PHOENIX

Chapter One

                                   "A legend reborn, almost a carbon copy,

                    Of a couple past legends, transitioned kind of choppy."

Jade Hope

[undisclosed]

[undisclosed]

I was hundreds of miles away from the site of the Detroit protest that was reported to have simply "turned violent."

Small, sleepy towns like this seem hardly affected by the madness surrounding them. The country could be taken over by the European Coalition and fifteen years could pass – and I am certain that the daily lives of people around here would never change. That's a comforting idea, in a way. It is a stark contrast from the city life, which has increasingly been marked by disorder and economic unrest.

Not that I want to live the rest of my life in a small town by a thawing lake.

Heavens, no. People around here still fly the American flag with all fifty stars on it!

The home I currently occupy is one of many safe houses I've established around the northern US. It's been abandoned for years, and I've done nothing that would tip off the neighbors – if there were any around.

After my escape from Detroit – which is still under martial law – I've spent the last thirty-six hours here, getting acquainted to my new tech.

I bought a device off the Gold Rail – like a tablet – that gives me access to an underground communication network. It is essentially what social media was before World War III, providing instant communication for anyone who is connected and bypassing all government-restricted content.

The Gold Rail's website, which must consistently undergo maintenance to keep it from getting purged by world leaders, has informed me that riots are breaking out all around the country. There's strong evidence to believe that I sparked at least a few of them off with my message in Detroit – which quickly made its way around the country through the Gold Rail. The Gold Rail is an underground market, website, and maybe even a revolutionary group. They're all around the country, but no one knows who they are or where they're centrally located. They choose who they do business with, and you cannot simply contact them.

But they can find you.

And one member approached me last year, setting me and my crew up with all the equipment we need as we undergo our "grassroots revolution", as one of them called it.

Rayne – Eastern Seaboard Region. Los Angeles – Calivada Region. Memphis – Deep South Region. There is evidence that each of these protests were influenced by my words and artwork.

"Alpha," A voice buzzed in my ear. Langston. The name Alpha is just a codename Langston uses to avoid saying my real name over a connection that could be insecure. "I finished washing the dishes, you can come over, now. But be careful, there's still a chance of rain. Bring your umbrella."

"Okay," I responded. It didn't take me long to decipher what he meant. 'The coast is clear, but you can never be too safe. Bring some protection, just in case.'

And like that, our interaction was over. My next planned stop is in Chicago, where I'll meet back up with my crew and prepare for our next event.

~~~

Phoenix Kingwood

NPP Boarding School

Eastern Seaboard Region