The Blue Blaze

I Believe

Wyatt

    Holding Maddy's head in my lap, I try to reassure her. Her face is so pale. The crimson red blood coming from her nose and the deep red of her lips, make her face seem even paler. She has lost consciousness. Her body goes limp and Sebastian helps me carry her onto one of the carriages. Everyone is silent and I can feel the heaviness of worry come over the faces looking upon us. 

"Sebastian, will you watch over her for a minute? I'm going to check on the others." I ask Sebastian.

"Of course." he replies.

"Darren, Joseph?" I call out as I approach them. "Are you two okay?" 

"Yes, I think so..." Darren hesitates.

"I think they're alright, Sir. They're a little shaken up, but thanks to Miss Madalyn, they are okay." Giles responds.

    Giles is looking them over, checking for any injuries. 

"I should be dead right now..." Joseph stammers, with a distant look on his face.

"But you aren't." I reply.

    Everyone turns to look over at Maddy, her body still, lying on the edge of the opening of one of the carriages. Their faces drawn with a mix of awe and concern. Sebastian is leaned over her, brushing the hair away from her face and whispering something to her. 

    Seeing her this way, a heaviness fills my chest, creating a lump in my throat. There are no words I can assemble in my mind to describe all the things I am feeling in this moment. She looks so delicate, and peaceful. It is no true testament to the strength and power she holds inside of her. Super powers aside, she is truly the strongest woman I have ever known. 

I love her.

    The thought comes in, washing over me completely. I shouldn't be as shocked as I am right now at thinking this. But for the 30 years I have been alive, I know I have never felt the way I feel about that woman lying there. I share the awe that everyone else is feeling right now about her. But also in ways that even they don't know or understand. 

"She is waking up!" Sebastian hollers.

    The relief that washes over the crowd is so evident, it's tangible. Maddy tries to sit up, but Sebastian tells her to relax. Maddy of course, doesn't listen. She sits up, her hand rubbing her head. 

"How long was I out?" she asks.

"Not long. You really need to take it easy sis." Sebastian tells her.

"I'm fine Sebastian, really. I appreciate your concern though." she sighs, "How is everyone else? Did everyone make it alright?"

"Maddy..." I say, walking up to her. "Why am I not surprised that you would be worried about everyone else while leaving concern for yourself go out the window?"

    I can't help but chuckle a little. Not that it was funny, but out of knowing her and not being shocked that this is how she would be at this moment.

She really is quite remarkable.

"Wyatt, why are you looking at me like that?" she asks, curiously.

"It's not just me Maddy... What you did?" I pause, trying to find the words. "You just saved a lot of people, Maddy. We're just thankful, and pretty amazed."

    She shuffles herself out of the carriage, Sebastian trying to help her. The others all coming closer to her with awe struck faces. Maddy looks at them a little confused.

"Please, guys... Let's not make a big deal about this, okay?" Maddy says humbly.

"I owe you my life, Maddy. Thank you." a slim blonde girl tells Maddy.

"As do I." another voice calls out from the crowd.

    The crowd of soldiers all start calling out thanks and accolades to Maddy. 

"I appreciate it guys, I really do." she says over the crowd, "But there is something I want you to know."

    The crowd goes silent.

"We are all capable of amazing things. What I did isn't something that any of you wouldn't do. This is us. All of us. Not just those of us here, but those that are still out there, waiting to be saved. Waiting to be given the opportunity to be something great, To do something great. THIS is what I am fighting for. For a life and a world that encourages us to do good things, not for our own personal gain, but for the sake of it being the RIGHT thing to do. Thank you for believing in me, but I want you to know that I believe in each and every one of you. I need each and every one of you, because if we are going to succeed at making a difference, it's going to take ALL of us." she scans the crowd. "So... what do you say? Are you all with me?"

"YES!!" voices yell from the crowd.

    Cheering and yelling in excitement fill the evening air. Maddy returns the crowd's excitement with a smile. Maddy turns her head towards me, her eyes meeting mine. 

"Bravo, Maddy. You're going to make an incredible leader!" I tell her with such pride.

    Her eyes look down at the ground as she smiles. My hand reaches her face, tilting her chin up until her eyes meet mine again. Once her eyes rest on mine, I notice that she is fighting back tears.

"You deserve this Maddy. You have earned this. I have no doubt in my mind of how capable you are." I reassure her.

    Sebastian walks over beside her, putting his arm around her.

"Mom and Dad would be so proud of you sis..." Sebastian says, tears welling up in his eyes.

"They'd be proud of us both, Sebastian." Maddy adds, choking back tears of her own.

    Watching them share this moment makes me feel almost like an intruder. They look at one another, nodding their heads. Tears streaming down their faces. 

    I can't begin to image what this is like for them. How it was to grow up in a home that was 'normal' and happy. With two loving parents, and then all of a sudden everything changes. Tragedy struck them hard. Both parents gone, and then they're ripped away from one another. Left all alone to pick up the pieces of what was left. Having to do what was necessary to survive and whatever they had to do to try to find one another. 

    They both are stronger than either one of them truly realize. 

I admire them both.

"Let's hit the road guys." Maddy says, wiping her hand across her face. "These soldiers need a good spot to rest tonight. The new base camp should be right up the road."

    Once we are all loaded up, we get back on the road. During the short journey from the bridge to the new base camp, the events from the past few days weigh heavy on my mind. I need to figure this whole JASPER thing out, but I know Maddy would have a cow if I did any of that without her. I have zero doubt that he is still bad news, and he is definitely dangerous. 

    Getting to the new base camp is first order of business, and we are just minutes away from arriving. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but we also have a lot of hands on deck. A feeling runs through me, and this is one of the very few moments in my life that I have felt this way. 

I am beginning to believe in something again...