Land Of F.E.A.R
Faith and Hope
The scars we've left along these walls
I swear these words are true.
I believe in you.
The cold air blew around her face and Persephone only smiled as she looked up towards the black sky-the moon shining down on her like a great protector. It was only a few days before Christmas and it had been a month since Reese had come to stay with them. Everything and everyone had gotten in to a routine-Perry and Reese would go around the house, goofing off as they tried to clean and keep themselves busy, all while her mother and Maggie rolled their eyes and kept to themselves. It felt nice to finally have someone in her life who understood her and Perry silently thanked whoever was up there in the sky with the moon for Reese Frazer.
He was everything that Perry could have wanted in a friend, but besides that there was something more. He made her smile-something Perry rarely did unless she was sketching or outside and it seemed like Reese knew his influence over her. They had kissed a few more times since that day in his room, but Perry always held back slightly. Reese, while informed of the Wild Ones and Legion of the Black, still believed that F.E.A.R was the best thing for them. Even after everything that had happened with his family, Reese still felt safer being under F.E.A.R’s law. Perry sighed as she looked out around her-nothing but desert.
There had been rumors of a camp in the desert and her father only scoffed them off-saying it was just idle cooler gossip that was keeping people occupied. Perry believed in it though…she just had a feeling deep within her that there really was a camp in the Desolate Desert and that it belonged to the Wild Ones. Perry often dreamed of running away-with or without Reese-and finding the Wild Ones. She needed to get away…she needed to find someone who could help her be free. Suddenly there was a noise from behind her and Perry jumped before looking over her shoulder.
“Figured I would find you out here Perry…” Maggie said as she grunted and tried to make her way across the roof tiles towards where her older sister was sitting.
“You know me…always breaking some rule or another.” Perry said, sarcasm dripping from her words and Maggie stayed silent as she sat beside her sister and looked up at the moon. She never understood why Perry liked it out here so much, but as she sat there and listened to the utter silence, Maggie was beginning to get it.
“So Christmas is coming up…” Maggie started, but stopped as Perry only turned to her and cocked an eyebrow. She didn’t come out here to talk about Christmas and Perry knew it. Maggie only smiled as she tucked some of her loose blonde hair behind an ear and looked away from her sister’s piercing blue eyes.
“You didn’t come out here to talk about Christmas…so what do you want?” Her voice was harsh and Maggie couldn’t exactly blame Perry for being guarded around her. They were fighting more than usual these days and both girls knew…it was because of Reese.
Maggie didn’t think it was a good idea for them to let Reese stay-he should be turned over to the head Guards and they would figure out what was best. Sure, they might kill him, but F.E.A.R was a forgiving entity in most cases. Although it did worry Maggie more and more every time her father spoke about another family gone missing. Where were they going? Who was taking them? Surely it wasn’t F.E.A.R-they would never do something like that. Maggie bit down on her lip as she looked over at her sister-Perry had her knees under her chin, her red hair flying around her face as she looked up towards the sky.
Marguerite never understood Perry’s obsession with the outside world-being in the house where it was safe from rebels was where they belonged. Yet something inside of Maggie told her that it was kind of nice sitting outside, feeling fresh air on her skin and every so often, when their mother wasn’t looking, Maggie would crack open the curtains in her room. She liked feeling the sun against her skin and just the thought of that warm glow made her smile. Now Perry was looking at her and Maggie just let her smile drop slightly as she cleared her throat and thought back to the task at hand.
“I think Reese needs to turn himself in…” Perry sighed, rolling her blue eyes as she slapped her hand against the roof and turned to fully face her sister.
“Not this again!” Perry said and Maggie only winced. Perry would never admit it, but she and their mother got the same tone in their voices when they were angry.
“Perry just listen to me…Reese could get in to even bigger trouble if he doesn’t turn himself in. We could all get in to trouble…” Maggie said and Perry only sighed as she looked at her sister and then back off towards the desert. Was that smoke swirling in the distance? A smallish cloud that was low to the ground seemed to be coming closer and closer, but Perry couldn’t be sure.
“Or he could be killed as soon as he walks in the doors of the Guard HQ. He assaulted a Guard Mags…that’s punishable by death.” Perry said and Maggie only sighed as she closed her eyes. Trying to speak with her sister about anything was always rough-Perry was pretty hard headed.
“F.E.A.R would never just kill someone for defending their family Persephone. Have a little faith…” Maggie said her voice defensive. Soon enough the younger girl was up and moving towards the window once again. There was no use-Perry wasn’t going to listen to anything she had to say.
