Eric eyes widened. That voice sounded faintly familiar to him. At the corner of his eyes he could see silhouettes zooming past the glass windows. Each of them shouting at one another, asking if they found the boy yet. The anger and power behind their voices caused a tremor in the room. Eric could see a glass cup of water vibrating, causing a wave of riples. But their voices didn't just struck the whole room in fear, it struck him. At that moment his previous adrenaline rush completely left him. He was Eric again. A boy without power, that can only rely on the wills of fate.
Suddenly, he felt one of his young captures slowly relinquish their grip on him. As he turned around he was met by the question.
"What did you do?"
Eric finally remembered that voice. It belonged to that other girl from the field.
"Me and Thon went into a store to get some supplies for Atem, but there were soldiers there." He said, conveniently leaving the other part out.
"What's wrong with him." The boy asked.
Eric hesitated for a moment before responding.
"He got burned, really badly during the protesting."
"He was one of the people who got burnt?" The girl asked in disbelief.
Eric nodded. A pause hung in the air before she asked.
"How bad is it?"
"I haven't seen him this morning, but it's probably really bad. It took us a while to put the fire out and it covered his entire body. So…"
They nodded.
He didn't even need to finish, they understood. Despite that most of the girl's face was covered, he could see her eyes that was layed by a layer of tears.
"Are those the supplies?"
Eric nodded.
"Wait, what about Thon, where is he?" She asked, her voice breaking.
Eric paused.
"He…. he told me to take these and run." He said, gesturing to the bags of supplies.
"How many of them were there? Did he get caught?" The boy asked.
"I don't remember exactly how many there were, but it's."
"What do you mean, you don't remember how many there were." The girl asked, her tone lit with fire.
"I just don't remember exactly."
"You left him,... didn't you." Her tone dropped.
"No, no, he told me to take these and run. I didn't leave him."
Drops of sweats swam down his face, some burned his eyes. Eric glanced over to the boy, only to see him folding his arms, sighing.
"Nyangdeng, calm down."
The girl quickly switched her fiery glare towards him.
"YOU BELIEVE HIM." She shouted.
"Keep your voice down."
"Papa is dead, Atem is hurt, and Thon is missing, and we don't even know if he is dead or not."
"...."
The boy began tapping his feet, and scratching his wrist fiercely, looking away from her.
"And you're not even saying anything." She said, as she pushed him.
The boy quickly retaliated and pushed her back, sending her tumbling towards a glass cabinet, completly shattering it. As a result of the impact, several alchohol bottles fell over, but luckly for her none harmed her.
She slowly fell down, as she steered up at her brother, shaking.
"Shut up. You think that you're the only one who is sad. I watched my dad get torn to pieces by bullets, while you were with mama, bitching like always." As he spoke his voice elevated, causing the vibration of the counter, and the clinking of the glass bottles on the shelf.
"On top of that I got shot in the leg while carrying you because you wouldn't stop bitching about your sprained anckle."
The girl remained silent. Her mouth opened and closed as if she was trying to find words to soothe her brothers anger.
Meanwhile Eric just stood there, unsure if it's his place to step in or not, until final he mustered enough courage to take a step forward and open his mouth. But before he could intervene, the boy looked over at him.
"Your name is Eric right? That's what the old man called you."
Eric nodded, then the boy handed him a mask.
"Take this. It might help with the smell."
"What smell?"
"You will see."
The boy rolled up a carpet that exposed a circular cover, as soon as he took the cover off, Eric's nose was attacked by a vicious smell. Just a single breath was enough to lit his nose on fire. He immediately put his mask on. He couldn't breath well, but it reduced the stench.
"Be careful climbing down the ladder. It's rusted and part of it is broken." He said, descending.
Eric looked over at Nyangdeng. She was crying and shaking curled up into a ball.
"Are you ok?"
Eric reached out his hand to her. She steared at it for a second before slapping it away. And without saying a word, she pushed Eric aside and descended the ladder.
He then sighed, took the bags and descended down along with them.
As soon as Eric feet hit the concrete he was met by a bright white light.
"Watch your step and don't fall into the water, we might not be able to help you if you do."
The boy pointed his flash light at the raging brown current of water, that led all the way up the sewer.
