Title: Strange Days 2: Outlanders
Author: Love In Vein
Summary: Takes place six months after the events of Strange Days. All is going well until Lacey returns, bringing with her some adults and all sorts of new problems. How will Micah deal with this? Will everyone survive intact?
Disclaimer: Stephen King owns the original story; Micah, Danny, etc. and COTC 2 are owned by Paramount; Delilah, Zephaniah, Mina, and Keren are owned by me, and Rachael is based on real-life COTC superfan Rachael.
Part 1
'They're coming...they're coming...Micah, they're coming...'
Micah's eyes shot open and he ran his fingers through his thick, black hair. Yet another nightmare. The same one he'd been having for about two weeks. It was total darkness; all that was clear was the voice. A young voice, maybe belonging to one of the children. He just couldn't figure it out. Delilah hadn't mentioned any message from He Who Walks Behind the Rows, so maybe the dream meant nothing. Perhaps he should talk to her anyway. He closed his eyes for a brief moment and knew that she was already awake. Well, it was rather late. For him, anyway. Yesterday Danny had told him one of the houses needed an argument settled so he would have to be on time for that.
He got out of bed and quickly changed into his black pants and shirt and made his way downstairs to the den where Delilah was sitting and talking with Rachael. "Micah, nice to see you up today!" she exclaimed jokingly.
"I've been having trouble sleeping lately," he confessed to her after placing a brief kiss on her lips.
"Don't you two ever stop?" Rachael teased.
"Never," Delilah answered with a smile and then frowned at Micah. "Are you all right?"
"It's just this dream I have been having. It's...disturbing."
"Well, guys, I think I'll take that as my cue to leave. I'm sure Jed could use my help with...something," Rachael said and left in a hurry.
Micah took Rachael's place on the couch and leaned back and closed his eyes as if trying to see the dream again. "There's only darkness and a voice. The voice only says one thing: they're coming. Over and over. He has not told me anything relating to this. Has He spoken to you?"
"Father has told me one thing, and that is to be prepared. For what, I don't know. It has to be something big, and perhaps it relates to this dream that you are having," she replied.
"Perhaps," Micah echoed. "But who are 'they'? Outlanders, do you think? It sounded ominous, but there have been no sightings of anyone around here, much less adults. All of our reports from the Missionaries have told of no adults anywhere."
"In and around Nebraska. But, Micah, somewhere there could be some," Delilah pointed out gently.
"If there were, why would they come here? We would not be a blip on their radar."
-------------------
Zephaniah was bored. He didn't understand why Micah even bothered to have a lookout anymore; it wasn't like any Outlanders would be coming this way. What it probably was, was that he was still being punished for what happened six months ago, even though he hadn't even done anything. Thankfully, he would be leaving in three months.
Suddenly he saw a speck in the distance and it was moving towards him. As it grew closer he saw that the speck was actually a child, maybe nine or ten. She was wearing a tattered dress and her face was dirty and tear-streaked. "Hey, little girl!" Zephaniah shouted as he jumped down from the platform.
"Please, help me! He said I could find help here!" the girl yelled back.
When she got to him he took her hand and together they began to run towards Micah's house, because Zephaniah had a feeling that this was serious.
-----------------------
At the house Zephaniah knocked impatiently on the door and noticed that the girl was shaking and seemed nervous. "What's wrong?" he asked her.
"This is where the Leader lives? Are you allowed to come here like this?"
"Sure. If there is a problem, Micah could help," he answered confidently.
--------------------------
Micah and Delilah were sitting on the couch when they heard what seemed to be a frantic knock on the door. "I'll answer it," Delilah said.
"Zephaniah, what's going on?" she asked when she opened the door. She eyed the scared-looking little girl. "Who's this?"
"She came to us for help, Delilah. I don't know why 'cause I figured I should take her to you guys right away," Zephaniah replied with a little defensiveness.
"Okay, you did the right thing. Why don't you come inside?" Delilah placated.
"I think I should get back to my post but thanks anyway. Bye kid," he said as he walked down the steps.
"All right, why don't you come inside and talk to us," Delilah said to the girl with a gentle smile.
"I get to see the Leader?" the girl asked.
"You sure do," Delilah answered as she ushered the girl in and closed the door behind them.
-------------------
Delilah showed the girl into the den and Micah stood up to greet them. "Hello, what is your name?" he asked her.
"Mina," she said shyly.
"Well, Mina, what has brought you to Hemingford?"
Immediately Mina's eyes filled with tears. "It was so terrible! They killed Japheth!" she exclaimed.
