Old Souls

Jacob breathed deeply and concentrated on maintaining a neutral facial expression. He suppressed the urge to feel anything upon his successful escape. He could not allow himself to think about his family, but he was determined to get home through the shortest route possible. Thankfully, his older siblings knew of his plan, just not the exact timing.

Although Jacob had recently turned 18, his parents weren’t convinced it was safe for him to leave the Faraday School. “Stay safe as long as you can, son,” urged his dad. Of the original group that entered the school a year previously, he was one of the youngest. The next group of residents were born inside the school’s walls in the past year and would likely not see the outside world for many years to come.

Jacob knew he existed now only because of his stoicism. His mentor called him an “old soul,” but Jacob wasn’t sure what that meant. Even as a child, though, he had recognized he was different from everyone outside his immediate family. He had learned to read at 3 years old and had read voraciously ever since. He had always preferred his own company and had a rich world inside his mind. Now, he was beginning to see himself in the faces of other survivors.

Tomorrow is the 2-year anniversary of Day One, also referred to as “2-18” because it all began on Feb. 18, 2028. There would be no celebrations of survival tomorrow, no memorial services for the lost, only a subdued recognition of the significance. Jacob doubted there would ever be celebrations or memorials ever again. It was simply too dangerous.

On Day One, the Parasitic Airborne Nanobots (PANs) had begun feeding on human energy. Even now, no one knows where they came from or exactly how they work—as far as Jacob is aware—but people all over the world had been suddenly swarmed and depleted of their life energy.

Observers had quickly recognized a common element in the PAN attacks: The victims had been exhibiting emotion when they were targeted. They had unwittingly drawn attention to themselves through tears or loud exclamations or even through a display of sudden joy. As these observations spread, people began suppressing their emotions, but not everyone was equipped to do that. Children were particularly vulnerable. The new world was missing almost two full generations now because the parents of the children who were depleted rarely survived the experience themselves. Their sudden grief only increased the swarm. The average age of earth’s population today was estimated to be about 52.

In the 2 years following Day One, leaders had found numerous ways to help people survive. The Faraday Schools, essentially just building-sized Faraday cages (i.e., metal boxes that block out electromagnetic fields), were built all over the country to protect young people who had not yet mastered their emotions. These energy-blocking structures somehow prevented the PANs from swarming, so young people up to age 25 were admitted and allowed to spend 6 months to 2 years learning strategies for controlling their emotions. With such a gift in that area already, Jacob had been working with the teachers and psychologists to develop curriculum for future students. School leaders were determined to study and make use of Jacob’s natural abilities, but Jacob thought he could be more useful on the outside, among the true survivors and with his two favorite people, his siblings.

Against everyone’s “advice”—in some cases, more akin to “orders”—he had managed to escape from the safety of those metallic walls.

Looking back from the cover of trees and the nearly moonless nighttime sky, Jacob registered the many trailers and campsites outside the school’s perimeter. To get even this close to the structure, a person would have to qualify (e.g., be pregnant or considered uniquely skilled by authorities). Local and state authorities had resisted turning on surviving citizens, but resources were dwindling, especially in the cities. Sadly, desperate people usually invited a swarm, causing their own demise before any armed guard had to step in with lethal force.

Jacob quietly dropped his backpack and pulled his collection of important letters and notes from the inside-zipper pocket. Most of the letters were from his older siblings—26-year-old twins Josie and Patrick—who seemed to be the only other humans existing on Jacob’s plane of thought. Jacob and his siblings had developed a theory within only a few weeks of Day One that the PANs understood basic spoken communication and reacted to negative language, especially negative language that was directed at them specifically. Their original theory had been confirmed many times over as scientists studied the effects of language on the PANs. Numerous studies identified a defense response that engaged when the PAN system was alerted to threats.

Jacob and his siblings were also aware that the spoken word was dangerous because of its potential power in evoking emotion. Therefore, they decided to communicate through writing whenever possible. Once Jacob had been sent to the school, they had no way to speak or even text by phone because the heavily fortified walls blocked out cell signals, so their only option became old-fashioned written letters.

Jacob found the letter he was looking for. It listed several places where he could seek help once he had managed to leave the school. Since the status of people seemed to change so unexpectedly, Jacob needed options. He had not known precisely when he would be able to carry out his escape plan. If only he could now procure a cell phone to allow him to text Josie and Patrick and to be able to use the GPS function. Jacob knew he was exactly 73.2 miles from his home.

As he looked up at the stars to establish his directions, a whispered voice suddenly came from behind him. “Are you ok, Son?” Jacob turned to see a tall, thin, shaggy-white-haired old man emerge from a clump of trees and bushes.