"I will try not to."
Eric looked around, the walls were coverd by a greenish stain. With each step he took he could hear the splattering of water. As he walked his mind began wondering back to what Nyangdeng said to him. "You left him,... didn't you." Her voice kept echoing inside of his mind until he eventually asked himself was she right, did I leave him. No, he told me to run. He gave me permission. It's not my fault. It's not my fault if he's dead. But was there something I could've done in that moment. Maybe if I was smarter and stronger I could've done something, instead of just relying on him to tell me what to do. Fuck, but i'm just a kid, i'm not a adult, I can't perform miracles like they do. Eric bit his lip, hard, until he could taste his own blood.
A half of a hour past by until the boy finally said.
"Just one more turn and we will see the lights of the camp."
FInally, wait, the lights of the camp. Eric thought as he turned the corner.
In an instant his face was lit up with orange lights. They were coming from lanterns spread out in the camp. Eric was shocked, it was like they built a mini town down in the sewer. Children ran around and played tag, while the adults were cooking food and talking with their neighbours. There were several tables where people gathered around, they seemed to be trading goods and materials. The camp was also filled with tents, each with different colours as if they symbolyzed something.
Eric took a second to stop and think, what in the hell did he and his father get themselves into.
"H, h, hey, what is this."
They both stopped and turned around to look at Eric.
The boy gave Eric a wild smile and backed up.
"What. This. This is change." He began to spread his arms out.
"Eric, welcome to the South Sudanese revolution."
Eric's eyes widened.
"Th, the South Sudanese what."
"My mother can explain it to you better than I can."
Eric's legs began to shake.
Eric's mind flashed back to the man that got blown to pieces, and the people who got publicly executed. Could me and my father be next. He asked himself.
With every step he took he could feel the fear collapsing unto him, with each step he had to fight back the urge to turn back around and run. Anywhere might be safer than with them. He thought. But for some reason he didn't go threw with it, maybe it's because of his one instinct he hates with a passion. But little did he know that maybe because of that instinct he survived up until that point.
"Who is this."
A man step forward, clenching his rifle.
"His name is Eric, he is a friend of Atem and Akeer."
The man looked at him with a distrustful look.
"I have never seen him around them before."
"I think he is a traveler."
The man face morphed into fear.
"So you just bring him here. Are you a fool"
The man quickly pointed his gun at Eric. Eric backed away, his heart skipped a beat.
But the boy got in front of him
"Wait. Wait. He is related to the old man."
"Keji?" The man asked.
The boy nodded.
It took a couple of seconds for the man to eventually lower his gun, until he finally did, but with a long, loud sigh.
"Can I bring him in."
The man nodded.
But before they went in the man placed his hand on the boy's shoulder, saying the words.
"Don't let me regret this."
The boy nodded.
As they walked threw the camp, it seemed like the deeper they went the more weapons were being exposed. Pistols, revolvers, shotguns, rifles, and even some guns that Eric didn't even know. They were either peaking out of a barrel or were hanged on tents. Again Eric considered turning back to run, but he again decided against it, it was far too late to run.
They walked some more until the boy finally stopped and pointed towards a specific tent.
"That's ours."
Then a little boy came running out of the tent, no older than 6 years of age. He came running straight for him, and hugged him. Then he ran to Akeer hugging her. Eric looked over at Akeer and noticed she was making a effort to smile. As a result she mustered up a smile that faltered. Eric had completely forgotten that she was with them, having been lost deep in his thoughts.
"Athir, is she awake."
"Yes, she is cooking rice and chicken."
"Ok."
As he was entering the tent, the little boy stopped him.
"Did you see father, I haven't seen him since the day before yesterday."
His eyes shimmered for a second as he glanced up, down, and sideways before eventually responding.
"No, he is probably on a work trip and for some reason he forgot to tell us." He said, quickly going into the tent.
"Who's this." The boy whispered to Nyangdeng as he gripped her skirt.
She shot a quick firey glare at Eric, before looking back down to respond.
"Oh, he is just a friend."
The boy glanced over to Eric one more time.
"Ok. Come, mother is almost done cooking."
The boy excitingly pulled Nyangdeng by the skirt and beckoned Eric to follow them inside the tent.
