Glow (16 page)

53.

Lukas

I want all my senses alive for this moment. The beginning when Lucy and I claim our destiny. I sense Lucy next to me even though we’re surrounded by blackness. If only I could push open my eyes, stand up tall, and walk off this boat on my own two feet, at the place Lucy and I are prepared to lead. But I can’t. Not until someone relieves us of this blackout. Still, I know we have arrived.

“
We’re here
,
Lucy. It’s time.
”
             

“
Lucas, I’m sorry your parents did this right before you were to take your place as the Nobleman.
”

“
They’re gone and no longer matter. The past is past.
”

“
Do you really think the fire
…
that they died?
”

“
I’m sure of it. It’s better that way.
”

“
Did you know? That your fire could kill?
”

“
I hoped.
”

“
Lukas, don’t say that. Don’t ever say you wished them dead.
”

“
I do though. They wanted me to be a prisoner. They are no better then
than
the Councilmen. That’s why Charles and Colton are going to kill them, too.
”

“
I don’t know
...
That’s too much death. Too much killing.
”

“
No
,
Lucy, it just took too long to do it.
”

54.

Charlie

“We’re going to disembark with the strongest up front. Okay?” Colton commands the group on the lower deck of the ferry. The boat stopped and we’re getting final orders before we walk off the ship. “Even if they saw our boat coming towards them, they won’t be prepared to fight.”

“And what should we do, just start forcing everyone into one room?” Jax asks.

“Exactly. There’s only one room that will hold everyone, it’s called the Haven,” Dad explains. “And we’ll corral everyone there. Once inside, we can separate the men out, and then find the Councilmen. Okay?”

As the scene unfolds, a part of me wants to be the leader, but I’m not. I’m a loner like Junie said. There was a moment there, when I thought I might be … when Timid was dying. But she’s gone and there was nothing I could do to save her.

“Charlie, you need to be up here with Jax, leading the charge. You’re the best gun man we have,” Colton says, picking me out of the crowd.

“Alright.” I agree, of course. I’m not gonna be hanging in the back like a wuss. Besides, I can take orders from Colton, just like I took orders from my parents.

“Also,” Basil speaks up. “Some people should go to the back of the property. People could try to escape that way. The Councilmen, especially. That’s how Lukas and I left this Refuge, from the back before we drove toward the bridge.”

“Good point, Basil,” Colton smiles at her, Basil beams in return. Oh God.

“So, if you guys head to the back then we can guard the perimeter,” Colton says. “This is only going to be an issue at this Refuge. The other ones are isolated islands, correct, Layla?”

“Yes. And I’m going to stay on deck with Lucas and Lucy until someone comes with help for them. Hana should stay with me, too.”

“Okay. We’re ready then,” Colton finishes, clapping his hands. “We’re going to keep this boat running, with Lukas’s help. If we need to evacuate, head directly onboard. Got that?”

Cheers go up from the cowboys, the guys and girls I’ve known for years. I don’t want anyone to die today. Not them. Just the people on the other side, the people who forced them to separate from the ones they love.

The Light wouldn’t let the boys join their fold because they didn’t want to be threatened. Their power and control meant more than these guys surviving. I hate them for that.

I walk Lucky to the front of the boat with Jax. Colton, Duke, Junie, and Basil are one step behind us with their horses. We’re leading the charge and I breathe deep, seeing Dad walk up to us, his hands around the barrel of a gun.

“I’m riding in with you boys. This is a fight I’ve wanted for a long time.”

“Alright, Ernie, your call,” Jax says.

Jax has known my dad for a long time. Dad and Mom took him in when he was struggling away from a group of vigilantes. Not that there are many left these days. Six years ago there were more people still trying to survive on their own. But it’s clear from our recent treks to the bridge and the compound, there is no one here wandering around anymore.

The desire I used to have to spread out farther, to search in new lands, see new seas, is gone. Death feels certain if I were to just set out aimlessly. I’m not interested in defying death. I just want to live.

The boat buzzes with Lukas’s energy, but everyone has grown grim, faces drawn in tight lines. Our guns face forward, our eyes set strong.

We’re ready to fight.

“Onward!” Colton cries and our horses begin to trot slowly, we trek for a few miles before we reach the Refuge.

