Lost Names and Illusions

Prologue

They say that the days of the world that were cruel and bloody are gone. Some may even say it was if they vanished with just a swift movement of the wind but everyone has their own tales here. The Earth is a treasure. It is a green and blue piece of gold in the womb of space that humans treated like trash. One day, it all had to end. Everything happened so fast. You grabbed your sister, your brother, your wife, your kids, your mother, and the whole crew and ran for your lives! You could not look back because the fire was stalking you as you ran. When you even thought about turning around, their flames touched the surface of your skin and screamed at you, encouraging you to run faster.

      Explosions from all directions under the ground erupted and shot up into the air as fast as lightning. Children and teenagers fell over themselves. Some did not survive. Many were crippled. Others were left in excoriating pain and strangely, that was just the first night. For many days, it did not rain. The lush lands became deserts very quickly. On the islands, hurricanes tormented them constantly and choked them with their furious tails.  Mountains collapsed in Asia and Europe practically fell into pieces. So much was happening at one time it was ridiculous.

      Jamie Roberts was always curious about what happened those days before the “new era” that they lived in came to be but she had never been more curious than when her father forbid her from working in the Mental Institute for Rebels alongside her best friend since birth, Latoya Fee.

      Her father, Lucien Roberts, was the creator of the new era and head of the government. When everyone was scrambling around like chickens, he was the only one to take charge. He knew every broken rock and every dead tree branch like the back of his hand. He guided them to safety over and over again until the explosions ceased. It was quiet for a while so they had to move quickly. He and some of his closest friends began to build this new world with their bare hands, using the broken material around them to make better structures. Under the broken Earth, they found a cold, durable silver material that they welded into pieces for buildings and technology. They found old wires and used solar panels to generate electricity. Before they knew it, they had built the future in their hands. All survivors from all continents came forth and lived. They used their own intelligence and contributed to other advances in technology. Dr. P. Bendford developed a machine to control the weather efficiently. There are no more surprises or destructive storms like tornados or hurricanes. That was only one of the many useful pieces of technology that this new era showcases with the absolute highest honour possible.

      When Jamie was born, her mother died so Lucien Roberts has been a widow almost all of his reign. Unable to bear anymore children in hopes of getting a son to take his place as head of this new world, he hoped to marry off Jamie to a very eligible bachelor that he’s known since he was but only a mere child.

      That child grew up to be a rather handsome man named Romeo Daldore who just so happened to be the son of Lucien’s best friend and head of the senate.

      “Father,” Jamie called after Lucien as he walked down the hallways of their large mansion, “I only want to help Latoya. I do not intend for it to be my permanent profession.”

      “Nonsense Jamie,” Lucien looked through his papers as he walked, “the mental hospital is far too dangerous for a lady.”

      “Latoya is a lady.”

      “Latoya is a lower class teenager,” Lucien said coldly, “and although I love her as if she were my own daughter, it would be best if she stayed in her place where she is needed and you stay in yours.”

      “But father,” Jamie frowned.

      “That is enough,” Lucien raised his hand without looking at her face, “my word is final, Jamie. Now, be a good girl and greet Romeo outside. You two need to get to know each other better if you are to be married.”