Titan's Garden: Crimson Wolf: Titan's Garden

By Trevor Anthony

Omari didn't start this war. King Paxis did, by unleashing chemical weapons on his citizens. Now Omari's body courses with magic gifted by his greatest tragedy. The kingdom of Calmeria is pursuing him. Omari searches for the resistance, but as far as he knows, they no longer exist. He must do the impossible, overthrow a tyrant to survive, and return democracy to his home. A glimmer of hope lies in Titan's Garden, but first, he must locate it. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trevor Anthony
• Release date: Jan 15, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201137298

Trevor Anthony

My name is Trevor Anthony. My strength comes from God. In my life, I am a father, husband, son, and brother. The Windy City is my home, where I teach black and brown children on the south side. Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University is my school, where I studied political science and pre-law.  I cannot live without spicy food, music, and sports. I study politics to understand this vast world. I place my head in a book to escape the world. I put pen to paper to create my own world.  I am a black man telling stories so that others will do the same. There are times where I thought I would not see the next day, so I am grateful for every breath I draw. I raise my son with this knowledge recorded in Philippians.  Philippians 4:13- I can do all things in Christ which strengthens me.

Book preview

2

OMARI

Omari watched with tears streaming as they arrived at the end of the tunnel. In front of them were four backpacks, each filled with ammunition, food, small tents, medical supplies, and other emergency items. Each person grabbed a rifle off the tunnel’s wall and slung it over their shoulder.

Phones, now, Valeria extended her arm to them.

I left mine inside the cabin, Julian said.

Valeria glanced to Omari. He silently reached in his pocket and removed a tiny device with a flip screen and the time displayed digitally on it. Valeria took them in her hand and threw them on the tunnel floor. She extended her arm and the cave lit as a tiny bolt of lightning shot from her fingertips. The phones exploded in the darkness. She turned to Julian. There was a ladder in front of him; he climbed it and touched the roof of the tunnel. The dirt shook and gave way, leaving a path for them to climb out. They sprung out into the night air, in a clearing on the other side of the short wood.

We shouldn’t have left him, Omari cried out.

Memories of that fateful day rushed into his mind; he let tears drop into the grass. He hadn’t felt pain like this in a decade, since the Shadow-Fire. Everything hurt, every draw of breath choked him. He screamed, silently, but he screamed nonetheless. A piece, a very real piece of his soul was left in that cave.

Valeria walked back to the exit.

She whispered, Our Mother, Goddess of the World and All Things. Please guide his soul to the Other Side, so that he may live forever in your grace. She finished her prayer by kissing the exit and sat down in the grass.

Kendrich was like an elder brother to each of them, teaching them how to fight and operate this new world. He molded them into adults in place of their parents. They allowed themselves to mourn for only a few minutes, before a chord struck within them; they were still being hunted. Valeria was the first person to break from the depths of their sadness, motioning for the others to follow her in escaping far away from the tunnel. Omari ran until his legs began to give out from exhaustion, sweat dripping from his brows with each heavy step. He ran until the place he once called home and the surrounding woods were no longer visible in the dark of the night.

Where to now? Julian asked. The group stood on the edge of a forest, leering into the black trees. The trees were swaying with the wind and with it came a menacing melody. Echoes of bellows and howls coursed through as the hunters of the night wandered underneath the trees. A shiver rolled down Omari’s spine as he began to inhale the reality of their next journey.

Stop here, Omari said. He looked hesitantly into the depths of blackness in front of him.

Damn, this was last on the list of options.

In the Crau Forest, are you crazy? Julian asked, his voice shaky. He pointed a flashlight into the forest and shivered.

If we stay out here, they’ll definitely find us, Omari pointed to the exposed perimeter of the forest.

But, it was the only option.

Alright then. Well, we can’t camp on the ground; everyone grabs a tree, Valeria said.

They ventured cautiously into the woods with their flashlights out, scanning the ground and the trees nervously. The dying grass of the forest crumbled under their feet as they proceeded slowly into the night. They kept their steps as silent as ants, for some predators hunted better with their ears than eyes. They found a resting place as the howls around them were creeping closer. By now, their scent had carried, and predators were inching in to take a look at their prey.

