Yay, another chapter! Quick shout out to Lilac Flower for
giving me some free advertising and everybody needs to read Nonamegivenyet
{I spelled that right, right?} which is an excellent story. I would also
like to thank Piper for reviewing, so thank you! I know the title to this
story is completely horrible {anyone have any suggestions?} AND that there
were a lot of errors in chapter 1, and I think I managed to fix them {key
word being "think"} I do not own The Tribe, by the by, somebody else does.
Please r/r when you're done.
Chapter 2: The New Plan
She hesitantly walked back into the kitchen, trying not to see the bodies, trying not to even think about the people she would never see again. She instead looked at the space where they had hidden only ten minutes ago; she didn't realize how much he had bled until she saw the puddle. As she grabbed a glass from a cabinet and began to fill it, something dawned on her; Pride was right when he said that they now had something to build against them. The Mall Rats were well known in the community, and for the most part, they were respected; Salene's mind was racing with her developing idea: if they held a public funeral, where the majority of the city was present, then they could see that the Technos could not be allowed to rule over them. The marks made from the blasts were distinguishable as the weapons that the Technos carried, so wasn't that proof? Of course it was proof, and if that wasn't enough, she had witnesses, one of them being "the enemy," maybe this was what they had been waiting for. The more she thought about it, the more confident she became about how this would work. Surely Ved and Siva would turn to their side after what had happened to Cloe and Lex at the hand of their leader, and maybe more of the Technos would after knowing the truth. Salene wouldn't explain her plan until everyone was back, but she suspected that the same thoughts had crossed their minds as well.
Taking a deep breath she re-entered Prides room, and pulled up the only chair in the room. She smiled at his weakened figure; it was just such an odd sight to see. Pride never showed physical weakness, he was always the invincible man in her mind, sending out the vibe of the warrior. There were people stronger than him, and bigger than him, but none ever dared to pick a fight with him, none dared to even think about messing with him. It was funny what a compassionate person this intimidator was once you got to know him, which took a long time. Pride was reserved, not so much as to be reclusive, but he never talked about himself in detail, and perhaps that's why it's so hard for him to admit that he is wrong, because he doesn't let people in on what exactly he is thinking, and the plans he has, and she was sure that he did have plans. Salene had seen in him something, though, when he was with the children he opened up, and maybe it was their influence on him that allowed Pride to start to open up to her. She hated seeing him like this.
"Does it hurt?" she asked quietly.
"Not as much as before," was it a lie? She wondered if he would ever admit to pain, even when she knew the severity of it.
"Here," she lifted his head gently and put the glass to his lips. It was then she realized that he probably needed a blood transfusion, or else he wouldn't be so weak, but there was no way to get it. Again she was scared for him. She placed the glass on the nightstand, next to the damp, bloody towel. He sighed.
"I hate this," he closed his eyes briefly, as if trying to block it all out.
"So do I," her voice was small and faded, as she felt as though she could cry again as she looked down at white towel covering his injury, knowing that it was absorbing his blood. It wasn't spilling out now, but still, he had lost far too much. Pride opened his eyes at the sound of her shaken voice.
"What's wrong?" immediately after speaking he knew what was wrong, it was obvious.
"I just don't want to lose you," her eyes were beginning to water once more.
"You're not going to lose me," his face was serious and stern, "If you don't believe that I can overcome this, there is no way that I can," he always said such words of wisdom. Salene wiped her eyes and gave a short little chuckle.
"You're right," she bowed her head and looked at the ground, "I do believe in you," she put her hand on his, in return he gave it a comforting squeeze. A moment later they heard the front doors open and close bringing apprehension from the couple, praying that is wasn't a second wave. They were extremely relieved when Mouse came running into the room into Salene's embrace.
"Thank goodness you're alright," she said softly as Mouse pulled away and looked at Pride who tried his best to look well, but Mouse wasn't stupid, she saw where the wound was now concealed and her eyes widened. Her eyes now too became rimmed with tears, but she said nothing.
"Hey," said Pride strictly, "Too many tears have been shed for me today, please believe me, I will be fine," she sniffled and carefully hugged him around the shoulders. Amber entered the room and gave a tragic looking smile at the embrace.
"Mouse," Salene as Mouse turned to her, "Why don't you go clean off that cut and head to bed? It's been a long day and you look like you could use a good rest," Mouse hesitated, and quickly looked at Pride who gave a very small nod.
