The Cipher

Chapter nine

The dinner couldn’t have been going better. I was with the guy I loved, and Zulu, who was now becoming closer to me. A friend. A true friend.

  Something I never had before. Onyx, too was gaining my trust, and was becoming closer to gaining my friendship.

  I sat at that table full of laughter and life, and couldn’t help but feel thankful. Blessed by whatever being ruled over us in the sky to have people who exuded love like the sun gives out heat. My heart was swelling all throughout dinner. Even as I was shoving food down my hatch, I was laughing out loud, ditching my table manners for a night.

  As the night went on, and we were licking out plates, and finishing our dinners, Zulu stood up and began to speak as if she were the leader of this organization.

  Which made me finally remember Shields. Where was he?

  “Hey, Zulu!” I called to her as she clanked her plastic cup to get everyone’s attention. 

  She looked down at me, as if she felt sorry. 

  “Where is my brother?” I asked. “I thought he would be here.”

  My heart sunk at the thought of Shields not wanting to see me.

  “I’m sorry, but he can’t do that.” she said, as she beckoned Cyrus and I to stand up.

  We did so hesitantly, her words having taken us aback.

  “In Cipher Shields’ absence, we have been graced with his most trusted comrades.” Zulu addressed the entire organization.

  My brain didn’t listen to any other words than ‘absence’.

  “Zulu, you tell me where the hell my brother is right now.” I demanded.

  “Aspen…” she began.

   “That is Colonel Aspen to you.” I said, raising my voice. I heard several gasps. Not many people were used to Zulu being spoken to in this way, I supposed. “I order you to tell me where my brother is right. This. Instant!”

  Cyrus didn’t speak up, but he folded his arms, nodding in agreement.

  “Aspen, I don’t know how to tell you this… we’re all devastated.” she began.

  My mind instantly went to the worst-case scenario. 

  Was Shields dead?

  “A little over a month ago, he was taken into HQ custody for conspiring against his government. They found out he was the leader of the rebels… and he is scheduled for execution in the near future.”

  My jaw dropped. I felt that fluttery feeling in my stomach, and the urge to hurl. I felt my breathing go awry and my world tilt into insane proportions.

  “Why didn’t you tell me earlier” I managed.

  “I wanted you to be in a comforting environment when you found out. I knew you wouldn’t take it easily.” she eased. “I wanted you to be with those who love you.”

  “Love me? You people hardly know me.” I growled.

  My sight was fading in and out. My vision was waxing and waning like fuzzy radio transmissions.

  “Aspen, you need to calm down.” Zulu advised, speeding toward me. Suddenly she was holding me in her arms.

  “You’re stressing Aspen. You can’t do this now.” she whispered to me, and only me. Then she addressed the rebels. “Somebody get me a bottle of red pills. Right now!”

  I felt myself vomit all over myself. I could see nothing but Zulu’s face. Her eyebrows drawn upwards with worry. Her eyes tearing up and her lips trembling.

  “I can’t lose you…” she began to sob. “I promised him…”

  I don’t think anybody was around us. For if there was, Zulu would never have cried; showed weakness. Yet I was still there. Maybe she thought I wouldn’t remember, but the better part of me knew that she was bearing herself in this way because she trusted me.

  “What did you promise my brother?” I spoke weakly, my stomach still queasy.

  “That I would protect you at all costs. And I would protect anyone you love at the same price.” she spoke, regaining composure.

  “Now why would you do that?” I asked confusedly.

  Her beautiful lips formed very beautiful words. I had only the attention span to watch them as they spoke. “Love is a curious thing. It can make you; or it can break you. And it’s never really even your own choice. You’ll do things you never had thought yourself to do. You’ll find yourself saying things you never thought you would. You’ll learn that soon enough from Cyrus, as I have from Shields.”

  My mind didn’t have the capacity to realize the meaning to her words. It didn’t have time to analyze the fact that she had just, in a way, told me she was in love with my brother. I didn’t have time to realize maybe Zulu needed the red pills, and that was how she knew I needed them. I didn’t have time to realize Zulu was telling me something about Cyrus as well.

  The only thing I had time to analyze was that my friend was just as stressed as I. Although my stress wasn’t apparent to me, and hers was to herself, I knew Zulu needed some comforting words.

  “Zulu, he’s not dead yet. Have some hope.”

  She said something back, but I had passed out.