{Viola}

Val, Iris, Hellie and their children follow me back to our house, and on the way there, in the darkness that occupies the sky just before morning, I promise them that everything is going to be alright.

I tried to make it sound like it wasn't a lie.

Val complained and Hellie ran her mouth and Iris wept silently into her hands as I set up the living room with blankets and pillows for them to sleep on – even though night was quickly turning into day. I was telling myself to hold it together after they were all settled in – but it was hard not to worry about the future of our settlement. New World was starting to affect us in ways we hadn't anticipated – first the Spackle, then the SnowScape, and now the adoption of Noise; for both men, and women. It wouldn't have been a problem if Noise between men and women didn't cause so much destruction, so much upheaval, so much chaos –

Once they were all settled down, I sat at the kitchen table –

Rested my cheek against its surface –

And slipped into sleep –

Where I dreamt of flames –

Red and scorching and wild –

My Noise full of fire –

And smoke –

And explosions –

And Todd –

Todd –

Being held around the neck –

Above a raging, unforgiving fire –

By a tall, shadowy figure –

And Todd clutches at its hands –

Veins popping out in his neck –

As he begs –

And pleads –

And calls for me –

Viola –

Viola –

VIOLA –

"Viola."

I jolt awake, dull morning sunlight coming in through the window, and look down to see Todd crouched on the floor in front of me. A hand on my knee.

I clutch my chest, place a hand on his shoulder. Try to slow my heavy breathing.

"Todd." I say, relieved. "Sorry. I just… I was having a nightmare."

He shakes his head, as if he already knew. Because he does already know. He saw it in my Noise.

"I kno. I saw." He says. "Yer okay?"

I shake my head yes, more so to convince myself that it's true. "Yeah. I think so. Last night was just…"

"A lot." Todd finishes for me, then looks through the opening of the kitchen to the women who are sleeping in our living room. "You should get more rest." He says, looking back to me. I shake my head no.

"We have to figure out what to do with all these women, first." I say. "They don't have anywhere to go, and they still need to learn how to use their Noise, and we need to check up on their husbands –"

"Viola." He says again, his Noise serious, but his voice soft. "Yer barely awake."

And he's right – even though my eyes are opened, there are still remnants of that nightmare in my Noise, clouded with smoke and sparks of fire and Todd –

I shut my eyes, take a deep breath.

"Just another hour." I say to him, my eyes still closed. There would be no use in trying to teach these women how to use their Noise if I barely had a hold of my own – but I wasn't going to put it off for a second longer than I had to. "But promise that you'll wake me up."

"I will." Todd says, but I squint my eyes when he gives me a smile that isn't his own. It's smaller, and sadder, and only lasts for a second. He answers the questions in my Noise before I get a chance to ask them, out loud.

"I'll tell you about it after you get some rest." He says, but it's no use, because I can already see what happened in his Noise. A conversation with the elder spackle, from earlier that morning. Todd defending our Noise. The elder Spackle warning us against using it.

And a threat –

Against our community –

That wasn't said aloud –

But implied –

War.

Todd dips his head towards the floor when he sees that I've found out.

"Don't worry about it, Viola." He says, then shuts his Noise out from me after I'd read it. "The elder Spackle is still making threats, but that ain't gonna stop wut we're doin here. You just… teach the women about their Noise and I'll handle the Spackle."

But there's an edge to his voice that I don't like, almost like he is making a threat of his own.

"Todd." I say, my own voice rigid. "What are you going to do?"

He shakes his head, as if to say no. "Nothin'. Not yet, at least. I'm just goin to make sure the elder Spackle, and whoever else is on her side, don't go messin' anythin' up."

I'm not sure what he means by that, and don't ask him why. I can see in his eyes that he is tired, too, and I place my hand on top of his, still resting on my knee.

"You need sleep too, Todd." I say, and I interrupt the protest he is about to make by saying, "If you don't go, I won't either."

Todd and I are more tired than we are stubborn, that morning, and ten minutes later we both end up on a cot in the back room, sharing the only pillow we had left while trying to get some sleep. Todd's Noise is surprisingly silent, next to mine, which is more restless, threatening to slip back into the nightmare I was having earlier. Todd isn't in this one, but that tall, shadowy figure is – this time, approaching me in a cloud of hazy smoke. I try to scream as it gets closer, but can't, and as it steps out of the smoke, I can see what it is, who it is, that reaches for me, reaches for my Noise, reaches for everything and everyone that I love –

"It's her!"

I open my eyes, beads of sweat on my forehead, and someone's hand is on my shoulder, shaking me awake. I expect for it to be Todd – but instead, it's Iris. Her eyes are still bloodshot red from crying last night, but there is a smile on her face.

"It's just me." She says, and I look around the room, trying to get a grip on my surroundings. No smoke. No fire. No elder Spackle. "You were having a nightmare, and woke up the entire house."

"I'm sorry." I say to her, then look to the spot where Todd was sleeping, the sheets disheveled. "Where is Todd?"

