Chapter 8
Wood Oak Cemetery has never looked so peaceful. The Autumn breeze and late sunset gives the sky an orange glow beyond the trees. Axel kneels down and places a set of white roses on his parents' gravestone as he breathes in the fresh air and remembers them.
When he looks up he is shocked to see an open patch about 10 metres away further down the line with a gravestone already in place. A woman in a long black dress and gloves stands in front of it sombre and still. Her eyes are covered with a netted black veil.
She turns from the distance to face him for a moment then walks away with her long brown hair and silk dress blowing in the wind.
"Blaze?! Blaze wait it's me!" He runs after her then takes a look at the gravestone she was standing next to a few seconds ago. It's haunting when he realises the gravestone bears the name 'A. H Stone'.
He takes it all in then follows her out of the cemetery. It's as if the streets of Wood Oak City stood still and defied time. Those graffiti colourful walls next to the skateboarding parks and the long metal gates that surround abandoned factories and smoked out trash cans are a familiar site except there is no one around. Nothing but a ghost town.
He catches Blaze next to one of the walls looking out into the sunset.
She seems startled when he takes her hand. She looks down then up at his face with her grey eyes, now without the veil. The look on her face is one of sadness but at the same time she is happy to see him.
Suddenly the atmosphere changes and Axel is back where he was lying on the ground in the middle of no where. The only thing that has remained is the sun where then greenery of the terrain surrounding him is a blur as his eyes struggle to open.
"You have to survive! You have to get up now before all of that becomes a reality". He vaguely sees Blaze kneeling down next to him in flashbacks, blocking the sun but her voice is as clear as day with urgency.
"They're nearby right now! You have to find the strength to get up. Please wake up!" she pleads.
In a split second Axel opens his eyes. He is alert as ever as he scans his surroundings which remain the same as earlier when he collapsed here. Blaze is now gone and his unforgiving reality is now Lima. The sound of tanks and soldiers close by is prominent so he does his best to quickly get up to his feet and make it out of the open to somewhere he can take cover. The pain in his head and disorientation is still a problem as he struggles to flee the area. Her words 'you have to survive' and the sight of the gravestone dominate his thoughts. There is no other way, even in his weakest moment Axel must go on.
"Holy shit!" Sammy is startled as he finishes climbing up the side of the house to the roof where Blaze has been sitting with her palms open and her chi alight above each hand. It is surprising that she could sit there in a meditative state with her eyes closed and calm as explosions continue to light up the sky over the city in the distance.
His presence takes her out of that state where she immediately opens her eyes whilst the electric current above her hands cuts out.
"I'm sorry! I was worried about you" he apologises.
Blaze: "I saw him, he's not dead!" she responds.
Sammy: "Who Axel?"
Blaze nods "we have to leave for Lima as soon as possible and fight for what's ours. If we flee and we don't fight they'll be nothing left here. He needs our help".
Sammy: "How? How did you…?"
Blaze: "I don't know but I know I'm not just dreaming anymore".
Mr X and his soldiers scan the next area where Axel was laying down just moments ago.
"Seems to be clear right now with no more soldiers in sight" one of his officers update him.
"And what about Electra and her team? Have they arrived yet?" Mr X questions him.
"Yes, her ship came in about 20 minutes ago. Do you want us to take you back or shall we keep searching?"
Mr X: "Nothing is left here but empty land and mountains. No one would survive beyond that terrain especially when the temperature drops tonight. Let's get back to the city before sundown".
Just as they leave, he notices some blood on the ground.
"Everything ok sir?" The officer questions.
Mr X: "For now. Keep six of your officers posted here tonight just in case we have missed anyone" he says with suspicion before they leave the area.
"Go West with Max, Adam and the kids to safety, it is too dangerous for you to come with us" Rudra pleads with Angelina.
"She's right" Shiva says "I don't want you or the baby harmed, it's going to be a long journey to Lima".
"What about our deal?" Blaze interrupts.
"You still don't trust me do you?" Shiva replies.
Blaze: "The only things I trust are my instincts, besides no where is that safe really is it?"
Shiva: "ok. But Cesar goes to the safe house with the others".
Blaze: "Sure" she replies as she sharpens her knife.
Eliza: "then I'm coming with you!"
"What are you talking about?" Blaze says, surprised by her comment.
Eliza: "She's about to pop that bun out of the oven any day soon. I don't suppose any of you are qualified doctors are you? Or know how to deliver a baby?"
Blaze, Rudra and Shiva all look at each other awkwardly.
Eliza: "thought so!"
Max: "I'm coming with you then".
Sammy: "So am I!"
Adam: "your coming with me, Keri and the kids to safety. Don't even think about arguing with me boy! We're done fighting this war, now it's time to move on while we can".
Sammy shakes his head and stands next to Blaze "tell him will you."
Adam: "Tell me what?"
Blaze: "Let's go outside and talk while the others say goodbye".
They step outside into the forest daylight while it is tranquil as the bombs from last night have stopped for now like the calm before the storm.
Blaze: "He's made up his mind, he's coming with me".
Adam: "While Shiva and Rudra travel with you? Over my dead body!"
Blaze: "Sammy's not a child anymore, in fact he's a great fighter. Just because you've stopped fighting alongside us doesn't mean he should follow you. He has his own journey to follow. Max and I will take care of him, trust me. Remember you'll have Cesar with you as well, Shiva won't hurt Sammy".
Adam sighs "ok. Once I get to safety with Keri and the kids I'll come looking for you. Remember you have that tracker if you need it and help will be on hand".
Blaze smiles: "I know" she taps his shoulder then walks away towards one of the cars.
Adam shouts out: "Blaze?"
"Yeah?" she turns around.
Adam: "I'm sorry for what I said about Axel yesterday. He's a survivor and I know you'll find him"
"I hope so" she responds as they say goodbye.
