Chapter 2

10 YEARS EARLIER. NIGHT OF THE BALL. PHILADELPHIA

The ball room in the main building was decorated with soft candles and white flowers. There was a scent of vanilla from some of the left over candles from before the blackout which were saved for special occasions like this evening.

The tables were set to perfection with white table clothes and silverware. President Monroe demanded nothing less.

Champaign and whiskey were at the ready for the arriving guests. It would be the first anniversary of the Monroe Republic, a celebration that he wanted to be remembered through the ages.

Shawna Michaels was twenty-five. She had moved to Philadelphia two years after the blackout. She was a young doctor fresh out of med school when the lights went off. The thought of a better and safer life from the dangers of all the militias was what brought her to the capitol of the Monroe Republic.

She and President Monroe had met in a complicated situation. She was brought to his office shortly after stabbing one of his men who was apparently way too forward with her.

Her beauty and braze was what caught his attention. They have been together ever since.

Now, three years later, standing in her bedroom looking at her reflection in the mirror, she could barely even recognize herself. From the starving girl who barely survived the blackout to the woman she became now. Even though curling irons and hair straighteners were unavailable, she was pretty impressed with how she put herself together.

Excitement built up inside her as she knew that tonight would finally change her life.

For better or worse. Tonight, I will tell him.

Sebastian Monroe was standing in his quarters, adjusting his uniform. Yeah, he could have gone with the custom made tuxedo that was especially made for him but he decided that the uniform would represent formality and his status as the President and General of the Republic. His Republic.

The day had finally come where he would show everyone in the Republic, and his enemies, exactly who General Sebastian Monroe was.

The plans and troops were in place after months of careful preparations. He and Miles had worked out all the details to the letter to make sure that nothing would go wrong.

"This night will be perfect," he said to himself. "Tonight is just the beginning."

"You look very handsome."

He turned and saw Shawna standing at the entrance door, wearing a long black dress. It was simple, but she still looked stunning in it. She was wearing the diamond earrings he gave her for their anniversary last year. Her long brown hair flowed on her shoulders.

"You look gorgeous. Very beautiful."

PRESENT

The camp was waking up to a new day. People were slowly coming out of their tents after a nights rest and welcoming the new day. Breakfast was cooking and the smell of oatmeal and tea was in the air. It wasn't much but it was enough to keep the people fed until they managed to hunt something edible.

For the past half hour Bass was trying to figure out what to say. It's been ten years for goodness sakes and now their paths have crossed in the most random way.

Passing back and forth in the tent they were given an order to rest until their wagon was ready to go.

Charlie felt as if a fire had been set inside her, ever since she saw the interaction between Bass and that woman Shawna.

She just couldn't figure out why she was feeling like this. Why would she even care?

Charlie walked into the tent holding her freshly sharpened knife in her hand.

She met Bass with a gaze that would cut right through you. She was twiddling her knife between her thumbs.

"You look like you're ready to use that thing," Bass said. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah. Just wanna get out of here and get back already," Charlie replied.

"It shouldn't take too long. I'm gonna check and see what's going on."

Bass walked outside the tent.

The walk to Shawna's tent was only a minute but it felt like forever. All the past memories came back to him in small flashbacks as he was trying to shake them off.

He was never nervous when came to women but this time he was. It was different with Shawna. At least it was back then.

"Can I come in?" He said nervously.

Shawna was standing in her tent trying to clean herself off from the dust and dirt of her night shift.

A bit startled she turned around and saw him in the doorway of her tent.

"Your wagon should be ready in a couple of hours. You should be able to hit the road then." She stated.

"Trying to get rid of me that bad?" He replied.

"Just trying to get you on your way so you don't lose much daylight."

"Shawna can we talk? I know the way we left things-"

"Don't! The past is in the past. I've moved on since then," Shawna cut.

"I know you're angry with me."

Shawna started feeling her blood boiling inside her.

"Oh angry doesn't even begin to describe it. But, like I said, it's in the past."

"Look. What I did was wrong and… I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" Shawna questioned. "It's so easy for you to say it isn't it?"

Tears started flowing down her cheeks even though she tried to hold them back.

"It's easy for you to say sorry after what you did. After I found you…" She trailed for a moment and then, "and, on the night I was-"

She stopped herself from continuing the sentence.

"The night you were what?" He queried.

"It doesn't matter. What matters is that you get your wagon fixed and you leave my camp as soon as possible."

Shawna wiped the tears and walked out of the tent.

Bass didn't know how much time had passed but felt it was time to get out and get back to Charlie and Connor.

He left the tent with the memories of his conversation with Shawna echoing in his head.

"It's easy for you to say sorry after what you did. After I found you..."

He remembered that moment perfectly.

"And, on the night I was-"

What was she going to tell him?

"Dad!"

He turned his head around and saw Connor.

"What's going on?"

"The wagon is almost ready. We should be able to head out in about half an hour."

"Good."

"Everything ok? You seem disoriented." Connor questioned.

"I'm fine," Bass replied.

"I'll go get Charlie and get ready to leave."

Bass did not want to leave. Not before he got some answers.