Ink Chain

-Freya-Lynn Ellisc- (Chapter 4)

     I held my eyes shut as I lost my stomach, waiting for the convulsion in my throat to stop. When the fluids finally stopped, shivers sped throughout my body. I fell to my knees, holding myself in a hug.

     "Freya, we gotta go," I turned around, Nova had picked up Cecily and placed her head to rest on her shoulder. "We have to get to my house, we have a bunker. We'll be safer there until we can find out more." Nova's voice seemed so monotone as if she couldn't wait. I couldn't blame her, she wanted to get to her family.

     "Yeah. Let's go. Give her to me." I walked over to them, reaching out my arms to pick up Cecily. Nova reached out her arms, handing the little girl to me. Cecily is only 7, she isn't heavy. But when the orphanage still stood, she could wear out anybody who gave her the chance.

     Even so, I was always excited to come back home and see her. Kelan, Jillia, Lelan... Mother Liel. We all loved her so much. We all never imagined life without her. Now we have to imagine life without them...

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     We walked down large piles of rubble and rocks. When I couldn't hold out my arms to balance my steps, Nova would hold my arms and guide me down the rocks.

     Maybe she isn't just a hardass.

     The travel down the hill was silent. A few whimpers from Cecily here, a few curses from Nova there. But overall, I stayed silent. I didn't want to say something and make Nova mad, she seemed on edge.

     I paused in the middle of the walking and focused on Nova's mouth. She was mumbling something. I couldn't hear it, she was too far and too quiet.

     "You two still alive back there?" As I was thinking, Nova had stopped moving. She was standing maybe 10 feet from Basal Manor. And she still stopped to make sure we were with her... 

What the fuck...?

     There was a room filled to the brim with maps, weapons, and hazmat suits in the left windows. Why in the world would a beautiful house like this had a room so ready for destruction? I didn't want to go inside until I knew.

     "Nova, what is that?!" I stopped Nova, just before she stepped on the large porch. She looked back at me then at the window I was pointing to. "If there's anything nuclear in that room, I'm not taking Cecily in." She chuckled and stepped towards me, resting a hand on Cecily's head. 

     Cecily nuzzled into it, like a little puppy and giggled. How could she laugh at a time like this? I squeezed her a bit and pulled away, signaling not to touch her.

     "Don't worry Lynnie. It's just the strongest war room in Lunaris. No big deal." She knocked 3 times. 4 more. 1 final blow to the middle and we were in. A man in a large black vest opened the door, allowing us to pass. He side-eyed me and Cecily, causing her to flinch a little.

     "Don't worry, Cec," I whispered in her ear. "You've got the scariest person in Lunaris holding you, nothing bad will happen." She pushed her face into my neck a bit, feeling the warmth. 

"I promise."

I couldn't let her know that I was scared shitless. This morning, I was drinking coffee and talking to Mother Liel.

     Now, she's dead. And I'm taking shelter in a war room filled to the brim with weaponry. And men who look like they would enjoy ripping us to shreds.

     "Brutus! Magni! Where's my dad, War Room or office?" Nova stood proud n' tall in front of Cecily and me. Shielding us from the 2 large men. The men looked down at me and Cec and chuckled.

     "Hey dumbasses, I asked a question. Carliel Basal? War Room or Office?" The men grumbled, looking at each other, then back at us. The man on the left rolled his eyes and sighed. Cecily growled a little under her breath.

     "Office. But he's holding a meeting with a newcomer and his sister. Some kinda dynamic duo." The men started laughing as Nova and I looked at each other. "Oh boy, it was adorable. When those two met up, he got bitch slapped so hard and-"

     "No! No bad word or I'm telling!" Cecily shot up from my shoulder and shook the finger at them. No, not the bird, the disappointed mom finger for when a parent gets mad at their kid. Everybody immediately stopped talking and just stared at her and her little finger. I had to stifle a few laughs myself but Nova broke down.

     "Better watch yourselves, boys! Or else you'll get bitch slapped by the kid!" Cecily growled again, completely glaring at Nova. Luckily, Nova noticed. "I'm so sorry, you'll get very harshly slapped by the kid," Nova bowed toward Cecily, making her giggle and hug me from the excitement. "Is that better, m'lady?"

     Cecily gave a big thumbs up, shooting it out towards Nova and the guards. The guards looked like they had seen an adorable little puppy on the road. I guess the brutes have a sense of humanity after all.

Who knew.

     "Hey, can we take a picture with her? Please? She's just so adorable..." They each held up their transmitters and waited patiently for my answer.

     I'm sorry, who traded the big bad guys from literally 2 minutes ago out for these baby groupies? It's like children are a weakness if they're cute enough. Nova and I were still having, what could only be described as, a telepathic question.

Were the "Dynamic Duo" in the War Room Barak and Angelique Waraen?

     "So can we? Please?" The little baby-sick puppies looked as though they could beg on their hands and knees if I didn't comply. I decided to mess with them just a bit.

     "Whoa, hold on boys," I let a small smile creep onto my lips. "Cec, don't you wanna know your new friends' names before you take a picture?" Cecily smiled and shook her little fists in the air.

     "I no take pictures," her little buck teeth made it difficult to speak. "Until I know my friends names." I can never tell if this is what she thinks would make us happier to say or what she actually thinks. I hope it was the latter.

     Either way, she was fricken precious.

     "Oh, my name, sweetheart," the brute on the left spoke up and hunched down to her height. "Is Brutus!" The brute on the right hunched down and spoke quietly. "And my name is Magni!" 

     Cecily pushed away from me, signaling to put her down. And so I did. She walked over and stood between the brutes, taking their hands. I watched Magni turn his head and squeal into his shoulder.

     Brutus handed me his transmitter and smiled towards Magni. 

     "You need to calm down, hun. And stay still, it's a picture!" Magni took a deep breath and composed himself. "Are you ready?" Brutus laughed towards the other brute of a man, and they both smiled.

     Cecily stood still, leaning on her left foot. She had a big smile, it's nice to see her smile like that. I pressed the holographic button to take the photo, and that was that.

     A new memory in the grand scheme of the world. Maybe it'll be used as a futuristic document, a piece of history never to be replaced. Maybe it will never be remembered. And one day, thrown away. But either way, for those in participation, it meant a lot in the now.

     "I'm sorry, but you keep saying 'hun'. Are you guys together?" I smiled as I handed back the transmitter and crossed my hands in front my stomach. Brutus wrapped his arm around Magni and smiled. They both raised up their left hands.

     "Married and happy for the past 3 years! Actually 4 years on..." Magni stumbled with his words, trying to remember the specific date.

     Brutus rolled his eyes and chuckled. "December 31st. I don't know how you could forget that, its NEW YEARS EVE, babe." Magni turned red with embarrassment and moved out of the way.

    "Sorry, we got kinda distracted, go on in kids. But be careful," Magni winked at Cecily. "They aren't as nice as us." Cecily took my hand and we walked into the war room.

Not Fully Ready to See Whatever Will Happen Next...