As soon as they went in their noses was enveloped with the hot smell of steam.
At the corner of the tent, Eric noticed a woman adding some ingredients to a boiling pot. She used a spoon to taste the gravy before turning to them.
"Oh, is this the friend you were talking about."
The boy nodded.
"Good evening miss." Eric said.
"Good evening. We can talk over dinner. Have a seat."
And they sat down on orange pillows while the lady served them a plate full of her steaming rice and chicken. With each bite Eric took he could feel the heat traveling his body, warming him.
"M, Miss. What is this." Eric asked.
A part of Eric hoped the boy was just joking when he said this was a South Sudanese revolution, and they were just homeless. But Eric knew deep down that with all the things happening, something like a revolution isn't far off from the realm of possibility.
The woman swallowed her food and sighed before responding.
"This place is a camp for the revolution."
Eric's hope was crushed.
"B, but why."
"Suppression. The government is keeping their own people poor so they can use us."
"But that doesn't make any sense. Isn't the government trying to improve the people's lives. Why else would they offer to help build this city back up."
The woman paused.
"See. That's exactly the way they want you to think." She said, giving Eric a smile.
"This country is growing really quickly in wealth, But nobody knows why and nobody knows where the country's wealth goes. And the government is feuding with our neighboring countries and even with the united states over a asteroid that might or might not hit our country. And all of a sudden they want to help us, in exchange for our lives in case there is a war." The lady said sighing and shaking her head.
"That asteroid must be worth a lot if even the United states is pressuring or government to give it up."
Eric's eyes widened.
"So you're saying that your planning on overthrowing the government, so you could sell the asteroid."
"Yes, we have the backing of South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, and Niger, andit is only a matter of time we have the United States. If we sell it we won't have to be living like cave men, we could all be living comfortably without living in houses full of insects."
Eric could see the glimber of hope and longing in her eyes, or was it greed.
"We have forces all around the country and even some by our allies. If everything goes well we can tear down this country's government in a year."
"But how are you going to escape. The city is full of soldiers." Eric asked.
"We have been digging a tunnel underground for the past 2 years. It leads all the way up to the camp of the main forces. There are some generals that have joined the revolution, and are suppose to tell us this important secret the government and the other countries have been trying to hide from us. And don't worry we won't be here long, we will leave tomorrow afternoon, after we fully get ready and rescue some people."
We. The we echoed in his mind.
"No. I'm sorry, but I can't come with you. I'm actually traveling with find my father to go to a nearby tribe to see my relatives. I just happen to got caught up in all of this. And I need to bring this to Akeer, because Atem is hurt really badly."
"Oh, take this."
The woman handed him a very large bookbag.
"This should be large enough to carry everything inside those bags."
Eric paused.
"Oh. Thank you."
He then began to fill the supplies in the bag until it was completely stuffed.
"Mother, can I bring him with me to search for some more supplies? Then I can help him bring this to Atem and Atem."
"Are you sure. You don't need to."
"I will be fine." He said, holding his mother's hand.
She sighed, then nodded.
"Be back by tomorrow. You know where the tunnel is if you can't find us."
He nodded.
"I'm coming too." Nyangdeng said.
The boy turned to her and said with a stern tone.
"No."
"Let her go with you. She will help."
"B, But….. ok." He said sighing.
"We will leave now."
The boy got up and exited the tent.
"Thank you for the food Miss. It was very good."
"Your welcome."
As Eric and Nyangdeng were leaving the tent the lady told Eric something that he hoped will come true.
"Best of luck to you and your family young man." She said, caressing her son's forehead as he slept.
"You too miss."
Outside of the tent Eric saw the boy stearing up at a spot on the ceiling of the sewer. As small as it was, it was the only spot that light could escape into the sewer.
Then he suddenly turned towards them.
"Are you ready?" He asked.
They both nodded.
"Good."
"Oh. I forgot to tell you my name."
Eric suddenly realised the only label he had written on him up until then was just boy.
"My name is Arop. Nice to meet you." He said, before turning to Eric, extending his hand out, with a bright smile on his face. But strangely his smiled faltered. Eric smiled back and shook his hand.
"Well let me properly introduce myself. I am Eric, a ex soccer player now a traveler for the summer."