Chapter 15: Little Bell

“Ideally, we would have dropped Little Bell, from an aircraft. That would have allowed for a cleaner, more precise hit. However, since we do not have an aircraft, the best we can do, is load the bomb into a truck and drive it as close as possible to our target.”

The person talking was Hana, and “Little Bell” was the name she had given to the small hydrogen bomb she had acquired. As part of team beta, we were being briefed about our part in the attack.

Hana was directly in charge of our unit.

“I already received confirmation from team alpha that the vehicle is in place. They are currently stationed within proximity of the van, assuring its safety. On my command, Meyer will be responsible for activating the bomb from his remote location. Your job will be to escort me to the central administrative building following the explosion. That’s it. That’s all you will be responsible for.”

I looked around me. It seemed odd that her “escort team” was entirely made up of people who had never been particularly involved in her organization. Sure, I hadn’t been here long, but these people were all Meliors; outcasts who lived outside the premise and didn’t participate in meetings.

Hana was done talking. She handed out black fatigues like hers; the rest of them were given guns and knives as well.

I wasn’t.

“You have your magic touch,” she whispered in my ears. “Of course, that is, if you decide to use it.”

Is she taunting me?!?

She headed out; we all followed her.

Nothing but darkness surrounded us. I had grown accustom to living in the dark. The idea that in a few weeks, the sun would finally rise above the horizon was almost ludicrous to me.

Soon, people would be heading to work. My understanding was that we’d detonate the bomb before the start of the workday. We were trying to inflict damage to the building, not needlessly kill civilians.

We took two cars. Hana had me stay by her side.

We drove down the same way we had gone the day before.

We passed the ice cream parlour.

We passed numerous shops, restaurants, bars, banks…

We reached the new subdivision.

We parked by the free-standing overpass in the construction zone.

Under Hana’s order, her and I climbed the steel ladder.

Everyone else, stayed at the bottom.

When we reached the top, I was surprised to see Fiori already there. Binoculars in hand, he was keeping watch on the central administrative building.

“How are things?” Hana asked.

“Good!” Fiori answered with enthusiasm. “Everything and everyone’s in place.”

There was a long silence. All three of us standing a top the overpass.

I didn’t want to be there.

It was so windy; I could barely keep my balance.

Eli would love it, I thought.

I should apologize to her, I thought.

I hope she’s safe, I thought again.

“Fenn,” Hana said. “Would you do me the honor?”

I looked at her puzzled.

The honor of what, I wondered.

“All you have to do is press on this button, and the bomb will go off.”

I took a step back. I was confused.

I thought Meyer was going to be the one detonating the bomb. So why ask me, I pondered.

“What is this all about, Hana?” I asked.

Fiori was silent. He had to know what was up.

“Meyer is a good kid. But sometimes, even the best kids, can’t be trusted. Arno is with him, keeping an eye on him. I’ve had my doubts about him now for some time. I don’t think I’m the only one he’s working for.”

She winked.

“I just couldn’t trust him to activate the bomb... Actually, I couldn’t trust anyone.”

“So, why are you asking me then?” I blurted out.

“I am not asking; I am commanding you.”

“I don’t want to do it,” I interjected.

Fiori was still silent.

“You promised me, you’d stay alive,” she said in a sad voice.

“I did. But it has nothing to do with a bomb.”

She laughed.

“And how do you intend on staying alive in this world? People like you, die. They get killed or thrown in orphanages. Is that the life you want?” Her tone had change. She was almost begging now.

“Press the button. Show me that you have what it takes to stay alive.”

She grabbed my hand.

“I just want to know that you will fight for your life. Otherwise, none of this was worth it. None of this,” she repeated slowly to herself.

Her face was twitching again. Her right eye had gone blank.

Fiori was still silent.

I didn’t know what to do, what to say. I was now holding the small remote in my hand. People weren’t at work yet. At most, a few security guards were in the building. I owed her my freedom. I owed her my life. All I had to do was press the button…

I couldn’t do it. I just couldn’t do it.

“I can’t,” I whimpered.

I gathered my courage, I looked at her straight in the eyes and added: “Your fight isn’t my fight. I can’t blow up this building. I won’t.”

I was expecting her to get mad, to pull her gun on me, or something like that. But she didn’t. She just looked at me with incredible sadness and disappointment. The look a mother would have given her child, after she had caught him stealing.

