The Last Hope

Kia screwed her eyes shut against the howling wind that buffeted the hood of her coat. The sharp moonlight slithered it’s way in through the patchy leaves of the trees overhead. 

A cold shiver rustled down Kia’s spine. 

Kia clenched her teeth, the screech of a nearby owl nearly scaring out of her skin. 

She pushed back the urge to pace impatiently when her mother, -the almighty Cassandra Green- shed the hood obscuring her face in a swift, liquid motion. 

The member to her right did the same, followed by the member on his right in a flawless, smooth ripple across the circle. 

Kia awaited her turn to take her hood off, and was blinded by the piercing glare of the moon in the sky. 

Without missing a beat, Kia's mother took a graceful step forward. 

“Bring in the sacrifice!” She boomed. Her voice even, neat, cold. 

Fake. 

Because it was all an act. An act to hide them from the New World. 

A cruel organization that took over the world in an effort to rid it of human culture.

Rites. Rituals. Practices.

Birthdays and celebrations that made us who we are. Why? Because it was their version of perfect. 

Kia’s mother was indeed working for them, but at the same time against them. 

Uniting the people Commander Kilmer, the man in charge of it all, sent to her to be punished. 

Little did he know Cassandra had a plan. A plan to fix our culture again. 

Kia hadn’t ever hoped more for something to work out. All of what her mother had put together over the past few months, it was their last hope. To overthrow the New World and fix what they broke.

Two members on the far left side dipped their heads and slipped away only to drag back a screaming and kicking woman. 

They tossed her into the cold, hard floor right at Cassandra's feet. 

Cassandra placed a hand on Kia’s shoulder, giving her an encouraging nod. 

Kia crouched down to the woman. 

“We’re not here to hurt you,” she whispered, her voice echoing. The wind rustled the trees, so gently it made it seem as if they danced to her words.

The woman shook and looked up to meet Kia’s eye. 

“Join us and with your cooperation along with that of others, we promise we can bring the New World down.” 

The woman gave her a look of hope.

She looked crushed. As if the weight of Kia’s words decimated her.

And Kia knew why.

Hope was too strong sometimes.

“I-”

Kia placed a hand on her shoulder. She flinched but Kia couldn’t blame her. Who knows what this poor woman had gone through? 

Kia noticed the small cross imprinted in ink on one of her fingers and drew an imaginary one on her forehead. 

The woman gave her a gentle smile and slowly stood up. 

Kia took her hands to steady her wobbly feet. 

“What’s your name?” She asked gently. 

“Mallory…” She replied in a whisper so light the midnight breeze threatened to lift it and carry it away. 

The members around Kia lifted their heads and spoke with perfect synchronization.

“Welcome, Mallory.” 

                         . . .

Kia spent her cold November nights with meetings. Meetings that all went the same.

Someone gets dropped to them, and they recruit them to join their organization.

Simple enough, right? 

That’s what Kia had thought a while back before they found out they got random check-ins from Commander Kilmer’s generals and lieutenants. 

That meant they had to take it easy and be careful with how many of their members got to be seen during the cleansing rituals so they wouldn’t get caught.

They were doing well.

A few more people and they’ll be able to come after Kilmer and his men. 

Kia’s mother snapped her back to reality. 

“Kia, why don’t you go and get our prisoner from the cabin?¨ 

Kia nodded and followed the usual winding old gravel road.

The dry long grasses growing at the edges danced with the wind, tickling Kia’s legs every once and a while. 

When she made it, she caught sight of a boy around her age, maybe older sneaking around the back. His soft brown hair gleamed in the moonlight. 

He snapped around when Kia approached and took a few steps back.

His eyes met Kia’s. 

Kia reached out to him but he stepped back even further. 

“I'm not going to hurt you,” Kia said softly. Her voice carried by the breeze. 

“That's what they all say,” the boy shot back. 

“No, really.” Kia pleaded. “I don't want anyone to get killed. I…I think it’s really unfair you know? That people get killed for following their cultures.”

The boy flashed her a surprised look. “You believe that too?”

“Yeah,” Kia continued. “And-“ 

“Are you part of any organization?” The boy asked her eagerly. His blue eyes glistened in the moonlight. 

“I-“ Kia started. 

“Never mind,” the boy interrupted and handed her a card. “We meet up tomorrow night when the moon is highest. We’re our own organization. I’d like to have someone like you with us. We need more people.” 

Kia should have protested. Told him to stay so he wouldn’t get caught. But she couldn’t give her mother’s secret away to him. 

“I’m Aidan, by the way.” He said, offering her a smile before turning around and walking away. 

“Kia,” Kia called out to him before he got too far. 

Aidan stopped but didn’t turn around.

