It's the End of the World as We Know it (Silent Moments Series: Book 4)

Chapter 4

 The emptiness of the room echoed back my call, "Raven? Raven, you here?" The lack of response left a hollow feeling, underscoring the urgency and isolation of our situation.

Jaha, ever the strategist, voiced his suspicions. "Polyethylene silicone elastomer. We don't need that for a winter storm or to protect us from a Grounder attack. What are we really bracing Alpha Station for?" His probing question hung in the air, but I remained silent. Trusting Jaha with sensitive information felt like a gamble I wasn't ready to take, not until we had a concrete solution to our dire problem.

He continued, his voice tinged with a knowing wisdom. "Heavy lies the crown. I know the burden of keeping a secret you think is going to destroy your people." His words were meant to be empathetic, but they only served to remind me of the difficult path that lay ahead.

His attempt at understanding was met with my raw bitterness. "You locked me up for being born. You floated my father for trying to save his people," I spat, the pain of those memories still fresh and sharp.

Jaha countered with a harsh reality. "And now you understand why. No leader starts out wanting to lie, or imprison, or execute their people. The decisions you face just whittle you down piece by piece." His words, though harsh, carried the weight of truth, born from his own experience.

I was at a crossroads, and in a moment of vulnerability, I asked, "So what do I do?" It was a question I hated to pose, especially to Jaha, the man who had played a pivotal role in the trials and tribulations of my life.

Jaha's response carried a somber tone. "I'll tell you what I told your mother after the Culling. We make the best decisions that we can with the information that we have. Then hope that there's a forgiving god." His advice was a mix of pragmatism and resignation, a reflection of the grim realities of leadership.

His words left me with a heavy heart. The parallels between our paths were unmistakable, yet the thought of walking a similar road to Jaha's was daunting. The challenges of leadership were immense, and the stakes were higher than ever. His advice, though not comforting, was a sobering reminder of the weight of decisions that lay on my shoulders – decisions that would shape the fate of not just our people, but potentially all of humanity.

***

As the gates of Arkadia creaked open, my heart leapt at the prospect of reuniting with my friends. In these uncertain times, every moment of connection felt precious, a brief respite in a world where certainty was a luxury. My pace quickened as I moved toward the group unloading the rover, eager for the comfort of familiar faces.

Among them, to my utter surprise, was Riley. His presence was like a ghost from a life long past, a reminder of all that had been lost and unexpectedly regained. "Riley?" I called out, my voice tinged with disbelief.

Recognition dawned on his face. "Kegan?" he replied, as if he couldn't quite believe it either. Without hesitation, I embraced him, the hug a tangible affirmation of his miraculous survival. "I can't believe you're alive," I said, my voice muffled against his shoulder.

Bellamy, ever focused on the practicalities, directed one of the guards, "Get Riley and others to med bay. Tell them we'll take them to their villages in the morning." His words were a reminder of the continuous challenges we faced.

As the group dispersed, Raven approached with a sense of urgency, her eyes scanning the rover's contents. "Where is it?" she asked, her voice betraying her anxiety for the hydro generator.

Bellamy's response was laden with regret. "We didn't get the machine," he admitted, his gaze falling.

Raven's confusion was evident. "It didn't survive landing?" she asked, holding onto hope.