A Promise

Three years. Three years and no phone call, no text or even a letter if she would have decided that route. I understood, considering what happened those three years ago but I wished she could have made the effort to reach out. And it wasn't a better time. I stared my screen, hand over mouth and tears ready to stream. The text outlined perfectly, detailing a meet up at the local diner. Yet, what stroked me more was the bolded text she put. The conversation was going to detail an "intensive" topic. I didn't understand whatever that meant and it didn't matter, as long as I was there.

Clad in a black fedora and white scarf, I paced towards the diner. It had been so long since I came back, I mean, there was no way I could come here all by myself. I looked at the sun. Were it like the past there would be no way I would last ten seconds. Yet here we were, the cause of all this mess. I shook my head and opened the door.

The bell chimed and it was like how I remembered it. The seats and tables by the side, the waitresses in pink aprons roller skating you'd think it was the 60's even though they rocked that nostalgia. The counter was full of people eating desserts and all going about various experiences that made me smile. I didn't think the world would still be like this. One waitress skated to my direction, asking where I was going to sit. I scanned, with how time passed I was unsure whether I would even recognize her. I underestimated myself when we locked eyes.

Strewn with her long curvy black hair and piercing amber eyes, I saw the deep frustration held within her. And I felt the same. Without my consent, my legs moved on their own and when I was within reach, my arms acted up and embraced her. Then my eyes followed.

"Lauren," she cried, I missed hearing her soft voice. "I'm glad you're here."

"Me too Clara," I responded.

We attracted an audience of beaming smiles while others touched their chests as though this were the moment they were waiting for. We broke off and I saw her bright smile stretching both sides of her face. For some reason, her tanned skin made it all prettier.

"Imma bring y'all a milkshake," the waitress said.

"A coffee for me," Clara interjected. I knew she would do that.

The waitress nodded and fled. We took our seats and just... gazed each other. It felt like there was nothing else we could do. I attempted to give her space to speak and she did the same correspondingly. We laughed it out. I still couldn't believe we found each other.

"How are you Clara?" I asked.

"I'm good. Better, now that I've seen you. I wish I could bring the kids with me but..."

I rose an eyebrow." But what?"

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. We moved to the countryside. The pandemic was too much for us and we just couldn't stay in the city."

"Did that ruffian come to find you?" I asked, my fingers tapping the table

She snickered. "Beck? Girl, you know we got a divorce before I left."

She explained to me how life had been in the countryside and how attached she grew to farming. Such bad timing to attempt that venture. She admitted her efforts grew futile due to the problem with the sun and often she had to come back to the city and buy whatever her hands could get. I had the urge to ask why she never made the effort to look for me during those times but something told me she was avoiding the subject and I wanted to stay true to that. A few moments later, the waitress came by with the beverages, apologizing for taking as long and promised that the food wouldn't do as much.

After a few straws up my shake, I focused to the matter. "You said something about an... intensive talk. What did you mean?"

Her grip over the mug increased. She hadn't even began drinking it and I knew how blazing it must have been. But with no reaction from her, it made me feel a bit shudder. She stared at me. Her eyes, they carried some sort of anguish.

"Clara..."

"Oh... sorry. You still work at 'Global Affairs' right?"

"Yeah but that doesn't-"

"Do you mind... proving it to me?"

My hand froze. Why would she want evidence. We had been friends for years, even worked together before her vanishing and now she wanted proof?

She gave me the same look and I couldn't help but comply. I pulled out my phone and wallet. Laying the phone on the table, I navigated the wallet and took out a card. It had my credentials that sufficed I worked at the company. I handed it and went through my phone showing her my latest paper. It focused on the nefarious Dawnbreakers and seeing the headlines made her eyes pop. I could see her hand quivering, as part of her coffee spilled on the table.

"Clara," I put my hand over hers. Part of my palm made contact with the mug and I immediately withdrew. Did Clara not feel that temperature.

"I'm sorry," she said, checking my hand.

"Clara, what's going on?"

She kept calm. "Promise you won't freak out."

I promised. She placed the mug far from her, at the center of the table. Maintaining composure, she inhaled and exhaled then extended her hand over the mug. Progressively, the coffee began to bubble, as though there were something heating it and reached its boiling point. Soot grew over the edges and I was convinced if she were to continue it would shatter. Like she read my mind, she focused all the steam to two of her fingertips and drew it out. The bubbling decreased and the coffee settled. The soot was also gone.

I gazed her, lost for words. Were these the reasons she escaped? She didn't go to the countryside just to farm, it had to be because of this, it definitely was. She was...

"... A Dawnbreaker?" I spoke. "Clara, you're one of them?"

