The Last Ranger

Chapter 8: The Mission

Claudia was home. Never in her life had she been glad to be here. For years, she dreamt of leaving Sanctuary F-19 behind, never to return. Now she was relieved to be here. She found herself in the comforts of the yellow crop fields, with the small town sitting peacefully on the horizon, with friendly voices echoing on the wind. The sun was setting, vanishing behind the forest. The day was coming to an end, yet now, while Claudia was at ease, something gave her pause. It was a seed of doubt, a seed planted by the setting sun. It was setting to the west instead of rising. It broke the illusion. Suddenly, the crops around her became foggy and transparent, while ahead, the echoes of voices turned into screams of agony.

"What is this?" Claudia wondered, but her voice felt far away. Around her, the landscape changed from serene farmland to a world on fire. The sea of yellow crops was gone, replaced by black ground of soot and ash. Beyond, the forest was aflame, and the town was nothing but blackened ruins. Somewhere, Claudia heard someone scream. Was it pain or fear? Claudia did not know... She was afraid, but her father's training rang in her head. "Control your emotions!" he screamed. Claudia took in a deep breath and ran towards the screams. Suddenly, she was inside a town. It was smaller than the one back home. The burned-down buildings were made of wood instead of brick, and the entire village was built around a fountain. Masked men gathered the town's inhabitants there, separating the men from the woman and the children from the adults.

The masked men had their way with the village woman before killing the village men, castrating them, and cutting off their heads. They arranged the heads around the fountain after they gathered the children inside it. Then they dragged the women away towards a hovering black figure in the distance. One woman caught Claudia's eye. She struggled free from one of the men, launching herself towards the fountain. She screamed something as she sprinted forward.

The masked men caught her and laughed as they dragged her away. "My baby!" she screamed one more time. And there she was, Claudia, kicking and screaming in the arms of an older girl among the children.

"Mom?" Was all she could manage.

The world vanished into a thick cloud of ash and smoke, and soon only flashes remained. The woman, her mother's face, lingered in her memory. They had the same dark eyes and hair. The same smile. It felt real. Claudia reached out to touch her mother's face, but the visage evaporated. She was alone now in the darkness.

"Find me." A voice boomed.

-

Claudia woke. She found herself on an unfamiliar bed in a strange house. She tried to move, an action that sent a sharp pain through her body, originating from her left shoulder. The arm felt numb, and the pain had made her dizzy. She collapsed back into the bed, closing her eyes and hoping the pain would disappear. She remembered the warehouse. There was still a soldier left... The one in the office. She was preoccupied with the chained girl and forgot he was there. She remembered the muzzle flash, the impact of the bullet and then...

The chained girl was dead... I tried to help her... By the Creator, I did... Claudia began to cry softly. It was then she saw the other person. Another woman, about her age, a little shorter than her, dressed in a near-transparent turquoise robe revealing her bare body beneath. Her hair was long, blond, and curly. A nearby fireplace lighted only her back. Her face was turned towards a window, hidden in shadow.

"Who...Who are you?" Claudia asked. Her voice was hoarse.

The woman turned to Claudia revealing her sparkling blue eyes. She smiled. "I am Aurora."

"Where am I?"

"A safe place. Your father brought you here so I might tend to your wound."

"My father." Monroe... "Where is he?"