Page 6 of Echos and Empires
Despite it being late fall, the jungle teemed with the sounds of life. Birds called to one another from the branches overhead, their melodic songs echoing through the trees. Small animals scurried through the underbrush, their movements barely perceptible to the untrained eye. The distant crash of waves against the shore provided a constant backdrop, a reminder of the vast expanse of ocean that surrounded their island paradise.
William breathed deeply, savoring the rich, earthy scent of the jungle. It was a smell that had become as familiar to him as the dust and oil smells of northern California had.
A sudden noise in the underbrush snapped him back to the present, his body tensing instinctively. To his right, Chris froze beside him, every muscle coiled and ready. They exchanged a glance, a silent communication that spoke volumes. Both prepared to respond to any threat with the precision and ruthlessness that had kept them alive.
The noise came again, rustling and insistent.
William’s heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline sharpening his focus. He and Chris moved in unison, assessing the situationwith the practiced ease of military leaders. Their eyes scanned the foliage, searching for the source of the disturbance.
A small animal darted from the bushes, startled by their presence. It disappeared into the trees, leaving a trail of leaves in its wake. William exhaled, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. Chris let out a low chuckle, the sound tinged with relief.
“False alarm,” William said, a grin tugging at his lips. “At least we know we’re not getting rusty.”
Chris nodded, his expression mix of amusement and approval twisting his eyes up in a way William had never seen before. “Better to be jumpy than dead,” he replied, echoing a mantra they both knew well.
“Do you want to be able to relax one day?” William asked, his tone half-serious, half-hopeful.
Chris glanced at him, the scar on his cheek catching the light. “I don’t know. I think someone has to stay on guard after Victor Warrington nearly destroyed our ship. Sooner or later the mainland could find us, too. I think relaxing is gone with the world the bombs took. But I’ll take less on edge.”
The words hung in the air, a sobering truth that neither could ignore. But there was resolve in them, a determination that mirrored his own. They would stay ready, stay vigilant, no matter what it took. The life they had built was worth fighting for, and he was more than willing to do his part.
William hadn’t realized they’d completed their loop, the foliage giving way to the camp, bustling with the familiar sounds of daily life. The contrast was striking, a shift from the tension of their patrol to the relative safety and security of the island community.
Children’s laughter mingled with the clatter of tools, and the scent of cooking fires wafted through the air. It was a scene that spoke of normalcy, a life rebuilt from the ashes of the old world.But William knew that it was a fragile peace, one that required constant vigilance to maintain.
“Shift complete,” Chris chuckled.
“I think I’m going to go check in with the council, make sure there won’t be any surprises at the next meeting.”
“See, there’s a reason our unit survived, we don’t give up even when we’re safe.”
William gave a small nod before watching Chris head into the house before turning to make the walk back to the center of the town, if it could be called that.
The council building wasn’t far, and they’d likely all still be in there, because many of them had no second role to play on the island. Especially not their leader.
Maria seemed to be fair, and had appointed him to a position of responsibility, recognizing his knack for reading situations and navigating the complexities of their new world. It was a role that William took seriously, and he was determined to prove his worth to her the same way he had to Chris.
The island was a sanctuary, but it was also a constant challenge. William embraced both, knowing that he had come into his own. As he took his seat at the council table, he felt a sense of fulfillment that was as complete as the life they were building. For the first time since the bombs dropped, he felt whole.
THREE
It’swhat you have to do.The thought floated through his mind as he moved.
Liam was a shadow slipping through the shadows, little more than a ripple in the darkness cloaking the island. His family’s house stood silent behind him, his sleeping companions unaware he stepped out into the cool caress of the night.
A gentle breeze ruffled his disheveled brown hair as he paused, letting his eyes adjust to the gloom. Silver moonlight dappled the winding dirt path before him, snaking off into the swaying palms and dense foliage that shrouded their refuge. In the distance, the rhythmic crash of waves against the rocky shore whispered through the humid air.
With a steadying breath, Liam set off, his footfalls nearly soundless on the packed earth. Though his body moved with coiled precision, his mind raced unrestrained. Thoughts of Victor Warrington swirled like a gathering storm, dark and turbulent. The man was an enigma wrapped in wealth and influence, his motives as murky as the ocean's depths. He potentially could reshape the broken world and their place in it. Liam didn’t know how many of the wealthy were still out there,but if their money could be brought to the islands, there was room for a better future.
Except you can’t get over knowing he attacked you and that others here talk about him.
Liam’s heart thudded against his ribs, a potent cocktail of excitement and dread coursing through his veins with each step. The weight of his self-assigned mission pressed on his shoulders, an invisible burden he carried willingly for the sake of those he loved.
His jaw tightened with resolve, blue eyes glinting behind the lenses of his glasses. He’d do this every damn night until he died if it meant they’d be safe if something ever went wrong.
“Because something always fucking goes wrong.”
He moved like a wraith amidst the dappled shadows of the overhanging leaves, his lithe frame cloaked in dark, practical attire. The faded star tattoo on the back of his left hand seemed to pulse in time with his quickening heartbeat, a physical reminder of the bonds that tethered him to his chosen family. For them, he would unravel the tangled web of Victor’s influence, no matter the cost.