Omari threw his arms on the lowest branch in front of him and hauled himself up. He steadied his balance and pushed himself up again and again, until he found a sturdy and wide branch. He attached a knife to his belt and stuck it into the trunk to secure himself, then pressed down hard on the branch to make sure it would sustain his weight. He pulled himself up and laid down on the branch. Then Omari reached into his backpack, rifling through in the pitch-black until he pulled out a thin but strong rope. He pulled it taut and formed three knots, two around his ankles and one around his midsection. He rolled a little, simulating sleep, and exhaled when he realized he was securely fastened. He gave Valeria and Julian a quick whistle as they finished securing themselves in separate trees.

Omari turned his head at the scuttle of human feet near the edge of the forest. He looked down and saw the flashing of lights.

Terror took hold of him as soldiers started making their way into the forest. Their steps were slow and their flashlights frantically pointed into the corners of the forest. Omari clutched his chest, trying to keep his breath from making too much noise. He watched as they crept closer to them, stopping only a few yards from the trees they were hiding in.

I hate this, there’s no way they came in here, a soldier grunted to another, his voice shaky.

Yeah, who would choose to hide here? I bet they kept going the other way, another replied.

A staticky crack sounded over their radio. I can promise you they went inside the forest; keep looking. That’s an order, Nagent’s voice sounded. Omari’s blood boiled hearing the murderer’s voice.

A low and loud growl pierced the silence. Then, a scream as flesh ripped and gunfire exploded. Omari stared down below his branch, watching the flashlights and rifles fall to the dirt. More screams and more flesh ripping as the soldiers gave up and sprinted for their lives towards the edge of the forest. It seemed they’d rather face Nagent’s wrath then continue to fight off the predators of the Crau Forest. In the light of one of the dropped flashlights, Omari could make out the form of a pack of Great Horned Wolves dragging away the body of a fallen soldier. He thanked the Goddess that wolves could not climb trees.

He and his friends waited with bated breath as the soldiers fled for their safety and didn’t return to the depths of the forest. After an hour passed with no one returning, they realized they were secure for the night.

Omari, you all right? Valeria asked.

No. He paused. We left Kendrich, we left him to die.

We didn’t have a choice; you must know that.

We could try! We could have tried; we didn’t need to leave him. He corrected his voice when he heard his words echoing through the forest. They didn’t need any more company to come visit them.

You know me, she sighed. Do you think I wanted to leave him? They’ll pay for this, just like everything else. One day, they will pay.

How did things end up so bad? How did this happen? I still remember when we played cops and robbers, dreaming of university and eating ice cream in your basement, Omari said.

Paxis. He’s a terrorist with a crown. Someday he will get what’s coming to him. For the Shadow-Fire, for all the lives he destroyed and ruined, she replied.

And I’ll be the one to give it to him, Omari finished. He ran his fingers across the blade of his hunting knife and visualized himself plunging it into the throat of King Paxis.

Valeria reached in her backpack and opened a pack of extending spikes. She ran her fingers across the back of the trap and her electric magic illuminated in the darkness. She chucked one towards Omari’s tree and it stuck near the base. The spikes buzzed as they spread around the ring of the tree trunk and jutted the blades outward. They sparked with electric energy, a trap bright enough to scare a predator away from them. In truth, it appeared more perilous than it actually was. Her magic was only capable of stunning something momentarily, but it would keep them safe for the night. She tossed one more for her tree trunk and another for Julian’s. Then, she turned over for the night.

As the animals in the Crau Forest continued to hunt, they closed their eyes for a night full of worries and anxious sleep. Omari kept tossing and turning, thinking about a decade of living off the grid and avoiding the kingdom, wasted. Years of careful planning and strict discipline that allowed them to skirt the king’s authority, all rebuked. He cursed himself, knowing it was his fault, it was his fault that Kendrich was no longer with them. They would have to start all over again and without their leader. No matter how much he craved sleep, his mind would not let go of that fact.

A sixteen-year-old Omari stood in a deserted field, dry grass under his feet. The heat of the sun bore down on him, beads of sweat covered his entire body. His musty, soaked clothing was sticking to him. Each breath was a draw on his already drained energy and the axe in his right hand was growing heavier by the second. Kendrich was his opponent, standing across from him in much better shape than Omari was, wearing a smile. His godlike athleticism was his magic and Omari had never seen him exhausted in the years they’d been traveling together. Kendrich looked down at his overmatched opponent and came at him with a careful yet quick approach.

