Purple Roses

Chapter 29 - Rising Up

"Do we have everything?" Oscar asks, as we go to leave.

What is he on about? The whole issue with this plan is that we practically have nothing, no weapons, no nothing, just a small map and that's about it.

"Yes." I bluntly reply.

"Okay then, let's go-" Oscar attempts to say, before there's a loud knock on the door.

Mum steps in front of all of us and opens the door quickly.

To my utmost surprise, it's the prime minister.

"Hello. I apologise if it's late." She says, her usual cocky attitude replaced with that of more shy and hesitant.

"What do you want?" Mum asks, still bitter from our last interaction with her.

"Well... I've heard rumours of you going to the Shadow side a lot to try and take down the royalty and the regime... and.. I-" She stutters.

I'm preparing to be arrested, or yelled at, or looked down on.

"I'm sorry." The Prime Minister says sincerely. "I'm sorry about Luca, and the people on the train, and for prioritising profit over people."

We all stand in shock.

"After our last interaction, it left me shook, I realised I had gone against the very things I had campaigned for, I had lost myself." She says.

"What are you saying?" Mum questions with suspicion.

"If, if you want to do this plan. I can help you. I can't directly send soldiers because that would be a declaration of war, and we can't fight them." She tells us. "But, if you do defeat them, that's when we can send in an army."

The Prime Minister places a large button with a plastic cover into my hand.

"If you take them down, and only then, press that button, it will send a signal to us, and we can move in." The Prime Minister says.

"Why are you doing this?" Oscar questions.

"Because it's the right thing to do... all of those people trapped in an endless cycle of violence. This is one of our only shots to take it down, at least in the near future." She replies.

"Thank you." Mum says, a face of shock, confusion but also joy.

I must admit that has boosted my confidence a bit, but it also leaves me with more questions. How on earth did she find out? Well, I guess if Oscar was doing research online or did his notes online then it could be tracked, oh well, it's the twenty-first century, privacy isn't a thing any more.

The Prime Minister quickly retreats to her car and drives back off, it's very late now.

We begin the tense trail towards the fence which has brought so much life but so much bloodshed.

I wanted more time to prepare, but before I know it. We reach the fence.

DO NOT CROSS - BACKLANDS BEYOND

A sign angrily displays to us as we reach the Sunsider fence.

Oscar swiftly pulls back a bush to reveal a large hole in the fence.

"This is it. Here we go." Oscar says with power, almost like he's psyching himself up."

Mum follows in after him, and I go to do the same, but then I realise James is still behind me.

I gaze up out of instinct to see him staring down at the fence in pure fear, his eyes tense and hesitant.

"Are you alright?" I ask quickly.

"I'm- I'm scared." James stutters, tears beginning to slowly form as all the memories plague his mind. "What if you're right- what if this is a bad idea-"

"James, it will be alright, I promise. Trust me, okay." I say reassuringly. Albeit, I'm not assured at all.

Apprehension is still displayed across his face. I gently reach out my hand for him to take, and he reluctantly accepts.

We travel through the fence together and out into the backlands.

I must admit, the backlands are beautiful. I believe it's my first time seeing fireflies, and the little streams and ponds are bursting with life. Purple roses practically cover the path, a homage to all the lives lost in the war. The bewildered trees try to convince us to turn back, waving helplessly in the wind, but to no avail.

As I see the large, booming, angry wall grow closer and closer, I feel James clench my hand tighter and tighter.

Oscar and Mum are a few feet ahead, but like us, they haven't said a word.

Thoughts run around in all of our minds, every single brainwave questioning why we are here, what we are doing, why we are doing it.

After what feels like a short lifetime, we reach the wall. An old and rusty vent cover lying on the cold floor, the shaft open, its greedy jaws welcoming us into the trap.

Oscar signals that this is the right place, and climbs up, followed by mum, followed by myself.

I flip around and help James up into the vent.

Here and now, I must admit, I have a morbid fear of tight spaces. As we crawl I feel my chest grow tighter and tighter, I want to scream, my heart is beating rapidly, at this point I can't tell if it's the fear of being here or being in this confined space.

It feels endless, just crawling and crawling and crawling. Until, eventually, after what feels like a century of hell. We reach the exit and quickly slip down into a dim and empty corridor.

We're in.