Alloy Soul Chapter Two

Chapter 2: Uncertain Fires

A year has passed. Certain the people needed to know the secrets they discovered, Jack and the Roses spread the information anyway they could. At first it was disregarded, but with a slow but sure effort, people realized the truth. Some instantly started seeking the group out to help any way they could. Some returned to their lives content to tell themselves they couldn’t do anything about it. And some started their own movements and protests. The government, in their hubris, waited, assuming it would die down like had happened before. And by the time they realized it was too late, gasoline was being poured on the flames.

Jack awoke, the rising sun flooding the small concrete box that was his room. He sat up and couldn’t help but to let loose a wiry grin, he had seen more sunrises in this past year than in the entirety of his life before. His feet touched down on the cold concrete, not yet warmed by the rising sun, another sensation he has grown familiar with in these recent months. In his old life he would still be asleep, or perhaps just now going to bed, missing so much about life in house. He ponders the irony of his situation has he gets ready, he left is nice posh house for a small concrete room with bars in the window, yet its the former that felt like a cell.

Once people had learned and found who was spreading the truth, more and more flocked to them. You couldn’t run a movement like this from the Rose’s quiet suburban home so somewhere else was needed. Comfort wasn’t an issue, utility was. It needed to be big enough to grow into, while being far enough away to keep out of mind. Cost was another issue, if they illegally squatted someplace, the threat of being shutdown out always be hanging over them. It was a hard time looking for a base of operations that fit the bill, but with as many people as they already had, and with more arriving every day, they had the manpower to check everywhere. An old abandoned industrial park a couple towns over was found by one of the new members, a young woman who gave only Skye as a name, having thrown away her family ties when she joined. It was utterly useless for industry now, all the machines had been taken, been stripped, or sit as a pile of rust. The bank that owned it got it from a foreclosure from some mining company and they were desperate to sell it, putting it in a price that could feasible be raised. Jack and the Rose’s didn’t expect to raise the money has fast as they did, but all these new people were all in. Retrofitting the space was still going on, Jack saying “Morning” to the workers he passed as he walked. Broken windows were covered, buildings were cleared out and cleaned, and plans were made for every inch of the park. A makeshift dorm was cleared first, people needed a safe place to sleep, then a cafeteria and quickly assembled kitchen. Luckily the park was on a river, and the park had been shut down for so long it wasn’t difficult to clean the water for drinking. Passing through the shadow of a defunct smokestack, Jack remembered how he used to worry they had too many young people, they they wouldn’t know what to do or how to do it, but when you have people from all walks, you inevitably have people who know how to take every step. This place had become a haven for those questioning the government, people curious about the truth of the world, and even people who just didn’t have a home or family otherwise.

Jack spent the morning helping where he could, carrying lumber over there where he would find someone who needed help clearing rubble, then he would walk and help carry water, wherever he walked, he helped as he did. His soul felt full, he knew people’s names, they knew his, he knew what he was doing mattered. He found his way to the kitchen to help with lunch where Naomi found him. “forgetting something?” He heard her behind him.

“Always, you know that” he replied, still hunched over, cutting carrots.

“true enough, man but we’ve been waiting on you” She leaned on the counter before being shooed off of it by another of the cooks.

“shit, yeah. Got caught up in things, forgot we had a meeting today. Give me a min and we can take lunch up” He slid the carrot slices into a large pot, and stopped to get a whiff of the savory aroma.

“You mean you can take lunch up, I’ll see you there man” she grinned and turned, walking out of the cafeteria.

Jack let out a light chuckle, before getting back to work.