He charged Omari once more from the right side, but as Omari lifted his axe to block there was nothing there. Kendrich had already moved, quick as a fox. Standing behind Omari he kicked him squarely in the back sending him flying yards away and crashing into the ground. Omari attempted to stand, but he couldn’t, he was too drained, and he collapsed to the ground under him, dust filling his nostrils. He slowly turned his head to see his foe standing over him right arm extended. As the two tired fighters walked back to camp, Kendrich noticed the silence he was receiving from his younger counterpart. Omari, you okay, man?

I felt like I was making progress, then you just kicked my ass again! He yelled in frustration. It’s like every time I take a step forward, you push me back two more.

Ha-ha, he laughed and then straightened his face. Look, Omari, I was trained by the military. A guy named Colonel Nagent trained me in hand-to-hand combat. He beat me every single day. Each day he’d focus on one thing I was doing wrong and I’d try to fix it, the next day it was something new. And each day I grew stronger, I knew his moves a little better, and I did better against him every time. I left the military without ever surpassing him, but there’s no doubt in my mind that I could have.

So, what are you saying, I just have to keep getting beat up? That’s stupid.

No, what I am telling you is that you never quit. Never stop moving forward, never give in. No matter how bad things may look, you’ll be stronger than me before you know it. And I hate the messenger, I despise everything else about that man, but he taught me a valuable lesson. The most important lesson I’ve learned in my life is to never quit, Kendrich said with a smile as his voice drained out into the light of the sun. 

3

OMARI

Omari woke from his vivid flashback staring into the vastness of the Crau Forest. The forest was unlike any the world had ever seen: the canopies were so tall and magnificent that the sun rarely ever reached the forest floor. The forest created an environment where diverse wildlife thrived; there were more different species of predators per square acre than the rest of the country. The Shadow-Fire changed things; the forest was now full of beasts that seemed unnatural. Bloodthirsty killers, rather than animals seeking just to survive. Wolves, bears, jaguars, venomous snakes, and even carnivorous species of rabbits and deer roamed free here, feeding on one another. Few people ventured inside the forest’s barriers and even fewer returned. Escaping the military and being forced to seek refuge in such a dangerous place was a classic example of leaving the frying pan and leaping into the fire.

This morning, the three adults were woken by the sun’s rays attempting to break through the massive treetops. Omari looked down and felt his heart skip a beat. Lying near the base of their trees was a sleuth of striped bears, huge beasts weighing as much as a small truck. They had matted brown fur with white stripes coating their body every few inches. The white stripes were an evolutionary change from the Shadow-Fire that made their hides thick enough to stop bullets short of 50 calibers from penetrating their skin. Their teeth and claws were amongst the most massive and powerful on the continent, they could make short work of Omari and his friends without a second thought, even with their magic. Valeria’s traps had served their purpose, by keeping these bears from climbing the trees. Omari thanked the Goddess that the predators were nocturnal and slumbering during the day.

Is everyone alright? Omari whispered to his friends.

Yeah, Valeria sighed. . She looked around, frantic. My bag must have fallen in the night, something took it!

I still have mine, Julian said, and Omari nodded. Two bags of supplies would have to be enough.

The group quickly and quietly scaled down their trees so as to not wake the predators and walked farther into the woods. Exhaustion reeling in their minds from their traumatic night and rough sleep, but they had to keep moving. Omari removed the dagger from the holster on his right hip. As he ran his fingers across the oak handle, he touched the carved wolf face and sadness washed over him. After Kendrich found these weapons, Omari had used Julian’s dagger to etch a wolf into the hilt, his father’s favorite animal. He didn’t dare run his fingers across the black obsidian, several times harder than steel, as it would surely cut him. It was his favorite earthly possession.

Julian and Valeria had adopted Omari’s idea and etched signals into their own daggers. Valeria’s was a phoenix, a mythical bird, and Julian’s was a whale—he loved them. The first time Julian’s blade cut through a human, a bandit who was chasing them, he’d vomited all over his shoes as soon as they were safe. He’d long since outgrown that.

Where to now? Valeria asked, her eyes scanning the forest.

