The Council has commissioned the building of a great wall to separate the civilized world from the dangers of the Outside. This wall will rise three hundred feet and encase the city, making it the largest building project in human history. This is following reports of attacks from an unknown force from the Outside. Prioritizing safety, the Council has halted all extraneous building activity. The wall is expected to be complete by the end of the year. Until then, citizens are encouraged to stay in their homes when at all possible and inform PeaceKeepers of any suspicious activity. – Anthony Thomas, 400 Anno Imperi Ortu

“We have to find the traitor.”

“Maybe we should lay low for a while,” Michael urges.

“It’s been a week,” I argue. “I’m not sitting on this forever. I need to find out who started this.”

“Do you have any idea what the news is saying about you?”

“No, I don’t. I haven’t left this room in a week,” I snap. He cowers and I sigh, dropping my hands on the chair in front of me. For the first time in a week, he had felt comfortable enough to come to the base. I need to control my emotions and avoid pushing him away.

After what happened, I’m having difficulty. Rather than getting over it, I’ve accomplished nothing more than dwelling on the problem. I hadn’t intended to start a fight but I allowed violent people to join my cause. Now, people have been hurt. Not only does that go against my plan, it also makes my points more difficult to make. I have to find out who did this and find an adequate punishment.

It won’t be hard to find who on my team has an invisibility power. If I gather everyone, I assume the perpetrator will brag about his actions. Whoever it was thought he was doing my will, so he will have no reason to hide. Then I can make a display of punishing that person. It’s the only way to regain the trust of the public.

“I just need to make sure people on my team aren’t going to start a war. For all I know, there could already be riots in my absence.”

“A few people grew violent in the aftermath, but most of them just ran. PeaceKeepers have arrested three individuals who clearly want nothing more than violence. They’ll be sent to rehabilitation centers.”

“So we’re going to let the person at fault get away with it? Worse, are we going to let the PeaceKeepers believe those people speak for us?”

“I don’t think there’s much you can do, Carson. The Council is on high alert. They’d notice people gathering, and you’d definitely get caught.”

“Another rally is the only way for me to find the person instigating violence.”

“It’s also the best way to get yourself killed!”

“What would you suggest?” I ask. Though I’m convinced of my path, I have to give him the benefit of the doubt. I did name him my advisor, and he had opposed the last two movements. Both of those were colossal failures, so maybe it’s time I calm down and listen to Michael’s opinion.

“You want to find the instigator – you have to consider two possibilities. First, it was someone on our side.”

Understanding his conclusion, I run my fingers through my hair and stumble backwards. How have I been so blind? For an entire week, I’ve been trapped in rage and assuming someone had betrayed me. The only lead I have is invisibility. Most people with that power are recruited instantly into Battle School. The odds are low someone on my team is wields such an ability – but an invisible PeaceKeeper is far from rare.

“You think the Council did this?” I stammer.

“I wouldn’t put it beneath them.”

“Some of their own people were seriously injured in the altercation.”

“It’s a small price to pay to catch Carson Adachi. They’ve labeled you not only a terrorist, but now the leader of a terrorist organization. They treat the rest of us like brainwashed cultists.”

“They’ve reversed the narrative,” I scoff. “It’s genius.”

“I think what we should do is regroup here. You have to comfort the loyalists because we’re likely going to be losing some. Tell them all isn’t lost – keep the faith. Then, we stay quiet for a month. Let them think you’re defeated.

“Okay,” I agree.

“Are you ready to meet tonight?”

“Tonight? Isn’t that fast? You’re always telling me to slow down,” I laugh.

“The cover of night is our best bet to get an entire group here. Tonight will be a new moon, so it won’t be this dark again for a month.”

“Can you spread the message fast enough?”

“That won’t be a problem,” Michael smirks. I retreat to the stairway and allow him to play with the technology within our base. Scolding myself for not seeing the obvious truth, I stare into the distance beyond Michael. Somehow, even after everything they’ve done, the Council has still convinced me they’re good. The thought that they’d betrayed their people hadn’t even crossed my mind. After Michael explained it, it seems too obvious to be false.

