Part 6 – The Vision of a Better Life
"Where have you been for the last few days?" Bray asked as Lex entered the café.
No one had seen much of Lex in a while, not that they were particularly worried about him, they were just miffed that he hadn't been doing his share of the work. Bray himself had had to do security last night, taking quality time away from Danni. Everyone in the tribe was now present in the café and all were silent as they watched the exchange between their leader and chief of security.
"Around," Lex replied vaguely, not even bothering to look at him.
"Lex, where have you been?" Bray demanded, louder.
"It's none of your business," Lex snapped, narrowing his eyes. He threw himself into a chair, slouching down.
"It is when you've been ignoring your duties. I'm sick of everyone else having to do your job!" Bray replied, throwing his hands up.
"I don't care," Lex said in a deliberately annoying tone.
"You're either a part of this tribe, or you're not Lex," Danni spoke up from beside Bray, in a reasonable voice.
"Why don't you back off?" Lex snapped at Danni derisively.
"Why don't you shut up?" she shot back easily, in a strong manner.
Bray slammed his hands down on the table before him. "Why don't you both? This is getting us nowhere!"
There was a stony silence in the café as Lex darkly stared Bray down.
"How about we just move on to the matter at hand?" Tai-San suggested calmly from her seat.
Bray snapped out of it and nodded at her. "Good idea Tai-San," he said, as Lex turned his head to give Tai-San a venomous look. Ignoring the obvious tension between them both, Bray took a breath. "Danni and I have been talking… the City's in great shape. People have started co-operating, there's peace on the streets, all of the tribes have calmed down—"
"Oh isn't it beautiful?" Lex snorted, planting his left ankle on his right knee and slouching even lower.
Bray closed his eyes briefly, choosing to let the remark slide. He coughed lightly before continuing. "Anyway, my point is that I… we…" he corrected himself, looking at Danni fondly. "We think it's time that we had another Tribal Gathering."
"Are you sure? The other one didn't go too well… by my memory might be a bit fuzzy seeing as how I was clapped in chains at the time," Dal said wryly, a worried look on his dark face.
Bray nodded knowingly. "I know why you have reservations… but we all have to understand that the City is a different place now. The Locos made the first Gathering the disaster that it was and they no longer exist as they did then. It's time to move on and start building bridges with other tribes."
"I agree. We have to learn to trust others if we're going to live in this City together and interact successfully," Tai-San spoke up.
Bray sent Tai-San a grateful smile. Most Mallrats were now frowning thoughtfully or exchanging looks with the person nearest to them. They all seemed affected by the combined speeches of Bray and Tai-San… all but Lex that is, who Bray noticed had continued to stare blandly into space with a confrontational scowl marring his exotic features.
"I like the idea!" Ellie announced with her usual bright grin. "I could write up a press release! We could put it in The Amulet!" she said excitedly, the bold aspiring reporter in her shining through.
Her long, white blonde hair slid softly over her shoulders as she smiled eagerly at those closest to her, Alice and of course Jack. It seemed that every day he continued to look less like the sarcastic young boy he had been when the tribe had been formed and more like the man appearing through his chiselled features.
Bray smiled at Ellie's enthusiasm. "Sure. That's a great plan. What do you say guys? Do the rest of you like the idea?"
"Oh yeah, I love it. The chaos, fear and destruction were great first time round. Just like getting beaten to a pulp was… oh, and almost being sold into slavery… how was that for you Dal? It'll be just like the old days," Lex spoke up in a biting tone.
Bray's lips tightened against his teeth. He was certain that Lex's only qualms with another Tribal Gathering were because of his still damaged pride when thinking of the first. Yes, Lex had been the victim of a brutal attack at the hands of old rival Glen and a few of his Loco cronies, but he had also incited a mass riot by later going after Glen in revenge. He had ended up returning home with a bruised ego, along with some broken ribs. "Lex, like I said, the City is a different place now. This Gathering will be nothing like the last," Bray said shortly.
Lex snorted and shook his head, obviously having nothing else to say.
