The Roman Project: The Wronged

Chapter 24

Jeen didn't feel the bite of the wind as the temperature dropped, she didn't hear or see the headlights of Gabriel's ranger, dust blowing in the air.

"You gotta - you gotta get up! Get-get up!" Her voice screamed, hoarse and scratchy from her streaming tears.
She shuddered as more booming shots went towards the scattered Wardens that still protected the lab.

She screamed, her voice echoing through the night.

***

"Roman - take this." Isabella whispered, her voice slurred. She clutched a vial in her bloody hand, holding it out to him.

Roman took it, the corners of his mouth twitched downwards uncontrollably. His vision blurred as a choke came out of his mouth.

He reached out trembling, and took her hand in both of his.

"Mom-" He tried to speak, but couldn't utter a word more.

Jeen sobbed as she watched her mother's eyes drift from her face to the stars, to Roman, and back to Jeen. Her hand began to slip from Roman's grasp. He grabbed it and held it.

***

Everything became a faded blur of noise and movements.

Someone pulled her onto her feet and she watched the world spin in a silence that was screaming.

Jeen climbed into the car, feeling like she was barely controlling her own body.
She felt incoherent, she said something to Roman as he carried Isabella's body to the ranger.

But she didn't know what she said. Another round of bullets was fired at them and Jeen couldn't even hear herself scream. The ranger began to drive and her hands latched onto the seat with a death grip.
Tears were streaming down her face and the sound of the wind drowned out her sobs. She didn't know how much time passed. An hour maybe. Roman said something to whoever was driving. The ranger slowed down to a stop. The night had gotten colder and all was silent, Jeen looked up to the stars with tears in her eyes and a thought in her head that nothing would ever be the same.
But they would still be under the same stars as the times where everything was perfect, and whenever she would look up at the sky she would remember a time when there was a small and inseparable family waiting for her when she got home. Yet now it was broken, and now the stars were cold and unhappy.

Jeen walked beside Roman as he carried Isabella in his arms. They were atop another mesa.

Far away from the lab.

Roman walked to the edge where he laid Isabella gently on the ground. Jeen kneeled to the ground, feeling lucid for the time being, and closed her mother's eyes. Roman collapsed to the ground beside her. They were both silent, and as Jeen looked out at the cold desert night, she knew this was a place Isabella would've liked. A place that was peaceful, untouched by the worlds hands.
"We should bury her." Roman said in a hushed voice.

Jeen didn't know what he said at first but then understood and nodded. Roman stood up and picked a large rock, the only way to bury Isabella in the dry wasteland. Jeen stood shakily to her feet and began to pick up a few rocks slowly with a heavy heart and her face finally drying.

They stacked rock after rock, for hours until Shane and Bosma - Londen and Saule still missing - drove up to in another ranger. Jeen placed the last rock she had in her scraped hands into what was now just a large pile of rocks. Her arms and legs were shaking as she looked out on the horizon to see dawn had just begun. They had been in the desert all night.

They spent the next few hours of the early morning in silence. The only sound was heard was the desert wind across their faces, blowing their clothing and hair. Jeen knew they had to go soon, knowing that there was nothing more they could do. She began to walk away, soon followed by the others all except Roman, who didn't move.
"We should go now, Roman." Jeen said in a thick voice.
"There's one more thing I have to do." He said quietly, then walked into the desert.
A while later he came back with a stick he had fashioned into a cross. Jeen walked over to him, knowing now that he wanted to make a grave marker.
"Wen, do you have a knife?" Roman asked in a sad and quiet voice, Wen nodded and handed him a knife from his jacket. Roman said a quiet thank you, and began to carve Isabella's full name into the wood. Jeen walked over to the grave and dug a small hole in the dirt with her fingers. Roman stuck the wood in ground. They both sat and stared at the words that were carved roughly:

Isabella Maxine Starc

"Let's go now." Roman said quietly.

Jeen nodded and they stood up and walked to the ranger, but before she got in, she looked back at the sunrise and the grave, wondering what would be become of them.

"C'mon Jeen." Roman said as he got in the ranger beside Wen. She nodded and climbed in, and this time refusing to look back for fear that she wouldn't be able to leave if she did.

***

Londen and Saule ran up the steps of Shane's house. Londen threw the door open, storming inside.

"Shane! You here?" He yelled.

Shane stood from his chair, the neon light from the screen of his computer casting him in a shadow.

Londen rushed over.

"I don't know what we did wrong, but there's posters for us - me, you, Roman, and Wen." He said breathlessly.

"I know. We have a problem."
"What? Why did this happen?" Saule asked.

"Londen, you mentioned working for a man since you were young, yet not knowing his identity."
Londen nodded.

"I think I may know who he is, and why those posters were put up. Don't worry, I have it under control for now."
"Who is he?" Londen asked, holding his breath.

Shane pushed his chair into the table and walked closer.

"His name is Yoseff Mann, but before he named himself that, he was Lucan Lionel."

Londen let out a whimper, trying his hardest not to give up. He felt like screaming.

"They're all going to die." He said, beginning to pace, panic becoming overwhelming.

"Londen. Londen, listen." Shane said, grabbing Londen's arm and looking him straight in the eye. "They're not going to die. I have it all under control, and as soon as they return, we're going to leave. I'll keep our location hidden for as long as I can, which could be months. Just trust me."

Saule's lip trembled as she tried to believe Shane's words from across the room.

(thank you so much for reading! We're nearing the end now... lol jk. If you liked this chapter vote please! Thank you <3 xoxo)