Endings are Beginnings

Summer 2025 Appalachia Mountains, United States

The night air was cool on the mountain and rustled among the forest trees. David Meyers stood guard over the village against the animals as the rest of the town slept. Rubbing his hands over his rifle, he noticed the usual sparkling stars that hung above their compound were meticulously hidden by thick gray clouds. Gazing at the stars was one of the few things that reminded him of his old life. Life before the virus, the war, the giant mutated wild animals that raided camps, and life under the Resurrection.

“Look like that storms gonna blow through here any minute, don’t it?” he recognized her voice and turned slowly around. Before him stood a tall but curvy woman with a fit physique. She wore gray jean shorts and a black tank top. Her black, thick curly hair hung over her shoulders and David couldn’t help but help to be both irritated by her presence and amazed at her beauty.

“Come on, Mandy! What in the hell are you doing out here? You should be asleep in the bed. We got a big day tomorrow.”, he growled. “If an enforcer catches you out here-“

“I’ll just say I was bringing you this, asshole”, shoving the old worn jacket into his arms she looked at him with cool, steady eyes. “You forgot it when you left for post and left this too.” She handed him the silver locket with a gleaming red garnet in the middle. David took the locket and his chest filled with pain. He could hear his sweet 7-year-old daughter’s high-pitched giggle and the image of her face bloated, covered in boils from the effects of the virus.

“We loss her and I can’t lose you too.”, his confession was a distant memory into the past as he squeezed the locket with his hand.

“I know. She was such a special little girl, loved her daddy more than life itself.”, Maddy rested her arm on his shoulder. “You know I lost her too. I loved that child with my whole heart. She wouldn’t want you to risk your life meeting with the Resurrection tomorrow and get yourself killed.”

“Don’t have much of a choice, do we? We need supplies. Our medicine is low, the crops got contaminated. Hell, unless we get a good rain there out here ain’t gonna be no crops we’ll starve.”, David looked Maddy sternly in the eye. “There is no other way. We either try to negotiate a deal with the Resurrection or starve. The town already voted it is going to be me. Can’t change it now.”

“Why you?” Maddy exclaimed a little too loudly and bringing her voice back down to a whisper “Why-you? Why not Jean, or Barry, or even Joshua? You have been in the military, if they find out you have been in the service, they’re going to take you away from us and make you join them. You know the rule.”

David reflected on the rule papers that were dropped down into the forest floor from the Resurrection’s helicopters 12 months ago. All former military must now serve the Resurrection All United States citizens must register with the Resurrection. Anyone who is sick must be reported to the infirmary for immediate care. All infants and children under 15 must be surrendered without delay. Attendance of inspection is mandatory. Curfew is at 9 pm every night without exception. Enforcers have authority to punish or kill humans that do not honor the law. Insubordination will not be tolerated. Obey the law or die.

“Yes, Maddy I know the rules.”, David told her in a low whisper. “That’s why they are not going to find out. I have a plan.” He heard an engine roaring close, and fear gripped his throat. Looking at Maddy he realized she heard it also because her face was frozen in terror. Intruding red lights and loud sirens began to fill the air. Maddy began shaking like a leaf in a storm. David grabbed her close to him and stepped in front of her.

A large black truck with the Resurrection’s red flag painted on the doors pulled up beside them. The door opened slowly and the sound of their metal, mechanical bodies pierced getting out of the vehicle made his skin crawl. Two Enforcers appeared and began walking towards them. Their black and silver silhouettes contrasted sharply with the night sky. The robots stood 8 feet tall with deadly, evil red eyes that beamed danger with every glow. Their mud green uniforms fit perfectly over their bodies and they wore green badges. They walked in sync up to them and one of them pulled out a metal clipboard.

“We are Enforcers”, they said together as their heads shifted to the right and left.

“I am agent X2345”, one of them said as he stepped close to their faces. “State your purpose for not adhering to the law.” An ink pen whipped out of the second robot’s hand and the sound made Mandy jump.

“Well, as you can see. I’m just guarding post.” David pointed to the rifle and the name badge that showed his credentials. “My wife just brought me this jacket because it is going to rain. She was just going home.”