"Well I'm sold. It's a great idea Bray. But I'm with Lex - it's gonna be dangerous getting all the tribes together, even if they're all lovey dovey with each other now," Alice announced in her booming voice. "If we're gonna be organising this thing, we'll need to have it planned down to the last detail and we'll need security… and lots of it."
"Ebony and the Militia can handle that." Bray waved her off. "Danni's already put a lot of work into some plans and I was thinking that maybe some of you could help? Ellie, you of course can deal with publicity and getting the word out. Jack, can you work on a showcase of some of your old inventions? The water purification system, the wind turbine… they'd be great to show in some kind of demonstration."
Ellie and Jack nodded vigorously. "Definitely. Won't have any problems like I did last time with the wind turbine – missing parts and all," Jack quipped with his bright grin.
A sharp silence fell and Lex glared at Jack, his eyes full of rage. Jack's wind turbine had worked in the Mall, but at the Gathering it hadn't. Unfortunately for them, a main component had been copper wire, part of which Lex had clipped away to make Zandra's wedding ring, causing the machine to become a useless heap of metal. What with the painful reminder of Zandra and the baby's demise still hanging over the tribe, along with Amber's death, Jack's comment hadn't exactly been tactful.
"Sorry," Jack said guiltily..
Stepping in quickly, Danni spoke up. "Alice, I was thinking that you can deal with basic order on the day? Directing people, showing them where to set up their stalls… Ryan can you help with that?"
"Yep! Won't this be great Sal? Another Gathering, this time one that works out!" Ryan said cheerfully to his wife, who sat somewhat glumly beside him.
"Yeah, fabulous," Salene replied sarcastically, Bray noticing that she couldn't be less interested. Ryan apparently did not and squeezed her shoulders affectionately.
Promising himself to speak to her later, Bray continued where Danni left off. "Tai-San, the dance competition was a success last time. And as the true winner of the first competition, how about you organise the second one - with the help of Patsy and Cloe?"
"Really Bray? We can?" Patsy asked.
As Bray nodded, Tai-San smiled. "I'll help in whatever way I can. I'd love to organise the dance competition."
"That's settled then… Trudy, Salene, can you two set up some kind of trading stall like we have in the Mall market? We might as well have one at the Gathering," Bray said.
"Of course," Trudy said a bit distantly as Salene nodded dully.
Bray frowned. There was something up with Trudy too? He couldn't fathom some of the girls in the tribe sometimes, he really couldn't. He added Trudy to his list of people he needed to speak to. With that, Bray decided that the meeting should come to an end. Some of the kids were getting fidgety and it was nearing supper time anyway.
"I guess the meeting's over then. Come to me or Danni with any problems or suggestions. You can go guys."
"Nice to have your permission to leave," Lex snapped at Bray. He stood up abruptly and stalked across the café.
As the tribe began to leave, Tai-San rose and followed Lex to the door, which was right by where Bray and Danni were standing.
"Have you been drinking again?" Tai-San asked Lex gently.
"What's it to you?" Lex shot back viciously.
"I care," Tai-San said in a pleading tone, touching his arm.
"Well I don't," Lex stated, shaking her hand off like she was carrying the Virus.
Tai-San stood there somewhat deflated, staring after him as he stormed off.
Bray stepped forward. "Hey, are you okay?"
"Yes. I just want to help him… but I can't seem to without making him even angrier," she said softly.
Bray sighed heavily, feeling the weight of yet another problem on his shoulders. "Something's obviously happened Tai-San… tell me…" he said to her quietly, pulling her away from everyone.
"Lex and I… rekindled our relationship," Tai-San said reluctantly.
"Oh Tai-San, that's just asking for trouble," Bray sighed.
"What?" Danni exclaimed. "You and him? You were together? You are together?" she asked disbelievingly.
"Yes. No! I mean, I broke it off with him a few days ago. It was for the best. I let my emotions take me over. It was only hurting him in the long run… and Alice," Tai-San said sadly.
