I let the sun’s warm touch sooth my sweat ridden face
The exhaustion circulating throughout my body has me craving for food and water. I stagger across the loose foliage crackling beneath my feet until I trip over some tree root and tumble on the ground. I roll on my back and close my eyes.
Footsteps grasp my attention. I glare up and see nothing. I roll on my belly and crawl to the nearest tree trunk.
“Uh why are you crawling?”
That voice… Rebecca.
I rise and see my lovely daughter standing not even ten spaces ahead of me. She is as beautiful as her mother. I can see her in Rebecca’s hazel eyes, smooth ivory skin, and long chocolate brown hair. The wind’s gusts shuffle her one-piece spaghetti strap-dress that’s ablaze with yellow and black. I smile.
“You look familiar.” She strolls on over to me, plants her hands on her hips, and raises an eyebrow. “Do I know you?”
“Hello Rebecca.”
She gasps. “Y-you’re that Dr. Harris Brown aren’t you?”
I hesitate.
Her eyes squint. “You look different… uh hello?”
“Yes Rebecca, I’m Dr. Harris… Brown,” I cringe at that man’s name.
“It’s Becca by the way”
“Of course, of course. Pardon me. Becca.” I reply.
“So,” she peers around, her hazel eyes trailing left and right. “Why are you in the middle of nowhere?”
“Shouldn’t I be asking that question?”
Rebecca crosses her arms. “I’m just out for a walk.”
“Without any supervision?”
“There’s nothing that can harm anyone in this place”
“Wrong.” Spat Thomas, appearing from the shadow. “Becca you shouldn’t be out here. It’s dangerous.” Thomas gives me a serious stare while he straightens the duffle bag strap that’s slung over his shoulder.
“You again… you really like to just magically sprout out of the blue don’t you?” Rebecca says with a pinch of sarcasm.
Her personality and forwardness astounds me. She reminds me of… me.
“Monarch’s Reach isn’t safe anymore Becca, nowhere is safe anymore.” Thomas says.
I stagger and flop down on the ground. I lean my head against the tree trunk and clutch my famished stomach. I felt awful. My body wouldn’t budge at all. It craved for shut eye… but one that I doubt I’d wake up from.
“Here,” Thomas hands me a large tin can. “Meal-Replacement.” He assures me.
Rebecca clears her throat. “And why isn’t any place safe anymore?”
I pop open the can and gulp the thick liquid down. The cold drink slithers down the cavity of my stomach like a slab of ice sliding down my hand.
I croak. “Any more?”
He slides the strap off his shoulder and hands me the duffle bag. “It should last you for a week or so”
“Hey, excuse me? Am I invisible? What are you talking about?” Rebecca snaps.
Thomas sighs. “I can’t tell you why. And it would be best that I walk you out of here.”
Rebecca gets on her tippy-toes and stares over Thomas’s shoulder at me. “Is he going to be alright?”
Thomas outstretches his hand towards her. “Yes”
“I found a little cottage not too far from here”
“Do not speak of any of this Becca. Take my hand and I’ll take you out of here.” Thomas insists.
“Tell me what’s happening first and then I’ll leave,” she squints her eyes at Thomas. “By myself, thank you very much.”
Thomas shrugs. “True-bloods are intolerable.” He mouths beneath his breathe.
I chuckled and rise. I take the duffle bag and sling it over my shoulder.
“Rebecca, please understand that I’m a wanted man. And because of that it isn’t safe in these parts.” I whisper. “Nowhere around me is safe.”
“He’s right Becca.” Thomas says.
She sighs. “Don’t worry. I won't tell anyone… I’ll be going now.” Rebecca gives Thomas and I another serious look and runs off.
“Quite a character isn’t she?” Thomas mutters.
I nod.
“So. Have you thought about a plan?”
“I have something in mind.” I reply and then wince, “But… it’ll take coordination in order for it to work. Let’s head to my cottage.”
We move through the forest caressing us with broken shadows and hints of sunlight here and there. The vague trail I left composed of a thin line streaking over the soil is almost covered by all the fallen leaves.
This place, this so-called Monarch’s Reach, is the closest thing to a living, breathing forest we’ll ever get to gaze upon. Most of this was my plan to preserve what riches Earth had before the Time of Departure. However, the evolution of the Ark, which is one gargantuan Biological Membrane… known as a bio-dome, houses all the riches Earth has left.
Most of my research and innovations to restore anything didn’t help me much. And I’m not sure what the Council has in store now for my little piece of heaven… but only time will tell.
My small cottage… is pretty much an abandoned and unfinished lookout point for Monarch’s Reach potential ability to house wildlife. Thomas and I are the only ones that know of this location… and now Rebecca.
I stop and face Thomas. “Ok.” I mutter.
“Ok?” He replies.
“Here’s what we have to do Thomas. I have to fringe my death. But in order to do that we’ll need witnesses… Sam, Rebecca, you, and a fellow Myrmidon of yours. That’s enough to convince anyone. This place.” I point at my cottage. “Will have to be the trace. Lead the Guardians here to acquire my scent.” I say and take a breath.
“The children?”
“I’ll have to expose myself to Sam and Rebecca a bit more so that my trace can somehow stick to them. It will endanger them… something I didn’t want to do, but I trust that you’ll keep them safe from harm since I can’t.”
Thomas nods. “I’ll do my best… so what else?”
“Once we get enough of my scent on them… I hope that Sam somehow manages to acquaint himself to Rebecca and show her the Quebec Front. I’ll have to take Sam there and since he’s been hanging about that river a lot I can somehow trail him to it.”
Thomas crosses his arms. “That’s a bit of a long shot don’t you think? It’ll take luck for things to fall in to place”
“That’s why it’ll take time.” I say and head towards my cottage.