Ivory Chronicles

Act III - Resurgence Isle Part 4

Carving in the Sand

As Leo led us through the trees, thorny bushes, and dirt paths, we finally emerged into an abandoned neighborhood, where torn-down and vandalized houses dotted the landscape. Leo's house, with its peeling and weathered paint, was no exception. Stepping inside, the interior matched the exterior's state of disrepair.

Leo continued to guide us to a small, dimly lit room, where his mother lay frail and bedridden, her breathing shallow. Beside her stood a much younger boy than Leo, his eyes betraying wisdom beyond his years. I assumed he was Leo's brother; they looked remarkably alike.

Leo knelt beside his mother, whose eyes glimmered at the sight of him. She mustered the little strength she had to embrace him, while the younger boy eyed us with suspicion.

"Mom! These guys are The Sunspears, the revolutionary group we always hear about on the radio! They came to help us! They also needed a place to stay for the night, and of course, I offered," Leo's voice brimmed with excitement. He seemed to truly believe in us.

"That's great, sweetie!" Leo's mom replied, rubbing his arm and giving us a warm smile. "Of course, they can stay the night. I'm Mayra."

I stepped forward to introduce ourselves, but before I could speak, the younger boy chimed in. "No! If we let them stay, things will only get worse here! You're already causing trouble over at Vanity, and now you'll bring your troubles here too? This island has enough problems already. Don't come bringing your pointless revolution here." His voice was serious, his face etched with irritation.

"Diego!" his mother yelled, which caused her to start coughing violently. Diego immediately tended to her, apologizing, while Leo just stood there, helplessly watching his mother slowly succumb to her sickness. It was clear that Diego was the primary caregiver, while Leo, likely out searching for help, struggled to stay by her side and witness her suffering. Diego shot an angry look at Leo, who then looked down in shame.

I exchanged a glance with my team, feeling the weight of Diego's words and their dire situation. I was left dumbfounded, unsure of what to say.

Then Max, usually more reserved, stepped forward. His voice was soft yet laden with emotion. "I understand what you're going through. My mother... she passed away because we couldn't afford her medicines. She lost her job, which meant losing her medical help, and she got worse every day until she finally..." He trailed off, unable to finish the sentence but continued, "It was the USC's involvement on our island, with their new policies and restrictions, that stripped us of everything. I promise you, we will get you those medicines. I won't let what happened to me happen to anybody else."

Max stood determined, but Diego remained unfazed, silently focusing on his mother. The room was heavy with unspoken pain.

Leo left the room, and we followed, leaving Diego to attend to his mother. We returned to the living room, sparsely furnished with only a sofa and a small wooden table. "The first room to your right down the hall is empty, and the one at the end is mine. You guys can take those rooms; I'll take the sofa here. Sorry, it ain't much, but there aren't any motels or hotels open at the moment. They've been closed since the storm hit. But I know a guy who can help. Just give me a few hours," he said with sudden energy before heading out the door.

"Did he just leave his mother and brother with four strangers in his house?" Fabian noted, finding Leo's trustfulness unusual.

"Maybe he knows we're here to help," I replied.

"Or he's still naive," Max added, as he turned toward the room at the end of the hallway, Leo's room. His demeanor had changed since we arrived. Fabian followed behind him, turning to wink at me before entering the room.