Light.”
“They hurt girls though, Timid,” Junie says calmly. “Remember how they put you in dark rooms if you made the bed wrong? Or you got to work late? That’s why we’re fighting. So those things will never happen to you again, okay, sweet pea?”
“I’m scared.” The innocence in Timid’s voice causes all of us to stop, set down the weapons, and look at her. My heart could burst right now, out of love, because these friends who have been through so much, are still so tender at their core. They care for Timid like she is their own. They know what it means to protect.
“Listen, Timid,” Lukas says, kneeling down. “I’ve lived at the Refuges my entire life, too. I know it’s scary to think about going there now, to fight, but you need to have faith that this is going to be all right. Can you have faith in me, in all your friends?” He places his hands on Timid, sending her calming rays, causing a smile to stretch across her face.
The Nobleman is the person she’s always looked to with reverence. She was trained to think of him as the prophet. Her face changes as she is given his gift of light, her face is soothed, her worry fades.
“Besides,” Hana says. “When all the bad guys are gone, then we can live there, and have good food and warm beds and all our family will be with us.” She smiles at Timid, taking her hand.
The rest of us look at one another, and with the nod of his head, Colton goes back to collecting his weaponry.
“If you guys have got it down here, I’m going to take the girls upstairs and read them a story,” I say, taking the girls’ hands.
We walk into the study and sit on the couch, pulling a blanket over us. The girls nestle around me, cozy and safe. As safe as you can be when your mind is reeling with the realities of what happens next.
The horses are mounted, the fleet gathered and the hunt for the Councilmen’s heads begins. It’s going to be worse before it gets better.
So I take this moment while I can. I read a fairy tale to the girls, who are blessed in ways none of the rest of us are. They still have a childhood left to live. A childhood that holds the promise of peace and love and light.
I will fight, if not for me, for them.
33.
Lukas
It’s our last night at Lucy’s compound and everyone’s been busy preparing to leave. I suggested using my energy to heat water inside the house, and since the generator is on, that’s working as well. Lucy says her home has never been so alive, so warm, so peaceful.
I’m the last one in line to use the shower; it’s been in full use all evening. Both the one in the basement bunker and the one inside the house. Some of the dirtiest looking cowboys got to go first, and then the members of our group had a chance to wash up properly. The cowboys are going to be amazed with the soaking tubs at the Refuges.
I walk down into the bunker with a change of clothes in my hands. Lucy told everyone to root through the drawers and closets, taking anything they felt would be useful. This offer brightened everyone nearly as much as the artillery did. Junie’s especially thrilled; I overheard her say something about a lifetime of dirty socks. I just hope there’s some soap left. I don’t want to seem vain, but I’d really like to look nice when I see my parents again, after so long.
I still can’t believe Colton and Lucy conspired like they did. But they knew what they were doing; they came up with a plan that would unite us all. I’m grateful for that. Lucy is going to The Light, she’s on my side, and really, that’s all I ever wanted. To be doing this next part with her.
Opening the small bathroom door, a shriek stops me.
“Shut the door!” Lucy shouts.
I thought everyone had already finished with their showers. “Sorry, I didn’t know you were here. I never would have….” I trail off, talking through the door. I know she can hear me, there’s no water running.
“It’s fine, I’ll just
“They hurt girls though, Timid,” Junie says calmly. “Remember how they put you in dark rooms if you made the bed wrong? Or you got to work late? That’s why we’re fighting. So those things will never happen to you again, okay, sweet pea?”
“I’m scared.” The innocence in Timid’s voice causes all of us to stop, set down the weapons, and look at her. My heart could burst right now, out of love, because these friends who have been through so much, are still so tender at their core. They care for Timid like she is their own. They know what it means to protect.
“Listen, Timid,” Lukas says, kneeling down. “I’ve lived at the Refuges my entire life, too. I know it’s scary to think about going there now, to fight, but you need to have faith that this is going to be all right. Can you have faith in me, in all your friends?” He places his hands on Timid, sending her calming rays, causing a smile to stretch across her face.
The Nobleman is the person she’s always looked to with reverence. She was trained to think of him as the prophet. Her face changes as she is given his gift of light, her face is soothed, her worry fades.
“Besides,” Hana says. “When all the bad guys are gone, then we can live there, and have good food and warm beds and all our family will be with us.” She smiles at Timid, taking her hand.
The rest of us look at one another, and with the nod of his head, Colton goes back to collecting his weaponry.
“If you guys have got it down here, I’m going to take the girls upstairs and read them a story,” I say, taking the girls’ hands.
We walk into the study and sit on the couch, pulling a blanket over us. The girls nestle around me, cozy and safe. As safe as you can be when your mind is reeling with the realities of what happens next.
The horses are mounted, the fleet gathered and the hunt for the Councilmen’s heads begins. It’s going to be worse before it gets better.
So I take this moment while I can. I read a fairy tale to the girls, who are blessed in ways none of the rest of us are. They still have a childhood left to live. A childhood that holds the promise of peace and love and light.
I will fight, if not for me, for them.
33.
Lukas
It’s our last night at Lucy’s compound and everyone’s been busy preparing to leave. I suggested using my energy to heat water inside the house, and since the generator is on, that’s working as well. Lucy says her home has never been so alive, so warm, so peaceful.
I’m the last one in line to use the shower; it’s been in full use all evening. Both the one in the basement bunker and the one inside the house. Some of the dirtiest looking cowboys got to go first, and then the members of our group had a chance to wash up properly. The cowboys are going to be amazed with the soaking tubs at the Refuges.
I walk down into the bunker with a change of clothes in my hands. Lucy told everyone to root through the drawers and closets, taking anything they felt would be useful. This offer brightened everyone nearly as much as the artillery did. Junie’s especially thrilled; I overheard her say something about a lifetime of dirty socks. I just hope there’s some soap left. I don’t want to seem vain, but I’d really like to look nice when I see my parents again, after so long.
I still can’t believe Colton and Lucy conspired like they did. But they knew what they were doing; they came up with a plan that would unite us all. I’m grateful for that. Lucy is going to The Light, she’s on my side, and really, that’s all I ever wanted. To be doing this next part with her.
Opening the small bathroom door, a shriek stops me.
“Shut the door!” Lucy shouts.
I thought everyone had already finished with their showers. “Sorry, I didn’t know you were here. I never would have….” I trail off, talking through the door. I know she can hear me, there’s no water running.
“It’s fine, I’ll just
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