All the graves of the ones remembered
In a desert we call home
All the slaves of the cold December
Find a voice to call their own

The hour was up and slowly Persephone, with Marguerite right behind her, exited the only home they had ever known and she looked around her. All the kids who had been in the street that morning were back and they were a rag tag bunch. Odette-the small red headed girl who’s older brother had been a jerk-was wearing an over sized suit jacket and she had a bicycle helmet on her head. Others were wearing shoes that were three sizes too big, pants that dragged behind them in the dirt and they were all carrying various things. Some had huge bottles of water while others had sacks of food slung over their shoulders.

There was no telling how long they would be out in the desert-days, weeks, months-and Perry couldn’t help but feel scared. She had never led anyone anywhere before and as she reached into the pocket of her leather jacket and pulled out the star pendant, she could feel herself shaking. Where should they even start? East? West? Perry sighed as she closed her eyes but then she suddenly felt someone place a hand on her shoulder. Looking to her right, her blue eyes met those of Maggie’s green and the two girls smiled at one another softly. This is what had been meant to happen and Perry knew it was going to be really hard, especially on Mags, leaving the only place they had ever known.


“Is everyone ready?” Perry asked as she and Maggie walked down the sidewalk towards the group and all eyes were on her. Perry counted off in her head-there were twelve of them and she knew that they might as well get the introductions out of the way.

“Well before we start off I think it might be helpful to learn eachother’s names. I’m Persephone Jones, I’m nineteen and this is my sister Marguerite who is eighteen.” Perry smiled at the blonde girl standing beside her and she in turn looked down at the small boy who had been in her arms earlier.

“I’m Brooke and I’m eighteen. This is my little brother Sean and he’s ten-our father was taken a few weeks ago and now our mother is gone as well.” Perry only nodded, giving the girl an encouraging smile as the she looked around the group.

“I’m Mark-I’m twenty and this is my eleven year old sister Odette.” The red headed guy smirked at her and Perry only returned her own smirk with a twinkle in her eyes. He was going to be trouble-she could just feel it.

“I’m Tadd. Seventeen and these three are my little twin sisters-Maddison, Addison and Abigail.” Perry smiled at the small girls, their brunette curls shining in the rising light.

“I’m Steven, sixteen and this is my little sister Lynne who is fourteen.” Persephone nodded her head at a very tall boy who kind of reminded her of Andy with his dark hair and pale blue eyes.

“Okay, well it’s nice to meet you all. I-um-I’m not exactly sure where we’re going, but I really want you guys to know that I’m going to try really hard to get us to the Wild Ones…or at least out of Wickenburg.” Perry said and she could hear the shakiness in her own voice. Mark only scoffed as he wrapped an arm around Odette’s shoulders and pulled her closer.


Soon enough the group had taken off down the road, with Mark, Steven, Perry and Tadd all leading the group. Maggie and the other girls all stayed slightly behind since the smaller kids would have a hard time keeping up and would probably get tired easily. They had passed the empty Guard post at the very end of the street and Persephone held her breath as she looked out around her. There was nothing but sand and rocks-a few trees and bushes, but their skeletons did nothing but sway in the wind. Before taking that last step off of the asphalt and on to the desert sand, Perry looked over her shoulder and glanced back at the only place she had ever known as her home.

The houses all looked empty-alone. Their front doors had been left open, the dirt and dust swirling inside to make everything a gritty brown color. All of the grey shutters were like wide eyes, staring out after them, begging them to come back, but there was no going back. No, soon the entire group had exited the town limits of Wickenburg and were now walking off towards the rising sun. Perry didn’t know where they were going or what they were going to find, but she knew-deep down-that anything would be better than living under the laws of F.E.A.R.

Before leaving Persephone had spent some time in each room in their home. Her parent’s room-all tidy and with the bed still made-had held the least memories for her. Her mother and father had never been ones to let their daughters sleep in the bed with them. If they had a nightmare then it was talked over and they were told to pay it no mind. There may have been a time when she had curled up between her mother and father, but those times were long forgotten. The next room had been Maggie’s and Perry only smiled as she walked around, touching the small trinkets on her sister’s shelves. There were pictures, small photos of beautiful ladies, graceful in their full skirts and laced up bodices.

