Chapter 56 - going back to the hood (Part 21) - a silent dream and a wish

I could hear voices, but was this vision a dream? A forest...no...a wheat field? The scenery shifted and morphed, leaving me disoriented. Suddenly, a voice pierced the air, speaking in a language I didn't understand. 'Hey, grande sœur! Come on, the festival of light is about to start!’

The voice sounded old, yet youthful, and seemed to be calling out to me. I looked down at my arm, and my mind reeled in shock. I was no longer myself, but a girl with pale skin and delicate features. I stumbled towards a puddle of water, and my reflection stared back at me. But something was off. My hair was dirty blonde, not my own dark locks. And my face...it looked Caucasian, not my own.

I felt a jolt of confusion. Why did I look like Frederica? Was this some kind of twisted dream? I looked around, trying to make sense of my surroundings. The wheat field stretched out before me, swaying gently in the breeze. The festival of light...what did it mean? And who was this 'grande sœur' the voice spoke of?

I found myself in a dress identical to the girl's, its 15th-century European design rustling as I followed her. But where were we? The flag fluttering above the castle walls bore the emblem of France, yet the scene seemed to belong to a different era. My gaze rose to the ramparts, where a figure in shining armor stood tall - a teenage girl, her face set with determination.

'Look, Lilith! It's Jeanne d'Arc! The savior of France!' the little girl exclaimed, tugging on my hand.

I stumbled, my mind reeling. Was I Lilith? The same name Uncle Usman, Mr. Hawk, and the scientist had mentioned? What was happening? Why was I here, in this medieval world, dressed in clothing from another time?

And why could I understand the old French dialect, spoken with a regional accent? The language was archaic, yet it felt strangely familiar.

'Jeanne d'Arc?' I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper. The little girl nodded enthusiastically, her eyes shining with excitement.

'Yes! She's here to save us from the English!’

I felt a jolt of confusion. What was my connection to this world, and why was I here, witnessing a pivotal moment in history? Was I somehow linked to the Lilith they spoke of?

This time, I couldn't control it. My body and mouth moved of their own accord, and a woman's voice spoke out. 'Yes, Madeleine...yes, she gives us hope...' I felt my hand reach out and grasp Madeleine's, and suddenly, a flash of light changed the vision.

The scene shifted, and I found myself witnessing a horrific sight. Flames engulfed the stake, and Jeanne d'Arc stood tall, her eyes fixed on the heavens. I saw it firsthand - the burning of the Maid of Orléans.

The heat was intense, the smell of smoke and charred flesh filling my nostrils. I felt Madeleine's hand tremble in mine as we watched in horror. The woman's voice spoke out again, 'No...no...this cannot be...' I felt a surge of anguish and despair, as if I was reliving the tragedy.

Another vision flashed before me - a mysterious hooded man and a knight in armor, capturing Madeleine and dragging her away. I felt a sense of desperation and helplessness as they tore her from my grasp.

'NO!!!' I shouted, my voice echoing through the visions.

Suddenly, I jolted back to reality, gasping for air. I found myself lying on the ground, Mika shaking me frantically.

'What the hell! You scared me half to death!' Mika exclaimed, tears streaming down her face. 'I saw you lying here, not moving...I thought I'd lost you!’

I sat up, trying to process the visions and my surroundings. Mika's fear and relief were palpable, and I knew I had to reassure her.

I stood up, brushing myself off. 'Yeah, I'm fine, sorry about that.' Mika's expression softened, but her voice remained laced with worry.

'You dumbass! I told you to get backup!' She rarely used her street slang when she was genuinely upset.

I offered a weak smile. 'Yeah, I'm back. Just need some rest...' Mika enveloped me in a tight hug. 'You better!’

As we exited the room, I saw that the hospital was back under our control. Colonel and Detective Tracy were already there, assessing the situation.

'Hey, I heard what happened from Mika and the scientist,' Detective Tracy said, his eyes narrowing. 'What about the clone?’

I hesitated, unsure how to reveal the truth. 'The clone...accidentally burned herself. It was…inhuman.'

Detective Tracy's gaze lingered, but he didn't press the issue. Instead, he briefed us on the recovery efforts. 'With the hospital operational, we're making progress. Soro and the team have secured Downtown.’

I exchanged a skeptical glance with Mika. It seemed too quick, too easy. Were they hiding something?