“Yeah well I think having too much blind faith in something is what got us into the position we’re in. F.E.A.R isn’t everything you think it is Mags…” Perry had turned around and was now facing her sister. Maggie was sitting on the window sill, her eyes filled with hurt and betrayal.
“Just because you can’t follow the rules Persephone doesn’t mean the rest of us have to bow down. I believe in F.E.A.R-they have kept us safe and they have treated us fairly.” With that Maggie disappeared behind the window and Perry was left to herself outside.
Marguerite knew nothing, but how could she? Her sister had only ever known the world of F.E.A.R and Perry knew that wasn’t her fault. Maggie was a rule follower-Perry a breaker and the two would probably never see eye to eye on that fact. Perry only sighed as she looked back towards the desert-the smoke was getting closer and something in Perry was telling her that she should be afraid. She would continue to sit there-she still had another hour before the Guards changed over again and until that time she was going to take advantage. Perry closed her eyes, her mind going somewhere else besides the prison that she called a home.
She often imagined far off places, filled with people who weren’t all pale and dressed in the same clothing. Of battles being fought and valiant heroes that saved the day and then at the very end the girl and guy of the story always ended up together. There were no rules in her imagination and there were no limits to what Perry could think up. Right now, as she sat on that roof top, Persephone was thinking about what it would be like to run away. Taking just the clothes on her back and running for her life in to the desert. Something broke her concentration though and soon enough Reese was out on the roof and sitting beside her.
“Penny for your thoughts?” He asked, smirking as Perry only looked towards him, her hair falling in front of her face slightly.
“Do you even have a penny?” Perry asked as she bumped her shoulder against his and Reese only shook his head. Silently he snaked an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close as Perry sighed and rested her head against his shoulder.
“No, but I have you…” He said and Perry only smiled. Reese was always talking about how they had one another and the thought always seemed to comfort her.
“You do, but I think we should do something…” Perry said, smiling as she moved away from him and now they were looking at one another. She had that hopeful look on her face again and Reese felt his breathing speed up.
“Perry…” He said and she only groaned-he hadn’t even heard her out yet.
“I think we should run away-together. We could run off in to the desert, find the Wild Ones and join up with Legion of the Black…” She said in one breath and Reese only sighed. Of course-he knew it had been a mistake telling her about the Wild Ones and their militia. Now it was all Perry talked about…all she wanted in life.
“Persephone be realistic.” Reese said and Perry only scoffed. Reese-always Mr. Reality.
“I am! Come on…we could get away from this place and-“ Perry stopped as Reese had placed a finger over her lips and looked at her silently. His green eyes were soft as he took in her face-every single feature that made Perry who she was.
“I love you.” He said, his voice strong and his eyes were telling her that he what he was saying was true. Reese did love her and deep down Perry knew she felt the same.
“I love you too…that’s why we should run away!” Perry said, her tone hushed but there was urgency behind her words. They loved one another-even more of a reason to run away…so they could be together.
Perry knew with how things had gone for Reese that they couldn’t stay in Wickenburg anymore. They had to get away-far away from here to a place where they could blend in with the crowds. A place like LA or Washington DC-places where there were so many people and so many jobs that one rarely went noticed. Perry knew that if they could just get away, she and Reese could be happy together. They could marry, start a family…they could be free for once. Perry looked at Reese-their eyes connecting and she knew that he would never leave. No matter how much he claimed to hate F.E.A.R, Perry knew that Reese still had a fear for the governing body.
“If you love me Persephone then you’ll stop talking about running away to the desert…you’ll stop this absurd dream of finding the Wild Ones. They aren’t coming for us…they don’t care about little people like you and me.” Reese said and Perry swallowed her anger. She wanted to keep believing in the Wild Ones because they gave her something that nothing else, not even Reese, could give…
Hope.
“Okay Reese. Come on…lets get inside before the Guards come around.” She kissed his lips, smiling softly and then they were both running across the roof tiles.
Reese climbed in through the window first, sitting down on Perry’s bed as he watched the small girl climb through her window and turn to shut the sill. As Perry shut the world out of her life once again, she couldn’t help but notice that there was a looming shadow walking across the desert-probably just the new Guards coming to their posts. Perry shut her curtains and smiled as she grabbed for Reese’s hand and led him away.
Little did they both know that the shadow that was approaching weren’t Guards…it was a beacon of hope and they were coming right for the Jones household.
I swear these words are true.
I believe in you.
