Asunder Chapter 23

Chapter 5.3 (23)

The Woman

Senses of Freedom

“The other kids saw me talking to the sparrows again. They always laugh and make fun of me. It’s not my fault I can hear what the sparrows are saying. Abe stood up for me, though. He’s A Good One. But I’m such a weirdo that even my younger brother has to stick up for me. He shouldn’t do it. Stick up for me. I have a reason not to have friends, but he doesn’t. He shouldn’t waste his time fighting and sticking up for me constantly. I wish he would just make friends with them. Sort of. He’s a good friend to me.” - Journal of Jane Rose - Entry 32

- Present Day -

- The Year 2296 -

Still shaken by the carnage from just hours before, Jane’s thoughts raced. Did the machines hear the radio signal? Had she given away her location? She waited in agonizing anxiety, hidden in the tree line. If she ran, there was a possibility they would pick up her location just from sight alone. Where would she run to?

The Takers she had seen earlier disappeared into the night sky, and the Watcher who destroyed the airship had not returned to the valley. She waited for hours in bated anticipation for the return of the machines, but it never came. She knew from word of mouth the Watchers tended to have an army of satellites following their tail, so she had not tried to escape quickly at the risk of being seen.

The sun had finally set, and the moon glowed over the misty valley. She contemplated her next move. Would she stay and risk being found, or begin her travels according to her dream and search for her brother? The man Diego had confirmed her brother’s existence, as though he and her dream were working together to convince her.

Up ahead, the tree line dropped into a ravine veering northward.

North.

The direction her dream father urged her to go—the direction of her brother’s location.

Even with the recent dream and event, her heart still longed for the West—her home. But her childhood home was too far away. Even if she wanted to, there was no way she could make it before the first snowfall, not on foot. Though, she wondered if her brother’s location was also too far. Ten days on foot, her father said. She could easily go into labor within the following days. Deliver the baby… alone… in the wilderness. She shuddered at the thought. No options were in her favor.

Should she head south and attempt to make it to warmer weather? Attempt to find a group of freeborns, maybe even an abandoned hospital? She knew the signs to look for—the symbols freeborns used to communicate their existence to each other.

Suddenly, the rumbling of the Watcher’s steps in the distance returned, muddling her thoughts.

Diego. 

Poor Diego. 

What an awful way to die. 

So it was with all the ways the Takers took lives—carnage.

She sat in silence. The echoes of an owl’s hoot rang out from behind her. She had to move. The perimeter of the machine’s search for her was likely shrinking, and now, with the sighting of Diego, she reasoned there was no other option but to start moving. The machines would be upon her in no time.

Whether it was the dream of her father or her interaction with the late Diego, she realized whoever was watching over her needed her to move north. She couldn’t argue with the divine hand guiding her now. Too many “coincidences” had intersected and intertwined simultaneously, enough to intervene in her doubt and influence her reasoning. It was useless to contend now. She made up her mind. She would head north.

Quickly gathering her things, she rushed into the tree line following the ravine. This route provided continued cover, and she supposed she could at least make her way north, hidden within the foliage of the ravine. There were still leaves about the trees, and she hoped that even with the autumn vegetation barely hanging onto their last vestige of life, they would provide enough cover.

Though it was night, the moon gave the valley a midday brilliance. With the contrast of the pitch-dark nighttime shadows of the leafage overhead, she could easily follow a dichotomous route northward, maneuvering in and out of the shadows as she pleased. A stream ran through the ravine, cooling the air along its path. Even with the pleasantries that evaded her senses for so many years due to her confinement, she could not notice or enjoy them. Survival at this point was her pivotal sense.

After a few hours of trekking through the dark, lost in her thoughts, following the winding river, a sudden noise broke her from her daze. A massive explosion in the distance erupted, sending shockwaves through the sky. It rifted through the valley with an immense power. The ground below her shook violently, causing her to fall to her knees. The sparse clouds above the mountain she had escaped lit with an orange and eerie glow. Something at the mining facility had exploded. Her stomach sank.

Her friends. What would become of her friends?

Already, many had died during her escape. Was this the consequential retribution for her sin?

But why would the machines blow up their own facility? She thought.

Then, it struck her.

The mission!

Diego’s mission!

Was he headed for the facility? 

To help carry out an attack on the facility?

If so, then was Abraham involved?

Her brother, Abraham, was alive, according to Diego. He was apparently working for a group with the resources and audacity to attack the machines. This line of work sounded like something Abe would have likely gotten involved with. If he had escaped the wretched life of mining, he likely would be the one to seek revenge. It was his nature.