My followers will likely have questions. Having had even less direct exposure to the Council’s corruption than I me, most of them will probably not attribute this act of violence to their leaders. They’ll want to know why I allowed this to happen, but they’ll also want assurance that we haven’t been beaten. It’s becoming clear to me that I shouldn’t have doubted Michael’s advice, and I don’t intend to do so again. From now on, I’ll do a better job setting my own viewpoints aside long enough to listen to him. When we started our movement, we divided the labor intentionally. While his brain is quite the formidable force, he isn’t generally the best speaker. I have tried to take his role when I should be focusing on maintaining my confidence and public image.

The natural response to my repeated setbacks would be to question myself, but I can’t slip into that habit. Since I was a child, my confidence has been feigned. Now, I feel a shred of it becoming real, and I have to cling to that. My followers need a pillar of hope – they need to believe in our resistance. If I expect them to put their faith in me, I have to trust myself.

Rising, I retreat to the bathroom and stare into the mirror. Splashing my face, I try to wash away any sign of doubt. The wrinkles brought on by stress are resilient, and the faltering confidence in my eyes won’t fade. Forcing a smile onto my face, I push away thoughts of potential failure. Thinking back to when I protected Rhett, I draw on that feigned confidence to support what little I have. Back then, I didn’t think of failure – I only knew what had to be done. What has to be done now is nothing more than a speech. I can muster that much.

My smile washes away my fear, and the face in the mirror is almost enough to convince me everything is fine. This is the leader they need. I’ve had to grow along the way, and I’ve had to face failures. I don’t intend to hide that from them. However, when I step outside, they will see me for what I’ve become. I will explain to them that we’re stronger after those setbacks. Our goal is still within reach, but we need patience.

I hear people start to filter in, so I stay concealed in the bathroom. Mingling may be beneficial, but I’ll leave that to my inner circle. Right now, all the nerve I can muster will be channeled into the speech I’m preparing to give. The conversation grows louder on the other side of the door, and I think it’s finally time. Cracking my neck, I offer myself one more second of potential doubt. Smiling broadly, I hide my fears and open the door.

The room falls silent as everyone turns to face me. This is the moment of truth. If I falter, they’ll see my weakness.

Slowly, I rise above them and bring myself to the second story. Standing at the landing of the stairs, I can easily look over the crowd. We seem to have lost quite a few. According to Michael, only three had been arrested. Any other missing members are likely to have given up on the cause after the debacle at town hall.

Part of me wants to dismiss them as weak and claim we didn’t need them. On a deeper level, though, I know I probably would have run away only a few years ago. Facing conflict isn’t easy, and they didn’t have any encouragement from their leader for a week. It’s not unreasonable for them to give up hope. All I can do is move forward and keep the rest of the group from following that path.

“Thank you all for coming,” I open. My smile breaks in a choreographed motion, but I maintain every ounce of self-assurance. “Last week was difficult.”

“It was the V’s!” One of my followers yells. Prepared for that assertion, I chuckle and drop my head.

“It wasn’t the V’s. It was the Council. Remember – fighting the V’s plays into their goals. We have to address their brainwashing and their corruption. Don’t surrender to their fabricated lines. The only way we can succeed is by uniting.”

The crowd cheers and a few pump their fists into the air. I see Michael smile approvingly from the front of the group. Even Jade seems to give me her seal of approval, though her smile is quickly replaced with a scowl the moment she notices my gaze.

“I’m young,” I admit. “I’m an idealist. I have dreams just like the rest of you. I can be reckless. This is why I don’t lead alone. I’m not going to lecture any of you – I’m just reminding you as well as myself to be patient. Our ideals are worth the wait, and they’re worth the struggle. Bear with me, for this journey will not be a short one. From here on out, things will slow down, but it doesn’t mean there’s no progress. Every single recruit, every heart stirred, and even every conversation is a step in the right direction.”

