Chapter Text
Prologue
It's been 3 years since I lost Clancy completely. I thought there was a chance I could get him back but every attempt failed miserably. I've lost others as well.
Clancy is alive, as far as I know. But he hasn't known who I am for at least those 3 years, maybe more, I've lost count if I'm honest. I know the neons happened when I was 17 so he must have been 18. Now he should be 21 if he's alive. But the neons have happened to us both so many times who really knows where it all began. Personally I think this horrible plan was always meant for us. Meant to destroy our very souls. I don't know how they knew how it would all go but they must have. It's all been too perfect. We've tried to stop it. So many of us have tried to no avail.
The Bishops took our memories using the neons as a punishment for our so-called crimes against vialism. It's still unclear what they even consider crimes. But supposedly I'm special. The connection I had with Clancy was too strong. So I'm cursed with holding all of our memories as a secret. Nigel is the only other person alive that knows the whole story. I even remember Luna and I get to see her occasionally. It all comes with a heavy cost though. I'd love to get into it for you sometime.
But alas I have to go.
-Reign
-Rebel Red
The pen burns in my hands as I stare at what could be my last entry in this journal. Any edits must be made now but I can’t bring myself to write the rest out.
Luna is off with Dixie while I plan alone in my cloak. I feel bad for all we’ve lost. I blame myself although it’s not my doing. They’ve tried to reassure me but it hasn’t been the same since...
I haven't been the same.
Something went horribly wrong and it can’t be fixed. It’ll never be fixed.
That’s why I have to burn it down. Completely.
Everything needs to change and I'm the only one left to get the ball rolling. Nigel wouldn’t bother to help me. Not after the last time I saw him. Not after what I said to him. It wasn’t his fault but I had to blame someone or I'd implode. He just happened to be in my war path at the time. I’ve thought of apologizing but the thought of walking back into Dema sickens and haunts me after the last time. I know I have to go back eventually but I'll avoid it for as long as possible if it means not reliving that day. I see it enough in my own head without the bishop's manipulation.
Chapter One
Torchbearer blinks as if waking up and then he just stares at the ground. He tries to catch his breath.
“You alright?”
“Yeah..I mean..no..I don’t know. I’m concerned.”
“Did you find them?”
“They were tied up. They saw me but I..I couldn’t watch that..”
“What was happening?”
“There was a blue light, buzzing. Does that mean anything to you? They looked so scared. So upset.”
“The neons. Yeah it means something. Nothing good.” Tyler hesitates but then leaves the tent. Josh follows and they show up at Luna and Dixie’s tent.
“I thought they should know. We don’t have to yet though.”
“Give me more time. I want to go back in. I don't have answers, just questions. I don’t want to scare everyone more than needed. I don’t want to scare Clancy and Reign either by projecting to them too often.”
Torchbearer sits down in his tent a few days later. He takes a deep breath and shuts his eyes. At first it’s difficult.
After a few moments he finds himself in Dema, in front of a blue door. He thinks about knocking but decides there's no point so he just walks in.
Clancy is sitting on his bed and then he tips his head to the side just staring practically through Josh.
“Clancy, you're okay. Good.”
Clancy just continues to stare but then he squints his eyes suspiciously. As he stands up Josh backs up a bit instinctively.
“How did you get in here? And why are you the one that looks scared when I should be?”
“Through…your door..and you don’t need to be scared.”
“No, it never opened. And what are you wearing? You’re not from here.”
Josh looks down at his clothes as if to confirm what he's wearing. When he sees that it’s still his bandito clothes he looks back up, confused.
“You are okay, aren't you? You’re being strange.”
“I guess so. Why do you ask? Who even are you? Why are you in my room?” Clancy almost looks angry now.
“Oh…I see…and Reign?” Torchbearer tries to be gentle but his heart is racing.
“Who’s that? I don't think you should be here. I'm going to have to call for a bishop. I’d call for Keons but..he’s gone.”
“No. No, I'll go.”
Josh leaves and watches his hand go through the door. He sighs. As he wanders the hall and ends up at what he believes to be Reigns' door his chest tightens. If Clancy doesn’t remember him then what’s the point and he already somewhat confirmed that Keons is really gone.
“Reign?”
She turns to him and for a moment she just looks shocked but then she looks infuriated.
“YOU! You weren't actually there were you?! But you saw it happen! You saw what Nigel did! You saw what Nico did to us and you just watched!”
“I-”
“No you don't get to talk to me right now, Josh. Is Clancy even alive? Do you know? Does he remember anything at all?!”
Josh lets her finish and then sits down.
“I didn't see everything. I can project my consciousness to other places. That's how you saw me that night of the fire. But I'm not physically here, I'm at the camp with Tyler. And I was somewhere else then too.”
“So what..did you see then?”
“I saw the neons, I saw that you and Clancy saw me and then I left. I wasn't sure what was happening. I've never seen that with Tyler. Did I miss something important?”
“Nigel put a blindfold over my eyes but he couldn't put one on Clancy…or he wouldn't. I guess you don't know what the neons do?”
“Tyler hasn't told me, no.”
“Maybe he should tell you then. But it's not good.”
“It has to do with your memories doesn't it?”
“Mine are….intact…”
“So Clancy…” he looks back at the door.
“Yeah….go back to Tyler…I'll be okay for now. I need to be alone anyway.”
“I'm sorry Reign” he tries to ignore the tears in her eyes.
When Josh settles back into camp he can't get up. He's trying to process it all but he just can't get Clancy's face out of his mind. He looked so confused and then so angry. He threatened to call for a bishop when before he didn't even want to speak about them. And his energy was so different. That wasn't the boy that was here. That was something else. Something dark.
“Josh? You’ve been quiet all day.”
He looks over at Luna but still can’t bring himself to say something.
“I’m sure he’s fine, let’s just eat.” Tyler says cautiously. He glances at Josh but then looks back to his bowl.
For a while The Banditos and their leaders eat in silence. Then Luna sighs.
“Did you two find something out?”
Tyler gulps.
“We decided to send a group in to check out Dema and get some more supplies.” Josh says cautiously.
“That's not what I asked.”
“I don’t know anything for sure. I projected and i saw some things, and i talked to Clancy and Reign but I don’t know”
“You spoke to them? They’re okay?” Luna practically bounces out of her seat.
“They’re alive.”
Dixie and Luna hug meanwhile Tyler and Josh just look at each other worriedly. Dixie looks over Luna's shoulder, worried about who they may send.
Tyler and Josh enter their tent. Josh flops onto his cot.
“Ty…I just don’t know what to tell them. I’ve never felt so powerless but seeing those kids…Clancy didn’t even know me. And before you ask, no he wasn’t faking it he really had no clue. He looked like he wanted to hurt me. He felt so dark. But Reign, she knew and she REALLY wanted to hurt me. I think she’s scared, man. I think she’s utterly horrified. I think we need to get her out of there. We can send a small group maybe like I said.”
“So you saw what the neons do. In a way. I'm glad Reign escaped it. She won’t leave without Clancy, I can tell you that. A small group could help but it might make it worse.”
“I thought Clancy was the special one. I really did.” Josh ignores his friends doubts for now, too busy thinking.
“They’re both a new pawn in this cycle. Who knows what comes next. He still might be.”
“That’s what’s worrying.”