The Refuge is like I remembered even though it composes a faint and hollow memory in my mind. The path paved by members of the fold is easy to navigate, but the one eerie difference is that no Vessels sing to welcome us. As a child I remember our entrances were always grand because they always included Lukas. Their prophet.

There are no lights on out here, and as we approach the Refuge the outer walls are pitch dark as well.

“I thought they had Lukas’s power?” Jax comments quietly. “Why’s it so dark out here?”

“No windows. They believe windows are what keeps darkness out.” But were worldly enough to realize that windows also keeps Vessel’s from understanding that there’s a whole world outside.

We pass the outdoor showers where new members wash away their impurities. I want to throw up, seeing this place again reminds me how insane my childhood was. There was a time I bought into this. Perfection still does.

As we reach the door to the great room, I look over my shoulder. “Colton, we’re here. Want to go in first?”

“No, just try to open it.”

I wanted him to do this. I didn’t want to be the one to open the door, to be the first to see this place. I’m like Junie said, once again, looking for the easy way out.

Be a man. Be a grown-up, Charlie.

Bracing myself, I clench my jaw and push back the wavy hair from my eyes. I press my hand on the steel door and turn the giant knob.

It opens.

I laugh. Out loud. They don’t even lock the door. That’s how certain they are no one will escape, even after all that just went down with Lucas. Talk about pride before the freaking fall.

We walk into the great room, one after the other, except for the crew of about twenty men, led by Duke and Basil, that’s headed around the back to secure the perimeter, making sure no one can escape. Basil’s a good choice to accompany him since she’s been here herself and lived to tell about it.

It’s completely quiet. The overhead lights are dim, almost too dim to be of use.
Strange.
Lights were always lit to capacity unless it was time to sleep.

“Something’s going on,” Dad says. “Maybe a service at the Haven?”

I nod, and we walk toward the large, open double doors on the other side of the room. Once in the expansive marble hallway, Colton confers with me.

“Okay, I think we should split up,” he says. “Each of us can lead a group. Does that sound good with you, Charlie?”

“Yeah. Sure. I’ll go this way,” I say, pointing to the Haven. “And you take my dad and Junie. Dad knows this place like I do. And listen, don’t do anything stupid. There’s a girl … never mind. Just, if you see….” I shake my head, not even knowing what I want to say just knowing I don’t want anything to happen to the Vessels. The thing that happened to Timid.

“I’m not killing anyone unless I have to. We know the plan. Gather them up, and we’ll deal with them
together
.”

“Okay.” I’m relieved. Of what, I don’t know, I’ve become a softy in my attempt to not be an ass.

“Come on, Jax,” I say, waving him with me. About thirty guys follow me, the other twenty follow Colton and Dad.

We’re really doing this.

The marble lined hall is empty and we’re able to easily slip past dozens of doors, each one sealed tightly, not revealing any of the mysteries of their inhabitants. The Light is full of secrets.

I see someone. “Stop!” I shout sharply, raising my gun.

The young girl screams and the things in her hand, a dish, a jug of water, scatter to the ground and she falls, on her hands and knees, huddling into a ball, protectively.

“Stand up. Don’t scream. Stand. I’m not going to hurt you.” I lean over and take her arm gently. Her arm, attached to a heart is frozen in fear. “Where is everyone?” I ask, calmly.

This girl is older than I first thought, maybe thirteen years old, with a golden band on her thin ring finger. I shudder knowing what that means. This girl is Bound to a man she never chose. Or maybe she willingly took her place beside him and his other Vessel-mates, wanting to bring honor to herself, the only life she knows.

She nods her head in the direction of the Haven. If everyone is already gathered there our job will be easier.

“What’s your name?” I ask, still holding her arm, guiding her toward the sanctuary.

“Humility,” she whimpers.

I look at Jax, his eyes red, revealing his alarm. He must be in shock over seeing this girl, of being here in this opulent Refuge. A world he’s never known, but has only been mere miles from.

“Almost there, guys. Get your guns ready. If everyone’s in here we can do this fast.” I call over my shoulder, quickening my pace as we round the last corner before we get to the Haven.

The doors of the Haven are made of glass. I look through the doors, seeing into the place where Lukas held services for so many days of his life, the place I used to sit, next to Mom and Dad as we were washed in my younger brothers light. My eyes fill with tears.
Cut it out. Now’s not the time.