"Who killed Japheth? Why?" Micah asked with urgency. Japheth was one of the first to leave Hemingford for the Conversion and since the town was so close, they had kept in frequent contact. He had been sending in very good reports, everything was going quite smoothly.
"The Outlanders killed him! They said they were freeing us! They burned the fields!" she answered with agitation as she twisted the hem of her dress in her dirty hands.
"Outlanders? But how did you manage to escape?" he asked her as calmly as possible.
"Japheth told us that if anything ever happened we should come here. I left when they tried to catch us."
"And the others, what of them?"
"The Outlanders killed Japheth's people when Japheth ordered them to kill them. Some of us were killed when they burned the fields. Others are still in hiding I think."
Delilah had been silent during this time, her eyes closed in apparent communication with He Who Walks Behind the Rows. "Micah, we have been greatly betrayed," she said flatly.
Micah turned to face her. "By whom?" he asked in confusion.
"She has brought them from New York. She will help destroy us. We must be prepared," Delilah answered.
"Lacey? But why?"
"Revenge," she stated simply.
Micah furrowed his brow in thought for a moment. "When will they come?"
"Soon, though I know not exactly when," Delilah replied. "Micah, perhaps Mina would like to sleep?"
Micah started a little at the sudden change of subject but nodded. "All right. Mina, would you like to rest? There is no more for you to do now."
"Okay, I guess I'm tired," Mina agreed.
"I'm sure Delilah will have something for you to sleep in."
Delilah smiled at Mina and gestured for her to follow. "Come, I'll show you to a room and get you a change of clothes," she said to Mina, then turned to speak to Micah. "Danny and Jedediah should know about this."
"Yes, I'll go and find them," he replied and left the house soon after Delilah and Mina disappeared up the stairs.
-------------------
Micah found Danny in front of the meeting hall, talking with a girl named Keren whom he was beginning to like. "Micah, what's wrong?" Danny asked when he saw his friend.
"It is most important that we find Jedediah, Danny. There is much cause for alarm," Micah responded gravely.
"Danny, what should I do?" Keren asked, her dark green eyes filling with fear.
Danny turned to Micah for an answer. "Go home and stay there. Tell any children you see to stay in their homes as well, but to come to me if they see anything suspicious," Micah answered for him.
"I'll do that. Be careful, Danny," said Keren and kissed his cheek.
"I'll will, don't worry," Danny replied. Once she was out of sight he again asked Micah what was wrong.
"Outlanders. They have killed Japheth and many of the followers in Littleton. They have burned their fields," Micah informed him bluntly.
"But how? Why? When?" stammered Danny.
"Lacey has brought them here for revenge. She will bring them to us."
"Oh God. Micah, I'm so sorry."
"Why? This is not your fault. You did not make her leave nor make her return," Micah reassured him.
"What can we do now?"
"All we can do is prepare. There is no question that they will come."
"I saw Jedediah and Rachael by the church replanting some flowers. I'm sure they're still there," said Danny after a thinking for a minute.
"Good, let's go to them."
--------------------------
Danny and Micah found Jedediah and Rachael just where they'd hoped to find them, by the church. "Jed!" Danny called.
Both Jedediah and Rachael looked up and Rachael waved cheerfully. Her smile disappeared quickly when she saw the looks on both Micah and Danny's faces. "What happened?" she asked, standing up and brushing the dirt off her skirt.
"Outlanders," Danny informed them. "They've killed Japheth and have almost destroyed Littleton."
"Are they coming here?" Jedediah asked.
"Yes, and Lacey is with them. Littleton was perhaps a warning that they would try to take Hemingford," Micah answered, a dark look in his eyes.
"Why do they want to take Hemingford? What are they trying to do?" asked Jedediah, not even mentioning Lacey.
"That is something that we know not. We can only assume that Lacey has convinced them that we are somehow trapped. The little girl, Mina, who came to us, told us that the Outlanders said they wished to 'free us.' If Lacey has told them that Hemingford is the seat of our power, then they will surely want to destroy it and us," mused Micah.
"So what will we do?" Rachael asked.
"As I told Danny, we must prepare. We must be alert at all times. Watch must be more diligent. I can only hope that He Who Walks Behind the Rows might warn us when they are near. Today though, I think I will call for a meeting in the Circle," Micah told them.
"All right. We'll start to get the children together," Jedediah said, and he and Rachael departed.
"I'm going to go get Keren. I'll meet you there," Danny said to Micah. Micah nodded and Danny left in the opposite direction of Jedediah and Rachael.
Suddenly alone, Micah felt a chill and started a quick pace back to his own home to find Delilah.
