Struggle Across the Tyrannical Dawn

Ares looks at the man. Though most of the time, it looked like Ares was looking through someone, rather than at them. "I'm just looking right now. Don't worry, I'll buy something. For now, why don't you tell me more about this book club of yours." He sits back down and crosses his legs. He begins to drink the coffee and eat the donut again.

 

She stumbled away as she heard the footsteps of the soldiers, and hurried past. She was quick to turn as their footsteps came to where she just was. Her breath was heavy and her staff was held tightly in her hand. She couldn’t be caught, she couldn’t afford to. She sighed, letting the cigarette fall from her grasp. The footsteps came closer, and there she was cornered like a scared raccoon. She let out a low hiss, and she moved closer to the wall. She could hear their chatter, they were only feet away now.

She was quick to react, as she moved to the side quickly nearly hitting on in the head. She surprised them as they fell to the side. Her sprint was fast, as she got to the end of the alley within seconds. She just hoped they hadn’t seen her. She ran, her lungs screamed for air, but she gave them no chance. She ran until she was sure she had gotten away. She stopped suddenly, taking in deep breathes.

The laughter came out quickly and she went at a slow trot until she stopped at the bookstore. She inhaled deeply and walked in, trying to get the flustered feeling from herself. She really hoped they hadn’t seen her.

 

Allan had to come up with something. He swallowed hard, he couldn't tell them straight off anything. He had to be calm like the wind, just like grandfather taught him.
"It's a book club....what do you think we do at a book club?" Allan said, "We look at one single featured book and discuss it after we read it....for the first meeting I will tell you the featured book and next week we will discuss it."
Allan placed a misplaced book back where it belonged. It sounded plausible enough. And Allan was calm, just as his father had taught.

 

Ares looks over at the door and sees that the woman has returned. He smiles and says "Welcome back."

......Book club? Yeah right. His eyes at the beginning gave him away. He definetly has something bigger planned. Also, he has to have a power of somekind, like me and the soldiers. I wonder what it is. Oh well, I'll just have to keep my eyes on him for a little bit....

He turns his eyes to the man and says "Sounds interesting. I'll be happy to join. By the way, my name is Ares."

 

“Then might I suggest… Doctor Zhivago?” she said, as she walked into the store, “It takes place before and during the Russian revolution. The peasant rebellion turns into a socialist rebellion. Though… of course. A story always has a plot, a love story. Between a married man and a nurse.” She paused and looked around the shelves, “It’s quite a read."

She paused and thought hard, "Or possibly, Across Five Aprils... a book that takes place during the American civil war ."

She couldn't help but laugh as she took a seat on the floor. Her legs felt like rubber.

"Or... we could read a lovely book like The Arabian Nights. Or something humorous from Discworld... Just a few suggestions. Any book sounds like a blast."

 

"I Allan Poe," he said, "A pleasure to meet you and it will be wonderful to have you in my book club...please grab a registration sheet, the first meeting will be tonight."
Allan didn't look at Ares instead he was putting books away. Allan didn't want Ares or even the girl to catch on.
The intercom crackled
The Groundwalkers will be doing their noon sweep. Please stay inside until the sweep is complete.
Thank you.
Have a wonderful lunch.
The friendly voice the intercom disappeared. Allan looked at the clock it was noon, which meant he could stop working at any time; but if he did that the girl and Ares might catch on.
"Those sound like wonderful book choices, but the book I have chosen I have become very fond of and I feel like sharing it with people," Allan paused, "It's not a bestseller even though it deserves it."

 

Ares says "Really? Any relation to Edgar?" Ares stands and signs the registration paper. He looks over at the woman. "You seem to really love books also. You should join as well. I'm sure you would like it." with a smile. He could tell that this girl hated Devil's empire as well. She could be a useful ally.

 

"No relation to Edgar," Allan said.
Allan picked up a book that was laid on the floor in the back. Flower's Dance by George Poe. Allan hugged the book for a second such fond memories of his grandfather came when he saw the book. His grandfather died before he could get any other book out. This was the book he was going to wrap all his ideals off. This was the book that started the "book club". It wasn't a popular book and no one every knew about this book.
"Men were born with freedom, they were born without rules, they were born with basic instincts and those instincts create the rules and boundaires," Allan whispered a line from the book.
"Yes, young lady please join," Allan said.

