Unique And Powerful Women
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“I’m not sure if I can do this,” she whispered. “It’s too much.”
The voice in her head was soft and soothing as it ran through the litany of what had to be done and how it would work. She could feel his hands on her body again, caressing her skin with a gentle touch that spoke volumes about the power he held over others. The way they were all so willing to give themselves up for him made her shiver at the thought of being under such control herself.
She looked down between her legs once more; there was no doubt now, even though she’d tried to deny it before. There was something inside her. It wasn’t just some kind of infection or parasite either – whatever it was, it felt like part of her. A piece of herself that seemed to have been missing ever since she woke up on Earth after the accident.
“You’re going to need your strength,” came the answer from within her mind. “And you’ll get plenty of rest later.”
He was right, but still… she didn’t know why he wanted this. What did he want? Why couldn’t he just leave them alone? Wasn’t it enough that his people had taken everything away from her already? Couldn’t he see how hard it was for her? How difficult it was trying to fit into their world when she knew nothing about them? Did he really think she could help him?
Her thoughts turned back to the men who had entered the room earlier. They hadn’t come here out of any sense of duty or friendship. In fact, if anything, they’d probably seen her as an obstacle standing in the way of their goals.
She remembered what they’d said about her ‘special’ abilities. That she should use them against those who would stand in the way of their plans. And yet, despite knowing exactly where her loyalties lay, they’d let her go without a fight. This was all wrong, somehow. Something wasn’t adding up.
Then again, maybe she was just reading too much into things. Maybe she was making excuses for them because deep down she knew that she shouldn’t trust anyone. Not anymore. Her eyes drifted closed as she tried to block everything else out, focusing only on the sound of the voice speaking directly into her mind.
“We are one,” he continued softly. “They will never be able to separate us again.”
His words brought her back to reality. He was talking about the two of them, but also about everyone else. About every single person living on Earth. If he was right, then none of them would ever be safe. No matter what happened, they wouldn’t escape his reach. His grip would tighten around their throats until there was nothing left.
“Do you understand?”
She shook her head slowly. Of course, she understood. It was simple, really. All she needed to do was agree and everything would change. But she wasn’t ready to make that commitment quite yet. She didn’t know what it meant, or whether she could actually deliver on his promise. So instead, she nodded silently.
“Good girl.”
A smile spread across her face as she felt his hand brush gently against her cheek, stroking her skin with his fingers. For the first time since waking up on Earth, she felt like she belonged somewhere. Like she was finally home.
***
Settling into the role of leader was never easy. Especially when you weren’t used to wielding such influence over other people’s lives. After spending so long as a prisoner, it took him some time to adjust. At least, that was what he told himself anyway.
Truthfully, he enjoyed having the ability to command others. To take charge of situations and guide them towards success. Even if it did mean giving up his own freedom in the process.
After all, there was always someone better than you waiting in line to take your place.
As much as he hated to admit it, he was no longer the best man for the job. It might have been nice to believe otherwise, but the truth was that he was getting old. Too many years spent hiding behind locked doors had taken its toll on his health, leaving him feeling weak and tired most of the time. When it came to leading his people, he was losing ground fast.
There had been a time when he’d considered taking matters into his own hands and ending his life, but that moment had passed long ago. Now, he was resigned to serving out the remainder of his days as the last remaining member of the council.
As the sole survivor, he would remain in control of their fate until the day he died. Until then, however, he was forced to rely on the advice of others. People who were far younger than him. Men and women who had grown up in a different era, shaped by entirely different values.
It was frustrating at times, especially considering how badly he wanted to prove himself. He’d worked so hard to build their society, only to find that the next generation would likely tear it apart in an instant. Still, he reminded himself that it was only natural.
The human race was constantly evolving, adapting to new challenges and circumstances. And while he might not approve of the direction they were headed, he respected the desire to move forward. It was their choice to make; after all, they’d done more than enough to earn it.
But even though he understood their reasons, it didn’t stop him from wanting to put a stop to it. To save them before it was too late.
That was why he’d agreed to meet with them today. Why he’d allowed them access to the power source hidden beneath the mountain. It wasn’t something he liked doing, but he couldn’t deny that it made sense.
With so few members left alive, there was little point in keeping it secret. Besides, if he didn’t share it now, they would eventually discover it on their own. Then again, perhaps that wouldn’t happen. Perhaps they would die before they got close enough to find it.
He glanced at the young woman sitting beside him. She looked nervous, shifting uncomfortably in her seat as she waited for the meeting to begin. He smiled slightly, trying to reassure her.
“You’ll be fine,” he said quietly. “I’m sure of it.”
The words seemed to help. Her shoulders relaxed as she leaned back in her chair, staring intently ahead. A small smile crossed her lips as she held his gaze, but it quickly faded away. There was still work to be done.