My humility combined with encouragement seems to spark a fire in the group. Lukas nods, though he clearly isn’t fond of taking things slowly. Alexis smiles and cheers, leading the rest in a brief applause. Holding my hands up, I quiet the people down.

“What I’m going to ask isn’t easy. We’ve had the briefest glimpse of our goal, but no we have to be realistic about the timeline,” I say. My speech is cut short by a sudden explosive noise. Before I have a second to react, I see someone in the back of the crowd fall to the ground. Blood spreads pools around him, pouring from a wound covered by his body.

I jump from the second story and float to the front of the crowd as they all turn in surprise and fear. PeaceKeepers tear through the wall, spraying bullets blindly into the room. Standing my ground, I hold my hands out and stop the onslaught of bullets. As each one impacts my energy, I feel another direct assault to my brain. Struggling to stay standing, I keep the wall up. Desperation fuels my ability as I try to protect my people.

Unable to think straight, I try to find a solution. The best we can do is funnel them through one place. Now, they can find any weak spot in the wall. We could run, but I’m not sure we have time. Only the Runners would have any hope of outrunning a bullet. Without thinking, I pull the opening to my room up.

“Go!” I yell. “We can defend ourselves better!”

A few people take my advice, but others refuse. As a stray bullet breaks through my barrier, I fall to my knees. My head feels like it’s going to explode, but I try to contain myself. Bullets continue to fly around me and I hear sickening sounds as they pierce skin and muscle. All around me, people fall to the ground, struck by bullets I’m not able to contain.

Lukas and a few other runners charge forward, trying to draw fire. Wyatt steps in front of me and turns himself to steel, offering me a shield. Michael comes up behind him and grabs my hand, pulling me to my feet. Roaring, Jade rushes recklessly toward the gunmen and punches one in the jaw. Even over the commotion, I can hear his skull shatter. I didn’t want anyone to die, but I can’t tell them to not protect themselves.

Nadia ignites her entire body in flames, threatening to burn down the hideout. With each step, sparks fly from her flesh. Grabbing a PeaceKeeper’s neck, she scalds him with third degree burns. Another PeaceKeeper aims his gun toward her, but the weapon is knocked from his hand. I see Dean standing a few feet away throwing various object at the heads of the enemies.

“Come on, Carson,” Michael urges. “We have to get you out of here.”

“No, this is far enough. You get somewhere safe,” I tell him.

“What do you mean?”

“I’m the one they want. Don’t die for me, Michael.”

“I knew what I was signing up for.”

Suddenly, his arm is pulled from me and he’s flying through the air. A Brawn had somehow slipped through the first line of defense. He throws a punch, but I manage to stop him from moving. Trying to distract myself, I focus solely on survival. The pounding in my head demanding my attention can wait until we are safe.

A Runner sneaks up behind Dean and hits his temple with a nightstick. Dean falls to the ground, completely unresponsive. The war continues around me with Runners trying to outpace each other and Brawns catching each other’s fists. Our most important disadvantage is that we don’t have guns. Being a nonviolent group is backfiring dramatically. I want to stop this, but I can’t get away from this Brawn. If I could get rid of him, I may be able to take their weapons.

The Brawn’s arm starts twitching as he breaks free of my hold. Every muscle in my body trembles. I know I can hold him back. My limitations are only in my head, I just have to fight through them. A fist to my back surprises me, stealing my attention from the barrier. Free of my hindrance, the Brawn punches my stomach. Grabbing my arm, he lifts me and slams me to the ground. I shield myself in a thin telekinetic barrier and the impact destroys the ground beneath me. As I collide with the basement floor, I feel the air flee from my lungs.

