Rowan: The EcoPan

The EcoPanopticon Of Eden

We walk and try not to look back as we leave so many behind. I feel bad for leaving them but I won't let them burn. I won't let them be lost. I'll be with them every step of the way from now on. Because they are my people, and I am their Ecopan.

"What will happen to them?" Lachlan asks as he leans into his walking stick. I know that he's always the hero and now being the one in need is hard for him. Fern whispers into Rook's ear and Rook becomes more grim, taking her hand.

"They'll be okay. I promise," I say earnestly.

"How can you promise that?" Lachlan asks and my heart breaks. He's not mad, he's just frustrated and feels guilty, but still, I feel hurt by him, especially in these circumstances.

"I-I just have faith, don't you? Lachlan, everything will work out, it always has," I say softly. Lachlan shakes his head and exhales sharply. "Things won't always be like this."

"Well, that's what we said when we first escaped Eden," Lachlan sighs. He might be right about that part, but I know the true reason. It isn't his, or anyone else's fault that we winded up here but mine. I was trusted with the duty of the Ecopan and I failed. I failed to protect my people, even the people that just tried to kill me because they are all my people. I have touched every living soul on this earth and they are my children. Now it is my job to keep them safe. All of them.

"Speaking of Eden, Carnelian is still trapped there. He has a stab wound as well so tomorrow we'll set out for Eden with some healing herbs," I say as we reach Mira's garden. Rook squeezes Ferns hand a bit tighter. They have to be strong for me right now. They have to play along so Lachlan doesn't know somethings up. "Lachlan, I need you to promise me something," I look up at the foliage above the door, "When this is all over I want you to make a sign for this garden. Make it say 'Mira's Garden' and paint some pretty flowers or something. Only a painter of your skill deserves the task."

"I'll do my best," Lachlan promises me and I squeeze his hand as we enter the garden. I brace myself, looking around at my beautiful surroundings. Where else on the earth would I rather be? I squeeze Lachlan's hand one last time before turning away from him. What I'm about to do is going to break his heart. I walk to the statue of Aaron and reach into the water, turning the nob.

"Rowan, what are you doing?" Lachlan warns me, thinking I'm about to open the door to something they've never seen before, but they already know. They know everything. They know more than him at this point because they know what's about to happen.

"It's okay," I reassure him and we all head down the narrow staircase.

"Why are we here?" Lachlan asks as he gets flustered again. This place holds bad memories for him, and it's about to again.

"I'm sorry," I say looking into Lachlan's gorgeous second child eyes then push the same button as last time, Delete: Permanent. Electricity courses through me and I fly backward. Like last time I enter a starkly white room with Aaron in front of me.

Hello Rowan.

"You win," I say resolutely and Aaron grins. This immediately irks me. I almost thought coming here would feel like a victory for myself as I decide my own fate, but it's only a victory for him. He got exactly what he wanted.

We will both get what we want, Rowan, EcoPan says. You want humanity to survive, so do I.

"We need to talk though," I say ignoring the fact that he just listened to my thoughts and still is. "Why do you need me now? Why have you been doing this?"

8,173 lives. Those are roughly how many lives that would have been lost if you had waited your whole life to fully become the Ecopan. Your theory was correct. There are other rebellions and I can tell you at least 8,173 people would die within the next sixty or seventy years it would take for you to get old and then become the EcoPan.