The City of Hope

Sweat dripped off his grimy arms as he clenched his fists together. Time and time again, he had fought. Fight for what was right against Oppression. Hero heard countless voices echo inside his head. “There is no fighting the Oppression. You have to step in line. He sighed, unclenching his fist. The chain on the small locket fell free, swinging in the breeze. Hero leaned his head against the ruined building. How could he go on? How could he press forward? Was there a point in fighting? He rubbed his hand along the edge of the locket. A small heart full of intricate lines. Hope.. the infamous city of Hope. He almost laughed at the name. It had been decades of fighting a losing war. He was tired, so, so, tired. His aching body protested every move. He couldn’t give up, not so long as he had the locket. It was the key to the fabled city of Hope. The last remaining citadel stood against The Oppression. “You really think it’s out there?” A figure said, walking up. “Hey, Jord.” Hero said. “Its gotta be.” He said tiredly, his voice cracking. “So many have given up, turning themselves over to become started.”

“Do you think being initiated is really that bad?”

“The illusion of choice, the pretense of free will. A hollow shell is left by the time they are done. A slave to The Oppression.” Hero said.

Jord ran his hands through his hair, looking out at the setting sun. “If anyone can locate it, you can. Your name is Hero, after all.” 

Hero smiled weakly. “What a name to be given, huh?”

Jord shrugged. “You saved all of us.” He said. Gesturing to the small group gathered below.

“I suppose I did.” Hero said, getting up, his bones protesting. “Come on, it’s almost time.” The Lost City of Hope. The Last Citadel. It felt so far for Hero. He had searched for so long. It took him years to find the locket, the key. The Key to Hope. So much rested on the locket. He rubbed the metal of the locket subconsciously. “One last time. I have to keep going.” He told himself. Each step felt like agony. As he reached the others, he straightened up, masking his pain. He saw fearful eyes looking at him for guidance, for direction, for hope. Till they reached the city, he was their light, their savior. For them, he would keep going. For them, he would push onward. “So close, so close, then you can rest.” He told himself.

His little band only comprised seven people. Himself, Jord, Christa, and her young daughter, Tim, the hulking brute that had once been in the army before their dissolution, and the twin’s Destiny and Liberty. They were all that survived. They had all fought for him, sacrificed for him, and died for him. For what? All for the little locket he now possessed. He trusted them as much as any could during these uncertain times. It was important to look out for number one. The glue that held them together was The City of Hope. That it was a better place. A place to call home, a place where the grasp of The Oppression couldn’t reach. Tonight as the sunset, they would make the last leg of their journey. Sneaking past The Oppression and reaching, finally reaching the City of Hope. After so many false promises and shattered dreams, his heart couldn’t help but skip a beat. The time was finally here! He wrapped up the precious locket and tucked it away and looked toward his beleaguered party. “The sun is setting!” He called out. “It is time to move!” Hero moved to grab his pack when Jord grabbed it. “I got it!” 

“I can carry my pack, Jord.”

“Think of this as a thank you. Besides, if we don’t end up finding it, you can carry mine tomorrow.” Hero sighed but let Jord be. Once he would have fought before letting someone else take his pack, but over the years, he learned to keep anything of actual value on his person. Not to mention it would have been a fight he wouldn’t win. Standing up straighter, carefully checking outside the shambled building that had been their camp. The landscape was eerily quiet. The road was almost unnavigable in parts because of the debris causeed by building collapses in the surround areas. 

In the distance, you could see the glimmering walls of The Oppression. Hero dealt constant temptation ever-present to give in, become initiated and rest at last. Everyone heard the voice on the loudspeaker that frightened them. The voice promised better days, a brighter future inside. The unnerving part wasn’t the voice itself; it was how close it made Hero want to give in. Each passing day, Hero felt he was one step closer to following the voice, towards the shining walls that were the Oppression. Even though he knew, he KNEW it was all a lie. Propaganda told to lure those hoping for something better than the broken, imperfect world of before. People had been free despite being imperfect. Free to fix it, free to destroy it, free to decide.

“You know the drill.” Jord said to the rest of the group. “Stay low, stay quiet. Stay out of the direct view of the Recruiters. We are almost there! I can feel it!”

They clamored out of the broken building and Hero felt the excitement of the group. His body protested as they marched. They went from building to building, avoiding the open area, avoiding the Recruiters. The Recruiters collected people willingly and not so willingly they weren’t the picky sort. “Hey, Hero?” 

“Yes?” He replied as Destiny walked up to him. She was a mess. Her eyes sunken, her cheeks tight over once full face. She was thin, almost too thin, with a dreadfully haunted cast to her face. “You really think The City of Hope is out there?”

“It has to be. Not everyone has given up. There are those of us that still resist.” Hero replied.

“Sure.” she replied quietly, moving off.

 Hero sighed, feeling utterly spent, but if he didn’t keep his head up who would? “Destiny!” He called out.