I try to slide back, inching my way toward the wall. Instead, I run into a corpse and scurry to the side. The basement is painted red with blood of both PeaceKeepers and my team. In the fog of war, I can barely tell which side is which. I try to blast an attacking PeaceKeeper from one of my followers, but I can’t muster any energy. The attempt alone is enough to leave me with a searing agony in my head. Gripping either side of my head, I close my eyes and clench my teeth. When I open my eyes again, I see the barrel of a gun inches from my forehead.

“This is the end, Adachi,” the PeaceKeeper declares. I can’t stop him. Maybe I can redirect the bullet, but I don’t know who may be in the way. Even if I were willing to make that sacrifice, I don’t think I could find the strength. With a heavy sign, I prepare myself for the inevitable. I won’t close my eyes. I won’t cower. I may die, but I refuse to allow them to defeat me. Someone will make it out, and they’ll continue my legacy. They have to.

Suddenly, his arm flies upward and the bullet shoots through the ceiling to the first floor. Convulsing, the man tenses up and his grip on the gun tightens. I see a pair of small hands wrapped around the PeaceKeeper’s face. Digging her fingers into his cheeks, Alexis uses him as a ground to discharge her electricity. I’m certain he’s already dead, but she continues to shock. Then, as quickly as it had begun, it ends. Her hands fall to her sides and the corpse drops. Expecting a triumphant smirk, I smile as Alexis’s face comes into view. Her expression is completely blank. Alexis falls forward, collapsing toward me. I catch her and gently set her on the ground. Finally, I see the bullet wound in the center of her back. No one else is in the basement. I try to climb to my feet to face the invisible PeaceKeeper, but I can’t move.

Slowly, a woman materializes in front of me. I’m struck with a sense of familiarity even before I can see a face. As her sad eyes become visible, I fight the urge to vomit. Her gun drops to her side and she squats down in front of me.

“Mom,” I choke.

“You need to go, Car,” she whispers.

“You killed my friend,” I accuse.

“She was violent. I didn’t have a choice.”

“This is why you never talk about work,” I scoff. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to see her the same way again. Right before me is the woman who’s always made me cereal and lovingly asked me about my day. In her left hand, she holds the gun which she’d used to kill my friend. Her right reaches toward me, but I recoil.

“They won’t stop until you’re dead, Carson. They sent me to bring you in, but they won’t settle for rehabilitation. Not after the commotion you’ve caused. You need to go.”

“Where could I go?” I spit.

“I don’t know. Just… Hide until I can fix this.”

I struggle to my feet and step backward, absorbing the scene in front of me. Footsteps approach us and my mom dematerializes again. Three PeaceKeepers have guns aimed at me. With every ounce of strength I have, I shoot myself upward and shield myself with energy. As the PeaceKeepers fire, I burst through the floor. The first floor isn’t much better than the basement. Bodies cover the floor and the stench of blood continues to assault my nostrils. A few loyalists are still fighting, but our numbers have been all but eradicated. I search for the remainder of my inner circle. Jade and Lukas of them are still on the front lines, but I can’t find Michael.

My heart feels heavy as I realize what that means. Trying to convince myself otherwise, I scan the room. An angled bullet hole in the ground grabs my attention. Following its trajectory, I find an unrecognizable man. Crumpled in a corner, his hair painted red with blood, is yet another victim of the Council’s violence. Slowly, I approach him, terrified to move the body. Kneeling beside him, I push on his shoulder and see Michael’s pained face.

“No,” I mutter.

“It’s okay, Carson,” he coughs.

“You can’t die,” I stammer, fighting back tears. “We’re going to change the world.”

“No, you are. It was always you,” he stammers. He tries to reach toward me, but his strength fails him. His eyes flutter closed as his hand falls back to the ground.

“Come on, Powerless,” I hear. Jade calls to me from the other side of the room. Glancing toward her, I see two PeaceKeepers squirming on the ground. Mercilessly, she crushes one of their skulls. The other tries to crawl away, but she catches him and throws him toward a few more of his companions. “Don’t let them beat you. You can’t give up on me now! You owe me a rematch!”

