One
Present day
Charlie watched as Ivy walked through the vast fields near the house, her anger towards the woman growing with every minute. Who was she to tell her how to act? This woman had no idea what Charlie had been through. Grabbing her small blade from the side table, Charlie decided it was time she did.
Two
"You sound like a herd of Elephants, barn mouse", Ivy sighed, not bothering to turn around. She heard Charlie hiss and smiled, happy that she had made her react.
"You stand there judging everyone with no idea about anything!", Charlie spat, striding towards Ivy. "I've lost my Father and Brother and Monroe needs to pay! You have no idea what I've been through!". Ivy sighed, shaking her head as she turned to face Charlie.
"Listen Charlie, I". Ivy stopped as she saw the knife hanging on the young girls belt and her face clouded over, "What the hell is that doing here?!".
Charlie glanced down at her knife and shrugged, "I always carry it with me. What's that got to do with anything?". Ivy turned, moving slowly towards the young girl, her anger mounting.
"Did you not understand when we said no weapons on the fields?". Charlie huffed and shook her head, "I heard just fine. But that's a stupid rule". A look suddenly appeared in Ivys eyes, instantly making Charlie regret what she had said.
"Stupid?", Ivy hissed. "Maybe I need to explain the rule better, Charlie".
Three
Aaron stood at the window of the upstairs room, watching the two figures in the nearby field. At first it seemed they were having a normal conversation and he was just about to turn away when he saw something unexpected. The taller figure seemed to fall, now flat on the ground with the smaller of the two on top of them.
"Miles!", he yelled, motioning desperately out the window. "Miles, you have to see this. Now!".
"I already do", Miles replied quickly, running from the room and down the stairs.
Four
The force of hitting the ground had winded Charlie and she found herself gasping desperately for air. She felt a knee firmly in her back, while one arm was pulled behind her, almost at breaking point. Ivy shoved Charlies face into the cool earth and leaned in.
"Here is your lesson Charlie", she hissed. "In the 1860s your country was divided, torn into two by a brutal conflict. Many battles were fought during this time and one of them was here. From July 1st to 3rd of 1863, the North and South faced each other. Friend against friend. Families torn apart. They fought each other and the casualties from those three days was horrendous".
"After the war this place became a historically and emotionally significant site. A place of remembrance and respect. That was until 6 years ago when a group of unarmed people were butchered here. Men, Women and Children, Charlie. All dead". Charlie felt Ivy move off her and rolled over. "This place is why I formed the Neutrals. So that the memory of what happened here and at other sites around the country, was never lost. So that these places would never see battle again".
Five
Miles ran to Charlie, pulling her from the ground,
"Are you insane?", he hissed, watching Ivy as she walked away. "What the hell did you say to her?". Charlie dusted herself off and glared at Miles,
"I'm fine, thanks loads for asking".
"Ivy wouldn't hurt you", Miles shook his head. "Well, that's not entirely true". He gave her a firm look, "What did you say to her?". Charlie sighed, looking out towards Ivy, now standing at the top of a nearby ridge.
"I said the no weapons rule was stupid and". She paused, suddenly realising her ignorance, "And I said she had no idea what I'd been through".
Six
The night air was growing colder and Miles hoped it wouldn't take long to get Ivy back to the house. He moved quietly towards her, stopping at her side and joining her gaze at the stars. "The girl has potential Miles. But she needs to realise that it is not all about her and what she wants". She turned to look up at him and Miles could tell she was upset.
"Ivy, I'm sorry. Charlie does have a tendency to speak or act without thinking. She's young".
He pushed her hair from her face and smiled, "We used to be like that".
Ivy sighed, "We did". She reached up, taking his hand in hers, "It is freezing out here. Let us head back up to the house". Miles nodded, wrapping his arm around her waist, "Miles. I had a good think and have a decision about your predicament". Miles tried not to react, only nodding, "Is that so?".
"It is. And, lucky for you, your niece has not altered my decision".
Seven
Rachel looked at Charlie, surprised at the lack of bruising from her encounter with Ivy.
"I may have over-stepped the mark, but that was no reason to react the way she did".
"Isn't it?", Miles hissed, leaning on the door frame, "You were asked to do the simplest of things, and it seems that was too difficult". Rachel moved forward, her stance defensive.
"She attacked Charlie Miles! There is no need for that".
"Charlie, you have to learn to hold your tongue and listen to people. Because this". Miles pointed at her dishevelled clothes, "is what comes of you not doing so". Charlie sighed, her lack of defensiveness surprising him, "Who did she loose?".
Miles frowned, "Everyone Charlie. She lost everyone".
Eight
The day of the blackout
Ivy hit the reply button on her phone to reply to Bass' message. 'Glad your leave went well. At airport now and parents and kids due to land in next 30 minutes. Am so excited to see them all. See you soon. Hi to Miles xx'. She hit the send button, willing the message to go through at light speed. Ivy turned her attention back to the window and planes outside. Soon her children and parents would arrive from their holiday and Ivy couldn't wait. Now, more than ever it was important to have them with her.
Her phone ringing snapped her attention back to the bustling airport and she pressed the answer button, "What is it Bass?". No reply came, just a gentle crackling sound. "Bass? What is it?".
"It's not him. It's me. What I warned you about. It's happening now", the man on the other end replied. Ivy shook her head, "No. Not yet. My family", she stammered, turning her gaze back towards the sky. "He can not do it yet. Please".
The lights in the airport flickered and that familiar voice spoke for one last time, "Be brave Ivy. Randall will get what's coming to him".
The phone went dead and Ivy watched in horror as everything outside went pitch black. At first there was only the sound of peoples concerned murmurings, but that quickly changed. Several explosions on the ground outside rocked the airport and Ivy knew instantly what they were. With the power gone, the planes had no way of staying up in the air. Ivy watched in horror as, one by one, those planes fell from sky.
One of them had carried her family and she knew there was no chance of them surviving. At that moment, amongst all the chaos and carnage, Ivy made two decisions. First, she needed to find Miles and Bass. They needed to regroup and sort out the next step. Then, she would find Randall and take his life, just as he had her family.
Slowly she walked out of the airport, placing her phone in her pocket. In the confusion, no one, not even Ivy noticed, the light that still emanated from its screen.