"Okay," she paused, "You'll come tuck me in, right?"
"I promise," she replied warmly. Mouse gave Pride another hug and left the room. "You okay Amber?"
"Yeah," she was leaning against the doorframe, "What about you two?" there was an uncomfortable pause in which Amber walked to the left side of Pride's bed and sat down.
"Fine," he said shortly, knowing very well that she didn't even have to ask that question.
"Salene, you promised!" called Mouse from her room. Salene stood up, kissed and kissed Pride on the forehead affectionately before leaving the room.
"So," Amber began, "How are you really feeling?"
"Like I was blasted in the stomach," he voice didn't hold bitterness, just sincerity.
"While I was out, I called the contact," she was wary of telling him this.
"Are you sure that was a good idea?"
"He knows a little medicine, and I thought he might be able to help," she explained looking away from him. Again he sighed.
"When will he be here?"
"Probably tomorrow morning."
"And what if it's to late by then?" he knew that he shouldn't have said that, but it just slipped out. Pride hadn't let Salene on to the fact the he knew very well that he could die.
"It won't be too late; Jay will be here any time now and we'll have you bandaged up and then Patch will come and you'll be better, I promise."
"I hope you're right," he closed his eyes again in thought.
"What's wrong with you?" she lowered her voice, "You never used to have doubts like this before, stay strong!" he didn't talk for at least thirty seconds.
"I didn't have anything to lose before," he opened his eyes.
"I see," in a way his words had hurt her, hadn't she always been special to him? "You mean Salene and Mouse?"
"Yes."
"You really love her don't you?" she mused about Salene.
"Yes," he repeated with a little smile playing on his lips, "For the first time, something feels right, you know?"
"Mm hm," she smiled a little, but she had to admit, she was a little jealous. Amber had no time to turn into a full fledged green eyed monster, because she heard the doors open, then the voices of Salene, Ebony, and Jay approach. "Well?" she asked as Jay reached the room.
"I got everything I thought we'd need," he set down the bag he was carrying, "Ram almost caught me, but he was in to much of a good mood to even notice the bag," his face turned into a scowl.
"About that," said Salene, "I think I've come up with something that might end this whole thing," everybody looked at her with surprise.
"Salene," it was Ebony who spoke, "I really don't think this is the time to be devising plans."
"I know, but it's just that," she groaned, "Just let me explain it to you while Jay fixes up Pride okay?" there were murmurs of hesitant agreement, though very skeptical. So off she went, explaining about how a public funeral displaying the wounds would rally the city against Ram and his lackeys. By the time she had finished, so had Jay with Pride who was now excessively bandaged.
"I think you've got something there," Ebony had that glint in her eyes as she spoke; "It might work."
"The funeral has to be done anyway," Jay said as he stood up, "I mean there is no way the Technos would do anything at a funeral, it would be the perfect opportunity to talk to the public, and prove the wrong doings that are going on."
"You'll tell Ved and Siva what happened right?" asked Amber, "Or did they know about it the whole time?" Jay shook his head.
"Neither of them would have stood for it," he folded his arms across his chest, "What do you think Pride."
"I think that it's the best chance we've got," he replied.
"Patch can make flyers for us," Amber addressed Pride, "He's good with computers like that."
"Then it's settled," Ebony slapped her hands together, "Now, I suggest we continue the discussion in the morning, because I think everyone could do with a little rest."
"What if they come back?" questioned Amber.
"They won't," Jay answered her rather flatly, "They are too busy celebrating this massacre to send another troop."
"Alright then," Amber arose and stretched as everyone exited the room, "Feel better Pride," and with that, she left Salene and Pride alone once more. Salene took Amber's previous position sitting on the left side of Pride's bed.
"I'm so tired," of course he was.
"I know it's stupid," Salene said, "But I'm afraid that if you go to sleep, you may never wake up again."
"That won't happen," he assured her.
"I know, but all the same," she laid down next to him, putting her head on his chest, and carefully draping her arm over him, "I think I'll stay here, to make sure I can hear your heart beating."
"Thank you," he whispered as he gathered strength to move his arm around her, to hold her.
Together the fell asleep, both exhausted from the happenings of the day. It felt like things had happened only minutes ago, and yet it was night already. In each other's arms though, reality disappeared, filling their dreams with only happiness, and images of each other.
