Chapter
10
Discerned
“Justremain calm.”
Chrissays.
Isnicker. “Trying.”
Ihear his giggle. “You’ll be fine. Anyways, the Heir Council ismade up of seven members, each entitled to their own opinion. Theyall have one goal in mind, the greater cause, and they don’t solelysee in the short term, they visualize the long term outcomes aswell.” Chris says.
“Dothey ever disagree?”
Chrisstops and turns around, his hand grabs a hold of my shoulder before Icollide with him.
“What’sthere to disagree about if they’re all seeking one thing?”
Irub my forehead. “I-I mean not everyone views things in the samemanner”—
“Divisionmeans there’s corruption. Division is wrought by apathy-riddenincompetence. We’re not you, we’re not a slander and inepthumankind that sought pleasure before anything else, no, we’re notthose, nor will we ever become them. Accomplishment is in light of abetter future.” Chris hesitates and then shakes his head. “Iapologize Wesley.” He stares into my eyes. “Perfection isimpossible to achieve. But things can be refined.” He pats myshoulder and continues his course down the slanting hallway.
Hiswords… I-I can’t completely grasp. I feel them, I can absorbthem, feel the omnipresence that radiates throughout my whole getcaptivated, inspired, and waft away as though sucked whole by thetide… but that’s only because the soul that derives in meunderstands, but my broken mind can’t.
Icatch up to his stride and run into him when he stops withoutwarning.
“S-Sorry”—
“Quiet.”He says. “This door leads to their audience chamber. Relax, don’tfret, just be yourself.”
Itake a step back and nod.
Hecovers his head with his hood and for the first time he snaps a goldmask on his face. He glances over at me.
“It’stime.”
Igulp.
Hegrabs the door and opens it for me.
“Enter.”
Itake a step inside the warm room. Take a whiff of the pleasant, yetdelicate aroma… nostalgia grasps a hold of me, and a memory bloomsin my head…
Itwas dusk…
Acool breeze swept over the long strands of dancing grass and thetrees shivered as their leaves sprinkled over me. I took a whiff ofthe pristine evening air after a downpour and felt the left overparticles of moisture haze off the trees and onto my skin.
Ishuffle through the grass as I made my way through this field. Iwasn’t aware of where I was or what I was doing, but I knew that ifI remained my course I’d hit the camping ground…
“TheHeir Council welcomes you Wesley…”
Irecognize the voice that makes my memory vanish with a poof a smokebehind my eyelids.
Iglance at Emilio Espondrè. He sat in a higher pulpit then the restof the seven Heir Council members, three to his left, and four to hisright.
Theones on his left wore a crimson gown outlined in black, and theirheads covered by hoods and faces veiled in white. The four to hisright wore a tranquil light blue gown outlined in white, and theirheads covered and faces veiled in black.
“Pleasemove to the circle on the floor.” Emilio says.
Iglance ahead and notice a small circle on the ground and take a stepin the circle.
“Beforewe commence, on behalf of the entire Heir Council, we’re gratefulto have you.”
Inod. “T-Thank you.”
Emiliorises and bows.
“We’vethought and thought about your particular situation Wesley. Your caseis something that’s one of a kind, a first, and a last. Our shoesare weighted down by the consequence the near future might dwell uponif we seek to completely extinguish”—
“Ifyou need to dispose of me p-please don’t hesitate.” I say.
“We’renot merciless dear Wesley, please don’t consider us monstrous we dothings for the good of not only our humanity, but our Eden.”
“We’renot selfish.”
“We’reselfless.”
“We’reforgiving.”
Speaksthe three Council Members to Emilio’s left.
Ilower my head and close my eyes. “Why come here? Then why causemayhem?”
“Fora man suffering from amnesia you sure have an understanding of thesituation that’s happened—no, happening throughout the vastoceans surrounding this place. Has your memory rekindled and you notwish to say?” Emilio says.
“No…but from the bits and pieces of memories I have been having I’vemanaged to paint a picture”—
Emiliorises and outstretches his arms. “A picture of what? A picture thatdefines our humanity?”
Iopen my eyes. “I-I can’t seem to find a way to explain.”
