The Great Awakening

Chapter 9

            Melissa awoke from another nightmare that night, the same recurring nightmare that she had been having every single time she slept. It was dark outside, with a hint of a red light flickering only for a moment before dies down. Troy, she sighed as she thought. Always smoking… Truthfully, she didn’t mind him smoking at all. She also didn’t mind being reminded of the person he once was to the person he is now. It brought a smile to her face, a much needed smile after revisiting something so terrifying.

            She turned to the other side of the bed to see Jayden sleeping on the adjacent mattress. Always so peaceful, no matter where he was. She couldn’t help but think of the day leading up to tonight. Oh how their lives were changed within the course of a single day. But in the end, at least they were still together. Melissa and Jayden versus the world.

            After remaining in bed all day, she couldn’t handle staring at the ceiling anymore. She gripped the bars at the edge of the bed and used them as leverage to sit up, but winced harshly yet quietly at the acute pain that shot from her broken fingers. Through the moonlight, she could see the well made caste over her broken digits. It must have happened when she was asleep, when she was tired to notice. She shifted to her side and made out the door to Troy.

            “You should be asleep,” he said rather nonchalantly. “You deserved it.”

            “Well deserving something isn’t the same thing as needing it.” She rebutted in a kind fashion. “Can I get one?” She pointed to the cigarette.

            “You quit though…” He took a puff. “You quite when you were pregnant.”

            “And I haven’t had one since.”

            “So why smoke now?” He took another hit. “It’s bad for you.”

            “Says the guy smoking one right now.” She chuckled. “C’mon. Just one.”

            He handed her the pack and a lighter. “I’m only letting you smoke because you’ve been through a lot today.”

            “You don’t let me do anything.” Melissa placed a cigarette betwixt her lips and ignited the end before taking a puff. She exhaled the smoke a second later with a relaxed breath. “I do things because I want to…”

            He nodded and took another hit. “It’s no wonder Jayden is so smart and independent. He gets it from us.”

            She chuckled. “Maybe so…” Melissa leaned back against the wall, curling one leg at the knee. “So how has the Freedom Fighter’s been treating you?”

            He pretended to gasp. “Oh so we’re talking now?”

            She smacked him semi-playfully on the chest and rolled her eyes. “C’mon. If my new life is going to be here, I might as well catch up with you.”

            On his face was a planted smirk. He flicked his cigarette before talking. "Well… Just got a batch of new recruits yesterday…"

            "Recruits?"

            "Yeah…" He took another hit of his cigarette. "People who are tired of the current system, looking for a change."

            "Or a place to eat and live."

            "Isn't that all the more reason to join us?" He said with a soft tone as he inhaled more smoke. "We provide for the hungry and fight for their equality. There, they were treated like dirt, but here, they are treated as equals."