The Last Hope in the World

     “Check in there,” Leila says as she climbs upstairs. I jog through the beaten-down house I found out of nowhere, trying to salvage anything I could find.  

     I enter a medium-sized room. The color of the wall is unrecognizable. I did not try to decipher what happy color the family that once lived here had chosen. They are probably long gone. A poorly red-colored, dirty, yet comfortable-looking couch attracts my attention. I face a black screen and slowly bend my knees, lowering my body onto the couch. I relax more than I have ever relaxed in twenty years.

I bounce a couple of times on the couch, assessing its comfort level. It feels… familiar? It feels like a déjà vu as if I’ve done this before. I shake my head and decide that I deserve a few moments of comfort. I sit back and let this beautiful, wretched-smelling seat devour me. I close my eyes.

           “Amal, what did you find?” I jump in my seat.            

“Leila, you scared me…” I put my hand on my heart to calm down.      

“My fault, sorry!” Leila is smiling, something she rarely does. Leila is the strong one between us. She’s the one that’s kept us alive for twenty years.            

“Come, check this out. Have you ever felt such comfort? Such… such blissful feeling on your behind? Try it, come!” I scooch over to allow room for her.

           She sits down apprehensively. But sure enough, as soon as her butt touches the seat, she relaxes. For the first time in a while, I see my best friend relax. We were both around five years old when the Order of the Sun took over. Our world changed, and new reinforcements were made in the name of peace and justice. However, our world became ridden with fear. We were separated from our families and thrown into a camp. That’s how Leila and I met.            

“It feels… amazing!” she says.            

“Now bounce! Like this!” As soon as I hit the seat on my first bounce, I squeal, feeling something hard under it. Standing to see what’s underneath, Leila is beside me, holding a gun ready if anything pops out.   

Removing the cushion, we let out a sigh of relief. Under it lies a medium-sized bag. Dust sits comfortably on what appears to be squiggles. I wipe it off with my jacket and blow to get a clearer view. A sun is on the bag. It is the sign we know too well, one that keeps us up all night. I set the bag on the couch and open it slowly.            

Money? I empty all of it on the couch. A paper on top of the stack says $20,000. A black book falls out. Maybe this will explain?        

"The Order of the Sun shall rise, and The Sons and Daughters shall serve The Order for the Sun for the highest-self. The Order is here to restore peace and demolish terror, hunger, poverty, and war. When the world knows peace, The Order shall dissolve, and a new era shall begin—one that knows no hate, money, or evil. When the time comes for The Order of the Sun to dissolve, The Daughter who carries this honor shall rule the new world. She will be Hope.

12/26/2135 "

 “She will be Hope… Look at the date. That’s when everything started.” Leila says.            

“It was supposed to be for peace…” I say. I start turning the pages. This handwriting… I know it. Glancing through them for anything, I gasp. A black stain sits on top of the page.

           A locked memory unravels itself in my brain. I had been here before. I had walked through this house and jumped on this red couch. The walls… They were once a light green. I remember it now? The black stain… he spilled coffee on it. My father? My father... he accidentally spilled his coffee on it. He and my mom… they were taken.            

“Amal, look…” Leila says.        

"My dearest Amal, my daughter, my love, my hope    

I pray that I had time to show you what all this means and why you are the one who has to save our world. I am a part of a secret society that has long been forgotten. It is called The Order of the Sun. It first came to be to make sure that the world lives in peace and harmony while living in the highest vibration one can be. For the last few decades, we have been working on reassuming our part in society to make the world a better place. But I fear that power and greed have gotten into the wrong hands.             

  Camden fooled us. I believe I might not survive long enough to teach you everything you need to know. If I am not meant to be the ruler of this new world, it shall be you, my Amal. Your name holds meaning in societies the world has abolished. You are our prophesized Hope. I know that your good heart will guide you through this. Your higher self shall guide you back here when you are ready. I trust you will lead with love, light, and justice.             

Upstairs, in the master bedroom, you shall move the bed and the rug to find a little hole in the ground. There, you will find an ancient music box. Be ready, Amal. Once you play it, you can never go back. Everything you have ever known will come crashing down on you. The wisdom of your ancestors and the universe will live within you. That is why you must lead this world into a new era. You must come to terms with the fact that this reality will be nothing but a journey for you. You shall have powers beyond your current imagination. I know you will use it for good. I must tell you, my dear, enlightenment is both a gift and a burden.              

