because they think that me, a lonely soleold human being can somehow manage to overthrow a nest made up of thenew humans. Yeah, there’s something more to it. And I have thisfeeling that as soon as I have this audience with the Heir Council,I’m going to see a broader view of grey in all the black and white.
Goldplated elevator doors appear on our turn. A large window slapped inbetween the two elevator doors portrays the oceanic vista in thebackground, behind the resort. Ocean, as far as the eye can see, witha gargantuan yacht less than one hundred feet away from shore.
Imove ahead of Chris and stare in awe.
“OurEden is full of glamour.” Chris says.
Ifeel his hand clutch my shoulder.
“Imagineit gone. Imagine all of this but an echo in a wake of a dune. If yourhumanity remained its course, that’s what you’d see out there.”
“How?”
“OurPresident and Prime Minister of the Council have allowed our Eden toprosper without any surface anomaly. Grow with only the riches ofnature itself. There are certain geographical landmarks we’vecatered as achievements to be remembered, but other than that, we’veerased great portions of your humanity’s architecture.” Chrismoves towards the right elevator and presses the down button. “Thisarea here, Old Hawaii, since it’s an island clear from themainland’s, we’ve left unaltered, use it, as grounds for ourhumanity to enjoy the riches of nature with no bound. But as of rightnow, since you’re here, we’ve kept it clear from visitation.”
“Butwhy not work with my race?” I ask.
“Becauserestoration would be impossible with so much surface infractions.Unity in the state your humanity was in couldn’t be accomplished.So the only way to stop a virus is to hold it in one position andthen treat it until it dies.”
“Inthat case, I’m the virus”—
“Notjust you, you’re entire hereditary line. There are reasons for thedemise of the old human race. But remember this, Armageddon isn’tan ending, it’s a new beginning of prosperity.”
Theelevator dings and the doors open.
Iglance inside and see that the entire back piece is one big chunk ofglass. Again displaying the beauty of this place, this new world, notEarth, but Eden.
I’mbeginning to see a picture… but my heart still smolders because Istill fear that once they get the information I have inside my mind,I’ll meet my maker.
Withmy humanity gone nothing can harm the surface. It’s set to bloomnaturally, erase all the pains that my humanity caused, and restoreorder to nature alone. But what about their race, will they live handin hand with their Eden?
Ishake my head and close my eyes so tight that the black behind myeyelids splashes in different shades of grey.
“Comeon in. We’ll introduce you to the Heir Council.”
Iopen my eyes and nod. I take a step inside the elevator and leanagainst the wall.
“Howold are you Chris?”
Chrispresses the F10 button on the LCD display. The Elevator dings and thedoors close.
“Five-hundredand twenty six.” He says.
Mymouth drops. “Y-You’ve got to be kidding.”
Hebreaks a smile. “I’m afraid so.”
“Sowhen Mindy said that your kind’s ancestor’s, ancestor’s oncedwelled on earth, how long ago was that?”
Chriscloses his eyes. “I’m not sure if you’ll be able to comprehendthat part of our history.”
Iroll my eyes. “Come on, understanding history isn’t complicated.”
“Areyou sure about that?”
Inod. “Pretty sure.”
Hesnickers.
“However,”I pause until his eyes open, “I wonder how even then you had thetechnology to be able to venture on and off the Earth.”
“Ourtraces we’re erased by the Great Flood. I’m not even sure if youryou even knows what I mean by that since you’ve lost so much ofyour memory…”
TheGreat Flood?
“Howeverit may be, I’m not in my power to explain the occurrences before orafter the flood, since the Prime Minister and certain older Oraclesand Council Members knows of that part of your humanity’s history.”
“Soafter that flood… does my humanity’s history begin?” I ask.
Henods. “Yes.”
“Butif the flood erased all your traces how could anything havesurvived?”
“Idon’t know.” Chris answers.
Irub my temples and try to see if I can somehow find a reference toThe Great Flood in my damaged mind. It doesn’t ring a bell.
“We’vefound a lot of your historical studies manuals too… safe to say, inyour history beyond a certain point is complete and utter none sense.A great fiction writer could probably come up with more believablestuff.”
Theelevator slows down and a double ding occurs until it comes to asteady stop. The doors open and Chris steps out first, I follow.
Aheada long corridor, floors made up of smooth, marble and window’scovered in thin linen sheets, alit with glowing orb-like lamps,stamped on top of the ceiling.
Ithas a captivating essence; royalty.
***