Republic of Omisha

Chapter 30: Clay

   Clay leads them to Edina. This was Eliza's town where she grew up. A smile grows on his face as he pictures her smiling and walking through the shops or at the school or hanging out with friends. He knows that that is just the fantasy that he dreamt for her and not how she described her home life to be.

They arrive at the Corey. Clay explores the perimeter of the chasm. He find a small clearing by the edge. He walks around to examine the surroundings. There are words carved into some of the surrounding trees. This must be Eliza's special spot.

He pictures her dangling her feet of the edge overlooking the Corey. He sees the sun warming her beautiful face. He struggles to hold back a smile.

Clay heads over to the trees to read what is etched in them. One reads 'may God bless and keep you my dear Eliza.' That must be from her Mother. Clay concludes. He also read the words 'dum spiro spero,' I wonder what that means. There is more on that tree, all from her mother. He walks to another one. It has an "S" and "E" with a plus sign in the middle inside a heart. Sebastian. Clay doesn't read the other notes.

He approaches the last tree that is engraved with words. He reads, 'to my little sister, who I will always cherish.' He looks to see an ornate design that Kalea must have drawn for Eliza. It is beautiful fanning out from the note. Around every one of her notes is a drawing. Some has flowers, others display Celtic knots, all detailed and beautiful.

He ran his fingers over Kalea's designs. He tries to picture her. He knows that she resembled Eliza, but with blonde hair and she had a gentle voice. He doesn't know much else.

His body jerks and the sudden sound of a snapping branch. He spun around to see Eliza standing on the edge of the Corey with Valerie at her side. Something about where they stood was odd. They stood with their backs to the Corey like that's where they had come from, and the look in Valerie's eyes, relief.

They approached him and he asks, "what did you need to do?"

A devious smile grew across Eliza's face. "Just recruiting more allies. Want to meet him?"

Clay was curious. "Sure," he shrugged. "What's his name."

"Scar," with that Eliza turned around and walked to the edge of the Corey.

Clay looked down and found himself staring into the malicious eyes of the black, forty-foot wolf from the trials. When it growled, showing it's razor-sharp teeth, Clay instinctively flung himself back. He took a few steps to regain his balance.

"Eliza! Are you insane!" He scolded harsher than he intended but Eliza wasn't phased.

"No." She snapped back. "He's genetically engineered to take orders and he has yielded to me."

Clay shook his head. Eliza continued to explain her plan, but Clay couldn't get his head wrapped around using "Scar."