 

She nodded her head and took one of the registration papers. She couldn’t help but like this Ares person, even if her first impression of him had been a little on the stressful side. She took a pen from her satchel and began to fill the sheet out.

“Use to be a big book fanatic… but when you don’t have the money nor the time. It just happens to lose it’s lust.” She slid the paper onto the counter, and sat back at Ares’s side. Her hands gently reached for the yellow book from before, and she couldn’t help but smile once more at the blue bear on the top. It was one of her favorites. She put it back quickly, and went back to her silence. She couldn’t get the uncomfortable feeling away. There were just too many men. She looked up, and managed slight smile.

"I'm Tatee."

 

Allan watched the girl grabbed the yellow book with affection. He understood the feeling. That affecting and that fondness to a book you love reading.
"You can have it if you want," Allan said to the girl, "By the way I never caught your name."
Allan was finished with putting the books back in their regular place. He looked at the girl.
"Are you hungry?" he asked her.

 

I hadn't followed anyone inside, I stood outside, nearby, invisible to the eye. Then the anounce ment sounded. I sighed and walked into an alley, didn't want to get ran into by accident, illusions didn't help much in a fight. I leaned against the wall and watched as the groundwalkers began making their rounds. "I'm going to put all of you in your place one of these days." I said determined, I would make the world free from the uselessness of these government types. Who needed a government? Most people where good, the bad could be dealt with, laws, and boundaries were for controling people, who loved to take the control away from others. The type of people who had killed her, taken her from me, the type of people who deserved to die.

 

Ares turns his head and looks out the window, in the front of the store. He can see the soldiers walking by. He gives a grin and says "So the modern day hitler has sent out his lackeys once again. The people will run inside and cower like they always do. Their aura of invincability is very effective in keeping people under control. The people have chosen survival over all else. Even over freedom. They have chosen to live as slaves of fear, rather than to stand up and defend their honor, freedom and humanity. Its really quite sad when you think about it."

 

Allan looked at Ares, but he had nothing to say. He was just as pathetic as those people run away like cowards. All he ever did was runaway, but he didn't really have any power to stop anyone.
How could you stop people with contact telepathy? How is prying in someone else's life with one single touch any help? How is that a power?
Even now Allan wasn't sure about this book club idea. Cause all it felt like was him trying to hide behind the ones with more power. Allan tried to make sure no of his emotions showed on his face, but that was very hard.
Allan began to fix the shelves, something he did when uncomfortable or nervous.

 

The gaurds marched past me, eyes looking right over the spot i hid at. I could easily blind them all right now, specks of light right infront of their eyes, if only I had some kind of weapon to finish the job and I might have. I frowned and let them pass by peacfully, dislikeing my rather useless power even more. How could I over throw them if I couldn't hurt them. Couldn't even really stop them from moving, only blind, or confuse them.

 

Jack, One of the soldiers stopped and heard breathing. His ability was super hearing he mad a motion towards the alleyway. He grabbed his gun and held it tight. There was a little rat trying to hide. Some soldiers went around to plug the little guy in.
"Start the gas," they said.
The Groundwalkers were smart enough to mess with rats in the street in dark alleyway. One of the guards had the power to create a barrier and he did locking the rat inside the alleyway. They pumped the poison gas into the alleyway and left the little rat to die.

 

The hissing sound caught me by surrprise, I almost Let the barrier go, I could see the gas, what ever it was creaping along the ground, it was a heavy gas, it stopped at both ends of the alley and I quickly realized that I had been blocked in by barriers. I waited as long as possible and then held my breath. I was panicking, I scrambled around trying to find a door, any door. I found one, locked. I was getting dizzy, weak, I couldn't hold my breath much longer, I knocked on the door weakly, slideing down to my knees refusing to let my invisibility down. I prayed for someone to awnser, anyone. Tears running down my face, I slide down towards the ground, locked in, nothing my worthless power could do against this. I smirked, and formed a small picture of her face, I hoped I could hold it till I died, atleast I'd die content.

