“The news says Hawaii is the freeform home,” Titus continues to read the story ahead of me.
“Close,” I say and reread the line to him. “The news report claims that Hawaii is the freedom island. Scientists have launched a force field over the islands as a barrier.”
“But,” Titus says in an overly loud and dramatic voice as he turns the page. He holds up his hand to stop me from speaking. I try and hold in my laugh because he says he does this to build the tension. His eyes take in the illustration on the page. The destruction and death sprayed across the book. Slowly he drops his hand and lets me continue the story.
“But the force field wasn’t put up in time to avoid all destruction. The islands were hit for hours before the field was up and running, leaving the cities and towns completely demolished.” I scan the graphic image of the rubble island until slowly we turn the page together. “The first few years following the shower were spent rebuilding civilization on the Hawaiian Islands. Society had to completely start from the beginning. During the shower the islands shifted along the Earth’s plate until finally settling.”
“The Hawaiian is now freedom,” Titus tries to read again and lets out a big yawn.
“The Hawaiian Islands were renamed the Freedom Islands,” I correct. “And in the new world, there have been three generations of Renon rulers.” This is the part where Titus always starts to doze off, but I continue telling the story anyway.
“Our ancestors that were infected by the rock’s atomic energy, but survived, sometimes passed down the gifts to their children. The original King and Queen, King Renon’s grandparents, were both gifted and they tried to keep the world at peace between those with powers and those without.” Titus’s head falls heavy against my shoulder. He’s surely asleep now, but I keep reading because this is the part I struggle to understand the most. The part where people are given a second chance at society and somehow they messed up again.
“However, when their kids were not born with the gift they became enraged and jealous of those with gifts. From then on anyone with a gift was hunted down and imprisoned to follow the King’s command.” I was six when King Renon was crowned at the age of 13 so I don’t remember much about life under his parents, but the tyranny didn’t stop short with them. King Renon is only 22 now, and in many people’s opinion he’s too young to have all this power. His mother and father reportedly passed in their sleep after both were very ill and a child was made King of the most powerful nation in the world.
“Garth is the capital of our country, Dather, which is located on a small island that used to be called Oahu. Over the past decades, the islands have had many civil war breakouts trying to find who is the most superior.” I turn the page, knowing the next image is the worst in the book. I’m always glad Titus doesn’t usually make it this far in the story. “We call these the Alignmass battles.” Painted across the page is the result of war; death. “Every year each island will send their best group of soldiers to fight to the death to determine which island should rule. Dather has been on top since the beginning of this new world. As a result, everyone follows us, under the rule of King Renon.”
The sound of a large metal door slamming shut startles me and I shove the book under the mattress. At my movement, Titus wakes and looks around panicked. He grabs my hand and begins squeezing it three times then a pause and then three more times. Parting Day is beginning.
“It’s okay Titus,” I say softly in his ear. I know I can’t guarantee him that. I know these guards are coming to take some of us to be executed. Together, Titus and I listen to the heavy footsteps as they get closer and closer to our cell. When they appear in front of us tears are already streaming down my face. I have to save us, it can’t be one of us. When I look up at the guard I see his stone face turn away from our cell and into granny’s. They open the barred doors to her cell and I watch as two men drag her from the mattress. Titus keeps squeezing my hand harder and harder. He can’t find the words he wants to say so he starts screaming.
“Titus you need to be quiet,” I beg him. The three guards glance into our cell one last time before they leave, taking granny with them. Titus continues to scream and cry and squeeze my hand until he’s driven himself into exhaustion. I just hold him and whisper over and over again, “It’s okay Titus. She’s going to be okay. She’s going to be free.”
***
I am going to be free.
Chapter 3
When I awake I rocket up into a sitting position. I look around, confused. I’m in the middle of the woods and it is probably about mid-morning. In front of me is the guard who brought me here, he sits with his back to me and is wearing a thin white t-shirt. He has a strong build to his body. His dirty blonde hair is slightly shorter than the common shoulder length.
There is a sword on his belt, two water bottles, his navy jacket, and a ragged backpack lying next to him. In the