Danni, looking at bit disgusted at the thought of Tai-San with Lex, glanced at Bray. He sighed yet again. "Alice still…" he trailed off, looking across the Mall to where Alice was loudly reprimanding KC for something.
"Yes… she's been such a good friend to me and she loves Lex. I couldn't keep betraying her," Tai-San whispered, wringing her hands.
Rarely had Bray seen his usually calm and collected friend so troubled. "It's okay. You did the right thing. The problem now is making Lex see that. We both know what he's like when he's in love… or lust. He stops at nothing Tai-San. You should watch yourself. He did Zandra and Salene no kindness when he attacked them and he'll do you none this time, especially since you've hurt him."
Tai-San shook her head. "He wouldn't Bray. He's different. He's been through so much. Having the Virus, marrying Zandra, fathering a child, losing them both… it's all changed him," she insisted.
Bray, knowing that Tai-San was a long-time supporter of rehabilitation, especially of Lex's, nodded. "Even so, stay with the girls for a while. I'm sure Trudy or Ellie wouldn't mind having you for a few nights," he said gently, yet uselessly.
"No. I won't leave my room. I'll be fine. I need to put my energies into helping Lex and doing my bit for the Gathering. I must mediate now. I need to clear my mind. Excuse me," Tai-San said, obviously anxious.
"Oh Dan… this is gonna cause nothing but trouble," Bray said, watching Tai-San leave.
"Tai-San and Lex?" Danni exclaimed. "What was she thinking?"
Bray slung an arm around her shoulders. "Anyone can fall for an unlikely love. It's life," he said, looking down on her dark head.
She smiled at him. "Fine… but I refuse to accept it. It's just plain wrong."
-O-
That night, Bray stood on top of the mall, letting the fresh air wash over him. He was perched right on the edge of the flat roof, his eyes closed. He took a deep breath and inhaled until his lungs hurt. It was long after sunset and the sky was an inky blue colour. Bray loved to look at the city now. It was so empty, so devoid of traffic, bustle and pollution. In the old days, when it had been crowded and congested and he had longed for some respite in the constant noise and movement, he had hated it.
In the not-so-long ago days when the world had only just begun to collapse and tribes had started to form, he had bitterly despised it. He had despised how friends had turned on friends, how houses had been ransacked, how virus-ridden adults had been driven out, how shops had been looted and how official buildings had been burnt to the ground… all of it had caused nothing but pandemonium, noise and devastation – things he abhorred.
After the initial craziness following the adults' demise, the City, though becoming more ordered, had also become more chaotic. The concept of tribes had been fully formed by then. If you weren't in a tribe, then your chance of survival was put in severe jeopardy – you were a Stray, a Rebel or an Outsider. Bray, he hadn't really been any of those. He hadn't wanted to be in a tribe, nor to have a label put upon him. He wore no tribal markings, and dressed almost the same as he had in the old world, only of course adapting his clothing to fit his life on the street.
Bray had never wanted to be a leader. He had never wished to rule people, to take care of people, to change people, to lead people. The only people he had cared about were his brother and himself. And Martin, he hadn't wanted or needed to be cared about by his older brother. Martin had wanted to be a leader though. And oh, what a leader he had been. A fifteen year old tyrant, fuelled by terror and insanity.
Bray remembered the moment he had placed Brady in his arms. Martin had truly been Martin again at that moment. He had not been a murderous dictator, he had not been a vengeful lunatic, he had not been Zoot. He had been Martin. A lost, confused young father holding his daughter for the first time. Bray was sure that if those contact lenses had been gone from his eyes, that he would have seen his kid brother staring back at him.
Obviously, it was not to be. Though Bray had grown to detest all that his brother had stood for as king of the Locos, he had been proud of him in the last moments of his life. He had looked upon his daughter with adoration and had wanted his one true love to be with him. He had tried to protect his older brother and had died doing so.
"I hope you're happy wherever you are," Bray heard himself murmur and as the wind assaulted his face again, it was cold with tears.