Julian removed a map from his bag, pulling it out and stretching it against the bark of a nearby tree, So, we’re probably around here. He pointed to a landmark that only he recognized on the map. So . . . he bent down and rested his hand on the ground. Omari watched as Julian sat quietly with his palm lying on the beating earth, listening intently and feeling the veins and pulse of the planet. Omari was beyond impressed with Julian’s magic; its practicality had saved them numerous times. He gazed down at his own hands in fear. Only destruction, he thought.

There’s freshwater, about one mile that way. Pointing east and scratching his beard furiously, he added, that should be Alki Lake, if I remember correctly. We should be able to fill our canteens and rest there, figuring out the next step.

Julian’s magic, like Valeria’s, developed over time after the Shadow-Fire. Nothing had ever been published or explained, but there were whispered reasons. Rumor was, their magic was a curse of the supernatural forces of the Shadow-Fire, the blaze that destroyed their homes and everything they once held dear. The fire itself burned until it consumed all in its path and couldn’t be doused by liquid or smothered. The Shadow-Fire only stopped when it had eaten its fill; it was like the inferno had possessed a mind of its own. Paxis had clearly messed with forces beyond his control. Magic that previously existed only in legends and stories was now sparsely gifted around Calmeria to a select few. Julian could morph dirt, sand, and rock like liquid to fit forms he desired. With focus, he could even sense the flowing of water deep underground.

Let’s go, Omari said, shaking his canteen. A few sips of water sloshed around. He swigged another drink and dropped it once more into his pocket.

As long as we get out of this creepy forest, Julian added. His fingers trembled as he returned the map. A massive centipede dropped from a nearby tree and Julian leapt sideways as it scurried off.

Oh, stop being scared; are you really afraid of bears and venomous snakes? Valeria joked. She laughed, but the answer was clear as the day. They needed to move.

Yes, deathly afraid. Now let’s move before they get up, he retorted.

Omari knelt down, releasing the magazine from his pistol and sliding a new one in place. He pulled back the chamber and it slid with a loud click, loading a round. He did the same with his assault rifle, looking through the sight before he tossed it over his shoulder and in his sling. The group moved in silence, two things keeping their voices of: sorrowfully mourning the death of their friend and mentor but also avoiding jerking a dangerous predator from daytime slumber. They kept weapons at the ready, dodging tracks on the ground signaling the homes of wolves or bears. The dusty earth was great for tracking or circumventing predators as the footprints left were warning signs.

Giant bugs crawled across the dirt in search of food, scattering across the fallen leaves. Massive centipedes the size of cats perched on tree bark and branches, their claws clapping together and their antennae flickering at the sound of prey. Omari watched as Julian shivered, his eyes roaming the forest, anxiously spotting every living thing as it moved. He dropped back to walk near his friend. Julian was a socialite who longed to live in a city. Wild animals and creatures were his worst nightmare.

Their march continued, pushing through the thickets of branches and bushes. Weapons prepared for small snakes that slithered through the forest like ghosts, quietly stalking. The forest was alive with every heartbeat, every slither or hiss feeling to Omari like the jungle itself was moving and beating with its own pulse. He looked up to the sky, saying a silent prayer to himself, thanking the Mother they’d been able to find shelter last night in safety. Leaves rustled behind him and Omari whipped around, his right palm raised. He gazed into the depths of the forest; something was moving.

Omari, what are you doing? Valeria asked.

You all didn’t hear that? he asked.

She shook her head, but as Omari looked over to Julian, he understood he was not mistaken. Julian’s eyes were wide and his mouth open in terror, his hand was placed on the ground. Omari looked around again before Julian could speak and again saw nothing.

Something’s coming—something big.

What are you talking about? Both of you are crazy, I don’t see anything, Valeria said.

But Omari knew better than to question Julian; his magic gave him such a feeling over the planet that he was beyond reliable.

I can feel it, Valeria, something dragging along the ground. It’s m-massive, he stuttered.

Before Omari could look again, he heard it. A loud hiss like the sound steam makes when it escapes, but much louder and much closer. Valeria’s jaw dropped in horror as a massive Gargoyle Snake came into view slithering through the forest with immense speed. The snake’s fangs were borne for its next meal.

Run!