The group sat at a worn table in the old foreman’s office of the park, able to observe outside and inside the largest plant, it was chosen as the room for the elected leadership to meet. The Rose’s spent all day sifting through the same documents that they always did, slowly chipping away at the files that still sat locked. The Rose’s were familiar faces around the park but some there rarely mingled, always working on something. There was Col. Bill Antonov, he used to be apart of the military. He was, to their knowledge, the only soldier to turn their backs on the government other than the late Maj. Davids, someone Bill looked up to almost religiously Bill was in charge of much of the logistics of the movement, it’s something that only he had real experience with and needed to be done so he never complained. To Bill’s right was Skye, she was timid, not having believed herself worthy of her position, but finding the group’s new home had given her so much favor that her name was written into the election enough to earn her a seat at the table. Her job was a representative, acting on the wishes of and advocating for the people in the movement. Across from her was Jackie, another who had abandoned their name when they left their home, their conviction to the cause and it’s future was commendable. Their job was accounting, they had been a math whiz before hand and could do in their head what everyone else needed a calculator for, and Jackie did it faster. The last one wasn’t sitting at the table, he was in the corner looking through the window, lightly humming a tune that everyone in the room had tried to place but couldn’t He has only introduced himself as his online tag, Hummz, but has done exceptional work in procurement since he joined. It seemed like no matter what the group needed, he knew a guy and a crate would be delivered by boat a couple nights later. No one knew much about him, but he never asked for payment or help, only what he could do. The group sat, making small talk waiting for Jack, who had become sort of a figurehead. Many around the park identified with him, living a normal life, treading the murky water of the “civil” society, only to be dragged out suddenly and realize that they had been lied to when they were told that’s what clean water looks like. Helping around the park everyday didn’t hurt, he got to know a lot of the people around, and they got to know his burning passion for the movement. He had really became a light for many, just one conversation could melt away your worries or doubts.

Jack was late, later than he meant to be after Naomi came to remind him of the meeting, but the kitchen needed a little more help, what was he supposed to do? He could feel the cold stares on him as he placed bowls of stew on the table. “Did I get everyone’s order right?” He joked, hoping to diffuse the situation. It didn’t work, he was told to sit down as everyone grabbed their share of their now late lunch. As everyone settled, Naomi introduced the meeting. “So assuming everyone doesn’t need the hum and the haw, another protest was shut down, more violent than last time. No one died but a couple are in the hospital”. Protests had become the normal in this past year, most not affiliated, but definitely supported by those sitting at this table. At first the powers that be would let them fizzle out, a sit in, or a demonstration would end eventually and they would go home, but the assumption that the protesters would get bored was one of the government’s mistakes during the early days. Small town groups would gather together and meet at state capitals or major cities. Still mostly young people, many adults making vague excuses about the economy or prior responsibilities, intent to never give a definitive answer. Eventually police started being present for the demonstrations, then they started informing the protesters about rules they couldn’t find in any law, then those rules started being enforced. At first it was just those who would use the gathering as an excuse for violence or looting, quietly being pulled away by the police, and the protesters thanked them for their service. Then it was anyone who picked up a brick, even to move it out of the road, and many only had heard they were holding a brick, so again they thanked the cops for their service. Then cops started saying everyone had a brick. Riot gear would step out of armored vehicles, bean bag rounds were fired in crowds, and tear gas canisters clanked on the asphalt. Slowly but surely they had started taking the protesters as a more and more serious threat, it was only a matter of time before they used live round. Hundreds if not thousands of “dissidents” sat in cells awaiting a court date that had sat as “To Be Determined” for months.

Skye broke the silence “We have to plan for things to get worse, we can’t keep endorsing these if they’re gonna get people killed.”

Bill stepped in firm “We can’t give in. Wars on won on dead soldier’s shoulders.”

“Our movement won’t be built of gravestones” Jack’s voice rarely carried like it did now, he was serious and his tone said he wouldn’t move on that.

“Either way, defense is the next step. Its been taken care of” Hummz never moved his gaze from out the window, his arms now crossed and his brow slightly furled.

Mr. Rose shot up, slamming his hands onto the table “What did you do? We haven’t decided on anything, we don’t work alone here.”

“You wouldn’t asked for it eventually, Thinking ahead is my only crime” Hummz maintained his gaze out the window.

