Chapter 21

I awake in my room. I can hear the hustle and bustle outside. The people of this camp are rushing to make my brother happy. We need a plan and we need one now. We need a way out for everyone.

He will sacrifice all these people to get his way. I am not sure if I can do what they need, but I have to try. First thing I have to make sure my brother trusts me. If I can gain his trust I can get everyone out of here. I have to find out where my mother is.

What about Chaos and Mayhem? Can they help? I am not sure if the descendants are on my side. I have no idea. I am going to have to put my faith in Camilla and Brooke. Camilla will know who to trust. She told me not to go to the farm. It is time to find out why. I will ask her today.

I get out of bed and start going through the room looking for clothes. I find a pair of jeans and a shirt that oddly fit me. I wonder whose clothes these are. Did he prepare for me? He probably knew I was coming. He seems to know everything. He probably had this all planned from the day I came to the topside.

He probably is the one who let me out. He is in control of too much. It’s time to take back control. We start today. I wake up every single day thinking I am going to die. I need to get back to simpler times in my life. Can I go back? Is there a way back?

A place where I can just be me, be happy, and be free from all of this. Every day is a fight. I am tired of it. I am tired of struggling to be something that everyone needs. I just want to go back to the underworld and be me. Now I have two children to care for. I barely remember anything about them. I know they need me and I know I need them. I am going to figure this out.

I leave my room and head to the common area. Maybe I should find Camilla first. I am not sure. I start walking. I am going to walk all over this compound. I want to memorize all of it.

I will start at the bonfire and work my way back. If we are going to run we need to know where we are going. I need to meet as many people here as possible and find out how they got here.

I start walking to the bonfire. It is so beautiful here. The sunflowers make paths all over the compound. Sunflowers are everywhere. Except for a tree I see growing in the distance. It smells like Magnolias. Venus!

Change of plans. I have to check out that tree. I start walking toward the tree. It seems so far away. I walk through the long beautiful rows of sunflowers. I know it is her. I know it. I can feel her as I get closer and closer.

“Izzy” I hear my name. I am not sure where it is coming from. I do not care at this moment. I have questions and she has answers. What has happened to my brother is the first one. She probably will not answer me. She didn’t even want me. She only needs him to carry out his plan. She needs my children but not me.

“Izzy” The voice continues. There is no stopping me. I am going to see her. I start running. I am afraid someone is following me to the tree. Surely they cannot see me in all these sunflowers. Is he watching me? I don’t care. Let my brother watch.

My anger grows as I reach the end of the sunflowers. There it is a Magnolia tree in the middle of nowhere. I can smell her. How do I get to her?

As I approach the tree. I see him. My brother is coming out of an opening by the tree. I hurry back to the sunflowers to hide. It’s too late. He has seen me.

“Izzy” he screams at me. I am not going to hide. I am going to tell him the truth. Maybe he will trust me if I tell him the truth. I stop running and walk back to him.

“Daniel, I am sorry. You scared me. I was out walking around and I saw the tree.” I start crying. “I wondered if it was mother.” I am not going to tell him my true intentions. He looks at me. I am not sure if he believes me or not.

“Izzy, you want to see her?” he asks. “Go inside. I cannot get you out once you go in. Only you can get yourself out. The garden is a dangerous place for you.” I nod that I understand.

“Maybe another day then brother,” I ask.

“Don’t come back up here without me. I will bring you when you are ready.” I agree.

There is something crazy going on here. There is always something crazy going on in my life. This is the craziest to date.

“Izzy have you seen Camilla or Brooke this morning?” he asks.

“No sir. I got up and started walking on my own. I just wanted to explore.” I tell him.

He doesn’t look happy. “Do me a favor. Don’t venture out on your own anymore.”

I acknowledge his request with a smile. We walk through the sunflowers in silence. I think I may have screwed up.

As we come to the end of the sunflowers I realize another section of my brother's fellowship. There are several houses. These people are out living. They look happy. Daniel notices my stare.

“What is going through your head sister?” he asks.

I ponder in my mind if I should ask. I guess nothing could hurt at this point. I stop walking and continue to stare at the separated village of people.

“Who are they?” I ask. “I know I shouldn’t be asking you. I am just curious.”

He looks at the people in the village. He takes a moment. I am not sure if he is going to answer me. If he doesn’t I will just ask someone else.

“They are my chosen people.” He answers. “Would you like to meet them tonight?”

I am about to lose my mind. What does he mean by chosen people?

“Yes, Daniel. I would love to meet them. If it is okay with them and of course you.” I answer. “Just let me know what I should wear and what time to be ready. I am so grateful that you are including me. Thank you.”

I swear I live every single day since I got to topside like I am completely stupid. I have to buy time until I come into my power. I cannot rush into anything. I cannot be out alone anymore. He could hurt me.

Daniel walks me back to my room in dead silence. I didn’t even hear a bird make a noise as he ushered me back to my room. He walked me and closed the door. I am not even going to check to see if he locked me in. I don’t want to know. I am not planning to leave anyway, at least not at this moment. He scared me good today.