The Other Child
Chapter 6
It took a bit more strategizing and regrouping than Jeb had anticipated. He knew if he continued to exhaust all his energy on fruitless attempts to break the suit he would drain himself quickly and be all but out of options. Studying the door in detail Jeb noticed where the metal seemed to differ in quality, the hinge being newer but the surrounding panel older and more rusted. Planting his hands flat against the rusted metal he braced his back against the rear of the suit and pushed forward. The door creaked and cracked under the attack, small shafts of light streaming in from a few cracks. Taking a few breaths, Jeb relaxed his attack and then tried again. Once again the door groaned before finally giving way sending Jeb toppling to the ground. He hit the ground hard, feeling the cool soil beneath his bruised cheek. Climbing to his feet, Jeb took a cautious step toward his mother's crude grave, coming to stand at the foot.
"I'm sorry," he whispered into the still air. The silent tears slid down his cheeks falling to the ground below. He accepted that in that moment he was an orphan and let the grieving occur. Sobs wracked his body before his knees went out, his body dropping to the ground.
"I'm so sorry," he repeatedly sobbed. Reaching out Jeb grabbed a handful of the soil and squeezed it in his fist. "He will pay. I swear he will pay." He wiped the tears from his face, cursing his weak resolve. On unsteady legs he walked to the cabin searching for a piece of wood he could use. Finding nothing Jeb managed to break a sizeable portion of the front door off near the bottom. The wood was splintering from weather and age, making his job easier.
Crudely he engraved her name across the planks using a rusted nail to dig into the wood. The letters were sharp but they were legible. Now everyone who saw found this grave would know who was laid to rest there. He wanted to write more, to tell the world that she had died fighting tyranny, but her name would have to do.
Jeb placed the marker at the top of the grave, pushing it deep into the disturbed earth. As he rose to his feet and took one final look around, Jeb let out a long sigh. Turning on his heal he returned to the cabin gathering what he would need for the journey, and leaving that place forever.
OZOZOZ
The trek to Finaqua was easy since Jeb's mind was on anything but the path before him. It was dangerous to travel in such a distracted state for any number of things could happen, but thanking his lucky stars Jeb made it safely. He perched himself on a hillside a few feet back from the tree line and stared down at the maze before him. He'd seen it before on his last passing through Finaqua, he'd even heard stories of how the princesses used to play in the shrouded passages.
Looking down on it, Jeb couldn't help but feel as though the maze had now become a mockery of his life. Twisting and turning, dead-ends, no way out, constantly moving only to be brought back to the beginning. It never ended, only continues to suck its prisoners farther and farther into its depths.
'It's an endless cycle,' Jeb thought bitterly. He turned from the sight and climbed the rest of the hill entering further and further into the forest with each step. He knew the road that cut through the trees should only be a short distance from the maze. 'I'm almost there. I'm coming Lenna.' The thought, however innocent it was, stopped him dead in his tracks. What was he going to tell her? How do you break that kind of news to a child? 'Ozma help me.'
OZOZOZ
"Sara, when's my mom and brother coming?" Milenna asked, sitting on the floor of the small tent.
"They should be here in a few hours," Sara answered. She combed the girl's long brown hair before starting the braid. "You have to keep still if you want me to do this," she added laughing.
"Sorry," Milenna replied. She tried to keep her head still as she sat playing with her wooden horses. "I can't wait for them to get here. Jeb says he'll tell me all kinds of stories when he and mother return!"
Sara smiled sadly. She'd been having terrible feelings about the pair's arrival all day. They should have arrived by now, something must have been wrong. Not wanting Lenna to read her feelings, Sara put a smile on her face. "That sounds nice."
"Do I still get to stay with you tonight?" the younger girl asked.
This caused a real smile to grace the young woman's face. She'd only been at the camp for a few weeks when the Kylins had arrived with the girl in tow. The couple had been eager to continue south to a friend's homestead so Sara had offered to keep the girl with her. It was only a few days and the company would be nice. Milenna stayed in Sara's tent with her and accompanied her on daily chores and tasks.
"If you want to," Sara answered. "Of course I'm sure your mother will want you to stay with her."
"I can't wait till they get here!" Milenna waited patiently until Sara secured her hair with a ribbon before scurrying out of the tent. She had been pacing around camp all day, like a caged animal waiting to be let loose.
"Watching that road isn't going to make them show up any faster," General Mallar smiled.
"Sorry sir," Milenna apologized, stepping out of the way of the general and his companion.
Mallar ran a hand over the girl's hair as he and another passed. He'd taken a liking to the girl the moment she had arrived at the camp. She was a spirited young thing but disciplined all the same, qualities developed from a hard life of refuge. His heart went out to her, being denied a childhood, made to grow up so fast. No child should have to go through that.
"Be sure to stay out of trouble," he threw over his shoulder with a tight laugh.
"That's asking quite a lot," Sara laughed coming to stand next to her young charge. Milenna giggled and grasped Sara's hand with her own. The girls shared a smile and headed back toward the main camp. General Mallar and his lieutenant continued toward his tent discussing the recent news as they walked.
"There's been an increase in Longcoat activity along the Brick Route," the lieutenant—a man named Collins—spoke. "Our spies have reported several small groups along the Route to and from Central City."