He couldn't cry over Martin, not now, not when everything seemed so positive for the city. Though he hated to admit it, if Martin had lived, there was a strong possibility that the Locos would still have been raging their vicious war on everyone and everything. In that case, there would have been no chance for the growing peace and cooperation now commonplace among the tribes.
This is what Bray had always wanted. This is what all of his speeches had been about. This is what he had sacrificed for. This is what Amber had died for. Through all the pain and suffering that he had endured, Amber had been his beacon and she had been snatched away before they could truly reach their potential. But just like Martin, she had died doing something to be proud of, and Bray was proud of her. Her spirit lived in this mall. Without her, there would have been no Mallrats, no inter-tribal cooperation, no vision of a better life.
"This was your dream Amber. And we're going to make it come true," he whispered into the ether.
Bray felt deep, warm satisfaction rush through him. He was happy. Truly happy. He was at peace with the turmoil and devastation that had happened around him. He was at peace with the fact that the two people he had loved most had been taken from him. He was going to plunge forward into a new life… no, he and Danniwere going to plunge forward into a new life. He smiled, thinking of his girlfriend. He loved her so much. She was his future.
With that thought in mind Bray shot up and ran across the roof to the exit. Out of breath, he sprinted through the mall until he reached his and Danni's room. Yanking the door open, he entered and grinned at her widely. She was sitting cross-legged on the bed with her usual notepad and pen.
"Where were you?" she asked softly.
Bray looked at her and smiled even wider. "I was just thinking."
He closed the bedroom door behind him.
-O-
Ebony had watched him. Bray. Standing in the shadows on the street below, she had watched him bask in the night air up on the roof of the Mall. When he turned around, heading back down into the building, she wished that it was her that he was going back to. Ebony put her back to the wall of the Mall and heaved a sigh. She had told the truth . For once in her young life she had told the damn truth and where had it gotten her? Bray had turned her away, scoffed at her and she had been brought to tears for the first time in a very long time.
She decided there was no point. There was no point in trying because it just didn't work. Bray, the Mallrats… what had they ever given to her? She owed them nothing and neither did she want to. She looked up at the dark silhouette of the Phoenix Mall. Ebony turned away from the Mall and walked off into the night, headed for the Horton Bailey Hotel. She didn't look back once. She was sick of all of this peace and harmony crap. She longed for the old days, the days when she had the power, when she was feared like no other, the days when she was by Zoot's side by day and in his bed by night.
He had tormented and tortured her like no one ever had and would again… but she still wanted him back. At least with him around, there was some sort of order in the city, a caste system, a food chain that the Locos were at the top of. Now what was she? A nondescript member of a tribe of kids and a commander of a boring Militia who hated what they were doing. She couldn't have Zoot back, but Bray was still here. Why couldn't he be more like his brother? Why couldn't he thirst for power, chaos… and her? She'd had him in her grasp a long time ago, just before that trek to Eagle Mountain.
But Bray had wanted Amber. Always Amber. Well she had put paid to that little union – for all the good it did. He just went and found someone exactly like her – only more annoying. Ebony marvelled at the genius of what she had done. Through the smoke, she had known that everyone else but she and Amber was still in the building or still in shock, wandering outside.
Asking where Bray was, Amber had looked at death's door. Ebony had told him that he was already outside comforting Trudy. Of course, Amber had been confused as to why. Ebony had filled her in gently – Brady had been hurt as the building exploded and Bray and Trudy were distraught over their injured daughter.
Yes Amber, Ebony had said, daughter. You didn't know? Ebony had asked innocently. She had said that Trudy and Bray had had an affair while Trudy was with Zoot and he had gotten her pregnant. Fearing Zoot's reaction to his fathering a child with the girl he loved, Bray had convinced Trudy to tell him that it was his baby to avert disaster. After Trudy had left Zoot, that was why Bray had stepped up to take care of her – because it was his baby she carried.
The lie had been for nothing. Amber was gone, either dead, or hopefully far, far away… but Bray still didn't want her. Ebony was tired of waiting for him. She was through with trying to fit in with Bray's vision of the perfect girl. She wasn't Amber, and she definitely wasn't Danni. It was time to start acting like who she really was. Ebony.