As we surveyed the damage, I saw weary faces, injured people, and medical personnel rushing to treat them. It was like a war zone. I felt overwhelmed, unsure who to trust. The only person I could confide in was Mr. Hawk, Nat's dad.

As I stepped out of the hospital, I saw Damien and the others helping with the recovery efforts. Mika was among them, her face set in determination. But my heart was elsewhere, as if someone was calling to me. I walked away from the chaos, towards an alley near the hospital block.

The fire was dying down, leaving behind a haze of smoke. Sirens pierced the air, growing louder with each passing moment. I couldn't believe what was happening.

As I entered the alley, I saw a figure standing in the shadows. Another clone, but this one radiated an aura reminiscent of Frederica - yet her expression was sinister.

'Impressive,' she said, her voice low and husky. 'You took her out without even using your own hands. Just tools.’

I instinctively reached for my gun, but hesitated. Instead, I asked her, 'Do you have some sort of dream?’

She gazed up at the sky, her eyes distant. 'Just peace...there's something I need to verify. What do you think about your friends? What if they discover your true self? Is it really friendship, or will it be…fear?'

I was taken aback by her sudden change in tone. 'The truth is...I never knew...but I realize if they find out about my knowledge...I don't know...' I trailed off, unsure of how to respond.

The clone's words struck a chord within me. What if my friends discovered my secrets? Would they still stand by me, or would fear tear us apart?

'Interesting...' she said, pulling back into the shadows. 'We'll withdraw for now. The Brotherhood has fulfilled its purpose here, courtesy of the former CIA agent.' Her eyes seemed to bore into mine. ‘Half-blood...'

Half-blood? What was she insinuating? Did it have something to do with Frederica's blood donation? I felt a shiver run down my spine.

Before I could process her words, she vanished into the darkness. Maruk appeared out of nowhere, his eyes locked on mine.

'Nephew...' he said, his grip on my shoulder firm. 'We'll pull out too. But Soro and Maya will remain by your side. That Boulder of yours is the key to resolving this incident. Take him down, and order will be restored in this city.’

Soro materialized behind me, his voice low and serious. 'I told you, when people discover who you truly are...that's when the real test begins. Will they stand by you, or will they fear you?’

I couldn't deny the fear that had been gnawing at me. What if people found out about my true nature? Would they accept me, or would they shun me? I didn't want this, didn't want to be feared or ostracized. But what did I want? I wasn't even sure myself...

Is this why my mother was reluctant for me to return to the US? Was she afraid I'd uncover the truth about myself?

Soro nodded, as if reading my thoughts. 'With the major threat neutralized, only Boulder remains. I assume you can handle him.’

I nodded, determination coursing through my veins. 'I don't want Damien and the others involved. I really don’t.'

Soro and Maya exchanged a knowing glance. 'Well, what are we waiting for?' Maya exclaimed, before leaping off the building in a parkour-style move. Soro followed suit. 'We'll take point. He's at the mayor's office, expecting us. He can't hide anymore...see you there.'

I watched them disappear into the distance, then turned to head back to my stash. I needed ammo, and I needed to move fast. As I ran, I spotted one of the boys from Compton.

I filled him in on the situation, and he nodded, ready to join the fight. Luis appeared, his eyes blazing with determination. 'Let's settle this!' Leonardo emerged, his voice calm and collected. 'The end of this conflict is near...' Mika grabbed my shoulder, her eyes shining with excitement. 'I'm in!' Mariam appeared, a sly grin spreading across her face. 'So Mr. Gloomy is doing his thing again, huh?' Amin shouted, pumping his fist. 'Oi bro, don't forget we're the 3 musketeers!’

We clasped hands, a bond of brotherhood forming between us. I made a speech, my voice ringing out across the rooftops. 'Our target is Boulder, holed up in the mayor's office. He betrayed our trust, and now it's time to take him down. We won't wait for the law; we'll handle this ourselves.’

Well, then, let's go!' I shouted, revving up my bike's engine. Mika hopped on behind me, her arms wrapping tightly around my waist. The others gathered around us, a united front ready to face the final battle.

Another skirmish had ended, but the war was far from over. This time, we were after the mastermind behind it all - the one who took Darrel's life.

Damien appeared, Darrel's bike roaring to life beneath him. 'This is it, homie...' he said, his voice low and determined. We touched fists, a symbol of our brotherhood and resolve.

Together, we rode towards the mayor's office, our convoy a force to be reckoned with. The time for revenge had come, and we were ready to take down the one responsible for all the chaos.