Seeking the Sovereign
In a world just like ours . . . only different.
The Sovereign will replace the fallen one with another from an unknown tribe who will restore what once was and usher in a new era. The people will marvel and be amazed. -Prophecy 11.41
Chapter 1: Forbidden
Emma strode with confidence down the hall toward fifth-period Advanced Algebra, her hazel hair flouncing on her back with each step. As usual, Chloe walked on her right. A more recent development was Joshua trailing behind. His presence, lanky and loitering, annoyed Emma. He was like a third wheel on a bicycle. His constant hovering threatened to come between her and Chloe. But she had said nothing—so far—because he was Chloe’s friend.
A commotion arose. A cocky jock had backed a new girl into the lockers. He pointed a threatening finger at the poor girl’s face. She trembled.
Without thinking, Emma shoved her algebra book at Chloe and rushed forward like a charging bull. She reached up to grab the muscle-bound jerk’s bicep and spun him around. “Stop harassing her.”
“You telling me what to do?” Narrowing his gaze, he glared down at Emma.
“The Sovereign demands justice. The unjust will perish along with their folly.”
“Are you quoting the Holy Text to me?” The guy shook his head. “Freak.”
He backed away from Emma and gave the terrified new girl one last shove. Her back slammed against the lockers, she dropped her books, and her body slumped to the floor.
Emma bent down. “You okay?”
The girl looked up at Emma, eyelids fluttering. She opened her mouth, but no words came out.
“He’s gone.” Emma picked up the girl’s things and extended her hand. “Can you get up?”
“Think so.” The girl’s words came out soft and shaky.
“Thanks for saving me.” With care, she rose and scurried away.
Emma returned to an open-mouthed Chloe. “That was intense.” The pint-sized girl shuddered, the tips of her black hair bouncing on her shoulders. “I’ve never seen you like that.”
“I wasn’t thinking,” Emma said. “It’s like I was on autopilot or something and couldn’t stop myself.”
“That was very brave. And a bit crazy.” Chloe stared at Emma’s shaking body. “Now let me ask, are you okay?”
Emma nodded and tried to take a step forward, but she wobbled. Her body quivered, her head tipped to the side, and everything went black. As she fell, she sensed a pair of strong arms catching her.
The next thing she knew, she was leaning against some lockers, her head spinning. Chloe steadied her on one side and Joshua was on the other. His gentle touch comforted her, filling her with warmth. He’d never been so close to her.
Emma looked up into his eyes, noticing them for the first time. How could I have missed this brilliant brown? His eyes sparkled as the most beautiful things Emma had ever seen. For Chloe’s sake, she pushed these thoughts out of her mind.
“Thanks.” Emma slowly drew in a deep breath. “I’ll be okay.”
“Are you sure?” Concern covered Chloe’s face.
She nodded.
“Really sure?” Joshua double-checked.
“For sure.” Emma nodded to confirm. But am I?
“Okay. Got to go. Can’t be late for class.” Joshua spun around and dashed in the opposite direction. Chloe guided Emma to algebra.
“I’m so glad your friend was there to catch me,” Emma said.
“My friend? I thought he was your friend. That’s why I never said anything about him following you around like a little lost puppy.”
“Whatever.” Emma didn’t want to think any more about Joshua. She tried to shove the image of his beautiful brown eyes out of her mind.
Her last two classes flashed by in a blur. Before Emma knew it, the school day ended. She and Chloe waited outside the main doors for the rest of their group to join them. Though so far there had never been an incident while walking home alone, the increase in patrols scooping up people made traveling as a posse a wise move. And the sudden disappearance of Mrs. Butler, their religion teacher, added to their concern.
As Emma’s classmates walked up, many celebrated what she had done.
“You go, girl,” Isabella said.
Lane offered a fist bump.
“About time someone put him in his place,” Lauren added.
Emma received their affirmations, but her mind was far away. She slipped her hand into the pocket of her jeans and touched her babysitting money. Today she would make a different choice. Today she would embrace the opportunity the Sovereign set before her. She tried to recall the words of the Holy Text she’d read the night before. “The Sovereign blesses you to bless others.” This was something to contemplate.
“Emma,” Chloe murmured out of the corner of her mouth. “Earth to Emma, come in Emma.”
