The small farmland seemed to stretch for miles. Whenever Jess stared at it, all he thought of was the past. What used to be there? What forest used to stretched for miles? Who first cut it down? Who used to eat the wheat that grew at every harvest?
But he couldn't help think about his future as well. "Your almost 18, Jess." Mrs. Thorace gently patted his shoulder. Her pale wrinkles grew as she smiled, her eyes looking deeply into his. "The Baron hasn't been stopped yet. If he comes back-"
"I know what happened to my mother, Mrs. Thorace." Jess responded. He knew he was given as a child to the village, his dying mother giving her black son to a white-only farm. The baron had split all races apart, making them despise of each other and live in separate areas around the globe. His mother had hid for as long as she could, but when she was shot and presumed dead, she spent her last moments letting her son hide.
"Then it's your duty to fight. Fight for humanity. Our village is dying. Don't stay here." Mrs. Thorace touched Jess's hand. "You all raised me. I was the only child. I can't let my family die like this."
"Jess." A tear fell down Mrs. Thorace's eye. "When the races were separated, they killed all the children here. We only had you. We want you to fight, to make a difference. To end this violence and hatred. It's what your mother would've wanted."
"There are still people here that don't accept me. Have you seen Reverend Thomas? He doesn't like me because I'm black."
Mrs. Thorace's eyes widened. "Watch what you say. You know that's not true. You don't want them-" She looked away, tears streaming down her eyes. The equality distributors used to go from village to village, looking to separate the races, yet always promoting tolerance. Nobody could say anything racist incase they heard. "It's like he's still here. Still watching."
Jess roamed through the quiant village streets, the old couples waving or giving him odd stares. It was something he was used to all his life, being the only child of the village.
The enlistment agency arrived, along with an old friend. Luke had often visited Jess's village when he was young. He was one of the only other children Jess would see. It had been a while.
Luke's brown hair danced in the wind. His bright blue eyes and smile seemed coated with the brightness of the sun. His stride coupled with his tall, thin stature was deeply alluring. Jess stared at him, mesmerised. He felt an unbelievable sense of excitement overcome him. His heart beated faster. It had been too long. He smiled and waved at Luke. Luke waved back, running towards his side.
"Long time no see. How's the village? Still old and cranky?" Jess gave a short laugh. "It's quite a burden." Jess looked into Luke's eyes. He immediately looked away. Why did it feel so awkward? "How's yours?"
"Nothing much's been happening. I had actually been planning on meeting up with you soon, but the tractor broke down. We had to repair it, which took a while. I've been focusing on homework and school. All that stuff. Plus helping my Dad on the farm. He worries that the Baron will return." The word 'baron' was coated with fear. It was only short memories from their childhood that they had of him, but he was still present in their hearts and minds, in a way.
"Do you think you'll enlist with Molavia?" Jess asked, trying to hide the nervousness in his voice. He wiped a layer of sweat off his forehead. Molavia was the agency that had beaten The baron away from Earth. No one knew which planet they came from. It was top secret intelligence. Every single human on earth wondered. They had all came from tyranny. Within 7 years new governments were established.
"I was thinking about it. I care about these old farts too, you know." Luke chuckled. Jess beamed. Why did he feel so different? Why did Luke's reaction matter to him so much? "I probably will." Luke responded. "I need to do something for Earth. I-I feel like I have to, if I'm being honest." Jess looked into Luke's eyes, thoughtfully. He wondered what Luke was thinking himself. You're overreacting. It doesn't matter what Luke thinks. It just feels like it does.
"Part of me doesn't want to leave here. Even if I make it back from service, I'll likely move to a city, like New York. I dunno, this town is so...pleasant. I'd be leaving a part of me if I never got to see it again."
"You wouldn't see it again if the Baron was back." Luke replied, giving Jess a weirdly stern look. Jess looked away, feeling nervous all throughout his body. What did I do to get Luke upset? Luke's my only friend. I can't let him down. Guilt drudged in his mind. How would his mother think of him right now?
They didn't talk since the presentation proceeded. Even after it finished and Jess and Luke waved goodbye to each other, Jess still felt indecisive. There were definitely benefits to joining the Molavia, but it didn't feel right. It felt like instead of dipping his toe into a pool of water, he was diving right into the ocean.
When he arrived back home, he sat down next to the old cat, Oscar. Oscar had a long, gray pelt and deep yellow eyes. He was barely younger than Jess himself. Jess sighed, stroking the old cat. He felt so odd about his feelings. He had never felt that way about anyone. Is it love? No, it can't be. Men only like woman. Jess looked up to see that Aunt Lilly was sipping a new cup of tea. Lilly was practically a mother to Jess. She had agreed to let him live in her home, and to hide him in the closet when the equality distributors went from town to town. She told nice stories and always made him muffins and eggs, his favorite breakfast meal.
