We were given a home. I noticed all our neighbors are women and our area is fenced in. They say it is for our protection, but it feels like a cage to me.
—The diary of Megan Jean
There was so much blood. Once Mia heard the firing she knew people were dying. The RAG agent had burst through the door and gripped her arm. She didn’t say a word to him. The noises died down in less than a minute and he dragged her into the hall. She was already too filled with worry to care when he pointed his gun at her. As soon as they reached the main room and Mia spotted Andrew standing up without a mark on him she felt a strange sense of calm. He was alive. Then her situation came crashing back on her before she could focus on the rest of her friends.
“Drop your weapons,” the RAG agent said.
Mia watched as Andrew raised his hands. He didn’t even have a gun. Zack was on the ground and started to stand; his gun hit the floor with a boom. Mia scanned the black-suited bodies and didn’t see Carter. Whatever peace she’d felt vanished as her eyes continued their scan. Flo was lying on the floor. She wasn’t moving. Mia tried to dart forward and felt the RAG agent pull her back.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked.
Mia’s focus shifted to his gun, which was now pointed at her forehead. She didn’t have time for this. Flo needed her help. The RAG agent’s eyes shifted back toward Andrew and Zack. He released Mia from his grip but didn’t move the gun.
“Answer the man’s question,” the RAG agent said. “What did you do?”
The panic of the situation faded; Mia needed to get to Flo. She saw the table behind her had a large glass vase sitting on it. Mia used the agent’s distraction as an opportunity and picked up the glass object. As the agent turned around to see what she was doing she brought the vase crashing down over his head. He let out a groan as it shattered in her hands. He dropped to the floor and Mia ran over toward Flo. She knelt next to the woman and grabbed her hand. Andrew and Zack ran past her toward the incapacitated RAG agent.
“Please,” Mia said. “Please tell me you’re all right.”
A bright red stain covered the woman’s torso and her skin was almost gray. Mia already knew the answer to her question. She let out a small sob. Flo moved her head and Mia felt a small glimmer of hope. The woman’s eyes fluttered open and closed, as if she were unable to choose a path.
“Flo?” Mia asked. “Can you hear me?”
“I miss the flowers,” Flo said.
“You will be fine,” Mia said. “You will see your flowers again.”
“No,” Flo said. “Mia?”
“I’m right here.”
Flo’s lips curved in a smile. “You’re the important one,” she said. “I know you will finish this without me.”
“Don’t say that,” Mia said.
“It’s all right,” Flo said. “I know I did good in this world.”
“And you will do much more,” Mia said, fighting back the tears.
“This is the end to my story,” Flo said.
Mia turned away and let the tears fall for a moment. Then she turned back to her mentor.
“I will make sure the world knows your role,” Mia said. “Everyone will understand your actions.”
Flo continued to smile. “I don’t care about that,” she said. “I know, and that is enough for me.”
The woman started to convulse. Mia grabbed on to her face. She was dying and there was nothing Mia could do to help her. Flo stopped moving and blood started to drip out of the corner of her mouth.
“Open and honest communication,” Flo said.
Her eyes tilted back inside her skull and her eyelids fell. She was gone. Mia let out a loud sob and picked the woman up in her arms. She wanted to hug her until her spirit came back, but Mia knew that wouldn’t happen. She wasn’t holding Flo anymore, only an empty vessel.