The Insurrection

Chapter Ten

"Strength grows in the moments you think you can't go on, but you keep going anyway." ~ Karen Salmansohn

It has been five days since the incident. Five days since Alex has been gone. Five days since I've last left my room, talked to anybody, eaten, or showered. What was the point? Alex is gone.

Dad tries my locked door for the thousandth time.

"Alan, if you don't open this door right now I will knock it down," he says.

I don't respond. I just don't care enough.

A minute later the door splits in two.

"My God, Alan." My dad breathes out when he sees the state I am in.

He sighs, "Listen, I know this is hard for you and I know you are grieving. But you have to put all that aside right now and finish the fight that you started," he jabs a finger into my chest, "And when we win, then you can mourn your brother." He says firmly.

"How can you be so heartless? Do you even care that he's dead! He's gone! And he's never coming back." My voice aches with disuse. Hurt flashed across his face and I knew that wasn't fair, and I know that he grieves his son in his own way too. I just don't see how I can possibly keep going.

"I'm sorry," I whisper hoarsely.

He pulls me hard into his embrace and places his head on top of mine.

"He would want us to keep going. He would want us to make this World a safe enough place for kids like him to dream of a future they want, not one they are forced to live in." Dad echoes the words Alex said at the river bank and I cry harder.

He hugs me tighter, "When we're done we will honor his life and grieve him the way he deserves to."

I nod. I needed someone to wake me up and remind me of this. To remind me of our goal and everything that we have sacrificed thus far for it.

I shower and eat before heading to the meeting room where everyone else is. I take a deep breath and open the door, not knowing what to expect.

All twenty-seven Insurrectors, now that Nicodemo and Zhong are dead, and forty-seven Chiefs' children are crammed into the room, and Taika's betrayal cuts me fresh again. She was the one who taught us how to trust, and I trusted her.

Leon is the first one who greets me with a quick hug, "Glad to see you're still alive."

I pull back, "I know, I'm sorry."

He gives me a short nod before leaning in to whisper, "Don't bite Taika's head off, she meant no harm."

I don't know what could possibly be more harmful than bringing in the Chief's kids to our doorstep but I nod anyway.

Zahra starts the meeting off, "Welcome back, Alan," she nods in my direction, "A lot of us have been missing from our daily sessions, understandably so. Some of you lost your child, sister, or brother. I want to remind you that everything we did in this organization was for them and their futures. They may not be with us right now, but that certainly shouldn't stop us from seeing our Insurrection through. If not for us, then do it for them."

She switches gears and steps aside for Taika. I can't even look at her. She clears her throat, "I know that some of you may be angry with me or feel betrayed that I brought in the remaining Chiefs' kids, but give me a chance to explain," she pleads before continuing, "I know all these people," she waves her hand behind her at the forty-seven boys and girls, "I grew up with them. They may seem like a little too much but they have good hearts. When we were in grade school we had this running idea that someday we would dismantle UniFed ourselves and press the reset button on the World."