The ensuing argument lasted hours, with the sun’s light dimming through the window the only measure of time. As the light finally fell to a level unconducive to discussion, everyone started to agree to continue this in the morning. Hummz was the first to leave, making a comment about sleeping on it on his way out. Slowly Skye, Jackie, and the Rose’s made their way out. Bill was next, putting his hand on Jack’s shoulder, who had been holding his head in his hands for a number of hours. “Its a hard truth, I know. I wish it wasn’t this way, but at the end of the day the army doesn’t let this not become a war. The sooner we realize that, the sooner we can start real change.” Bill can a reassuring pat on Jack’s back before making his way to the door, leaving just him and Naomi. Naomi wasn’t prepared for something like this, no one was. How do you comfort someone about going to war? She decided quietly was the best option, sitting next to him and putting her head on his shoulder. Jack almost told her to leave, to get some sleep, that he wanted to be alone, but the weight was comforting, so he didn’t say anything. They sat like that for a while, the night air starting to cool the air in the room, slow breaths and the rustling of trees outside was the only sound. Then the window behind them lit up bright orange. Without even a moment to react, the window was blown out with a deafening thud. Glass shards landed on the pair who had been thrown to the ground, vision was blurry, their ears were ringing, the smell of smoke and dust filled the air. Naomi was the first to rise, trying to bring Jack up with her, both thrown into a state of utter confusion on the state of things. Slowly they made their way out of the room and down several flights of stairs that felt much longer than they normally did, finally reaching the outside. By that time the ringing was starting to die down, and their vision was clearing. Jack reached for one of the people running, catching one by the sleeve. “What happened?” He yelled, trying to get his still winded voice above the chaos.

“The dorm blew up, crap, what do we do man?” Jack saw this person for what they were, a kid. They’re eyes full of fear, looking for anyone to help. Everyone seemed so mature when they helped set up the park, it was easy to forget that most of these “revolutionaries” didn’t even have a drivers permit. Jack looked to Naomi, who’s eyes told a slightly different story, she wasn’t looking for anyone to do something, she was waiting for what he was going to do. He told the kid to tell everyone he could to get near the river, he would find a way to get water to the building, they needed to put out the flames. The kid calmed a little hearing that, nodding before running off, his screams inaudible to Jack and Naomi over the deafening chaos. “We have to get to the warehouse, we should have something there” Jack looked back at Naomi, her expression having turned serious, they broke out into a run. By the time they got there Bill was already setting up fire fighting efforts, they had a pump and a hose, it needed to be set up. Jack jumped in to help instinctively, carrying bundles of hose towards the blaze. With both Bill and Jack there the efforts went quick, fire extinguishers were passed out, people carried full buckets from the river to throw them onto the flames before sprinting back. Discussions of an old gas line spread, an explanation that didn’t heal any wounds, but calmed the minds of many. The fire was dying down when Jack handed the hose to someone standing next to him after dousing himself, after being eased of that burden, he took on another, jumping into the still burning building. Jack had had the realization earlier, it wasn’t just a building, it was the dorm, at night, there were people in here. If any survived he had to find them. A crowd gathered after the ran in, some dousing themselves to run in after him. It was a hard couple minutes to watch outside, Naomi and the crowd waiting outside, unable to do anything, unable to see anything. Eventually Jack and the others returned, covered in soot and burns, coughing up smoke. Naomi ran to Jack, she could tell by the way he wouldn’t look her in the eye that they couldn’t save anyone. Her mouth opened to tell him that it wasn’t his fault, hes not much older than a lot of the kids here, he can’t blame himself but words were too slow, another boom broke through the night air. This one was smaller, but followed by another crack. Everyone looked confused, where was the sound coming from, it was bouncing off of all the brick walls, no one could tell the direction. Not until someone dropped after the next crack. They weren’t just any sounds, and the fire started to make more and more sense. Then the thunder of boots filled the space between the sounds.