I want to give up. I’ve lost all my support and the one person capable of making decent plans. All of my hopes to bring change have fallen apart before me. What little is left is a mere shadow of my resistance. Even if I run, they’ll find me. I can never return to my life. I don’t see a point. However, as people continue falling for me, I know I can’t surrender. They’ve given their very lives to my cause. I won’t let that go to waste.

Frustrated, I punch the wall and muter under my breath. The force I’m somehow able to generate shakes the entire building. The pain in my head has been forced out by adrenaline. Standing, I turn to face the others. The three PeaceKeepers from the basement are climbing the stairs. Clenching my fist, I collapse the stairwell with them inside.

“My team, to me,” I order. Without hesitation, Lukas, Wyatt, and Jade retreat to me. The remaining PeaceKeepers fire, but I stop the bullets and turn them back. I don’t know if I throw them with as much force as they originally had, but it’s enough to break the skin. They all fall to the ground and clench wounds. My mother materializes beside them and looks at me with horror.

I hesitate, unsure of where to go. Even if everything is lost – I can’t stop fighting. I can’t let the Council have their way. Still, my legs won’t respond and my heart is too heavy to carry.

“Let’s go, Powerless,” Jade demands, grabbing my shoulder.

“I can’t,” I stammer.

“I’ll help,” Lukas offers. He grabs my arm and wraps it around his shoulder, supporting me as we stumble away. Turning back, I give one last look over my shoulder to Michael’s body. He gave his life for me, and he believed in me until the last second. Not in spite of those I’ve lost – but because of them – I have to move on. I have to bring their vision into light.

“Where can we go?” I ask. My aching brain can’t formulate a plan. Even if it could, I’m convinced there isn’t a good one.

“Outside,” Lukas suggests.

“What?” I choke. The Council has never hesitated to tell us how dangerous it is on the other side of the wall. Savages and mutants are all that awaits us. There is nothing of value Outside.

“Nothing but Death is Outside,” Wyatt argues fearfully.

“How is that different than what’s in here?” Jade retorts.

“Okay,” I agree. “You’re right. We’ve killed PeaceKeepers. There’s no going back for us here.”

“What if there’s no world? What if we get to the other side and it’s an empty void? Or a barren ocean?” Wyatt rambles.

“Then I guess we die,” I assert. In silence, we race toward the wall. A pair of PeaceKeepers tries to stop us along the way, but I blast them into a building. Cracking the wall behind them, they slide to the ground. Even in our injured states, it doesn’t take long for us to reach the edge of the world as we know it.

Having gathered plenty of attention along the way, we seem to have a small following. Living at the outskirts of town, the farmers seem particularly concerned about the world outside. Mostly, the curious citizens keep their distance and tremble in fear. Even more than me, they are terrified of the Outside. In their eyes, they beg me to refrain from unleashing that evil upon them. One brave soul steps forward, quaking in his shoes and clasping his hands before him.

“Mr. Adachi, please. Please don’t do this. You’ll bring Death inside.”

I could fly over the wall, but I don’t want to risk losing concentration along the way. Especially carrying three people, it is far too likely I get tired in the ascent. Anyway, this will make a bigger scene.

PeaceKeepers force their way through the crowd of terrified onlookers. Even they don’t risk drawing their guns. Now they have decided to try to negotiate. They think it’s okay to murder everyone who trusts in me, but they would do anything to stop me from poking a hole in their precious barrier against the Outside.

“It’s too late,” I growl, shoving the PeaceKeepers back into the crowd. With a thrust of both arms, I shove a massive energy blast against the wall. Bricks and concrete explode outwards and the sound is nearly deafening. My jaw drops as I stare at what awaits me. It isn’t Death or a void. It isn’t a sea. It’s a massive plain. Vast and empty nothingness. Taking a deep breath, I step forward and lead my surviving team through the wall.