 

Allan heard a knocking on the back door of the storage room. Allan didn't think much of it though, since the door was so close to the heater and the heater usually bangs around. But there was something odd and curious about the banging. Even though he knew he should check it out, he didn't.

 

Ares heard the nocking on the back door. He walks to the back and opens that door. He sees the guy from earlier laying there in a cloud of posion gas. Ares takes a deep breath and then runs out. He peaks around the corner to see that the soldiers have turned and walked away, assuming that the gas has taken care of anyone in the alley. Ares drags the guy inside. Mr. Anarchy appears to be unconsious. Ares gives him cpr until the guy wakes back up. He then looks up at Allan.

......He can't even save the person at his doorstep and yet he's going to attempt to lead a "book club." I will give him another chance but so far he appears to be the same as all the others. A man who lives only for survival.....

 

Allan noticed the glance Ares gave him. What was Allan suppose to do? He didn't want to touch anyone. He didn't want to pry in anyone's life. Even with his grandfather's tags he still would have to see. The tags were getting old and soon everyone would be able to use their power inside the bookstore. If his grandfather were still alive his grandfather might fix the tags. His grandfather never taught him how to make the tags.
"How is he?" Allan asked, "I'll go get him a glass of water."
Allan felt guilty for not answering the door, but he just had a feeling.

 

I coughed, and coughed. My whole body seemed to hurt. Were was I, was I dead? I looked up to see that, Girl? in the kamono, wasn't sure it was a chick now. I coughed again and looked around. I was in the book store. That woman was here, and the book keeper. "Hey." I managed weakly and coughed again.

I was worthless, being saved over nothing, couldn't even hide properly. I turned away from the group. My glasses had fallen off some were and I could feel my eyes watering. I rolled into a ball and covered my face. All of those soilders diserved to die. "Sorry." I said loud enough for everyone to hear. "I'll get out of here as soon, cough, as I can stand up." I said trying to take deep breaths.

 

Ares sits next to the curled up man. "My name is Ares, so what's your name?" Ares looks the man over and sees the word anarchy written on his shirt.

......This kid could be useful. He might make a good follower, and he could be useful in taking down Devil. Though first I need to get him to understand that anarchy simply doesn't work. This should be interesting....

 

Allan placed a glass of water next to the boy.
"Please drink the water...I'm sorry when I first heard the banging I didn't come to get you," Allan said.
Allan walked back to another book shelve to keep himself busy. He felt as if he failed. He wasn't going to make a good leader.

 

She stood away from the group, caressing the yellow book in between her hands. The thin cover could barely be felt between her fingers, as she raced through the pages. The sound of the flipping paper raised to her ears, and she couldn’t help but smile. Blue bear. A beautiful book if any. She turned around towards the commotion and her eyes went wide as she ran towards Jack. She bent to his side, her gloved hands went to his face. She barely touched his face with the tips of her gloves, and recoiled. Her eyes met his, and she saw the beautiful blue tainted with the irritated red. She managed a crooked smile at him. Her voice was clear and beautiful as the gent tune came out. The lyrics were lost in the beauty, but the song made it’s intent clear with the sound. Hope.

 

So many things coming at him at once. He managed to get an awnser out to Ares, "Jack." He said and coughed again as the store owner set a glass of water down for him. Then made some excuse up for being to scared to react. I didn't say anything to this, and then Tatee showed up by my side. I felt her fingers touch my cheek before being pulled back. I looked up at her and she smiled weakly. Then she sang, I couldn't understand what, but the song soothed me, my sore body seemed to relax and maybe even heal a bit. Such a soothing sound, full of life to be lived, life yet to be lived, the hope for a better tomorrow. "I'm sorry." I said to her softly, and looked around at everyone. I had caused trouble for them, had needed to be saved, if only I could do something useful.

 

Allan continued shuffling books around. Allan finally grabbed a flier. He was so young, but he needed them.
He handed the Jack boy a flier.
"I know this is the wrong time, but would you join my book club?" Allan said.
Allan looked at the girl and whispered an apology as he ruined her singing. Allan went back to working.