Rhivera (Complete Novel)

~Chapter Thirty-Four- A Solemn Reunion~

The Fate of Rhivera Arc
Chapter 34-40

(7/10/21) Self edited

~Chapter Thirty Four- A Solemn Reunion~

~Eugenio~

         Mom and I have been living around pastures of farmland in Illesto. After being kept outside for so long, the grasslands looked amazing. Miro's followers formed an outdoor community here once the war started for those who had been living underground.

         I met Nina, a pale girl around my age who has some deficiency that makes her very vulnerable to sickness. When her parents find out they fled to a weaktown Miro created to protect her from the PCC. The two of us can't help us much, but we do everything we can around the settlement. We know there's a war going on, but Miro's soldiers were very quiet about it. Miro's army did well to make us feel safe.

         When we have free time we visit the animals at one of the nearby farms. The farm owner was friendly with Miro's forces and enjoys having us around. I'm especially fond of one horse with an injured front leg. It can't get around fast, but its the friendliest of them all.

         I notice a group of people in the settlement, all around Juaquin's age. Maybe a little older. They show up for meals, but otherwise they would leave the settlement and do who knows what. Nothing seemed to be wrong with them either. I can't help but get annoyed at them for never helping out. Especially when we didn't quite have enough food. Nina called them Do-Nothings.

         South of here is a stone bridge over a mile in length separating Illesto from the southern regions of Rhivera, Manned by hundreds of Miro's soldiers. The war is beyond that bridge.

         Nina manages to nab binoculars off one of the soldiers, we figure it'd be okay to borrow it. We climb the highest hill we can, Nina taking care to make sure I don't roll back in my wheelchair. Once we reach the top I look through the binoculars past the bridge.

         Bodies. Bodies everywhere on the other end of bridge. Some are in the military's white and blue, but most are in Miro's black uniforms. It isn't all that far from us. While we're living peacefully, people were being killed. It doesn't feel right.

         Arturo comes to Illesto as Miro. Everyone thought it odd since the plan seemed to be to target Rhy next. Arturo sits mom and me down to tell us some news.

         I must've cried for days after I heard Melissa died. Arturo looked like he was going to start bawling when he told us too. He told us that Juaquin is coming, and wanted to take us far away from Rhivera. Away from all of the fighting.

         Mom wanted to leave with Juaquin. She lost my dad and now Melissa, she wanted to get away from it all. So she waited patiently for him to show up in Illesto.

         "This is for the best." Mom told me.

         I helped out around the settlement to take my mind off Melissa.  Whether it was helping mom make food, moving small boxes of supplies around, or even talking with some of the elderly in the settlement. Anything to keep me occupied. When Nina became sick again I attended to her until she was better.

         I lay on the bedroll in me and mom's tent. They set mine a series of boxes to elevate off the ground so I could transition to my wheelchair more easily. It wasn't as comfortable as my bed back in Uneva, but I don't mind. I slide off of my sleeping space to my wheelchair seamlessly, without waking up mom. Mom has a case of all the things she wanted to take with her when we leave Rhivera.

         The day before I started stitching together old clothes, since so many of us have worn out ours. I was able to pick up sewing pretty quickly and I'm eager to keep going. When I reach the sewing spot, I find Nina started without me. She's even more eager than me.