A startled Emma snapped her attention back to the present. The last of the group had arrived. All twelve friends were ready, waiting for her to lead them home. “Okay, let’s go. The question for today is, ‘What are you thankful for?’”
She turned and headed out, leading their disparate band home. Chloe walked next to her while Joshua trailed behind. If Joshua wasn’t Chloe’s friend—and he wasn’t hers—why was he always hanging around? Did he like Chloe? Does he like me? Emma shuddered. She shook off the thought. She didn’t have time to be distracted by a boyfriend.
The group was quiet. Emma hoped it was because they were thinking about her question. At last Lane spoke. “I’m thankful I passed my algebra test today.”
“And I’m thankful for no chemistry homework,” Isabella said. Everyone chuckled.
Others soon shared their thankfulness. Some ideas were trivial and others were thoughtful, but everyone was sincere.
They stopped at a crosswalk, waiting for the light to change. In the next block perched a homeless man—the homeless man—right where they were headed. With tangled, white hair and a scruffy beard, the man sat cross-legged on the sidewalk. A cardboard carton lay next to him. It was illegal for people to ask for money or hold up a sign, but setting out a donation box was a loophole in the law. Every homeless person knew this.
Until today, Emma had rerouted their group so they wouldn’t cross paths with the strange man. Even for a homeless person, he was extra odd. The soiled and tattered robe he always wore most likely used to be white. Though he was never in the same place, he was somewhere on their path every day. Today she would not avoid him.
“Should we turn?” Chloe tipped her head to the right.
“That homeless guy creeps me out.”
“He’s quite harmless,” Joshua declared.
“The Holy Text says, ‘Give to all who ask and are in need’ and ‘the Sovereign loves . . .’” Emma paused, trying to recall the rest of the passage she’d read the night before.
“The Sovereign loves a generous heart,” Joshua said as he moved to walk on Emma’s other side.
She cast a curious look at this perplexing boy. With wide-eyed astonishment and in a near whisper, she asked, “You know the Holy Text?”
“I read it every morning.”
Chloe gasped. Her eyebrows arched. “Ordinary people can’t read the Holy Text. It’s forbidden.”
“Says who?” The words spewed from Emma’s mouth more forcibly than she intended, harsher than she wanted. But she didn’t know if she could have held them back anyway.
Chloe’s gaze darted to Emma. “Well . . . like everyone.” She scrutinized Emma as if she were crazy and then cast an incredulous look toward Joshua. “You two could get in trouble. Lots of it.” Then the worried girl lowered her voice. “You could even get arrested and sent for retraining.”
“I must do what I must do.” Emma wasn’t usually one to speak without thinking, but lately her mouth was one step ahead of her mind. It all started when she began studying the Holy Text in secret.
The crosswalk light turned green. “Today we go straight,” Emma said.
With a confident stride on the outside and her heart thumping on the inside, Emma reached into her pocket and pulled out the money she’d set aside for this moment. Flashing her best smile, she approached the man to drop the cash into his box. As she bent toward him, his body odor assaulted her unsuspecting nostrils. She almost gagged, but she hoped he didn’t notice or take offense.
“Bless you, my child,” he said. “May the Sovereign protect you and keep your disciples safe in the days ahead.” His weathered face shone with the kindness that she could only see from up close, but his stench nauseated her.
Disciples? Clearly, this man isn’t playing with a full deck.
“I speak of what is true.” He dipped his head down as if to confirm his words.
Did he just read my mind? Emma pushed that idea away, just in case she might be right. As she continued past him, she willed her mind to go blank—to think of nothing—as if that were possible.
Behind her, the group shuffled by him to catch up with her, murmuring concern over the man’s situation. But she didn’t think anyone else gave him any money. Maybe tomorrow they’ll act differently.
Their company continued east. As they did, smaller groups would peel off and head toward their respective homes. Before long, their number was down to four. Emma and Chloe went one way while Joshua and Lane headed in the opposite direction.
“You were amazing today at school,” Chloe said when they got to her house.
“I was stupid,” Emma answered. “Won’t make that mistake again.”
After waving goodbye, Emma cut through backyards to avoid any patrols and work her way home.