With a sigh, he turned his attention to the older man standing in front of him. He was dressed in a white robe, his hair neatly combed and tied back. In spite of his age, he moved with grace and poise, radiating confidence and authority.
But despite his outward appearance, he was far from being the leader of this group. That distinction went to another man, one whose presence filled the room with a palpable aura of fear. One who stood tall and proud, his eyes fixed firmly on the floor as he stared down at his feet.
No, these men were nothing more than puppets. They followed orders without question, their loyalty unquestionable. The same could not be said about the leader of the council, a man named Kareem. This was his domain, where he ruled with an iron fist. His word was law, and everyone knew it.
Still, it was difficult to blame him. After all, he’d lived through hell, watching helplessly as his entire world burned around him. All because of his decision to trust the wrong person. He’d lost everything, including the love of his life. Yet somehow, he managed to persevere. Somehow, he found the strength to carry on.
And for that, he deserved respect.
“Greetings, my friends,” he began. “Thank you for coming here today. I know things haven’t gone exactly according to plan, but we’re finally ready to begin our journey home.”
His voice echoed throughout the chamber, raising a cheer from those gathered inside. Several of the others stood and clapped enthusiastically, smiling brightly as they thanked him for bringing them together once again. For a moment, it almost felt like the good old days. Like there was hope for the future.
Then, just as quickly, the mood changed.
A single man remained seated, refusing to join in. Instead, he sat silently, glaring at the ground as he glared at the floor. His face was covered by a hood, making it impossible to see his expression. Though he wore robes similar to the rest, they were black instead of white. Most assumed that meant he was the leader’s right-hand man, but no one knew for sure.
Kareem cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Our first order of business is to discuss what happened during the attack last night,” he said. “We need to come up with a strategy to prevent any further attacks, and figure out how to deal with our current situation. We can’t afford to let anything distract us from reaching our destination.”
There was silence as he spoke, none daring to speak until he finished. When he did, they all nodded solemnly, waiting patiently for him to continue.
“To start off, we should probably have a look at the damage,” he continued. “How many casualties are there?”
Several people stepped forward, each holding a piece of paper in hand. They passed them around, allowing the others to read over the list. Some gasped when they saw the numbers, while others simply shook their heads sadly.
“It seems we’ve suffered quite a bit of loss,” Kareem concluded. “In fact, it appears most of the camp has been destroyed.”
Another round of gasps greeted his words. Only a handful of tents had survived the blast, along with a few smaller structures used for storage purposes. Everything else had crumbled into rubble, leaving only scorched earth behind. Even the trees surrounding the area appeared to be dead, their charred branches falling to the ground in a lifeless heap.
“This must all seem very confusing,” Kareem added. “After all, we don’t even know who attacked us or why. However, I think it’s safe to say that whoever did this wants us to leave.”
Silence fell across the room. No one dared to disagree with him.
“So now we have two options,” he continued. “Either we stay and rebuild, or we find somewhere new to call home.”
Again, there was silence as he spoke. It wasn’t long before someone finally raised their hand, causing him to turn toward them.
“What do you suggest?” asked a young man wearing glasses.
“That depends on your preferences,” Kareem replied after a brief pause. “If you want to remain here, then fine. If not, however, I’m afraid we’ll have to move on.”
The man frowned, looking as though he didn’t like the sound of that. Then again, nobody liked the idea of moving on. Not least because that meant leaving behind their families and loved ones.
“I think I speak for everyone when I say we’d prefer to stay,” another man said. “But if we can’t, then I suppose it doesn’t matter too much where we go.”
He looked around, meeting several pairs of eyes. A chorus of agreement rose from the crowd, followed by a burst of applause.
“Very well,” Kareem responded. “Let’s take a vote. Everyone, please raise your hands if you agree to stay here.”
They all did so, except for the lone man still sitting in the corner.
“All right then,” Kareem continued. “Those opposed to staying, please raise your hands.”
Once again, the majority of them raised theirs.
“Okay, I guess that settles that,” Kareem declared. “Now, what about the question of rebuilding? Is anyone willing to help me gather supplies?”
Everyone immediately turned to the man in the shadows. He stared back at them without saying a word, his expression unreadable. After a moment, he slowly lifted his hand, revealing himself to be the leader.
“Yes, sir,” he answered. “Whatever you need, we will provide.”
“Excellent,” Kareem replied. “Thank you. Now, we also need to decide on a location for our new settlement. What do you think, everyone?”
Nobody spoke. Instead, they all cast their gaze downward, avoiding eye contact with each other.
“Is there something wrong?” Kareem asked.
No response.
“Well, whatever it is, we don’t have time to waste standing here arguing,” he continued. “Please, get started gathering supplies and building a temporary shelter. The sooner we finish, the better.”
