Renegade Rupture (3 page)

“Mommy? Who’s that man? What’s he doing?” Gisbo asked, tugging on his mom’s cloak.

“That is the White Renegade,” Nora said.

“The . . . White Renegade?” Gisbo asked.

“Yes, he guards the Life End from morning ‘til nightfall, giving reverence to each life who has passed on with the traditional Renegade greeting and farewell,” Nora said.

“Body, Mind, Heart,” Gisbo said as he too did the Renegade greeting and bowed with his eyes closed.

“Yes, yes, Gisbo, just like that,” Nora said.

“Mom?” Gisbo asked.

“Yes?” Nora replied.

“Um, I . . . nevermind,” Gisbo said.

“What is it, honey?” Nora asked.

“What happens when you . . . die?” Gisbo asked.

“I don’t know, honey,” Nora said.

“Does Dad know?” Gisbo asked. Nora smiled.

“No, he doesn’t know either. In fact, nobody knows for sure,” Nora said. Gisbo’s gaze narrowed.

“Nobody? How come?” Gisbo asked.

“My, aren’t you just full of questions today,” Nora said.

“I’m sorry,” Gisbo said.

“No, no. Don’t ever be sorry for asking a question. Question everything, honey, all the time,” Nora said.

“Everything? Even you and Daddy?” Gisbo asked.

“Especially me! But even more so your daddy,” Nora said, winking. Gisbo giggled. “That’s what a Renegade does, Gisbo. Always question, especially those in charge, and even your most heartfelt feelings and opinions. Questioning others makes your mind strong. Belief in others makes your heart strong. Remember that,” Nora said.

“I will, Mom,” Gisbo said.

“Now, as for your question, it’s a good one, but you’ll only have the answer when it’s your turn to pass from this world. Everyone has to one day,” Nora said. Gisbo’s eyes brightened up at this.

“Even . . . you and Dad?” Gisbo asked.

“Yes, honey, even me and your dad,” Nora said. Suddenly, Gisbo’s lip quivered and tears sprang into the corners of his eyes. “Oh, oh, honey! No, no, don’t cry, come here.”

Gisbo’s mother grabbed him and held his head against her chest.

“Honey, me and your dad, we aren’t going anywhere for a very, very long time,” Nora said. Gisbo looked up into his mother’s eyes, eyes so much like her own.

“You promise?” Gisbo asked.

“Promise,” Nora said with a wink. Gisbo flashed a weak smile.

“Dad, Dad told me that when people die, they go up to a very pretty place called the Heavens where beautiful people with wings called Seraphs fly and everyone lives happily ever after,” Gisbo said.

“Is that so?” Nora asked.

“But Daddy also told me that only boys fart and girls never do, but that’s not true! The other day I saw my teacher, old Miss Moreson, bend over to pick up her cane, and she blasted a good one! It was even bigger than one of Daddy’s!” Gisbo said. Nora erupted into laughter.

“Your Daddy says lots of things, Gisbo. Sometimes he makes mistakes, it’s not his fault,” Nora said, wiping tears from her eyes.

“Yesterday, Bill Diggin’s cat, Scoop, died. He told me that when things die, nothing happens, and they get planted and become trees and grass, but I don’t know. That’s different from what Daddy said,” Gisbo said.

“When people can’t know something, they come up with different beliefs, and that’s ok. Being different makes us who we are. Some believe that nothing happens, others believe that you are reborn into something else, some believe that you go up to the Heavens, and others, well, don’t believe in anything at all,” Nora said. “That’s what freedom is, Gisbo. If there was one right path for everyone, everyone would be on it. We as Renegades do not need anyone to tell us what to do. We make our own path. Nobody needs someone else to tell them what to do, and how to live, not even me, ”

“Mom?” Gisbo asked.

“Yes, honey?” Nora answered.

“What do you believe?” Gisbo asked. Nora smiled.

“Hm, that’s a good question. Well, you remember that wolf we just saw? All by himself?” Nora asked.

Gisbo nodded.

“I like to believe that we didn’t come across that wolf on accident. We saved that wolf’s life today for a purpose, and the tracks that we made in the snow are the same tracks we make across each other’s lives and hearts. I like to believe that nothing happens by mistake, that we are all part of a big picture, a big plan, and that everything happens for a reason. While we may not know that reason now, one day we’ll be told by something or someone that is beyond all of us. I say that I like to believe that because, while I’m not sure it’s true, it gives me hope, and hope is something that makes tomorrow come,” Nora said.