To Be Continued.
Now doesn't that just make you go "Awwww," and feel all warm and fuzzy inside? It doesn't? Then something is terribly wrong with you. I'll try to get more soon, not that I know where I'm going with the story, so please r/r!
Chapter 2: The New Plan
She hesitantly walked back into the kitchen, trying not to see the bodies, trying not to even think about the people she would never see again. She instead looked at the space where they had hidden only ten minutes ago; she didn't realize how much he had bled until she saw the puddle. As she grabbed a glass from a cabinet and began to fill it, something dawned on her; Pride was right when he said that they now had something to build against them. The Mall Rats were well known in the community, and for the most part, they were respected; Salene's mind was racing with her developing idea: if they held a public funeral, where the majority of the city was present, then they could see that the Technos could not be allowed to rule over them. The marks made from the blasts were distinguishable as the weapons that the Technos carried, so wasn't that proof? Of course it was proof, and if that wasn't enough, she had witnesses, one of them being "the enemy," maybe this was what they had been waiting for. The more she thought about it, the more confident she became about how this would work. Surely Ved and Siva would turn to their side after what had happened to Cloe and Lex at the hand of their leader, and maybe more of the Technos would after knowing the truth. Salene wouldn't explain her plan until everyone was back, but she suspected that the same thoughts had crossed their minds as well.
Taking a deep breath she re-entered Prides room, and pulled up the only chair in the room. She smiled at his weakened figure; it was just such an odd sight to see. Pride never showed physical weakness, he was always the invincible man in her mind, sending out the vibe of the warrior. There were people stronger than him, and bigger than him, but none ever dared to pick a fight with him, none dared to even think about messing with him. It was funny what a compassionate person this intimidator was once you got to know him, which took a long time. Pride was reserved, not so much as to be reclusive, but he never talked about himself in detail, and perhaps that's why it's so hard for him to admit that he is wrong, because he doesn't let people in on what exactly he is thinking, and the plans he has, and she was sure that he did have plans. Salene had seen in him something, though, when he was with the children he opened up, and maybe it was their influence on him that allowed Pride to start to open up to her. She hated seeing him like this.
"Does it hurt?" she asked quietly.
"Not as much as before," was it a lie? She wondered if he would ever admit to pain, even when she knew the severity of it.
"Here," she lifted his head gently and put the glass to his lips. It was then she realized that he probably needed a blood transfusion, or else he wouldn't be so weak, but there was no way to get it. Again she was scared for him. She placed the glass on the nightstand, next to the damp, bloody towel. He sighed.
"I hate this," he closed his eyes briefly, as if trying to block it all out.
"So do I," her voice was small and faded, as she felt as though she could cry again as she looked down at white towel covering his injury, knowing that it was absorbing his blood. It wasn't spilling out now, but still, he had lost far too much. Pride opened his eyes at the sound of her shaken voice.
"What's wrong?" immediately after speaking he knew what was wrong, it was obvious.
"I just don't want to lose you," her eyes were beginning to water once more.
"You're not going to lose me," his face was serious and stern, "If you don't believe that I can overcome this, there is no way that I can," he always said such words of wisdom. Salene wiped her eyes and gave a short little chuckle.
"You're right," she bowed her head and looked at the ground, "I do believe in you," she put her hand on his, in return he gave it a comforting squeeze. A moment later they heard the front doors open and close bringing apprehension from the couple, praying that is wasn't a second wave. They were extremely relieved when Mouse came running into the room into Salene's embrace.
"Thank goodness you're alright," she said softly as Mouse pulled away and looked at Pride who tried his best to look well, but Mouse wasn't stupid, she saw where the wound was now concealed and her eyes widened. Her eyes now too became rimmed with tears, but she said nothing.
"Hey," said Pride strictly, "Too many tears have been shed for me today, please believe me, I will be fine," she sniffled and carefully hugged him around the shoulders. Amber entered the room and gave a tragic looking smile at the embrace.
"Mouse," Salene as Mouse turned to her, "Why don't you go clean off that cut and head to bed? It's been a long day and you look like you could use a good rest," Mouse hesitated, and quickly looked at Pride who gave a very small nod.
"Okay," she paused, "You'll come tuck me in, right?"
"I promise," she replied warmly. Mouse gave Pride another hug and left the room. "You okay Amber?"
