"If I did" I asked, trying to sound as casual as I could. "Then you are the biggest idiot I have ever known." He stopped walking, turned to me and shook my shoulders as if to wake me up. "Come on now Harley you are playing with fire, don't you see that? Don't you realize that you have responsibility of an eight years old daughter?" Jax's voice was laced with desperation, and he kept on shaking me as if I was in comatose.
"Jax firstly stop shaking me, I am not in comatose" I said as I removed his hands from my shoulders. Holding is right hand I took him along as I started walking again. "I know what I am doing Jax, I am not an idiot. But someone had to do it, someone needed to step ahead and pressurize higher authorities, to pressurize government-"
"Yeah but that someone shouldn't have been you. Tell me did you thought about Reagan, about m- about people who care about you?"
I stopped walking and so did Jax. Taking a long breath, I closed my eyes for second before turning to face Jax. "I am doing this for the people I love, Jax. I am doing this for the better and brighter future of my child. I don't want her to live and die in this freaking dome, in the middle of dessert. I don't want her to live in the fear of uncertain. Yes maybe I am being ambitious, maybe I am selfish" I released a long and deep breathe "But you see selfishness isn't always a bad thing" I gently shook his shoulders "because this time this selfishness might protect not only the people I care, I love but million others too"
"You know what have been happening, right?" Jax said, his voice barely above a whisper "When I say I know what my father and others are upto, I mean it. People who tried to warn citizens of the nine nations vanishes, they just vanish Harley. And you know it." Yes I know it, I have known it for a while now. My very own parents were involved in this. I knew and yet I stayed quiet because when I was seven I didn't understand these thing, when I turned nine I started to understand a little bit after picking up several conversations my parents used to have with senator in the quiet hours of night. When I turned fifteen I started to reason their deeds. And when I turned twenty I consciously turned my back to Mr. Jekins when he begged me to help him getting out of my parents clutches, yes my parents used to keep people in our basement. He had a ten years old son, but I didn't help him being the coward that I was. I didn't talk to anyone for next few weeks and I reasoned my decisions for another few weeks. I blamed it on my pregnancy mostly.
But deep down I knew that I was just like others, I didn't care if someone is dying or what, not unless it affects me too. Now that I look back I feel ashamed of myself and I can't deny that, that shamefulness is kind of fuel to my present actions. "I know, but I'm not afraid of anyone, besides" I started walking once again, taking Jax along with me "You really think I'm that stupid" I laughed, a silly pathetic laugh "Come on now just have some faith in your bestfriend Jax" I said rubbing his cheeks gently "if anyone tries to put me down, believe me when I say it I will not be the only one going down" I completed giving a smile small smile to mr. Laurs who lived at the end of this street. This was his fixed time for night walks, he smiled back "How are you and Reagan?"
"I am good and Reagan..well what can I say she is as cheerful as always. How is your health?"
"Ahhh just fine, doctors says that I might live for few more year" he said with smile that didn't reach his eyes. I didn't know what to say so I just nodded Mr. Laurs smiled at Jax before continuing his night walk. "You know why he is not so happy?" I asked Jax when Mr Laurs was out of hearing rang and without waiting for Jax's reply I answered "He is a human and his son was slaughtered at the age of seven because he had polio. And his wife died of Asthma five years ago, you see they both were not worth living because treating and trying to keep them alive would have been nothing but the waste of our medical resources. Now he is has nothing really left to live for and he would be more than happy to leave this hell and meet his son and wife in afterlife. He had high fever three days ago and now just look at him" I looked at Jax who was looking at Mr. Laurs now vanishing form.
"Now shall we" I said still smiling as I gestured Jax to continue to walk when he looked at me. But he stayed rooted to his spot, gone was the sadness and look of pity that he was directing at Mr. Laurs retreating for just few seconds ago, now giving me a pointed look he said "Oh for god sake tell me you didn't made Asher part of this fantastic idea of yours"
I shrugged "if I did"
"God! seriously what were you thinking" he said as I pulled him to walk.
"Come on I know you think that I'm smart but you couldn't have possibly thought that I'd be stupid enough to challenge everyone without any backup plan. Or that I could handle everything on my own without anyone's help. As for your question I needed some help and Asher was more than willing to help me. I have given him all the official papers and my video telling everyone what is the real faith of our, I recorded it just in case you know."
"In committing a felony?" Jax asked
"Yes! he was more than willing to help me in committing a 'felony' as you like to call it-"
"No that's what the law calls it"
"Yeah okay that is what law calls. Now since I knew you would need help in pulling off this stunt and so that's when Asher entered into this great movie, directed by the one and only Harley Campbell"
"How long have you been planning this all by the way'" Jax asked
"For a year now" I replied with a grin. "Gal you are literally playing with fire" Jax muttered shaking his head slightly. "Well what can I say I love to!
Anyways, so you are gonna to persuade your father or not?" I asked already knowing the answer. Jax has always helped me come out of the graves that I seems to love to dig for myself.
"Of course I'm not going to let your stupidity get you killed and start riots." Jax said as the matter of fact. "You know what I love you, you are the best" I said as I kissed his cheeks.
By the time I returned back home, mrs. Lins had already left and Reagan was asleep. Tip toeing I entered in her room and kissed her goodnight. But when I turned around to leave my eyes fell on her drawing and poems scattered on the study table. Smiling I picked one of her poem to read.
My dream
Butterflies fluttering around
canoes moving slowly, across the subtle waves
bugs flying
ducks fighting
families grilling
parents holding hands of their young ones
that's what I want, that's all I want.
I looked back at my peacefully sleeping daughter and prayed to god if there was any to make this dream come true.
******************************************
"Well what can I say you you can be sometimes very surprising Harley" Burke said adjusting his suit. "Or I am just very persuasive. And as for that surprising compliment I am full of surprises in fact I have always been, it's just that you never paid attention" I said with smirk and folding my arms across the chest.
"I hope your ambition, surprising act and persuasiveness just don't get us killed sooner than we are destined to"
"Now that remains to be seen"