The Chosen Ones

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Today was the day. They were all going to tie up any loose ends they had. Matt made sure Mary and Ben knew all his information. His life insurance policy, his will, and the combination to his safe. If anything happened to him they would be the ones who would take care of Tyler.

Shannon quit her job as a teacher. She said even if they made it through she didn't feel like teaching was for her anymore, and if she was being honest with herself, there was always something that didn't feel right about it, like she was meant for something bigger in life, something like what they were doing now. This is what felt right to her.

Casey told her that it was because they were meant to be the chosen ones, so everything else WOULD feel wrong. It was their calling.
Shaun sold his landscaping company to a guy from town that had been offering to buy it for a few months now. He said after Bill died he lost all interest in keeping it up and running anyway.

Matt and Casey took a drive with Tyler to the Maple Brook cemetery. He wanted to make one last stop to see Amy. He walked up to her grave site while Casey took Tyler for a walk. She wanted to give him privacy.
He knelt down, placing a single rose on top of the headstone.

"Hey." Matt started. "A lot has happened since I came here last. I don't really know what to say....... Turns out the night you died wasn't random after all. It was all because of Tyler, our boy. I know if you knew what was happening you would have given your life to protect him anyway. I just want you to know I'm not going to let anything happen to him. And I'm going to make them pay for what they did to you."

He paused for a minute, looking for the right way to say the next part.
"I met someone, her name is Casey. She really loves Tyler, I know that would be important to you. I feel guilty sometimes when I'm with her, though. I know you wouldn't want me to, but I do. I never thought I'd feel this way about anyone ever again..... She'll never take your place, I just want you to know that. I'll always love you and the life we had together. Anyway...... I just wanted you to know."

Talking to her now lifted a big weight off his chest. He needed her to know what was happening, and he wanted to believe she was listening. He needed her to know about Casey.

She came over and took his hand while Tyler walked over and kissed the top of his mom's headstone, something he learned to do after seeing Matt do it. Now, he did it every time he came.

Tyler never knew his mother, but Matt did everything he could to let him know who she was and how much she loved him.
"You okay?" Casey asked him.
He took a deep breath. "Yeah, I am. Thank you for coming with me."
"Of course." She replied, leaning up against him. "I bet she was incredible." Casey added.
"She was." Matt replied.

The next stop was dropping Tyler off at Shannon's parents. They greeted Matt and Casey with hugs. Mary and Ben knew how important this night was. They had been told about it in stories from the elders who came before them.

They explained to Matt, Casey and Shannon this night was known as "The First Battle." The elders had talked about it often, years ago.
When pushed by Shannon about how it ends they swore they had no idea, the outcome wasn't written, only the story of the night the chosen ones took on the cult. It wasn't lost on any of them that it was known as the "first" battle. One would have to wonder how many battles Matt and his friends were in store for.

Matt hugged Tyler. "You be good. I'm going to pick you up in the morning."
"I love you." Tyler said.
"I love you too." He paused as he looked into his son's eyes. "You know that don't you?"
"I know dad." Tyler replied, hugging him again.
"You have fun tonight, I'll see you tomorrow." Matt said to him.