They took off, sprinting through the depths of the forest. A giant viper, nearly one hundred feet long and covered in stony scales, pursued them. It was thick as two tree trunks, able to devour the group in moments. It crashed into tree after tree, uprooting them and causing collapsing trunks to rattle the ground. The snake followed them, its venomous tongue hanging from its mouth and dripping with the saliva of anticipation.

Omari jumped over another branch, then looked down at his hands knowing their only chance of survival lay within his magic. He turned to face their attacker; it took a moment to draw up the energy. A cool rush like flowing water shot through his arms from his chest to his hands. A bright crimson ray of light and energy exploded from his palms. The beam shot out like a cannon and struck the snake in the face, bouncing off the stone and only slowing its pursuit. He tried again and the stony snake rolled right through his waves. He tried once more, but again the snake’s stone hide was too much for him.

It’s not working, Omari, keep running, Julian shouted. Valeria turned around and harnessed her magic. She fired bolts of lightning from her fingertips. Her magic was strong enough to paralyze people but careened off the stone figure harmlessly. Didn’t anyone tell her electricity and rocks don’t mix?

Julian, we need you, Omari barked.

The snake was growing closer. Julian placed his hand on the ground, and a shot of dirt erupted from the surface as a spike. The snake slithered around it, unharmed by their trio of attacks. Julian tried again, splitting the earth like a canyon so the snake fell in. A deep breath lasted only for a second, as the viper climbed out in an instant.

Omari’s heart was about to explode in his chest as the snake barreled down on them. He sprinted again, seeing a one-chance shot at survival. Just south of them was a large ravine leading to the opposite edge of the forest. It was their only chance. He ran and was suddenly stopped as he lurched backwards. The strap of his backpack was caught on a lower branch. He wasted no time fumbling with the belongings. He sliced at it with his dagger and severed the straps, leaving his supplies stuck to a tree.

There! He pointed and they sprinted as the snake grew closer. Omari reached the edge of the ravine and looked down; the cliff was at least two hundred feet high. And it sat over a raging river powered by a distant waterfall. The rapids, the snake, the jump. Each one would kill them.

We can’t jump it! Valeria shouted.

Julian placed his hands on the ground in front of the cliff and concentrated. He only needed a few moments to focus. Omari and Valeria continued their magical onslaught of the viper, buying Julian the time he required. The ground jutted out across the ravine as a thin strip of land. They jumped onto the path and ran across, the snake only feet behind them. Omari and Valeria led the way, forgetting something vital. The land bridge had zapped Julian’s strength and his stamina. He could no longer keep up with them. When Omari realized, it was too late. Julian screamed as the snake’s tongue gripped him and dragged him closer to its mouth and its bared fangs.

Help me! he cried in terror, clawing at the ground.

Omari leapt first, plunging his dagger into the snake’s tongue. It shrieked and released Julian with a hiss. Valeria was right behind him; she clenched the snake’s bloody tongue in her fingertips and let out a bolt of electricity. The snake’s body shook violently. Omari pulled Julian free and helped him to his feet. They all scrambled to the other side and Julian reached behind himself. He placed his hand on the edge of the bridge and it collapsed, dropping the snake to the depths of the river below.

Is everyone alright? Omari asked.

Yeah, Julian said, panting heavily. All my stuff, my equipment, fell with the snake.

I lost mine, too, Omari said.

What do we do now? Valeria asked as she helped Julian to his feet.

Catalpa is on the other side of the forest there, Julian replied. Omari tapped his pockets, feeling a few coins. They had enough money to purchase more supplies, but they’d have to stop into a major city under heavy kingdom control. It wasn’t a difficult choice for them; traveling without supplies and shelter they’d be dead within days.

We have to go there then, Omari answered. The three walked through the forest now with only their weapons and their magic to accompany them. They slunk through the treacherous forest once more on the lookout for any more predators, they couldn’t expect that stroke of bad luck twice.

Emerging at the edge of the Crau Forest, Omari gazed out to the savannah, seeing the peaceful tranquility before him as a chance to escape the horrors they’d seen and heard. It was only a couple miles before they reached Catalpa in the distance, so they decided to sit and rest briefly. They sat mostly in silence as the sun began to hang lower in the sky, drifting towards the horizon. Omari dropped his nearly empty canteen in fright as a loud whirring sound echoed high above their heads. The trees behind them began to bend and move in response to the artificial wind. Approaching their position was a large airship adorned with the sign of King Paxis. That seven-pronged crown with a golden P emblazoned in the center was unmistakable.

