It's the End of the World as We Know it (Silent Moments Series: Book 4)

Chapter 32

6 Years and 7 Days Later

The scene around me felt almost surreal, a stark contrast to the chaos and destruction I had just endured. The sun cast a warm, gentle glow over the landscape, its beauty a balm to my weary soul. It was hard to believe that such tranquility could exist after everything that had happened. I lay there on the rover, enveloped in a serene moment of peace. Closing my eyes, I could almost feel the valley around me, the floral blooms seeming to merge with my very being. The earth beneath me was warm, a comforting presence that felt like an anchor in the midst of turmoil. A light rain began to fall, its soft patter a soothing melody against the metal of the rover. The gentle shower felt like a cleansing, washing away some of the pain and fear that had clung to me. With a sense of purpose, I sat up and grabbed the small satellite and the walkie-talkie from the hood. My movements were automatic, driven by a determination that had managed to survive against all odds.

As I set up the satellite, a sense of déjà vu washed over me. "Here we go again," I sighed, my voice tinged with a mix of pessimism and resolve. Standing alone, I held the walkie-talkie close, my voice a solitary echo in the vast emptiness. "Bellamy, if you can hear me, if you're alive. It's been 2,199 days since Praimfaya." Each word was laden with the weight of loneliness and the passage of time. I spoke into the void not knowing if anyone could hear me, but clinging to the ritual as a lifeline to the past, to my sanity.

"I don't know why I still do this every day, but I do," I continued, my voice a mixture of determination and despair. "Maybe it's my way of staying sane, of not forgetting who I am...who I was." The act of broadcasting my thoughts was a tether to my former self, to a time when hope seemed more tangible.

"It's been safe for you to come down for over a year now. Why haven't you?" The question hung in the air, unanswered. The silence from the bunker, our failed attempts to dig out any survivors, the lack of any response - it all compounded the sense of isolation.

"Anyway, I still have hope," I said, more to convince myself than anyone else. "And Raven, if you're hearing this...I love you." The admission was a whisper of vulnerability, a testament to the enduring power of love even in the face of desolation.

As I was about to give instructions on where to find me, a loud booming noise interrupted my thoughts. Startled, I turned towards the source of the sound, my heart racing. It was a ship! The sight was so unexpected, so miraculous, that it took my breath away. Emotions surged within me, a tumultuous mix of joy, disbelief, and relief. The possibility of seeing my friends again, of being reunited with Raven, was overwhelming. For so long, I had braced myself for a lifetime of solitude, and now, the prospect of their return was almost too much to process.

"To see them again. To see Raven again. I really, honestly never thought I'd see the day," I murmured to myself, the reality of the moment sinking in.

Regaining my composure, I spoke into the walkie-talkie once more, my voice trembling with emotion. "Never mind. I see you." The words were a declaration of an end to the solitude, a beginning of a new chapter that I had scarcely dared to hope for. The ship's arrival was more than just a rescue; it was a symbol of survival against all odds, of the enduring human spirit that refuses to succumb to despair. As it descended, every fear and uncertainty that had plagued me over the years began to dissipate, replaced by a sense of hope and renewed purpose.

The sight of the unknown ship spurred me into action. I hastily gathered the radio and the satellite, tossing them into the rover with a sense of urgency. My next thought was Madi, the young nightblood I had been caring for. I dashed around to the back of the rover to wake her.

"Hei, ai strik natblida, em's time kom wake up," I said softly, gently rubbing the young girl's back to rouse her. Her groggy response was typical of a child, uninterested in early risings.

However, the sound of the rocket landing was a jolt to her senses, snapping her to attention. Over the years, I had prepared Madi for this moment, for the day others might return. Her excitement was palpable as she realized what was happening. "Took yu long pleni," I joked with her, sharing in her excitement, albeit cautiously.

Madi's curiosity got the better of her, and she dashed out of the rover to get a better look at the ship. "Ai thought yu said the floudon was small?" she called out, her voice filled with wonder.

I quickly followed, my protective instincts kicking in as I stood behind her. The ship looming before us was massive, a stark contrast to the small rockets we were familiar with. It wasn't ours, and that realization filled me with a sense of dread. "Eligius... Prisoner Transport," the words on the ship read, a chilling revelation.

Madi's innocent shouts of excitement and her waving arms made me nervous. "Stop. Get down," I instructed firmly, pulling her behind me for cover. I couldn't take any chances with unknown visitors, especially not with Madi's safety at stake.

I instructed her to back up the rover and hide it from view, emphasizing the need to load all the guns. Her shock at the order was evident, but she didn't question it. "All of them," I whispered, reaffirming the seriousness of the situation.

Madi complied without complaint, her movements quick and efficient. As she worked, I kept my eyes fixed on the Eligius ship, my mind racing with possibilities and potential threats. Who were they? What did they want? The arrival of the Eligius ship was a game-changer, introducing new variables and potential dangers into our already precarious existence. My mind was a whirlwind of strategy and concern, primarily focused on keeping Madi safe and understanding the intentions of our unexpected visitors. In the midst of this uncertainty, my resolve to protect Madi and our home was unwavering. The world we knew had changed once again, and I was ready to face whatever challenges this new development might bring.