My head started hurting.

My heart started racing.

I started doubting my resolve.

I was still holding the remote.

Very calmly. Like talking to an injured animal, Fiori finally said: “Do it Fenn. We don’t have much time left.”

The wind had gotten stronger. Or was it my imagination?

I was nauseous.

I was shaking.

Something was trying to stir within me.

Deep, deep, deep down…

In my head, I could hear the piano. That song again: La Campanella.

Hana put her hand on my shoulder. It was warm.

“La Campanella,” I murmured.

“Little Bell?” Hana repeated surprised.

Then I saw her eyes flicker. Like someone waking up from a long dream. “La Campanella?” she pronounced slowly with a soft smile.

Eyes locked with hers, I extended my arm towards Fiori to hand him over the remote.

But as I did, with no hesitation whatsoever, I pushed the button.

I don’t know why, but with all my strength, I pushed the button.

The reaction was instantaneous.

All three of us watched, as a ball of fire lifted off, from the street level, right in front of the central government building.

The sight was mesmerizing.

I couldn’t take my eyes off it. It was beautiful. The destruction was beautiful. Art! Down below us, sirens started blaring. It was like the whole city had suddenly woken up. From the corner of my eye, I saw Fiori smile with burning excitement.

But Hana…

Hana didn’t seem to share his enjoyment. She just stood there, looking so small, so worn-out. She turned her head and our eyes met again. She didn’t try to hide; she didn’t pretend to be a strong leader. She smiled with sorrow and with a soft voice announced: “Time to go.”

We reached the bottom of the overpass. In the distance, smaller explosions could be heard. Gun shots too. I could only assume the sweeping of the avenues had started. I opened the door to the car.

Hana stopped me: “You go with Fiori,” she said. “I’ll follow shortly.”

Fiori looked concerned but said nothing.

I had assumed we’d all go to the same place. We were all to meet at the center of the town.

“There’s a change of plan; I need you to go back to the hotel. I need you to deliver a message to Arno.”

She discreetly handed me a small envelope while hugging me. And with the quietest most inaudible voice, she told me: “I am proud of you Fenn. I am so proud of you. Now stay alive.”

Then she was gone.

She had taken off, on foot, with the rest of the team. Leaving me alone with Fiori.

“Let’s go,” he said unconvincingly. “We both have something important that must be done right now.”

Somehow, his voice didn’t sound like usual. There was a small tremor in it. Something like doubt. Like the voice of someone trying to convince himself.

This didn’t add up. What was Hana up too?

Fiori got behind the wheel of the car. I sat in the backseat still holding on to the piece of paper.

Fiori started driving. I could see columns of black smoke rising here and there over the city. I could hear screams. An acrid smell reached us. Fiori was concentrated on the road. I closed my eyes for a second. Trying to evade all this chaos. But instead, right in front of me stood piano girl. She was crying. Heart wrenching weeping. She was holding on to her arm like she was in pain. She was so close to me; I could almost touch her. I wanted to hug her. I wanted to tell her everything was going to be alright. I could hear the sirens getting closer…

“Shit, this is bad,” Fiori cursed.

I opened my eyes. The road was barred up a head. We’d have to turn around. To find a different way.

Fiori quickly did a three-point turn.

The tires squealed loudly.

A grenade was thrown barely missing our car.

Two heavily armed soldiers came running down the street. My heart skipped a beat. We were done for. But they passed us, heading straight for the blockade. I turned to look at Fiori. He was calm. So calm.

I should be more like him, I thought.

I took a deep breath, tried to relax my muscles.

I dropped the envelope.

I had forgotten about the envelope.

I picked it back up.

I looked sideways. Fiori was busy driving. I opened it. There was a roughly folded piece of paper inside.

I unfolded it.

The piece of paper was blank.

There was no message.

I waited for the car to slow down. The road had become an obstacle course. On the seat, next to me, was a gun. I grabbed it. I quietly unbuckled my seatbelt and at the first occasion, I kicked open the door and jumped out. I tumbled to a stop. My skin ripped and scraped all over from the asphalt; gravel imbedded in the flesh of the wounds. The wind was knocked out of me, I stumbled back up my feet. There was no time to lose. I didn’t turn back. I heard the tires scream as Fiori slammed on the breaks. I heard him call my name. But I just ran. I ran as fast as I could. I could see the overpass a head of me. I had to find Hana.