-O-
"C'mon Sal, come to bed."
Salene stared straight ahead of her, refusing to turn around. She sat at the desk which doubled as a dressing table, her back to Ryan. She closed her eyes. 'Leave me alone, leave me alone, leave me alone,' was the mantra running through her head. It was late, extremely late. Usually, by now, she would already be in bed with her back turned on Ryan, feigning sleep. Tonight though, she couldn't be bothered to pretend. She had spent a good deal of the day throwing up and trying to hide it. Her morning sickness was getting worse. Soon someone would notice and everyone would find out she was pregnant – Ryan would find out.
"Sal?" Ryan prompted.
Salene closed her eyes. She wanted to snap at him, scream at him, but she just couldn't bring herself to. It wasn't his fault. She was the one with the problem. She was the one who would be hurting him if she told the truth. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, purposefully. She contained her frustration.
"I'm not very tired Ryan. I'm gonna take a walk round the Mall, get a drink of water… maybe it'll tire me out a bit," she said in a light tone.
"Do you want me to come with you?" Ryan asked.
Salene stood up, still not looking at her new husband. "No, no, I'll be fine. You go to sleep. I'm sure I'll be back soon," she said in a much too cheerful voice. Ryan didn't notice though. Did he ever?
"Sal…" Ryan started hesitatingly.
Salene froze. "What?" she whispered.
"Is there something wrong? You've been distant ever since the wedding. Have I done something?" he asked in a pained voice. Or maybe he had noticed.
"No," she said simply, not trusting herself not to blurt her whole sad story out. I didn't marry you for love, I married you for convenience, she wanted to scream. But of course, she didn't. Instead, she walked carefully to the door of their room.
"Are you sure? Sal I'd really like you to stay. I want to talk some more," Ryan said pleadingly.
Salene dared to look at him briefly. He was looking back her intensely. She threw him a bright, fond smile. "There's nothing to talk about!" she insisted merrily. She had never realised her talent as an actress.
Ryan's serious expression didn't budge. "Salene I feel like I barely know you these days," he said softly.
Salene felt something snap inside her. Her cheery expression faded and was replaced by a stony glare. "Maybe you never knew me!" she snapped on reflex.
Ryan flinched, a wounded look coming to his face. Instantly, Salene knew her mistake. She didn't know what would happen if her husband ever found out that she had lied her way into this marriage.
"I'm sorry Ryan. I'm just a bit on edge. Please, I'm just going to take a little walk to settle myself. You sleep. I'll be right back," she said calmly.
Ryan's startled expression softened and it looked like he very much believed her. Before he had a chance to ask her anything more, Salene opened the door and exited the room gladly. She closed it quietly and pressed her back against it. A choked sob formed in her throat and she put her hand over her mouth to suppress it. Her view blinded by tears, she rushed away from the door. She had no idea where she was going. She didn't care. She just needed to get away from Ryan.
With her head down, she didn't notice the figure in front of her and barrelled right into him. She looked up, shocked. It was Lex. Of course he'd be out here, watching the Mall. How could she have been so stupid? He put his hands on her shoulders to steady her.
"Are you okay?" he asked, cocking his head to the side.
"What do you care?" she hissed, shaking his hands off.
Lex arched an eyebrow, his expression becoming defensive. "Geez, I'm just asking. Not my fault if you've had a fight with Ryan," he said flippantly.
"I have not had a fight with Ryan!" Salene snapped at him.
Lex rolled his eyes. "Okay… it doesn't really matter to me either way. What matters is I'm supposed to protect this mall and I get side-tracked when I see someone wandering around. What if you've distracted me from catching a real intruder?" he demanded.
Salene snorted. "Like you'd be able to anyway. What are you trying to prove with this responsible act Lex? You want to impress Tai-San or something?" she asked snidely.
Lex recoiled and put his hands on his hips. "No, I actually care about this tribe and participate in the running of it, unlike someone who just moans and whines all day. Your happy marriage didn't last long, did it?" he laughed maliciously.
