The Freedom Oak

“Where is she?” He demanded. Trista knew the answer, but she said nothing. “We know she was with you. We’ve been tracking her for months. Tell us now, and we may let you die quickly.” Silence. It seemed a lifetime ago that she and Sylvia were running through grassy fields, laughing and singing. Merrily on their way to The Object. Few knew where The Object was, even fewer knew what it was for, but Trista and Sylvia knew. Through time, efforts and a fair bit of luck, they had found the key to The Object. Humanity’s one long shot hope of redemption. But the officer knew none of this, he only knew he had orders to find the two girls, and bring them to his superiors.

               “Tell us NOW!” again he demanded information from her. Pulling a knife from his boot, he placed it against her cheek, pressing it into her skin. Just a little more pressure and she would be cut from nose to ear. “You are making this more unpleasant than it needs to be. We will find her, with or without your help. The only difference your resistance will make is how much you suffer.” She was trembling, she couldn’t help it. It was only two years ago, life was normal. Her mother dropped her and her brothers off for school. Ham sandwich and an apple in their lunch bags. Kiss on the cheeks. “Love you, see you later.” Were the last words she heard from her mother. “Race you to the door, slowpoke.” Her brother said as he laughed, tripped her and took off running. “Sorry he’s such a little worm.” Her older brother said as he helped her up. “One day he’ll learn how much he loves you. So do I.” Have a good day little sis.” He hugged her, and set out for the other building, where his classes were. She never saw her brothers again.

               She was bleeding now, just a little, the knife was getting deeper. Soon the cut would be dangerously deep. Still, she said nothing. If it meant her life to keep Sylvia safe, then so be it. The safety of Sylvia meant the future of mankind. She would gladly give her comfort, safety and life for that. “Tough cookie huh?” The officer laughed. “Well, with looks like yours, maybe you’re right, your face doesn’t matter that much.” He lowered the knife. Maybe we can find something that DOES matter to you.” With a chuckle and a smirk, he began to unbutton her pants. “The face ain’t much, but you’re all the same where it counts. It’s been a long year, I could use a woman. I could do it after your dead, but it’s more fun this way.” Trista would have fought him off, except she was tightly bound, hand and foot, and chained to a wall. There was nothing she could do but accept it. This seemed worse to her than the knife had been. But even this, was worth it, to protect what Sylvia carried. She wished she had teeth down there, but she was defenseless. She wondered where Sylvia was. Had she made it to The Object? They were so close when they got separated. Fate would have it that it had been Sylvia’s turn to carry the locket. Those who made The Object, had fashioned the key to be subversive, covert, discreet. No one would notice a little heart shaped locket. Few would think it held the future. Right now, it was around Sylvia’s neck, wherever Sylvia was.

               The officer was smiling, a sickening smile, knife still in his hand, he looked at Trista like a cat looks at a mouse. She knew her time was getting shorter. BOOM!!! Suddenly the building shook. It was another attack. The attacks had become more infrequent over the last two months. There were days one could almost forget about the invaders. Chained to the wall and threatened by the officer, they were certainly the last thing on her mind, until the explosion. As she watched, the knife dissolved in his hand. At the same time, she realized her chains were gone. The fact that the invader’s attacks dissolved metal had never seemed a positive thing to her until this moment. The soldiers had fashioned the new buildings out of plastics and polymers, but they were careless, and still used metal for knives and chains. She thought fast, and hit the guard square in the nose. He drew back swearing at her, she quickly got dressed. From her boot, she pulled her knife. A 4” dagger made of bone, one of the few weapons impervious to the attacks. She held it to his throat. “I’m leaving now, you sick son of a coward. May what you deserve find you, but not by my hand, not today.”

               She saw a coil of rope on the floor, and bound him with it. Then she took off his boot, and his sock. She stuffed his sock in his mouth to gag his cries, and slipped out the door. Down the hall, to another hall, to a door, to a hall, to a door, and then she saw the stars again. It had been dawn when she was taken. She hadn’t realized how much time had passed. How would she find Sylvia now? She surely was miles away. But she knew where she was going. The Object. Heading for The Object was her best chance to find Sylvia. She knew it was East of her, and was thankful for the clear sky. She knew the stars all too well after two years of sleeping under them. Every constellation, every star. She had a massive compass, that she could read almost without having to think about it. So East, East was the way to go, and off she went.