She broke. All those felt up emotions released and she appeared like a splintered vase. Incapable of holding anything.

"When the pandemic happened," she said, "I felt a bit off. It seemed like I was up with a fever, my joints hurt and everything in my body felt like it shutdown. When I touched things, it would take seconds before they gave smoke, as for liquids, the heat would be too much and glasses would break. I didn't like this. I didn't like being a freak."

More tears dropped drenching her cheeks and burning up before they could reach her lips. It was horrific to witness it yet I didn't have the strength to curl back as I usually did. Perhaps since she was my friend, no... much like sister.

"Clara," I proceeded. "If you don't address this quick enough, the effect will grow in you and you'll turn rouge."

"And that can't happen," she warned. "After I saw what was happening with everyone, after all the murder sprees, I couldn't let it happen to me. That's why I escaped. If I could live a normal life away from everyone then maybe the effect won't grow on me."

"You can't be assured that will happen," I added. "And no matter where you go, the A.D.A is always on the lookout. They would catch up to you."

She shook her head. "I can't offer myself to the authorities Lauren. It wouldn't be fair to Jerry and Janice."

"And will you blame yourself for their deaths?"

Silence emerged. I realized I went too far but this was the truth. All those accustomed to the dawnstruck virus would grow so powerful of their abilities and grow rogue. And that would entail numerous deaths. Clara looked at me and shook even more. Her head lumped downwards and focused the ground. Still, none had the strength to let the conversation pass.

"Then when that time happens," she finally spoke. "Promise me you'll pull the trigger."

My heart shrieked. I felt like a knife was forced into my heart.

"If I can make the effort of bringing the kids every now often and they get to remember you then maybe you'll take them in and you can fester for their well being."

"No!" I protested. "Are you insane? Clara if the agency takes you under their wing the situation will be handled and once you're okay you'll reunite with them."

"I can't! I know what they do to anyone with the virus. They'll make sure all their tests work out as intended and make those weapons they use to contain us. I can't go through such pain. I would rather die as quick and painful than be allowed to let vile people do tests on me."

"They never do such things. Why would they when they want the best of what remains of the world."

"They're the ones who pioneer the end of everything. The ones that wanna make sure there aren't as many humans in the world. The ones who will make me never see my children the same way again," she glanced me, though pointless, the tears continued their pursuit. "I can't allow this to happen to me. I never said I wanted this to begin with and if the only way to get out is to let someone examine my body then I won't let them win. I can't let them have their way."

She managed a smile. "That's why I trust you. You've always been there for me and I know if I fail, you won't give up on me. And I know Jerry and Janice will be strong with you around. Promise me you'll do this."

Before I could answer my phone buzzed. It was a number, one I knew too well. I couldn't ignore it but then this was Carla. He would have to wait. I turned to her, waiting for my response. It still didn't click to me that she was a dawnbreaker and that she was telling me to do something I knew was impossible. But then, for Clara, I would do whatever was in her best interests. I laid my palm on top of her hand and gave a reassuring smile.

"I don't know how well it will play out ," I confessed. "But I promise they'll be safe under my care."

My confession brought another round of emotions. Her knowing the fate of those she loved more was entrusted to me had to be the best decision she could think of.

"Thank you, Thank you Lauren," she said lifting my hand and resting her forehead atop it.

I excused myself to go take the call. What was I thinking? Was this truly right? And was it truly fair to her children? I knew the extent of those infected. The lengths they would go were they not contained. I mean, my father was a victim from one of them and even though I should have grown to understand that the killer was not in the right state of mind, it seemed like he yearned for that moment to happen.

If I took them under my wing when they recently lost touch with their father, would they even classify me as friendly, that I could perhaps do a better job than the ruffian. This wasn't a route I was rooting for and yet she chose me to do this. And the obligation was already made.

The phone continued its relentlessness, pulling me back to reality. That number, couldn't he wait for five minutes?

"Hello," I said.

"What's taking you so long. Why didn't you pick up?" The voice was deep and cold. Comparable to his nature.

"Well, today's a Saturday and I have plans. Like any other human."

"Don't act cocky with me Agent Dawson. Another Dawnbreaker has been spotted downtown. From where you are you can make it in ten."

I folded my fists. "You're spying on me now?"

"It just so happened someone saw you at the diner. This one is a case E and if you're not there in time people are gonna die. Now will you take this or not?"

Dawnbreakers. Was it really those symptoms that made them act as malicious or what they deemed see fit. And then there was Clara. Could I trust her word? Even if she planned it out, did she really think it would work in her favor. I already made the promise and as her friend, I knew what was best for her and I understood what she needed.

"Dawson?" He spoke.

"I'll take it. And I have something to add," I bit my lip. "I might know the location of another."