Author: Love In Vein
Summary: Takes place six months after the events of Strange Days. All is going well until Lacey returns, bringing with her some adults and all sorts of new problems. How will Micah deal with this? Will everyone survive intact?
Disclaimer: Stephen King owns the original story; Micah, Danny, etc. and COTC 2 are owned by Paramount; Delilah, Zephaniah, Mina, and Keren are owned by me, and Rachael is based on real-life COTC superfan Rachael.
Part 1
'They're coming...they're coming...Micah, they're coming...'
Micah's eyes shot open and he ran his fingers through his thick, black hair. Yet another nightmare. The same one he'd been having for about two weeks. It was total darkness; all that was clear was the voice. A young voice, maybe belonging to one of the children. He just couldn't figure it out. Delilah hadn't mentioned any message from He Who Walks Behind the Rows, so maybe the dream meant nothing. Perhaps he should talk to her anyway. He closed his eyes for a brief moment and knew that she was already awake. Well, it was rather late. For him, anyway. Yesterday Danny had told him one of the houses needed an argument settled so he would have to be on time for that.
He got out of bed and quickly changed into his black pants and shirt and made his way downstairs to the den where Delilah was sitting and talking with Rachael. "Micah, nice to see you up today!" she exclaimed jokingly.
"I've been having trouble sleeping lately," he confessed to her after placing a brief kiss on her lips.
"Don't you two ever stop?" Rachael teased.
"Never," Delilah answered with a smile and then frowned at Micah. "Are you all right?"
"It's just this dream I have been having. It's...disturbing."
"Well, guys, I think I'll take that as my cue to leave. I'm sure Jed could use my help with...something," Rachael said and left in a hurry.
Micah took Rachael's place on the couch and leaned back and closed his eyes as if trying to see the dream again. "There's only darkness and a voice. The voice only says one thing: they're coming. Over and over. He has not told me anything relating to this. Has He spoken to you?"
"Father has told me one thing, and that is to be prepared. For what, I don't know. It has to be something big, and perhaps it relates to this dream that you are having," she replied.
"Perhaps," Micah echoed. "But who are 'they'? Outlanders, do you think? It sounded ominous, but there have been no sightings of anyone around here, much less adults. All of our reports from the Missionaries have told of no adults anywhere."
"In and around Nebraska. But, Micah, somewhere there could be some," Delilah pointed out gently.
"If there were, why would they come here? We would not be a blip on their radar."
-------------------
Zephaniah was bored. He didn't understand why Micah even bothered to have a lookout anymore; it wasn't like any Outlanders would be coming this way. What it probably was, was that he was still being punished for what happened six months ago, even though he hadn't even done anything. Thankfully, he would be leaving in three months.
Suddenly he saw a speck in the distance and it was moving towards him. As it grew closer he saw that the speck was actually a child, maybe nine or ten. She was wearing a tattered dress and her face was dirty and tear-streaked. "Hey, little girl!" Zephaniah shouted as he jumped down from the platform.
"Please, help me! He said I could find help here!" the girl yelled back.
When she got to him he took her hand and together they began to run towards Micah's house, because Zephaniah had a feeling that this was serious.
-----------------------
At the house Zephaniah knocked impatiently on the door and noticed that the girl was shaking and seemed nervous. "What's wrong?" he asked her.
"This is where the Leader lives? Are you allowed to come here like this?"
"Sure. If there is a problem, Micah could help," he answered confidently.
--------------------------
Micah and Delilah were sitting on the couch when they heard what seemed to be a frantic knock on the door. "I'll answer it," Delilah said.
"Zephaniah, what's going on?" she asked when she opened the door. She eyed the scared-looking little girl. "Who's this?"
"She came to us for help, Delilah. I don't know why 'cause I figured I should take her to you guys right away," Zephaniah replied with a little defensiveness.
"Okay, you did the right thing. Why don't you come inside?" Delilah placated.
"I think I should get back to my post but thanks anyway. Bye kid," he said as he walked down the steps.
"All right, why don't you come inside and talk to us," Delilah said to the girl with a gentle smile.
"I get to see the Leader?" the girl asked.
"You sure do," Delilah answered as she ushered the girl in and closed the door behind them.
-------------------
Delilah showed the girl into the den and Micah stood up to greet them. "Hello, what is your name?" he asked her.
"Mina," she said shyly.
"Well, Mina, what has brought you to Hemingford?"
Immediately Mina's eyes filled with tears. "It was so terrible! They killed Japheth!" she exclaimed.
