Chapter two: Dreams
Beca was dreaming, she was in a forest. The trees were tall, dark green and ancient. They rustled in the wind, needles falling onto her head, as she turned on the spot. Looking at the maze of branches and trunks. Beca then found herself praying that this was real, that the peacefulness and tranquility was real. That this forest was real, but as she looked closer she realized it wasn't the colors blended into one another, there was no defined edges just shapes. There was also no sound, that became apparent now as Beca thought of it. The tree's made no sound as they rustled, no animals chirped form the trees, no leaves crunched under her foot. Nothing. Beca turned again, there on the ground was a snake, appearing as if by magic. It was curling in on its self. Beca unknowing walk forward. She suddenly realized that what she thought the snake was doing was wrong, the snake was eating its self. Careful, starting at the tail. Everything went back then, Beca looked up. A Speck of white glowed above her, she was moving now. She could not see it in the darkness, but she could feel it. The air rushing through her hair, the cold on her skin. The speck was now the size of a plate and growing. As it grew it brightened and brightened to the point that Beca covered her eyes with her hands. The speck was now moments, seconds, inches before it touched her. The light just touch her fingers when-
"Beca?" A voice broke through the vale of sleep. Beca opened her eyes, she was curled on the couch. Her head was next to Chloe's, her hand in hers. Beca looked up at Benji, who was crouched before her. Beca glanced around the room, the morning light was peaking around the horizon, but nothing was out of place.
"Whats wrong? Is someone here?" Beca whispered.
"You where dreaming and talking. Something about snakes." Benji said the sun flashing of the knife in his hand.
"Nothings wrong?" Benji shock his head. Beca moved her hand from Chloe and fixed the planked around her. "Come on. I'll stay up with you. How much longer do you have?" Beca went out on the deck. Benji followed, pulling the curtain shut to block the sun from the others.
"Tell morning. Aubrey was before me." Benji sat on a blanket and leaned up agents the wall.
"See anything?" Beca pulled her jacket more snugger around her to ward of the cold.
"No, I was quite."
The two sat in silence, Beca staring at the sun rising in the east. Every now and then voices could be heard from people leaving there houses. Dog barks and chirps of the birds would fill there place when the voices died. Fury was peaceful this time of the day, when the streets where not crowded and the smell of sweet and dirt was over powering.
"Beca?"
"mhmmm?"
"Could you sing a song, please?" Beca looked at the younger boy, Benji was the youngest only 16. Beca followed after him at 19, with Aubrey and Chloe both being 21 and Jesse 23. Beca could imagine what it must be like for a 16 year old to be hunted because all of them had been 16 once. All of them have had there lives torn form them when the ANARCK. found out that they had it. They had the mutation. Jesse had been taken when he was 10, only to escape days later and be all alone. Aubrey had watched her mother be killed, Beca was certain that was why she was cold to almost everyone but Jesse and sometimes the rest of them, if it was a good day. Chloe had been taken at 8, she unlike Jesse had not escape right away and was locked up for 3 years. She rarely talked about it, even to Beca, who eventually gave up trying. Benji was the luckiest, he had stayed hidden tell he was 13, when he found the four of them in his village hiding out. He had wanted to come with, they had no way of saying no when the ANARCK. saw him with them. Because now that the know his face, anyone how ever even spoke to him was in danger. Beca's past was not quite as easy, she had grown up in the streets, sense she was 6. When one day a older couple found her and took her in. It was not long before the mutation was realized, its much harder to hide it when your young. But in stead of kicking her out, the couple keeper her. The man even trained her in fighting and survival. He had fought in the war and had been one of the lucky survivors. Beca stayed with them tell she was 14, when her whole world can crashing down in one night. The ANARCK., the couple were tortured for information with Beca hiding in the rafters above, watching the whole thing. But they told the ANARCK. nothing, they then left burning the house and everything Beca loved. Leaving, Beca once again in the streets but his time she was alone for 5 months, tell she met Jesse, then Chloe and Aubrey and finally Benji. The five of them where a family now and Beca was never going to lose her family again.
"What song do you want?" She sat next to Benji.
"uhm…the 100 years one?"
Beca smiled, Benji loved that song. He said he love it because it "reminds me that even though we are 'special', we still live an average life in years." and that his mom knew it on the piano and would play it for him. Beca had to emit, Benji was probably the smartest one of them all next to Aubrey.
I'm 15 for a moment
Caught in between 10 and 20
And I'm just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are
I'm 22 for a moment
And she feels better than ever
And we're on fire
Making our way back from Mars
15 there's still time for you
Time to buy and time to lose
15, there's never a wish better than this
When you only got a hundred years to live
I'm 33 for a moment
Still the man, but you see I'm a "they"
A kid on the way, babe.
A family on my mind
I'm 45 for a moment
The sea is high
And I'm heading into a crisis
Chasing the years of my life
15 there's still time for you
Time to buy and time to lose yourself
Within a morning star
15 I'm all right with you
15, there's never a wish better than this
When you only got a hundred years to live
Half time goes by
Suddenly you're wise
Another blink of an eye
67 is gone
The sun is getting high
We're moving on...
I'm 99 for a moment
And dying for just another moment
And I'm just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are
15 there's still time for you
22 I feel her too
33 you're on your way
Every day's a new day...
15 there's still time for you
Time to buy and time to choose
Hey 15, there's never a wish better than this
When you only got a hundred years to live.
"We should get you a guitar, that way there is at least music." Beca and Benji whipped around. Aubrey was leaning up agents the door, a blanket draped around her shoulders. "And maybe sing when were not trying to sleep."
"At least you woke up to something, beautiful and amazing."
"Could have been me." Benji said grinning.
Beca pointed at Benji nodding. "Could have been him." Aubrey 'hufmph' and walked back inside. Beca got up stretching her arms above her head and followed her in.
"Do you want to finish of the coffee the morning." Jesse asked from the kitchen.
"What the hell, I can always steal some again." Beca said grabbing a couple of unripe apples from a box. She tossed one each to Jesse, Benji and Aubrey, then pulled her knife out to split it in half to share with Chloe. "How'd you sleep?" She asked Chloe kissing her on the
cheek.
"Good, woke up with the blankets actually on me." She winked at Beca, causing her to blush. "And I think, I found the culprit. You?"
"Ehh, had a weird dream. Benj' said I was mumbling in my sleep."
"What was it about?" Aubrey asked taking a bite of apple.
"Forest, snakes and lights." Beca said counting on her fingers.
"The Holy Trinity." Chloe laughed
Jesse walked over with a tray of cups. Taking one, Beca let the hot liquid warm her hands as she finished the apple.
"Is there a reason we are staying here long?" Aubrey asked after a pause.
"In Fury?" When Aubrey nodded, Beca continued. "Not really, we have just no been chased out yet. Why?"
"I was thinking-"
"When do you don't." Jesse interjected.
Aubrey rolled her eyes. "I was thinking we should go to Judas. Its only what a three-four day journey? The city is bigger, we could maybe get some money instead of steeling. And I herd a rumor."
"Rumor?" Chloe wondered.
"Someone in the hall was saying that there is a group by the coast, by one of the bigger maintains. That is openly agents the ANARCK. and all for help from people like us."
"Aubrey, it's probably complete bull shit." Beca said.
"What if it's not?"
Before Beca could answer someone outside knocked twice waited a heart beat and then knocked six times.