Dawn of Rebellion (Dawn of Rebellion Series Book 1) Read online

  “Up you go. We need you out there.” Unable to stand on my own, Sam bends down and picks me up, taking me by surprise. I don’t say anything though, because his face tells me not to. He looks unsure of himself. In that instant it hits me. He has no idea how the others are going to react to us being here. He took a major risk bringing us back here. This scares me. I’m just hoping these people are more civilized than the man that attacked me.

  We head outside and a crowd of people have gathered. I don’t know where they all came from. Surely if they’d been here the whole time we have we would have seen them. Once we reach the group of people, Sam puts me down so that I am sitting on a log. I notice there are many more logs around the open space and some of the people make their way to them and sit down. The majority of people, however, are still standing and staring at us. Most of them look uncertain of what to say or do but, as I look around, I pick out the ones that look angry; the distrust evident in their eyes.

  Finally, one of these angry looking people steps forward and speaks. “Sam what have you done?”

  “It’s OK Lee, they’re not slaves. They don’t work for any of the governments. They’re just people, like us.”

  “Like us?” someone scoffs, this time it’s a woman, “They’re English. I heard that one speak.” I look to see where she is pointing and my eyes land on Drew. For whatever reason, he doesn’t even seem worried. He just shrugs, all nonchalant. Doesn’t anything ever get to him?

  “Jesse, come on. They’re not all the same and you know it. These are not the people that shot Aaron.” Immediately Jesse lunges. Sam doesn’t even have a chance to get out of the way before she’s on him. Her first punch connects to Sam’s Jaw. I can tell he was trying not to have to fight her but he can’t control himself any longer as he throws her to the ground. He pins her there, not letting her move, despite her best efforts. She’s still yelling at him but the fight is pretty much over when Ma walks into the middle of the group.

  “That is enough!” Her words cut straight through the tension and bring everyone to attention. Sam lets Jesse up off the ground and even she is no longer yelling. “Now, I don’t agree with Sam bringing these two here today, but,” she holds up her hand, one finger extended as if she is scolding each and every person, “now that they are here, they are guests and will be treated as such.” Ma turns to me and says, “You have until your ankle is better, then you will be on your way.” With that she turns and heads back inside, leaving the entire group speechless.

  Everyone starts to disperse quietly. I watch them go. No one has to go far; most disappear down a stairwell that I hadn’t seen before. There must be something underground here. Sam and Drew walk over to me. Drew takes a seat but Sam stays on his feet.

  “Hey man, thanks for that. We really appreciate everything.” For once, I can tell Drew is being sincere and not just pulling out the charm.

  “If you two are gonna be here a few days then you’re gonna earn your keep. We need firewood.” Sam marches off without another word. Sensing he should follow, Drew gets up and does just that.

  Chapter 19

  Dawn

  The heat from the fire feels nice against my skin. It’s been a long day and I’m zonked. I am in the same place as earlier and a log bench is not a comfortable bed. I noticed that we haven’t been offered any other lodgings so I’m just going to have to make do with it. I guess I’ve had worse.

  It’s a beautiful night. Even through the trees I can see the sky is dazzling. The stars continue to amaze me out here. If I could forget for just a moment where I was and why I was here, I might not want to go back. These are my last thoughts as I drift off to sleep.

  I wake to the soft pounding of drums. The rhythm is soothing. I open my eyes and see that the world is still dark.

  It must be the early hours of the morning; too early for the sun to have risen.

  “Hey sleepyhead. They wake you up too?” Drew is sitting on the opposite side of the fire from me. When he sees that I’m awake he gets up and comes over to me. I have to sit up to make room for him.

  “What are they doing?” I rub the last bit of sleep from my eyes to catch a better glimpse. A group of people is standing in a circle around the fallen bear that I had totally forgotten about until now. They are holding hands and saying something. We are only close enough to catch occasional words that can slip through the sound of the drums. “We pray to you? What does that mean?”

  At that moment, Lee walks up behind us. “They’re praying for the soul of the bear and thanking the lord for bringing it to us. Useless if you ask me. Sam brought us that bear, not some almighty tool.” He leaves without letting either of us get a word in. I’m still confused. Who’s their lord? And what is a soul?

  “Did you understand any of that Drew?” He looks over at me as if trying to decide what to say. It takes him a minute to say anything at all.

  “Dawn, do you believe in God?” I am at a loss. This is the last thing I expected to come out of this boy’s mouth.

  “Shite Drew. Of course not! It’s forbidden!” I don’t know why, but I’m whispering. It’s silly really, it’s not like we’ll be overheard and thrown in prison.

  “I know it’s forbidden. I didn’t ask that. Believing is not something you do just because you’re allowed to.”

  That’s when it hits me. “Do you?” I accuse.

  He doesn’t even hesitate before simply stating, “Yes.”

  I don’t know what to say. His father is the district commander! I’ve seen what happens to religious rebels in London. Religious people are not to be trusted, only feared. That’s common sense. Most of histories wars were started because of these nutters. Is this boy that I have come to know and possibly trust one of them? I need some time to think.

  I struggle until I am standing on my one good leg and try to hobble away.