               Surely she would find her. The Object was less than 2 miles away from the place she was taken. Sylvia had hid in a cave, Trista gave herself up, so that Sylvia could escape. A worthwhile sacrifice to her mind. As she stood in the glare of the lights, the barking dogs and yelling soldiers, she whispered “keep the locket safe. I love you.” Knowing Sylvia was just behind her in the cave, the entrance covered with branches. She walked forward, towards the guards. Hoping to keep them as far as possible from Sylvia’s position. Once she was nearly to them, she turned to her right and yelled into the woods “RUN!”. Of course the soldiers assumed she was yelling to Sylvia, and send a dispatch in that direction. Assuming her to be reckless and stupid, giving away her companion’s position. When in reality, she had done just the opposite. Then she let the remaining guards take her. Hands up, followed by face down, followed by cuffs and blindfolds, and the inside of a transport.

               Now she was free again. And walking in the moonlight, her thoughts returned to the last normal day. It was her second period class, Susan was answering the teacher’s every question again. Brian and Timmy were making paper airplanes. While Jill doodled in the corner of her paper. Then suddenly, a rumble, and the ceiling began to sink. Then the entire building collapsed. There was screaming, followed by dust and rubble. She survived, most did not. She sat under those bricks for years, or minutes, she had no idea how long, before she found the courage to climb out. What she saw, she would never forget. She saw it again most nights since in her dreams. The school was gone, the town was gone. When the metal disintegrated, the buildings collapsed. All the cars stopped, fiberglass frames and bits of upholstery were all that remained of them. People by the thousands fell out of the skies, littering the ground all over the world as planes disintegrated. The damage was profuse, and pervasive. Her brothers died in their classrooms, her mother was one of those who fell from the sky, she was a flight attendant. Trista was alone, and afraid. She stood in the rubble, shocked and confused. Trying to figure out what to do, then, she saw someone. On the other side of the parking lot, stood a girl. A few years older than her, also just standing still, looking. She went towards her, they embraced, and cried, then introduced themselves. And the partnership of Trista and Sylvia was born. They became inseparable from that time forward. They were the only thing each other had. They traveled, ate, slept and wept together. About six months after that day, they found the locket. At first they thought it was just jewelry, pretty, but not earth saving by any means. They took turns holding it while they slept, they took turns carrying it during the day. They did not open it, they could not open it. They just carried it, with an unexplainable feeling that it should be protected.

               Then one night, Sylvia had a dream, she dreamed of The Object, she dreamed of the creators of The Object, and she dreamed of the key to The Object. She dreamed of what would and could happen if the key was used. She awoke in a cold sweat, wondering if the stress and malnutrition had finally driven her mad. She heard panting beside her, she turned to see Trista, sitting up in bed, tears running down her face, breathing like she had just run five miles. They had had the SAME dream! Identical in every way, no chance that was a coincidence. They knew what they had to do. Take the key to The Object and activate it. The Object, once activated, would emit a worldwide wave that would destroy the invaders. The key was made of wood, carved into a heart shaped locket. Not being metal, the key was safe from the attacks. Now all they had to do, was get there.

               Dawn was breaking, and so was Trista. She had walked all night, the cool air stinging the fresh cut on her face. In the distance, she saw a figure, also walking, steadily, in the same direction. Trista hit the deck, was it a soldier? This close to The Object? She had to use caution. No, it was Sylvia! She ran to her, and they embraced. “Do you still have it?” Trista asked desperately. “Yes. It is safe. We are nearly there, The Object is in those woods.” Sylvia said excitedly as she pointed to a forest 100 yards away. Trista followed her gaze, and marveled they had come so far. They held hands, and ran for the trees. About 50 feet in was a massive Oak, with a strange knot in its center. This was the moment they had been waiting for and risked their lives for. Sylvia removed the locket from around her neck, held it in the air, and at the same time, both girls kissed it. Then together, they slowly and carefully fitted it into the heart shaped hole in the knot. The ground rumbled, but more like a cat purring than an earthquake. The rumble grew louder, and all the leaves and branches swayed as if in a great storm. Then THUD! And again, THUD! Followed by dozens more. THUD! THUD! THUD! The invaders ships were falling from the sky. They had done it! Humanity was saved. Holding hands they sat down at the base of the tree. Weeping and laughing with joy and relief. Now it was safe, now there could be a future for mankind. Now the heart shaped locket was where it was meant to be, the war was over. And they renamed the tree The Freedom Oak. In the warmth of the morning sun, they curled up together at its base, and took their first safe, comfortable nap in two years. Knowing they would wake up to a bright afternoon, and a bright future. At the base of The Freedom Oak.