Solara's Journey- BOOK OF ELI

I do not own the rights to the movie: Book of Eli, the characters, or plot. That pleasure lies unto Writer Gary Whitta and Directors Albert and Allen Hughes.

My story is a continuation of the events after the movie which I have written solely for my own recreation.

Chapter 7: Into the Valley of the Shadow of Death

"I shall fear no evil, for thou art is with me."

Solara used the turbulent storm of the dust-bowl to cover her appearance into the shambled village of GRAND JUNCTION. She could only see a few feet in front of her, but she knew the familiar path well. Kit chittered nervously beneath her jacket as she entered the old theater through the back door. She removed the gas mask and took in the surroundings.

Over a year had passed since stepping foot inside of this once grand theater.

Tables were knocked over. Chair legs were broken. Carnegie's box office curtains were ripped from the ceiling. The place was an absolute disaster.

Kit wiggled and squirmed, but Solara kept him inside of her jacket.

She checked her mother's room first, eager to know that she was safe. But it too was empty and ripped of the valuable belongings. A real feeling of panic pitted in her belly. She ran to her own room that was adjacent to the box office. It wasn't much larger than a closet. Her small bed had been removed entirely. Any clothes that could be used, she had no interest in looking at. The wooden wall plank near the window was the only thing left in her ransacked home.

She shut the door and let Kit down. He sniffed and stretched as Solara loosened the board underneath the windowsill.

A dusty shoebox held a deck of cards that she had collected over the years. She nearly had all of the suits. A rusty whistle. A tiny snow globe. The only picture of her mother as an infant. Wire cutters. Packets of salt, sugar, pepper, and wet-nap wipes. A picture book with several varieties of plants and wildlife. But her ball of bright orange yarn was missing! And the skeleton key to the cellar!

Solara thrust the box contents into Eli's pack and sprinted into the box office with Kit at her heels. The box office chandelier lie broken on the floorboards and the mahogany desk drawers were scattered messily. She didn't care about this room or the previous owner, Carnegie. Her mother was the most important person in her world.

Only from this room could the cellar be accessible. She moved the emptied bookcase using her sore leg muscles and saw the battered black door.

A 3 inch piece of orange yarn was tied to the iron handle.

A silent prayer was sent.

Kit growled a low warning and his hackles raised high. Solara knew her mother had knotted the orange yarn on the handle. She must be inside! Carefully, she crouched to the floor, raised her knuckles, knocked a recognizable pattern, and whipped her hand quickly back.

It was luck and experience that she was so quick.

A blast so loud it could have been from a cannon blew through the door. Instead of coming from the inside, it came from behind her.

"You!" The male voice boomed. "Back away from that door! Now! Or I'll put the next bullet through your scavenging head!"

Kit growled and snapped at the man who had him under the threat of another, smaller gun. "Kit. Here!" The fox kept the gun-wielder to his front as he backed up to the girl. Clearly trying to protect his human companion.

Solara raised her hands slowly and stood to face the intruder.

"That's good enough. Now leave!" The man demanded.

He wore clear, industrial goggles. A desert camo flak jacket and matching britches. A strip of brown cloth shielded his face. "Not happening, friend." Solara inched her wrist down a bit. A little further and she could just reach Eli's SAMURAI SWORD. "I'm not leaving until I find some…"

"I told you to go!" He cocked the hammer back again. "I'm not asking, I'm telling you. It's more of a warning than I give most."

"Where are you from?" She asked as she carefully placed her fingers over the handle of the sword. "I know you're not from here." A small distraction was all that was needed.

"The outlands. Same as you."

In a blur of movement, Solara had drawn the sword and struck the stranger's gun from its target… HER. The man was clearly expecting retaliation. He too, had drawn an intimidating blade. They bounded back and forth in flashes of steel and thuds of metal on metal. She was no match for his brawn, but he was no match for her springy agility.

"Stop!" A woman cried out. "Please, Solara!"

Solara would know that voice from anywhere. The deepest pit. The tallest cliff. Or in the darkest hour. "Mom!" She wanted to run into her arms, but this man was too much for her to manage by splitting her attention. "Stay back, mom! There's a dangerous guy here!"

The man was obviously taken aback at their familiarity. "Claudia. You can't possibly know that this is her. She's probably long dead…" The blind woman had been hoping for her daughter's return for too long.

He knew that the odds were against any of her high hopes.

"I know my own daughter!" The blind beauty groped the empty air until she touched Solara. She believed in her heart that her only child was alive. She felt an unfamiliar pack and impossibly rigid muscles. Could this be her daughter?

He watched an expression of doubt cloud over his charge.

A metallic click echoed from the man. "I said put it away!" Claudia demanded sharply before turning her full attention back on the young woman in front of her. "Solara, please. Put it down."

Even with the year of absence, harsh encounters, and bleak circumstances of the world… the beautiful teenager cracked. "Mom!" She dropped the pack, the sword, and leapt into her blind mother's arms. "What's happened? Who is this? Where is everyone?"

Claudia swept her hands over Solara's hair trying to feel her daughter's features as it was her only form of sight. She could tell that her child had filled out. The once bony limbs were tight and firm. Her expression was now defined instead of shy and hesitant. And the way she had fought?! Even being blind, Claudia knew she was as skilled as some men. Maybe more so! "My sweet girl, the village has changed. I've been lucky to have found a few people willing to help me." She gestured to the man standing at Solara's flank. As if he were ready to lop off her leg if given an order.

"She is welcome here." She said to her guard.

"Yes ma'am." He answered brusquely.

The little fox had been nearly forgotten amidst the fighting. He now sniffed curiously at the person his human had been so fond of.

Claudia gasped. "What's that?"

The man made to remove the fox in a violent way.

"Do not touch him!" Solara growled in a low tone. "Mom, this is Kit. He is a fox and he is with me."

"Eli, they're both welcome here."

"Yes ma'am." He answered again.

Solara inhaled sharply. "What did you call him?!"

"Oh, I'm sorry. Solara," She reached blindly until the taller man moved within reach. "This is Eli. He has been helping me since you've been gone."

The room became smaller and too hot. Before Solara collapsed, she heard…

"I've got you, friend."