He was good at many things, but fighting was his most significant talent—a part of who he was. Even though he was a remarkable Seer and therefore used and abused by the machines, he was even more of a thorn in the machine’s sides—constantly attempting to escape. He continually fought back—not to be kept as an animal in a cage. It was the reason they marked his face. They would never kill him. He was too precious for their mining efforts. Instead, they would reprimand him, add another tattooed line to his face, and transport him to another facility—the mark of a Disruptor.

Flashbacks of the facility where they met again ran through her mind. Besides her husband, her brother was the best seer the mine had ever encountered. So they worked him to the bone. He would stumble in at all hours of the night, covered in soot and bleeding. His True Seerism provided more rations, only angering the other miners, who took their frustrations out on him. She would mend his wounds, and he would return to work the following day.

Flashes of them running through the woods outside their home in the valley ran through her mind. Images of them laughing and soaking in the summer air appeared—of them hunting with their father, quietly sneaking through the forest. She would aim the rifle first as she was the oldest, but she would always fail to pull the trigger. Abraham would step forward and take her place. He would then send the bullet right through the creature's heart or forehead. Her father would smile and slap his back, “Good shootin’ Ace!” which only causes Abe to look at Jane and console her with his eyes, knowing how the kill hurt her heart.

Flashes of her watching Abe doing drills with the local militia Corp through the dining room window—Judge Jenkins always in the lead. Father was always so proud of him. Abe had received the highest honors for marksmanship and tactical advancement. Even with this, Abe was always humble about his achievements. His accolades never brought pride. Abraham would give Jane the credit, remarking on her skills and abilities.

The both of them would spend hours in the wilderness, running drills. They would shoot rocks from atop fence posts. Abe always acknowledged she was a better aim than himself, and she loved him for this humility. He never judged her for being unable to kill a living creature. This understanding endeared her even more to her brother.

Flashes of the last time she saw him crossed her mind—images of his face as he was dragged away by the Takers and marked again for insubordination and then shipped away. The anger welled within him that day. She tried to stop him, but so much was taken from them that day. She didn’t blame him.

Jane broke from her reverie, and the memories left her with the urge to find her brother. He would do the same for her, and according to Diego, he was currently doing the same, looking for her. Where was she to start?

An aftershock of the explosion suddenly shook the ground again, causing her hands to sink further into the loose dirt. She felt the coolness of the grain between her fingers. The smell of decaying autumn leaves reached her nose. The sound of the babbling stream filled her ears—all senses of freedom. A resolve welled within her. She would never go back. She would do anything to prevent being enslaved by the machines again.

At that very moment, a faint sputtering sound echoed in the distance. Jane looked up from the ground and brought herself to a position sitting on her knees. Off, some 200 yards away, a vague blue light traversed at high speed across the valley. Focusing on the moving object, she could see two bodies perched upon the back of a hovering craft. Realizing they were humans and a vehicle, she suddenly wanted to scream for their attention, but they were gone as soon as she had noticed them, barreling down the descent of the valley into the greater valley below them.

She wanted to grab her radio and try to call them, but with the recent events leading to Diego’s demise, she dared not try and, in effect, give away her location to the machines. The humans on the speeder looked as though they came from the source of the explosion but, interestingly enough, did not appear to be running from danger as there were no Watchers or Takers on their tail. Whoever they were, they had managed to break free of the carnage of the mountainside, and now they were off in the distance, speeding northward—the same direction she was heading, albeit she was traveling much slower.

§

After hours of walking along the stream, she began to grow weary and tired. Even though she had rested most of the day earlier, the fatigue of the preceding events continued to take a toll on her body and mind. The moon had arced across the sky, making its way west. The sound of the stream and the smell of the rotting leaves became sour and irritating to her senses. How was she ever going to make it north? How could she possibly manage a ten-day journey? She had little rations. How could she avoid the sight of the Watchers and their satellites?

Needing to rest her senses and body, she quickly found an area with thick foliage cover and a small sandy beach along the stream. After collecting water, she cooked it on her burner and poured it through a filter sieve. All residents in the facility received a personal water purifier. Even the machines knew that to avoid sickness in humans, they had to have clean drinking water, especially in a facility where water was constantly contaminated.

After rolling out her sleep sack, she lay in its warm embrace, staring at the canopy of darkness above her. Reaching for the wood-carved elk Tulu carved long ago, she gripped it tightly, hoping it would aid her in her sleep. Its horns received their fair share of wear and tear, worn down from years of clutching it in her sleep. With this comfort engaged, she quickly fell into a deep slumber, as she was physically, mentally, and spiritually exhausted.