Iris points her thumb over her shoulder, towards the door. "He left not too long ago. Said that he was going to talk to Ben? And that he'd be right back. He also told us to make sure you stayed asleep, but you sounded so terrified in your dream…"

I can tell she wants to ask what it was about, but I don't want to scare her any more than she already was. Having new Noise was enough of a threat to her on its own – she didn't need to know that the elder Spackle was out to get us for it, either. Instead, I throw the covers from my body and start getting ready for the day.

"I'm okay." I tell her, hoping that I sound convincing. "Hildy and I are going to check on your husbands, and if they are okay, I want to start teaching you all how to use your Noise. Are you okay with that?"

Iris nods, and her eyes follow me as I walk around the room, throwing on a jacket and boots. I'm sure I look like a mad woman to her, and I sort of feel like one, my body moving faster than my mind, still clouded with smoke –

"I'm sorry – where did you say Todd was, again?" I ask her, stopping in the middle of the room.

"To find Ben." She tells me, and then, "Are you sure you're okay, Viola?"

I shake my head yes, but it is only halfway true. The plan was to always teach the women how to use their Noise, but there were already four of them that needed our help, and who's to say there wouldn't be four more by the end of today? And the next day? And the next day?

"Please help yourselves to anything you might need." I tell her, only to distract myself from the racing thoughts in my mind. "And I'll be back soon."

Even without Noise, Hildy knew exactly what I was thinking.

"Yer didn't sleep at all last night, did yer?" She asks me as I walk outside, already sitting out by the front door. She offers me some water, and a piece of bread, then insists I take it after I say no thank you.

"Yer need to eat, Viola." She tells me, strictly. I manage to give her a small smile.

"It's hard to stomach much of anything when the settlement is up in flames." I say, but take what she's offering me, anyways. "Thank you, Hildy."

I start walking away, but Hildy stops me, doesn't let me take another step until I eat and take some of the water. I let my shoulders drop, cock my head to the side. She puts her hands on her hips and gives me a pointed look.

Just like a mother would.

"Fine, Hildy." I say, then take a small bite of the bread, gulp down half the bottle of water. "Is that good enough?" I ask her, wiping my chin with the back of my hand, and she smiles. Nods.

Our steps are in sync as we make our way to the house of healing.

"Ben wants to start re-building the houses we lost to those explosions today." Hildy tells me, looking over her shoulder at the charred piece of land, where those homes once stood. I get a quick glance, but have to look away. Return my gaze back to the ground. "Yer Todd is goin to help em out too, I heard. He was out all night helpin em clean up, and is goin right back out today."

"Huh." Is all I can manage to say, because I get the feeling that Todd is planning on doing more than just helping rebuild, today. My mind was still hazy from lack of sleep, and the nightmares that I'd had didn't help, but I could still remember the way he looked that morning. Sad, but vengeful. Tired, but alert.

I try reaching out to him through my Noise –

But only silence is there.

(What are you thinking, Todd?)

(Why aren't you using your Noise?)

(What are you about to go and do?)

(Don't shut me out.)

"I recommend a few more days." Mistress Lawson says when Hildy and I greet her at the house of healing. We're standing outside of the room where the husbands are being treated – and they are in much worse condition than Todd, or Wilf, after the explosions they created with their Noise. "Two of them are still disoriented, and the other has several broken bones. This is probably the best place for them to recover, considering he has no home to go back to."

"Alright, then." Hildy says, and she sounds more nonchalant, and positive, than what I actually feel. "When they're all healthy and back on their feet, we'll get em back home."

Mistress Lawson nods her head, but I can see worry in her eyes. If this trend continues, the house of healing will be full in a matter of days – but we had no way of telling when that would happen again.

The women needed to learn how to use their Noise, and fast.

"Don't worry, Mistress Lawson." I say, answering the question she hadn't asked. "We're going to get it under control before anything else happens."

But that isn't what Mistress Lawson is worried about, at all – by the way she's looking at me, I can tell that she think I'm tired. Overworked. Anxious.

"Do you and Todd want to stay here, Viola?" She asks me, and I furrow my eyebrows.

"Why?" I ask her. "Todd and I are fine. You need the space here just in case more men get hurt…"

"Viola." She says, interrupting me. I look to Hildy, thinking that she was going to back me up. But she's on Mistress Lawson's side, today. "I know that you and Todd have women staying at your home, and many others might be joining, if this madness continues –"

That word –

Madness –

Replays over and over –

In my mind –

(Focus, Viola)

"I can tell that you're stressed, Viola." Mistress Lawson continues. "Don't forget that you and I have worked very closely with one another – I know you better than you think. You and Todd are our only hope, right now, and if I can make things easier for you two, by giving you a quiet place to rest and recover, then I am going to do that."

I only consider this idea for Todd's sake – maybe shutting him inside of the house of healing with all the other men will keep him from attacking the elder Spackle (or whatever he thinks he's going to do to stop her). I take Mistress Lawson's hand and thank her for everything – for taking care of the injured men, for offering us a place to stay, for still believing in us after all this time, after all this chaos –

When we turn to leave, Todd reaches out to me.

