Chapter 36

He survived

There's no sun, just vast grey clouds are seen in the sky. Sooner or later, the rain will fall down and once again, the Waste Land will immediately turn into a free entrance dirty swimming pool. Just looking at up the sky for more than an hour didn't waste my time. I couldn't just help myself to think deep where there are more infinite things up above us. There are no reasons to think any other way, you just need to trust everything that's going on.

"Hey you, there!" a ball hit me in the center, I felt the pain and hold it. It is like my world was falling apart. I slowly rise up from lying down and see who did that. "Did that hurt you?" he said and they laugh together.

I stood up but I could still feel the ache on my balls. How could he do that?

"How dare you to do that?!" I raged.

"Can't you just have fun with your life? You're too serious in your life. That's not good, though." He implied.

I shook my head, "I'm not serious with life... don't you know how to chill sometimes?"

He chuckles, "I know, we know that and what we're doing makes us feel better. So you better get your ass down here and play with us, or your gonna hit again down there again."

"Oh, try me," I said, pissed off. I picked up the ball and threw the ball back at him. He almost caught it with his hands. And as he finally got into the game, I didn't lose the chance and run into their direction. One on three. An unfair fight of shooting the ball into the nest but the least number you are doesn't mean you are weak. Just think of it the other way, one can never be defeated by deceptive people.

Since my brother left, I don't remember having fun. Playing around, have the best moment of our lives. I just miss the days when I could possibly do all the things I can without thinking too deep. Because since my brother left, all I think the world left a burden on me. Too much weight I carried on my back and I don't even know if I'm gonna made 'till the end, standing on my feet cause I have the feeling... I'm crawling to the death of it.

As they are blocking my way to the ring and I didn't shoot the ball right away, I will lose. But I decided, I come sturdy in my position. Slowly bent my knee and jump and throw the ball as much as I can. The three of them stopped, and follow whether the ball will shoot or not. As I felt the loud thumping in my chest and looking at the ball, I already see that there are no chances that it will shoot on the ring.

But I was wrong.

It did shoot the ring. I smirked. I couldn't believe that'll happen.

Sometimes you have to believe even there's a small chance that it will occur. Believing into something sometimes bring a good reflection to the person or thing cause somehow you never blinded by the darkness of impossibilities.

"You got lucky there, dude." He said and shake my hand.

"Not a luck I think," I smirked.

On the other hand of my winning, our attention was snatched by an enormous alarmed that echoed throughout the Waste Land. The three of them started to run off somewhere and leave me alone. I looked around, listening to alarm and where does it come from. And what does it mean?

As I run back to the main street, I stopped as I have seen those people were walking towards the central point. Everyone isn't panicking, they are calm and that's what I don't understand. All I can see was smiles and a fragment of hopes in their faces.

"Dylan!" a familiar voice call my name and then search for it, I saw my Mom coming into my direction. When she comes closer, she reaches out her arms to me. I hugged her once we got close. "It's the time..." she mumbled.

I lose my hug on her and look at her face, "is it?"

She nodded, "yes, my son..." I could sense a lot of hope in her tone. She has been waiting for this time to come. Even if there are many reasons that we won't get any good news, she's still assuring herself that she'll see him again.

As all the Null People are engaged in the alarm made by High Council, all of us directed to the central point where everyone gathered for the most awaited news everyone is waiting for. As we look up in the spectacular screen above, everyone was holding their breath, holding each other arms... hugging, wishing that they would see their brother, sister, son, daughter on the screen.

I didn't wish anything.

Cause I know my brother.

We'll see him again.

As the blank screen screams with color images, a few seconds after the High Council are seen. Some people were disgusted, ashamed and pissed off. They don't want them to rule out this world but if they didn't follow the High Council, they will vanish.

"Good afternoon everyone, The Licit People of the Noble Land and the Null People of the Waste Land. Here we are again bringing you the news about the process of the rebirth. For about nine months in the field, we have reached the end. From a thousand of Null People who come and dreamed to step a foot in the Noble Land who try their best comes only left with a few numbers who miraculously saved, survived and rebirth."

"Please... please, please..." my mother whispering, almost like she's praying.

"And here is the list of thirteen survivors who made it passed through rebirth."

They started to flash the faces of every survivor who made it through. Their sacrifices, all their strengths, hopes, and dreams were seen on their faces. Whatever the exhaustion they are feeling, the accomplishment of making it at the end is enough. From the number of one to eight are all stranger to me, I don't know them but around us are people who celebrating because they've seen their family across the screen and some who cried comes with their hopes died as they didn't see their families among the survivors.