§

Jane suddenly found herself walking through a familiar field. She was unable to recall how she had gotten there. As Jane idly ambled, the grain of wheat tickled her hands, bobbing back and forth with her passing. Taking notice of her surroundings, she looked down and realized she held her favorite belonging in her hand, the carved elk. Why was she carrying this toy? It was something she only ever held when she was trying to sleep. Shrugging off the inconsistency, she peered into the distance. Some fifty feet away, a familiar old cabin stood within the confines of the shell mountains on either side. An old wood fence ran behind the cabin out to the road on the east end. Smoke billowed from the chimney—a welcoming sight.

Mom was probably cooking her famous potato stew.

She could see someone was sitting on the front porch chair, whittling away at something, feet kicked up on the large beam railing surrounding the porch. Likely her father.

What day was it?

It must be Sunday, she thought.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be home lounging about. He was usually out working at this time—unless it was lunchtime. Jane looked around to gauge the time of day, but the sun was nowhere in sight.

Is it evening?

Her sense of time felt very off.

Suddenly, she noticed a subtle and steady pulsation within her shirt. She looked down to see Elijah’s stone necklace glowing—pulsing. Slightly stunned, she reached for it, gently touching its cool frame. She had felt this before.

Looking up, she suddenly felt disoriented. She was no longer in the wheat field but instead standing on the porch. The man, now sitting before her, who she initially assumed was her father, looked up from his carving and smiled.

Abraham!

Facial hair covered his handsome face, bordering the multiple straight black line tattoos across the left side of his face—the marks of insubordination. He smiled a genuine smile—a surprised-to-see-you smile.

Standing up from the chair, he muttered in amazement, “Look at you!”

He looked down at her protruding belly, and his eyes widened with excitement. “You’re… you’re...”

“Having a baby,” she finished his sentence.

His face glowed with the news. “I’m so happy for you and Elijah!” He grabbed her hands and pulled her in for a hug. He no longer smelled of dust and grime but instead of a pungent smell of fuel. A rifle hung from his side.

Jane melted in his arms. She relished in the warmth of the embrace of a loved one. She missed her brother immensely. They were nearly best friends growing up. But in hearing Elijah’s name spoken aloud, she couldn’t help but feel the loss of her husband.

After a long moment, Abe pulled back and took notice of her reaction.

“Is everything okay?” He asked in a worried tone.

“Elijah…” Jane trailed off. “He… he… didn’t make it. He was in an accident.” She managed to respond.

Ace stared in disbelief. All life drained from his face. “I’m… I’m so sorry, sis.” He consoled her and pulled her back in tight. “He was a good man,” Ace whispered into her ear, “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

“It’s okay, Abey. I’ve come to terms with it.” She sobbed a soft cry.

Trying to lighten the mood as always, Abe suddenly pulled away and pointed at her neck. “Hey! You still have the necklace he gave you!”

She feigned a smile, still burdened by the thoughts of her late husband.

“I always wondered how you kept that thing hidden. The machines would flip if they knew you had it. It’s got to be worth more than a thousand rations!” He chuckled.

This comment made Jane take on a genuine smile. Her brother always knew how to lift her and lighten her mood.

She examined his face. Wiping tears away from her eyes, she spoke with a change in tone, “Looks like you’ve gotten yourself in some more trouble.”

She touched the tattoos lining his face. “Two more?”

“Haha, yeah, well, I’m pretty sure the trouble just finds me.” He winked at her.

He looked over and saw the wooden elk in her other hand. “Hey!” His eyes grew with excitement. “The elk Nivi’s husband carved for you and Ishmael. I remember Ishmael always carrying that thing around in the Snake Pit. Let me see it!”

Jane handed him the figurine. Abe took it and ran his fingers over its smooth body. She could see the nostalgia in his eyes, the pain sinking into his face—his brotherly love.

“I thought you were dead,” she grabbed his hand.

“Just about,” he laughed—obviously breaking from the memories of their time together at the facility. “Oh man, do I have stories to tell you?”

She looked into his eyes. She tried to remember what brought her here to this moment, how she had gotten here, how she had found her long-lost brother. Suddenly, she stood back, the weight of realization setting in. She looked all around her.

The feeling.

The setting. 

The lighting. 

It was all a dream. 

She let go of his hand, and a deep sadness welled inside of her.

A dream. 

Just a dream. 

Enough with the dreams, she screamed in her head.

Abraham stood speechless, confused by her silent reaction. He looked around as well, trying to understand what she was doing.

Suddenly breaking down, she sobbed, “This is a dream.”

“What? What are you talking about?” He asked confusedly.

“All of this, me, you, this house, it’s all a dream. The machines destroyed this place, remember?”