"Is everything alright, Jess?" She put down her glasses and moved to be beside him. "Yeah. I feel wrong."
"Why? Are you sick? You haven't gotten a bad fever in ages, dear." She put her hand to his head. He smiled for a moment, before looking down. "No. But-I had this weird feeling when I was talking to Luke. I don't know what it was. He didn't make me sick. He made me feel...different."
She gave a frown. "Let's hope it's nothing, then."
Jess cocked his head. "What do you mean? Do you know what's happening to me, then?"
"I-you're not one of them, Jess. Trust me. One day, you'll meet a girl and fall inlove. You'll marry and raise a beautiful family together. Trust me, Jess. That's what will happen."
"Is it possible to be in love with a man, Aunt Lilly?" She looked away. "It's rare, my dear. I-I've only met a few gay men in my lifetime. But they all act a certain way. They all are a certain way. They're not like you. Besides, this village is religious. Those types of feelings aren't tolerated." Jess sighed. He couldn't get any words out of his mouth, but he felt like saying a million. Above all, he was disappointed. He thought at least there could be some words of encouragement, or something to just not make him feel like a total outcast. For once, he questioned whether or not it was the right choice to stay.
He slowly got up, Aunt Lilly giving him a nervous look. "Don't go far, Jess. You're still 17." He nodded. "I know, Auntie."
As Jess walked through the desolate roads, he was glad he was accompanied by Oscar. The old cat purred when they ended up at the edge of the town road.
Jess frowned. Something odd stuck out to him throughout the vast forests of wheat. Something was shining. "Do you think I should go after it?" He asked Oscar. Oscar mewed, and Jess took it as a yes.
After Jess ran through the fields for a few moments, he looked back to see if he could find it. He walked through the thick fields for a few more moments, before seeing something odd: a strange, metal handle.
"Jess!" He heard a voice call. Mrs. Thorace was rushing after him. "Jess, stay away from there!"
He took a step back. Oscar stayed beside him. Mrs. Thorace eventually got close enough that she ended her quick pace. "What's the problem, Mrs. Thorace?" He stepped closer to the handle. "Jess-" Her eyes were wide, more wide than he had ever seen them. She was definitely panicked. "Jess, that's a landmine. The Equality distributors were-were brutal." Her voice choked just talking about them. "Now, you better stay away from it." Jess took several steps to the north in terror.
But something was odd about that explanation. Why would a landmine be shaped like a handle?
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Thorace." She frowned at him. "W-we want you to be a good young man, Jess. You've got to stay where we know you're safe. Even just a mile out can be filled with danger. You've gotta listen more, Jess."
"What's the point of me listening to you, if you don't even care about me?" Jess shouted. Listening? That was all he ever did. "You just wanted me to be the perfect child. You didn't care how I felt. You don't care how I still feel. I'm just a sin."
"Jess, you know that you're wrong. We all want whats best for you, please believe that. But, we have a right to discuss your-your feelings, and what they mean in the eyes of-"
"Mrs. Thorace, I'm going home." Jess grabbed Oscar, and headed down south towards the village.
By the time she started shouting for his attention, it was too late. He fell to the ground, his foot getting caught under the landmine. He waited several seconds for his death, his heart beating terribly quickly. But nothing happened.
He scrambled up quickly, looking Mrs. Thorace in the eye. She was silent. "What was that? Did it malfunction? Mrs. Thorace, what was that?!" He shouted quickly, in shock. He couldn't control the pitch of his voice. He could barely understand how he was still alive.
"Jess, there was another reason that-" She stuttered. Jess continued to look her in the eye. "That all the children were taken away from this village. When there were none left, the Molavia installed something. A weapon that could potentially destroy the Baron."
"Is that what I just activated?" Jess's mind wandered in a thousand different directions. His heart beated fanatically. "Jess..." She sighed, a tear running down her wrinkled cheek.
He walked up to her, and embraced her arms. She was a bit shorter than him, but he could feel that there was still a bond they had-some sort of love radiating from both of their hearts. "...I'm sorry. You're right. We always had expectations that we put on you, no matter how you actually turned out. You're perfect the way you are, Jess." Mrs. Thorace quietly sobbed for a moment.
"I love you." Jess admitted. She smiled. "I love you too." Suddenly, the ground beneath their feet shook.
Mrs. Thorace ended the embrace. "Jess, you have a future ahead of you, no matter what way it might turn out. We'll always love you. We won't-we won't let the Molavia or the Baron get you." She paused for a moment, wiping the tears off her cheeks. She looked into Jess's eyes. "Now go."
He nodded, running through the fields as the ground continued to pulse. He wondered frantically what he would do now with his freedom. Could he see Luke? Could he go to the closest city? But he felt a smile going across his face. He had never tasted true freedom. All he knew is that he wanted more of it.
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