“Nice to meet you.” A pause. “Kia.” 

. . .

Kia stood there for a while. Replaying her conversation with Aidan over and over again.

He seemed nice, and Kia realized painfully that there weren't enough people in the world who still cared about the havoc the New World was wreaking. 

She tightened her grip around the card Aidan had slipped to her. She owed this boy something. The desperation in his eyes was so raw and real it made Kia’s heart break. She needed to help. She owed him that much. 

Her heart was in a war with her head. Yet neither could seem to win. Each had to pitch in, making for a reasonable solution that for some reason still seemed wrong.

Quickly, making her decision without overthinking about it, Kia slipped away, not packing much. If she did her mother would freak out. 

Actually, she would’ve freaked out regardless of what Kia did. 

Losing a prisoner wasn’t the best thing to happen to her right now. 

Once she was a safe distance out of the forest, she took out her card that Aidan had given her and flipped it around her hands. On it, was a simple scrawl: a meet-up location. 

Kaia knew the town well enough to make it there herself. 

She passed through masses of people praying, chanting, reciting prophecies and curses. 

Because that was what the world was now. 

People prayed to live.

They bowed down to the New World to justify their survival.

But some didn’t. And those were hunted. 

Kaia cursed herself for getting involved but she had to do something to stop the New World. 

Something to stop their sick little games. Their stupid laws. Who did they think they were? Better yet, what were they doing? Wiping away everything that made them human, and for what? To stop misunderstandings? 

Anger? 

Arguments? 

That always happened regardless. The world has always been a little twisted.

Kia knew that. Everyone knew that.

But the New World straight up broke it. 

Kia shuddered and slunk into an alleyway. 

She followed it’s twining and twisting path to an abandoned warehouse. 

As if summoned by her presence, Aidan slipped out of the shadows. 

“Glad you made it.” Aidan told her with a smile. “I am honored to introduce you as a new member to our organization.” 

Suddenly, a dark shadow fell across Aidan’s face. 

“So many people who stand up to the New Worlders never make it. We’re losing the fight. I’ve been in organization after organization and they all collapse eventually. We get caught.” 

Kia’s heart twisted. “I’m sorry,” she told Aidan quietly. “If this one doesn’t work out. I…” 

Kia trailed off. Realizing the impact of her words too late. But really, was it wrong to trust Aidan so early? He had the same views as her. 

Aidan was looking at her with a hopeful face. His eyes urged her to continue. 

“I have another organization we can go to. We’d be glad to take you in.” Kia finished.

Aidan smiled. His smile faltered. “Let’s hope this one lasts,” 

Aidan let Kia inside. 

Inside the warehouse there was at least two dozen people huddled around. 

Aidan introduced Kia to them all. 

As the meeting began to start however, the front door was suddenly thrown open, followed by shots firing. 

They were deafening. 

Kaia felt someone grab her arm and lead her out through the back door. 

Incredibly dumbfounded and disoriented, she stumbled.

Aidan caught her. “Hurry, we have to leave. Now.” His voice sickenly urgent. 

They’ve found them too. Kia realized. Just like Aidan had predicted. 

Kia ran blindly. Half following Aidan, half following her instinct. 

Once they had made it far, Kia stopped to catch her breath. 

“What was that?” Kia wheezed, even though she knew the answer. 

Aidan gasped a mouthful of air. “We were found,” he sounded shocked.  

Kaia shook her head. “It’s getting out of control.” She whispered angrily. “Every day the New World creates more and more laws and rules and torture organizations because they are so dead set on ‘changing the world’” Kia added mocking air quotes at the end. 

Aidan nodded in acknowledgement. 

Kaia let herself fume over everything.

The world was changing. She knew that. But the New World was taking advantage of it.

Taking control of government after government and banning all cultures and practices. To ‘make everything better.’

Because their vision of a perfect world was a world where cultures did not clash. Where everyone was in harmony with their beliefs.

And Kaia was sick of it. 

The Correctionists, -the cult that Kaia’s mother runs- was made for the sole purpose of cleansing people of their religions who had resisted the New World’s anti-religion laws.

Of course they didn’t actually do that but if the New World did, that was all that mattered. 

And it all revolved around one person: Commander Kilmer. 

Aidan turned abruptly to her. “So you were saying? About that organization?” 

“Right. The Correctionists.” Kia answered. “We’re probably the biggest organization working against the New World ever. If we go now, we can make it by dawn.” 

Kia nodded to the faint, but viable outline of trees in the distance.

“Quick, hurry. We can make it back to the camp before the authorities pick up our trail.” 

Kia led Aidan through the city and dense wood up to where The Correctionists called home. 

