Beyond

Chapter Three: The Army

                Chapter Three: The Army

                        Rue

        "It's been four years since Duron has been taken," says a tall, strong woman in the center of the small circle.  Her face is narrow as she takes soft, quiet steps on the concrete and stares back at us.  Her face is narrow and straight, lose stretching out; however, she is beautiful and fair, neat with her dark blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail; except for one part.  Over her eye, three claw-marks cross over her eye, causing blindness.   Yet, the left one is a pale blue, and it is not blind.

        Over her thin, yet muscular, body, she wears a white suit.  That white suit has little stains and is well kept, unlike the rest of us.  You can tell she used to be of great leadership; but something happened.  Before she came here, she used to be the President's advisor of the nuclear radiation.  When he didn't take her opinion that they should keep the gifted ones safe, she left and went to us, which is a huge advantage for the Army.  Now, she plays a huge role; she rarely will fight, but mainly works on strategy and working our way around things.  Her intelligence is a large advantage for us, since most of us were never in such a rank like that.

        "Duron was the great leader of the Army, and knew his way.  He used to call us the Gifted Children; yet, now, we are resisting and have taken the name of the Army, in order to show our power and hatred against the government."  Her good blue eye looks at me, on the side of the tiny stage, and then back at the small crowd of people.  "Since this is a leader meeting, I need you all to spread this information I am about to tell you to those under your command.

        "Seekers have spotted some nearby patrols heading this way, across the canyon.  Their suspicions have grown because they have seen one of our copters.  We need everyone to be wary and make sure they can get their things packed; we will be leaving this place soon for another."  She looks back at me and sighs, "It is time we change our location for the safety of our people."

        Someone in the crowd, an older man with a bald head and bandana wrapped around it, raises his hand high in the air.  "Missy Everfrost?"

        Controlling her frustration, Everfrost nods, "Yes, Vedas?"

        He stands up, exposing himself to the crowd.  Everyone turns to him and looks at him, ready to hear what he has to say.  Just from a glance, anyone could tell this man is strong and ready for an attack at any moment.  He seems like a person that you wouldn't want to mess with; however, he does have a wide sense of humor.  Yet, because of this lack of intelligence, he drives Everfrost crazy sometimes.  He lacks maturity and only knows really how to fight and strategize for battle.

        Adjusting his camo outfit, he rubs his ginger beard and asks, "Are we gonna set out an attack against 'em?  I can get all my--"

        "No, Vedas," Everfrost calmly responds.  When she does, her eyes signal him to sit down and he immediately obeys.  Then, she looks around, eye sometimes catching mine as I sit there silently.  "We will not be setting out an attack.  We have to make it seem as if we were never here; as if we never even existed.  Also, that's too risky."

        Vedas, without thinking, stands back up.  "But wait!"

        Everfrost sharply turns her head to him, giving him a cold stare.  That doesn't stop him and he asks, "Well how are we gonna erase our tracks?  You know, it's not that easy.  We can't just disappear; if we fly, they'll see our copters.  If we drive, they'll see our tracks.  Also, we're leaving behind a lot of junk and stuff.  They're going to know."  At this, everyone nods and begins to murmur.

        Rolling her eyes, Everfrost calls out for silence.  Once she does, everyone obeys.  "What Vedas says is true.  Does anyone have any ideas for a solution to completely disappear, as if we were never here in the first place?"  Her eyes dart towards me, as if expecting an answer from me.  I just shrug.

        "We probably should send out Seekers," the chef says.  He's a large man, a long black beard and hair.  His eyes are beady and dark brown, hands greasy and white clothes a mess from all the food and lack of cleaning.  "The Seekers could check to see how large their patrol is.  If it's not too bad, we could maybe send out some Attackers or soldiers to kill them off.  Then, we'll have more time to get out of here and take our stuff with us."

        Coming from the chef, this was actually a very good idea.  People, at first, stare at him, aghast at his strange, but good, idea.  Then, they begin to nod and call out his name, "Bernie is right!  We should do that!"

        Everfrost turns to me and lifts an eyebrow, looking for my approval.  I nod, agreeing with this actually intelligent idea.  She smirks and winks at me with her only good eye, turns back to the crowd, and calls for more silence.  Once it is quiet, she announces, "We shall go with what Bernie has insisted on doing."

        At this, everyone lets out cries of triumph because of the idea that we can actually kill off these patrols.  I just watch, unsure of their beliefs if it will really result in working.  However, it is a legitimately good plan; also, it's not too risky.  So, we should be good.

        Hopefully.

        After everyone gets up and starts to leave, Everfrost walks towards me and stands in front of me.  Since I am sitting on the ground, and because she is also six and a half foot tall, I have to lift my head to see her properly.  She's smiling down at me, as I grin back up at her.  Then, she grabs my hand and helps me up.  By the time I am up, she pats me on the back and says, "You know, Rue, you're my patience."

        "What do you mean?" I giggle a little, feeling a slight touch of patheticness but also joy.

        "I keep looking at you for a look of patience," she laughs a little.  "You remind me a lot of Duron, you know.  Not just because he's your uncle; but, it's because of how you are and how you react.

        "He was basically what I call the..." she thinks for a moment of the right word, "center peace of my speeches.  He always gave me something like-- let's see-- hope?  Yes, hope.  That's a good word for that.  But now that he's gone, I don't have him; yet, I have you."

        I smile at her, feeling a rush of heat over my skin, along with excitement and a sisterly love for Everfrost.  She may have been a politic; but she was definitely one trying to help.  I'm glad she joined us; she's really helped me through a lot during the revolutionary war against the President and all of his supporters and patrols.  It's been an unfair battle; yet, we are still pushing through this.

        I'm not gifted, nor am I really anything special.  However, I am the niece of Duron, the great leader of the gifted people.  But, I really don't think that makes me anything special.  I am only seventeen years old, living with my Aunt Zoë, Duron's wife.

        "Thanks," I briefly reply.  She smiles and tilts her head.

        "Do you need to go?"

        "Yeah, Auntie Zoë probably wants me to get to bed," I look outside and check my watch.  It's twelve at midnight and people still stir all across the Army camp.

        "Alright.  I'll see you later," she smiles gently then walks away to greet someone else that plays a leadership role in the Army.  I watch her, envious of her beauty, even though she is much older than myself.  I just want to look like her, beautiful and still looking young at old age.