The gates of heaven were locked shut
The pits of hell – they were all filled up
And I fear
I don't belong here, yeah
They might call me a sinner
A walking flame from the fire that burns
Disappear,
You don't belong here, yeah


The morning sun was peaking around the mountains that surrounded the little town of Wickenburg and for a moment all felt right in the world. It was Christmas Day-a day of celebration, family and togetherness-but something terrible had happened the night before. Persephone Jones, still asleep in her bed, had no idea what was going on, but soon enough she would find out. She had been dreaming of Reese again, which was causing her to thrash around in her bed and suddenly she bolted awake and looked around. Someone had touched her. Reese? No, no it wasn’t Reese-it was Maggie and as Persephone looked at her younger sister, she felt her stomach clench.

Maggie was crying softly as she stood at the end of the bed, her grey dress wrinkled from sleep and Perry only sighed and rubbed at her eyes. She had been having a decent dream, although it was starting to turn in to a nightmare. Finally Perry was able to focus on Maggie and she could tell that something had terrified the girl. Her green eyes were wide with fear and she was visibly shaking. This wasn’t normal and quickly Perry tossed back her meager covers and walked over to her sister. Maggie collapsed against her, digging her blonde head into Perry’s shoulder as the older girl just rubbed her back comfortingly.


“It’s okay Mags…I’m sure it was just a dream.” Perry said softly and she could feel Maggie shaking her head ‘no’ against her shoulder. Soon enough her little sister had lifted her head up and their eyes were locked on one another.

“I-it’s not a dream Perry. Moth-mother’s gone!” She sobbed and Persephone felt her heart stop beating in her chest. What? What did Mags mean that their mother was gone? Where would she go? The entire town was on lockdown.

“What do you mean she’s gone Mags?” Perry asked as the two girls walked towards the door, Perry holding Maggie up with an arm wrapped around her still shaking shoulders. The two girls went down the steps, one by one, and moved to stand in front of their mother and father’s bedroom door. Yep-no one inside and soon both girls were staring at one another.

“I-I got up and went downstairs, expecting mom to be in the kitchen like always. Th-the front door was wide open and then I ran up here to check her room. I’ve looked everywhere for her Persephone…she’s gone.” The two girls just stared at one another for a moment. No-it couldn’t be true…their mother wouldn’t just leave them behind like this…would she?

“Come on.” Perry said as she reached for Maggie’s hand and soon enough the two girls were quickly moving down the stairs.


Indeed the front door was wide open, the chill morning air whipping them in their faces and Perry shivered as she placed her foot over the threshold of their front door and then looked left and right. No Guards, but she could see that there were a few other people doing the same as her. Silently the two sisters walked out into the rising light and they both noticed that a small group was collecting in the middle of the street. Teenagers-all of them were teens-and Perry felt her heart begin to sink more and more. Where were the adults? Everyone standing in this tiny circle of about ten people were between the ages of ten and nineteen…none of this was making sense. As the two sisters approached the group hand in hand, the collected teenagers grew silent and just stared at them.


“We don’t need you two here…” One boy, he was probably about Perry’s age, said nastily as they approached and Persephone just glared at him.

“Whoa there-hello to you too. Does anyone know what’s going on?” Perry asked, ignoring the rude kid with the red hair as she looked around to everyone else before her. Ten kids in total, not counting her or Mags, were all standing close to one another with the littlest boy being held in the arms of someone who was obviously his older sister.

“Our parents are gone…everyone in Wickenburg has been taken except for us.” One girl, who looked to be about sixteen, smiled at Perry shyly. Persephone looked around at all of the houses-their windows dark and their doors wide open like screaming mouths. It gave her the shivers and she quickly turned her attention back to the group before her.

“Does anyone know why? Why would they not take everyone?” Perry asked and everyone seemed to be shrugging silently. None of this was making sense-why leave a bunch of teens behind instead of taking them to the camps with everyone else?

“None of us know-now do us all a favor and get back into your house of traitors and don’t fucking come back out.” The red headed guy was spouting off at the mouth again and Persephone felt her fists clench.

“Look you can think what you want about us, but we’re all in the same boat and name calling isn’t going to get you anywhere.” Perry snarled and everyone got very quiet. The red headed boy just looked at her for a second and then looked down at a shorter girl who had the same red hair as him-obviously a little sister.

“Are you okay Odette?” He asked and the small girl just nodded and reached for his hand. Everyone seemed to be staring at Persephone and she knew that they were waiting for her to say something.