Kia felt her excitement build up in her stomach as pushed back some branches to reveal the main clearing. As dawn neared, a faint line of pink light peeked up above the hill, illuminating the clearing and trees surrounding it with a soft, glowing hue. 

Aidan gaped at the sight. 

Kia pushed down the urge to show him around. “I’ll go find the others. I’ll be right back.” She promised. 

When there was no reply, Kia turned to see Aidan messing with his watch. A frown creased on his forehead. 

Kia matched his frown. “Aidan?” 

Aidan looked up. “Yeah sorry, I think this stupid thing ran out of battery.” 

Kia nodded slowly and took a step back.

“Well I’ll be back then. You good here by yourself?” 

Aidan waved her on. “Yeah. Go.” 

Kia nodded, more confidently this time before bolting off into the bushes.

She ran through the forest that she knew too well. 

As she ran, she remembered when she first got here. The New World had taken control of the U.K a few months back, and Kia’s mother had dragged her away, to take a job with the government. Except for Cassandra was actually plotting to overrun it and work against it in hopes of freeing her country. 

And now, it was finally happening. 

That thought gave her hope. 

Hope was rare around here. But when it managed to push through the boundaries, Kia took it and cherished it. She held it close, hoping it wouldn’t ever run away again. It always did, but it always came back. 

Kia put on a burst of speed and made it to the cabin where a few fifty of the members stayed. Including her and her mom.

“Mom!” Kia gasped as she pushed through the mass of people to get to the center of the room. 

Sitting within a circle of candles was Cassandra. Murmuring softly to herself. 

Her eyes flitted open and she gave Kia a questioning stare. 

“Quick, there’s someone you need to see.” 

Kia filled her mother in as they made their way to the main clearing. Almost all of the members walked close behind them. 

“And you’re saying this boy wants to help us?” Cassandra asked, her voice an odd mix of satisfaction and confusion. 

Kia nodded. “He’s right through here…” Kia let her voice trail off as she was met with the sight of an empty clearing. 

“What? He was right here, he couldn’t have gotten far.” Kia felt her panic rise up in her chest. Why it was rising like it was, she couldn’t explain. 

Cassandra snapped her fingers. “My brothers and sisters, we search to find.” 

And just like that, they were off, disappearing behind the trees in an effort to find Aidan. 

Kia slowly walked to stand in the middle of the clearing, her face illuminating in the soft glow of the rising sunlight. The gentle breeze swaying her black hair. 

She heard a click behind her followed by a cold, menacing chuckle.

“Kia, Kia, Kia.” 

Kia whirled around, pushing back the cold dread in her stomach. 

She gasped sharply as Aidan pointed a gun at her. 

“What…” Kia started. But her voice trailed away when she realized Aidan wasn’t alone. He had men stationed in the bushes behind him. 

“I didn’t think you’d let your guard down so easily.” Aidan crooned. “But I deeply thank your stupidity Kaia, I really do. Because you led me right to the heart of your camp.” 

Kia struggled to find meaning in his words. “Aidan, what are you doing?” Kia asked sharply. Instinctively taking a step back. 

“I’m sorry if I didn’t introduce myself properly earlier,” Aidan continued, ignoring Kia’s words. “The name’s Aidan,” a pause, “Kilmer.” 

Kia let the truth sink in. Aidan Kilmer. As in Commander Kilmer. The leader of the New World. The man who created organizations to destroy religion. And Kia had let his son right into the biggest anti-religion law-breakers in the world. How could she have been so stupid? 

Aidan took a step toward her, his blue eyes pools of rock solid ice. 

“Get them,” he said. His words echoing brutally. 

His soldiers flew out of the trees, guns loaded and ready to catch everyone Kia had ever cared about. 

Kia should have run. She should have tried to go and warn her mom and everyone else, but she was frozen. 

Aidan walked up to her, his gun still pointing at her. 

“Thank you,” Aidan fixed his cold blue eyes on her. “People are so easy to infiltrate nowadays.”

Her mind processed his words. Realization hit her like a brick. 

She turned to Aidan. “All those other organizations you were part of. That got caught…” Her voice hitched. “You ratted them out…” 

The fury inside Kia didn’t simmer. It boiled so intensely it spilled out. Hot and angry. 

She tried to kick and punch at Aidan.

“How could you? I thought I could trust you!” 

Aidan turned to her. “You were wrong.” 

Kia’s attempts failed her painfully. 

As they arrived at a military grade truck, Aidan shoved Kaia inside.

He met her eyes with cold brutality. 

“Thank you, again,” and he left, his gun hoisted by his side.

Kia laughed bitterly to herself. She probably wouldn’t even have a funeral once the New World was done with her. Because that was also illegal. Banned. Wiped away.

Because just like that, their last hope, was gone.