The tension Zarah had been carrying since she had cowered under her kitchen table mere hours earlier melted away. She could feel her shoulders relax as she looked around at her friends. They were seated in a circle in old wooden stacking chairs, and mumbling quietly to one another. The shadowy figure who had also traveled here was just taking off his dark hood, and she saw his face. It was a new face, one she didn't recognize at all. He timidly took an empty seat, and Zarah could see the only one left was beside him. She quickly took her seat as she heard a deep voiced man clear his throat. This was usually the signal of the beginning of the meeting.
The hooded stranger to her left, Zarah slid as far to the right of her seat as she could. On that side was a woman who called herself Rebecca. She was a steely gray haired, sixty-something woman whose hard life showed in the permanently etched scowl on her face. Rebecca lightly squeezed Zarah's arm in reassurance. Perhaps she knew something Zarah didn't. Zarah even thought she saw her attempt a smile. It wasn't her strong suit, smiling, but she was a strong and steadfast woman who could be relied upon. Zarah admired her very much.
"I'm glad you could all make it," said the deep voiced man, who called himself Harold. He was the same man who had let everyone in the door. "Constance has called us together in response to the increase in rioting and looting in our area. Constance, if you would like to take the floor?" Zarah watched the woman, who was sitting directly across from her, lean forward in her chair. She looked around the circle, making eye contact with her group. Constance was the leader of their nameless revolution. Zarah often wished she knew Constance's real name. But, the name she had chosen for herself fit her perfectly. She was strong, confident and unwavering in her convictions.
Constance was in her mid thirties. She spoke with authority, yet diplomacy. She commanded respect, but also gave it in the utmost. Zarah knew, as did everyone else there, that without Constance, the group would crumble. She cleared her throat, and began to speak.
"I called you all here tonight because the fighting has gotten worse. The State Army has been pushing into residential areas in town, and the Civil Union is pushing back, as I'm sure many of you have already seen. This is happening all over the country. We must be vigilant in our cause. We must do everything we can to maintain what peace we can, and help those caught up in the violence. It doesn't matter which side they are on, these people rioting and fighting are human beings. All of them. They deserve a life without this turmoil as much as any other. Let's never lose sight of that." Though her words were firm, Zarah thought she could detect a waver in Constance's voice.
"That said, we need to come up with a better plan of action," she continued. "Obviously, what we've been doing hasn't been enough. No matter how many people we help, how many wounded we treat, how many homeless we shelter, it hasn't stopped the fighting. And, it never will. We've now been pushed into a place where we have to take action. Our humanitarian efforts are only band-aids. They can't heal the problem. They can't bring our country back together." With every word, the people sitting around the circle sat forward more and more. Zarah could feel the tension growing.
Thus far, her little band of helpers had been working behind the scenes, in the shadows, to help those effected by the riots and unrest. They had opened their homes, delivered food, given medical care. Their original hope was that by setting the example of kindness and care toward others, they could win people over to their cause. And, on a small scale, it had worked. But Zarah knew, as did everyone else, that it wasn't going to be enough in the long run.
"Because of this," Constance said, "I have invited a new member to our group tonight, as you all may have noticed." Everyone's eyes turned to the hooded stranger. "This is Gabriel. He works for the State Army." Zarah could feel everyone instantly suck in their breath. "Gabriel also works for the Civil Union. He's a double agent, so to speak. And, Gabriel wants to help us." And then they collectively exhaled. "Gabriel has been gathering intelligence for the better part of a year now, and he has come tonight to share what he knows, and help us make a plan to move forward. He wants to help us end this nightmare."
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