“Friendships.”
“Family.”
“Connections.”
“Corruption.”
Thefour to the right say.
“Enlightened.”
“Definitions.”
“Courageousness.”
Thethree on the left say.
Emilioclears his throat and claps his hands. “Enough.” He says to theCouncil Members. “So you’ve judged our race for the acts we’vecommitted?”
Ishake my head. “I’m not certain what’s happened since the timeI recall to now. But what I know is that I fear you, everyone, I fearfor my life… this soul housed in my body, knows something I don’t…and I am heeding it’s apprehension.”
Emilionods. “That’s understandable.”
Itake a step out of the circle. “Tell me about the Great Flood?”
Commotionbetween the Council Members echoes across the room.
Emilioraises his hand. “Enough. The Great Flood washed the taint ofcorruption off Eden and reestablished a new blood, and a new era, forthe old human race,” he points at me. “Your humanity.”
Vague…too vague.
“Furtherdetail will require a private audience. The information is too pure.Please return to the circle Wesley.” Emilio says as he sits.
Itake a step back into the circle and lower my head.
“There’san important task you must undertake. One of grand importance, notonly for the good of my humanity, but also for our Eden. You’regoing to be accompanied by Mindy and embark to the old state ofAlaska, where you’re to seek traces of activity. From yourtestimonial pertaining the evacuation transports being taken toAlaska, you’ll investigate and seek out any anomaly. Since you’rea human you wont be slaughtered on sight. And to prove you’re nospy, Mindy can be used as collateral.”
“N-no-no,hell no, I refuse to place her in danger.”
“Itwas an idea she put on the table. It’s for the sake of everything.If only one is needed to save a million, then that’s a sacrificeI’m willing to take.” Emilio says.
Irub my face and nod. “Fine, ok, ok.”
Asupernatural blow catapults its way down my throat and makes its wayinto my heart. An empty hole, a void cavity punctured by the thoughtof sacrificing her life… will I be so cruel to do such an act? No,f*ck no, I’d take a bullet for her, I’d sacrifice my own life forthe good if it were to spare her life.
“Thenit’s done. Wesley Stamps you’re to undergo this operation withMindy Knight. And we hope that in your travels you regain yourmemory.” Emilio says.
“I’massuming Mindy is also there to also keep tabs on me?”
Emilionods. “Correct. She’s to oversee the operation and make surethings are going as planned.” He pauses and points at me. “And ifyou’re to fail, we’re to intervene.”
“W-Wheredo I begin?”
“Oneweek from now you’ll depart via a miniature cruise ship. Insideyou’ll be given all the necessary things needed in order toaccomplish your task, food, weapons, and other gadgets. Reason wechose to travel across the ocean is to remain as inconspicuous aspossible. We don’t want to draw attention if there’s some sort ofresistance there.”
Inod.
“Untilyour time comes, you’re to rest and relax and enjoy the vistabefore you set for the storm.” Emilio says as he stands andpresents his arms. “Council members you’re free to be on yourbusiness. Thank you for witnessing in this trial.”
TheCouncil Members stand, bow, and then make their way out from theback.
“Now.”Emilio steps off his pulpit and makes his way towards me. “So youwish to know about the Great Flood huh?”
Inod, "Please."
“Curiousindeed. And I’m surprised your memory hasn’t deciphered it, I’mquite aware your race has its own story about the Great Flood, hassome knowledge of the flood crawled its way into your head.” Heraises his hand and pokes my forehead. “Relax your heart. Mindywill be fine, and you’ll be fine, there isn’t anything to fear.”
Igulp and shrug.
TheGreat Flood doesn't ring a bell, or bring back any recollection.
“Socan you tell me?”
“Ofcourse, let’s go somewhere a bit more relaxing. A stroll on thebeach is the perfect setting.” His eyes dart over to Chris,“Christopher you may accompany us,” he pauses and then smiles.“Your mask won’t be needed either, you can get more comfortable.”
Chrisshakes his head and I hear his muffled snicker, “Sounds delightful,I was getting hot.”
“Ithought so, now, let’s be on our way.” Emilio says.
***