"I know he's the last one..." Mom murmured. The screen was flashing the twelfth survivor and I'm not losing any hopes that he could be the last one. I know my brother. He fights like no other.

Until the last one has shown.

Conrad Bertrand.

"Oh... my lord." Mom gushed out her tears when her son flashed on the screen. She looks at me, her tears won't even stop from falling. The worry she had earlier was gone when she finally had the good news she's been waiting for nine months.

"He survived." I mumbled, "my brother did it."

"Your brother did it!" Mom cheered along with her tears.

As we watched my brother kicking alive on the screen, I couldn't be prouder than anyone. Even before he left, he assured me that he'll be stepping a foot in the Noble Land and will do all the best he can to provide us with something when we get there. My chest was full of excitement, after nine months of longing to see him and worrying that he could be dead on the field, relief me.

What could possibly my brother did to survive for that freaky long nine months? How did he stand on his feet when there's no one to trust there?

When he was flashing back on the screen again, I saw the medallion my father gave to him. I think it was his lucky charm, his motivation, and inspiration that make him strive to do no matter what it takes.

He did it.

I can finally say it.

My brother is on the Noble Land.

When the High Council goes back in the screen, only some people left to watch their remaining words. Some people who lost their loved ones just threw things on the screen. I understand them. They lost someone but they don't hold their fate.

If they survive, it is not luck. But on the other way, if you believe you can survive, you will until the end. Be the strongest person you'll be. Fight back. Think smart. And lastly, don't trust someone who you just know for the first time cause some people are the murderer of our dreams and hopes. Don't let them touch you or you'll not gonna taste what you deserve.

"As these survivors are gone into rebirth, they are now part of the Licit People and Noble Land will be their new home. They can no longer be part of the Null People and as they will left all behind, they will rise as our new habitat. Thank you and see you on the next Rebirth, may your lives change forever." And the screen went black.

"Hey!" when someone caught my attention, I found my friend coming at me. "Congratulations on your brother! He did it!"

I nodded on her, "thanks..." a bitter tone came out of me.

"What's the matter, aren't you happy?"

I hastily shook my head, "No, I am... it's just that, I won't be seeing him again."

She let out a sigh, "don't worry about it, Dy... at least he made it through, right?"

"That's all that matters, yeah, right," I smirked.

"Oh, son, we're gonna have some celebration tonight." Mom said to me, my friend look into her and notice how she was uplift by the announcement. I know she was also saddened by the news that my brother won't be around or a possibility to see him cause we all know, the boundary that sets between two diverse people are too vast and impossible. "I'm gonna cook your brother's favorite dish."

"Wow, I'm sure he misses your cooking, Mom."

Almost a faint smile show into her lips, "I know he does... but he'll be eating all the food he wants to there on the Noble Land. He has everything there... he has all the things he wants." She said.

But not us Mom. He doesn't have us there.

"Can I come?" my friend giddily asked permission.

Mom nodded to her, "of course you are, see you at the dinner, son." Mom said as she kisses my forehead and waved as she walks back to our house. How I miss my old life... not that I'm not happy for my brother's achievement. It is just that, after my father passed away, I felt broken. That I felt I would never become whole again.

And as my brother left, another piece of me was broken.

And for the last person I'm holding on, I'm not gonna let my hands away from my Mom.

"So, how do we celebrate this, my good friend?" she said, sneaking out chuckles.

I put my arms on her shoulder, "well... wherever. We only have a few years 'till our turn to Rebirth."

"You're right... but have fun, it's not over yet."

"Maybe..." I smirked, "my good friend."

Three years since my brother survived the process. We were actually happy for him. That he finally made it to the Noble Land. That our parents wished and dream to step foot on it was made by him. He made it happen.

However, he never looks back to us once again.

I can still remember the day when my Mother was too happy that my brother, Conrad passed his one in a lifetime process, that whatever the family desires, he made it come true. But we realize, when he left us, we should also believe that he won't be around to help us, to guide us and that's the thing we were afraid of. That one day, when the time has come, he will forget us.

He will forget his family.

And we're not wrong about it.

He lied about his hopes for the family, he only cared for himself, all these years, we waited for him to come back... but just like what the High Council said, Waste Land is not their home anymore. We now became fragments of their past who are now just mere memories.

But three years is not that long when it is my turn on Rebirth. I won't be like my brother.

I won't be like him.

I make my Mom proud more than he did before.

And when the time I survived.

I'll be bringing my own name, reputation and a world where there is no boundary that sets the people apart from their dreams and hopes. Cause if you always believe in something, you need to see something good in it on every way as much as possible. The way you see things right, the more it's gonna turn out right.

I am so ready... for a life I deserve.