In the Aftermath

Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten: In the Aftermath

Ethan wondered if the adrenaline shot was starting to wear off as the effort required to take another step increased with each one that he took. It was as if the Earth's gravity had increased and it was pulling him back. He felt sick but thought not to say anything to anyone since everyone else seemed to be doing just fine.

Saria walked--or rather ran--to where Mark's voice originated from. When she looked back and saw Ethan slowly falling behind, she grabbed his hand and pulled.

"Come on, you move like a helpless turtle," Saria urged. Her gaze met Ethan's just for an instant and then returned back towards the front, a cute little smile present on her lips. 

Confusion was the only word Ethan could think of to describe how he felt at that instant. He was confused about this tug that he felt right by his gut; it was weird. But it was the good kind of weird. Just for a moment, his steps seemed lighter and the despair that he felt not minutes ago seemed a little more  bearable.

There was a change in Ethan but he made it an effort not to reveal anything from the way he looks. Especially not to the disheveled girl, now leading him through the crowd. He watched how her dark brown hair mirrored the moves of her whole form as she slithered towards the front of the assembly. He thought about his hand being squeezed ever so gently by her's.

As if on cue, the meeting started as both girl and boy reached the front of the audience.

 "What are we going to do?" was the question that rang in the air. Instead of relief and joy, everyone else seemed to feel like Ethan: confused and afraid about everything. About nothing. 

The meeting went on with Mark explaining how the next step obviously is to journey to the surface. "There's nothing else left for us here, and our food supply won't sustain us for much longer," Mark said.

His remark was met with mixed responses from the crowd. As far as Ethan could tell, everyone seemed to agree that the only way to go now is up towards the surface. And yet it was as if no one wanted to move a muscle. No one wanted to head back.

Everyone is scared, Ethan thought, realizing what has to be done.

He let go of Saria's hands, acknowledged the surprised response from the girl, and raised his arm.  At first, no one noticed him.

It took Mark a couple of seconds to realize Ethan's gesture and acknowledged him. With a small nod towards the boy's direction, the crowd's murmurs grew silent and all eyes fell to the boy reaching to the sky--or in this case, the cave roof.

For a moment, the words seemed stuck on Ethan's mouth. "What if we send like a scouting party to check out the surface first before everyone else follows?" The cave was as silent as the dead.

There was something in the look that Mark was giving him that made Ethan felt strange. "Excellent idea, Ethan," Mark said, the words void of any emotion. "Everyone else could be getting ready for the move down here while a small group of people check the surface if it's safe."

Then, a new voice rang out from the crowd. "Right," it said, "And then the scouts can warn everyone else if there is anything we should watch out for once we go up." Ethan was surprised to see Saria's eyes lit up with excitement as the words left her mouth. It almost made him smile.

There was a soft murmur of agreement that enveloped the crowd. 

"So do we all agree?" Mark said, raising his voice a little to be heard above the murmurs. "Shall we send a small group to survey where we will go?"

Soft spoken approvals could be heard scattered throughout the audience. No one wanted to admit their fear of the unknown, undiscovered surface that was once their home. Ethan remained silent as he waited for the most important question to rise.

"But who shall go?" Mark asked.

Once again the room fell deathly silent. Not one person moved a muscle. Most averted their gaze in an attempt to shrug off any attention they might acquire. 

This is ridiculous, Ethan thought.

"I'll go," he said, stepping forward from the crowd. He felt everyone's eyes bearing upon him but he kept his trained on Mark. There's no way the crowd would make him rethink his decisions. For a moment, Ethan thought he saw Mark's expression change. Was that sadness? Or fear perhaps?

He wasn't able to complete his thoughts as a familiar voice spoke once again.

"If you're going up there, then you'll have to take me," Saria said. "I'll help the scouting party."

Ethan was shocked, he thought he was truly being electrocuted as his body froze in paralysis. It took a great deal of effort from him to look back and see the girl's eyes looking up to him and was that a smile on her face? Ethan grew scared thinking how much chances were there that insanity cracked her mind already.

Still unable to move, Ethan watched as three other men joined the scouting group. One of them looked like he was just about fifty and his physique did nothing to make Ethan feel better.

The two other seemed just a couple of years older than Ethan and it was obvious that they were related. Perhaps their brothers or cousins, Ethan wasn't sure.

In any case, Ethan felt confused about how his plan turned out. Considering the people that would be joining him for the journey, he almost felt that his plan backfired. Why did she had to come?

"OK, people," Mark said with the same emotionless voice. "We have our five brave scouts. Show them appreciation and support for their courage. And to our brave scouts, thank you. Meet me in an hour so we can plan the journey."

And with that the crowd dispersed, signaling the end of the assembly.

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As people made their way to wherever they had to go, Ethan looked back hoping to force some sense in to Saria. He was surprised to find that she had vanished among the crowd. Probably getting ready for the trip already, Ethan thought.

He was in midthought when a hand pulled on his left shoulder strong enough to spin him around. His initial reaction was that of anger and retaliation but these were quickly quelled as Mark's old, grief stricken face appeared in front of him. 

"You don't have to do this," Mark said, his eyes wide and sharp as they pierced right on to Ethan. 

Offended, Ethan shrugged off Mark's hands from his shoulder. "Who the hell are you?" he asked. "You can't tell me what to do. I don't even know you." 

Mark's expression softened a little with Ethan's remark. "I..I know you just lost your parents," Mark started, "...but..."

"Get off of me!" Ethan nearly shouted. With a quick shove he released himself from Mark. A multitude of responses filled his brain but for some reason Ethan couldn't bring himself to say them. All he could manage was: "Leave me alone!"

With a sharp breath, Ethan stormed off the field and disappeared into the crowd, leaving Mark caressing his own hand.