The Mystery Of Blonde Beauty

003

Charlotte

Savannah's words meant a great deal to Charlotte. Nobody had ever promised safety, loyalty, or trust to her except for this tattered and dirty blonde. She had gained Charlotte's respect. Charlotte's brain thrust into a flashback, the worst part about her PTSD. She felt like she was reliving the nightmare. There she sat, on top of bland bedding surrounded by blandly painted walls with an IV pumping unknown liquid into her bloodstream. She was depressed and, for some odd reason, being tested. She was only nine-years-old and she had already heard that she should hate herself and shave her head. Reaching up, she tugged on a curly strand and let it go free. It bounced as if it had a mind of its own and made her smile. She loved herself and adored her hair although the people around her, who she had grown up with, wanted nothing to do with it.

Savannah placed a loving hand on Charlotte's shoulder. The girl pulled away, forgetting how good it felt to be touched, it shocked her. "Sorry." Charlotte apologized. "I was lost in thought."

"I noticed." Savannah dropped her hand and posed a question. "Are you okay?" Okay . . . such an odd word to cover up depression.

"Yes," she lied, "I'm just fine." The word okay is dead to her. That's all that she would recite when being tested. She had to submit to the pain that doctors inflicted when they plucked her hair and pierced her skin. Okay. . .

Savannah knew better than to believe the child. She made a mental note in the back of her brain.

The girls finished what they were doing on the bank of the river and began their journey once again. "What exactly are we looking for?" Charlotte inquired, chuckling at the fact that they could be going in circles. 

"Any sign of life."

"It'll probably be the more privileged sector of humanity." Charlotte rolled her eyes. "If we run into any brown heads we should severely injure them."

"Whoa." Savannah was taken aback. "I see the type of person you are."

"Indeed." Charlotte smiled up at the tall blonde. "Don't you want them to pay for their sins?" She felt genuine revenge rising in her soul. A mischievous smirk covered Savannah's face.

"I guess I do. After all, what good have they done for people like us?"

"Exactly." Charlotte twirled hair between her index and middle fingers with a wide grin that raised her chubby cheeks. Flashes of the heart crippling memories flooded into her mind's eye. 

Little did the pair know that this was the start of a total uprising and mass chaos. 

They continued through the forest with no destination other than the rumored colonies. It was midday by the time something interesting began to take place. The sun was on its highest shelf in the sky and sweat began to pour down the two young adult's brows as they trekked on. 

"Wish we had a cup or something to store water in." Charlotte hissed at their unfortunate circumstance. 

"We'll be alright. We consumed enough water for three days. I'm sure we'll find something by then." Suddenly Savannah stopped in her tracks and grabbed Charlotte's bicep to stop her. "Shh. Do you hear that?" They listened for a few seconds, holding their breaths and scanning the treeline. 

"I don't hear anything."

"Look over there." Charlotte followed Savannah's finger to the vicinity that she was pointing at. Farther into the woods was a clearing and in that clearing was a giant tent with two armed guards posted outside the entrance. Neither girl breathed for fear of causing attention to themselves although they were far enough not to be seen or heard.

"What do we do?" The redhead sought confirmation from her elder but Savannah had no idea. All she knew was that the two of them will not be captured and/or killed tonight. If anything should happen, she will protect Charlotte with her life. Engines roared in the sky above their heads. Their eyes looked upward to see a large helicopter flying overhead, descending quickly. "They're trying to land. We need to get out of here."

"Hold on." Savannah wanted to get closer. She took three steps forward before Charlotte clutched the back of her shirt and thrust her back.

"What are you doing!?"

"Getting a better look."

"Do you have a death wish!?"

"Look," Savannah put her palms on her companion's shoulders. "If we're going to change what the brown heads are doing, we've got to find an in. We have to study what they're doing so that we can alter their plans whatever ways that we can." The wind blew her blonde hair softly and birds chirped around them. Charlotte didn't feel empowered by her spiel. Hopelessness washed over her facade.

"We don't even have people behind us, Savannah." She had been ready for this and was quick to respond.

"We have to make a fuss. Other people like us will see what we are doing and it'll draw respect and a following. Besides, you have more knowledge than any of the blondes do at this moment. You were inside one of the most top-secret laboratories the government has built, or so we know of. You and I can do this alone for now."

"I may have been locked up in there all my life but I was literally locked up. I didn't have free reign over the place. I don't know every twist and turn of the building. I don't know any information."

"When the time comes, you will find that you know the right information needed to help the blondes. You are one of us now, and you are powerful."

"I don't understand."

"You will when the time comes, Char." Savannah repeated. "You're going to be our secret weapon." Charlotte thought on that as she followed the blonde who crept closer to danger. They hid behind the large tree trunks until they had a clearer view of the makeshift base. Charlotte didn't feel powerful, but she wanted to help. Her mind clouded with thoughts she's never had before. 

Thoughts of rebellion.

"Get behind me." Savannah ushered and Charlotte did as instructed. The wind blew more harshly than it had before and their ears popped from the sound and pressure of the helicopter landing on a small patch of grass only yards from the tent. The two girls watched intently, captivated with anticipation and pure mystery. 

Finally, after minutes of waiting patiently for the helicopter doors to slide open, Charlotte and Savannah's wish was granted. The windowless doors were thrown open and, much to the blonde and redhead's horror, a whole armed police force began trampling the grounds.