"I never had a happy marriage," Salene shot back.
She shut her mouth instantly. She had said too much. Lex was Ryan's best friend. He was bound to say something. She had to walk away right now and hopefully Lex would forget all about this and not tell Ryan anything.
Lex's lips parted in mild surprise. "Oh so that's how it is? What's happened Salene? Ryan find out you're pining for Bray or something?" he asked in a low voice.
"Ryan has found out nothing. I am not pining for Bray. Everything is fine. It was a slip of the tongue. No need for you to worry at all," Salene said in a sardonic voice, keeping her words light as if Lex had not hit a nerve.
"If you say so. Now I've actually got a job to do here, so why don't you toddle off to bed and cuddle up to hubby?" Lex said with his trademark smirk. He was teasing her, goading her into saying something against Ryan again or admitting that she'd rather cuddle up to a certain tribe leader rather than her own husband.
Salene did nothing of the sort. She raised her eyebrows and lifted her chin, gazing down on Lex from her slightly taller height. She gave him an uncaring glare and then turned away, storming off to the café. She didn't need to take Lex's taunts tonight. She had better things to do than argue with him, like think about how she'd keep lying to her husband.
-O-
Trudy watched as Salene and Lex parted. Lex stomped off downstairs and Salene went toward the café. Trudy thought about following her. She had after all promised herself that she would go and talk to her friend… but she just couldn't bring herself to. She wanted desperately to talk to her, so they could share their troubles. She was one of her only old friends left from the tribe. In the old days, she could've gone to Amber or Zandra to talk, but now both were gone.
Tai-San was always open to talk to, but Trudy wasn't sure if she could go to her. She had never really been close to her and the girl had her own problems to deal with. During the short chats that Trudy and Tai-San shared on occasionally in the café, Tai-San made vague mentions of being restless about something - more like someone. Trudy wondered when she and Lex would finally announce themselves to the tribe, if ever. Their affair was obvious, but maybe more so to Trudy who had experience in hiding forbidden love.
Trudy closed her door and slunk back into her room, glancing at the sleeping Brady. She flopped down on her bed and stared at the wall.
Something was wrong with her and she needed to tell someone before the exploded. She knew many tribe members, Bray mostly, desperately wanted her to talk more about what had happened. He probably thought it would make her turn into her old self if she shared the burden. Her experience with the Chosen had made her withdrawn, yes… but her experience with Luke was what was truly weighing on her mind.
That made it three men now that she had loved and lost. Martin, Bray and Luke. Would she ever find happiness? Trudy felt her eyes well up as another problem came to light. Something that would be impossible to explain to the tribe. Something she couldn't explain to herself. She couldn't do it again… but she was going to have to.
-O-
The Guardian wondered what had possessed the Supreme Mother that fateful night that she took her baby and took her life. She could have been great, holy, wondrous. She was the mother of the most blessed child ever born, Zoot's child, and she had not held that privilege sacred as she should have. She had squandered it, tossed it to the wind, just like she had done with her body and her child's. The Guardian wanted to find bodies of the Supreme Mother and the child. He wanted to send them to Zoot in a way befitting of their status. But he could not. The rough waters had surely taken them far away.
The Guardian's only comfort now was thought of the future. His future as the last remaining link to Zoot. He must take up the responsibility now and carry it forever. He would do just that. He would spread Zoot's word, spread the good news of his divinity. They would all follow. Of course they would. Those children wandering out there. They had no parents anymore. They had no leaders. They were aimless, hopeless. The Guardian would give them hope. His tribe, the Chosen, would lead them all to greatness in life and death. He would rule on Earth while Zoot ruled in the next life, waiting patiently for his loyal people.
It was time, the Guardian decided. Time to be on the move again. The camp was scattered nowadays what with the Supreme Mother's demise. People had left the tribe, disheartened. Others duly remained, but with no purpose. He would give them hope and purpose and bring back those who had left to triumph and glory.
He would do what he did best. Speak to the people. Tell them about Zoot – their new god.
-O-