“Yes,” Jacob whispered back. Then with dampened urgency, “Do you have a cell phone?”

“I have one in my trailer up there.” He pointed his chin at a nearby trailer (What is that called? Jacob tried to remember. An Airstream?) that had soft golden light shining from the windows.

Jacob found himself silently thanking a God that he hadn’t been so sure about recently, and he followed the old man to the classic trailer that looked like it had just been purchased and driven off the lot.

The old man opened the door and bade Jacob to enter. Inside, the trailer was immaculate. Everything shined. Everything was in its place. “Do you stay here alone?” Jacob asked.

“Yep. . . . well, usually,” the man looked somberly at Jacob, as if so much were hidden within those words. “Have a seat here while I prepare.”

Prepare for what? Jacob wondered.

The old man went silently from front to back of the trailer pulling down metallic-looking blinds and attaching them carefully and completely around each opening. He turned a knob on the ceiling in a few places and sealed a metallic fabric of some kind around the edges of the door.

“Now. We can talk freely,” the man said, as he opened a drawer and pulled out a brand-new cell phone. Jacob took the phone and saw that it was charged and unlocked. Although he struggled to suppress his excitement in being able to contact his siblings, he was even more intrigued by his immediate surroundings.

“What is this place?” Jacob asked, his eyes wide. For some reason, he was more impressed than he was afraid. Why should I trust this man?

“What do you think it is?” asked the old man.

“A Faraday cage,” said Jacob. “Obviously. But I mean . . . why do you have it here right outside the school? Why do you stay here alone? Who ARE you?” Suddenly, Jacob realized that last question was most significant, and he felt unexpected emotion as he looked at the old man and waited for an answer. He fought to remain emotionless on the surface, but his heart was suddenly pounding.

“It’s ok, Jacob.” The man smiled warmly at him. “You are free here. You are free to feel what you need to feel.”

How does he know my name?

“Who . . . are you?” Jacob asked again. He looked around the trailer at the . . . so many BOOKS! He looked back at the old man—right in his eyes. The old man was suddenly familiar. What is happening here? I need to think clearly and calmly. I need to regain my control. Jacob closed his eyes and tried to concentrate.

He envisioned an empty white room. He had created rooms like this in his mind to help him stay calm whenever an emotion threatened to surface—even before Day One. Jacob’s white room had a door, and now he allowed it to have a table and two chairs. He made one full 360-degree turn, and his eyes landed on the doorknob . . . just as he heard a knock. He stood frozen for a moment in his imaginary room and then reached for the doorknob and opened the door to the old man.

As the old man walked in, Jacob’s mental room was suddenly filled with color, with pictures of Jacob’s family on the walls, with books and light and artwork and an eclectic assortment of furniture. Jacob opened his eyes and stared at the old man, still sitting in his immaculate little trailer filled with books.

The old man looked away, toward the front of the space, and Jacob followed his gaze to a golden, heart-shaped locket hanging from a mirror. The locket seemed other-worldly, shining as if it were filled with life itself.

“You will need it,” said the old man. “You see, this world is in the grip of darkness. You are one of the blessed ones, one of the chosen ones, who are equipped to move within the darkness untouched. But you cannot lose your heart as you do so. This locket will protect you. Keep it close always, and when you are ready . . . long before your time has run out, open it. Promise me that, and you can take it.”

The emotion that welled up in Jacob should have frightened him. He tried to turn away, but he couldn’t. He took several long, cleansing breaths. But, before he even knew what was happening, his eyes were wet. “Do you know me?” he asked the old man.

“I do” was the reply.

For the first time in his life, Jacob could not process with his mind what was happening. Maybe it’s impossible, he thought.

“Can you come home with me?” Jacob asked. “I want my family to meet you. Josie and Patrick would want to know you.” How could I ever explain this to them? They need to experience this for themselves. “They are my siblings, and they are twins. The three of us are so much alike even though they are 8 years older than I am.” Jacob suddenly realized that he was saying all this out loud, which was completely out of character for him. He just didn’t share his thoughts with people like this.

“It’s not out of character,” said the old man.

“What!” Jacob said louder than he had meant to.

“You are more than you ever thought you were,” explained the old man, “and you are only now meeting yourself for the first time.” He rose, retrieved the locket, and slipped it over Jacob’s head. The length of the chain was perfect for the locket to reach Jacob’s heart.

This was the beginning of the new world, one he would help to build with his siblings and with other old souls he encountered along the way. He was ready, and he made the promise.