Yer were really gonna shut me away like that? With Mistress Lawson, of all people? He says, his Noise teasing. Hildy looks over at me, confused, when I let out a small laugh.

"It's Todd." I tell her, pointing to my temple, then turn back to say to him – That's funny, coming from the person who's had their Noise shut off all day. Where are you?

I'm trying to see where he is through my Noise, but I can't place it, not quite. All he's showing me is the back of his body, and what looks like Ben standing beside him – a dull yellow light flashing before them. It's a stark difference from the fire and smoke I'd seen in my dreams the night before, but it still unnerves me.

What is that, Todd? I ask him, slightly panicked, but his Noise is warm, calming. He shows me that there is nothing to be afraid of, and even though I don't know what it is, can't see what it is –

I believe him.

Come to the clearing behind Ben's house. He tells me, and I can detect a smile in his Noise. Wilf and Jane learned how to use their Noise.

My feet move quickly beneath me as Hildy and I sprint to Ben's house, regardless of how tired we are. Wilf had been staying there while Jane stayed with us – I'd hardly noticed she wasn't there, this morning – but I supposed it was for a good reason. We reach the clearing behind the house and I stop dead in my tracks, my jaw dropping as I see Wilf and Jane, tossing around beams of light to each other, and smiling, and laughing, as they share their Noise –

Just like me and Todd.

He turns around, after hearing my Noise behind him. Smiles at me.

Can yer believe it? Todd says, and I don't know what to say back. I want to smile, I want to laugh, I want to cry –

So THIS is what you've been up to, today? I say, crossing my arms against my chest, teasing him instead.

I thought I was the one who was supposed to be teaching women about their Noise!

Todd wears his real smile now, and the sight of it makes me walk towards him, Hildy following behind me. He nudges my arm once we are standing side by side.

Yer don't get to do everything, Viola. He says. Plus, yer needed sleep, and I kno I said I'd wake yer up, but I couldn't. Figured I cud take some stress off of yer by teaching Wilf and Jane about their Noise.

I smile at him, grateful for what he's done, feeling guilty for doubting him, before.

I'm sorry I thought about locking you up in the house of healing. I say, and we both share a laugh. I was tired, and stressed, and trying to figure out how we're going to contain all of this. But, by the looks of it…

We ain't got too bad of a start. Todd finishes for me.

We both turn our gazes back to Wilf and Jane, who throw around their Noise with ease, no trace of fear anywhere on their faces. I felt relieved, seeing that they were able to handle it so well, and it gave me hope for all the other couples we still had to teach –

But I still couldn't shake the sight of all the flames from my nightmare –

Of all the smoke –

Of all the destruction –

Of the elder Spackle chocking Todd –

Of the elder Spackle reaching for me –

For my Noise –

For our Noise –

And then it occurred to me –

It wasn't a nightmare I'd been having –

But a warning –

From the Land –

And it wouldn't be the first –

She was coming for us –

But Todd was already shaking his head when I turned around to face him. He'd read my Noise.

And through his own, he told me, with a smirk on his lips –

There ain't gonna be a war, Viola. But if the elder Spackle tries to come for us, she'd better be ready. If you and I cud stop Eric's whole army with just our Noise – wait until she sees wut a couple more of us can do.

And that's when I realize what's really going on.

Todd wasn't just teaching Wilf and Jane how to use their Noise.

He was preparing them to be a part of an army.

He was preparing them in case we had to go back to war.

Author's Note:

I AM SO SORRY about how long it has taken for me to post this chapter! I'd blame it on school but even that isn't true – reading for fun has taken up ALL of my free time (lately I've been reading a lot of fun and spooky thriller/mystery novels, let me know if anyone else is a fan lol) but NOW THAT THE TRAILER IS OUT I figured I'd go ahead and write the next chapter!

I don't want to say this story will ever end, but I think that if I set a deadline for myself, I'll get chapters out faster, and some closure with this story. I've been writing it since last summer (which is really rare for me, seeing that I usually abandon the stories that I write, fanfiction or original stuff) but this one is so special to me and I really want to finish it. Not only because it's the longest thing I've ever written, but because y'all have kept reading it! So let's say, by years end it'll be finished? If I get more ideas and need more time, I'll let y'all know!

Let me know what y'all think about this chapter, but more importantly, I want your thoughts on the trailer! Personally, I really liked it (Garrett02 and I have already talked about this in detail, lol) but there were some things about it that confused me (WHAT was that large snake that jumped out at Davy? Did that really happen in the books or am I forgetting something?!) Either way, I know we're all still excited for the movie. If anyone wants to gush over the trailer, or even complain about it – I AM ALL EARS!

Happy early thanksgiving y'all! Stay safe and healthy and be good to yourselves, as well as each other! (And I really do mean this. I go back and read some of y'all's reviews and they make me so happy. You guys are the best, and I wish you nothing less than the kindness you've given me, just by reading this story!)