She perked her head up. “We will make it. Hope is not dead.” She gave a weak smile that lit up her eyes for a brief moment. Hero saw a glimmer of something other than the blanket of gloom that had settled on everyone, before putting her head back down, focusing on her footfalls.

 They walked for an imperceptible amount of time in the darkness. They hadn’t come across a single Recruiter nor any other living being. No people, no animals, and no noises except for the now-familiar drone of the voice. They reached a clearing which he could only guess had been a farm at one point. Across the field was a forest, The Forest. “That’s it, isn’t it?” Christa exclaimed, holding on to her daughter. “The City of Hope.” Jord whispered. 

They were going to make it! Hope was so close! Forgetting all his training, Hero took off running. His body ached, his muscles burned, his bones sent shooting pains up his legs, but he didn’t care! Hope was so close nothing else mattered. A quarter way across. He ran even faster, pushing through small shrubs, dodging stumps, jumping across the holes that littered the clearing. One by one, those of his party passed him until he pulled up to the rear with Christa and her daughter. “We’re almost there!” Christa exclaimed between heaving breaths. She was right! The forest grew taller and taller. Was that a wall within the thick trees? Reaching the forest, they could see it! A dull wall with no adornment, yet it was beautiful! 

Hero reached the rest of the group, gasping for air. They had made it! Looking around, he could see smiles, disbelief, and tears on every single face of his little group. “Shall we?” Jord said, gesturing forward. They took the last steps, approaching the massive wall. Pulling out the locket, he gave it one last squeeze before pressing it against the wall. The ground rumbled as the light appeared. The light grew as part of the wall retreated. A door into Hope. Clambering over one another, they ran for the door. As they reached the entrance, he saw it. A Recruiter stood to the right of the door. Waiting. How did he know? They were so close! “Well, well, what do we have here?” Destiny fell to her knees. “No, no, no! this can’t be happening.” Tears of happiness and relief instantly turned to tears of loss and despair. 

“Don’t worry.” The Recruiter said. “We are creating a better world, a unified world. We are at the forefront of a united people. A people that all believe, all help for the common goal. What more could you want?” Everyone backed away slowly, and Hero could not help but do the same. Every step was one step further from hope. Everyone but Destiny, who still sat crumpled on the floor. The light of the door was so close, yet so far away. “Freedom is a lie we tell ourselves. Freedom is a poison that destroys. It leads to people backstabbing and trying to put themselves above others.” 

Hero could feel his heart aching, longing for the door, for Hope. The Recruiter went on stepping forward, helping Destiny to her feet, and gently caressed her face. “Where freedom poisons we give life! No longer do you have to choose. Everyone works toward the common goal, everyone is equal, everyone is the same. Do not fear. Come and initiate yourselves! Join us!” 

This wasn’t happening. Hero wanted to say yes. He wanted to go with The Recruiter. Give up this crusade. Looking around, he saw Christa and her daughter looking toward him, pleading in their eyes. Hope was within reach! He wouldn’t let even a Recruiter stop him! Hero bounded forward, attacking the Recruiter with everything he had. He swung at The Recruiter taking him in the cheek. Hero stumbled forward, tackling the Recruiter to the ground. The Recruiter punched him in the jaw, spewing blood. Jord appeared, followed by Tim helping him pin the Recruiter down. The three of them beat the Recruiter long after it stopped moving. 

They stood up, hands bloody, and looked resolute. Hero grabbed Destiny and motioned towards the others. “Let’s go.” Destiny gripped his hand tightly as they walked. Once again, they reached the door of light. One by one, they stepped through Hero, pulling the still sniffling Destiny through, had to shield his eyes from the almost blinding light. He reached the other side and had to clear his vision. He saw, he saw.. nothing. Ruins, rubble, and destruction. The City of Hope was a lie, hope a fleeting ray of light he could never seem to grasp fully. He fell to his knees in disbelief. 

Faintly, he heard Destiny walking out of the city, responding to the voice that was heard even here. “Initiate me. I am ready. Please take it away.” Liberty ran after her. He saw the others scattering, mumbling in anger or despair. Everyone except Christa and her daughter. Christa’s daughter walked up to him and gave him a hug. “Thank you”. She whispered. 

“For what? I failed.”

“Forgiving mommy something to believe in,” she said, still holding him tight.

“But the city was a fraud.”

“Not the city. Mommy says hope isn’t found in places. Hope is found in people.”

Hope is found in people. “Hope is found in people..” He said again in a whisper. The realization dawning on him. The city of Hope was lost, but hope remained as long as someone had hope inside their heart. A weight lifted from his shoulders as he picked up the little girl. The city was a lie but also a prison. Hope did not live in a city. Hope rested within the heart. Finally understood why the key to Hope had been a heart-shaped locket. He held the little girl tight and looked toward the depressing landscape with a brightness of hope.