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Description
Everyone is quiet. Even the wind outside has died down though the snow still continues to fall at a steady pace. Something that would have once been considered peaceful now speaks louder than any other event at the house had before; the loudest silence anyone could have ever imagined fills every crevice, every space of the house and resounds throughout the city.

This is us now. Quiet. This is what we have never been before but "before" means nothing now.

The living room is the core of this, where everyone now sits absorbed their own thoughts:  Avanii sits with her back against one of the walls, her arms wrapped protectively around Devi. The expression on her face is hard to read and even harden when her gaze is pointed at the carpet. Across the room from her is Angel who tends to an impatient looking Kean. The two of them are constantly looking around the room in search of something or, rather, someone who is not in the room. Yet. Dai stands at the top of the stairs, nervously combing his fingers through his hair and frantically looking around the living room. Occasionally his eyes will rest on Angel and Kean before flickering around again as if he is struggling to look at something, anything, that isn't this dreary scene.

Nolan is in the kitchen with Parsnip, though neither of them are talking. Aros left hours ago to go God-knows-where. Shilo retreated into his bedroom around the same time Aros left and hasn't been out since. Everyone else is probably out and about, surveying the damage done to the city. It is something we've all seen already, something that we live in, and yet everything, even a year later, is still so surreal.

Even Claire and Sarah, who continue to whine and squirm around every time Jeremiah and I move them around, seem acutely aware of the drastic change the city has made. What's worse is that it's not only our city but several cities over an extended period of time. All destroyed.

Gavin. Gavin did this.

"It's all his fucking fault."

"We should have killed him when we had the chance."

"We never had a chance."

I have heard this so many times before, and maybe they're all right. But it isn't like some of us didn't try to assist him. The instant I think of this I feel sick to my stomach and try to shake the thought out of my head. What's done is done.

But now we have a chance to fix everything, and that chance comes in the form of someone named Matthew Marr, or Hex. Just weeks ago he received a proposition from an undisclosed individual that he, someone that we are all fairly familiar with, could help fix the newly founded country of Gamaliel. Hex took some time to consider this, but ultimately agreed to help. Kean will be going with him, of course, though she seems considerably less nervous than Hex does. In fact, the instant Hex steps down the stairs Kean stands with a confident smile, greeting her husband with a, "Are you ready?"

Everyone in the living room stands simultaneously, staring at Hex with wary expressions. Even Parsnip and Nolan peek into the living room, curious as to what is going on. Hex gives everyone quick nervous glances before looking to Kean, who is still smiling rather widely. He swallows and gives a nod, "I'm ready." Despite his words, he looks anything but ready. Nevertheless, Kean steps away from Angel and over to Hex, grabbing one of his hands with both of hers.

Hex starts toward the door but our gazes never leave him, even when Kean steps outside and leaves Hex in the doorway. He doesn't leave, but stands with his back to us as if he is trying to absorb the scene right outside the door. It isn't until Angel speaks that he turns around: "Good luck, Hex."

It's quiet. No one says a word, but all eyes remain on Hex. He still looks nervous, but despite this he manages a smile. He begins to back toward the porch where Kean is waiting for him, arms crossed. He stops again, turning to address us. This time, he speaks with a confident grin, and even more confident grin. One of a leader.

"Don't worry. I'll make this country great."

Description
Everyone is quiet. Even the wind outside has died down though the snow still continues to fall at a steady pace. Something that would have once been considered peaceful now speaks louder than any other event at the house had before; the loudest silence anyone could have ever imagined fills every crevice, every space of the house and resounds throughout the city.

This is us now. Quiet. This is what we have never been before but "before" means nothing now.

The living room is the core of this, where everyone now sits absorbed their own thoughts:  Avanii sits with her back against one of the walls, her arms wrapped protectively around Devi. The expression on her face is hard to read and even harden when her gaze is pointed at the carpet. Across the room from her is Angel who tends to an impatient looking Kean. The two of them are constantly looking around the room in search of something or, rather, someone who is not in the room. Yet. Dai stands at the top of the stairs, nervously combing his fingers through his hair and frantically looking around the living room. Occasionally his eyes will rest on Angel and Kean before flickering around again as if he is struggling to look at something, anything, that isn't this dreary scene.

Nolan is in the kitchen with Parsnip, though neither of them are talking. Aros left hours ago to go God-knows-where. Shilo retreated into his bedroom around the same time Aros left and hasn't been out since. Everyone else is probably out and about, surveying the damage done to the city. It is something we've all seen already, something that we live in, and yet everything, even a year later, is still so surreal.

Even Claire and Sarah, who continue to whine and squirm around every time Jeremiah and I move them around, seem acutely aware of the drastic change the city has made. What's worse is that it's not only our city but several cities over an extended period of time. All destroyed.

Gavin. Gavin did this.

"It's all his fucking fault."

"We should have killed him when we had the chance."

"We never had a chance."

I have heard this so many times before, and maybe they're all right. But it isn't like some of us didn't try to assist him. The instant I think of this I feel sick to my stomach and try to shake the thought out of my head. What's done is done.

But now we have a chance to fix everything, and that chance comes in the form of someone named Matthew Marr, or Hex. Just weeks ago he received a proposition from an undisclosed individual that he, someone that we are all fairly familiar with, could help fix the newly founded country of Gamaliel. Hex took some time to consider this, but ultimately agreed to help. Kean will be going with him, of course, though she seems considerably less nervous than Hex does. In fact, the instant Hex steps down the stairs Kean stands with a confident smile, greeting her husband with a, "Are you ready?"

Everyone in the living room stands simultaneously, staring at Hex with wary expressions. Even Parsnip and Nolan peek into the living room, curious as to what is going on. Hex gives everyone quick nervous glances before looking to Kean, who is still smiling rather widely. He swallows and gives a nod, "I'm ready." Despite his words, he looks anything but ready. Nevertheless, Kean steps away from Angel and over to Hex, grabbing one of his hands with both of hers.

Hex starts toward the door but our gazes never leave him, even when Kean steps outside and leaves Hex in the doorway. He doesn't leave, but stands with his back to us as if he is trying to absorb the scene right outside the door. It isn't until Angel speaks that he turns around: "Good luck, Hex."

It's quiet. No one says a word, but all eyes remain on Hex. He still looks nervous, but despite this he manages a smile. He begins to back toward the porch where Kean is waiting for him, arms crossed. He stops again, turning to address us. This time, he speaks with a confident grin, and even more confident grin. One of a leader.

"Don't worry. I'll make this country great."