Ven: Part 2

Ch. 2 Thatta way

"What do I do what do I do what do I do what do I do?" I pace back and forth in the front room.

Jacob has sunk to the ground to hug his knees and rock back and forth.

"Well do something!" Marney yells.

"Like what? Go out there and be a hero? I'm not a hero!" I yell back.

"Then don't be a hero! Be a leader! Be a man! Be anything other than this!" She gestures to my whole body.

"If I take lead, I'm leading everyone to war!" I yell, spit flying from my mouth, "I told you I'd chosen where I'm going, once I start there's no going back!"

"Then start! We're all ready!" She glares at me.

My bottom lip quivers, I bite it to make it stop.

"I'm scared." I gulp hard.

"Well take the plunge," she thrusts the mouthpiece from the cockpit at me, "Everyone is waiting on you!"

I stare at the mouthpiece.

It stares back at me.

They'll hate you.

What if they don't?

"Ven," Jacob says shakily, "I believe in you. I'm with you. You can do it." He gulps nervously and nods his head in rhythm with his rocking.

Marney thrusts it at me harder.

"Damnit..." I mutter.

I snatch the mouthpiece.

"Uh, hey everyone," my voice rings out across the town. I cringe at the sound of my own voice. "We're about to be under attack, or rather we are under attack. Uhhh, anyone with a power that can help protect us meet me at the side of town facing the ship, everyone else stay inside and stay safe, I guess..."

I put the mouthpiece down.

I'm drenched in sweat.

I snatch it back up again.

"I'm about to declare war on the World Government too, grab a house and run if you aren't into that!" I yell into it awkwardly and slam it down.

I pant and stare wide eyed at the mouthpiece.

What have I done?

What if I walk out and there's no town left?

Oh no oh no oh no oh no.

"That wasn't awful," Marney supresses a laugh.

"You got the word out at least." Jacob slowly gets to his feet.

"What have I done?" I fan my sweaty chest with my hands, "Why is it so hot?"

"Put some dry clothes on and let's go," Marney says. "It's about time you took some initiative."

"Right," I point at her awkwardly and run up the stairs to my room. My walls are covered in a rich maroon wallpaper, I had my bed enlarged by Marney to fit my height which sits as a mattress on the floor, clean clothes and random bits and pieces are strewn across the floor. I rip off my wet pants and underwear and throw them in a heap out the door. I pull on a clean pair of underwear, some shorts, and a singlet. I dash down the stairs and find Jacob and Marney waiting for me at the door.

"Let's go." I nod and gulp hard.

Jacob leads the way at a slow jog down the dirt road towards the edge of the town. As we pass eyes stare out of slats in windows following our path out of town.

How many houses will we have left by the end of this?

If they leave, they're filthy cowards.

Stop!