Always remember, your mother and I love you more than words can express. You are this world’s only hope.

Be safe,

Your father.”

Leila finishes reading, and I feel myself become lightheaded. How can I be the new hope of this world? How can I rule a world?            

“Amal. You are meant to change the world. You are meant to lead us in the right direction. I always knew you were special. I am right here with you.” she says. I nod in somewhat acceptance.            

“I just need a few moments,” I say, and she nods.         

My thoughts subdue an hour later, and Leila and I go to find the music box. It is a beautiful gold box with multiple colors on it. It feels old but looks new. I hold it with both hands as if it is the most precious thing in the entire world. It is.    

       Leila looks at me worriedly. I nod at her in reassurance. I close my eyes for a second and catch my breath to open the music box. Twisting the bottom, I let it play. 

It plays a beautiful symphony. For a few seconds, I feel nothing. Then, the music gets deeper. The notes whisper to me. I cannot make out what language it speaks, but I can understand it. I stare into it, and a red light shines from it for a while. It then transitions to an orange light. A few seconds later, a yellow one, then a green one, then a blue one, and an indigo one. Finally, a white light shines from it, so pure and beyond a brightness I’ve ever laid eyes on. The music is still playing. I close my eyes for a few seconds. I feel a sense of power overcome me. It pulses through my veins. Images from eras slam their way into my mind. It is as if I am there and here. It feels as though I am experiencing history in front of me—the knowledge of my ancestors. Lastly, I see Camden—how he came to power, his future plans, and what I am meant to do.

I gasp my way back into our current reality. I look at my hands to see them gently glowing. My body vibrates with a different kind of energy. I feel so much power passed down onto me.    

        “I know what to do. We need to get to the capital. There’s a room; it controls all the technology they use to bind us. I can disconnect it,” I say as I walk downstairs, grab the bag, and head for the door.

“Wait, AMAL!” Leila yells.  

         “There’s no time. This needs to end before midnight. Look, I can’t explain how I know this. But they’re planning on killing half of us and controlling the rest. I need to get there!” I look at her. She gives me a long look before she finally gives in.

When we get to the capital, I look at her. “I have to go in alone.” Before she can stop me, I enter the building and shut it behind me.          

 “You there! Who are you? STOP!” one of The Sons says.

           I look into his eyes, and he calms down, slowly lowering his gun. I walk straight to the elevators. Many men try to stop me, but they just stop. I can talk to them without really talking to them. They understand me, somehow.           

           When I enter the elevator, I press level 99, the highest room. It takes a few seconds to get to the top. I am calm, collected, and ready with an ineffable wave of confidence I am slowly discovering. The doors open, and I am met with a white room. A tall computer sits in the middle with information glowing all around it. Camden sits in a comfortable, white cushioned throne he’s built. When he sees me, he stands up. It is just him and me. Good.  

       “Amal? H-how?” he asks. 

           “You mislead the world. You paint the city white and bathe in people’s blood behind closed doors.” He tries to speak. “It ends today,” I reply. “In the name of The Order of the Sun, I Amal, the new hope of this world, hereby denounce your title.”  

         Camden stands up.   

         “Sit!” I say, and he drops down. I approach the computer breathing heavily. I motion my hand in front of the computer. I connect to every device, every screen, every earpiece of technology.

         “Citizens of this world. A new era is among us—one without fear or injustice. I am here in front of you today as your new hope. Camden no longer rules.” I show them the coward. “Sons and Daughters of The Order, lay down your weapons. You do not need them anymore. We shall live differently now.”    

       I grab the tablet from beside Camden and set it on the table in front of the screens. I unlatch my gun from my hips and place it on the table. Finally, I unzip the bag and empty the money on it.     

       “We shall not live in a world where technology rules us!” I put my hand on the tablet, and it disintegrates. 

“We shall not live in a world where violence is an answer to anything!” I hold the gun and crush it with my hand.  

         “Most importantly, we shall not live in a world where we are slaves to paper!” I run my hand over the money, and it burns.    

       “We shall not be led by tyrants or greedy men. We shall not live in fear or injustice. We shall not be divided into camps like animals. For centuries, those in power tried to tear us apart by our differences. But in reality, our differences make our world beautiful. We are not meant to be alike, but we are meant to like each other. We shall begin again. This is our new world. I am Hope, and I am here to free you.”

           I disconnect.