Have we been followed?

Quickly they scrambled and ran back into the cover of the trees.

What the hell are they doing here? Valeria whispered, as she lifted her rifle and pointed it towards the ship.

Shhh, there’s a chance they didn’t see us. Stay as still as possible, Omari whispered.

Don’t shush me! she hissed.

Shut up both of you children, we don’t always need to do this, Julian responded in annoyance.

Omari held the breath in his lungs momentarily; he knew they couldn’t hear his breathing, but it happened anyway. His heartbeat raced as he watched the airship turn past them and head off in another direction. There was something off about that ship—he couldn’t place it, but as the ship headed north, a bone-chilling feeling set in. It floated into the distance and disappeared from sight.

That was a close one; we can’t keep hiding out like this. Something has to change, Valeria said mostly to herself.

In Brunswick they’d had the safety of their home. A place they couldn’t return now, the kingdom would expect that. And here on the road they stood out and could be easy targets for any of their numerous enemies. They were at a huge disadvantage and unable to set up any real defense system from the kingdom, bandits, loyalists, and whoever else they might run into. Omari sat in the clearing while Julian took a nap. He’d used more of his magic than the others today, and it was draining. Sort of like running, the more you used it and the greater the output, the less you had in the tank.         

I’ve been thinking, Omari started. We have to go home.

Valeria simply smiled. I knew. That’s why you’ve been so quiet.

I’ve been trying to work out another way in my head all day, but I just can’t. It’s the only thing that seems logical. I just don’t know if I’m ready to see it again.

I know. Me either, she sighed, fiddling with her hands.

I mean, the place where our parents died. The place where our lives were destroyed, Kendrich never wanted us to go back.

Yeah, but he always felt responsible for it. We have to move on, ya know. We can’t stay on the run like this forever, she replied. So, what’s your plan?

Our parents were in the rebellion, my father a top scientist and your parents were involved deeply in their engineering. Maybe there’s some sort of clue they left. Some way to find their allies, some possible chance to contact them. It’s either this or go northwest to The Republic of Drane.

Drane is out of the question. They’ll never take refugees in with this war as crazy as it is. Besides they blame us for unleashing Paxis on the world, she reminded him. You never gave up hope on the resistance, huh?

They’re our only hope, V. Without there being someone fighting against Paxis, then we’ve lost and just given up. Allowed him to steal our democracy, our freedom, and submit. Naw, that can’t be true. They’re still around, I know it. I can feel it in my bones, he said.

I think you’re right. I believe there are people just as pissed off as we are, ’fighting a losing war right now. But they’ll be back.

They sat in silence for a moment, their options running through their minds, all circling back to one clear decision.

It’ll be dangerous, ya know, Valeria said with a slight twinkle in her eye. Omari smiled at her; she’d been fearless since she was a child. Always climbing roofs and picking fights with the older kids. She was unbreakable.

We just need to get in, search my house, and get out. I know everything burned, but there’s a chance my basement survived, it was underground, he replied.

It’ll be difficult. She paused tapping her chin. But not impossible. He looked into her eyes and thanked her for understanding. This was a terrible choice, a dangerous decision and one that could crush their spirits or even end their lives. But to Omari, it seemed like the only rational choice now, and in this world, they were often left with only the worst of options.

I’m the easy one. Good luck convincing Julian we need to go back, he’ll fight against it tooth and nail, she laughed.

We need to stop in Catalpa first and get supplies, otherwise we won’t make it two days out here, Omari said.

YOU WANNA DO WHAT??! Julian shouted at the top of his lungs.

We’re going back home to Marindale, Omari said, ignoring his friend’s anger. We need clues in order to find the rebels.

You’re kidding right?! That entire place is swarming with damn kingdom troops, I’m convinced you’re trying to die. Damn it, this is what happens when I take a nap, he groaned loudly.

What do you want to do? Omari asked, he sat down across from Julian.

Way I see it, we got three options. We can get a boat, go to Islands of Nafur. Travel to Drane, or we can just find jobs in a city like Rivern or something. Why do we always have to be running and hiding?

