The Mantis Equilibrium - Book Two - 15. Chapter 15 - Confronting Disaster

The winter dawn began to illuminate through a gap in the clouds on the eastern horizon. Its light shimmered across the sea. The rest of the sky was overcast.

Gawa, Eroli, and S’Kay made their way along dark alleys and kept to the shadows where they could. The heavy cloaks that they wore helped conceal each of their unique appearances and prevented them from attracting attention to themselves. They approached the entrance to Gate Town, rounded a corner, and were startled to see an ominous orange glow on the underside of the clouds above the neighborhood. The trio grew closer, and then they saw the flames.

“This is our fault,” Eroli declared.

“None of us,” S’Kay spat, “will be taking credit or blame for the actions of Messiahs. There was never any question that what we are doing would result in consequences. We could not have known what the Messiahs would do, but you can’t tell me that you didn’t anticipate violence.”

“The worse they are,” Gawa added, “the more likely people will join our cause.”

“But I thought you said that we won’t be adding anyone else to our group.” Eroli looked at them both with an appalled expression. “We’re not doing this again, are we?”

They approached a group of people who were trying to put out the flames of a burning building.

“We absolutely are,” S’Kay replied under her breath. “We’ve taken out 27 Messiahs, but through all time, how many of our kind have been slaughtered? And now, they’ve retaliated against civilians who were not involved. The Messiahs have made themselves the enemies of Teshon City.”

“We need to strike again,” Gawa concurred.

S’Kay ruffled her feathers. “I’ve got another idea of what we attack.”

“What, not who?” Gawa asked.

They approached several more people who were standing next to a row of sheet-covered bundles that were stretched out on the pavement.

“Those are bodies,” Eroli whispered, as they passed.

“Of course they’re bodies,” S’Kay responded.

“Each one of those people’re dead because of us.”

S’Kay stopped walking, pushed Eroli up against a wall, and grabbed him by the cloak. “Keep it together,” she growled. “The Messiahs have their own corpses that they’re dealing with, but if you’re feeling guilty, why don’t you help one of these groups with the fires or injured.”

A voice rang out on a side street, and the three looked in its direction.

“If anyone would like to volunteer for our new neighborhood watch, please come and sign up at the podium.”

“You can join them,” S’Kay said to Eroli, “but make no mistake, we have started a war. This is only the beginning.”

The three of them turned down a side street.

“Sunset tonight, in the underground,” S’Kay stated to them.

“No, it’s too soon,” Eroli retorted. “The Messiahs will be on high alert.”

S’Kay simply repeated herself. “Sunset, tonight, the underground.”

“I’m in,” Gawa declared.

Eroli gave the two women an uncertain nod★