"Yeah," she was leaning against the doorframe, "What about you two?" there was an uncomfortable pause in which Amber walked to the left side of Pride's bed and sat down.
"Fine," he said shortly, knowing very well that she didn't even have to ask that question.
"Salene, you promised!" called Mouse from her room. Salene stood up, kissed and kissed Pride on the forehead affectionately before leaving the room.
"So," Amber began, "How are you really feeling?"
"Like I was blasted in the stomach," he voice didn't hold bitterness, just sincerity.
"While I was out, I called the contact," she was wary of telling him this.
"Are you sure that was a good idea?"
"He knows a little medicine, and I thought he might be able to help," she explained looking away from him. Again he sighed.
"When will he be here?"
"Probably tomorrow morning."
"And what if it's to late by then?" he knew that he shouldn't have said that, but it just slipped out. Pride hadn't let Salene on to the fact the he knew very well that he could die.
"It won't be too late; Jay will be here any time now and we'll have you bandaged up and then Patch will come and you'll be better, I promise."
"I hope you're right," he closed his eyes again in thought.
"What's wrong with you?" she lowered her voice, "You never used to have doubts like this before, stay strong!" he didn't talk for at least thirty seconds.
"I didn't have anything to lose before," he opened his eyes.
"I see," in a way his words had hurt her, hadn't she always been special to him? "You mean Salene and Mouse?"
"Yes."
"You really love her don't you?" she mused about Salene.
"Yes," he repeated with a little smile playing on his lips, "For the first time, something feels right, you know?"
"Mm hm," she smiled a little, but she had to admit, she was a little jealous. Amber had no time to turn into a full fledged green eyed monster, because she heard the doors open, then the voices of Salene, Ebony, and Jay approach. "Well?" she asked as Jay reached the room.
"I got everything I thought we'd need," he set down the bag he was carrying, "Ram almost caught me, but he was in to much of a good mood to even notice the bag," his face turned into a scowl.
"About that," said Salene, "I think I've come up with something that might end this whole thing," everybody looked at her with surprise.
"Salene," it was Ebony who spoke, "I really don't think this is the time to be devising plans."
"I know, but it's just that," she groaned, "Just let me explain it to you while Jay fixes up Pride okay?" there were murmurs of hesitant agreement, though very skeptical. So off she went, explaining about how a public funeral displaying the wounds would rally the city against Ram and his lackeys. By the time she had finished, so had Jay with Pride who was now excessively bandaged.
"I think you've got something there," Ebony had that glint in her eyes as she spoke; "It might work."
"The funeral has to be done anyway," Jay said as he stood up, "I mean there is no way the Technos would do anything at a funeral, it would be the perfect opportunity to talk to the public, and prove the wrong doings that are going on."
"You'll tell Ved and Siva what happened right?" asked Amber, "Or did they know about it the whole time?" Jay shook his head.
"Neither of them would have stood for it," he folded his arms across his chest, "What do you think Pride."
"I think that it's the best chance we've got," he replied.
"Patch can make flyers for us," Amber addressed Pride, "He's good with computers like that."
"Then it's settled," Ebony slapped her hands together, "Now, I suggest we continue the discussion in the morning, because I think everyone could do with a little rest."
"What if they come back?" questioned Amber.
"They won't," Jay answered her rather flatly, "They are too busy celebrating this massacre to send another troop."
"Alright then," Amber arose and stretched as everyone exited the room, "Feel better Pride," and with that, she left Salene and Pride alone once more. Salene took Amber's previous position sitting on the left side of Pride's bed.
"I'm so tired," of course he was.
"I know it's stupid," Salene said, "But I'm afraid that if you go to sleep, you may never wake up again."
"That won't happen," he assured her.
"I know, but all the same," she laid down next to him, putting her head on his chest, and carefully draping her arm over him, "I think I'll stay here, to make sure I can hear your heart beating."
"Thank you," he whispered as he gathered strength to move his arm around her, to hold her.
Together the fell asleep, both exhausted from the happenings of the day. It felt like things had happened only minutes ago, and yet it was night already. In each other's arms though, reality disappeared, filling their dreams with only happiness, and images of each other.
To Be Continued.
Now doesn't that just make you go "Awwww," and feel all warm and fuzzy inside? It doesn't? Then something is terribly wrong with you. I'll try to get more soon, not that I know where I'm going with the story, so please r/r!