"Who killed Japheth? Why?" Micah asked with urgency. Japheth was one of the first to leave Hemingford for the Conversion and since the town was so close, they had kept in frequent contact. He had been sending in very good reports, everything was going quite smoothly.
"The Outlanders killed him! They said they were freeing us! They burned the fields!" she answered with agitation as she twisted the hem of her dress in her dirty hands.
"Outlanders? But how did you manage to escape?" he asked her as calmly as possible.
"Japheth told us that if anything ever happened we should come here. I left when they tried to catch us."
"And the others, what of them?"
"The Outlanders killed Japheth's people when Japheth ordered them to kill them. Some of us were killed when they burned the fields. Others are still in hiding I think."
Delilah had been silent during this time, her eyes closed in apparent communication with He Who Walks Behind the Rows. "Micah, we have been greatly betrayed," she said flatly.
Micah turned to face her. "By whom?" he asked in confusion.
"She has brought them from New York. She will help destroy us. We must be prepared," Delilah answered.
"Lacey? But why?"
"Revenge," she stated simply.
Micah furrowed his brow in thought for a moment. "When will they come?"
"Soon, though I know not exactly when," Delilah replied. "Micah, perhaps Mina would like to sleep?"
Micah started a little at the sudden change of subject but nodded. "All right. Mina, would you like to rest? There is no more for you to do now."
"Okay, I guess I'm tired," Mina agreed.
"I'm sure Delilah will have something for you to sleep in."
Delilah smiled at Mina and gestured for her to follow. "Come, I'll show you to a room and get you a change of clothes," she said to Mina, then turned to speak to Micah. "Danny and Jedediah should know about this."
"Yes, I'll go and find them," he replied and left the house soon after Delilah and Mina disappeared up the stairs.
-------------------
Micah found Danny in front of the meeting hall, talking with a girl named Keren whom he was beginning to like. "Micah, what's wrong?" Danny asked when he saw his friend.
"It is most important that we find Jedediah, Danny. There is much cause for alarm," Micah responded gravely.
"Danny, what should I do?" Keren asked, her dark green eyes filling with fear.
Danny turned to Micah for an answer. "Go home and stay there. Tell any children you see to stay in their homes as well, but to come to me if they see anything suspicious," Micah answered for him.
"I'll do that. Be careful, Danny," said Keren and kissed his cheek.
"I'll will, don't worry," Danny replied. Once she was out of sight he again asked Micah what was wrong.
"Outlanders. They have killed Japheth and many of the followers in Littleton. They have burned their fields," Micah informed him bluntly.
"But how? Why? When?" stammered Danny.
"Lacey has brought them here for revenge. She will bring them to us."
"Oh God. Micah, I'm so sorry."
"Why? This is not your fault. You did not make her leave nor make her return," Micah reassured him.
"What can we do now?"
"All we can do is prepare. There is no question that they will come."
"I saw Jedediah and Rachael by the church replanting some flowers. I'm sure they're still there," said Danny after a thinking for a minute.
"Good, let's go to them."
--------------------------
Danny and Micah found Jedediah and Rachael just where they'd hoped to find them, by the church. "Jed!" Danny called.
Both Jedediah and Rachael looked up and Rachael waved cheerfully. Her smile disappeared quickly when she saw the looks on both Micah and Danny's faces. "What happened?" she asked, standing up and brushing the dirt off her skirt.
"Outlanders," Danny informed them. "They've killed Japheth and have almost destroyed Littleton."
"Are they coming here?" Jedediah asked.
"Yes, and Lacey is with them. Littleton was perhaps a warning that they would try to take Hemingford," Micah answered, a dark look in his eyes.
"Why do they want to take Hemingford? What are they trying to do?" asked Jedediah, not even mentioning Lacey.
"That is something that we know not. We can only assume that Lacey has convinced them that we are somehow trapped. The little girl, Mina, who came to us, told us that the Outlanders said they wished to 'free us.' If Lacey has told them that Hemingford is the seat of our power, then they will surely want to destroy it and us," mused Micah.
"So what will we do?" Rachael asked.
"As I told Danny, we must prepare. We must be alert at all times. Watch must be more diligent. I can only hope that He Who Walks Behind the Rows might warn us when they are near. Today though, I think I will call for a meeting in the Circle," Micah told them.
"All right. We'll start to get the children together," Jedediah said, and he and Rachael departed.
"I'm going to go get Keren. I'll meet you there," Danny said to Micah. Micah nodded and Danny left in the opposite direction of Jedediah and Rachael.
Suddenly alone, Micah felt a chill and started a quick pace back to his own home to find Delilah.