You missed one, we can fight! Omari said, clapping his fist into his palm. You forgot they are actually looking for me, right? The whole reason we’re out here and Kendrich is gone. We can’t hide forever, not with Nagent and his army searching. We need the rebellion to keep us safe. Then we can finally work to overthrow the king.

You need to get over this—we aren’t going to defeat Paxis. We’re not heroes, we aren’t going to change the world, Julian answered. All we need to do is survive; that’s what our parents would want.

Survival! How can you talk about survival? Paxis has taken everything from us, and you—you just want us to give up. Maybe I was raised differently than you, but that’s not acceptable! Your parents raised a coward.

Shut up! Don’t you dare talk about my parents, Julian was on his feet now, his eyes roaring with anger and staring down at Omari. Omari stood to meet Julian. Their eyes locked.

Omari was waiting for Julian to say something else. He was already angry, upset he couldn’t save Kendrich, frustrated that they were cornered. Scared that he was being hunted. He didn’t care that Julian wasn’t the reason for his pain, he was reason enough at this moment. He balled his fists, knuckles turning white, waiting for Julian to say something else he didn’t agree with. Julian looked down and must have sensed this, he took a slight step back.

I agree with Omari, Valeria said. She stepped between Omari and Julian, pushing them apart from each other. Look, the king needs to go. I know you agree with that much, Julian. He nodded. Then who better to aid in his demise. Look at your magic, look at mine and Omari’s. We have abilities; you said we’re not heroes, then who else could be?

I don’t want to fight, Julian said defiantly.

Well, we do, Valeria finished, raising her right hand and cutting Omari off before he spoke. We’re not going to sit by or run anymore, I’m sick of this shit! She cracked her knuckles and lightning flashed. I’m sick of living in fear. The fear that every day Paxis’s goons could show up and take us out, like they just tried to. I know you heard the same rumors I did: the bombings in Rivern, the pointless military raids, the work camps. I won’t allow that for me, I won’t allow it for any of us.

She’s right, I refuse to live like this. Like a frightened rat, our only choice is to fight back. Otherwise, our parents and everyone lost their lives for no reason; we aren’t honoring their memory by running, Omari finished, panting heavily. Julian breathed, attempting a protest but stopped and sighed deeply.

Look, you’re outvoted this time, Julian, and majority rules. We’re going home and that’s final. Unless you’d like to leave us. You could stay in Catalpa when we stop there, Valeria said.

Which way are we taking? Julian groaned. Majority rules, one of their longest standing traditions. As much as Kendrich had been their leader, he hated having to make all the decisions, often pointing out that their lives were a result of each decision and he shouldn’t have the only say over what paths they would take. Always commenting, "That’s what got us into this mess. I’ll be damned if I play dictator."

We have to stop first in Catalpa and get supplies; we’ll rest up for the night. Then we rent a boat and sail to the Valley. Home is just a one-day walk from there. Should be pretty easy, Valeria said. As she spoke, Omari heard a rustle in the trees that scurried by.

4

OMARI

Omari approached the city cautiously. Catalpa was once a thriving fishing and trade town when democracy flourished. Small buildings littered the city’s landscape, none taller than three stories. The residents here had developed a culture distinctly different from that of the remainder of the country. Outside the city’s gates was a large flashing billboard on which each month the most successful fisherman was displayed.

Omari remembered traveling here as a child, a busy town perfectly situated on the ocean. His parents would bring him for the Carnival, a celebration of their old traditions. It felt as if he could still taste the sweet, sticky dough of street food and the aroma of seafood boiling in the streets. He couldn’t forget the magnificent floats in the parade. Scores of drunk adults atop each float tossing prizes to the waiting participants below. His first time, he’d been only two years of age, his father said. His father held him high on his muscular shoulders and toddler Omari waved happily in the parade. The music, the blaring of horns, and the vast collection of colors and costumes had assaulted his ears and eyes ever so nicely. That joy had evaporated as he approached the outskirts of a childhood wonder. Seeing Catalpa in its current state shook him violently from his peaceful daydream.