“I hope Daddy’s right. I’d love to meet a Seraph one day. Maybe he can teach me how to fly like Daddy,” Gisbo said.

“Daddy can teach you to fly like Daddy, when you’re old enough,” Nora said. “Now, let mommy say a quick prayer and say happy birthday to Tula, and we can go back and make some lunch, ok?”

“Ok, can I pray too?” Gisbo asked.

“Of course,” Nora said. She watched her son lower his head and fold his little hands. She smiled and, before praying for her friend, she prayed to IAM and thanked him for such a wonderful, kind little boy.

Upon finishing, hand in hand, Gisbo and his mother began to walk out of the cemetery when someone blocked their way.

Face down in the snow, the White Renegade lay, bleeding from his side. Gisbo froze in place, horrified by what he saw, until his mother swept him off his feet into her arms.

“Mom? Mommy, what’s . . .” Gisbo started. Nora clasped a hand over his mouth to silence him. She looked all about and listened for anything upon the air. She closed her eyes, letting her instinct take over as she held Gisbo with one arm, clasped her hand over the sheath of her Sorwhip, and unfurled it, letting it drape across the snow. She hovered her mouth over Gisbo’s ear and whispered softly.

“Gisbo, honey, stay quiet. Don’t mutter a sound. Nod if you understand,” Nora whispered. Gisbo nodded.

“No matter what happens, just know that I . . .” Nora started when suddenly there was a scream and a flash of red.

Gisbo was thrust back to reality. He stood in the Life End, toward the center, where the tallest tree of all, with thick, blue bark and light blue flowers that glowed and pulsated, now stood, and the name “Barbara McCarley” was etched across a plaque in fiery words.

“You ok, son?” a voice asked from behind. Gisbo turned to see the White Renegade walking about the grounds without a drop of red on his clean uniform. Gisbo had no idea who was behind the garb. It wasn’t proper for the one on duty to reveal his identity in such a holy place.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine,” Gisbo said.

No, you’re not,
a dark voice said within Gisbo’s mind.

“She saved us all. Honor her sacrifice, be proud of her, celebrate her life, not in mourning, but in joy,” the White Renegade said as he gave a bow in Gisbo’s direction. Gisbo returned the Renegade greeting and watched the White Renegade continue his rounds.

Easy for him to say, she wasn’t a part of his family,
the dark voice snapped. Gisbo winced and grabbed at his forehead as a sharp pain pierced it. Gisbo cursed and pulled his hand from his forehead, revealing a thick, black smudge.

The Drakeness, the voices . . . they were getting worse . . .

“Shut up, just shut up!” Gisbo muttered as he placed a hand over his aunt’s plaque, let out a heavy sigh, and made his way back to Heaven’s Shelter.

Chapter Two:
Strife Invasion

“There you are! Everyone’s been looking for you,” Nina said. Gisbo, sitting on the bottom step of his and Rolce’s tree house, looked up, then back down at the ground.

Nina sat down beside him and wrapped a warm hand around his newly tattooed arm.

“They’re beautiful, Gisbo. Who did them?” Nina asked.

“Falcon,” Gisbo said.

“Very sexy,” Nina said, smiling. Gisbo grunted in reply.

“Is, is everything ok? All your friends are celebrating their new Renegade status in the courtyard. They’ve all been asking for you. Don’t you want to join them?” Nina asked.

“Nah,” Gisbo said as he rose to his feet and stretched.

“Gisbo, you can talk to me, you know. I’m here for you,” Nina said.

“Yeah,” Gisbo said as he began walking up the steps.

“Yeah? What is ‘yeah’ supposed to . . .” Nina started.

“Everything’s fine!” Gisbo snapped. “All right? OK? Is that what you wanna hear? Jeesh, quit with the damn nagging and just leave me the hell alone! Cripes!”

Nina sat there, eyes watering up, and immediately Gisbo palmed his face.

“I’m . . . I’m sorry. I don’t know where that came from,” Gisbo said as he sat back down, feeling his blood boil for no reason. In fact, his rage had never been worse, and it downright scared him. Nina grabbed Gisbo’s hand and began to massage it.