What would she say to them? Sorry we’re the only ones left in this little town, but I don’t know what to do either? No, no she couldn’t say that, but as she looked at all of their pale faces-as Persephone Jones took each person in and saw the fear in their eyes-she knew what they had to do. Reaching into the only pocket in her dress, Perry pulled out the one thing that had been giving her comfort over the past few weeks. The gold was shining in the rising light, the points of the star going off in all directions and as she held it up, everyone looked towards the sky. This is what they would have to do-they would have to find the Wild Ones and work together to stop F.E.A.R…once and for all.


“We have to leave.” Perry said softly and as she looked up, she could see that the faces pointed her way held looks of shock. Maggie was just staring at her, open mouthed, but she knew this was coming. Persephone had been talking of leaving for over a week.

“And go where exactly?” The red headed guy asked, cruel laughter in his voice and Persephone found herself cringing. She didn’t have a plan-shit she didn’t know the first thing about leading people or helping anyone besides herself. But there was nothing else for them here…they had been left behind to die.

“The Desolate Desert.” She said simply and the red head before her just laughed and moved to lead his little sister away. The small girl, her face held with stern concentration, just yanked against his hand and soon she was looking right at her older brother.

“Listen to her Mark…just listen.” Her tiny voice begged and Persephone felt grateful to the small girl as she cleared her throat and looked around.


They all looked tired-tired of this life and tired of being seen as nothing. Their faces, dirty from the dust in the air and their eyes were tired as they took her in, but Perry knew she had to convince them. There was nothing for them here anymore-they would soon run out of food and if the Guards didn’t get to them…then they would eventually get to one another and start picking off the weak. Perry cleared her throat and looked down at the staragram in her hands. Andy had given this to her, telling Perry that if she ever needed to find him that this would lead her to where he was.

Would this small star really lead them to their salvation? Perry wasn’t sure, but she knew they had to try-they had to find something better than this life. But there were a lot of things in that desert that could kill them-scorpions, wild dogs and snakes, but they had to try…they had to save themselves. Perry held the star out in the palm of her hand and everyone just looked down at it silently. Mark, the bossy red head, scoffed and rolled his eyes, but Persephone noticed that a lot of other people seemed to be interested in it. The small girl-Odette-ran a finger across the glossy surface and then smiled up at Persephone.


“This will lead us to the Wild Ones. If we can find them and join the Legion of the Black…then I know we will all be safe. We don’t have to fear F.E.A.R! We can rise up! We can beat them! We don’t belong here anymore…I don’t really think we ever did.” Persephone called out into the group and they all seemed to be listening to her with silent fascination and wonder.

“Go! Go into your homes and gather what you can-shoes, blankets, food and water! We will meet back here in one hour and those of you who decide to join us are welcome and those who chose to stay behind…” Perry stopped as she looked at Mark and then down at his sister Odette.

“…Well then I wish you good luck. We will rise up against F.E.A.R-we are the chosen few who will see the world become anew and we will succeed!” Perry smiled as everyone began to run off towards their homes and she noticed that Maggie stayed by her side. The two girls looked at one another and Perry could see that Mags was holding back tears.

“You have to come with me Mags…I-I can’t do this without you.” Perry said, her tone pleading and Maggie only smirked as she wrapped her arms around her sister’s neck and pulled her off towards the only home they had ever known.

“I could never let you do this alone Perry…besides, who would I fight with?” She laughed and Perry only smiled softly as the two girls walked through the door to their childhood home and looked around in silence.


Everything was covered in a layer of dust-the couches, the curtains and her father’s recliner-and as Perry passed the fireplace, she noticed that her mother had kept their family pictures there, front and center. A smiling Persephone, five years old and filled with hope for the future. She would have gone into kindergarten at that age-she would have made friends, met new people and she would have learned what the world was like. That had been taken from her…so much had been taken from her. As she walked up the stairs and found herself outside of the attic door, Perry felt her heart grow sore.

Reese should be the one coming with her…he would still be alive if it weren’t for her. Perry moved around her attic sanctuary, grabbing things and she smiled as she tugged her father’s old leather jacket over her arms and grabbed for the other one…the one that Reese would sometimes wear. They would need shoes and as Perry dug through a nearby box, she found a pair of sneakers and a pair of leather boots. She tugged on the boots and knew that the sneakers would probably fit Maggie. As she moved towards the small record player, Perry’s eyes fell on something else that she knew she couldn’t leave behind.

It was a small drawing-the last sketch she had done-of Reese and his smiling face gave her hope. She quickly folded it, carrying the record player, sneakers and other jacket with her as she exited the attic and looked around. This would be the last time she would walk these halls for Persephone knew she would never come back to this house. This wasn’t where she belonged anymore…none of them belonged in Wickenburg anymore and it was time for them to move one.

It was time for them to rise up from the ashes…it was time to get rid of F.E.A.R.


Once and for all.

Notes

Are they finally going to do it? Will Persephone and the other's make it to the Wild Ones...or will something terrible find them first?

Review<3