The Collision (Sequel to The Division)

Chapter 4 (Autumn)

"In order to defeat this new threat," Queen Azalea begins from the head of the table, "we need to make our defenses stronger. Fortify our army, educate the citizens, do whatever is necessary to prepare us for the inevitable war ahead."

This is our first Resistance meeting since Zayin's threat and we have not been able to agree on a topic for the past two hours.

"We can't educate the citizens." A Resistance leader sitting a few seats away from me says, "They'll panic too much, cause drama. Our first and foremost goal is to annihilate the enemy without disrupting our peace here."

"The citizens should be aware as to what is happening around them." Queen Azalea argues, "Who knows, they might be motivated to fight?"

The man chuckles, "Please, our citizens fighting in a battle? Even I know that's a bad idea."

"You'd be amazed at what a united nation can accomplish," she says cooly, "Now, let us tell our citizens as soon as possible, but for now, meeting adjourned."

I let out a breath that I didn't realize I was holding and follow the small crowd outside.

Absentmindedly, I take my regular route home through the woods. I don't notice that I am being followed until a twig snaps behind me. I whip my head around and scan the wooded area, searching for my pursuer.

"Who's there?" I ask, putting a hand on my belt where my blade is resting. No one answers me so I ask again, holding the blade up in the air.

A hand lightly rests on my back and I whip around, prepared to attack my opponent. Before I can comprehend what is happening, my wrists are pinned together and the blade is taken from me.

"What the heck do you think you're-" I start but immediately stop when I realize who it is. "Dagger?"

He takes a breath and releases his grip on me when he sees that I've calmed down. "Well this wasn't at all how I intended this to happen."

"And how exactly did you expect this to happen? Obviously the 'following me home' thing had to have some sort of outcome in your head."

"Yeah sorry about that. I didn't really think it through."

"Next time you really need to make your presence known, or else that face of yours won't look the same in the morning." I continue walking back to my house. When I notice he doesn't follow me, I turn back around and place a hand on my hip. "Well are you coming or not?"

He looks very shocked at first, but then he jogs over to me and we continue walking at a moderate pace.

"So why did you want to see me? Usually you never bother to accompany me."

"Oh, I was just wondering if you were alright. You seemed a little upset earlier at the meeting."

"Upset? I'm not upset." I say a little too quickly. He raises an eyebrow at me and I take a breath, "I'm not upset about anything, I'm just kind of nervous. This whole thing is just worrying me."

"Why? It's not like we're going to lose."

"But you don't know that. These people, they're completely different from what I thought they were. They come from a bigger place. We don't stand a chance."

"We can do it if we believe in ourselves."

"We can believe all we want, it won't match the bombs they'll probably drop on us."

He stays quiet for a moment, "You don't think they'd actually..." He trails off.

"I don't know. That's why I'm afraid. I have too much to lose." I stop walking and wave my hand. The ground trembles slightly and roots spring from the Earth, twisting themselves into a small bench. I plop down on to it and Dagger sits beside me. "What if we can't beat them?"