“It’s your aunt, isn’t it?” Nina asked.

“I don’t know,” Gisbo said.

“Yes, you do. Now talk to me, let it out,” Nina said. “I, I care about you, a lot.”

She doesn’t care about you,
a fierce voice snapped. Gisbo grabbed at his forehead and winced.

“Gisbo?” Nina asked, genuine worry to her voice.

“It’s nothing, just a headache,” Gisbo said. Nina looked skeptical.

“Honestly! It’s just a headache, promise. Now let’s go get some food or something before Grandfield and Groggo’s fat asses eat everything,” Gisbo said, forcing a smile. Nina accepted the answer, smiled in return, and hand in hand, the two of them began to walk towards the courtyard. Suddenly, Gisbo froze.

“What’s wrong?” Nina asked.

“Something’s wrong . . .” Gisbo said.

“What is it?” Nina whispered.

“Sorry, must have been nothing. Let’s . . .” Gisbo started when a yellow-eyed, black wolf pounced out of the bushes and lunged toward Gisbo, its fangs bared. Gisbo instinctively leapt in front of Nina to defend her and a white blur leapt to defend them.

Fao charged and met the black wolf in mid-air. They both went down in a snarling tornado of growls, yips, and flashes of teeth and claws.

“Fao! Hey! HEY! Get off of her!” Gisbo yelled. Before he could do anything, a familiar voice halted him.

“RAZ! RAZGUL! GET BACK HERE, DAMN IT!” the voice yelled. Immediately, the black wolf halted its attack and backed away, whimpering and clearly frightened by the voice. The speaker leapt into the clearing and halted beside his wolf.

“You . . .” Gisbo mouthed.

Malik Strife’s jaw dropped. Never had Gisbo seen the boy so shocked. In fact, he looked downright scared. The Strife prince’s lower lip trembled and he did his best to say something, anything, but he was interrupted by three loud trumpet blasts from the courtyard, a signal that Gisbo never thought he’d actually hear.

“That’s an invasion signal! Heaven’s Shelter is being invaded by the Strifes!” Gisbo said as he pulled out his two Tantos and ignited his Flarian essence. Fao ran to his side, ready for action.

“Get ready for a world of hurt, assface!” Gisbo said, pointing an enflamed Tanto at one of his most hated enemies. Malik looked from Gisbo to Nina and took off running back from where he came.

Gisbo was stunned. He never expected Malik to ever turn his back from a fight. Even so, the shock didn’t last long.

“Oh, no, you don’t! NOT THIS TIME! Fao, stay with Nina, protect her! Nina, stay close behind me; we’ve got to get to the courtyard!” Gisbo said.

“I . . .” Nina started when the trumpet sounded again.

“What the hell is going on? COME ON!” Gisbo yelled and he, Nina, and Fao entered the forest chasing Malik.

“That bastard, he’s gonna pay for what he did to Kinny! Never in my life have I ever wanted to . . . Grah! Come on, Nina! We’ve got to hurry!” Gisbo yelled, looking over his shoulder.

“Gisbo! Gisbo, wait!” Nina said.

“Forget it. Fao! Stay with her! I’m going on ahead,” Gisbo ordered as he pushed his Flarian powers into overdrive, activating and controlling his adrenaline and re-directing as much as possible into his leg muscles.

That bastard! That’s it, that’s the reason. He knew he couldn’t take on me and Nina together, so he booked it! I’ll kill him
!
I’LL KILL HIM!
Gisbo thought as he took chase.

Yes! Kill him! TEAR OUT HIS VOICEBOX! KILL!
A fierce voice spoke up.

“SHUT UP!” Gisbo yelled.

Malik leapt over a large rock. Rather than leaping, Gisbo blasted a ball of fiery essence at it, exploding it into ash powder as he ran right through the remains.

“GET BACK HERE, YOU BASTARD!” Gisbo yelled.

Malik was about to break through the clearing and into the courtyard when Gisbo fired a blast of essence from his ring, missing Malik directly, but hitting the ground beneath him. The ground exploded with enough force to send the Strife into a forward front flip straight into the courtyard. Gisbo bounded out of the trees only to see Malik lying on the ground in front of Gisbo’s other most hated enemy, Ranto Narroway. The two of them were looking at each other, eye to eye.