The cold air blew around her face and Persephone only smiled as she looked up towards the black sky-the moon shining down on her like a great protector. It was only a few days before Christmas and it had been a month since Reese had come to stay with them. Everything and everyone had gotten in to a routine-Perry and Reese would go around the house, goofing off as they tried to clean and keep themselves busy, all while her mother and Maggie rolled their eyes and kept to themselves. It felt nice to finally have someone in her life who understood her and Perry silently thanked whoever was up there in the sky with the moon for Reese Frazer.
He was everything that Perry could have wanted in a friend, but besides that there was something more. He made her smile-something Perry rarely did unless she was sketching or outside and it seemed like Reese knew his influence over her. They had kissed a few more times since that day in his room, but Perry always held back slightly. Reese, while informed of the Wild Ones and Legion of the Black, still believed that F.E.A.R was the best thing for them. Even after everything that had happened with his family, Reese still felt safer being under F.E.A.R’s law. Perry sighed as she looked out around her-nothing but desert.
There had been rumors of a camp in the desert and her father only scoffed them off-saying it was just idle cooler gossip that was keeping people occupied. Perry believed in it though…she just had a feeling deep within her that there really was a camp in the Desolate Desert and that it belonged to the Wild Ones. Perry often dreamed of running away-with or without Reese-and finding the Wild Ones. She needed to get away…she needed to find someone who could help her be free. Suddenly there was a noise from behind her and Perry jumped before looking over her shoulder.
“Figured I would find you out here Perry…” Maggie said as she grunted and tried to make her way across the roof tiles towards where her older sister was sitting.
“You know me…always breaking some rule or another.” Perry said, sarcasm dripping from her words and Maggie stayed silent as she sat beside her sister and looked up at the moon. She never understood why Perry liked it out here so much, but as she sat there and listened to the utter silence, Maggie was beginning to get it.
“So Christmas is coming up…” Maggie started, but stopped as Perry only turned to her and cocked an eyebrow. She didn’t come out here to talk about Christmas and Perry knew it. Maggie only smiled as she tucked some of her loose blonde hair behind an ear and looked away from her sister’s piercing blue eyes.
“You didn’t come out here to talk about Christmas…so what do you want?” Her voice was harsh and Maggie couldn’t exactly blame Perry for being guarded around her. They were fighting more than usual these days and both girls knew…it was because of Reese.
Maggie didn’t think it was a good idea for them to let Reese stay-he should be turned over to the head Guards and they would figure out what was best. Sure, they might kill him, but F.E.A.R was a forgiving entity in most cases. Although it did worry Maggie more and more every time her father spoke about another family gone missing. Where were they going? Who was taking them? Surely it wasn’t F.E.A.R-they would never do something like that. Maggie bit down on her lip as she looked over at her sister-Perry had her knees under her chin, her red hair flying around her face as she looked up towards the sky.
Marguerite never understood Perry’s obsession with the outside world-being in the house where it was safe from rebels was where they belonged. Yet something inside of Maggie told her that it was kind of nice sitting outside, feeling fresh air on her skin and every so often, when their mother wasn’t looking, Maggie would crack open the curtains in her room. She liked feeling the sun against her skin and just the thought of that warm glow made her smile. Now Perry was looking at her and Maggie just let her smile drop slightly as she cleared her throat and thought back to the task at hand.
“I think Reese needs to turn himself in…” Perry sighed, rolling her blue eyes as she slapped her hand against the roof and turned to fully face her sister.
“Not this again!” Perry said and Maggie only winced. Perry would never admit it, but she and their mother got the same tone in their voices when they were angry.
“Perry just listen to me…Reese could get in to even bigger trouble if he doesn’t turn himself in. We could all get in to trouble…” Maggie said and Perry only sighed as she looked at her sister and then back off towards the desert. Was that smoke swirling in the distance? A smallish cloud that was low to the ground seemed to be coming closer and closer, but Perry couldn’t be sure.
“Or he could be killed as soon as he walks in the doors of the Guard HQ. He assaulted a Guard Mags…that’s punishable by death.” Perry said and Maggie only sighed as she closed her eyes. Trying to speak with her sister about anything was always rough-Perry was pretty hard headed.
“F.E.A.R would never just kill someone for defending their family Persephone. Have a little faith…” Maggie said her voice defensive. Soon enough the younger girl was up and moving towards the window once again. There was no use-Perry wasn’t going to listen to anything she had to say.