  “Dawn please stay here and talk to me,” Drew pleads.

  “I was starting to trust you, but this is too much. I never thought you were this daft.” I say.

  “You can’t believe everything we have been told about God and his followers. You already know what our government is capable of. Can’t you imagine, just for one second, that they lied to us about this too?”

  “I just need to go. Don’t follow me.” I stammer before hopping over to the cabin.

  I sit down, lean my back against the side of the building, and think. How could I have been so stupid? Ever since my dad died, I have only ever let myself trust one person, Gabby. I should have kept to that. Sure, I probably never would have made it this far without Drew; and sure, he is not bad company to have, but to trust him like I have? What am I going to do? Is it possible that he’s right about our government? I close my eyes and rub my temples, hoping for some clarity. Drew rounds the corner and sits next to me. I thought I told him not to follow me. I don’t look at him as he wraps an arm around my shoulders.

  “I know it’s a lot to think about,” he says.

  “Then why don’t you just let me think,” I snap. I instantly feel bad for my attitude. “I’m sorry.”

  Realizing how close we are, I am suddenly very uncomfortable. I pull away so that we are sitting farther apart. He lets his arm drop without saying anything or trying to stop me. I can’t look at him so I fix my eyes firmly on the ground.

  “It’s because of my brother, why I believe.” His voice is no more than a whisper. He sounds so vulnerable in this moment that I can’t help but raise my eyes to his and keep them there.

  “Brother?” I ask softly. “I didn’t think you had any siblings.” Now I feel like a proper bitch.

  “Nobody did. Best kept secret in London.” His attempt at a smile fails. “My father had an affair soon after he married my mother. My older brother was the product of that. When we were young, my father would have James, which was his name, spend summers with us. We grew really close. As we got older, James became less welcome in my father’s house. Eventually, I had to sneak out just to go see him.”


  “Are you still close?”

  “We were. He was everything to me, kind of like Gabby is to you. He taught me to trust in God and in the knowledge that he is always there. My father never understood that. He tried to tell me that James was not who he seemed. I didn't believe him.”

  “Where is he now?” I think I know the answer, because I know what the punishment for religion is, but I am hoping I’m wrong. I’m hoping that the district commander wouldn’t do that to his own son.

  Drew doesn’t speak right away. I can see the pain in his face at what he is about to say. “He sent him here. I was caught sneaking out of my father’s house to visit him. My father knew about James’ belief in God but he didn’t do anything about it until he feared that I might be influenced. It was my fault.” Drew lowers his eyes and thinks before continuing. “A few months ago I found a letter in my father’s office saying that James had escaped over here, his whereabouts unknown. I have to know what happened. After we help Gabby, I’m hoping we can find out.” I grab Drew’s hand and we sit in silence.

  Maybe I wasn’t wrong to trust Drew. There’s a depth to him that I’ve never seen before. In England, we are also taught that the colonies are a place filled with barbarians and criminals. We already know that that is partially untrue. What else am I wrong about?

  I interlock my fingers with Drew's and look down upon them. It’s time for me to trust him the way he just trusted me. “My father was killed in an accident. Just a freak car thing. My mother might still be alive but we wouldn’t know. The day dad died, she left us. She just started walking and never looked back. We were little and now all of a sudden we were on our own. We spent a long time moving from place to place so that no one could find us and separate us into different homes. Gabby always took care of me.”

  I always feared telling anyone the truth because of that one look they would give me; pity. They would tell me how sorry they were for everything my sister and I had been through. That’s why Gabby and I made a pact never to tell anyone. Sorry Gabs. I look up and Drew has no pity in his eyes. There is something else that I can’t place.

  As I’m about to turn away despite everything I’m feeling, Drew removes his hand from mine. He lightly brushes one hand down my cheek and tucks a stray strand of hair behind my ear. Then, ever so slowly, he leans towards me and our lips meet. Something stirs deep inside of me, a feeling I don’t recognize. His lips are soft and warm, leaving mine wanting so much more. Despite everything in my body telling me stay, I pull away.

  “Drew, we can’t.”

  “You’re right. I know you are, it’s just, Dawn…” I watch him search for the words but I don’t let him finish.

  “Don’t say it.”

  “Hey guys!” Sam has found us and seems to be unaware that he is interrupting anything. I use this as an escape.

  “Sam, can you help me to a place where I can sleep?”

  “Yep!” He offers me his arm to get up, “Little lady?”

  Sam helps me limp back to the fire and a place to sleep, leaving Drew sitting on the ground looking lost.

  Chapter 20

  Drew

  What was I going to say to Dawn? I have no idea. I couldn’t think of it then and I am damn glad for that. I could have ruined everything if I went on acting like some daft git. Of course I don’t have feelings for Dawn. I barely know the girl. I can’t believe I kissed her. I can’t believe she pushed me away! That has never happened to me before. I’m glad it didn’t go any farther but the rejection sucks. I have never felt that sting before now. This girl is weird. What now? I can’t face her. Maybe I can avoid her, just for a bit.

  Being pretty used to outdoor sleeping arrangements by now, I lay right where I am and fall fast asleep.