But it is. I’m not tearing up over sentimental memories. Emotion overwhelms me because the Haven has become a triage. It’s no longer a sanctuary for light, it’s a hospital. Women and children lie across every pew, wearing obvious injuries. Black eyes and blue arms. Gaping wounds at the heads of others, with white strips of cloth wrap around them.

“Shit,” Jax mutters.

I look down at Humility, realizing the fear in her eyes is more than being scared of me. It’s the kind of fear that fills you when you think the ones you love will be lost.

“We need Lucy to wake up!” I say loudly. It’s the only thing I can think of as I take in this terrible scene. She can heal whatever has happened to the people gathered here.

Pushing open the doors, the room turns to chaos, Vessels cry out and scream when they see us. And I don’t blame them, we are terrifying, I get it. Thirty men loaded with guns. Many of these younger Vessels have only seen Humblemen before, and the older women have spent years in this brainwashing cult. We are the enemy.

“There aren’t any men here, Charlie. Where the hell are the guys?” Jax asks.

“We’ll find out. Okay?” I walk past the women, clearly unarmed. Some are busy checking wounds, others hold crying babies. Girls lie unconscious like Lucy and Lukas. My heart pounds as I take it all in.

Shaking my head, I stand at the front of the Haven, where Lukas has raised his arms to let light flood out of him. Something bad has happened here.

Addressing the sanctuary, I speak, “We aren’t here to hurt you, but we need to know what’s happened, and we need to know where the Councilmen, well, all the Humblemen are. Can someone explain what’s happened?”

The room remains quiet, women pull one another closer together, trembling, the only sound small sobs of terror.

“I’m telling the truth. We aren’t here to hurt you. I’m Lukas’s, I mean, the Nobleman’s, brother. I’m working with him to keep you safe. I just need some information from you. Please!”

The room draws a collective breath, and the girl we found in the hallway, Humility, raises her hand, fearfully.

“Yes, Humility? Do you know something?” I ask, hopeful. Desperate.

“The Nobleman … we were told he is dead. That he ascended to Heaven and will return only if we are holy … pure … but then….” she stops.

“Who told you this?”

“The Councilmen did before they … before everything changed.” Humility stops as she breaks down, weeping. Her shoulders heave. Lights flicker around us, threatening to go off. An eerie feeling settles over me.

“Humility, what happened here?”

“Everything began to change the night we were supposed to have a service for the Nobleman and Noblelady Perfection. A ceremony to honor them … but then that got cancelled and no one mentioned anything for a few days. Then a bunch of Humblemen left somewhere. But no one would talk to any of the Vessels. And when they returned there was a service, held here. We were all called in from our duties.”

“And that’s when they told you the Nobleman had died?”

“Yes. The Councilmen said that Noblelady Perfection was in agony that our prophet was gone. So Councilman Integrity took her away on a boat. That’s why he left first.”

“What do you mean
first
?”

“At first the Councilmen said no one else was going anywhere. But then all the Vessels started crying, because we love our Nobleman, and weren’t ready to see him go. But it made sense to me. I mean, we’re all working so hard to be pure, maybe it was time. Maybe the prophecy was finally happening. Now. In our lifetime we--”

Before Humility can continue, Dad and Colton crash into the room, with their entourage behind them. The Haven fills quickly as two-thirds of the Cowboy Coalition fills the space.

“Charlie, there’s no one anywhere else. We looked in every room on our way here. Not a soul,” Colton says.

“Even the Council chambers?” I turn to Dad, let down. I wanted to take justice into my own hands. I wanted to avenge Timid’s death.

“We looked everywhere, and there are no lights in most places, either. The energy room looked ransacked. All the panels that are used to charge the boats are gone, too.”

“Humility was telling us….” I start. But what do I even say?

“Keep talking, please. We need to understand so we can help.” Colton says the word I can’t.

“Alright, I will try.” Humility bows her head to Colton, paying her respect to a man. I want to puke; this is all so nauseating, being here in this world where dominance is power. “After the Councilmen told us about our Nobleman leaving this Earth, a Vessel, an older woman who works in the Rehab center, Care … she stood up and started shouting. She was yelling nonsense, and the Councilmen got very angry. It happened quickly.”