Jack tried to scream for everyone to run but his lungs were still full of smoke, he couldn’t make a sound except to cough. He had realized what was happening, it wasn’t a gas line, it was a bomb, and the timing probably wasn’t coincidental. The next few minutes were a blur, stampedes of people ran down the cobblestone streets, some ran to hide in buildings, some surrendered, and some accepted what really was happening. No matter what choice they made, they were not spared by the wave of boot steps. Children as young as 12 lay on the cobbles, slowly joining them in the cold. Jack was carried by Naomi and some volunteers, eventually being lead into the warehouse. Jack found his words in that moment, seeing the secret work Hummz had done. Guns. Crates of them. It was the perfect excuse for the military to get involved. They already had built up a supposed increase in violence at protests, there’s no reason for the media to report this as any different. Bill was standing on one of the crates, handing them out, giving short instructions and telling them to survive at all costs. Jack screamed at Jack for handing weapons to children, clawing his way up to him and grabbing him by the collar. Bill grabbed him back, chastising him for not seeing whats happening before throwing him back down. Naomi ran to Jack’s side, helping him up as Bill jumped down, shoving a cold lump of metal into Jack’s chest. “Get as many as you can out, I had the old mine cart track cleared, scatter once you reach the mountains” Bill gave Jack and Naomi a nod before running towards the gunfire, all he had ever wanted was to die for a cause he could believe in. Jack looked down and saw the pistol in his hands, after a moment he shoved it in his pocket. Naomi looked to Jack “We need to find my parents, they have my sister, we have to get them out!” Jack nodded. They ran for the Rose’s workshop, a small building where they lived and worked as it was one of the only buildings with power. The duo screamed the escape plan to everyone they could on their way, and told them to tell whoever they passed, with any hope the message would be passed on far enough. Jack and Naomi didn’t make it to the workshop before the Rose’s found them. Before any time could be spent thanking whoever for being alive Jack shouted for them to run to the cart track. Jack’s entire body burned, it must’ve been adrenaline that kept him going, or maybe the unspent energy of his previous life, it didn’t matter he decided if it helped him get even one person out. Just one more person. The chaos saturated the air, the shots had quickened, with no way to learn what was happening they kept running.

Even as fast as they ran through the labyrinth of alleyways and streets of the park, the noises always inched closer. Members of the movement, now armed and fighting back, directed the group away from danger. Each one telling them that they needed to survive. Jack thanked every single one, then made a note of their name, names of those he couldn’t save. The group turned the corner, finally being able to see the old cart station, gotten working on Bill’s request. The relief hadn’t had the chance to wash over them when Mrs. Rose dropped, having been shot. Jade fell out of her mother’s arms and onto the pavement, her crying became the only noise they heard. Jack and Naomi stopped to turn only to find Mr. Rose ran back without a second thought. He grabbed Jade but knew he didn’t have time to check his wife, his children were more important. Jack and Naomi waited for Mr. Rose to reach them before running with him, they didn’t have long now. Upon reaching the cart, Jack jumped in before turning to help Naomi and her father, Mr. Rose helped Jack get Naomi in before handing her Jade. “Take care of each other, the movement is alive as long as one member is. Follow your convictions and they will reward you.” Mr. Rose pulled them all in for a hug before kissing his daughters on the forehead. He made towards the controls, he could hear his daughters crying for him, and he could hear Jack telling him he could still make it after he started the cart. Mr. Rose thought to himself that this wasn’t the worst way to die, saving his family. The thought was interrupted by a shot through the shoulder, he turned and saw the soldiers closing in. He could feel the warmth follow the trail of blood down his arm and chest but no pain came, not yet. He slammed the controls and then collapsed as he saw the cart starting down the track, away to safety, he said a small prayer for them before be joined so many others on the cobbles.

Jack and Naomi sit, the gunshots being slowly drowned out by the creaking of the old cart. The smoke in the air faded, being replaced with the cold dampness of the first tunnel. Jack looks down at the gun he was handed. If he had used it could he have saved someone else? Was saving his life worth the lives spent getting them here? He might never have the answer and that killed him inside. Looking up he saw the final light of their base on fire fading to the darkness that awaited them.