I couldn’t help but laugh nervously. Was it that obvious? “Thanks.” I smiled, following her down the block and to the right to another street with rows of houses attached. Two buildings over, we walked up and inside a large white structure made of stone. Situated outside were columns that reminded me of older architecture. Clearly, this building was from a lifetime ago, but had been restored.
Once inside, the marble floor echoed with each step Jacqueline and I took. The ceiling looked impossible to reach. Yet, a mural had been painted on it. I opened my mouth to ask how of its creation when I heard the slight creak of the wooden doors in front of us. Rebecca gestured me in, “I see you met my daughter, Jacqueline.” My eyes widened, though I tried to hide my surprise. “Yes, Olivia. She was our second born, and the government required us to give her up.”
“How is she here?” I didn’t hesitate to ask, feeling utterly confused.
Rebecca led me to an empty seat around the table beside her. “Please, sit,” she stated. “I know you have a lot of questions and the council has plenty of answers.” She told me nine members made up the council, including four men and five women, one of whom was Rebecca.
“Is that why I’m here?” I doubted they brought me in to feed me answers.
Rebecca smiled. “Always a wise young girl. No, we’re here to make sure you understand the rules and agree to follow them. If you choose not to, the choice is yours and you may leave. Of course, should you choose to leave, you will be escorted out of Haven and will have to find your way to the next town. You will be allowed to take only that which you brought with you.”
I didn’t ask where the next town was. I hadn’t seen anything between the tunnel and town. I had no intention of leaving – I just got here. “The rules?” I asked, glancing from Rebecca to the other council members.
A male sitting across from me spoke up. An older gentleman, with gold-kissed skin and dark brown eyes, he spoke with a slight accent I’d never heard before. “Your marriage to Joshua Warren is not recognized here. We don’t believe the government should choose who you spend the rest of your life with, or anyone else for that matter.” This wasn’t news to me. Rebecca had told me as much earlier before I showered and changed.
Rebecca spoke up, “Landon wants you to understand your place in Haven. You and Joshua will spend some time apart from now on. We believe it’s important for you to fit in, make friends and adjust to society. That’s not to say you can’t visit one another, but sleepovers are absolutely forbidden.” She stared at me pointedly.
“I understand.” I nodded, unsure I really had. But I did get the general idea – make friends with other people and I’ll stay out of trouble. I glanced at Landon, the gentleman who had spoken to me just moments ago. “Why isn’t Joshua part of this meeting?”
Rebecca smiled. “He’s resting. When he’s had enough sleep, we’ll present the same rules to him as well. We thought it best to separate you both, so you could make a decision on your own.”
“Olivia,” Landon began. “There is much for you to learn about our town and your own history. Jacqueline will provide you with several texts we expect you to read before the next time we convene.”
I nodded faintly. “When will that be?”
Rebecca spoke up, “Two weeks from today. We feel that gives you adequate time to get caught up on your history lessons.” It felt too much like school, but I didn’t object.
“Can I ask questions now, or do I have to wait two weeks?” I shifted in my seat uncomfortably. I hated having everyone’s eyes on me.
A wiry gray-haired woman tilted her head slightly, curious as to my question, “Go ahead and ask us dear.”
“Jacqueline is your daughter, Rebecca. Taken by the government and raised by another family, right? How did she end up here?” I was confused, to say the least.
Rebecca had a distant look on her face. “My daughter, Jacqueline, was taken by the government. In Genesis, the government expects you to give up any children you may conceive after the first.” She laughed as she said the word ‘conceive’. “Jacqueline was a beauty. I didn’t want to give her up, but knew I had no choice in the matter. So, I arranged for her to be given to a family deserving of her, people who would teach her where she came from and who she really was. When Jacqueline was merely three, there was an uprising.” She paused for a moment, “The government, in an attempt to control those who lived in that town, raided the village and slaughtered hundreds.”
Landon spoke up, “They were making a point. I was the last of the rebel alliance left, and I found Jacqueline still alive, though injured, in a fire at her home.” He paused, eyeing Rebecca before continuing, “I rescued her and carried her for days before finding a place to hide. We stayed a few months at an old gas station after I patched her up, and then with enough food and water we hitched a ride here.”
I wondered how far the journey was, but didn’t ask. I nodded, mouth agape.
Rebecca glanced at me. “Any more questions?”
“Yes,” I nodded adamantly. “You are the council for the rebel alliance?”
A young woman with short blonde hair spoke up. “We’ve never been asked that before. I’m Alexia,” she introduced herself. Was she serious? Did the people not question those in power? I was still awaiting an answer when Rebecca offered an explanation. “We are merely the council for the town of Haven. Other cities have their own council. Those towns are at least five hundred miles from here,” she answered. “Yes, many of us are members of the rebel alliance. It goes without saying that if you are here, the government classifies you as a rebel,” she informed me. “Many seek refuge at our city. We try to stay off the radar from the government, but at times their drones search the skies for towns with people.”
“You mean they have airplanes?” I’d read about such things in a history book during the fourth world war, but had never seen one.
“Yes,” Rebecca nodded. “They’re drones, non-manned planes. It makes it safer and easier for the government to control a computer instead of a person,” she informed me. “In answer to your question, we are a small part of the rebel alliance. If you remember the tunnels and the other passageways, there are two other cities not far from us. Our system includes three cities working to infiltrate and communicate within the government towns of Genesis.”
“Communicate within the government towns? You mean when it’s time for The Day of the Chosen, this is how you smuggle out children?” I guessed.
Rebecca’s smile was slight. “Sort of. It’s a lot more complicated than it sounds.” She assured me, “I promise you the other towns nearby are all allies.”
I wondered briefly what that meant. Did towns exist that weren’t full of allies? I had thought for years only the government cities and outlaws existed. Just yesterday I had learned of the rebel alliance. Now, I felt more confused than ever.
“I know it’s a lot of information. That’s why we’re trying to ease you into our community. To better understand how we live and function,” Rebecca explained.
“So, you still communicate with Genesis? I mean you’re here, but normally, you’re not?” I ran a hand across my forehead, trying to make sense of the information. I didn’t understand how she could be in two cities at once. Clearly she wasn’t at Genesis for the time being, but it concerned me how she could disappear without anyone noticing. “How is my mother?” I was afraid to ask, terrified of the answer, but I couldn’t live not knowing the truth.
“It’s difficult communicating with the groups inside the city walls, but I will relay to your mother that you’re well.”