“Now scanning to confirm your identity”, the second robot announced, “Please look into the camera and hold out your hands”. David and Mandy did as instructed as the Enforcer scanned their pupils and their hands with his eyes. The night sky began to erupt with thunder as they waited for the security scan to finish. “You have now passed confirmation. No virus has been detected. The shift for David Meyers shift ends in approximately 7 hours and 44 seconds. Mandy Meyers must report to her home and will be leaving the premises promptly.”

“Next time, Mr. Meyers take pride in your service to the Resurrection”, the robot that hit him commanded darkly. “Come to work prepared.” The Enforcers turned around and walked back to their truck. Their mechanical bodies sounded like thousands of tiny machines moving at once. Once they got in and drove off, Maddy hugged David tightly.

“Those damn robots! Are you alright?”

“I’m fine”, Mandy said clutching her throat. “Just another day of life under Resurrection.”

“ Go home before our metal assed friends come back for round two”, he kissed her on the forehead and turned away from her. Mandy took the hint and headed back to their tent. The night sky let out a low moan and the rain drops dancing over their heads.

That next morning at the council meeting David sat across from the other town members in the meeting all. It was so quiet you could hear peoples’ thoughts. There were approximately fifty-nine people left in the small camp they called Aniwaha. All of mixed races, nationalities they had fled to the mountain of Appalachia to escape the perils of the war between the southern US and the north. Here, no one cared which side was right, they only wanted to survive. He watched Jean Herring, the council’s leader, step into the circle to speak with a solemn expression. He was a stout man in his sixties who had a usually sunny disposition, but today he was somber and serious.

“Today, I stand before you to tell you that the Resurrection will be coming for inspection.”, the towns people remained silent. Some of them sighed, while others sighed with worry. They all felt the anxiety and possible consequences of a visit from the Resurrection. Inspection usually consisted of counting crops, checking for registration, testing people for the virus, and to ensure compliance to the law was being enacted. Some roughing up and violence was to be expected during inspection. However, sometimes it involved an inhumane and brutal death.

“This isn’t our first time being summoned for inspection and I’m sure it won’t be the last. But because of our recent problems with food and supplies, we’ve chosen David to approach the Resurrection on our behalf. No one in our village has ever made a request from them and this is an unprecedented event.” Jean and everyone else in the room faced David.

“It is a brave and needed action you have taken for the well-being of this town. We will always be in debt to you and Mandy for your courage. This deed will not go unacknowledged” Mandy held David’s hand tightly and a single tear rolled down her face. He squeezed her hand back softly.

“Are you sure we can’t just make do with our current rations”., Emma McMarty asked. She was an older woman with a sturdy build and silver wispy hair. “The last time we had inspection my grandson was ripped from my very arms. Think of what they’ll do to him if he asks them for more supplies.”

“We’ve been sending those paper requests for more rations for 6 months now.”, Jean interjected. “I’m afraid we have no other choice but to ask them. With our crops being contaminated by the virus, we’ve got to get more food or we’ll starve in less than 2 months.”

David stood up and walked briskly to the inside of the circle, standing beside Jean. Taking a heavy sigh, he what he had to say flow. “We built this village together on nothing. Everyone of us have suffered if not from the virus than the fallout from the war. We have all been afraid. We’ve all lost someone we love or things from our old life. But what we refused to do is cower down when the going got tough and as I approach the Resurrection for the survival of our home, our people neither will I.”

Applause burst throughout the room and the towns people cheered. “We’re not backing down without a fight.”, someone yelled from the crowd. “USA, USA, USA”. "We Matter" The cheers and applause went on for a few minutes until they heard the sirens wash over the atmosphere. The clapping and cheering abruptly stopped as everyone rushed to get in a single filed line. A dreadful panic filled the room as they heard the noise from the helicopter outside. The propellers outside magnified the terror they felt inside. David kissed Mandy on the cheek and touched his deceased daughter’s silver garnet locket. For you, my sweet baby girl, he thought has he got to the front of the line. Only for you. The sound of the helicopter continued, but the screeching noise of the loudspeaker overrode it.

“You have been summoned for inspection by the Resurrection, keepers of order and salvation to humanity. Come out now and greet our command Do not keep us waiting.” The towns people shuffled out of the council house with their hands out in front of them to be scanned. Eight or nine Enforcers stood in front of them. Each of them wore blue badges and carried assault rifles. David said a prayer and stepped out of line to speak with the Enforcers.