Revelations (The End 5)

He sighed as he went under his blankets.

Our Package…

The package was like Pandora’s Box. Once it was opened, all sorts of mayhem would be unleashed upon America. Innocent people would die.

He was betraying the nation he led. He was also betraying his nation by framing her. He was a bad person.

But he didn’t care. He’d been labeled bad since his childhood. That was why he had run away from home. If they chose to believe he was bad, he was going to be just that.

He called out for his guards to return. The two loyal men came in immediately. This time, as he slept, there was only satisfaction in his heart. It was only a matter of months.

To hell with America.

PART ONE

The Arrival

CHAPTER ONE

“This is way bigger than you are…”

23rd November 2021

12:05pm

Bronx Whitestone Bridge, New York.

USA.

Okay, folks. Before you is New York: our penultimate destination. Feel free to sigh in relief because we are not stopping until we cross those gates,” Sergeant Graham said as he turned and looked at the multitude behind him.

Murmurs rose from the crowd.

“But it’s time for us to rest. Our wives and children are tired,” a man in front called out.

“Well, then carry them on your shoulders. You’re a man; I don’t expect you to tire easily. You’re not tired, are you?” Graham asked him. The man didn’t reply. The murmurs continued but Graham didn’t care. They were going to get to New York before they stopped. He didn’t like civilians. They were too lazy.

Aaliyah stood with Ted and his family. They were all emaciated. The trek hadn’t been too favorable. Aaliyah was just glad that Marcia, her grandmother, hadn’t gone through it all. As her mind drifted to her family, she felt the wave of sadness hit her again. An EMP was never good news. Ted held her hand and squeezed lightly.

“You’re not tired yet, are you?” he asked with a smile as she looked up to him. She returned his smile and shrugged.

“I guess I am. Think you’re up to carry me?” she asked.

“He’ll carry you, alright; right after Rory Hankins becomes strong enough to carry me,” Elizabeth said, poking her husband on the ribs with her elbow. They all laughed.

“I’d carry you, Lizzy. It’s just that while the rest of us were getting slimmer, you were adding weight. I’m not sure I’d be able to lift you now,” Rory said, and they all laughed again.

Aaliyah nodded. She had lost a family, but she had found a new one. The Hankins had loved and protected her since she lost her grandmother. Elizabeth and Rory had been like parents to her. And Ted? Ted had become her closest friend. There was nothing about her that he didn’t know. He returned the feelings, opening himself up to her completely. His leg had healed considerably, and he could walk without any support. Aaliyah was glad that he had come for her when she had almost been abducted. That was the turning point for their relationship.

Despite the joy that she felt with them, she couldn’t help but feel the growing apprehension as she moved closer to New York. She wasn’t the only one who had lost someone during the journey. Many people had died during the migration; people no longer cried when they buried their loved ones. The destiny of everyone around her was now on her shoulders and none of them knew it-, no one except Ted. She had shared the secret mission with him, and he had promised to help her. Once they arrived in New York, she would have to begin.

Ted squeezed lightly on her hand again and she looked up at him.

“Don’t be afraid, Ali. We’re in this together. Nothing can go wrong.”

This time, she smiled again and squeezed his hand back.

“We’re in this together,” she said as she leaned her head on his shoulder.