"More so than usual you mean?"
"Yes sir," Collins agreed. "There's been—"
"General!" a young man shouted racing up the dirt path toward the two men. "General we've spotted someone in the forest. A young man, dressed in commoner's clothes, traveling alone."
The pair paused at the interruption.
"The fighter from the north? Cain was it?" Collins inquired.
Mallar nodded. "He should be arriving shortly." Turning from the lieutenant General Mallar gave orders to the young look out. "Bring him in. Make certain that he is not armed or followed. Make sure he knows the code and bring him to my tent." The young man nodded and quickly departed.
"If it is young Cain, why would he be traveling alone?" Collins asked. "Wasn't he traveling with his mother?"
General Mallar nodded in agreement feeling that something had gone terribly wrong. Turning course, he made a sharp left turn and climbed the hill back to his tent which served as both a strategy hall and sleeping quarters. He took a seat at the rickety table used as his desk, Collins taking up position to his right. Moments later the flap was pulled back and the same young man from earlier entered.
"General, a mister Jeb Cain to see you," he announced.
"Bring him in," Mallar responded glad that the intruder was in fact their ally rather than their enemy.
Jeb stepped through the doorway, eyes leveled with Mallar's. "General Mallar," he greeted the older man with a bow of the head.
"Mister Cain," the general responded. He gestured to the chair opposite his table.
Jeb took the seat and immediately began, "Where's my sister?"
Mallar smiled, it was clear to him the extent of the relationship between the siblings. The first question Jeb asked was to the welfare of his sister and not a moment went by that Milenna was not asking about her family's arrival.
"She's with Sara," Mallar said recalling his earlier encounter with the girls. At the young man's quizzical look he elaborated, "My daughter Sara has been looking after the girl since her arrival. They have become quite close over the last few days. My Sara is not much younger than you." Jeb sighed, feeling a great deal of relief knowing that his sister has been looked after.
The general opened his mouth to question Jeb about the bruises that marked his face but thought better of it noticing the look of distress in the young man's eyes. Instead he turned to Collins on his right. "Lieutenant, can you see that a tent is made ready for Mr. Cain and his sister?"
"Yes sir," he answered excusing himself from the impromptu meeting.
With the other man gone a pregnant silence fell between Mallar and Jeb. The latter knew what the older man wanted to ask him, but did not feel like answering all the same. The former studied the young man in front of him, trying to decide how best to articulate his question.
"Want to tell me what happened out there?" the general finally asked, deciding that the direct route was the simplest.
Jeb's eyes fell to the ground at his feet. He knew the situation was going to have to be confronted eventually. Now was as good a time as any.
"We crossed the gorge," he began making great effort to keep his emotions at bay. "Took up refuge in a small cabin for the night. Longcoats found us, pegged us for Resistance fighters. My mother did not make it." His explanation was abrupt, careful not to divulge unnecessary details.
"I see," Mallar said curtly. "I'm sorry for your loss, son."
"Thank you," Jeb answered. "Can I see my sister now?"
"Of course," he acquiesced. Rising from his seat General Mallar led Jeb from his tent across camp toward the main common area where several fighters were gathered around a picnic table talking and laughing. They nodded respectfully to the general as he passed and eyed the newcomer warily. Jeb met their gazes head on hoping to dispel any doubts about his presence. He knew how difficult it was to live in one of these camps, having to constantly be on guard.
"JEB!!"
Immediately his head snapped in the direction of the voice, the strong veneer on his face melting away. He watched as Milenna darted out of a group of fighters and raced toward him. Jeb opened his arms to her, wrapping them around her in a tight embrace. Closing his eyes, he reveled in the feeling of his arms wrapped around her, making a silent vow to his mother to never let her out of his sight again.
"You finally came!" Lenna squealed excitedly. She squeezed her arms around her brother's waist in a tight hug. "I missed you."
"I missed you too Munchkin," he laughed.
Milenna stepped back and looked around quizzically. "Where's mom?" she asked with a smile on her face and a shimmer in her eyes.
Jeb's heart sank. He was hoping the warm moment would have lasted a little longer before the inevitable crash. He locked eyes with his little sister and watched as the sparkle in her eyes faded. Her smile fell slightly until her face was neutral.
"Jeb? Where's mom?"
He sucked in a cautious breath and let it out slowly. "We need to talk."
OZOZOZ
Sara watched as the Jeb led Milenna into a newly erected tent on the camp's southern border. She could tell by the young man's slumped shoulders and sullen face that it was not the happiest of reunions. Sara's heart went out to the young girl who had wormed her way into her heart.
"It's a terrible state of affairs," General Mallar stated, coming to stand behind his daughter. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders as she dropped her head to his shoulder.
"I know what she's going through," Sara said fighting the memories of her own mother's death. "At least I was older than she is. I had a little more time."
The general nodded solemnly. He too was stricken with grief recalling his wife's untimely death at the news on Adora's passing, but hoped that this connection had not shown in his actions. He pulled his daughter a little closer, grasping to the last strand of hope he had. "It will be a long night for them," he whispered.
Hope you all enjoyed. This will probably be my last post until the end of the month. Finals start soon and then the Apocalypse follows. Don't forget to review!