The Leader

The Leader: Chapter Twenty Five

Chapter Twenty Five: Liam

I've been slightly more relaxed ever since I let Maya know of Caleb's plans. I told him right away that she knows, and he looked- for the first time- hopeful. Everyone now trains for the battle at least once a day. It's only been two days since Caleb had everyone assembled that first time. Everyone looks up to him and they follow all of his orders. They look ready to take a bullet for him. Caleb spends a lot of time walking through the fields around the house, and I'm worried about him. Losing the girl you love isn't easy to cope with. Today I decide to join him on his walk.

"Hey, Liam," he says before he even sees me. I catch up to him, and greet him back.

"Hi Caleb. How are you feeling?"

"Being here is helping. I grew up right here, and it's the last place I saw before I ran away. I like it here. It's peaceful."

"Maya misses you," I tell him.

"I know, because I try and contact her every day. However, she's so far away that whenever I reach out, I can only just hear her thoughts. I can't manage to communicate with her. I just wish I knew if this was going to work. I need to ask her."

"She doesn't know," I reply truthfully. "Or, well... she doesn't want to know." It's true. Maya doesn't want to know how this will turn out. She doesn't want to see who will die, or who will lose the fight. She doesn't want to know if Caleb will die, or if she'll fail. She's just hoping everything will go as planned. Caleb heard my thoughts, and he stops.

"If I die... if I die after I've freed her, I'll be content."

"But you know she won't be, right? If you're hurt, she would give up her freedom to see you well. She's selfless. You can't expect her to just forget you if you die."

"I have to!" Caleb yells all of a sudden. "I have to hope that even though I know I probably won't make it, that Maya will have a good life. I need something to fight for."

"No. That is something to die for. That's not something to fight for. Something to fight for is her happiness. Her future. With you." Caleb hears the true emotion that accompanies my words, and he pauses.

"I guess you're right. Maya needs me, so I have to stay alive and well. I need to do it for her." I smile, because I've accomplished something. Now Caleb can spend more time thinking of a strategy. When I go back to the house, I meet Talia in our room. Every one of my worries fade as we make use of the bed.

I wake up with Talia in my arms, and she feels so fragile right now. She looks so innocent, so young, I could just blow her away. She stirs and looks up at me. I smile in content, as this moment is perfect, just the two of us.

"Mm..." she says, reaching her hand up to my hair. "You are so perfect."

"You don't have to say a thing out loud. I can hear everything you think."

"I love you, Liam."

"I love you more."

"But is love enough? Will it be enough to conquer death in the end?"

"I'll make sure it is. I will show you how strong love actually is." And I mean it. Whatever it takes, I will prove that love is stronger than death, and the heart always prevails.

For the next two days, the level of tension inside every person rises one hundred percent. People snap at each other, women break down in tears, men fight each other. Everyone is terrified and excited about the upcoming battle. Couples kiss passionately, so that even if those are their final moments together, they will be special. However, no matter what the level of emotion is like, not a single person pulls out of the battle. Caleb seems to grow more impatient with each passing moment, and I know that to him it feels like months have gone by instead of days. He spends hours strategising, and by the second last day his plan is almost foolproof. He shares it with everyone, and we are all organised into different groups. Each person will play an important role, and we are all crucial to the plan. Caleb needs every single one of us, and we all know that, so we follow everything he tells us. Caleb has finally stepped up and become the leader. Once Ian is dead, I could see Caleb taking his place. Caleb would be right and just, and he has a certain charisma that- coupled with his unique compassion- would be an invaluable quality. You just can't help but like him. Caleb will the perfect leader. I wonder what he would say about that title: The Leader. I have feeling he would turn it down and appoint someone who he trusts. Maybe one of his cousins. Either way, the people would insist he take up the responsibility, and eventually he'd have to do it. Then we would have the perfect ruler for our unique world that is far from small. Yes. Ian has to die, and Caleb has to win.