Part 2: The Outsider

The Promised Land: 

(Part 2) The Outsider

Eden grasped her throat as she wheezed and stared at the soldiers with big, fearful blue eyes. One of the soldiers shouted something, but his gas mask muffled whatever it was he said. Eden tried screaming, but her throat burned too much. When she didn’t answer, the soldier raised his rifle and the others followed suit. Eden fell to her knees in fear, trying desperately to say something. Anything. In a split second, she heard three gunshots and the man in front of her crumpled to the ground. The other soldiers started looking around frantically and shooting at something in the air. Eden saw a flash of silver as she was jerked to her feet. Something grabbed hold of her wrist and she was forced to run just to keep from falling. Rata-tata-tat. Tap, tap, tap. Rata-tata-tat. Tap, tap, tap. Eden looked back to watch the soldiers fall to the ground one by one. The force pulling her along slowed and suddenly let go. Eden found herself on the ground staring at an overcast sky.  The clouds were a sickly green color, with the sun fighting to shine through. A dark shape with red eyes appeared in her view just as her vision darkened. Eden felt something cover her nose and mouth before she passed out.

~*~*~*~

When Eden came to, she opened her eyes and stared at a greenish-red overcast sky. She sat up and looked straight ahead. Eden was sitting in a grassy field, but the grass was brown and dead, just like the sight across the tattered road ahead of her. The site looked as though it used to be a college campus at some point in time. With murky comprehension, Eden realized she was staring at her own beloved school. The buildings she often went to class in were falling apart. Whatever walls were still standing were filled with gaping holes. The red and brown bricks were now black and grey. Rubble filled the sidewalks. All the flowers were gone. The trees were splintered and dead. The overcast sky above the campus had a deep red tint to them as the sun faded in the distance. Tears came to Eden’s eyes as she took in the scene. It was as if someone had dropped a bomb on her life while she slept… Or on her school. Or perhaps the apocalypse happened in her sleep. Or maybe time sped up and sent her into a horrible future. Or maybe she was in an alternate world altogether. Eden’s mind raced with possibilities as she continually failed to grasp why her life was in shambles before her. Eden covered her mouth and inhaled a shaky breath.

A snap from behind caused Eden to jump and turn around. A fire was roaring behind her. Sitting on either side of the fire were two young men. The scene was a mirrored painting. On the right side of the fire sat a boy with silver hair, clad in grey and white. On the left side sat a boy with black hair, clad in green and black. Maybe it was the way the fading sunlight struck them. Maybe it was how well the two mirrored each other. Either way, Eden felt she was looking at the personified dichotomy of good and evil. Light and dark.

Eden was so enthralled in the scene that she did not stop to see the smaller details. She never noticed the large camo backpack or the black, oblong case sitting beside Silver (as she subconsciously named him)... Or the small bag sitting in Black’s lap… Or the guns at his feet.

Black looked up from the fire and stared. To Eden’s horror, his irises turned deep red. She involuntarily shrank back and was wondering whether or not to make a run for the hills when he spoke.

“You don’t have to be afraid.” His voice was calm and steady, with a trace of annoyance. “We’re not going to hurt you. If anything, we just saved your life.” His eyes stopped glowing and turned to a dark color as he stared back at the fire. Eden realized now his light-haired companion was staring at her.

Silver offered a wide grin and friendly wave. She half raised her hand in response, still wondering whether or not reality had abandoned her. Silver motioned for her to come over and sit with them. A chill ran up Eden’s spine as the wind picked up. Weighing her options, the warmth of a roaring fire seemed worth whatever risk was involved.

“If it is a dream,” she thought, “I might as well go along with it.”

Assuming her best bet was not to join the dark side, she sat by Silver. Eden raised her shaky hands to the fire and looked from one guy to the other. Being closer to the light of the fire, Eden realized that the two males looked younger than she at first guessed. 15? 16? Probably somewhere between 14 and 17, she decided.

Sniffling a little, Eden asked, “Who are you? Where am I?” The last question was asked in hopes that she didn’t really wake up in the same world she fell asleep in.

“You’re in Freedom. Or what’s left of it,” Black answered. He glanced at the debris and drank from a steaming metallic mug.

“Freedom?” Eden echoed, as she struggled to remember ever hearing of such a place. “What happened here? Where is everybody? And you still haven’t told me who you are yet!”

Black lowered his mug. “You give us your name, missy, and I’ll decide if you get ours.” Seeing Eden’s offended expression, he added, “Hey, you were in the one surrounded by soldiers.” He took another swig of his hot drink.

Eden folded her arms in aggravation. “My name is Eden. Eden Teknia. I’m from Tennessee. I go to school here. At least, I did before I woke up this morning.”

“Nice story,” Black muttered as he stood up and handed the mug to Silver. “Where are you really from?”

“I just told you!” Eden’s anger vanished into fear as Black’s eyes turned red again. He stared at her for a minute before they turned back. He sat down as if nothing happened and prodded the fire with a stick. His thick dark eyebrows pressed together in thought. “You… you really don’t know, do you?”