With that, he walked away, heading straight for his tent. Once inside, he pulled out a map and began studying it intently. Although he couldn’t see the expressions on their faces, he could feel the tension radiating from them. They were worried, scared even. But they wouldn’t show it. That would only make things worse.
Soon enough, however, the air grew lighter. Their shoulders relaxed, and the smiles returned to their lips. As far as they knew, nothing bad had happened. In fact, everything seemed to be going according to plan. And that was exactly how they wanted it.
***
A week later, the survivors gathered once more. This time, however, they weren’t alone.
Kareem stood in front of them, smiling brightly. Behind him, dozens of men and women dressed in black uniforms waited anxiously. Each wore a mask over their face, concealing any trace of emotion.
“Good morning!” he called out cheerfully. “I trust everyone slept well last night?”
Several people chuckled nervously, while others shrugged. Some remained silent, unsure whether to answer or not. Despite the recent events, none of them expected anything to happen. So why should they worry?
“And I hope everyone enjoyed breakfast,” Kareem went on. “We’re almost ready to begin the next stage of our journey.”
More laughter filled the air.
“As many of you are aware, we have decided to settle in a different location,” he explained. “However, before we do that, I thought it best to introduce myself.”
His voice echoed throughout the clearing, reaching every ear within earshot. For a few seconds, nobody moved. Then, as one, they turned towards him.
“My name is Kareem,” he told them. “I am the leader of this group, and I intend to keep it that way. My job is simple: protect my family and friends. Nothing else matters.”
There was a sudden hush as he finished speaking. Nobody dared to look away, nor did they dare to breathe. All eyes were fixed upon him, waiting for some sort of reaction.
“You may be wondering who these people are,” he continued. “Allow me to explain. These men and women are members of the Black Order. We are an elite unit dedicated to protecting humanity against those who threaten its survival. Our goal is to rid the world of evil, no matter what form it takes.”
Some of them gasped, while others groaned. Others simply sat down on the ground and crossed their arms over their chests. Whatever they felt, though, it wasn’t positive.
“Our orders come directly from the Council of Elders,” Kareem added. “In short, we are here to ensure the safety of everyone in this camp. If you choose to leave, we will escort you safely to the border. However, if you wish to remain, you must obey our rules. Do you understand?”
The crowd remained silent. No one responded, which made sense given the circumstances. How could they possibly disagree?
“Very good,” Kareem said. “Now, let’s discuss the issue at hand. First, we’ll talk about supplies. Since we won’t be traveling far, we can probably manage with just a few days’ worth. Does anyone object?”
He scanned the crowd, looking for signs of opposition. There were none. Everyone appeared eager to follow his lead. It was obvious they trusted him completely, but that didn’t mean he’d take them anywhere dangerous. Not yet anyway.
“Next up is the reconstruction of our base,” he continued. “Once again, I’m sure we can handle most of it ourselves. However, we might require your help.”
Again, nobody objected. On the contrary, they looked relieved. After all, what use would they be without weapons and armor?
“Lastly, I want to address the issue of leadership,” he concluded. “Although I’ve been leading us so far, I believe we should elect a new leader. Someone more experienced than I am, someone capable of making difficult decisions when necessary.”
This time, there was plenty of murmuring. Most of them agreed with him, although a few disagreed. Still, they kept quiet. Even if they hadn’t liked him, they understood he was doing his best.
“Who would like to volunteer?” Kareem asked. “If you don’t mind, please raise your hand.”
It took him several minutes, but eventually, two hands shot into the air. One belonged to a man named Zaynab; the other belonged to a woman known as Hana. They both smiled confidently, awaiting his response.
“Thank you,” Kareem replied. “Zaynab, you’re obviously a very strong fighter, and I think you deserve the position. However, I need someone equally skilled to act as her deputy. Who volunteers?”
Hearing his words, the rest of the crowd cheered. Many of them had seen her fight firsthand, and they couldn’t wait to see her in action.
“Excellent,” Kareem said happily. “Well done! Now, I know you all have questions, so I suggest we move on to the second part of today’s meeting.”
After that, he spent another hour explaining everything they needed to know about life in the forest. He also provided them with maps of the surrounding area, along with detailed information about the local wildlife and vegetation. Finally, he gave them a list of items they might find useful. It included food, water, medicine, ropes, blankets, and much more.
“That concludes our first session,” he announced once everyone had left. “We’ll meet again tomorrow morning. Until then, I hope you enjoy your stay.”
When the last person had gone, he stood alone under the tree. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the grassy field. His body ached, reminding him how hard he’d fought earlier. Yet despite the pain, he felt elated. He’d accomplished something remarkable, and it was only the beginning.
“Good work, Kareem,” he muttered. “Keep it up.”
The End