What was she doing? He was a figment of her imagination. Why was she explaining it to him?

As though suddenly realizing as well, her mind made him appear to understand. He looked up at the cabin and then all around him. “So what,” he shrugged. “I dream of this place every night, and you, you are just another part of this dream. I’m happy my mind brought you in. I guess it knew I needed you right now. I’ve been trying to find you, and now you are here. Please stop crying.” He grabbed her shoulders and looked deep at her. She looked up.

“Brought me in? No, my mind brought you in.” She replied through tears.

Then, as though hidden deep within her, she remembered—her dream with her father.

His words. 

The dream. 

But it wasn’t just a dream. 

It was real somehow. 

The child within her made these real somehow!

“Abe!” She suddenly chirped, her eyes drying with this newfound understanding. “Where are you?”

He looked at her bewildered, “I’m here, Jane.” He squeezed her shoulders, implying his slight frustration.

“Abe, I was wrong to say this is just a dream. This is not a dream… I mean, it is a dream, but it’s more. I’m real, and you’re real.”

Abe laughed, “What are you talking about?” He stepped back. “Man, this is one weird dream.”

“Listen to me, just listen. You were on a mission! Um… and I was in a mining facility. You were coming to find me. I think that’s what Diego said…”

Ace looked at her with a frown. “What is going on?” He looked around. “Diego?”

“Abe, please trust me. I’m alive. I escaped. I'm making my way north to find you. Papa came to me in a dream. He told me this baby inside me… it… I mean, she… makes me dream real things. I don’t quite understand it, but this is somehow real.” Jane spoke rapidly, hoping to hold on to the conversation and get Abraham to understand before the dream ended.

“Don’t be scared. You were on a mission. Your friend Diego was on some sort of balloon flying craft. They shot him down. But I spoke to him before he went down. He said you were looking for me.”

Ace stood there speechless, lost in thought. She could see a deep sadness welling inside him. “They found out our plan…” he spoke quietly. “Agro, he wasn’t who we thought he was… he was a machine… he killed everyone.”

“Who?” Jane asked.

“He was a soldier like us, well, I guess not like us. He turned on us. He gave away the plan. But I escaped.” His eyes brightened some. “Korin and me, we escaped.” She could see his mind starting to race. “We are on a magnograv speeder… why don’t I remember anymore?”

He shook his head.

Jane grabbed his hand, realizing the two humans she saw on the speeder earlier had to have been Ace and his friend.

“I saw you!” She spoke excitedly.

“You what?” He looked up.

“I saw you speeding down a ravine. I couldn’t call out to you. The machines would’ve found me.”

He stared at the ground, eyes wide, replaying the events in his head. “Well, I’ll… I’ll come back for you!” He stuttered excitedly.

Her heart beat quicker. This moment was it—she had found her brother, and now he would save her. She thought in excitement.

“Where are you?” He grabbed her arms and questioned excitedly.

“I… I’m… I’m along a stream,” she was actively thinking, trying to remember reality.

“In the Valley just northeast of the mountain facility. There’s another larger valley up ahead, but I haven’t gone into it yet. Papa asked me to follow the stream, taking me North to you. Well, to the sand dunes and a lake, and from there, you would find me…”

“Papa?” Ace asked confusedly.

“He came to me, just like you have. In one of these dreams.”

“Okay, okay,” Ace looked around, gathering his thoughts.

“So he’s alive!” He looked at Jane hopefully.

“Well, no, he…”

Ace interrupted, “he what? He talked to you, so he’s alive!”

“I don’t understand how this all works, Abe.” She stuttered.

Ace shook his head. She could tell he was starting to disbelieve.

“What am I doing? This is just a dream,” he muttered to himself. “Why am I giving into this, giving myself hope.”

“Abe, this is not just an ordinary dream. I’m really here.”

He still appeared disconnected, “My mind is telling me things I already know.” He continued shaking his head. “Wake up, Ace!” He muttered to himself.

“Abe, I mean it. I’m alive. I have to find you. You are my only hope.” She started sobbing. Her shoulders heaved heavily.

Abe, as compassionate as always, and even while convinced he was in a dream, and somehow she was only a creation of his mind, still let down his guard and consoled her. He rubbed her back. The wooden elk held awkwardly in his hand as he did so.

“I promise I will find you. I promise.” He consoled her as her shaking relaxed under his embrace.

Suddenly, her necklace began to pulsate rapidly. She looked down and pulled back from Abe. He looked at her compassionately, and then, unexpectedly, the world around her began to fall away into ash and blackness.

The last image she held onto was of Abraham’s face, blurred by her tears, smiling down at her.