A Chain Reaction

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~Balance~

Elizabeth has chosen me to send out into the city to locate a window in the guard schedule the Hatees made. If so, we might be able to escape from this war and to the City Of Kindness. I do not know if I desire to leave, but I will still perform as Liz requested.

To accompany me and this trip, I chose Talia. After my days observing the others, I feel she is the best fit for the job. Talia is tiny, clever, and refrains on arguing. I wonder if she will get along well with myself, let alone Ember! We Balance do not back down from speaking our minds.

Talia agreed to come, I can tell she felt a little squished in this safe house.

"Okay, you two, I found this map in one of the storage rooms, the red circle is the base. The green represents the Four Winds Restaurant. Anywhere in blue is eligible for a window." Liz informed Talia and I. "Remain out of sight, and watch for guarded posts here, and here." She pointed at yellow marks on the map.

"Anything else?" I ask.

"Nope, just remember that your backpacks have water, walkie talkies, and lunch." Liz smiled from cheek to cheek.

"Alright, and if we get caught, press the red button?" Talia pointed to the her walkie talkie.

"Indeed, good luck." Liz answered.

"Many thanks." I beamed, before Auber activated the exit passage. She bid me the same by thumbs up.

"Knock when you return, I will listen." She bowed her head.

"Okay." I looked to Talia before we jumped onto the circular platform that brought us up to the fountain. Water gently splashed my face and the sun invaded my sight. "I forgot we had to get wet." I pointed out.

"Never." Talia replied, as she began to climb the silver statue just behind the passage. "My mother used to tell me that there is never one way to do things." She stood on the head of the lady holding the five symbols of faith. "I believe her because I watched her pass away, and she chose the way she did it."

I chocked on my own spit after Talia spoke of her mother's passing. She spoke so calmly, like it didn't phase her.

"How do you suppose we get out of here without getting wet?" I challenge.

"The same way one leaps before thinking." Talia put out her arms and eyed the ground just beyond the fountain. "You have your ways, I have mine."

"You are going to get hurt." I argue.

"..and you are going to get wet." She smirks.

Without another word, Talia leaped from the statue and began to flip in the air. My breath got caught in my lungs as I prepared myself for the worst. What seemed like an hour later went by before Talia landed. She was on two feet and did a tiny roll before standing straight.

"Now..." She dusted herself off. "How do YOU plan on getting out?"

I never thought much of this conversation, until it became somewhat of a milestone in my life later on.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Talia and I strolled down the street connecting the fountain to the main road. It appeared to be deserted, but we still took extra precaution. Alleyways were good for shortcuts, and walking under the transport tracks was good cover. We haven't seen any Hatees yet, but many of the yellow marks are on the main road.

"It's a ghost town." I point out in a whisper.

"It reminds me of home." Talia replies. I had heard about the Kindness troubles from my parents. The God ran away from his city, deserting billions of followers in a damaged society. Ruffians and thugs began to create groups of leadership, and in less than a month, everything fell apart. It was nearly impossible to escape the city.

"How did you get out?" I ask, maybe too directly.

"My brother and I weren't full Kindness worshipers yet, the gangs couldn't track us. We managed to slip past the border without being sensed."

I look to the cloud momentarily to absorb Talia's words. There, breaking through the clouds was a grey spec. It was moving. Only in the sunlight could I see the red symbol on its side.

"They are watching us from the sky." I hoarsely whisper, as I duck further under the tracks.

Talia is quick to follow behind me. "Planes?" She questions.

"Yes, they were clever. Nobody will suspect them to patrol from the air."

Talia glanced at me. "What if we get caught?" She flashes different emotions. "Maybe we should go back, I don't want to go down."

"You shall not go down if you come with me." Behind us, and old lady reaches out to us. She is covered in torn rags, and she didn't appear to have a cloak. "The people can't afford to lose a Balance member, and you; you have been told about in the letters." She then lays a hand on Talia's shoulder.

The lady walks away from us, and begins to attempted to break a piece of the transport support patch.

"Let me help." I offer, and we break away the transport. Another secret passage is revealed.

"How?" I gasp.

"Welcome to the Doby." She says, and continues moving. "I have something to show you."

We walk for a good twenty minutes, down stone stairs that appear to be crumbling away. This certainly is a city of secrets.

"A long time ago, a man came into town and took refuge in my house. He said he didn't belong in our world, that people would come for him. I didn't think much of his words at the time, but after three weeks, he woke me urgently in the night." The lady took a deep breath. " He foretold his end from the start ' Tula, they are about to arrive, take this box and hide it deep in the Doby.' I didn't know what he meant by 'Doby' until he lead me down stairs, kissed me hard, and shoved me down into a secret tunnel."

"You loved him?" Talia questions.

"Yes, but he is dead now." She pauses for a moment. Showing no emotion. "Moving on; I spent hours snooping around the Doby, looking for a place to hide the box I had been given. I also searched for a way out. That's when I stumbled upon this room." Tula opens a door and reveals a tiny green room. Green. "I know what you are thinking, this is an outlawed colour, but there might as well be no laws anymore."

"What colour is it? It's brilliant!" Talia gleams.

"It's green, I've only seen it once before." I answer.

"Correct, Balance. I spent the night here, and began to inform my neighbours about this place. We became an underground empire, until the Hatees came. I am the only on left."

"Why are we here?" Get the point please.

"I want you to know my story, as I know yours. I knew you would be at the transport tracks today, as inside the box was an envelop that told my density. Two envelops are left, for you two. Please read them." She gestures to the worn out box in the green room.

"Yeah, okay." I walk in, then dive into the letter labeled "Balance". I don't believe much in people being able to tell the future, this lady was a lunatic! I hope she knows I won't hesitate to use my Balance powers on her wacko butt.

Dear Valued Reader,

Valued? Whatever.

The world around you is crumbling down at your feet. My advise to you is to keep your feet above the rumble, don't let it consume you. The beating heart inside your chest is brave, and your spirit wishes to wander free. This makes you valuable, beyond the fact that you are one of the last remaining Balance members that walks about freely.

Please, Juliana, listen carefully. You must not relax, not get comfortable in your safe house. The Hate worshipers will keep you on your toes. Don't let anyone else tell you what is true. Trust your gut.

Take these Eyes To See, to help guide you through your journeys ahead. Try them out. You are apart of a select group who is receiving Eyes for these troubled times. Events are in motion, embrace it.

As crazy as it is that this letter is real, while I read the rest, my mind wanders. I wonder what Talia's note reads.

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