The Survivors Of Eden

The Sky Is Fire (5)

By The Secundus Capital

"String him up!" The citizens scream in protest. The city hall is surrounded by swarms of people, pushing and shoving to get a good view of the show. Two middle-aged men drag another man by his collar to an old fashioned hanging post. The two men are second children and the man being dragged is a first child. He's wailing, glaring at the men with a mix of hatred and pleading. 

"Please don't do this. You're making yourselves into the monsters they all say you are!" he explains, looking at the rope in horror.

"Says the man who killed second children for a living!" one growls, spitting on the whimpering man. Their words become muffled as the crowd roars in delight. There are very likely people in the audience who disagree but don't dare speak their minds. No one wants to be that man on the stage.

One of the men guides the rope around the man's neck, tightening the noose. The crowds cheers somehow intensify as the man is forced to climb up a stool. The slack in the rope is tightened and the moments he had left could be counted on a hand. Still crying, he squeezes his eyes shut. The second child man nods to the other, signaling for him to get it over with.

He kicks the stool out from under the first child. He falls, hanging from his neck. The crowd screams in delight. This was justice in Secundus.

The next morning

I sigh at the sky as I wait for the others. The sky is the color of tangerines mixed with roses. There are splashes of a deep berry red bordering the treetops. The sky is on fire. The treetops cut off the alleged flames, creating a black silhouette that looks like mountains. 

I can't help but cherish this view as much as possible. I'm technically not entirely human anymore but I still see so much beauty in humanity. If I didn't I wouldn't have made the decision that I did. I see such beauty in things like admiring the sky, taking a silent walk, or watching the children play. All of these things are inherently human, yet I can't help but adore them. This is why humanity is worth saving. This is why I'm doing this- because I believe above all else, humans deserve saving.

I hear lofty- yet gentle- footsteps behind me. I smile softly as Lachlan stands at my side. For a long time, we stand in silence, watching as the sky slowly turns blue. I rest my head on his shoulder. I can tell he's not angry, and neither am I. 

"Are you sure you want to do this?" I mumble into his shoulder. "I know I've said it all before but we just escaped a war. I..."

"If you're doing this, I'm doing this," he insists without hesitation. "I don't care what happens Rowan, if you're in danger I'm going to be there."

I want to assure him I'm not in any danger, but I don't bother. Lachlan was with me when I became the EcoPan so I think he knows more about this than the others. Aaron might try his best to save me if something goes wrong but when it comes down to it, if a bullet suddenly comes flying at my skull out of nowhere there's nothing he can do. I will be lost. Lachlan knows this too, despite my attempt to guarantee him my safety.

There are footsteps behind us and I take a step back, looking into his eyes. I squeeze his shoulder reassuringly. I look over at the rest of the group as they make their way over to us. I'm met with a surprise as my eyes find them. Flame is walking towards us.

"I told you I could help you. You should have come to me," Flame scolds me, re-adjusting her ponytail.

"I...you're right but I just didn't expect you to come," I explain.

"Of course I'm coming," she says. "But don't go getting a big head. It's not for you, it's for humanity."

I take a deep breath, looking around at the people I dragged into war once already. Here we go again. 

"For humanity," I echo her with a dutiful nod. "Now, let's go."

~~~

The autoloop ride was tediously long. Secondus is over a thousand miles away, which is much farther than we'd ever been. Most autoloop rides took less than five minutes, this one would take over an hour. I'm thrilled to travel so far but grim, knowing the task at hand is crucial. 

The hour trapped in a compact box without any alternative source of entertainment provided for a good time to talk. And as expected, that pressure was on me.

"Do you know any more information about Secundus?" Ash asks after a few minutes of silence. "None of us know anything about where we're going. I'm sure anything could help us to get prepared."

"I know everything," I say slowly and tensely. "But honestly, it's just like Eden. All you need to know is the roles are reversed."

"You know, I was afraid of that," Lachlan confesses with a nod. "I was afraid that people like Flint, may he rest in peace, would choose violence and revenge after the war. After all, winning the war was only half the fight. The other half was convincing them we could be trusted members of society."

"Flint would never have killed someone without at least a little reason," I argue.

"I know, I agree, but it would have been easier, don't you think?" he asks.

"Of course, I see your point," I agree, sliding my back down the wall, ending up sat on the floor. "I just don't want to fail."

~~~

"Hey," Lark whispers, sitting next to me as I watch the sun set. We're camped outside of Secundus, waiting until it's late enough to sneak in. "We haven't really gotten much alone time since you got back...I feel like we still haven't processed everything that happend before you...well...became The EcoPan. That's weird to say but...I guess it's the truth."

"What happened in Eden is all in the past now," I assure her. "You don't have to apologize for anything you did under Elena's control."

The others are relaxing a few feet away, within earshot but letting us talk privately (or as privately as it can be right now.)

"Thanks," she says curtly. "So...um...how was being the EcoPan?"

"I..." I hesitate, not quite sure how to respond. I thought she'd know better than to bring it up. "I...can we just not talk...please?"

"Of course," she complies, talking my hand. "Let's just enjoy the sunset together."

I squeeze her hand in agreement, but look at Lachlan out of the corner of my eye. I wonder if I can ever fix things with him. I think I can. After all, I know how much he loves me. But with Lark in the picture I don't think he sees a point in trying. I'm afraid he's givin up on us.

The realization hits me that I can't have Lachlan when I'm with Lark...and I can't have Lark until I'm sure I don't want Lachlan. I realize I have to make a decision soon. Very soon or else I risk the chance of loosing them both for good. I have to make a decision by the time I become the EcoPan again, which will hopefully only be a few days from now.

But I realize that might be cruel. If I choose one of them, then leave them, I'll be sentencing them to a life of knowing they lost someone who they could have been with forever. I'd leave them wondering, "what if she was the one? Will I ever move on?" And if I don't make a decision I leave their feelings unjustified. I leave them wondering, "Would she have even chosen me? Is all my grief for nothing? What if she loved the other more?" I can't bear the thought of leaving either one of them with such termoil.

I can't decide which is worse. And I can't decide who I want.

~~~

I can't remember the word for the autoloops in Harmonia. They were called something different I thought but I can't remember. I could check in the book but I don't feel like it at the minute. I just wanted to put out a little something real quick.