It was one of the cities that Paxis chose not to bomb—the vast natural resources of lumber and food were large influencers of that decision, but he imposed his will in other ways.) His military invaded, putting forth some of the harshest rules in the kingdom. The fishing quota was a perfect example of his cruelty. The law transformed a once beautiful and collaborative profession into a cutthroat one where neighbors and brothers fought often for survival. Of course, the king was far from intelligent enough to understand the outcomes of his plans. Someone different was pulling the strings. Whoever was in charge of public policy was a devious bastard, smart, but devious.

We’re here, Julian said pointedly.

He, too, must have felt the wave of uncertainty wash over. Omari shuddered as they watched a few soldiers carelessly surveying the perimeter. A strict curfew was in place here and they were late. It was their only option, however. Arriving before curfew meant going through the front gate and disposing of their weapons. They couldn’t take the risk that these soldiers were on the lookout for them, so they had to risk sneaking in. Omari waited and watched for a break in the soldier’s positioning and the drones’ patterns. He sat perched nearby for about a half hour until he felt secure in his grasp of everything’s movement.

Omari stood up and waved his friends over, guiding them to an isolated section of the gate surrounding the city. A large gate was erected around the perimeter of the city, in keeping with the king’s strategy for crowd control and security. People feel less free when they are literally walled in.

They waited near the section of the gate for Julian to do his part. He pressed his fingers down to the ground feeling the pulsing beat of the earth but feeling also for the rapid movement of human footsteps. They’d spent much time training this ability in him; Kendrich had recognized the vast implications of each of their abilities and forced them to develop more practical uses. For weeks on end, they would blindfold Julian and walk fifty to a hundred paces away, forcing him to use to the ground to locate them until he was nearly a natural at it.

I don’t feel any movement. Let’s go.

The gate was stone and perfect for Julian’s magic. He placed his hands on the grooves and with a quiet crunch, handholds formed from the receding stone. Within seconds they scaled the thirty-foot wall. Julian reached over the edge and started forming the handholds again for them to climb down. Valeria followed him. Omari clenched the receded stone in his hand and started climbing down into the city. He had made it about two-thirds of the way down when a light flashed over his head. He stopped moving and turned over his shoulder. A drone was floating nearby. They had limited vision in the dark, so he dropped to the ground below. He fell hard with a thud as his hands stopped his face from smacking against the concrete. The drone’s flashlight scanned down the wall and Omari ducked behind a dumpster in the alley with Valeria and Julian. The drone soared away after its light didn’t catch anything else.

Omari, Valeria, and Julian pulled their hoods over their heads and ducked through the streets. There were few cars passing through and the streetlights illuminated the avenue. Omari and his friends headed towards the alleyways, where they could duck against the buildings or behind objects and avoid being spotted. Omari held up a hand for them, then jogged to the end of the alley and peered out onto the quiet block. On the right there was a church, an apartment complex, a liquor store, and a gas station. None of them would do any good. He ducked behind the brick as another soldier approached. When the soldier passed, he glanced left. A small bodega, a portable phone store, and a fast-food restaurant. Way down the street he could make out a red, blinking sign on which the last letters read "‘TEL’." A hotel was exactly what they needed. He waved for Valeria and Julian to join him.

A night’s rest and a good meal would be pretty good, but Kendrich had always taught them visiting somewhere new was a calculated risk. They could go to the inn or the local bar to gather information and build relationships with the locals, but they always needed a cover, an alibi. He’d taught them just how dangerous people could be if they found out you were rogues, without an army or allegiance to call your own. Omari replayed those lessons in his mind now.

They waited until they had their opportunity. The soldier stationed on their street dipped into the bodega and the group sprinted quietly to the end of the block. It was a simple building of stone and glass with a large bay window in the front. Teal-blue lights decorated the rails and stood out in the dark of the night. They approached cautiously, glancing over their shoulders for any sign of enemies nearby. Omari nodded to his friends, their story was clear and understood.

Inside, swivel chairs littered the landscape along with booths and tables. The chandeliers were rickety and made of rusted iron, seeming as if they could drop at a moment’s notice. Omari stifled a cough under the dim lighting and cloudiness of cigar smoke lingering in the air. The bar inside the hotel’s restaurant was grey and long and behind it sat a vast collection of whiskeys, vodkas, gin, and the like illuminated with the same teal light from the exterior. Working women sat