Chapter 8

Chapter eight

Day three

I am still at the farm. I do not want to leave. Why can I not just stay here? I know I cannot stay here. There is so much to be done and as quickly as possible. I feel so connected here. This place feels like home.

“This is your home Perdition.” I hear a voice speaking to me but I am not sure who it is.

I am losing my mind. The void was hard on me. My mind keeps going back to it. I have spent my life not belonging anywhere. I do not belong in the underworld, I do not belong in the void, and I do not belong here. I feel lost. I am hurting.

I want to talk to my father. I have so many questions for him. I want him to know I am okay and that I love him. I want him to know I understand why he killed Koko. I may not agree but I understand.

Celestials deal with their problems so differently than normal people. I wonder if he is capable of forgiving me for leaving. I hope he understands I had no choice but to flee that hell.

I will return to him someday but first I need to find my brother and my mother. I wish my father could help me. Get it together and get out of your head P.

Mayhem is coming. I hear his boots on the floor. The sound is familiar to me. I want to remember.

“Perdition, we need to go. We have located Ryan in a small town just a little north of here. Are you ready for a road trip?” he speaks softly to me.

I could tell he was worried. I think every single person I have met is worried.

“I am ready. Let’s go!”I say as I jump up. T

There is no sense in sitting here feeling sorry for me. I have a job to do. I remind myself who I am and I walk out the door to the truck.

Big orange is ready and waiting. Mayhem is waiting for me. I step up into big orange.

“Are we going to die today Mayhem?” I ask.

“Not today my lady. We are going to collect my brother and maybe yours.” He says.

He smiles at me. That smile is amazing.

He cranks the truck. He started driving down the dirt road.

“Do not be afraid, Perdition. I will protect you with my life. You will survive this.” He says.

“I am not afraid Mayhem.” I turn to him. “Mayhem I know you will protect me but it is not necessary,” I tell him.

I do not want him to get hurt. I know we are connected. I want to know more about him.

We ride silently for hours. I lay my head against the window. My eyes are so heavy. I need a nap. My mind is scrambling with images of the void, my brother, my father, KoKo, and a voice I do not know.

I feel a deep connection with him. It is more than the connection I feel to the other descendants. I have felt something with all the descendants but with Mayhem it is different.

Mayhem is singing along as he drives. I love music on the topside. One of my favorite things so far is the music.

“Perdition, are you awake?” he asks me as he breaks from his singing.

“Yes, I am. Where are we?” I ask as I raise my head and look at the road.

“We are on HWY 64. We are almost there. We are picking up Sunnie first.” He continues to sing Rooster.

“Who is Sunnie?” I ask.

I am so puzzled right now. I have met so many people and now one more.

“You'll love her,” he tells me.

I guess he can see my stress. Three days on the topside and everything in my life are crazy! I know everything will be okay. I trust Mayhem.

He is slowing down I guess we are getting close. I see a sign for a road. Lagrange Holler. Seriously who names these places? Mayhem turns down the dirt road labeled Lagrange Holler and slows down.

He is taking it easy as he travels down the gravel road. “She will come out and get in the truck with us. Be calm. Move over closer to me.” He tells me as he moves some things from the center of his truck.

The house is an old farmhouse nothing special I guess from my limited experience. As we pull up to park, I see a young woman coming out to meet us. She runs jumps in the truck. She only says “let’s go!” And we are off.

No introductions, Nothing. We just go. We ride in silence for a while. I am not afraid. Sunnie is not very pretty. She is plain. She is almost expressionless. Her hair is short, flat, and bobbed. She looks like she has had a rough life.

I am so close to Mayhem. I can hear his feelings. I know he is anxious. He is afraid. He does not want me to know he is afraid but I can feel it.

Sunnie sits silently. She is not afraid. I can feel her determination. She turns to me and smiles

“Perdition, my family is also descendants. I know you are curious. I am engaged to Ryan. He is an unholy one but I guess you already know that. We are here to stop Venus. You already know that. We are not sure what your brother is doing but we have heard rumors. Do you know how long you were in the void?” She says to me.

Mayhem reaches toward her “Stop. Sunnie now is not the time.” He told her.

“How long was I in the void?” I scream.

“It’s not important right now. We need to get Ryan back and we will discuss this later.” He says sternly.

He glares at Sunnie.

“Mayhem you cannot do this. You have to tell her.” She turns to me. “Perdition you were trapped for”

Mayhem stops her again. “Sunnie, I said not now.” He stops the truck and gets out.

We are in the middle of nowhere. He is standing at the end of the truck sobbing.

“I am sorry Perdition. I have a bad habit of speaking when I should not.” She grabbed the door handle and got out to talk to Mayhem.

I can see them standing at the end of the truck. He is heartbroken and I have no idea why. I wish I could remember more of the void. It is just flashes of time. I know he was there at some point. I feel a deep connection with him.

I can still hear them arguing. Sunnie keeps saying tell her. I swear I am so tired of everyone acting like I am a child. I am older than all of them. I was 2000 years old when I went into the void. I am not sure how long it was.

“No No No Sunnie do not do it. She is fragile?” I hear Mayhem yell.

I get out of the truck and meet Sunnie eye to eye. “Tell me now!” I scream at her.

“It was 900 years. You were there for 900 years.” She tells me.

I am not going to acknowledge either of them as they look at me like I am a fragile little girl. I just get back in the truck and sit quietly. It’s not important. It changes nothing.

“Perdition there is more,” Sunnie says as she reaches for me.

“Let’s go” I respond.

I don’t think I want to hear any more right now.

“I am not fragile! I am a celestial and the two of you need to remember that!” I tell them.

I close my eyes. I am done with everyone babying me. It is time to do this.

“Perdition you need to know one more thing. It is important. You and Mayhem.” She stops. “Tell her before we go any further Mayhem! Tell her the truth!”

I look at both of them

“I said let’s go!” I scream.

“Perdition you have.” She starts.

I stop her again. “I said let’s go. I want to find my brother and my mother. I will get the answers I need there. Let’s go!”

We continue to drive down a long dark highway. They are both silents. I feel so angry right now. I was trapped for 900 years and a half-breed mortals got me out.

My father and brother left me there. Why couldn’t my father get me out? There has to be a reason. I feel like I just need to scream. I want to scream. I want to reach into the underworld and ask my father why he let me rot for 900 years.

“Perdition please calm down. You have no idea how strong you are. You could hurt someone. Please calm down.” Mayhems' sweet voice calms me.

“I am sorry. I just need to process all this. Whatever else can wait! Got it Sunnie? Tell me later. I cannot handle anything else right now.” I tell them both.

I close my eyes to regroup. Mayhem concentrates on the road. I drift off into the thoughts of the void. I hear screams. I hear my voice. I hear children screaming.