  By the time I rise in the morning, the place is teeming with people going about their daily tasks. There are men hauling water, children washing berries, women cooking breakfast, and a whole lot of other things that make this place a normal home. I guess it is normal to these people since they’ve never known anything different. It makes me wonder if this is how my brother is living now. I have no idea where he might have gone after escaping from the slave camps. I asked a few people around here about him but no one knew who I was talking about. If he is living in a community like this, it’s probably better than London for him. He was living in the east end pretty close to where I found Dawn.

  When James was a kid, my dad would send money to his mom. I wasn’t supposed to know but my mom let it slip in one of her drug induced rants. The money stopped when James got a mind of his own. Dad was under the impression that children exist to do the bidding of their parents. He saw James’ independence as a rebellion against him as if everything is about the great commander Crawford. The whole religion thing was the final straw. Along with all the other leaders of England, father saw religious people as the only people they can’t control. Well, James found God and then he helped me find him as well. So here we are. I had never told anyone about my bastard brother and now I have, seconds before being humiliated by this girl.

  I get to my feet and walk through the middle of the camp. People wave and say hello as I pass but I keep moving without saying a word. I really don’t have it in me for pleasantries this morning. I want to be alone. This doesn’t work out too well because, as I’m putting some distance between me and the others, a girl runs up beside me and matches my stride.

  “Where you going? S’almost breakfast,” she says. When I don’t say anything she should get the hint but she doesn’t. “Okay, we don’t have to talk. Let’s just walk.” And we do. The silence that stretches between us is comfortable, until she breaks it.

  “I’m Shay, by the way,” she says.

  “And I thought you weren’t going to talk,” I grunt. She is quiet once again as I stop and take a seat on the ground.

  “I thought you wanted to walk?” she says.

  I sigh. “Just sit down will you?”

  “So, where’s your girlfriend?” she asks as she sits next to me.

  “She’s not my girlfriend.” This girl is giving me a headache.

  “Oh, well, okay then.” I don’t know why but I end up spilling my guts to this unknown girl about last night’s unfortunate events. She listens quietly until I’ve finished. She gets to her feet and turns towards me before walking away. “I would never push you away if you kissed me.” And then she is gone.

  Over the next few days I steer clear of most everyone but Shay. She has a crush on me, I know she does. I’ve seen it a thousand times before. I don’t feel the same way but after Dawn’ rejection, it sure feels good. I wish she wouldn’t follow me around so much but we should be leaving this place pretty soon so I can deal. I laugh every time I see the death stares Shay sends Dawn’s way but I don’t think Dawn even notices. She is too wrapped up in the rest of these people to even give me the time of day. Hopefully we can return to normal once we’re back on the road; just the two of us.

  Chapter 21

  Gabby

  Throughout the night the sound of the howling wind and rain keeps us awake. It must be really late by the time I fall asleep.

  In the morning I wake disoriented. Where am I? I am in a bed, but not alone. I had been dreaming of home. Not the abandoned building in the east end; no, home was a little house with working windows and doors. There was a fireplace that we would curl up in front of on cold days. The kitchen always smelled like freshly baked bread and whatever mom was making for dinner; she was a great cook. Maybe that’s where I am. Maybe it wasn’t a dream. Maybe mom and dad are making breakfast, just like any other morning. I am smiling when I finally open my eyes.

  Reality comes rushing in at an alarming speed. Mom and Dad are gone, the little girl sleeping next to me is not Dawn, and I am far from home with no hope of returning. What a world.

  The events from the night before race through my mind. Even after last night, I still don’t know where I stand with Jeremy or anyone else in this grotty place. Claire st
irs beside me but as I look around the room, Jeremy isn’t here. He must have moved me to the bed and then slept on the floor last night. I feel kind of guilty for that.

  “Gabby?” Claire’s sweet voice breaks my heart every day. It reminds me of my sister.

  “Go back to sleep Claire. I’m going outside for a bit.”

  She lets out a little cough and falls back to sleep.

  I climb over Claire, looking for my clothes. I still have the blanket tied tightly under my arms. I find my clothes stretched out near the fire pit. To my surprise, they are actually dry. They’re cleaner than they have been since I got here, but then, so am I; must have been the rain. I quickly dress and head out the door.

  I am not prepared for what I see. It turns out that we were lucky to still be under a roof when we woke. Last night’s storm has tossed the place. The ground is littered with thatching that has blown off some of the huts. One or two have been destroyed all together.

  People are moving about, trying to make sense of everything, picking up. Some have already started repairs. I make my way over to my section of the camp. It is slow going because the ground has turned to mud. My shoes act like suction cups. With every step, I have to use all my strength to take the next one.

  I find Jeremy helping clear some of the trees that have fallen in the middle of camp. As I walk up he doesn’t smile or acknowledge me. Maybe last night’s conversation was a one-time thing and now he’s back to hating me. I refuse to let that be the case so I continue walking towards him as if nothing is wrong. I reach him when he is in the middle of trying to move a fallen tree. It’s not too big and under normal circumstance Jeremy could handle it without a problem. The mud, however, is making his job very difficult. I don’t know what to say when I’m within earshot so I just stand there for a minute.