“Yeah well I think having too much blind faith in something is what got us into the position we’re in. F.E.A.R isn’t everything you think it is Mags…” Perry had turned around and was now facing her sister. Maggie was sitting on the window sill, her eyes filled with hurt and betrayal.
“Just because you can’t follow the rules Persephone doesn’t mean the rest of us have to bow down. I believe in F.E.A.R-they have kept us safe and they have treated us fairly.” With that Maggie disappeared behind the window and Perry was left to herself outside.
Marguerite knew nothing, but how could she? Her sister had only ever known the world of F.E.A.R and Perry knew that wasn’t her fault. Maggie was a rule follower-Perry a breaker and the two would probably never see eye to eye on that fact. Perry only sighed as she looked back towards the desert-the smoke was getting closer and something in Perry was telling her that she should be afraid. She would continue to sit there-she still had another hour before the Guards changed over again and until that time she was going to take advantage. Perry closed her eyes, her mind going somewhere else besides the prison that she called a home.
She often imagined far off places, filled with people who weren’t all pale and dressed in the same clothing. Of battles being fought and valiant heroes that saved the day and then at the very end the girl and guy of the story always ended up together. There were no rules in her imagination and there were no limits to what Perry could think up. Right now, as she sat on that roof top, Persephone was thinking about what it would be like to run away. Taking just the clothes on her back and running for her life in to the desert. Something broke her concentration though and soon enough Reese was out on the roof and sitting beside her.
“Penny for your thoughts?” He asked, smirking as Perry only looked towards him, her hair falling in front of her face slightly.
“Do you even have a penny?” Perry asked as she bumped her shoulder against his and Reese only shook his head. Silently he snaked an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close as Perry sighed and rested her head against his shoulder.
“No, but I have you…” He said and Perry only smiled. Reese was always talking about how they had one another and the thought always seemed to comfort her.
“You do, but I think we should do something…” Perry said, smiling as she moved away from him and now they were looking at one another. She had that hopeful look on her face again and Reese felt his breathing speed up.
“Perry…” He said and she only groaned-he hadn’t even heard her out yet.
“I think we should run away-together. We could run off in to the desert, find the Wild Ones and join up with Legion of the Black…” She said in one breath and Reese only sighed. Of course-he knew it had been a mistake telling her about the Wild Ones and their militia. Now it was all Perry talked about…all she wanted in life.
“Persephone be realistic.” Reese said and Perry only scoffed. Reese-always Mr. Reality.
“I am! Come on…we could get away from this place and-“ Perry stopped as Reese had placed a finger over her lips and looked at her silently. His green eyes were soft as he took in her face-every single feature that made Perry who she was.
“I love you.” He said, his voice strong and his eyes were telling her that he what he was saying was true. Reese did love her and deep down Perry knew she felt the same.
“I love you too…that’s why we should run away!” Perry said, her tone hushed but there was urgency behind her words. They loved one another-even more of a reason to run away…so they could be together.
Perry knew with how things had gone for Reese that they couldn’t stay in Wickenburg anymore. They had to get away-far away from here to a place where they could blend in with the crowds. A place like LA or Washington DC-places where there were so many people and so many jobs that one rarely went noticed. Perry knew that if they could just get away, she and Reese could be happy together. They could marry, start a family…they could be free for once. Perry looked at Reese-their eyes connecting and she knew that he would never leave. No matter how much he claimed to hate F.E.A.R, Perry knew that Reese still had a fear for the governing body.
“If you love me Persephone then you’ll stop talking about running away to the desert…you’ll stop this absurd dream of finding the Wild Ones. They aren’t coming for us…they don’t care about little people like you and me.” Reese said and Perry swallowed her anger. She wanted to keep believing in the Wild Ones because they gave her something that nothing else, not even Reese, could give…
Hope.
“Okay Reese. Come on…lets get inside before the Guards come around.” She kissed his lips, smiling softly and then they were both running across the roof tiles.
Reese climbed in through the window first, sitting down on Perry’s bed as he watched the small girl climb through her window and turn to shut the sill. As Perry shut the world out of her life once again, she couldn’t help but notice that there was a looming shadow walking across the desert-probably just the new Guards coming to their posts. Perry shut her curtains and smiled as she grabbed for Reese’s hand and led him away.
Little did they both know that the shadow that was approaching weren’t Guards…it was a beacon of hope and they were coming right for the Jones household.
Notes
Who could be coming? The Wild Ones? The Legion of the Black? How could Maggie have such faith in something so blatantly evil?
Review<3
Love the story Brandie! ;)
7/7/14