Heal my Heart

Chapter 13 - New Rules

"Attention please ! Well, thank you all for coming here tonight. I think we all understand now that if we want to survive, we're gonna have to work together. We need to know what we have and what we're at risk of running out of. So..." Cassandra gave a whole speech about how this new society would work from now on, what the rules would be and how they were gonna be applied.

"And as for the repartition of all this work, I let Grizz take it from here, thank you." everybody applauded her and Grizz could sense anxiety rising in him. He never really had trouble stepping in the front and talking in front of people but what he was about to tell them was so private, so intimate that he just feared the reactions.

He felt a small hand patting his shoulder.

"Hey, it's gonna be fine, bud. They're gonna listen to you, don't worry." Luke reassured his friend. And with that, Grizz got up and walked in front of the crowd.

"Hello everybody... Hum...I proposed a way to distribute people for the different working places we have but I'm gonna need your help to do so."

"What is he talking about ? He told us he had figured a way..." whispered Cassandra to her sister.

"First, I think we all have to be honest with each other. I know what I'm about to say is going to sound crazy but well, nothing to lose, right ?" Grizz said, smiling nervously.

"I have a strange capacity and I know all of you have one too."

The crowd suddenly became agitated and Grizz could see all sorts of expressions on people's face. Shame, anger, betrayal...

"I'm not judging anyone ! I'm just saying...Let's be honest, we all have some weirdo powers and nobody wants to talk about them!"

With that, the crowd fell silent again.

"I saw some of you use it, I've used it myself for years now. It's nothing to be afraid of. We all have those capacities, there's no need to be scared about judgment or rejection. We are all in the same situation."

Grizz could sense the whole crowd easing a bit, before talking again.

"I know that some of you are maybe afraid of their powers, or afraid of what people would think about it. We've kept them hidden for so long. But today, I think that we can't afford to hide them anymore... We need it. We need it to survive."

People didn't like to be pushed and were getting flustered.

"Trust me, I know ! I've never revealed my power to anyone before, except for one friend, because I had no choice. I was afraid of it, afraid it would hurt me, afraid people would take advantage of me. But right now, I know we need this power. I know we need all of them. And I trust you. I'm ready to do this because I trust you and because we're all we have now, right? We only have each other."

The crowd was silent again and someone stepped out and shouted :

"If you trust everybody so much, why don't you just tell us what your power is ?!"

Grizz hesitated for a few seconds before pulling himself together and answered.

"I'm a healer. I can heal any wound by taking the pain as my own."

Everybody stared at him, eyes wide in amazement that he actually had told them.

"It's a very dangerous power for me, cause the pain doesn't just fade away, I just take it all in, you know ? But I trust you. And I know that a power like mine, in a society where we have no medical competences and equipment is highly useful. I know it's gonna hurt, I know it's gonna be hard. But I don't care, cause this is what I'm supposed to do here."

Nobody dared to say anything.

"We're like... 200 young people with powerful capacities here ! I'm sure a lot of your powers can be a great help to this city and that we can all find a place suited for us. Some of you could even not be aware of its use yet but I promise, you're all important."

"I know some of you don't want their power to be outed and it's fine. You don't have to do anything you're not comfortable with. So here's how I see it. We should dress a list of everybody's power. This list will be anonymous, kept secret and hidden. A comity will be in charge of selecting all the powers that could be huge assets to the different parts of the city. Only one person, chosen by you, will be allowed to access the list and contact the people involved. This way, everybody can keep their intimacy but we also have a way to access this huge resource that are your powers. When we'll come to you, asking you to take this or that job, you will of course have the choice to accept or refuse. Without any pressure thanks to the secrecy."

"I know it's a lot to take in and I understand that I'm being pushy right now but..."

"I'm in !" someone said.

"Me too."

"I am too!"

And with that everybody started rising their hand in some sort of unsaid voting. Grizz felt trust and tolerant feelings rushing through him and was really happy about it. Everybody, except for Campbell, Elle and Allie raised their hand.

"And what about violent powers? Are you going to restrain them ? Or maybe arrest those people?!" Elle shouted.

"Of course not. Having a power is no crime. We're not gonna be some sort of "power" police station. If you have a violent power, I'll be happy to help you control it but what you do with it is your whole responsibility and I'm never gonna ask you to give up on your power because it may or may not hurt someone. I'm just offering a way to put some of your powers at use for the whole group, that's all."

Elle slowly raised her hand, followed by Campbell and soon Allie. Everybody had now their hand up.

"Thanks, thanks guys." Grizz said, widely smiling now.

"As for who should be the "power keeper", I think i'm speaking in the names of everyone here by signing you up, Grizz. We're gonna vote of course, but I think we all pretty much agree that you'll be a great keeper." Cassandra said, standing up next to him.

"So who's in favor for Grizz as our "power keeper" candidate ?"

Everybody lifted their hand, without a hence of hesitation.

"Well, so that's settled, thanks Grizz ! Everybody, please come to him to list your powers by tomorrow night, so that we can work on the assignments schedule. Have a nice evening !"

Oh god, just what did I get myself into...?