She had then walked down the hall and found herself outside of the room she had called her own for so long. So many nights of sneaking in and out of the windows to sit on the roof-Perry almost wished she had enough time to do it for one final rebellious act, but no…no they had to go. Finally she stood underneath the door to the attic and that’s where Perry paused for a moment. This is where she and Reese had grown close-this is where they had become one another’s futures. Yet here she was-alone and abandoning everything she had ever known. Would Reese be proud of her? Would he approve?

The thing about Reese is that Persephone had always been able to see the rebellion in him, but he kept it so tightly wrapped up. That’s why he had exploded that day in the middle of the street-he had kept it all inside. Everything that had happened to his family and to him…Reese had only talked about that terrible night to Perry twice and each time he asked her not to ever bring it up again. Now here she was, running her fingers over the pictures that she had drawn-sketched of him, of the birds outside the window and of scenery that she could only imagine in her mind.

What did the ocean look like? Did the waves crash against the sand? Did it smell as fresh and clean as it looked? What about the forest? The pictures she had seen in the few books they had showed lush green backdrops, with dew drops on the leaves and small animals scurrying around trying to seek out food. All of this-Persephone had seen none of it and neither had Reese, but the only difference-now she had a real chance of actually seeing these things…touching them. With tears in her eyes, Perry folded the sketch she had done of Reese, put it into her pocket and wiped away her tears before heading down the stairs.

Now they were walking, the rising sun beating down on their backs and heads and finally Perry had to take off her jacket and sling it over her shoulder. Some of the boys had the smaller kids on their backs and Persephone could tell that Maggie and the older girls were lagging behind. They were tired, hot and thirsty, but they had to put as much space between them and Wickenburg as possible. Persephone was on the lookout for anything that could be used as a shelter, but there was nothing but sand, rocks and lizards. They would scurry past their feet and she called out to the smaller children to leave them alone-there was no telling what would happen if one of them was bitten.


“Do you have any idea where we’re going?” Mark called out from behind her and Perry only sighed as she stopped walking and turned around. He had Odette on his back and his face was almost as red as his hair and his eyes showed nothing but contempt as he looked at Persephone.

“No and I told you that!” Perry snapped-she was just as tired as the rest of them.

“Well then why the hell are we listening to you?!” He shouted to her and soon enough the small girl had jumped from Mark’s back and ran behind them to hide behind Maggie’s skirts. Mark and Perry were soon nose to nose and the group grew silent as they stood off against one another.

“Because I have this and Andy told me it would lead us to him. If you don’t trust me then it’s not too late to turn back!” Perry backed up slightly and noticed that everyone was looking at her. She didn’t want to yell, but she needed them to believe in her. She needed them to trust her.

“Well how does it work?” Mark asked as he looked at the pendant in her hands and Perry only sighed as she followed his gaze.


She had no idea and honestly she wasn’t sure it really would work. Silently she walked away from him, her head bent down as she looked at her feet. Should they just give up? They had been walking all day and as she looked up towards the mountains, Perry could see that the sun was beginning to set. They needed to find shelter-there were things that came out at night that none of them needed to have an encounter with. They had been walking East, but as she stopped walking, the pendant still in her hands, Perry noticed that the pendant had grown hot.

What?

Looking down, Persephone noticed that it was glowing slightly and as she took a step back-West-the glowing died down slightly. Walking forward-East-it glowed and felt warm once again. Was this it? Was this how it was supposed to work? Persephone only laughed as she looked behind her at the group and then turned back to face East. There, off in the distance, was a small shed that had probably been used for a farm that had once been out here. This is where they would camp for the night and then they would get up with the sun and keep heading East until the pendant told her otherwise.

Andy had been right all along-Persephone was meant to be with them. It was her instinct. It was her birth right. It was everything that she needed and so much more.

They had finally found themselves. They had finally found their voices.

Notes

Sorry it's been so long-I've been hanging out with some friends and finally realized that I hadn't updated this in a few days. Hope you guys liked it!

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