The Revelation

II

"Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and sea, the devil has come down unto you, having a great wrath, for he knows he has little time." Revelation 12:12

                                                                      He, With the Curious Scar

Macey

In the time since the beginning of the Revelation, we've been hiding. Execution squads scour city streets in waves, isolating rebel groups and eliminating the resistance. Anyone who disagreed with the New Order was immediately executed. Gina was unlucky enough to be part of the first round of executions. Since then, 12 more squads have worked to eliminate entire communities- decimating populations known to hide and host resistance soldiers. We were lucky enough to flee to the outskirts of suburbia shortly after the first round, most of our community did. Luckily, there's plenty of nature preserves and heavily wooded areas just outside of the city. Every once in a while, though, Will and I would spot a white uniform walking in the trees, curiously searching the area for signs of rebellion. Today was no exception.

I looked down the scope of my rifle to the white fleck standing between two tall evergreens. I could almost make out the black patches in the uniform, high ranking officer. He was staring at us. I turned to look at Will, dread and fear in my eyes as his face went stark white. A single rifle shot. My heart jumped at the echo as the squeal of a boar rang through the air.

A flood of pure relief washed over me. I thought we'd been had. My blood ran cold and my heart thumped violently in my heaving chest, my hand shakily holding the grip of the AK. I prayed the thick cover of greenery hid signs of life as we closed the chimney and the fireplace doors, smoke gradually seeping out of the cracks and into the room. We couldn't afford to be seen, but, we couldn't die of inhalation. Quietly, I turned to crack a window and a guttural pause overwhelmed me. There, staring back at me in the window were the deepest set of green eyes I had ever seen.

I stood, matching his intensity as he stared into the cabin, his hand resting on the windowsill. I saw his eyes snap up to Elda behind me. A creepy, sheepish smile formed over his thin lips and his breath fogged the glass before he slammed the window open and stood back. His hand removed the hat from his head and long, jet black hair cascaded from his scalp, curling at the ends. A scar danced from his forehead to his chin, rounding his nose and mouth slightly. I took a step back, my hands immediately touching Elda's.

"Elda, go find Will." I demanded, keeping the rifle pointed to the raven-haired man.

"Now, is that any way to treat your guest?" I scoffed at his jollity.

"Fuck off." Will's voice was short and curt, clenching his teeth in fury.

"Tsk, tsk- Now, Will, may I call you all by your first name?" He looked between us.

"You're housing a woman and child and, if I'm not mistaken, it's an Esmerelda Whitmore and her mother, Serena." The man looked around the room before taking off his gloves. "May I? I'm not here to harm either of you. Ijust want your guests." He began to reach for the doorknob.

"Don't move." Will demanded. I tightened my grip on the AK and shouldered the stock a little tighter before sucking in a breath and moving my finger to the trigger.

"Very well. Just give methe child and her mother." The man demanded.

"Why?" I asked, my inquisitive nature had always been a downfall.

"Serena is an employee of the New Order of the Americas. Unfortunately, her employment was recently terminated. Now, Serena and her child are charged with treason for the murder of Sky Allistor and his fiance, Margot." I looked at Will before looking back.