Deprived

Chapter 36

Maize had been out for a week in some type of coma. She was still in pain, but it didn't matter. William had reported to President Roman that he had found her brother and mother in Passion. President Roman assured Maize they would scoop them up and then head west. Maize remained on a high.

As they drove off the mansion grounds, Maize looked back at the place that almost took her life. She was grateful that life had finally smiled on her even though there were wicked people in the world.

But she had learned that destiny would place the right people in your life at the right time. And they were often the ones you least expected. And that hope, no matter how slim, was always present. And if you kept your eyes on hope instead of misfortune, you had a better chance of coming out on the other side smiling.

The copper-headed driver was driving as slow and steady as he could on account of her injuries.

She felt dazed, as if she was sleepwalking, but she knew everything happening around her was as real as the sunlight that was shining down on the car, warming her face.

She was seated behind President Roman. She lay her head back on a pillow, closed her eyes for a few moments, and then looked through the window.

It was her first time seeing the grounds where most of the elitists lived. Their mansions were white and pushed back from the road. Flowers, like rainbows, flowed through their front yards.

Different types of vegetation grew freely on massive lots. Blue hats, worn by field workers harvesting, bobbed about in the massive fields. Didn't they know they were free?

They pulled onto Main Street and drove past a group of colorfully clothed, dignified people standing outside ProLab.

"Don't worry." President Roman looked back at her. "Just a group of the city elders wanting to meet you. Politics."

"Are they all with us?"

"Not quite, one Jules Caan didn't like how everything went down. But I wouldn't worry about him; he's just an old fart like me." President Roman laughed. "The rest are happy to help me regain my presidency."

That was all Maize wanted, better leadership for her and her people.

She had a question but wasn't sure how to ask without embarrassing herself or the president. Something she had always wondered about.

The president had to be way over one hundred years old. She had survived the worst.

She would ask anyway.

"President Roman? How old are you?"

The jeep swerved a bit. The copper-headed drive glanced over at the president, who couldn't stop laughing.

"I love this kid. In the last few decades of my life, she's the only one who didn't try to manipulate the answer out of me."

Maize's face grew hot.

"My dear Maize, let me put it this way, I am not quite two centuries yet." He giggled.

Maize smiled.

"Those elders wanted to meet you today. But I knew the villagers were second on your list to greet, your family and William being the first."

"Thank you, sir."

They didn't talk much as they drove down Main Street. They drove by clusters of villagers. They were fitted in clean clothes but were clearly from the village. They stared up at the buildings in disbelief like she had done when she had first transitioned to the capital.

Maize spotted Leon Boon walking down the street. He was talking with three beautiful girls. The guy loved the ladies.

Driving through the gates of the capital was surreal. The massive golden wings closed shut behind them.

They remained closed. The villagers had to be quarantined before they could enter the capital.

Fair enough.

The impossible had become possible. After over one hundred years, Maize was the first Chosen to enter the capital and leave alive.

***

Maize and President Roman sat on the podium in the squelching heat. Thousands of villagers, primarily Lessers, stood near the front and looked at them as if they were otherworldly, supernatural beings on the verge of telling them something monumental.

The jumbo screen showed live footage of Eric Aberdeen's lifeless body hanging on the gallows at an undisclosed location somewhere in the open desert. His body was unrecognizable as black and red mutant birds pecked at his decaying flesh.

The mayor talked feverishly about Maize's courage to stand up against the enemy.

The same enemy he willingly served for most of his life.

"President Roman." He turned to look at him. "I am so glad you are back with us. Years ago, when you were reported dead, it changed our lives forever. But now that you are here with us, I'm at a loss for words." He pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his dry eyes.

As the mayor folded his handkerchief, a commotion started in the crowd. Armed guards in green, President Roman's men, were making their way through the crowd. Maize's body trembled and grew cold all at once. She grabbed President Roman's arm; he patted her hand and stood up to greet the messengers.

Two men stood back as one moved forward and whispered something in his ear.

The president sat back down.

"Is it Liam? Ma?"

He nodded. "And William."

"I'm sorry, kiddo. I was sworn to secrecy."

Maize scanned the crowd.

Secrecy? What?

Her mind started drifting to the thought that President Roman had betrayed her.

The three agents stepped over and stood in front of her.

She looked up, and they all removed their hats.

Their faces were familiar, but it couldn't be true. They were in Passion.

But standing before her were Ollie, her mother, and William. As she stared at each of their faces, a more petite figure stepped from behind her mother and smiled at her. It was Liam. He had put on a few needed pounds, and his eyes beamed with health.

She stood up, and group hugged her family. Her heart palpitating with joy. She buried her head on her mother's chest and cried.

They were with her, and this time, it wasn't a dream.

The crowd erupted in applause when they realized what they were witnessing.

Maize was with her family. All the ones she loved best. They were all alive and well.