Burning Gold

Part 5

Jayla

Skylark has something else planned. The rain has been poisoned. The crops can't grow and the river is dead. We have no water. We are running out of time. We are running out of food and we are losing numbers. Now we only have twenty. We lost ten in the last week. We aren't what we used to be.

"As many of you know, the Rebels are failing. Failing in many ways. We are dying and losing a war with Skylark." The small crowd of Rebels looks sadly back at me as I break the news most of them have known for weeks.

"I'm saying this now so if anyone wants out they can leave. I will not drag anyone to their deathbeds. Go now if you wish to leave, gather your stuff and go back to the city. Under one condition you mustn't say that you were a Rebel. You cannot rat us out. You can not betray us. Please save yourself," take a pause to see if there are any takers. No one says anything. The few Rebels look around at each other. I stare in their eyes hoping to get them to leave. I can't be the one that gets ten kids killed. All the Rebels now are children that parents sent away in hopes they would lead better lives.

"If no one is going to leave then we need to pack up camp. We are moving the Rebels. We are going to the other worlds. Many of you have heard of them, but we all think they are rumors from other rebellions. But there can't just be the city and the woods. What else is beyond that. There must be the world, other lands, other rulers. Somewhere. We can look for them. Maybe start our own city."

The Rebels are picking down the camp tent by tent. We are leaving right away. It's

in the night so we should have plenty of time to travel to the next safe place that we can hide from the sun.

"Ok, everyone ready?" I ask. It feels strangely empty being the only leader. As of a week ago Chase was my second in command, but he went missing. We found his body days later. He was mauled by a Lykos.

The Rebels have come together in the middle of what used to be our home. Everyone is carrying what they can. There are no longer little children. Our youngest, Echo, died of fever a few days ago.

Everyone nods their heads and we start into the woods. The trees are dense but we follow a deer path to the next camp.

The walk is tiring and we must take many breaks for the kids and the ones falling under the fever. Slowly we make our way west to the otherworlds.

After what seems like hours we make it to a cave. The cave is hidden by a fire proof tarp covering the entrance. It just looks like the rest of the moss covered cliff. The sun is just starting to rise and we are just in time.

I pull the edge of the tarp up and wave the Rebels inside. The inside of the cave is dark. A single lantern hangs on the wall sending shadows everywhere. The smell of tea and a fire fills my nose.

"This way," I motioned for the Rebels to follow me. I start down the cave hall. I hold up my own torch to light the way. Down the hall there is a round green door. I knock on it.

"Zina?" I called. There is no answer. She should be here. She never leaves a fire going while she isn't home. I yell some more. Nothing. I crack open the door. The fire is going bright in the kitchen. There is a couch on the side of the cave and another fire going. The smell of tea meets my nose again. I whip my head around to the kitchen. A girl is sitting sipping on a cup of tea smiling at me.

Rue

This girl Jayla. Runs towards me. Her arms are outstretched as if about to pull me into a hug.

I know Jayla, I will not kill as Skylark as asked me to. She changed me, gave me strength, speed and power. She tried to reprogram me, but it did not work. I remember everything. She tried to make me follow her orders, but she cannot bind me to her will. She may be able to heavily influence my decisions, but she wasn't able to take away my memories.